Clamp (move)

Clamp からではさむ Clamp with Shell

Battles Type  Water Category  Physical PP  10 (max. 16) Power  35 Accuracy  85% Priority  0 Makes contact Affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Affected by King's Rock

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally Normal: May affect anyone but the user (long-range)

Availability Introduced  Generation I Not a TM, TR, HM, or Move Tutor move.

Contests Condition  Tough Appeal  3 ♥♥♥ Jam  0   When the user makes the appeal, the crowd's excitement continues until the end of the round.

Super Contests Condition  Tough Appeal  3 ♥♥♥ A basic performance using a move known by the Pokémon.

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Tough Appeal  0   Jamming  0

On Smogon's Movedex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX

Clamp (Japanese: からではさむ Clamp with Shell) is a damage-dealing Template:Type2 move introduced in Generation I. Prior to Generation III, it was the signature move of the Shellder evolutionary line.

Effect

Generation I

Clamp inflicts damage for 2-5 turns and has an Accuracy of 75. There is a 37.5% chance that it will attack for 2 turns, a 37.5% chance that it will attack for 3 turns, a 12.5% chance that it will attack for 4 turns, and a 12.5% chance that it will attack for 5 turns. Though technically only the first attack can critical hit, every attack during the duration will do the same amount of damage. While Clamp is in effect, the target will be unable to attack, and if the user of Clamp attacks before the target when used, the target will be unable to attack during that round as well.

Damage inflicted by Clamp's continuing duration is done after recurrent damage. If the user switches out before Clamp's duration ends, the target will be unable to attack during that turn. If the target switches out before Clamp's duration ends, Clamp will automatically be used against the incoming Pokémon, deducting an additional PP from the move. If at such a time Clamp has 0 PP, Clamp will still be used against the incoming Pokémon, but the current PP of Clamp will roll over to 63, and full PP ups will be applied to it.

Even if Clamp misses, it will negate the recharge turn normally required for Hyper Beam. Additionally, if the user of Clamp attacks before the user of Hyper Beam during a recharge turn and the use of Clamp misses, the user of Hyper Beam will automatically use Hyper Beam during that turn. If at such a time Hyper Beam has 0 PP, Hyper Beam will still be used, and afterwards its current PP will roll over to 63, and full PP ups will be applied to it.

In-game, the target will get to select a move during each turn of Clamp's duration, and will attack your incoming Pokémon with the selected move if the player decides to switch before the duration is over.

In Stadium, the player selects a move during each turn of Clamp's duration. If the target switches out before the duration ends, the incoming Pokémon will not automatically be attacked. Clamp will negate the recharge turn of Hyper Beam only if successful.

Generation II

The target is now able to attack during Clamp's duration, and can act normally. Instead, it inflicts 1/16 of the target's maximum HP as damage for two to five turns upon use, in addition to the damage dealt when it is used. It also traps the target, preventing switching and escape. If a trapped Pokémon uses Rapid Spin, it will be freed.

Generation III

The effects of Clamp are the same as in Generation II, but if a wild Pokémon uses Clamp on the player's Pokémon, the player may escape if the affected Pokémon has Run Away or is holding a Smoke Ball. However, these do not allow the player to switch the Pokémon out.

Generation IV

In Generation IV, if the user of Clamp is holding a Grip Claw, the duration will always be 5 turns. Also, if an affected Pokémon is holding a Shed Shell, it can switch out.

Generation V

Clamp's accuracy is increased to 85, and lasts four to five turns.

Learnset

Generation I

By leveling up

#   Pokémon Type Level 0090 Shellder Water 23 0091 Cloyster Water Ice -- Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

Generation II

By leveling up

#   Pokémon Type Level 0090 Shellder Water 41 Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

Generation III

By leveling up

#   Pokémon Type Level 0090 Shellder Water 41 0090 Shellder Water 43 0366 Clamperl Water -- Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

Generation IV

By leveling up

#   Pokémon Type Level 0090 Shellder Water 25 0366 Clamperl Water -- Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

Generation V

By leveling up

#   Pokémon Type Level 0090 Shellder Water 25 0366 Clamperl Water -- Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

In the anime

The picture used in this section is unsatisfactory. Please feel free to replace it so it conforms to Bulbapedia conventions. Reason: The Shellder picture is a grainy jpg. Not good.

File:ClamperlClamp.png Clamperl File:EP066shot.jpg Shellder Cloyster
The user attaches itself to the opponent by using its shell.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Cloyster closes its shell on the opponent.
Tyra's Cloyster	The Bridge Bike Gang		Debut
	Shellder closes its shell over the opponent.
Jessie's Shellder	The Evolution Solution!		None
Several wild Shellder	A Crowning Achievement		None
	Clamperl closes its shell over the opponent.
A wild Clamperl	Clamperl of Wisdom		None

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

File:Shellder Clamp Adventures.png Shellder
The user clamps its shell over the opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Shellder closes its shell over the opponent.
Lorelei's Shellder	Striking Golduck		Debut

Trivia

• Clamp is the Japanese name of ViceGrip.
• Clamp has the second highest power of all trapping moves, being 85 points below its closest rival.
• Every time Clamp is used in the anime, it is used on the opponent's tail. Cloyster used it on Misty's Psyduck's tail, Shellder used it on a Slowpoke}, and Clamperl used it on Meowth's tail, except when the wild Shellders clamp onto the Slowpokes head, causing them to evolve into Slowking.
• Despite being Shellder's signature move in Generation I, PkMnaPkMnfPkMnk, PC4SH and P T can learn Clamp.
• however, these are all glitch pokemon.

In other languages

• Dutch: Klem
• French: Claquoir
• German: Schnapper
• Greek: Μέγγενη
• Italian: Tenaglia
• Korean: 껍질끼우기 Kkeopjil Kkiugi
• Spanish: Tenaza

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