[Overview]
<p>Gligar has terrorized the Little Cup metagame since the beginning for good reason. With an amazing base 85 Speed coupled with base 75 Attack, Gligar is a force to be reckoned with offensively, and being able to boost its stats further with Swords Dance and Agility makes it even more dangerous. In addition, its access to Baton Pass and a huge physical movepool make it extremely versatile. However, that's not to say that Gligar can only be used for offense. Its incredible base 105 Defense is easily one of the highest in the metagame, and its base 65 HP and 65 Special Defense aren't bad either. With the introduction of Eviolite, Gligar can become quite the tank defensively, and and an annoying obstacle to face in a sandstorm. A strong defensive and support movepool only help its cause, and Gligar can be very difficult to take down, especially with Roost in its arsenal. However, despite all of the problems that Gligar presents, there are a couple of Pokemon that can stop its rampage. Strong physical walls and faster revenge killers have the ability to take out Gligar before it can do too much damage. In addition, a weakness to common Water-type attacks does not make life any easier for Gligar. All in all, Gligar is still a great Pokemon to use, as it can pretty much fill any kind of role that your team may need.</p>
[SET]
name: Acrobatics
move 1: Acrobatics
move 2: Substitute / Swords Dance
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Roost
item: Flying Gem
ability: Hyper Cutter / Sand Veil
nature: Jolly
evs: 236 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is quite possibly Gligar's most immediately threatening set. Acrobatics is a move that does double the damage whenever the user does not have its held item, and since Flying Gem is used the first time Gligar uses a Flying-type attack, Acrobatics' power will be tripled the first time that it is used, and will do double damage on all subsequent attacks. Because of the bonuses that a Flying Gem presents, it should be the only item that this Gligar should have equipped. Substitute is a very good move to have, as it allows Gligar to have some sort of protection against enemy attacks while it lashes out powerful Acrobatics, while Swords Dance can be used for additional power, allowing Gligar to sweep through pretty much anything that isn't named Bronzor. Earthquake is for coverage against Steel-types and Chinchou, and is threatening itself. However, it should be noted that, in a case where Earthquake and Acrobatics will both inflict neutral damage, the latter should be used because of its slightly higher power courtesy of Gligar lacking an item. Roost increases Gligar's lifespan, allowing it to continually dish out damage throughout the course of a match, and works very well with Substitute as Gligar would not have a means of restoring health (other than via Wish) otherwise.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EVs on this set maximize Gligar's Attack and Speed, both of which are very important to allow Gligar to dish out as much damage as physically possible and as quickly as possible. A Jolly nature is used so that Gligar can hit 19 Speed, tying with the likes of Misdreavus, Murkrow, and Staryu. Hyper Cutter is the preferred ability, as it allows Gligar to disregard any Attack-lowering moves, such as Murkrow's Featherdance, but Sand Veil can work if Hippopotas is on your team. With your opponent only hitting about 80% of the time, getting up a Substitute shouldn't be too hard; then Gligar can wreak havoc. Stunky is also a great teammate for trapping Misdreavus, a Pokemon that can end Gligar's killing spree with just a couple of Icy Winds or a Will-O-Wisp. In addition, a way to kill Snover is great, and Croagunk is a very good candidate to do so with its one-two punch combination of Fake Out and Drain Punch. It also sports Dry Skin, allowing it to easily take care of Staryu.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive Booster
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Aerial Ace / Stone Edge
move 4: Roost / Baton Pass
item: Eviolite
ability: Hyper Cutter
nature: Jolly
