Gen 5 Gliscor (GP 2/2)

[OVERVIEW]
Gliscor is one of the best and most common Pokemon on sand teams thanks to its fantastic defensive utility, good support movepool, and ability to sweep with its Swords Dance set. Its typing and Poison Heal grant it immunities to common residual damage methods like Spikes, sand, and status, giving it incredible longevity. This longevity lets it make consistent use of its valuable immunities to Electric and Ground, resistance to Fighting, and general bulk to check common Pokemon like Tyranitar, Jirachi, specially defensive Heatran, Garchomp, Terrakion, and Excadrill. Its support movepool includes Stealth Rock and Knock Off, letting it make progress despite its lack of power. It can also run a sweeping Swords Dance set that leverages its defensive utility to find many setup opportunities against common Pokemon like Heatran, Jirachi, Reuniclus lacking Hidden Power Ice, and Tyranitar. This set also enables it to defeat less sturdy checks, like Rotom-W and Gastrodon. However, Stealth Rock Gliscor cannot threaten defensive Pokemon like Reuniclus, Gastrodon, Skarmory, and Rotom-W beyond using Knock Off. It also tends to get overwhelmed by common special attackers like Keldeo, Alakazam, Reuniclus, and Latios due to its average special bulk. It can get lured in and taken out by Pokemon running Ice-type coverage, like Tyranitar, Thundurus-T, Alakazam, Reuniclus, and Heatran. These aspects in tandem with its weakness to Water make it dead weight against rain teams. Gliscor also competes with Landorus-T as a result of its better offensive prowess and Intimidate.

[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Protect
move 4: Knock Off / U-turn
item: Toxic Orb
ability: Poison Heal
nature: Impish
evs: 244 HP / 140 Def / 116 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Gliscor gets many opportunities to set Stealth Rock by proxy of its longevity and ability to threaten the most common spinners, Tentacruel and Excadrill. Protect allows Gliscor to scout Choice item users and for coverage meant to lure it, like Ice Beam Tyranitar and Hidden Power Ice Alakazam and Heatran. It also lets Gliscor safely activate Toxic Orb. Knock Off is useful in longer games with its high PP and ability to remove Leftovers from Pokemon like Landorus-T, Skarmory, and Ferrothorn. U-turn pivots Gliscor's teammates in safely and, particularly, lets Pursuit Tyranitar safely trap Latios, Reuniclus, and even Focus Sash Alakazam. Ice Fang can be used over Knock Off or U-turn to hit Dragonite, Breloom, and Garchomp, and Wing Attack can be used to OHKO Breloom should Gliscor's team be especially weak to it.

Set Details
========
The given EV spread avoids a 2HKO from Adamant Sand Force Excadrill's Iron Head after Stealth Rock, with the HP investment also maximizing Poison Heal recovery. A more specially defensive spread of 244 HP / 72 Def / 192 SpD and with a Careful nature lets Gliscor take Alakazam's Hidden Power Ice and Choice Specs Latios's Surf and check other special attackers like Heatran and Volcarona more effectively. Lowering Gliscor's Speed IVs allows for a slower U-turn, which lets it more consistently pivot its teammates in safely. However, it lets Pokemon like Rotom-W and Jirachi outspeed and heavily dent Gliscor.

