QC: Kink / Hilomilo / Nuked
GP: A Cake Wearing A Hat / The Dutch Plumberjack
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Roost
move 4: U-turn / Toxic / Taunt
item: Toxic Orb
ability: Poison Heal
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 196 SpD / 60 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Stealth Rock lets Gliscor punish opposing switch-ins with chip damage. Earthquake is Gliscor's most reliable STAB move, letting it hit foes like Mega Manectric, Cobalion, and Tentacruel for super effective damage and common switch-ins such as Swampert, Suicune, Kommo-o, Starmie, and Scizor for neutral damage. Roost is mandatory, as it allows Gliscor to remain healthy and get multiple opportunities to set Stealth Rock throughout the match. U-turn allows Gliscor to punish common switch-ins, such as Latias and Celebi, by chipping them and safely bringing in frailer teammates. Toxic improves Gliscor's matchup against Flying-types and Levitate users, such as Moltres, Hydreigon, and Latias, by heavily pressuring them. Furthermore, in combination with Roost, Gliscor is able to Toxic stall Defoggers such as Mantine and Togekiss and ensure that its Stealth Rock stays up. Taunt, alternatively, allows Gliscor to shut down slower passive Pokemon such as Alomomola, Blissey, and Klefki. Acrobatics OHKOes Heracross which otherwise beats Gliscor; it also allows Gliscor to take advantage of common Knock Off users because it generally doesn't mind having its Toxic Orb removed once it is activated, potentially turning Acrobatics into a 110-Base Power move that allows Gliscor to deal more consistent damage to Ground-immune Pokemon, such as Latias and Hydreigon. However, Gliscor can't always afford the moveslot for it, and the other options are generally more consistent.
Set Details
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252 HP EVs let Gliscor restore as much HP from Poison Heal as possible while maximizing its overall bulk. 60 Speed EVs allow Gliscor to outspeed key threats such as Primarina and Scizor. 196 Special Defense EVs make Gliscor as specially bulky as possible, allowing it to take on passive special attackers, such as Tentacruel and Mantine. This also lets Gliscor avoid the OHKO from Mega Manectric's Hidden Power Ice and retaliate with a STAB Earthquake. Alternatively, 188 Speed EVs allow Gliscor to outspeed key threats such as Volcanion, Chandelure, and Nidoking and hit them first. However, the decrease in bulk is noticeable, and Gliscor prefers to be as bulky as possible. Once activated, Toxic Orb, in combination with Poison Heal, lets Gliscor heal 1/8 of its maximum HP each turn, be immune to other status ailments, and not mind taking a Knock Off.
Usage Tips
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It is best to use Gliscor early-game to set up Stealth Rock and activate its Toxic Orb. If Toxic Orb has yet to be activated, do not switch in Gliscor on potential Knock Off users, such as Krookodile and Mega Beedrill, and foes that can potentially afflict Gliscor with status conditions other than poison, such as Swampert and Mantine. Once Toxic Orb has been activated, Gliscor can utilize its unique typing and great bulk to switch into threats such as Krookodile and Mega Beedrill. Hence, it is best to make good use of Roost and Poison Heal to keep Gliscor as healthy as possible throughout the match. U-turn is best used early-game, as it lets Gliscor chip common switch-ins such as Serperior and Hydreigon. Because Gliscor doesn't run much Speed investment, its U-turn is mostly going to be a slow one, meaning it can bring in frailer teammates safely. In addition, U-turn allows Gliscor to generate momentum on a predicted switch from an opposing check or Flying-type. Toxic, if run, lets Gliscor not only pressure common switch-ins, such as Mantine and Latias, but also beat Defog Moltres, which relies on PP stalling Gliscor's Stealth Rock via Pressure to beat it. Use Taunt against slower bulky Pokemon such as Quagsire and Alomomola that rely on recovery to beat Gliscor. It can also be used against certain opposing entry hazard setters, such as Mega Aggron and Klefki, and against certain Defog users, such as Moltres and Scizor. Ice-type coverage on Pokemon that Gliscor may attempt to check, such as Mega Manectric, Raikou, and Latias, should be scouted for, as Gliscor will be lured in and severely weakened by them otherwise.
Team Options
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Wallbreakers such as Starmie and Hydreigon not only enjoy Gliscor bringing them in on a safe U-turn but also appreciate the Stealth Rock support it provides. Setup sweepers, such as Scizor and Latias, appreciate Gliscor setting up Stealth Rock for them. Pokemon such as Mega Aggron, Scizor, Sylveon, and Alomomola that can take on Ice- and Water-type Pokemon are really appreciated by Gliscor. Tentacruel deserves a special mention because not only it can set up Toxic Spikes, which can cripple common switch-ins to Gliscor such as Swampert and Serperior, but it can also remove entry hazards efficiently in synergy with Gliscor, as it can spin away hazards from Gliscor's side while not removing Gliscor's Stealth Rock from the opposing side. Pivots such as Scizor and Mega Manectric appreciate Gliscor's Stealth Rock support, and they can bring in Gliscor safely to get its Toxic Orb activated via either a slow U-turn or a Volt Switch on a forced switch. Fairy-types, such as Mega Altaria and Sylveon, can take on Dragon-type Defoggers such as Latias and Hydreigon that Gliscor fails to break past and that can reliably beat it. Ghost-types, such as Doublade, Chandelure, and Gengar, not only block opposing Rapid Spin users such as Tsareena and Tentacruel from removing Gliscor's Stealth Rock, but also appreciate the Stealth Rock support to either sweep or wallbreak.
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