Shellos Movesets & Competitive Sets

In a metagame renowned for its fast pace, Shellos stands out for its longevity and ability to slowly crawl towards a defensive sweep. Curse and Amnesia allow it to set up and become almost impossible to beat, and Facade capitalizes on Curse's Attack boost, as well as any status it acquires when setting up. Facade is favoured because of its neutral coverage and the relative infrequency of Ghost-types. With the given bulk investment, Shellos can beat even Ferroseed one-on-one. However, Shellos's reliance on a Normal-type attack means it requires support from users of Dark-type coverage, such as Pawniard and Mienfoo, to help with Frillish and other Ghost-types. It also needs Poison-type support from Koffing or Foongus to deal with Grookey. Natu can switch into Foongus and force it out, which can otherwise be problematic.

Moves Scald is a useful Water-type STAB move that also has a 30% chance to burn, which discourages physical attackers such as Pawniard, Alolan Grimer, and Snubbull from switching in. Recover is essential, since it provides Shellos with a form of reliable recovery. Earth Power can be used to damage Electric-types that would otherwise beat Shellos such as Magnemite and Chinchou. Ice Beam is another coverage option that allow Shellos to deal with Grass-types such as Foongus, Pumpkaboo-S, and Snivy. Clear Smog prevents setup sweepers such as Vullaby and Timburr from using Shellos as setup fodder while also hitting Cottonee harder than Ice Beam. Lastly, Toxic provides Shellos with a way to deal with bulkier Pokemon such as Vullaby, Pumpkaboo-S, and Slowpoke. However, remember that due to the HP mechanics in Little Cup, it often takes a while for Toxic damage to accumulate. Set Details The EV spread helps maximize Shellos's bulk, allowing it to reach a respectable benchmark of 27 HP and 21 in both Defense and Special Defense. In conjunction with Eviolite, Shellos will be able to effectively take hits from Pokemon such as Mudbray, Ponyta, and non-Thunderbolt Staryu. 4 Speed EVs are added to bring Shellos to a benchmark of 10 Speed, allowing it to outspeed Ferroseed, Foongus, and Munchlax while Speed tying with Timburr. Sticky Hold is the ability of choice, since it prevents Shellos's Eviolite from being removed by moves like Knock Off and Trick. Usage Tips Shellos should be used as a defensive pivot due to its great defensive typing, Eviolite, and decent natural bulk. Switch Shellos in on an anticipated Knock Off from Pokemon such as Mienfoo and Pawniard. Thanks to its bulk, Shellos can also be switched into weak neutral and resisted attacks from Pokemon such as Ponyta, Hippopotas, and Kabuto. Scald is often Shellos's move of choice, since it can cripple many Pokemon, especially physical attackers, with a burn. Keep in mind that using Toxic or Recover may be better at certain times, such as when you anticipate your opponent switching into a bulkier Pokemon such as Slowpoke or Spritzee. Shellos must be kept healthy if it is used to check a specific Pokemon such as Ponyta or Drilbur. Due to Shellos's low Speed, it must be able to take one or two hits before being able to recover. Shellos is easily crippled by status conditions, so you should be careful of switching Shellos into status-inducing moves such as Scald from Water-types like Mareanie, Tirtouga, and Frillish as well as Poison Touch Knock Off from Alolan Grimer. Team Options Due to Shellos's passive and defensive nature, it should be used on defensive or balanced teams. Grass-types such as Foongus, Ferroseed, and Cottonee appreciate having a check to Fire-types such as Ponyta. Foongus and Ferroseed can also check opposing Grass- and Electric-types that threaten Shellos such as Chinchou and Cottonee. Ground-types like Diglett and Mudbray can help check Electric-types such as Magnemite and Elekid. The aforementioned Fire-types as well as Steel-types such as Magnemite and Pawniard appreciate Shellos checking Ground-types such as Mudbray and Drilbur. In return, they can help check Grass-types that threaten Shellos. Pokemon that rely on their items like Spritzee, Onix, and Magnemite appreciate Shellos's ability to take a Knock Off, Thief, or Trick thanks to Sticky Hold. Shellos appreciates Heal Bell or Aromatherapy support from Pokemon such as Spritzee, Snubbull, and Chinchou, as they can remove any status conditions on Shellos.