Team Options
========
Stealth Rock Gliscor is best used on bulky sand teams; it checks threats to sand teams like Terrakion, sets Stealth Rock, and appreciates sand and Pursuit support further wearing down its checks. Tyranitar sets sand and Pursuit traps Reuniclus, Latios, and Alakazam with a Chople Berry set while also being able to run a coverage move or Thunder Wave with Gliscor setting Stealth Rock. It can also run a Choice Scarf set that checks offensive threats Gliscor can't cover, like Starmie and Thundurus-T. In return, Gliscor checks Ground-types like Excadrill and opposing Gliscor. Ferrothorn and Skarmory set Spikes to accompany Gliscor's Stealth Rock and Knock Off. Skarmory checks strong physical attackers like Dragonite and Scizor and more reliably switches into Ground-types that can overwhelm Gliscor, like Landorus-T and Mamoswine. It can also pivot into Alakazam and Latios should it be running a specially defensive spread. Ferrothorn, on the other hand, switches into Dragon-types like Latios and Dragonite lacking Fire Punch and Superpower as well as Water-types like Starmie and Politoed. Meanwhile, Gliscor checks Fighting- and Fire-types like Terrakion, Breloom, and Heatran. Psychic-types like Alakazam, Latios, and Reuniclus appreciate Gliscor's Stealth Rock and Knock Off support wearing down their switch-ins. Focus Sash Alakazam can revenge kill any Pokemon and punish Pokemon that try to set up on Gliscor, mainly Reuniclus, with Encore and Thunder Wave. Latios switches into Water-, Grass-, and Electric-types like Keldeo, Celebi, and Thundurus-T while bringing sweeping potential with a Choice Scarf set, which revenge kills and cripples Pokemon that can set up on Gliscor like Reuniclus and Volcarona. Reuniclus appreciates its switch-ins being worn down so it can sweep with Calm Mind and more easily wallbreak if running its three attacks set. Jellicent can take on strong special attackers like Volcarona, Politoed, and Keldeo while spreading more residual damage with Will-O-Wisp and stopping recovery with Taunt, with Gliscor checking strong physical threats like Terrakion, Garchomp, and Excadrill. Gastrodon is a good partner because it more easily checks strong Electric- and Water-types like Thundurus-T, Rotom-W, Starmie, and Keldeo and switches into Heatran more safely. Excadrill pressures Reuniclus and checks Electric- and Dragon-types while appreciating Gliscor countering Ground-types like Excadrill and opposing Gliscor. Heatran counters Grass- and Fire-types like Celebi and Volcarona and can drop Stealth Rock on its defensive set with Gliscor covering that role or serve an offensive role with the residual damage support Gliscor provides. Rotom-W checks Water- and Ice-types like Starmie, Keldeo, and Mamoswine while also spreading burns with Will-O-Wisp in tandem with Gliscor's Stealth Rock and Knock Off. Magnezone traps Skarmory, a Gliscor counter, while benefitting from Gliscor checking Fighting- and Ground-types.

[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Protect
move 4: Facade
item: Toxic Orb
ability: Poison Heal
nature: Careful
evs: 244 HP / 72 Def / 192 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance Gliscor is a potent balance breaker thanks to its longevity and bulk giving it many setup opportunities and making it able to beat Pokemon that'd otherwise check it, like Reuniclus lacking Hidden Power Ice and Rotom-W. Protect allows Gliscor to activate Toxic Orb safely and scout Choice item users and for coverage meant to lure it, like Ice Beam Tyranitar and Hidden Power Ice Alakazam and Heatran. Facade hits many Pokemon resistant to Earthquake, like Rotom-W, Latios, Breloom, and opposing Gliscor, while also having good neutral coverage and high PP for good utility in longer games. Ice Fang can be run over Facade to hit Breloom, Dragonite, Landorus-T, and opposing Gliscor much harder. However, it has less PP and worse neutral coverage, making it more situational.

Set Details
========
A spread of 244 HP / 72 Def / 192 SpD with a Careful nature lets Gliscor take Alakazam's Hidden Power Ice and Choice Specs Latios's Surf, with the HP investment also maximizing Poison Heal recovery.

