Clamp (move)

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

Clamp からではさむ Clamp with Shell

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

Target Foe Foe Foe Self Ally Ally May affect anyone adjacent to the user

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

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

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

Clamp on Legendary Pokémon MoveDex Clamp on Eevee's Movedex

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 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.

In Pokémon Stadium, if the target Pokémon switches out before the duration ends Clamp is ended and the user's turn is skipped.

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. "<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

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. 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.

Description

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: XD description.

Games Description Stad The target is gripped in the attacker's shell for two to five turns. It can't move while under the attack. Stad2 Grips the target in the attacker's shell for two to five turns. GSC 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. Colo. Traps and squeezes the target for 2 to 5 turns. DPPtHGSS The foe is clamped and squeezed by the user’s very thick and sturdy shell for two to five turns. BWB2W2 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
090		Shellder	Water		Water	23			41			41	43	25				25
091		Cloyster	Water	Ice	--			no			no			no				no
366		Clamperl	Water		Water	no			no			--			--				--
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

In the anime

Cloyster	Shellder	Shellder	Clamperl
The user attaches itself to the opponent by using its shell.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
Cloyster	Cloyster closes its shell on the opponent.
Tyra's Cloyster	The Bridge Bike Gang		Debut
Shellder	Shellder closes its shell over the opponent, or Shellder bites the opponent.
Jessie's Shellder	The Evolution Solution!		None
Several wild Shellder	A Crowning Achievement		None
Clamperl	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	Shellder closes its shell over the opponent.
Lorelei's Shellder	Striking Golduck		Debut

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

	Shellder
The user clamps its shell over the opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
Shellder	Shellder closes its shell over the opponent, leaving the opponent to feel pain at the area the shell was closed on.
A wild Shellder	The Legendary Pokémon Appears		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)	FRLG	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battle Revolution (alternative animation)	Battrio	Mystery Dungeon	PMD: Red and Blue	PMD: Time, Darkness, Sky	Rumble	Rumble Blast

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)	FRLG	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battle Revolution (alternative animation)	Battrio	Mystery Dungeon	PMD: Red and Blue	PMD: Time, Darkness, Sky	Rumble	Rumble Blast

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 夾殼 Jiā​ké​ Dutch Klem Finnish Pihtihyökkäys French Claquoir German Schnapper Greek Μέγγενη Italian Tenaglia Korean 껍질끼우기 Kkeopjil Kkiugi Brazilian Portuguese Conchada Serbian Klješta Spanish Latin America Tenaza Spain Tenaza

Variations of the move Clamp
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.