GMars
It's ya boy GEEEEEEEEMARS
[OVERVIEW]
Gliscor's ability Poison Heal allows it to recover an eighth of its health per turn if it is poisoned, making it a difficult Pokemon to wear down. Because of its typing and physical bulk, Gliscor is able to check certain physically offensive Pokemon like Garchomp, Zygarde, and Tyranitar, as well as a select few specially offensive threats like Heatran. Since Gliscor recovers off of poison, it is also able to counter passive walls like Chansey that rely on Toxic for damage. However, Gliscor's typing leaves it vulnerable to Ice- and Water-type attacks. Additionally, Gliscor faces heavy competition from Landorus-T for a teamslot, as Landorus-T has greater offensive presence and better bulk thanks to Intimidate.
[SET]
name: SubTect
move 1: Toxic
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Protect
move 4: Earthquake
item: Toxic Orb
ability: Poison Heal
nature: Jolly
evs: 244 HP / 56 Atk / 192 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Toxic lets Gliscor badly poison opposing Pokemon, wearing them down. Substitute gives Gliscor a barrier from damage in exchange for a quarter of its health. Gliscor is also able to maintain Substitutes versus defensive Garchomp and Mega Scizor. As Gliscor recovers 1/8 of its health per turn, Protect enables it to recover enough health to continuously create Substitutes. Protect also helps Gliscor safely activate Poison Heal. Earthquake allows Gliscor to hit most Toxic-immune Pokemon for super effective damage and prevents it from being completely susceptible to Taunt. Earthquake also lets Gliscor break opposing Substitutes.
Set Details
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Toxic Orb is used to activate Gliscor's ability Poison Heal. It causes Gliscor to recover 1/8 of its health when poisoned, making it difficult to wear down. Being inflicted with poison also causes Gliscor to become immune to other status, such as burn and paralysis. 244 HP EVs improve Gliscor's mixed bulk and also allow Gliscor to reach a Poison Heal number, maximizing the amount of HP it recovers each turn. 56 Attack EVs are used to ensure Earthquake is a 2HKO on Volcarona. 16 Speed EVs with a Jolly nature allow Gliscor to outspeed Timid Magearna. The remaining 192 EVs are put into Special Defense to patch up Gliscor's otherwise poor special bulk, allowing it to check Heatran and Nihilego lacking Hidden Power Ice. Alternatively, maximum Speed investment can be run to ease Gliscor's ability to begin cycling between Substitute and Protect.
Usage Tips
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Leading with Gliscor and using Protect to activate Poison Heal can be a good idea to set up Gliscor for later in the match. Otherwise, bring Gliscor in on the Pokemon is it able to check, like Garchomp and Heatran. Don't switch in on Knock Off or moves that can inflict burn if Toxic Orb has not yet activated, as this will remove Gliscor's passive healing. However, after Toxic Orb triggers, Gliscor can be used to block status. If using Magnezone in conjunction with Gliscor, double switch into it to trap opposing Skarmory, Celesteela, or Scizor that come in to wall Gliscor. Otherwise, use Toxic to poison opposing Pokemon and cycle between Substitute and Protect to wear them down, softening the opposing team for a late-game sweeper.
Team Options
========
Magnezone traps and eliminates Skarmory and Celesteela, which otherwise completely wall this variant of Gliscor. Magnezone is also able to remove other troublesome Steel-types, such as Scizor. Alternatively, a lure to Skarmory or Celesteela, such as Electrium Z Tapu Lele or Electrium Z Gengar, could be used. Since this variant of Gliscor does a great job of wearing down the opposing team, offensive Pokemon that can act as late-game sweepers like Ash-Greninja and Shift Gear Magearna make great partners. Gliscor brings in and wears down Tangrowth and bulky Water-types, allowing Pokemon like Sharpedo, Gyarados, Zygarde, and Choice Scarf Garchomp to clean effectively. Gliscor needs teammates able to switch in on Ice- and Water-type attacks. Bulky Water-types, such as Keldeo, perform this role well. Scizor is able to counter most Ice-types and is also able to Pursuit trap some special wallbreakers like Tapu Lele. Bulky Grass-types like Tangrowth and Ferrothorn can switch into the offensive Water-type Pokemon that threaten Gliscor.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Knock Off could be used over Earthquake to provide utility in removing items, primarily Skarmory's Shed Shell. However, this weakens Gliscor versus most other Steel- and Poison-types. Gliscor can also take advantage of Swords Dance boosts and its pseudo-immunity to status itself to stallbreak. However, it is typically outclassed in this role by Landorus-T. Gliscor can also use Taunt to stallbreak, but it generally has a poor matchup versus the commonly used stall teams. Gliscor can also set up Stealth Rock, but it is again usually outclassed as a Stealth Rock setter by Landorus-T. As Toxic Orb is no longer needed once Gliscor has become poisoned, an offensive set with Fling is an option to poison a foe and enable Gliscor to use Acrobatics.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Defensive Steel-types**: Steel-types immune to Ground, such as Skarmory and Celesteela, completely wall this variant of Gliscor. Other Steel-types with recovery, such as Scizor, also trouble Gliscor.
**Defensive Poison-types**: The relevant defensive Poison-types in OU—Amoonguss and Mega Venusaur—are neutral to Ground and can run Gliscor out of Earthquake PP.
**Magic Guard Users**: Magic Guard users like Reuniclus and Clefable are immune to damage from Toxic and can use Gliscor as setup fodder.
**Water-types**: Fast offensive Water-type Pokemon such as Greninja and Keldeo force Gliscor out with strong STAB attacks. Tapu Fini can provides grounded teammates with an immunity to Toxic. Suicune either can outspeed Gliscor and use Substitute versus it or can use Rest to set up multiple Calm Minds.
**Ice-type Attacks**: Gliscor is 4x weak to Ice, leaving it vulnerable to Ice-type attacks. Ice-type Pokemon like Weavile and Kyurem-B tear through Gliscor with their STAB moves, while Ice-type coverage moves such as Hidden Power Ice, Ice Beam, and Ice Punch allow their users to easily beat Gliscor.