Okay... Gligar it is.
Gligar
Code:
Base stats: Min- Min Max Max+
HP : 65 -- 23 26 --
Atk: 75 13 14 17 18
Def: 105 16 17 20 21
SpA: 35 9 10 13 14
SpD: 65 12 13 16 17
Spe: 85 14 15 18 19
Set 1: Setup Sweeper
- Swords Dance/Rock Polish
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Quick Attack/X-Scissor/Baton Pass
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Hyper Cutter
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 236 Atk/236 Spe
Comments:
With above-average stats in many categories, Gligar makes an excellent physical sweeper. Use its multiple immunities (Electric and Ground) or its excellent physical defending capabilities to come in safely. From there, Swords Dance and you're golden. As always, Earthquake-Stone Edge gives amazing coverage, and the EQ is STABed for absurd amounts of power. The last attack is really filler. X-Scissor hits Grass-types that aren't weak to the EQ-SE combination, and is also the best attack for hitting Bronzor. Quick Attack beats out other Priority users, especially those that pack Fake Out, as well as some Scarfers or fragile speedsters. And Baton Pass lets you put that hard-earned boost to good use for another Poke when you're done. Preferred set is Adamant with Quick Attack. Alternately, Rock Polish can be used over Swords Dance, in which case you would shift the speed EVs out into your defenses and be Adamant- 15 Speed hits 30 after a Polish, which outspeeds most every key threat.
Set 2: Great Wall
- Stealth Rock
- Roost
- Earthquake
- Taunt/Whirlwind/Stone Edge/U-Turn
Item: Oran Berry
Nature: Impish
EVs: 236 HP/236 Def
Comments:
Gligar makes an absurdly good wall in Little Cup. This set gives him 26/21 physical defense, combined with a ton of resistances and two immunities. This makes Gligar one of the premiere users of Stealth Rock in the LC metagame. Roost is good because of how hard it is to physically damage Gligar, though it can be subbed for another one of the optional attacks. Earthquake gives good STAB, as there's not a lot that resists it in LC, and many hard physical hitters get hit by it. The last attack has a number of options. Taunt keeps opponents from setting up. Stone Edge makes good coverage with EQ. And Whirlwind can serve a number of purposes- it can shuffle opponents to deal Stealth Rock damage, and if you predict an opponent attempting to switch to a counter, you can buy yourself a free turn, as well as scouting the incoming counter. U-Turn can also scout an incoming counter, but with the added bonus of damaging it with Gligar's excellent Attack.
Set 3: Choice
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Aerial Ace
- X-Scissor
Item: Choice Band/Choice Scarf
Ability: Hyper Cutter
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 236 Atk/236 Spe
Set Comments:
Choice Gligar can catch opponents off-guard, as most will suspect a SD/Rock Polish set. However, this Gligar can hit very hard right off the bat. The Choice Band version sports 25/27 Attack and 18/19 Speed, which combines with a powerful STAB Earthquake for excellent results. The Choice Scarf version uses 17/18 Attack and 27/28 Speed to be a very effective revenge killer, as well as catching some things off guard, such as Gastly and Abra that don't pack scarves of their own. EQ is the staple attack, giving great bang per use. Stone Edge hits excellently on Fliers that would be immune to EQ. Aerial Ace has STAB and can hit Grass-types that resist the EQ. X-Scissor is the best attack for Bronzor.
Set 4: Baton Pass
- Swords Dance/Rock Polish
- Baton Pass
- Taunt
- Earthquake
Item: Oran Berry
Nature: Impish
EVs: 236 Def/236 Spe
Comments:
Gligar is ridiculously good at passing either Attack or Speed boosts to Mons that need it. Taunt shuts down other stat uppers, EQ is for if you need to attack. Not much else, really. If you tend to throw caution to the wind, you can ditch Taunt or Earthquake for the other stat upper and pass two boosts, but that leaves you vulnerable.
Other Options
With its physical bulk, Counter can catch some opponents that want to just smash straight through Gligar off-guard. It can also utilize Rock Polish to make a hybrid defensive/offensive set, not requiring any EVs in speed. If you're feeling adventurous, the SR set can use Screech and Earthquake in tandem to force a lot of switches.
EVs
Unfortunately, Gligar is cursed with all Base Stats that end in 5. That means that you can only get a maximum of 6 bonus stats. For the Swords Dance set, just max your attacking stats: Atk and Spe. For the Great Wall, just max HP and Defense. Alternately, you can buff out your Special Defense to make more of a mixed wall, but that's a waste of Gligar's ridiculous physical defense abilities.
Opinion
Gligar's one of those Mons with all the right stats in all the right place. Its bulk lets it set up in peace, be it Rock Polish, Swords Dance, or Stealth Rock. Its speed and attack let it sweep with the best, and its moveset is excellent. Its typing gives it two immunities, three resistances, and only two weaknesses. These traits are more than enough to earn this critter a spot on your team.
Counters
Staryu hits hard with either Surf or Ice Beam, pounding Gligar on its weaker side with SE attacks. Porygon's got the bulk to get in and destroy Gligar with Ice Beam. Really, anything that has a decent SpA and Ice Beam can destroy Gligar pretty efficiently. However, beware of Gligar coming in on a Choiced TBolt from a Boltbeamer and getting free stat ups.