Team Options
========
This set fits on sand teams because they can remove and wear down its counterplay. Tyranitar brings sand and can set up Stealth Rock with a Chople Berry set that Pursuit traps Pokemon that can keep Gliscor from sweeping, like Alakazam, Perish Song Celebi, and Hidden Power Ice Reuniclus. Magnezone traps Skarmory, a Gliscor counter, while benefitting from Gliscor checking Fighting- and Ground-types. Rotom-W checks Water- and Ice-types like Starmie, Keldeo, and Mamoswine and spreads burns with Will-O-Wisp. Alakazam can create setup opportunities with Encore, revenge kill any one threat thanks to Focus Sash, and clean up late-game with the holes Gliscor can create against Pokemon like Reuniclus and Gastrodon. Latios switches into Water-, Grass-, and Electric-types like Keldeo, Celebi, and Thundurus-T while bringing sweeping potential with a Choice Scarf set, which revenge kills and cripples Pokemon that can set up on Gliscor like Reuniclus and Volcarona. Ferrothorn and Skarmory set Spikes to wear down switch-ins so Gliscor can sweep more easily. Ferrothorn switches into Dragon-types like Latios and Dragonite lacking Fire Punch and Superpower as well as Water-types like Starmie and Politoed. It provides other forms of support with Stealth Rock and Knock Off while appreciating Gliscor checking Fighting- and Fire-types like Terrakion, Breloom, and Heatran. Skarmory checks strong physical attackers like Dragonite and Scizor while also acting as a more reliable switch-in for Ground-types that can overwhelm Gliscor, like Landorus-T and Mamoswine. It can also handle Alakazam and Latios should it be running a specially defensive spread. Heatran counters Grass- and Fire-types like Celebi and Volcarona in addition to setting Stealth Rock, but it can instead run an offensive set to wear down Gliscor's checks while appreciating its Fighting resistance.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Taunt over Stealth Rock allows Gliscor to stop Pokemon like Skarmory, Gastrodon, Reuniclus, and Ferrothorn from setting up entry hazards or recovering. Toxic can be used on the Stealth Rock set to cripple switch-ins like Rotom-W, Gastrodon, and Latios. However, many of Gliscor's other switch-ins, like Skarmory, opposing Gliscor, Reuniclus, and Refresh Politoed, are immune to or unbothered by poison. A more offensive Swords Dance set with Hyper Cutter, Flying Gem, and Acrobatics can pose a much more immediate offensive threat and break through Earthquake-resistant Pokemon like Celebi, Latios, and Landorus-T, which Landorus-T can't replicate. It can even use Rock Polish to effectively sweep once its answers are worn down. However, Landorus-T, Mamoswine, and Garchomp are usually better as offensive Ground-types due to their greater power and wider coverage letting them break through checks like Skarmory and Rotom-W, while their defensive utility gives them more chances to set up. Substitute can be used over Protect on the Swords Dance set to get more setup opportunities and punish switches against Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Excadrill. Roost lets Gliscor recover a lot of health in one turn, making it more sustainable in the short term. However, Protect has much more utility and usually suffices for recovery because Gliscor takes so little residual damage. Substitute + Toxic + Protect alongside Magnezone and Pursuit Tyranitar can be used to Toxic stall foes. However, such a set abandons team support, and common Pokemon like Reuniclus, Refresh Politoed, and Encore Alakazam stop it in its tracks. Rock Slide OHKOes Volcarona, does solid damage to Thundurus-T, and creates solid neutral coverage in tandem with Earthquake. However, these Pokemon can be better handled through teammates than a valuable moveslot.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Skarmory**: Skarmory uses Gliscor as setup fodder for Spikes. However, it must be careful against a Magnezone teammate and can't do anything to Gliscor running Taunt.

**Mamoswine**: Mamoswine threatens to OHKO Gliscor with Icicle Crash and can set up Substitute or Stealth Rock as it switches. However, Mamoswine can't switch into Earthquake more than once or twice, especially with Stealth Rock on the field, and Gliscor can scout what move Choice Band variants lock into.

**Ice-type Coverage**: Common Pokemon like Landorus-T, Thundurus-T, Alakazam, Reuniclus, Volcarona, and Tyranitar can run Ice-type coverage to lure in and heavily damage Gliscor, even making it struggle to recover if Stealth Rock is up. However, most of these Pokemon can struggle to switch into Earthquake and Facade, especially when boosted, and dislike Knock Off.

**Water-types**: Water-types like Rotom-W, Politoed, Gastrodon, and Keldeo greatly threaten Gliscor and can take unboosted hits. However, they can't take many boosted attacks from the Swords Dance set and struggle checking it long-term with Leftovers removed.

**Very Strong Pokemon**: Strong wallbreakers like Dragonite, Kyurem-B, Latios, and Landorus-T can break through Gliscor as a result of their strong attacks and higher Speed.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Ophion, 433215], [Sagdiyev, 548404]]
- Quality checked by: [[Zokuru, 263906], [BluBirD252, 347088], [Finchinator, 114198]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519], [Rabia, 336073]]
 
Last edited:

Finchinator

-OUTL
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OU Leader
Sets are fine.

You can mention Substitute sets in the OO. SubTox is a classic -- albeit very very fringe right now -- with Magnezone and Sub over Protect on SD has seen sporadic usage in recent years.

You undersell the Acrobatics set in the OO, imo. I would move it up higher and note that Acrobatics is very strong as neutral coverage for Flying, which LandoT lacks and can only make up in certain situations. You can also mention the potential for it using Rock Polish as well.

I would probably move the SlowUTurn mentions to the set comments for the SR set, but your call.