evs: 236 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Because of Gligar's amazing typing and pretty high defenses, it can effectively run a boosting set. At the same time, it does not have to sacrifice anything to its defenses because of Eviolite. Gligar hits 19 Speed naturally, so it does not need to boost its Speed at all. Earthquake and Aerial Ace are STAB attacks, but Stone Edge can be used for coverage against Murkrow. Roost allows Gligar to heal off any damage it might have taken, while Baton Pass allows it to pass its boosts to another sweeper. Hyper Cutter is important as it prevents opposing Pokemon from reducing its ridiculously high Attack.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Due to Gligar's massive movepool, numerous other options can go into the third moveslot, depending on what you want Gligar to hit. Aqua Tail can work nicely to hit other Gligar, but it will be absolutely useless against Snover, which can now switch in without fear of Aerial Ace or Stone Edge. Night Slash works well against Misdreavus, but it doesn't get any additional coverage except against Ghost-types. This set is very easily revenge killed by Choice Scarf Snover and Shellder, so precautions must be taken in order to remove them from the battle. A Stealth Rock user and a spinblocker are very much appreciated, as Snover relies on switching in freely to effectively revenge kill multiple times. This makes Dwebble and Misdreavus great partners for this set, as they are the best candidates for the jobs. In addition, Chinchou is a great teammate to take out Shellder, since it resists Water- and Ice-type attacks.</p>
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Earthquake / Aerial Ace
move 2: Substitute / Taunt / Stealth Rock
move 3: Roost
move 4: Toxic
item: Eviolite
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Impish
evs: 156 HP / 156 Def / 76 SpD / 76 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Though Gligar is usually seen as an offensive threat, it can also work incredibly well as a defensive one. Earthquake is its strongest STAB attack, while Aerial Ace will always be able to hit something. Gligar needs this first slot for an attacking move so it will not be absolutely useless against a Pokemon with Taunt. It should be noted that Aerial Ace will be more effective against the Pranksters (Murkrow and Cottonee) than Earthquake. In the second slot, Substitute is preferred because this set is most effective in a sandstorm, and it should not be too hard to get up a Substitute with your opponents having decreased accuracy. Substitute also allows Gligar to evade status, most notably poison, which cripples Gligar beyond belief. However, Taunt can work over Substitute, but because Gligar doesn't get priority on its non-attacking moves, it isn't preferred. In addition, Stealth Rock is always an option if your team lacks it. Toxic is a great move to accompany Substitute, allowing Gligar to fully stall out the opponent as passive damage racks up. In addition, Roost is a great move to have in order to recover any damage taken from Substitute or by other means.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set works optimally in sandstorm; as a result, Hippopotas is one of the best teammates for this set. Once again, Chinchou is a great teammate in order to stop Shellder, who can break through Substitute and KO Gligar with Icicle Spear. In addition, Chinchou can also easily Thunderbolt Staryu, a Pokemon that would otherwise fare well against Gligar thanks to Recover and Natural Cure. To handle Snover, Munchlax is a great partner because of the synergy that it possesses with Gligar. Munchlax resists the common Ice-type attacks commonly directed towards Gligar, and can trap Pokemon with Pursuit or hit hard with Body Slam. Dwebble is also a great teammate, since it can set up Spikes and Stealth Rock, allowing the team to inflict more passive damage.</p>
[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Baton Pass
move 2: Swords Dance / Agility
move 3: Acrobatics / Agility
move 4: Substitute / Roost / Agility
item: Flying Gem / Eviolite / Oran Berry
ability: Hyper Cutter
nature: Jolly
evs: 76 HP / 76 Def / 76 SpD / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With Gligar's huge defenses and amazing support movepool, a Baton Pass set is out of the question. Gligar can be an amazing supporter to a team. Swords Dance is the primary move to pass, and with a plethora of strong recipients in Little Cup, there are multiple options as to who can receive it. However, Agility can be passed to a strong, slow Pokemon, such as Aron, who would appreciate the Speed more than the Attack. The third slot is for Acrobatics, as opponents will not think that Gligar will be passing boosts if it leads with Acrobatics, but this can potentially give opponents a nasty surprise if they switch out and Gligar pulls off a Substitute, followed by a Swords Dance. Finally, in the last slot, Substitute gives Gligar another potential move to pass along, while Roost gives it the option to heal itself if switching in multiple times throughout the match.