Gligar has the ability of being one of the better walls in the UU Metagame, with a defensive typing and stats as well as its access to Eviolite and Roost. Gligar also has access to Immunity, which proves to be very useful against Toxic-stall Pokémon such as Blissey. It is most commonly seen as a support Pokémon due to its resistance to many of the heavy hitting Pokémon of UU such as Cobalion, Mega Manectric and Infernape, as well as its viability of having both Stealth Rock and Defog. Furthermore, its lower speed of 85 coupled with U-Turn allow for a later switch in on many of the faster Pokémon in UU, such as the ones previously mentioned. Gligar's unique in that it can also be used as an offensive Pokémon, due to its access to Swords Dance, Knock Off and STAB Earthquake, which grant the opportunity to cripple many of the sweepers in UU. Gligar's lackluster Special Defense stat forces it to rely on the bulk provided from Eviolite, making Knock Off one of its key vulnerabilities.
[SET]
name: Bulky Offense
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Roost
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Knock Off
item: Eviolite
ability: Immunity
nature: Careful
evs: 236 HP / 20 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Gligar's below-average Attack stat of 75 is not viable on its own, but Swords Dance gives it the opportunity to deal massive damage. Roost allows Gligar to maintain its bulk, as well as buy as much time as needed to set up using Swords Dance. STAB Earthquake is a necessity for Gligar, and will be the most frequently used move by the Pokémon. Knock Off gives Gligar type coverage when dealing with Pokémon that are immune to or resist Earthquake, coupled with the added effect of discarding the opponent's item.
Set Details
========
Gligar is unique in that it is an attacker that does not rely on its Speed stat, but rather its bulk. Access to Eviolite and Roost grant Gligar the ability to set up Swords Dance without much worry, and the type coverage from its moveset allow it to take out some of the strongest Pokémon in UU such as Bisharp, Empoleon, Mega Manectric, Zeraora and more. The EV spread alongside the Careful nature give Gligar equal Defense and Special Defense stats, and dedicating the remaining EVs to HP make Gligar as bulky as possible. Most Pokémon of this bulk are dealt with through the use of Toxic, but Gligar's ability allows it to completely neglect poison.
Usage Tips
========
The main benefit of using Gligar offensively is the unexpectedness of it, as most Gligars that litter UU are the same bulky support set that rely on Stealth Rock and Defog. Gligar's bulk and neutral Stealth Rock damage make it a viable switch in at almost any occasion, so long as the opponent has no reason to use an ice-type move. Gligar can be a great early-game bulky sweeper since it can Swords Dance while the opponent expects it to set up entry hazards. Doing so may allow it to take out some of the bigger threats on the opponents team, or at the very least weaken many of the opponent's Pokémon and discard their items. Gligar is best used as a late-game sweeper though, after the threat of an opponent's Knock Off is handled by other Pokémon on your team, so that Gligar's defense cannot be hindered.
Team Options
========
This offensive set fits with any team lacking of a strong physical attacker, and can at the very least can be used as a stall for most Pokémon. Since most of the common threats in OU happen to be weak to ground, STAB Earthquake is vital, and Gligar is among heavy hitters such as Hippowdon, Krookodile and Mamoswine as being the most viable option to counter them. Unlike Mamoswine and Krookodile, however, Gligar resists fighting-type moves and only takes neutral damage from Bisharp and Scizor's Bullet Punch. Gligar also has the added benefit over these three Pokémon in having access to Swords Dance to boost its Earthquake's damage even faster.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Since Gligar does not rely on Speed, Curse may be used instead of Swords Dance to give the added benefit of boosting Gligar's Physical Defense. It is not recommended though, as Gligar is still faster than some of its biggest counters in UU such as a Mamoswine or Empoleon which commonly run EV spreads with 0 Speed EVs. Aside from non-damaging moves, Gligar surprisingly has access to moves of many different types, giving it great coverage. Earthquake is irreplaceable, but there are viable moves that can replace Knock Off. Poison Jab would give Gligar the added edge over fairy types, Brick Break could protect Gligar from ice-types, and STAB Acrobatics not only allows you to get a bonus STAB move, but doubles in power if the opponent discards your Eviolite. Quick Attack or Double-Edge, while less viable, give Gligar either a priority move to counter its otherwise lower speed, or a very strong move whose recoil can likely be Roosted away before the opponent breaks through its bulk.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Knock Off Users**: Much of Gligar's bulk stems from Eviolite. Gligar's defenses without Eviolite are not that bad, but knocking off the item definitely hinders this Pokémon. Some of the most common Knock Off users in UU are Bisharp, Scizor and, unsurprisingly, Gligars.
**Ice Type and Water Type Pokémon**: Even with Gligar's Special Defense being maximized, Ice Beam from most Ice type Pokémon is devastating. Water type moves are not nearly as destructive as Ice type moves, but many water types will run Ice Beam as well.
**Togekiss**: Togekiss is one of the most common threats in UU due to Serene Grace paired with Air Slash and Thunder Wave or Body Slam. A Togekiss with Body Slam and any more than 40 EVs dedicated to Speed is able to lock Gligar in place. Alongside that, Togekiss resists Knock Off and is immune to Earthquake. In the end, the options for dealing with Togekiss would be to leave Gligar in or switch out and give the opponent a different Pokémon that will likely get Paralyzed and locked as well.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [aSiegel]
- Quality checked by: [[],[],[]]
- Grammar checked by: [[],[],[]]
