[OVERVIEW]
Gliscor's access to Taunt and Swords Dance combined with a pseudo-status immunity lets it pose a giant threat to both stall and bulkier teams effectively. Its typing and bulk let it switch in on Pokemon like Heatran and Tyranitar, and its ability Poison Heal recovers an eighth of its total health each turn. However, Gliscor faces competition from Landorus-T because Landorus-T has a better offensive presence and access to Intimidate lets it check a lot more Pokemon, and Gliscor's typing makes it vulnerable to Ice- and Water-type attacks from Pokemon like Kyurem-B, Ash-Greninja, and Weavile.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Knock Off
item: Toxic Orb
ability: Poison Heal
nature: Jolly
evs: 244 HP / 152 SpD / 112 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance lets Gliscor boost its Attack stat, allowing it to effectively break through passive Pokemon after a few boosts. Earthquake is Gliscor's STAB move, hitting anything that doesn't resist it very hard after a boost. Taunt cripples passive Pokemon like Chansey, Clefable, Quagsire, and Mega Scizor that rely on their support movepool to properly do their job. Knock Off hits Pokemon that are immune to Earthquake like Skarmory, Celesteela, and Landorus-T. It also removes items like Leftovers, which helps Gliscor break past Pokemon carrying it. Facade can be run over Knock Off because it provides a stronger hit on Pokemon that are immune to Earthquake whenever Gliscor is poisoned; however, this leaves Gliscor walled by Skarmory and Celesteela, and it also doesn't remove items.
Set Details
========
244 EVs in HP maximize the amount of Poison Heal recovery per turn while maximizing Gliscor's overall bulk. 112 Speed EVs with a Jolly nature allow Gliscor to outrun Timid Heatran and anything slower. 152 EVs in Special Defense augment Gliscor's special bulk and let it avoid a 2HKO from Landorus-T's Hidden Power Ice. Poison Heal gives Gliscor passive recovery whenever poisoned, and Toxic Orb guarantees that Gliscor gets poisoned. It also prevents Gliscor from getting burned by Scald or Will-O-Wisp.
Usage Tips
========
Avoid switching Gliscor in on Pokemon that can carry Knock Off, Will-O-Wisp, or Spore before it's poisoned, as these will take away Gliscor's passive recovery. Gliscor relies on Poison Heal to recover health, so try to avoid taking too much damage, because Gliscor will have a harder time taking two Scalds from Quagsire and Alomomola. Gliscor can easily switch into passive Pokemon like Clefable and Chansey to set up a Swords Dance and potentially sweep. If Gliscor is used in conjunction with Magnezone to trap Skarmory, try to Knock Off Skarmory's Shed Shell and then switch in to Magnezone to properly trap and remove it from the rest of the game. Use Knock Off early-game to remove a Pokemon's item that might try to switch into Gliscor.
Team Options
========
Gliscor fits best on bulky offense teams that appreciate its ability to break stall and check Pokemon like Tyranitar and Heatran. Pokemon that tend to struggle with stall like Zygarde, Magearna, and Volcarona appreciate Gliscor's ability to break this archetype. Pokemon that can check bulky Water-types like Tapu Bulu, Tapu Koko, and Serperior make for good teammates because Gliscor tends to struggle with the likes of Suicune, Mantine, and Rotom-W. Tapu Bulu's Grassy Surge weakens Gliscor's Earthquakes, however. Magnezone can trap Skarmory and Celesteela, which can easily wall Gliscor. Water-types like Toxapex, Mantine, and Keldeo can switch into Water- and Ice-type attacks aimed at Gliscor, and they all benefit from Gliscor's ability to switch into Electric-type attacks. Toxapex can set up Toxic Spikes, which lets Gliscor break down walls more easily, Mantine can Defog away Stealth Rock, and Keldeo can lure and defeat defensive Grass- and Water-types with its Calm Mind Taunt set.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A set consisting of Substitute / Toxic / Protect / Earthquake can be used to spread poison and annoy offensive teams, but this set is very passive and lets in Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur, Celesteela, and Mega Scizor for free while having an awful matchup versus bulkier teams. Ice Fang can be used to hit Pokemon like Garchomp, Zygarde, and Landorus-T hard, but it doesn't provide any useful utility outside of hitting those Pokemon. Roost helps Gliscor to stay healthy against Pokemon like Quagsire and Alomomola. Gliscor can be used to set up Stealth Rock, but it's greatly outclassed in this role by Landorus-T.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Water-types like Rotom-W, Suicune, and Mantine can easily wall Gliscor by virtue of their bulk, ability, or typing and can retaliate with their STAB moves; however, they don't like to have their item removed. Quagsire can switch into Gliscor but it doesn't do much back and can't recover HP because of Taunt. Ash-Greninja and Keldeo can also switch into Gliscor's Earthquake once or twice and threaten it with their STAB moves.
**Ice-type Attacks**: Gliscor is 4x weak to Ice, which leaves it vulnerable to Ice-type attacks. Weavile and Kyurem-B can easily threaten Gliscor with their STAB moves.
**Defensive Grass-types**: Defensive Grass-types like Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, and Tangrowth can switch into Gliscor's Earthquake easily and PP stall it out of Earthquakes; however, the latter has to be wary of Knock Off, as it greatly relies on its Assault Vest to check special attackers.
**Defensive Steel-types** Defensive Steel-types like Celesteela and Skarmory can easily switch into Gliscor's Earthquake, but they have to be wary of getting their item removed by Knock Off.
