If you’re a Pokémon fan, you’ve likely come across Clamperl at some point—perhaps in a game like Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, GO, or one of the more recent remakes. This mysterious Water-type Pokémon has puzzled and intrigued players for years, especially because of its unique evolution method. If you’re trying to understand how Clamperl evolves, when to evolve it, and which evolution is best, you’re in the right place.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know about Clamperl evolution—from mechanics to strategies, and even a few opinions on which path to choose.
What is Clamperl?
Clamperl is a Water-type Pokémon introduced in Generation III. It resembles a small clam, with a blue shell and a pearl inside. Despite its modest appearance, Clamperl can evolve into two very different and powerful Pokémon—Huntail or Gorebyss—depending on the conditions under which it evolves.
Here’s a quick breakdown of its basic stats and characteristics:
- Type: Water
- Base stats (approximate):
- HP: 35
- Attack: 64
- Defense: 85
- Special Attack: 74
- Special Defense: 55
- Speed: 32
- Abilities: Shell Armor / Rattled (Hidden Ability)
Clamperl may not be powerful in its base form, but don’t let that fool you. Its evolutions offer a serious upgrade in offensive power and utility.
preavious article: NFL Bite – Your Go-To for Streaming Football (And What You Should Know)
Clamperl Evolution Methods
Unlike many Pokémon that evolve through leveling up or exposure to evolutionary stones, Clamperl has a split evolution that depends on the item it’s holding while being traded.
Here’s how it works:
- Clamperl + Deep Sea Tooth → Trade → Huntail
- Clamperl + Deep Sea Scale → Trade → Gorebyss
This makes it similar to Pokémon like Slowpoke (who evolves into either Slowbro or Slowking depending on the method) or Gloom (who can evolve into either Vileplume or Bellossom).
Let’s break down both evolution options.
Huntail: The Deep-Sea Predator
Evolving Clamperl with the Deep Sea Tooth gives you Huntail, a Water-type Pokémon with a more physical combat style and an aggressive appearance.
Huntail’s Key Traits:
- Type: Water
- Style: Physical attacker
- Base Stats Highlights:
- Attack: 104
- Defense: 105
- Speed: 52
- Strengths:
- Better suited for offensive moves like Crunch, Aqua Tail, or Ice Fang
- Useful in physical Water-based strategies
Huntail’s design leans into the idea of a deep-sea predator, featuring a scary-looking jaw and an eel-like body. If you’re building a team that focuses on brute force and physical damage, Huntail is often the better pick.
Gorebyss: The Elegant Attacker
If you use the Deep Sea Scale instead, Clamperl evolves into Gorebyss. Unlike Huntail, Gorebyss specializes in Special Attack, making it more suited for moves like Surf, Psychic, or Scald.
Gorebyss Highlights:
- Type: Water
- Style: Special attacker
- Base Stats Highlights:
- Special Attack: 114
- Special Defense: 105
- Speed: 52
- Strengths:
- Ideal for long-range water and psychic moves
- Can function well in rain-based teams
While its pink, sleek design might give off harmless vibes, Gorebyss can be incredibly lethal in battle when used right.
Choosing Between Huntail and Gorebyss
Here’s where the big question comes in—Which evolution should you choose?
It depends largely on your team composition, strategy, and game version. Consider the following factors:
1. Battle Strategy
- Choose Huntail if you want a physically offensive Pokémon that can handle up-close combat.
- Choose Gorebyss if you prefer using ranged, special attacks and want a water-type that can also surprise with moves like Psychic.
2. Availability of Items
- Both Deep Sea Tooth and Deep Sea Scale are usually obtained in underwater areas or through held items.
- If you’re playing Pokémon GO, Clamperl evolves randomly into either form, which makes it less predictable (more on that below).
3. Team Composition
- If your team lacks physical strength, Huntail can help.
- If you’re short on special attackers, Gorebyss is the better bet.
Clamperl Evolution in Pokémon GO
Now, if you’re playing Pokémon GO, Clamperl’s evolution behaves differently.
- You’ll need 50 Clamperl Candy to evolve it.
- However, the evolution into Huntail or Gorebyss is random, with a 50/50 chance.
- This means you might need to catch and evolve multiple Clamperls to get the form you want.
Tips for GO players:
- Try evolving Clamperl during special events that boost its spawn rate.
- Use Pinap Berries to double candy per catch.
- Trade unwanted duplicates to get more candy back.
Competitive Viability
While neither Huntail nor Gorebyss are top-tier threats in competitive battling, both can serve niche roles, especially in lower-tier formats or specialized teams.
Huntail in Competitive:
- Can learn Shell Smash (through breeding), allowing for dangerous sweeps if not checked.
- Decent bulk and attack make it unpredictable.
Gorebyss in Competitive:
- Also gets access to Shell Smash, and with its higher Special Attack, can be a surprise offensive tool.
- Slightly more common in gimmick or rain teams.
That said, due to their low Speed and competition from stronger Water-types, they are rarely used in high-tier meta games.
Fun Facts About Clamperl and Its Evolutions
- In the Pokémon anime, Clamperl was featured in several episodes exploring its evolution paths.
- Gorebyss, despite its elegant appearance, is described in Pokédex entries as draining bodily fluids from prey—pretty dark!
- Huntail, on the other hand, uses the glowing tip on its tail to lure in prey—nature is terrifying.
Final Thoughts
Clamperl’s evolution may not be as well-known as Eevee’s, but it’s one of the more interesting examples of split evolution in the Pokémon series. With a choice between the power-focused Huntail and the graceful Gorebyss, players can tailor their strategy based on what their team needs.
