Clauncher

Using Clauncher in a Playthrough

Clauncher evolves into Clawitzer at level 37, producing a slow pure Water special attacker with base 120 Special Attack, respectable 88 Defense and 89 Special Defense, and only base 59 Speed. Mega Launcher is the family's only Ability and boosts aura- and pulse-based moves by 50 percent, turning Water Pulse, Dark Pulse, Aura Sphere, and Dragon Pulse into much stronger coverage while also increasing the amount restored by Heal Pulse in doubles. Clawitzer can combine Water STAB with Aura Sphere, Dark Pulse, Ice Beam, Dragon Pulse, Flip Turn or U-turn in applicable games, and utility such as Heal Pulse to threaten a very wide range of targets. Pure Water has only Electric and Grass weaknesses and resists Fire, Water, Ice, and Steel, giving Clawitzer a much simpler defensive profile than many Kalos attackers. Its low Speed makes Modest natural for ordinary wallbreaking and Quiet particularly useful on Trick Room teams. Unlike its original counterpart Dragalge, Clawitzer has no Mega Evolution or alternate form in current canon.

Clauncher in Competitive Pokémon

Clawitzer was one of XY RU's strongest special wallbreakers. Base 120 Special Attack is already high, and Mega Launcher effectively turns Aura Sphere and Dark Pulse into 120-base-power coverage while strengthening Water Pulse enough to function as a legitimate primary STAB option. Smogon highlighted its ability to 2HKO large portions of the tier through the combination of Water attacks, Dark Pulse, Aura Sphere, and Ice Beam, while its reasonable bulk let it survive a hit when necessary. The main limitation is base 59 Speed, which leaves Clawitzer vulnerable to faster offensive Pokemon and encourages support from slow pivots or Trick Room. Later generations pushed it into lower usage tiers, but the same wallbreaking formula remained intact because Mega Launcher and its unusual coverage are still difficult to replicate. Its role is therefore consistent across generations: a slow special cannon that trades speed and recovery for exceptionally efficient coverage.

Clauncher in Nuzlockes

Clawitzer is a good Nuzlocke Pokemon because pure Water has only two weaknesses and its 71/88/89 bulk is sturdy enough to survive many neutral hits. Aura Sphere is particularly safe coverage because it cannot miss under ordinary conditions, while Dark Pulse and Water Pulse benefit from Mega Launcher without recoil or stat drops. Its base 59 Speed means it often has to absorb an attack before acting, so Electric and Grass coverage should be scouted carefully rather than relying on bulk alone. Ice Beam can answer Grass-types offensively, but using it after a Grass attacker has already moved may be too late if the matchup is poor. Modest maximizes damage, while Quiet is especially strong if the team can reliably establish Trick Room.

Clauncher's oversized right claw makes ordinary swimming awkward, so it propels itself by detonating gas inside the claw and firing compressed water like a pistol. The same mechanism can shatter rock at close range and knock flying prey out of the air. The large claw occasionally falls off during battle or other stress, after which Clauncher hides until the limb regenerates. The meat inside the discarded claw is edible and valued as a delicacy in some regions, although its distinctive flavor is not universally liked.