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>For recipients, look no further than a sturdy Fighting-type. Scraggy is quite potentially one of the best, as it can boost its only decent Speed with Dragon Dance. Physical attackers that are not weak to priority attacks, such as Croagunk, will also benefit from a Swords Dance. Pokemon that appreciate Speed include slow attackers and Misdreavus, which would always enjoy being able to outspeed the entire tier after a passed Agility. If opting to use Agility over Acrobatics, Eviolite should be used over Flying Gem as it provides extra bulk, and Gligar will be able to do something with it. If you find yourself needing a way to heal and decide not to use Roost, an Oran Berry can be used as the held item.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Aerial Ace / Stone Edge
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Night Slash / Aqua Tail
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Hyper Cutter
nature: Jolly
evs: 236 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>One of the most dangerous scouts from DPP Little Cup returns with a vengeance. Gligar's superb Attack and blistering Speed, coupled with one of the deepest movepools in the entire metagame, make for one superior scout. Earthquake is Gligar's most powerful STAB attack, and no one should ever leave home without it on this set. Aerial Ace gives Fighting-types a nasty surprise in the morning, while Stone Edge hits Murkrow and most other Flying-types. U-turn gives Gligar the option to scout for predicted Snover switch-ins and allows the momentum to stay on your side. Finally, Night Slash hits Misdreavus and other Ghost-types, while Aqua Tail smacks Hippopotas and other Gligar for super effective damage.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set is interesting because, if you can predict correctly, it can actually beat Choice Scarf Snover in a head-to-head match. With Aerial Ace being an easy 2HKO (OHKO after Stealth Rock), Gligar can beat the pine tree with one or two swift attacks, as Snover fails to OHKO with Ice Shard courtesy of Gligar's stellar Defense. In addition, Shellder is in the same boat because, despite its high Defense, it cannot stand up to two Earthquakes, and will not be able to KO with its Ice Shard either. The EVs on this set maximize Gligar's Attack and Speed, while the Jolly nature brings Gligar up to 28 Speed—outspeeding or tying with all Choice Scarf users bar Voltorb, Elekid, and Diglett. Again, Chinchou is quite potentially one of the best teammates Gligar can have as they have near-perfect synergy with each other, and Chinchou can use Volt Switch for additional scouting. Scraggy is also a big help to this set, as Choice Scarf Gligar will easily stop Croagunk, one of the biggest threats to a Dragon Dance Scraggy sweep.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Due to Gligar's massive movepool, most of its options have already been listed. However, it has access to Knock Off, a way of removing items from opposing Pokemon. It also has Quick Attack to give itself a priority move and become a revenge killer, but its already high Speed and ability to wear a Choice Scarf will more than make up for it. A Choice Band or Life Orb variant is also viable, but due to the metagame shift, Gligar will want to be able to come in multiple times, and a Choice Band will make it too susceptible to Snover and Shellder.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Snover is probably one of the greatest checks to Gligar, and it's easy to see why. It can easily OHKO Gligar with Blizzard, and will effectively remove sandstorm from the battlefield and replace it with hail—eliminating Gligar's Sand Veil. Misdreavus with Icy Wind, in addition to other bulky Pokemon with Hidden Power Ice, fares well against Gligar. Sand Rush Drilbur with Hidden Power Ice and a Life Orb will also be able to OHKO most Gligar variants, as long as the move hits. Ferroseed can break through Substitutes with Bullet Seed, and Gligar can only sometimes muster a 2HKO with Acrobatics. Lileep, with its stellar Defense, can tank two Acrobatics and hit back hard with Energy Ball and Hidden Power Ice. It can also Recover off any damage it took. Staryu can Speed tie with Gligar and inflict heavy damage with Hydro Pump, Scald, or Ice Beam, and can also Recover off any damage Gligar deals to it.</p>
