[OVERVIEW]
Glalie is unlike any other Pokemon in the Battle Spot Singles metagame. Its viability solely stems from its ability Moody. Once Glalie is given a free turn or is able to outspeed the foe, it can spam Substitute and Protect until its appropriate defenses, Speed, or evasion sharply rises.
However, Glalie's overall frailty, weaknesses to common attackers such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Mega Metagross, and lack of relevant resistances mean that it cannot be expected to see meaningful long-term success if simply tossed onto a team. Glalie is almost exclusively used to improve a dreadful matchup against defensive teams or paired with a paralysis user such as Thunder Wave Mimikyu, Thunder Wave Cresselia, or Glare Serperior that allows it to repeatedly use Substitute against a paralyzed foe until it gets fully paralyzed. Even when Glalie gets a free turn, it can be checked by opposing Ice-types, Taunt, status moves, phazing moves, attacks that go through Substitute like Hyper Voice, and attacks that ignore evasion like Sacred Sword. Despite all these weaknesses, once Glalie is allowed a free turn to use Substitute, it will likely gain the correct boosts and eventually steamroll an unprepared foe.
[SET]
name: Moody Sweeper
move 1: Protect
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Freeze Dry
move 4: Sheer Cold
item: Leftovers
ability: Moody
nature: Timid
evs: 172 HP / 84 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* With access to Moody, Glalie becomes a serious threat with some luck, handily beating opposing Pokemon when given the correct boosts. The combination of Protect and Substitute allows Glalie to consistently fish for boosts while protecting itself from Z-Moves and status effects.
* Freeze-Dry is a more common choice that lets Glalie KO Water-types and attack with 100% accuracy. It is the preferred attacking move on Glalie for its higher PP, perfect accuracy, and its ability to hit Water-types such as Tapu Fini and Greninja super effectively.
* Frost Breath can land a guaranteed critical hit, ignoring any reduction to Glalie's Special Attack. However, it has less PP and is generally less consistent due to its imperfect accuracy, a problem potentially compounded by potential accuracy drops.
* Sheer Cold allows Glalie to OHKO the bulky Pokemon it sets up on regardless of their defensive stats or resistance to Ice. However, it leaves Glalie open to Ice-types that are immune to the move.
* Earthquake is an option that hits opposing Ice-types, as well as Steel-types such as Heatran and Mega Metagross, for decent damage once boosted.
* Taunt, on the other hand, stops most counterplay to Glalie such as Curse, Roar, and opposing Taunt.
Set Details
========
* The given EV spread spread allows Glalie to be as fast as possible while maximizing its special bulk.
* The HP investment lets Glalie heal as much as possible with Leftovers.
* Moody is absolutely necessary for Glalie to function.
* Leftovers is the best recovery item for Glalie, since Substitute, Protect, and Moody take up a lot of turns to get going.
Usage Tips
========
* Glalie should ideally be picked against slow, defensive teams. Certain Pokemon such as Porygon2 will struggle to break its Substitute.
* Lead with paralysis users, which are perfect support for Glalie. Not only does this enable Glalie to outspeed offensive Pokemon and use Substitute and Protect, but the eventual full paralysis can also earn it a free Substitute.
* Repeatedly using Substitute and Protect may enable a faster attacker such as Metagross to switch in freely on the Protect as long as Glalie does not get a lucky Speed boost. Thus, it may be worth it to mix up the moves in order to deny free switches on Protect.
* Moody boosts Glalie's stats at the end of every turn. Thus, double switching to a defensive Pokemon can let Glalie fish for multiple Moody boosts for better odds.
* In a pinch, Glalie can tank weaker neutral attacks and set up a Substitute, starting its Substitute + Protect cycle without support. However, it will have much less chances to get going before it does not have enough HP to set up a Substitute.
* As a matchup-heavy Pokemon, it is helpful to leave Glalie on the bench against well-prepared teams.
Team Options
========
* Serperior and Mimikyu are classic support options for Glalie for their ability to reliably spread paralysis.
* Cresselia can support Glalie and other attackers such as Mega Kangaskhan, with Lunar Dance allowing Glalie to get a free switch.
* Fling + Light Ball on Pokemon such as Garchomp or Pheromosa can be highly unexpected, catching your opponent off guard.
* Use Glalie on teams that struggle with breaking switch-heavy teams.
* It is important to have a more reliable primary mode in case Glalie is better left on the bench.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Glalie has minimal other options. Mega Glalie can use Explosion and trade one for one, which it usually accomplishes well because it pressures other Pokemon to stay in and break its Substitute. Whether it is worth the Mega Stone investment is a whole other question, though.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Offense**: Any Pokemon faster than Glalie with powerful, accurate attacks can generally beat it before it gets out of hand. The only concern is that Glalie generally comes with support, but it isn't difficult to keep your Mega Metagross or Mega Blaziken status free.
