Is Claydol viable in Gen 3 OU?

Claydol is ranked #16 in Gen 3 OU with 17.74% usage according to Smogon Jul 2026 - Sep 2026 data.

What beats Claydol in Gen 3 OU?

Skarmory has the strongest conservative score in this observed Jul 2026 - Sep 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 70.1% of 87.03095902816692 relevant encounters. Standard error is 4.9 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Claydol matchup checks ranked in Gen 3 OU?

They are ranked by p minus four standard errors. Here, p is the observed fraction of relevant encounters where Claydol was knocked out or switched out. This is not a set-specific battle guarantee.

Claydol counters

Gen 3 OU · Smogon source period Jul 2026 - Sep 2026

#0344 Claydol

GroundPsychic

USAGE 17.7% #16

ABILITYLevitate

BASE STATS

HP 60

ATK 70

DEF 105

SPA 70

SPD 120

SPE 75

BST500

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

WaterGrassIceBugGhostDark

½×

FightingPoisonPsychicRock

0×

Electric

Moves

Rapid Spin 99.6% Explosion 88.0% Earthquake 87.9% Psychic 80.8% Shadow Ball 13.1% Rest 9.4% Ice Beam 5.2% Refresh 4.5%

Items

Leftovers 99.4% Choice Band 0.6% Lum Berry 0.0% Salac Berry 0.0% Silk Scarf 0.0% Chesto Berry 0.0% Sharp Beak 0.0%

Abilities

Levitate100.0%

Common Teammates

Browse Gen 3 OU teams using Claydol →

Explore Claydol + Skarmory teams 50 score Explore Claydol + Swampert teams 23 score Explore Claydol + Tyranitar teams 20 score Explore Claydol + Gengar teams 9 score Explore Claydol + Aerodactyl teams 6 score Explore Claydol + Salamence teams 6 score

Leading observed checks

Open a matchup for a separate set-based damage estimate, or browse uploaded teams with both Pokémon.

Team core to explore

Claydol + Blissey 60.8% teammate usage Explore teams →

Checks & Counters

Observed target KO or switch rate is upstream p: the fraction of relevant encounters where the target was knocked out or switched out. Standard error is upstream d. The conservative score is p − 4d. These ladder observations do not prove a set-specific counter.

How to read this table

Use encounter count and standard error to judge the sample. Damage estimates below use inferred sets and remain separate from the observed ladder metric.

# Checker Encounters Conservative score Target KO or switch rate

Skarmory

SteelFlying DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

87.031

50.5

70.1% Standard error 4.91 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Claydol Explosion vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 113-133 (33.8 - 39.8%) -- 31.3% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Skarmory counters → Teams with Skarmory →

Swampert

WaterGround OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

20.185

23.1

65.4% Standard error 10.59 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Swampert Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Claydol: 205-242 (63.2 - 74.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Swampert counters → Teams with Swampert →

Tyranitar

RockDark SOFT CHECK View matchup

83.989

20.3

41.8% Standard error 5.38 points

DAMAGE CALCSand

252+ Atk Tyranitar Hidden Power Bug vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Claydol: 166-196 (51.2 - 60.4%) -- 91.8% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Tyranitar counters → Teams with Tyranitar →

Gengar

GhostPoison SOFT CHECK View matchup

27.432

9.4

47.6% Standard error 9.54 points

DAMAGE CALC

0- Atk Gengar Explosion vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Claydol: 217-256 (66.9 - 79%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Gengar counters → Teams with Gengar →

Aerodactyl

RockFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

25.237

6.1

45.7% Standard error 9.92 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Aerodactyl Hidden Power Bug vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Claydol: 209-246 (64.5 - 75.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Aerodactyl counters → Teams with Aerodactyl →

Salamence

DragonFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

23.87

5.7

46.5% Standard error 10.21 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Salamence Hidden Power Flying vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Claydol: 124-147 (38.2 - 45.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Salamence counters → Teams with Salamence →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

33.8

0.0

32.2% Standard error 8.04 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Hidden Power Grass vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Claydol: 105-124 (32.4 - 38.2%) -- 1.7% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Zapdos counters → Teams with Zapdos →

Blissey

Normal SOFT CHECK View matchup

22.588

-12.0

23.9% Standard error 8.98 points

DAMAGE CALC

Blissey Seismic Toss vs. 252 HP Claydol: 100-100 (30.8 - 30.8%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Blissey counters → Teams with Blissey →

Ranked #16 with 17.74% usage. Sorted by conservative score.