NationalDex
cleffa
#173

Cleffa

Star Shape Pokémon

Fairy

Because of its unusual, starlike silhouette, people believe that it came here on a meteor.

Base Stats

HP 50
Attack 25
Defense 28
Sp. Atk 45
Sp. Def 55
Speed 15
Total 218

Type Effectiveness

Abilities

Held Items

Evolution Chain

Moves

Details

Category Star Shape Pokémon
Height 0.3 m
Weight 3.0 kg
Base Exp 44
Growth Rate Fast
Capture Rate 150
Base Happiness 140
Gender 25% ♂ / 75% ♀
Habitat Mountain
Egg Groups No Eggs

Sprites

cleffa Front Front
cleffa Back Back
cleffa Front Shiny Front Shiny
cleffa Back Shiny Back Shiny
cleffa Official Art Official Art
cleffa Official Art (Shiny) Official Art (Shiny)

Competitive

lc Usage: 0.1%
Counter
Item
Focus Sash
Ability
Magic Guard
Nature
Hasty
EVs
HP 196
SpA 76
Spe 236

Strategy Overview

With the 21st-lowest BST, Cleffa appears totally useless. However, its borderline viability is derived only from its access to Magic Guard and Counter. With Magic Guard, Cleffa can switch into entry hazards without impairment, preserving its Focus Sash. Cleffa's absurdly low BST can somewhat work to its advantage due to Counter; Cleffa's paper-mache defenses normally would be an extreme detriment, as even weak neutral attacks can 2HKO, but instead Cleffa is able to make great use of them with a guaranteed Focus Sash and Counter. Since even resisted attacks are extremely punishing for Cleffa, Counter allows it to inflict a massive retaliation. Access to Endeavor complements Cleffa's pitiful stats, allowing it to cripple slower Pokemon after it has been heavily damaged. Thunder Wave furthers how annoying Cleffa is, allowing only Electric-immune Pokemon to reliably switch in without detriment. Cleffa has notably larger downsides than the two premier catch-all stops—Abra and Magnemite— such as being completely shut down by Ghost-types, having a very minimal offensive presence, and the simple fact that Cleffa needs to be brutally attacked to be an effective member of the team.

Most Used Moves

Wish
61.7%
Protect
48.3%
Psychic
43.3%

Most Used Items

Eviolite
68.5%

Competitive data from Smogon University via data.pkmn.cc