Pokemon Sword and Shield

Clefable - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Clefable.png
This is a strategy guide for using Clefable in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Clefable, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Clefable - Related Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Clefable Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SWSH - Clefable Best BuildBuild for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Clefable

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Fairy Type
Abilities
Magic Guard Protects the Pokemon from indirect damage.
Cute Charm Contact with the Pokemon may cause infatuation.
Unaware (Hidden) Ignores any stat changes in the Pokemon.

Clefable Weaknesses and Resistances

Type
Takes 4x damage
-
Takes 2x damage
Pokemon Poison Image Pokemon Steel Image
Takes 0.5x damage
Pokemon Fighting Image Pokemon Bug Image Pokemon Dark Image
Takes 1/4x damage
-
Takes 0x damage
Pokemon Dragon Image

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP Attack Defense Sp. Atk Sp. Def Speed
95 70 73 95 90 60

Best Nature for Clefable

Best Natures
Bold
(+Def, -Atk)
Modest
(+Sp. Atk, -Atk)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Clefable

Unaware Stat-Boost Moveset & Best Build

Nature Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EV Spread HP 252 / Def 252 / Sp. Atk 4
Final Stat Values HP 202 / Def 137 / Sp. Atk 116 /Sp. Def 110 / Spd 80
Ability Unaware
Held Item Kee Berry
Moveset Moonblast
Calm Mind
Moonlight
Fire Blast

These values are from base stats and ideal EVs, excluding external factors.

Unaware Stat-Boost Clefable.png

The main strategy with this build is to raise your stats with Calm Mind while recovering HP with Moonlight. Clefable's Unaware ability will let you ignore your opponent's stat changes, allowing it to weather hits from an opponent which relies on stat-boosting moves, while boosting its own stats and fighting back.

The Kee Berry and the maxed out EVs in HP and Defense should protect you from physical attackers as well.

Alternate Move Choices

Stored Power Works well with Calm Mind as each raised stat stage adds to Stored Power's damage. Note that this has no effect on Dark-type Pokemon.
Grass Knot Effective against defensive Pokemon like Quagsire.
Flamethrower Alternative Fire-type move. While it's less powerful than Fire Blast, it's also more accurate.

Unaware Physical/Special Defense Moveset & Best Build

Nature Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EV Spread HP 252 / Def 252 / Sp. Def 4
Final Stat Values HP 202 / Def 137 / Sp. Atk 115 / Sp. Def 111 / Spd 80
Ability Unaware
Held Item Leftovers
Moveset Moonblast
Calm Mind
Moonlight
Cosmic Power

These values are from base stats and ideal EVs, excluding external factors.

Unaware Physical Special Defense Clefable.png

This build focuses on building up your defenses with Cosmic Power while maintaining your HP with Moonlight. Once you feel protected enough, you can then switch to raising your special attack with Calm Mind. EVs are placed in HP and Defense to better protect Clefable against physical attackers.

Similar to the previous build, this build also takes advantage of Clefable's Unaware ability, allowing it to power up against an opponent that relies on boosting its own stats, building up its own defensive stats to create a wall. This set is best used against attackers reliant on stat-boosting and Pokemon which are disadvantaged against Clefairy.

Alternate Move Choices

Stored Power Works well with Calm Mind and Cosmic Power as each raised stat stage adds to Stored Power's damage. Note that this has no effect on Dark-type Pokemon.
Grass Knot Effective against heavy Pokemon like Quagsire
Flamethrower Alternative Fire-type move. While it's less powerful than Fire Blast, it's also more accurate.
Wish Use it together with Protect to keep recovering HP

Life Orb Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature Modest (+SpAtk, -Atk)
EV Spread HP 184 / Sp.Atk. 252 / Spd. 72
Final Stat Values HP 193 / Def. 93 / Sp.Atk. 161 / Sp.Def. 110 / Spd. 89
Ability Magic Guard
Held Item Life Orb
Moveset Moonblast
Thunderbolt
Flamethrower
Grass Knot

Life Orb Attacker Clefable.png

This build maximizes Clefable's damage by having it hold a Life Orb. Clefable is also protected against damage from Life Orb due to its Magic Guard ability, allowing it to boost its damage with no repercussions.

Thanks to Magic Guard, Clefable does not take any damage from statuses like Poison, making it highly effective against defensive wall Pokemon who rely on these techniques. Use Clefable against one of these Pokemon and use them as an opportunity to set up.

