Cleffa Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Endeavor and Counter are what barely make this set more than a gimmick, allowing Cleffa to completely incapacitate a wall after it has taken a strong attack. Endeavor also allows Cleffa to remove all non-Ghost-types or Substitute-using special sweepers when paired with Thunder Wave. Thunder Wave is useful for punishing switch-ins and allowing Cleffa to rely less on prediction when choosing to use Endeavor or Encore. Encore is extremely useful for crippling the few sweepers that set up on Cleffa, notably users of Substitute that otherwise completely shut down the set. Encore also allows bulkier sweepers, such as Bulk Up Timburr, to be managed as well as serving to give Cleffa something proactive to do against these Pokemon, and allows Cleffa to not lose all momentum. Set Details Magic Guard prevents Cleffa from prematurely breaking its Focus Sash—all but guaranteeing a retaliation from Cleffa. The HP investment allows Cleffa to absorb the largest amount of damage possible in order to double it back with Counter. The lowered Defense IVs and a Hasty nature means that even resisted attacks do considerable amount, perfect for powering up Counter, while the lowered Special Defense IVs allow Cleffa to lose more HP for Endeavor. The Speed EVs allow Cleffa to hit 12 Speed, outspeeding Download Porygon, Snubbull, and all slower walls, allowing it to get off an Endeavor or Encore on these targets. Usage Tips The set revolves around taking advantage of Counter and Endeavor to effectively cripple or outright KO a majority of the tier. Little Cup is composed predominantly by physical attackers, allowing Cleffa to match up comfortably versus a large percentage of the tier. When using Cleffa, be sure to preserve its Focus Sash by never switching into any attacks with it. Know what your targets are, and if these Pokemon are mixed attackers. In the case of either an either special or mixed attacker, Thunder Wave is the safest option to click, and should be followed up with Endeavor. Encore should be used to manage bulkier sweepers, such as Bulk Up Timburr, and help maintain momentum versus Pokemon setting up Substitute. However, Cleffa does need to be wary when dealing with the likes of Shellder, Rock Blast Omanyte, Honedge, and Snivy running Substitute, as all of these sweepers are largely indifferent to Cleffa's presence. Team Options Cleffa has the best synergy with Pokemon that are powerful attackers but can be setup bait for intimidating sweepers, especially those that would require a backup plan, such as Choice Scarf Bunnelby, Stunky, and Archen. Teddiursa, Mienfoo, and Snover also pair well with Cleffa due to how often these give up free turns or are just too weak to prevent opposing Pokemon from settin up, and thus give Cleffa reason to be on the team. Additionally, Cleffa can completely cripple otherwise solid answers to these Pokemon with Endeavor. Stunky, Munchlax, and other Pursuit trappers trap and remove Gastly, producing a reduced opportunity cost for using Cleffa and again offset Cleffa's inability to handle Ghost-types. Pokemon with pivoting moves—Mienfoo, Elekid, and Deerling in particular—can help lure in slower walls for Cleffa to take advantage of after its Focus Sash is broken. Fletchling has a tendency to give Pawniard and most Shell Smash users free turns to set up, meaning Cleffa is rather helpful for subduing these opponents and potentially Endeavoring down a wall for Fletchling; Fletchling also can pivot Cleffa into slower bulkier walls while also revenge killing the strongest Cleffa counters. Cleffa's Endeavor has notably great synergy with Snover, Amaura, and Hippopotas, KOing the foe in tandem with the weather effects while Cleffa avoids damage. In certain cases a powerful attacker—such as Fletchling, Corphish, Gastly, and Ponyta—might be required to follow up Cleffa to remove a particularly troublesome setup sweeper, though generally these Pokemon have greater synergy with Cleffa outside of just this use.

