Clamp (move)

If you were looking for the move with the Japanese name Clamp, see Vice Grip.

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Clamp からではさむ Clamp with Shell

Battles Type  Water Category  Physical PP  15 (max. 24) 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 adjacent to the user

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

Contests Condition  Tough Appeal  3 ♥♥♥ Jam  0   Temporarily stops the crowd from getting excited.

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

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Tough Appeal  3 ♥♥♥ Jamming  0   Temporarily stops the crowd from growing excited.

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 Water-type move introduced in Generation I. Prior to Generation III, it was the signature move of Shellder and Cloyster.

Effect

Generation I

Clamp inflicts damage for 2-5 turns and has an Accuracy of 75 and 10 PP. 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. As said above, 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. "<Pokémon> was CLAMPED by <User>!" will appear. 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. The text also changes to "<User> CLAMPED <Pokémon>!"

Generation IV

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

Generation V

Clamp's accuracy is increased to 85, its PP is increased to 15, and it lasts four to five turns. If a Binding Band is held by the user, the damage done at the end of each turn will increase from 1/16 of the target's maximum HP to 1/8.

Generation VI

The end turn damage of Clamp is increased from 1/16 to 1/8 of the target's maximum HP. If the user is holding a Binding Band, the end turn damage of Clamp will increase to 1/6 of the target's maximum HP.

Description

Games Description The target is gripped in the attacker's shell for two to five turns. It can't move while under the attack. Grips the target in the attacker's shell for two to five turns. Traps the foe for 2-5 turns. RSE Traps and squeezes the foe for 2 to 5 turns. FRLG The foe is clamped and squeezed by the user’s shell for two to five turns. Traps and squeezes the target for 2 to 5 turns. The foe is clamped and squeezed by the user’s very thick and sturdy shell for two to five turns. The target is clamped and squeezed by the user's very thick and sturdy shell for four to five turns.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Type		Level
					I		II		III		IV		V		VI
090		Shellder	Water		Water	23			41			41	43	25				25			25
091		Cloyster	Water	Ice	--																'
366		Clamperl	Water		Water							--			--				--			--
688		Binacle	Rock	Water																	20
689		Barbaracle	Rock	Water																	20
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

In the anime

Cloyster Shellder File:Shellder Clamp EP260.png Shellder Clamperl
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, or Shellder bites the opponent.
Jessie's Shellder	The Evolution Solution!		None
Multiple wild Shellder	A Crowning Achievement		None
	Clamperl closes its shell over the opponent.
A wild Clamperl	Clamperl of Wisdom		None
A wild Clamperl	Meloetta's Moonlight Serenade		None

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

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

In other generations

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 夾殼 Jiā​ké​ Danish Klemme Dutch Klem Finnish Pihti French Claquoir German Schnapper Greek Μέγγενη Italian Tenaglia Korean 껍질끼우기 Kkeopjil Kkiugi Brazilian Portuguese Prender Serbian Klješta Spanish Tenaza

Variations of the move Fire Spin
Clamp • Sand Tomb Fire Spin • Whirlpool

This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.