EV
Banned deucer.
Glalie http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/glalie
[SET]
name: Anti Lead
move 1: Icy Wind
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: HP Rock/Grass/Explosion
move 4: Taunt/Explosion
item: Life Orb/Focus Sash
ability: Inner Focus
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 56HP / 252SpA / 200Spe
Why this set:
-Bluffs standard lead sets that aim to lay down Spikes first.
-Icy Wind followed up by a super effective attack is your best bet at beating the UU tier's most common leads.
-Taunt is great for slower and/or bulkier leads that like to set up or that want to Taunt you, e.g. Uxie and Spiritomb.
-Explosion is a great way to clear out leads or counters Glalie can't beat with the Icy Wind + attack combo.
General strategy:
-Icy Wind + Ice Beam/HP beats most average leads like Ambipom, Omastar and Life Orb Moltres, depending on your item.
-Inner Focus makes sure Ambipom can't Fake Out flinch you and Moltres can't Air Slash flinch hax you to death (but Moltres would rather Fire Blast anyway).
-Focus Sash ensures you can come out against certain leads that would OHKO you or Life Orb boosts the Icy Wind + Ice Beam/attack combo to guarantee KOs where needed.
-Taunt will shut down slower leads like Omastar, 124 Speed Kabutops, Cloyster, Uxie and Spiritomb.
EVs, item and nature choices:
-200 (204 w/ HP Rock) speed EVs, Timid and Life Orb guarantees you can out speed Electrode after the first Icy Wind and finish off with Ice Beam while holding Life Orb.
-Modest with Focus Sash can beat Ambipom with Low Kick but doesn't ensure Icy Wind + Ice Beam will always KO (shaky 61.9% chance). It also helps survive first turn Focus Blast from Alakazam but also the loss in power can't guarantee a KO either (slim 31.7% chance). Icy Wind + HP Rock will always take down Moltres if it Fire Blasts you and you have a Sash.
-Modest with Focus Sash will let you live a Skill Link Rock Blast from Cloyster and come out on top with two HP Rock. If it uses Spikes first, you survive with your Sash intact.
-Choice Band Scyther cannot OHKO with Brick Break with at least 56 hit point EVs.
Additional comments:
-Choice of item can greatly affect the outcome of the first turn. Life Orb helps ensure an Ambipom KO if it is foolish enough to Fake Out first, but Focus Sash gives you a surefire way to live certain OHKOs and slow down the opponent with Icy Wind and follow up with a strong super effective hit.
-Timid or Modest also play a large part in deciding your tactic. Timid with 200 speed always out speeds Electrode after an Icy Wind but Modest will hit more common leads harder.
-HP Rock is meant for Moltres and Cloyster but HP Grass takes out Kabutops and Omastar, otherwise Explosion or even Shadow Ball (to KO Alakazam with Icy Wind) can be added.
-Taunt in the last slot can keep opposing entry hazards or screens off the field.
-The downfall in choosing the right set means you will generally have insurance against some leads, but never all of them, such as picking the wrong HP can mean your opening act is completely useless.
Teammates and Counters:
-Sturdy leads like Arcanine and Registeel give it trouble since both can't be 2HKO'd with any combo other than Explosion for Arcanine - and that's no guarantee if Arcanine has Intimidate. Hariyama and Hitmonlee respectively are good counters to them.
-Pursuit trappers are great additions to take out the bulky Psychics Glalie cannot always bring down like Uxie and Mesprit. Spiritomb and Skuntank do this well.
-Choiced Trick leads will ruin Glalie for the most part so be wary when choosing to stay in against Uxie, Mesprit or Alakazam.
[EDIT- switched out NeverMeltIce for Life Orb. Decided boost in power to nab critical KOs was worth the recoil. Fixed other small points.]