Magic Guard makes it much easier to keep a Focus Sash intact, so Cleffa can survive a normally lethal move and deal massive damage with Endeavor. Cleffa should normally switch in after a KO on something that can usually KO it as well, and use Endeavor on the opposing threat to take it down to 1 HP. With Snover support for hail, Cleffa can usually manage to KO a Pokemon before fainting. Protect scouts for surprising moves that could break Cleffa's Focus Sash such as a random Fake Out. Encore can stop something from trying to set up on Cleffa, which is otherwise easy if Cleffa is at full HP. In the last slot, Thunder Wave or Toxic can be used to do something to Pokemon that are immune to either Endeavor or Hail, such as Gastly, Frillish, and Snover. The only EVs required on this Cleffa are Speed, which makes Cleffa as fast as possible. Any other EVs would be either wasted or counterproductive, as Cleffa has no attacking moves and would like to be at low defensive stats. Snover support for hail is required with this set, as it can deal the finishing blow to most Pokemon that are hit by Endeavor. Hippopotas could be used for the sand, but many more threats are immune to it. Priority from the likes of Timburr is nice, as it can KO opponents such as other Snover that are immune to hail. Stunky could help with the odd Solosis, which also carries Magic Guard. Dwebble, Ferroseed, and Shellder are all problems for Cleffa, as they commonly use moves that hit multiple times to break Cleffa's Focus Sash.

Cleffa has decent bulk to set up Reflect and Light Screen, so it is good at supporting its teammates in this way. Thunder Wave provides good support for sweepers by paralyzing important Pokemon such as Gastly. In the last slot, Wish is used as a way for Cleffa to heal either itself or a teammate. Light Clay causes Reflect and Light Screen to last an extra three turns, but if that isn't needed, then Cleffa can use Eviolite for some much appreciated extra bulk. Misdreavus, Clamperl, and Shellder are all great teammates for Cleffa, as they can set up behind Screens quite effectively. Slowpoke and Gastly also work well, as they can switch in on Fighting-type attacks aimed at Cleffa. Pawniard is a problem for Cleffa due to its super effective Brick Break, so a Fighting-type such as Timburr works well as a partner to check it.

Very few Pokemon on a stall team can get through Cleffa thanks to Magic Guard and the boost from Eviolite, so it is an effective stallbreaker. Wish and Protect provide Cleffa with important healing and support the team as well. Toxic is great on this set, as it can wear down defensive Pokemon such as Hippopotas over time. Lastly, Fire Blast is used to hit Ferroseed while still dealing damage to Poison-types such as Gastly. Dratini is a threat to this set, as it has Shed Skin and can set up on Cleffa. Ferroseed helps against Dratini. Tentacool can set up Toxic Spikes on Cleffa, as it can take a few hits from Psychic. Staryu can deal with Tentacool, as it has Thunderbolt, Rapid Spin, and Natural Cure, all of which help stop Tentacool from successfully doing its job. Tentacool is also a good teammate for Cleffa, as its Toxic Spikes help break stall. If using Toxic Spikes, then Encore is an option over Toxic to stop offensive Pokemon from setting up.

This set takes advantage of Cleffa's poor base stats in order to take down at least one Pokemon with it. Cleffa's Magic Guard makes sure that it isn't affected by indirect damage from the likes of Stealth Rock, which allows Cleffa to keep its Focus Sash intact. Endeavor should be used on the first turn since with Cleffa's incredibly low Speed and defenses, it will likely be smashed down right off the bat. By then, Cleffa's Focus Sash will activate, and the opponent will be left with 1 HP, which is enough for it to be KOed by residual damage from hail or sandstorm. Protect allows Cleffa to scout for potential counters, such as Trick users, and also to anticipate what move the opponent is using when Cleffa has no use left after using Endeavor. Both Toxic and Thunder Wave are helpful for crippling Pokemon that are immune to Endeavor, hail, and/or sandstorm, such as Gastly, Swinub, and Diglett. Lastly, Encore can prevent opponents, such as Substitute and stat boosting users, from setting up on Cleffa. By doing this, Cleffa has another chance to KO the switch-in with Endeavor. Hail can be used over the third slot if your team doesn't utilize Snover, but finding time to use it is hard. It's better to just put Snover in your team and preserve its health throughout the match. This set not only works with Snover's hail, but also with Hippopotas's Sand Stream ability. Sadly, there are more Pokemon immune to sandstorm than hail, making it a worse option. The 8 Speed EVs allow Cleffa to outspeed and use Endeavor on Bronzor after Cleffa has taken down an opposing Pokemon. Snover is a key component to making this set work due to its ability to summon permanent hail. Hail helps pick off every Pokemon excluding Ice-types after they have been Endeavored. Snover is not the only viable team option, however, as Hippopotas's sandstorm is also a plausible tool. Any Pokemon with Pluck, such as Taillow, can be useful for countering Oran Berry users so that Cleffa's strategy doesn't get ruined. Due to this set only requiring specific weather support, it has no real necessary teammates besides the above weather-inducers.