<p>Gligar has terrorized the Little Cup metagame since the beginning for good reason. With an amazing base 85 Speed coupled with base 75 Attack, Gligar is a force to be reckoned with offensively, and being able to boost its stats further with Swords Dance and Agility makes it even more dangerous. In addition, its access to Baton Pass and a huge physical movepool make it extremely versatile. However, that's not to say that Gligar can only be used for offense. Its incredible base 105 Defense is easily one of the highest in the metagame, and its base 65 HP and 65 Special Defense aren't bad either. With the introduction of Eviolite, Gligar can become quite the tank defensively, and and an annoying obstacle to face in a sandstorm. A strong defensive and support movepool only help its cause, and Gligar can be very difficult to take down, especially with Roost in its arsenal. However, despite all of the problems that Gligar presents, there are a couple of Pokemon that can stop its rampage. Strong physical walls and faster revenge killers have the ability to take out Gligar before it can do too much damage. In addition, a weakness to common Water-type attacks does not make life any easier for Gligar. All in all, Gligar is still a great Pokemon to use, as it can pretty much fill any kind of role that your team may need.</p>
[SET]
name: Acrobatics
move 1: Acrobatics
move 2: Substitute / Swords Dance
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Roost
item: Flying Gem
ability: Hyper Cutter / Sand Veil
nature: Jolly
evs: 236 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is quite possibly Gligar's most immediately threatening set. Acrobatics is a move that does double the damage whenever the user does not have its held item, and since Flying Gem is used the first time Gligar uses a Flying-type attack, Acrobatics' power will be tripled the first time that it is used, and will do double damage on all subsequent attacks. Because of the bonuses that a Flying Gem presents, it should be the only item that this Gligar should have equipped. Substitute is a very good move to have, as it allows Gligar to have some sort of protection against enemy attacks while it lashes out powerful Acrobatics, while Swords Dance can be used for additional power, allowing Gligar to sweep through pretty much anything that isn't named Bronzor. Earthquake is for coverage against Steel-types and Chinchou, and is threatening itself. However, it should be noted that, in a case where Earthquake and Acrobatics will both inflict neutral damage, the latter should be used because of its slightly higher power courtesy of Gligar lacking an item. Roost increases Gligar's lifespan, allowing it to continually dish out damage throughout the course of a match, and works very well with Substitute as Gligar would not have a means of restoring health (other than via Wish) otherwise.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EVs on this set maximize Gligar's Attack and Speed, both of which are very important to allow Gligar to dish out as much damage as physically possible and as quickly as possible. A Jolly nature is used so that Gligar can hit 19 Speed, tying with the likes of Misdreavus, Murkrow, and Staryu. Hyper Cutter is the preferred ability, as it allows Gligar to disregard any Attack-lowering moves, such as Murkrow's Featherdance, but Sand Veil can work if Hippopotas is on your team. With your opponent only hitting about 80% of the time, getting up a Substitute shouldn't be too hard; then Gligar can wreak havoc. Stunky is also a great teammate for trapping Misdreavus, a Pokemon that can end Gligar's killing spree with just a couple of Icy Winds or a Will-O-Wisp. In addition, a way to kill Snover is great, and Croagunk is a very good candidate to do so with its one-two punch combination of Fake Out and Drain Punch. It also sports Dry Skin, allowing it to easily take care of Staryu.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive Booster
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Aerial Ace / Stone Edge
move 4: Roost / Baton Pass
item: Eviolite
ability: Hyper Cutter
nature: Jolly