Rest is good, 2/3
 
GP 1/2
[OVERVIEW]
Gliscor is one of the best and most common Pokemon on sand teams thanks to its fantastic defensive utility, good support movepool, and ability to act as a wincon. (we don't like wincon as a term and i don't see how it applies to the first set, remove if it doesn't) Its typing and Poison Heal grant it immunities to common residual damage methods like Spikes, sand, and status, giving it incredible longevity. This longevity lets it make consistent use of its valuable immunities to Electric- (hyph) and Ground-type moves, resistance to Fighting, and general bulk to check common Pokemon like Tyranitar, Jirachi, specially defensive Heatran, Garchomp, Terrakion, and Excadrill. Its support movepool includes Stealth Rock and Knock Off, making it able to make progress against the opponent in spite of despite its lack of power. It can also run a sweeping Swords Dance set that leverages its defensive utility to become a bulky wincon that can find many setup opportunities against common Pokemon like Heatran, Jirachi, Reuniclus lacking Hidden Power Ice, and Tyranitar. This set also enables it to defeat less sturdy checks, like Rotom-W, and Gastrodon. However, Stealth Rock Gliscor struggles to cannot threaten defensive Pokemon like Reuniclus, Gastrodon, Skarmory, and Rotom-W outside of hitting them with Knock Off due to its Earthquake being weak after beyond using Knock Off. It also tends to get overwhelmed by common special attackers like Keldeo, Alakazam, Reuniclus, and Latios due to its average special bulk. It can also get lured and taken out by Pokemon running Ice-type coverage, like Tyranitar, Thundurus-T, Alakazam, Reuniclus, and Heatran. These aspects in tandem with its weakness to Water also make it dead weight against rain teams. Gliscor also competes with Landorus-T as a result of its better offensive prowess and Intimidate.

[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Protect
move 4: Knock Off / U-turn
item: Toxic Orb
ability: Poison Heal
nature: Impish
evs: 244 HP / 140 Def / 116 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Gliscor is a great Stealth Rock setter thanks to its many opportunities to set it up gets many opportunities to set Stealth Rock by proxy of its longevity and ability to threaten the most common Rapid Spin users, Tentacruel and Excadrill. Protect allows Gliscor to scout what move Choice-item Pokemon lock themselves into and Choice item users and for coverage meant to lure it, like Ice Beam Tyranitar and Hidden Power Ice Alakazam and Heatran. It also lets Gliscor safely activate Toxic Orb and gain free recovery. Knock Off is useful in longer games with its high PP and ability to remove Leftovers from Pokemon like Landorus-T, Skarmory, and Ferrothorn, making them easier to break through for teammates like Alakazam and Tyranitar. U-turn pivots Gliscor's teammates in safely, and in particular, particularly lets Pursuit Tyranitar trap Latios, Reuniclus and even Focus Sash Alakazam safely, which is especially important against Alakazam since U-turn breaks its Focus Sash. Ice Fang can be used over Knock Off or U-turn to hit Dragonite, Breloom, and Garchomp, (comma) and hard while Wing Attack can also be used to OHKO Breloom should Gliscor's team be especially weak to it.

Set Details
========
The given EV spread avoids a 2HKO from Adamant Sand Force Excadrill's Iron Head boosted by Sand Force after Stealth Rock, with the HP investment also maximizing Poison Heal recovery. A more specially defensive spread of 244 HP / 72 Def / 192 SpD and a Careful nature lets Gliscor take Alakazam's Hidden Power Ice and Choice Specs Latios's Surf from full health and check other special attackers like Heatran and Volcarona more effectively. Lowering Gliscor's Speed IVs allows for a slower U-turn, which lets more consistently pivot its teammates in safely. However, it lets Pokemon like Rotom-W and Jirachi outspeed and heavily dent Gliscor before it can pivot out.