Moves This is Shellos's best bet for taking advantage of its unique strengths. Scald is a reliable STAB move and carries a useful burn chance, allowing Shellos to better wall physical attackers. Recover is essential to Shellos's walling capabilities by providing reliable recovery, allowing Shellos to remain healthy. As a coverage move, Earth Power is the preferred option because it allows Shellos to switch into and easily beat Croagunk and Pawniard that lack Swords Dance , while also hitting Chinchou and Magnemite on the switch, but Ice Beam deals decent damage to frailer Grass-types on the switch as well as hitting the occasional Dragon-type. The final moveslot is best dedicated to one of Shellos's supportive options; Toxic cripples certain switch-ins such as Lileep and Porygon, but does not synergize well with Scald's burn chance. On the other hand, Clear Smog helps prevent Shellos from being setup bait against sweepers such as Tirtouga and Scraggy, whereas Yawn allows Shellos to force more switches, although it does not synergize well with Scald, either. Set Details Sticky Hold should be Shellos's ability because it is what gives Shellos its main niche, allowing it to absorb the ubiquitous Knock Off. Eviolite gives Shellos acceptable bulk, and it cannot be removed by Knock Off thanks to Sticky Hold. With the given EVs, which hit Eviolite numbers, Shellos is able to reach respectable defensive stats of 27 HP / 21 Defense / 21 Special Defense. Usage Tips Because Shellos is able to maintain its Eviolite-boosted bulk, it is able to switch in on the likes of Mienfoo and Pawniard and wall them with relative ease, provided that they don't have a means of boosting their Attack. Scald is the most spammable move because Shellos can try to cripple switch-ins with a burn, but keep in mind that, unless it's hitting for super effective damage, Shellos is usually fairly weak. Do not attempt to switch into extremely powerful attacks, because Shellos's defenses are still breakable. If using Shellos as your sole answer to a certain Pokemon, ensure that Shellos is always healthy enough to absorb two of their attacks because Shellos is quite slow. Team Options Shellos is best used on defensive teams; it should not be used on an offensive team because its entirely defensive nature means it will make the team lose momentum. Pokemon that are particularly impeded by Knock Off, such as Spritzee and Abra, make good teammates. In fact, anything that especially dislikes Pawniard, such as Spritzee or Lileep, will appreciate Shellos's presence. In terms of Pokemon to help support Shellos, Ferroseed beats the Grass- and Electric-types that plague Shellos while Shellos is able to withstand the Fire-type attacks aimed at Ferroseed. A cleric such as Spritzee or Lickitung can help with Shellos's susceptibility to Toxic. Shellos's typing and movepool allow it to fit into a variety of defensive teams as a bulky Water-type and a switch-in to Knock Off.

Shellos is a powerful offensive presence on the field as one of Little Cup's premier bulky Water-types, thanks to its astounding defenses, which are even greater than that of Frillish. It sits at 27 HP and 21 in its defenses when Eviolite is factored in, making it one of the bulkiest Pokemon in Little Cup. Combine that with access to Recover, and Shellos is not going to be hit hard by very much. Shellos also has a decent Special Attack stat which allows it to hit many Pokemon for respectable damage with its STAB Water-type attacks. Surf is the primary option for its greater power, though Scald is a perfectly fine move to use over it. Clear Smog allows Shellos to get rid of any boosts that the opponent may have acquired and bypass Taunt at the same time, stopping sweeps from the likes of Timburr cold when played correctly. While Clear Smog is great for causing switches in and of itself, Yawn gives the opponent even less of an incentive to stay in, racking up damage from any hazards that might be present. However, Toxic can be used in lieu of Yawn if one wants to rack up even more damage. The EV spread and Bold nature serve to balance out Shellos's defenses, allowing it to hit a stat of 21 in both defenses. 4 Speed EVs allow Shellos to hit 10 Speed and get the jump on many important threats in Little Cup, while the remaining EVs are put into HP to increase Shellos's overall bulk. In the last slot, Hidden Power Fire or Earth Power can be used over the given options to take down threats such as Pawniard and Ferroseed, who are otherwise solid counters to Shellos. Pokemon that set up entry hazards are good teammates for Shellos to help wear down the enemy faster. Ferroseed is a good example, as not only does it put down Spikes and Leech Seed, it also resists Shellos's weaknesses, making it an even better teammate. Toxic Spikes are especially appreciated to help wear down the opponent even after they've come in. Pokemon that can come in on moves Shellos is weak to are good teammates, especially Chinchou and Houndour, as they take advantage of a free turn and put pressure on the opponent.

This is the best (and only) set that Shellos can run. It has average Special Attack and reaches 21 Speed with Choice Scarf. Its STAB Surf hits other Pokemon fairly hard, while the other attacks are for coverage. Ice Beam hits Flying- and Grass-types hard. Earth Power provides coverage against Electric-types such as Chinchou. Hidden Power Grass nails Water-type Pokemon, particularly Water / Ground-types such as Barboach. Hidden Power Electric can be used to hit Mantyke, but Hidden Power Grass is the recommended option. The given EVs are really just to increase Shellos's Speed and Special Attack stats as much as possible. This set needs Stealth Rock support so that less Pokemon will be inclined to switch into Shellos. Good partners for Shellos include those that can remove Munchlax, its number 1 counter. Fighting-types such as Mankey and Machop can carry out this task with relative ease. If Shellos isn't running Hidden Power Grass, it will lose to Water / Ground-type Pokemon badly. Both Snover and Shroomish can take care of all of the aforementioned Water / Ground-type Pokemon.