evs: 236 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Because of Gligar's amazing typing and pretty high defenses, it can effectively run a boosting set. At the same time, it does not have to sacrifice anything to its defenses because of Eviolite. Gligar hits 19 Speed naturally, so it does not need to boost its Speed at all. Earthquake and Aerial Ace are STAB attacks, but Stone Edge can be used for coverage against Murkrow. Roost allows Gligar to heal off any damage it might have taken, while Baton Pass allows it to pass its boosts to another sweeper. Hyper Cutter is important as it prevents opposing Pokemon from reducing its ridiculously high Attack.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Due to Gligar's massive movepool, numerous other options can go into the third moveslot, depending on what you want Gligar to hit. Aqua Tail can work nicely to hit other Gligar, but it will be absolutely useless against Snover, which can now switch in without fear of Aerial Ace or Stone Edge. Night Slash works well against Misdreavus, but it doesn't get any additional coverage except against Ghost-types. This set is very easily revenge killed by Choice Scarf Snover and Shellder, so precautions must be taken in order to remove them from the battle. A Stealth Rock user and a spinblocker are very much appreciated, as Snover relies on switching in freely to effectively revenge kill multiple times. This makes Dwebble and Misdreavus great partners for this set, as they are the best candidates for the jobs. In addition, Chinchou is a great teammate to take out Shellder, since it resists Water- and Ice-type attacks.</p>
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Earthquake / Aerial Ace
move 2: Substitute / Taunt / Stealth Rock
move 3: Roost
move 4: Toxic
item: Eviolite
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Impish
evs: 156 HP / 156 Def / 76 SpD / 76 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Though Gligar is usually seen as an offensive threat, it can also work incredibly well as a defensive one. Earthquake is its strongest STAB attack, while Aerial Ace will always be able to hit something. Gligar needs this first slot for an attacking move so it will not be absolutely useless against a Pokemon with Taunt. It should be noted that Aerial Ace will be more effective against the Pranksters (Murkrow and Cottonee) than Earthquake. In the second slot, Substitute is preferred because this set is most effective in a sandstorm, and it should not be too hard to get up a Substitute with your opponents having decreased accuracy. Substitute also allows Gligar to evade status, most notably poison, which cripples Gligar beyond belief. However, Taunt can work over Substitute, but because Gligar doesn't get priority on its non-attacking moves, it isn't preferred. In addition, Stealth Rock is always an option if your team lacks it. Toxic is a great move to accompany Substitute, allowing Gligar to fully stall out the opponent as passive damage racks up. In addition, Roost is a great move to have in order to recover any damage taken from Substitute or by other means.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set works optimally in sandstorm; as a result, Hippopotas is one of the best teammates for this set. Once again, Chinchou is a great teammate in order to stop Shellder, who can break through Substitute and KO Gligar with Icicle Spear. In addition, Chinchou can also easily Thunderbolt Staryu, a Pokemon that would otherwise fare well against Gligar thanks to Recover and Natural Cure. To handle Snover, Munchlax is a great partner because of the synergy that it possesses with Gligar. Munchlax resists the common Ice-type attacks commonly directed towards Gligar, and can trap Pokemon with Pursuit or hit hard with Body Slam. Dwebble is also a great teammate, since it can set up Spikes and Stealth Rock, allowing the team to inflict more passive damage.</p>
[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Baton Pass
move 2: Swords Dance / Agility
move 3: Acrobatics / Agility
move 4: Substitute / Roost / Agility
item: Flying Gem / Eviolite / Oran Berry
ability: Hyper Cutter
nature: Jolly
evs: 76 HP / 76 Def / 76 SpD / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With Gligar's huge defenses and amazing support movepool, a Baton Pass set is out of the question. Gligar can be an amazing supporter to a team. Swords Dance is the primary move to pass, and with a plethora of strong recipients in Little Cup, there are multiple options as to who can receive it. However, Agility can be passed to a strong, slow Pokemon, such as Aron, who would appreciate the Speed more than the Attack. The third slot is for Acrobatics, as opponents will not think that Gligar will be passing boosts if it leads with Acrobatics, but this can potentially give opponents a nasty surprise if they switch out and Gligar pulls off a Substitute, followed by a Swords Dance. Finally, in the last slot, Substitute gives Gligar another potential move to pass along, while Roost gives it the option to heal itself if switching in multiple times throughout the match.