What it does
Clanging Scales is a Dragon-type special move that targets both opponents simultaneously. In doubles, spread moves hit at 0.75× power per target — so you're trading single-target damage for two hits in one action. The catch: each use drops Kommo-o's own Defense by one stage, making it progressively easier to knock out with physical attacks.
That Defense drop is not a minor footnote. After two or three uses, even neutral physical hits start threatening a KO. The move forces you to think about when to fire it, not just whether to.
Dragon covers a lot of the field cleanly — good neutral damage against most types, super-effective against Dragon targets. Steel resists it at 0.5×, Fairy blocks it entirely at 0×. Those two are the walls you need coverage for elsewhere in Kommo-o's moveset.
Who runs it
Kommo-o is the exclusive user at 91%. It's the only Pokémon in the current format with meaningful Special Attack, Dragon/Fighting dual typing, and this move in its pool. The Special Attack stat makes the power real, and the Fighting STAB handles the Steel-types that Clanging Scales can't touch.
Bulletproof and Soundproof are its ability options — both provide niche protection. Soundproof is worth noting specifically: Clanging Scales is a sound-based move, and Soundproof would block it if an opponent's Kommo-o mirrors you. In practice, Bulletproof sees more use to block ball and bomb moves.
How to use it
The ideal turn to fire Clanging Scales is when both opponents are vulnerable to Dragon — no Steel, no Fairy in the active slots. Against a mixed spread where one opponent resists or blocks Dragon, a targeted single hit usually does more total damage.
Manage the Defense drops carefully. Three uses puts Kommo-o at -3 Defense, which can turn surviving a physical hit into a coin flip. Bring a partner that can either draw physical attacks away or provide some form of indirect protection to extend Kommo-o's window.
Wide Guard from a partner can also protect Kommo-o from opposing spread moves while it's in a weakened state.
Tips & strategy
Clangorous Soul and Clanging Scales often share a moveset because they form a deliberate arc: boost all stats first, then start firing the spread move. The +1 Defense from Clangorous Soul gives a buffer before Clanging Scales chips it back down.
Opponent Wide Guard fully stops Clanging Scales since it's a spread move. If you read Wide Guard coming, Kommo-o needs a single-target option to pivot to.
Fairy-type opponents are immune to Dragon entirely — don't waste the action. Steel-types take half, which makes the spread value drop further. Both cases call for Kommo-o's Fighting-type coverage instead.