This is a brilliant supporting pokemon, on the same level as Delcatty PK (although catty helps with discard) but what does Claydol work with?
It is by no means on the same level as Delcatty. It is a LOT better than Delcatty, mainly because Baltoy is so EDIT:good.
The question is what
doesn't it work with IMO playing it with a power/body heavy deck such as Sceptile or anything that relies on Unown G is a bit too much a risk simply because cessation crystal will give you a very hard time in disabling both your setup and central pokémon. Windstorm might not fit in well and Pachirisu to discard the tool early/midgame will just slow things down.
I don't see Claydol working with evolution lines that depend on each other. Setting up three stage 1 or 2s before your deck can really do anything is a weakness even if Claydol's draw makes it easier.
I see the big Claydol combo as using 3 or 4 team galactic's wager because that card is so awesome and with Claydol you literally can't lose, just draw up from 3 to 6. Then when you DO win RPS they are left with three. I like Sableye because even though it will lose a lot of power with Unown G around you get that extra range from Claydol's draw.
Delcatty has worked alongside straight evolution lines. Delcatty + Infernape worked. Delcatty + Infernape + Typhlosion doesn't work because even with Delcatty and Typhlosion it's no use until an Infernape is developed. Same thing applies to Claydol. Claydol/Lucario could work nicely considering Lucario's smoothness and swiftness but Claydol/Lucario/Machamp sounds a little messy.
Baltoy almost makes Claydol ex playable, just not quite. Shadow crush ruins Wailord or anything else that needs a good few energies to attack. I'd imagine it could do nicely versus Blissey too. Then there's Darkrai varients. Gallade has psychic weakness but I'm not too sure if it could work against that. A 4-4-4 Claydol ex line or similar although a novel concept just might work. With a main attacker and setup as a split evolution you have more space for other things. Kinda like G+G lol. Lay down stadiums, energy, tools, pluspowers and things to beef up or heal Claydol ex then return two and have a new hand of 6. Of course you can wager ASAP with a line like that or just run lots of shuffle-draw. Quick balls to get out those Claydol/exs. Starter Baltoy = 8/13 chance of working = 62%. Bebe's too as the returned card helps for Claydol's draw. Too bad you mulligan 61% of the time
I think Claydol will see most play in G+G though as the extra supporters through Gardevoir combo great.