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>For recipients, look no further than a sturdy Fighting-type. Scraggy is quite potentially one of the best, as it can boost its only decent Speed with Dragon Dance. Physical attackers that are not weak to priority attacks, such as Croagunk, will also benefit from a Swords Dance. Pokemon that appreciate Speed include slow attackers and Misdreavus, which would always enjoy being able to outspeed the entire tier after a passed Agility. If opting to use Agility over Acrobatics, Eviolite should be used over Flying Gem as it provides extra bulk, and Gligar will be able to do something with it. If you find yourself needing a way to heal and decide not to use Roost, an Oran Berry can be used as the held item.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Aerial Ace / Stone Edge
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Night Slash / Aqua Tail
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Hyper Cutter
nature: Jolly
evs: 236 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>One of the most dangerous scouts from DPP Little Cup returns with a vengeance. Gligar's superb Attack and blistering Speed, coupled with one of the deepest movepools in the entire metagame, make for one superior scout. Earthquake is Gligar's most powerful STAB attack, and no one should ever leave home without it on this set. Aerial Ace gives Fighting-types a nasty surprise in the morning, while Stone Edge hits Murkrow and most other Flying-types. U-turn gives Gligar the option to scout for predicted Snover switch-ins and allows the momentum to stay on your side. Finally, Night Slash hits Misdreavus and other Ghost-types, while Aqua Tail smacks Hippopotas and other Gligar for super effective damage.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set is interesting because, if you can predict correctly, it can actually beat Choice Scarf Snover in a head-to-head match. With Aerial Ace being an easy 2HKO (OHKO after Stealth Rock), Gligar can beat the pine tree with one or two swift attacks, as Snover fails to OHKO with Ice Shard courtesy of Gligar's stellar Defense. In addition, Shellder is in the same boat because, despite its high Defense, it cannot stand up to two Earthquakes, and will not be able to KO with its Ice Shard either. The EVs on this set maximize Gligar's Attack and Speed, while the Jolly nature brings Gligar up to 28 Speed—outspeeding or tying with all Choice Scarf users bar Voltorb, Elekid, and Diglett. Again, Chinchou is quite potentially one of the best teammates Gligar can have as they have near-perfect synergy with each other, and Chinchou can use Volt Switch for additional scouting. Scraggy is also a big help to this set, as Choice Scarf Gligar will easily stop Croagunk, one of the biggest threats to a Dragon Dance Scraggy sweep.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Due to Gligar's massive movepool, most of its options have already been listed. However, it has access to Knock Off, a way of removing items from opposing Pokemon. It also has Quick Attack to give itself a priority move and become a revenge killer, but its already high Speed and ability to wear a Choice Scarf will more than make up for it. A Choice Band or Life Orb variant is also viable, but due to the metagame shift, Gligar will want to be able to come in multiple times, and a Choice Band will make it too susceptible to Snover and Shellder.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Snover is probably one of the greatest checks to Gligar, and it's easy to see why. It can easily OHKO Gligar with Blizzard, and will effectively remove sandstorm from the battlefield and replace it with hail—eliminating Gligar's Sand Veil. Misdreavus with Icy Wind, in addition to other bulky Pokemon with Hidden Power Ice, fares well against Gligar. Sand Rush Drilbur with Hidden Power Ice and a Life Orb will also be able to OHKO most Gligar variants, as long as the move hits. Ferroseed can break through Substitutes with Bullet Seed, and Gligar can only sometimes muster a 2HKO with Acrobatics. Lileep, with its stellar Defense, can tank two Acrobatics and hit back hard with Energy Ball and Hidden Power Ice. It can also Recover off any damage it took. Staryu can Speed tie with Gligar and inflict heavy damage with Hydro Pump, Scald, or Ice Beam, and can also Recover off any damage Gligar deals to it.</p>
