[OVERVIEW]
Gligar possesses a unique mix of utility and defensive uses that gives it a solid niche in the UU metagame. Its respectable bulk when holding an Eviolite fits well with its wide array of support moves such as Stealth Rock, Defog, U-turn, and Knock Off. Its Ground / Flying typing also leaves it with only two weaknesses, notably providing a resistance to U-turn and immunity to Volt Switch, stopping users like Mega Manectric in their tracks. Additionally, it is one of the best answers to the some of the tier's hard-hitting Fighting-types like Cobalion, Choice-item Infernape, and Choice Band Terrakion. However, Gligar must invest significantly into Defense to handle the aforementioned physical threats, leaving it vulnerable to special wallbreakers like Moltres and Hydreigon, given its lackluster Special Defense stat. Gligar also finds itself more passive than it would prefer, offering opportunities for setup sweepers to start accumulating boosts and muscle past it. Lastly, Gligar's heavy reliance on its Eviolite to maintain its defensive capabilities makes it incredibly vulnerable to common Knock Off users like Krookodile, Alolan Muk, and Heracross.
[SET]
name: Defensive Utility
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Roost
move 3: Defog / Stealth Rock
move 4: U-turn / Toxic / Knock Off
item: Eviolite
ability: Immunity
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 156 Def / 100 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Earthquake is Gligar's primary attacking move, letting it threaten foes like Terrakion, Infernape, and Nihilego. Roost provides Gligar with reliable recovery, keeping it healthy throughout a given match. Defog removes all entry hazards on the field, aiding teammates that may be vulnerable to them. Stealth Rock is a necessity on any competitive team, putting pressure on foes by punishing their switches with residual damage. U-turn lets Gligar effectively act as a bulky pivot, getting hard-hitting teammates in safely to do damage. Toxic pressures bulky foes like Swampert and Mantine, as well as Ground-immune Pokemon such as Mega Aerodactyl, Hydreigon, and Togekiss. Alternatively, Knock Off cripples item-reliant Pokemon like Suicune, Kyurem, and Sylveon while scouting whether others, like Latias and Celebi, are carrying a Z-Crystal. Wing Attack is an additional option that allows Gligar to offensively check Heracross, a huge threat to bulky teams.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP investment in tandem with Eviolite makes Gligar as bulky as possible. 156 Defense EVs in combination with an Impish Nature let Gligar avoid the 2HKO from Choice Band Terrakion's Stone Edge after Stealth Rock damage, letting Gligar act as one of its only reliable answers in the tier. The remaining EVs are dumped into Special Defense, aiding Gligar's matchup against threats like Hydreigon, Celebi, and Gengar while giving it a good chance to avoid the OHKO from +2 Nasty Plot Infernape's Fire Blast after Stealth Rock. Alternatively, Gligar can viably run a set with more Defense investment, further improving its one-on-one matchup against Pokemon such as Cobalion, Heracross, and the aforementioned Terrakion. Immunity is Gligar's preferred ability, letting it effectively wall bulky Steel-type Stealth Rock setters in Mega Aggron, Mega Steelix, and Stakataka, and easily remove their entry hazards with Defog if need be.
Usage Tips
========
Gligar is best used early- to mid-game as a bulky pivot capable of either setting Stealth Rock or removing entry hazards with Defog when presented with the opportunity. These opportunities are often found by Gligar switching into threats that it matches up well against like Infernape, Terrakion, Nihilego, and Mega Manectric. Gligar also fares well against bulky Steel-types, most notably when it is running Defog to counteract Stealth Rock setters like Mega Aggron and Stakataka. U-turn can either be used when predicting an opposing switch to gain momentum or when stomaching a hit to bring in a teammate into a favorable position more safely. Keep Gligar healthy if it is necessary in order to keep a threat in check, but play more aggressively with U-turn if health is not a priority. Use Toxic and Knock Off to cripple Pokemon like Swampert, Suicune, and Mantine as they attempt to switch in safely on Gligar. Be wary of Knock Off users such as Krookodile and Alolan Muk, as while Gligar can beat them one-on-one if needed, it heavily relies on its Eviolite to remain as bulky as possible to check the threats it is meant to.
Team Options
========
Gligar fits well on a variety of playstyles ranging from bulky offense to stall; they all appreciate its utility and overall pivoting ability. Water-types like Empoleon, Slowbro, and Primarina make natural partners, covering Gligar's only weaknesses while it absorbs the Electric-type attacks aimed at them. Nihilego, Blissey, and the aforementioned Empoleon and Primarina can also act as special sponges, aiding Gligar by taking on many of strong special attackers that threaten it. Gligar can get offensive Grass-types like Celebi, Tsareena, and Rotom-C into favorable positions against bulky Water-types with U-turn. Additionally, the latter two can form momentum-based cores with Gligar through their respective moves, U-turn and Volt Switch. Other Electric-types such as Mega Manectric and Rotom-H offer similar synergy with Volt Switch while threatening Water-types as well. Fighting-type wallbreakers like Terrakion, Heracross, and Kommo-o make for great partners, taking advantage of Gligar's ability to bring them in safely to do big damage. They also double down as solid Knock Off switch-ins, something essential alongside Gligar due to its reliance on Eviolite. Finally, Gligar helps out Choice Scarf users like Hydreigon, Infernape, and Latias, providing them free switch-ins by getting off slow U-turns on Pokemon that they threaten such as Celebi and opposing Hydreigon and Latias.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A set featuring Taunt in combination with Knock Off or Toxic can annoy bulky teams, but it is difficult for Gligar to find room for both moves. Curse along with Roost, Earthquake, and a coverage move makes for a decent bulky setup sweeper, but it is really hard to justify over more consistent move options that largely give Gligar its niche.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Bulky Water-types like Suicune, Mantine, and Swampert fear little from Gligar outside of Knock Off and Toxic and can perform their roles in front of it. More offensive Water-types such as Starmie, Volcanion, and Primarina immediately threaten Gligar with their high powered attacks.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Hard-hitting special attackers like Choice Specs Moltres, Hydreigon, and Gengar all overwhelm Gligar with their tremendous damage output.
**Setup Sweepers**: Setup sweepers like Nasty Plot Infernape, Swords Dance Terrakion, and Nasty Plot Celebi carrying Z-moves are capable of muscling past Gligar, though they struggle to break through it with their other sets.
**Knock Off**: Gligar is extremely reliant on its Eviolite for a large portion of its bulk, naturally making Knock Off users like Krookodile and Alolan Muk troublesome.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Pak, 245869]]
- Quality checked by: [[nuked, 382658], [Eyan, 226777], [martha, 384270]]
- Grammar checked by: [[talkingtree, 232101], [, ]]
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