**VoltTurn and Explosion**: Volt Switch, U-turn, and Explosion capitalize on the fact that they deal damage and remove the current active Pokemon from the field. Glalie is only truly effective if it can be sent out with a paralyzed Pokemon in play. KOing the Thunder Wave user with these moves or giving a free switch to a faster threat that can finish them off leaves no room for Glalie to set up. Pokemon such as U-turn Scizor and Volt Switch Rotom-H could also move after Glalie, break its Substitute, and expose it to a faster threat.
**Phazing Moves**: Mimikyu often has the move Curse, which ignores Substitute and stops Glalie from setting up, forcing it to switch out and expose itself in a vulnerable position later in the match. Other moves such as Roar, Whirlwind, and Perish Song also accomplish the same job. However, Taunt will give these tactics trouble, except for Z-Curse Mimikyu.
**Substitute-bypassing Moves**: Sound-based moves and multi-hit moves can go through Substitute. Pokemon such as Primarina and Mega Kangaskhan will easily stop Glalie from setting up unless it gets lucky with Sheer Cold.
**Moves that Ignore Evasion**: Sacred Sword from Aegislash or Kartana, Smart Strike from Kartana and Excadrill, and various Z-Moves can be helpful against Glalie after it has already accumulated some boosts, as they ignore evasion.
**Ice-types**: Most Glalie counterplay that involves using a Pokemon slower than it can still fall prey a lucky string of Sheer Cold. However, niche Ice-types such as Dewgong and Lapras are hard counters to Glalie, as they are immune to Sheer Cold, though they will still take decent damage from boosted Earthquake. Similarly, a Glalie of your own will defeat the opposing Glalie as long as you have more PP.
**Status Moves**: While Glalie will usually aim to stay behind a Substitute, Toxic from a fast Pokemon like Greninja or Tapu Koko will put it on a timer, essentially ruining it.
**Priority moves**: Even if Glalie gets the Speed boost to Substitute + Protect in front of a faster offensive Pokemon, priority moves like Bullet Punch from Mega Metagross or Mega Scizor will stop it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[marilli, 70760]]
- Quality checked by: [[<Theorymon>, <29010>], [<Psynergy>, <248085>]]
- Grammar checked by: [[<The Dutch Plumberjack>, <232216>], [<Estronic>, <240732>]]
Glalie is unlike any other Pokemon in the Battle Spot Singles metagame. Its viability solely stems from its ability Moody. Once Glalie is given a free turn or is able to outspeed the foe, it can spam Substitute and Protect until its appropriate defenses, Speed, or evasion sharply rises.
However, Glalie's overall frailty, weaknesses to common attackers such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Mega Metagross, and lack of relevant resistances mean that it cannot be expected to see meaningful long-term success if simply tossed onto a team. Glalie is almost exclusively used to improve a dreadful matchup against defensive teams or paired with a paralysis user such as Thunder Wave Mimikyu, Thunder Wave Cresselia, or Glare Serperior that allows it to repeatedly use Substitute against a paralyzed foe until it gets fully paralyzed. Even when Glalie gets a free turn, it can be checked by opposing Ice-types, Taunt, status moves, phazing moves, attacks that go through Substitute like Hyper Voice, and attacks that ignore evasion like Sacred Sword. Despite all these weaknesses, once Glalie is allowed a free turn to use Substitute, it will likely gain the correct boosts and eventually steamroll an unprepared foe.
[SET]
name: Moody Sweeper
move 1: Protect
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Freeze Dry
move 4: Sheer Cold
item: Leftovers
ability: Moody
nature: Timid
evs: 172 HP / 84 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* With access to Moody, Glalie becomes a serious threat with some luck, handily beating opposing Pokemon when given the correct boosts. The combination of Protect and Substitute allows Glalie to consistently fish for boosts while protecting itself from Z-Moves and status effects.
* Freeze-Dry is a more common choice that lets Glalie KO Water-types and attack with 100% accuracy. It is the preferred attacking move on Glalie for its higher PP, perfect accuracy, and its ability to hit Water-types such as Tapu Fini and Greninja super effectively.
* Frost Breath can land a guaranteed critical hit, ignoring any reduction to Glalie's Special Attack. However, it has less PP and is generally less consistent due to its imperfect accuracy, a problem potentially compounded by potential accuracy drops.
* Sheer Cold allows Glalie to OHKO the bulky Pokemon it sets up on regardless of their defensive stats or resistance to Ice. However, it leaves Glalie open to Ice-types that are immune to the move.
* Earthquake is an option that hits opposing Ice-types, as well as Steel-types such as Heatran and Mega Metagross, for decent damage once boosted.