We adjusted the Speed and HP EVs so that Clefable can outspeed Corviknights with 4 EVs in Speed.

Other Viable Moves

Meteor Beam Supereffective Rock-type move against fire-types like Heat Rotom.
Moonlight Extends Clefable's stay in battle as it can recover HP
Ice Beam Ice-type move option. A low-priority move as type match-ups aren't great.
Shadow Ball Effective against Psychic-type Pokemon
Calm Mind Allows Clefable to defeat opponents more easily by increasing its Sp. Atk. Can be used as Max Guard.

Trick Moveset & Best Build

Trick Clefable

Nature Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EV Spread HP 244 / Def. 148 / Sp.Def. 116
Final Stat Values HP 201 / Def. 123 / Sp.Atk. 115 / Sp.Def. 125 / Spd. 80
Ability Unaware
Held Item Flame Orb
Lagging Tail
Moveset Moonblast
Moonlight
Stealth Rock
Trick

By swapping Flame Orb to an opponent with Trick, the opponent will be burned and will have reduced Attack. Stealth Rock will also put pressure on Flying- and Fire-types.

About Clefable's Held Item

You can also use Lagging Tail with Trick to slow down quick attackers, especially those relying on Speed.

How to Use Clefable Effectively

Special Attacker Capable of Setting Up

Clefable is a special attacker that makes use of support moves like Calm Mind and Moonlight. Its Unaware and Magic Guard abilities pair well with it and allow it to set up more easily.

Unaware: Improves Setup Potential

The Unaware ability allows Clefable to ignore changes to the opponent's stats, which lets you set up with Calm Mind without worry.

Magic Guard: Stay in the Battle for Longer

Magic Guard prevents Clefable from taking damage from anything other than the moves of its opponent. For example, Clefable won't take any damage from Poison and even from Curse. This moveset allows Clefairy to easily set up against other defensive Pokemon who rely on these status moves.

Clefable Has Wide Coverage

While Clefable's type doesn't have much chance to get STAB, its movepool allows it to target other weaknesses using moves like Flamethrower and Thunderbolt.

It also has a lot of good support moves like Calm Mind, allowing to set up, and Stealth Rock, allowing it to provide support for its teammates.

Counters for Clefable

Clefable
Weakness Pokemon Poison Image Pokemon Steel Image

Target its weaknesses with fast Pokemon

Take advantage of Clefable's weaknesses using Pokemon that can outspeed it. We also recommend that you use physical attackers since Clefable doesn't have many options for raising its Defense stat.

If Clefable hasn't raised its Special Defense yet, you can one-shot it with Steel Beam, which is a Special move.

When using Steel-type Pokemon, be careful, as Clefable can use Fire-type moves.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Metagross ImageMetagross Ranking: ★★★★
・Use Steel-type moves to exploit Clefable’s weakness.
・Use Bullet Punch to attack first.
Moveset & Best Build for Metagross
Pokemon SWSH - Celesteela ImageCelesteela Ranking: ★★★★
・Can stand against a Clefable that did not use Calm Mind.
・Can learn Steel Beam.
Moveset & Best Build for Celesteela
Pokemon SWSH - Excadrill ImageExcadrill Ranking: ★★★★
・STAB Iron Head is strong
・Can handle any Fairy Pokemon, including those that are Dynamaxed.
Moveset & Best Build for Excadrill
Pokemon SWSH - Lucario ImageLucario Ranking: ★★★★
・Ensure victory by giving it a Focus Sash.
・Can one-shot Clefable using Steel Beam.
Moveset & Best Build for Lucario
Pokemon SWSH - Bisharp ImageBisharp Ranking: ★★★★
・Ensure victory by giving it a Focus Sash.
・Can be easy to read, but counterattack with Metal Burst.
Moveset & Best Build for Bisharp
Pokemon SWSH - Gengar ImageGengar Ranking: ★★★★
・Good type compatibility with Clefable.
・It's a special attacker, so be careful when Clefable sets up.
Moveset & Best Build for Gengar

Related Links

Pokemon Sword and Shield - Best Builds for Ranked Battle

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

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Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Tier ListTier List Pokemon SWSH - Best BuildsBest Builds Pokemon Sword and Shield - Ranked Battle Series 10 Contenders.pngSeries 10 List of Contenders
Pokemon SWSH - Doubles Tier ListDoubles Tier List Pokemon SWSH - Competitive Team BuildingTeam Building Pokemon SWSH - Rental TeamsRental Teams

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