Deviation Actions
Description
Here’s my Klinklang's summary.
Nature: Adamant
Held Item: Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 64 HP / 252 Atk / 188 Spe
-Shift Gear
-Gear Grind
-Return
-Substitute / Magnet Rise
Shift Gear boosts Klinklang's Speed by two stages and its Attack by one stage, letting Klinklang outspeed a good majority of Pokemon when boosted, making it an essential move for sweeping. Gear Grind is Klinklang's most powerful (and pretty much only) STAB attack and hits the foe twice and only twice, breaking past Substitutes, Sturdy, and Focus Sashes. Return has decent neutral coverage and hits Pokemon that resist Gear Grind. Substitute is very important for Klinklang to avoid any crippling status ailments such as burn and paralysis, both of which stop it from literally being able to do anything. Magnet Rise is another option which assists Klinklang in setting up on a lot of common Ground-types and becoming immune to the ever so spammable Earthquake for a few turns.
Maximum Attack EVs plus an Adamant nature allow Klinklang to hit as hard as possible, while 176 Speed EVs allow Klinklang to outspeed neutral-natured base 80 Speed Pokemon, such as Shiftry and Kabutops. The rest of the EVs go into HP to increase its overall bulk, making it easier to set up. Clear Body prevents Klinklang's Attack from being lowered by Intimidate, as well as preventing the Speed drop from Sticky Web. Leftovers is chosen for passive recovery, allowing Klinklang to set up more Substitutes if needed.
Of course Klinklang can run a variety of other moves. Although due to its very shallow movepool, there's not a lot of options to choose from.
Here are some suggestions:
-Wild Charge can be used as a coverage option to hit Water-types that resist its STAB Gear Grind but this leaves Klinklang walled by Electric-types if used over Return.
-Volt Switch has some handy utility with its switching mechanisms, but unfortunately, Klinklang’s base 70 Special Attack does it no favors, making this attack weak and gimmicky. The only real use this thing has is if you’re terrified of things like Magnezone or Gothitelle trapping you, but even then, it’s not really a huge concern in formats where Klinklang is regularly use
-Rock Smash may seem tempting, given it’s the only Fighting-type move Klinklang learns, and opposing Steel-types generally give Klinklang trouble. However, with its pitiful 40 base power, even with a Shift Gear boost it won’t be hitting anywhere near hard enough. To put it in perspective, max attack +1 Life Orb Rock Smash only 4HKO’s standard Ferrothorn, and it fails to reliably 2HKO Magnezone at +1 as well. It really doesn’t help your Steel-type issues at all.
-Thunder Wave is always useful, given it is a reliable means of paralyzing opponents, but really, Klinklang’s job in singles isn’t to spread status, it’s to sweep. Leave your status spreading to another Pokemon.
-Literally the best Z-Move option Klinklang has going for it is a base 180 STAB physical Corkscrew Crash.
Notes:
I was super tempted to nickname my Klinklang Gears, since that's literally what it is. But I didn't want to be cruel.
Do you have your own Klinklang moveset and strategy? Comment below with your moveset!