* Taunt, on the other hand, stops most counterplay to Glalie such as Curse, Roar, and opposing Taunt.
Set Details
========
* The given EV spread spread allows Glalie to be as fast as possible while maximizing its special bulk.
* The HP investment lets Glalie heal as much as possible with Leftovers.
* Moody is absolutely necessary for Glalie to function.
* Leftovers is the best recovery item for Glalie, since Substitute, Protect, and Moody take up a lot of turns to get going.
Usage Tips
========
* Glalie should ideally be picked against slow, defensive teams. Certain Pokemon such as Porygon2 will struggle to break its Substitute.
* Lead with paralysis users, which are perfect support for Glalie. Not only does this enable Glalie to outspeed offensive Pokemon and use Substitute and Protect, but the eventual full paralysis can also earn it a free Substitute.
* Repeatedly using Substitute and Protect may enable a faster attacker such as Metagross to switch in freely on the Protect as long as Glalie does not get a lucky Speed boost. Thus, it may be worth it to mix up the moves in order to deny free switches on Protect.
* Moody boosts Glalie's stats at the end of every turn. Thus, double switching to a defensive Pokemon can let Glalie fish for multiple Moody boosts for better odds.
* In a pinch, Glalie can tank weaker neutral attacks and set up a Substitute, starting its Substitute + Protect cycle without support. However, it will have much less chances to get going before it does not have enough HP to set up a Substitute.
* As a matchup-heavy Pokemon, it is helpful to leave Glalie on the bench against well-prepared teams.
Team Options
========
* Serperior and Mimikyu are classic support options for Glalie for their ability to reliably spread paralysis.
* Cresselia can support Glalie and other attackers such as Mega Kangaskhan, with Lunar Dance allowing Glalie to get a free switch.
* Fling + Light Ball on Pokemon such as Garchomp or Pheromosa can be highly unexpected, catching your opponent off guard.
* Use Glalie on teams that struggle with breaking switch-heavy teams.
* It is important to have a more reliable primary mode in case Glalie is better left on the bench.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Glalie has minimal other options. Mega Glalie can use Explosion and trade one for one, which it usually accomplishes well because it pressures other Pokemon to stay in and break its Substitute. Whether it is worth the Mega Stone investment is a whole other question, though.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Offense**: Any Pokemon faster than Glalie with powerful, accurate attacks can generally beat it before it gets out of hand. The only concern is that Glalie generally comes with support, but it isn't difficult to keep your Mega Metagross or Mega Blaziken status free.
**VoltTurn and Explosion**: Volt Switch, U-turn, and Explosion capitalize on the fact that they deal damage and remove the current active Pokemon from the field. Glalie is only truly effective if it can be sent out with a paralyzed Pokemon in play. KOing the Thunder Wave user with these moves or giving a free switch to a faster threat that can finish them off leaves no room for Glalie to set up. Pokemon such as U-turn Scizor and Volt Switch Rotom-H could also move after Glalie, break its Substitute, and expose it to a faster threat.
**Phazing Moves**: Mimikyu often has the move Curse, which ignores Substitute and stops Glalie from setting up, forcing it to switch out and expose itself in a vulnerable position later in the match. Other moves such as Roar, Whirlwind, and Perish Song also accomplish the same job. However, Taunt will give these tactics trouble, except for Z-Curse Mimikyu.
**Substitute-bypassing Moves**: Sound-based moves and multi-hit moves can go through Substitute. Pokemon such as Primarina and Mega Kangaskhan will easily stop Glalie from setting up unless it gets lucky with Sheer Cold.
**Moves that Ignore Evasion**: Sacred Sword from Aegislash or Kartana, Smart Strike from Kartana and Excadrill, and various Z-Moves can be helpful against Glalie after it has already accumulated some boosts, as they ignore evasion.
**Ice-types**: Most Glalie counterplay that involves using a Pokemon slower than it can still fall prey a lucky string of Sheer Cold. However, niche Ice-types such as Dewgong and Lapras are hard counters to Glalie, as they are immune to Sheer Cold, though they will still take decent damage from boosted Earthquake. Similarly, a Glalie of your own will defeat the opposing Glalie as long as you have more PP.
**Status Moves**: While Glalie will usually aim to stay behind a Substitute, Toxic from a fast Pokemon like Greninja or Tapu Koko will put it on a timer, essentially ruining it.
**Priority moves**: Even if Glalie gets the Speed boost to Substitute + Protect in front of a faster offensive Pokemon, priority moves like Bullet Punch from Mega Metagross or Mega Scizor will stop it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[marilli, 70760]]
- Quality checked by: [[<Theorymon>, <29010>], [<Psynergy>, <248085>]]
- Grammar checked by: [[<The Dutch Plumberjack>, <232216>], [<Estronic>, <240732>]]
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