Gliscor's access to Taunt and Swords Dance combined with a pseudo-status immunity lets it pose a giant threat to both stall and bulkier teams effectively. Its typing and bulk let it switch in on Pokemon like Heatran and Tyranitar, and its ability Poison Heal recovers an eighth of its total health each turn. However, Gliscor faces competition from Landorus-T because Landorus-T has a better offensive presence and access to Intimidate lets it check a lot more Pokemon, and Gliscor's typing makes it vulnerable to Ice- and Water-type attacks from Pokemon like Kyurem-B, Ash-Greninja, and Weavile.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Knock Off
item: Toxic Orb
ability: Poison Heal
nature: Jolly
evs: 244 HP / 152 SpD / 112 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance lets Gliscor boost its Attack stat, allowing it to effectively break through passive Pokemon after a few boosts. Earthquake is Gliscor's STAB move, hitting anything that doesn't resist it very hard after a boost. Taunt cripples passive Pokemon like Chansey, Clefable, Quagsire, and Mega Scizor that rely on their support movepool to properly do their job. Knock Off hits Pokemon that are immune to Earthquake like Skarmory, Celesteela, and Landorus-T. It also removes items like Leftovers, which helps Gliscor break past Pokemon carrying it. Facade can be run over Knock Off because it provides a stronger hit on Pokemon that are immune to Earthquake whenever Gliscor is poisoned; however, this leaves Gliscor walled by Skarmory and Celesteela, and it also doesn't remove items.
Set Details
========
244 EVs in HP maximize the amount of Poison Heal recovery per turn while maximizing Gliscor's overall bulk. 112 Speed EVs with a Jolly nature allow Gliscor to outrun Timid Heatran and anything slower. 152 EVs in Special Defense augment Gliscor's special bulk and let it avoid a 2HKO from Landorus-T's Hidden Power Ice. Poison Heal gives Gliscor passive recovery whenever poisoned, and Toxic Orb guarantees that Gliscor gets poisoned. It also prevents Gliscor from getting burned by Scald or Will-O-Wisp.
Usage Tips
========
Avoid switching Gliscor in on Pokemon that can carry Knock Off, Will-O-Wisp, or Spore before it's poisoned, as these will take away Gliscor's passive recovery. Gliscor relies on Poison Heal to recover health, so try to avoid taking too much damage, because Gliscor will have a harder time taking two Scalds from Quagsire and Alomomola. Gliscor can easily switch into passive Pokemon like Clefable and Chansey to set up a Swords Dance and potentially sweep. If Gliscor is used in conjunction with Magnezone to trap Skarmory, try to Knock Off Skarmory's Shed Shell and then switch in to Magnezone to properly trap and remove it from the rest of the game. Use Knock Off early-game to remove a Pokemon's item that might try to switch into Gliscor.
Team Options
========
Gliscor fits best on bulky offense teams that appreciate its ability to break stall and check Pokemon like Tyranitar and Heatran. Pokemon that tend to struggle with stall like Zygarde, Magearna, and Volcarona appreciate Gliscor's ability to break this archetype. Pokemon that can check bulky Water-types like Tapu Bulu, Tapu Koko, and Serperior make for good teammates because Gliscor tends to struggle with the likes of Suicune, Mantine, and Rotom-W. Tapu Bulu's Grassy Surge weakens Gliscor's Earthquakes, however. Magnezone can trap Skarmory and Celesteela, which can easily wall Gliscor. Water-types like Toxapex, Mantine, and Keldeo can switch into Water- and Ice-type attacks aimed at Gliscor, and they all benefit from Gliscor's ability to switch into Electric-type attacks. Toxapex can set up Toxic Spikes, which lets Gliscor break down walls more easily, Mantine can Defog away Stealth Rock, and Keldeo can lure and defeat defensive Grass- and Water-types with its Calm Mind Taunt set.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A set consisting of Substitute / Toxic / Protect / Earthquake can be used to spread poison and annoy offensive teams, but this set is very passive and lets in Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur, Celesteela, and Mega Scizor for free while having an awful matchup versus bulkier teams. Ice Fang can be used to hit Pokemon like Garchomp, Zygarde, and Landorus-T hard, but it doesn't provide any useful utility outside of hitting those Pokemon. Roost helps Gliscor to stay healthy against Pokemon like Quagsire and Alomomola. Gliscor can be used to set up Stealth Rock, but it's greatly outclassed in this role by Landorus-T.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Water-types like Rotom-W, Suicune, and Mantine can easily wall Gliscor by virtue of their bulk, ability, or typing and can retaliate with their STAB moves; however, they don't like to have their item removed. Quagsire can switch into Gliscor but it doesn't do much back and can't recover HP because of Taunt. Ash-Greninja and Keldeo can also switch into Gliscor's Earthquake once or twice and threaten it with their STAB moves.
**Ice-type Attacks**: Gliscor is 4x weak to Ice, which leaves it vulnerable to Ice-type attacks. Weavile and Kyurem-B can easily threaten Gliscor with their STAB moves.
**Defensive Grass-types**: Defensive Grass-types like Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, and Tangrowth can switch into Gliscor's Earthquake easily and PP stall it out of Earthquakes; however, the latter has to be wary of Knock Off, as it greatly relies on its Assault Vest to check special attackers.
**Defensive Steel-types** Defensive Steel-types like Celesteela and Skarmory can easily switch into Gliscor's Earthquake, but they have to be wary of getting their item removed by Knock Off.
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