Team Options
========
Stealth Rock Gliscor is best used on bulky sand teams thanks to it checking threats to sand teams, (comma) like Terrakion and setting Stealth Rock while appreciating sand and Pursuit support further wearing down Gliscor's its checks. Tyranitar sets sand and Pursuit traps Reuniclus, Latios, and Alakazam with a Chople Berry set while also being able to run a coverage move or Thunder Wave with Gliscor setting Stealth Rock. It can also run a Choice Scarf set that lets it check checks offensive threats Gliscor can't cover, like Starmie and Thundurus-T. In return, Gliscor checks Ground-types like Excadrill and opposing Gliscor. Ferrothorn and Skarmory are able to set up Spikes to accompany the residual damage Gliscor does with Gliscor's Stealth Rock and Knock Off. Skarmory checks strong physical attackers like Dragonite and Scizor and acts as a more reliable pivot for more reliably switches into Ground-types that can overwhelm Gliscor, like Landorus-T and Mamoswine. It can also pivot into Alakazam and Latios should it be running a specially defensive spread. Ferrothorn, on the other hand, pivots switches into Dragon-types like Latios and Dragonite lacking Fire Punch and Superpower as well as Water-types like Starmie and Politoed. Meanwhile, Gliscor checks Fighting- and Fire-types like Terrakion, Breloom, and Heatran. Psychic-types like Alakazam, Latios, and Reuniclus appreciate Gliscor's Stealth Rock and Knock Off support wearing down their switch-ins, with each of them providing support and working well with each other. Focus Sash Alakazam is able to can revenge kill any Pokemon thanks to Focus Sash and punish Pokemon that try to set up on Gliscor, mainly Reuniclus, with Encore and Thunder Wave. Latios pivots switches into Water-, Grass-, and Electric-types like Keldeo, Celebi, and Thundurus-T while bringing sweeping potential with a Choice Scarf set, which revenge kills and cripples Pokemon like Reuniclus and Volcarona that can set up on Gliscor like Reuniclus and Volcarona. Reuniclus appreciates its switch-ins being worn down so it can sweep with Calm Mind late-game and more easily wallbreak if running its 3 attacks set. Jellicent can take on strong special attackers like Volcarona, Politoed, and Keldeo while spreading more residual damage with Will-O-Wisp and stopping recovery with Taunt, with Gliscor checking strong physical threats like Terrakion, Garchomp, and Excadrill. Gastrodon is a good partner despite it and Gliscor's shared Ground typing since because (they don't share weaknesses, it's not that unintuitive) it more easily checks strong Electric- and Water-types like Thundurus-T, Rotom-W, Starmie, and Keldeo and switches into Heatran more safely so Gliscor doesn't get overwhelmed. Excadrill pressures Reuniclus and checks Electric- and Dragon-types while appreciating Gliscor countering Ground-types like Excadrill and opposing Gliscor. Heatran counters Grass- (hyph) and Fire-types like Celebi and Volcarona and can drop Stealth Rock on its defensive set with Gliscor covering that role or serve an offensive role with the residual damage support Gliscor provides and appreciating its Fighting resistance. Rotom-W checks Water and Ice-types like Starmie, Keldeo, and Mamoswine while also spreading Will-O-Wisp in tandem with Gliscor's Stealth Rock and Knock Off to wear down the opponent. Magnezone traps Skarmory, which would otherwise be a hard counter to a Gliscor counter, while beneiftting from Gliscor checking Fighting- and Ground-types for it.

[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Protect
move 4: Facade
item: Toxic Orb
ability: Poison Heal
nature: Careful
evs: 244 HP / 72 Def / 192 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
(there should be a summation of sd gliscor's viability here, especially since you did it for sr)
Protect allows Gliscor to activate Toxic Orb safely and scout what move Choice-item Pokemon lock themselves into and Choice item users and for coverage meant to lure it, like Ice Beam Tyranitar and Hidden Power Ice Alakazam and Heatran as well as safely activate Toxic Orb and gain free recovery. (starting to think you should just stop using 'as well as') Facade hits many Pokemon resistant to Earthquake, like Rotom-W, Latios, Breloom, and opposing Gliscor, (comma) hard while also having good neutral coverage and a high PP count that gives it for good utility in longer games. Ice Fang can be run over Facade to hit Breloom, Dragonite, Landorus-T, and opposing Gliscor much harder. However, it has less PP and has worse neutral coverage, making it more situational.

Set Details
========
244 HP / 72 Def / 192 SpD and a Careful nature lets Gliscor take Alakazam's Hidden Power Ice and Choice Specs Latios's Surf from full health, with the HP investment also maximizing Poison Heal recovery.

Team Options
========
This set fits on sand teams since because they can remove and wear down its counterplay so it can setup and sweep. Tyranitar brings sand and can set up Stealth Rock with a Chople Berry set that Pursuit traps Pokemon that can keep Gliscor from sweeping, like Alakazam, Perish Song Celebi, and Hidden Power Ice Reuniclus. Magnezone traps Skarmory, which would otherwise be a hard counter to Gliscor a Gliscor counter, while beneiftting from Gliscor checking Fighting- and Ground-types for it. Rotom-W checks Water- and Ice-types like Starmie, Keldeo, and Mamoswine and spreads Will-O-Wisp to wear the opposing team down and pivots Gliscor in safely with Volt Switch. Alakazam can create setup oppourtinities with Encore, revenge kill any one threat thanks to Focus Sash, and clean up late-game with the holes Gliscor can break against Pokemon like Reuniclus and Gastrodon. Latios pivots switches into Water-, Grass-, and Electric-types like Keldeo, Celebi, and Thundurus-T while bringing sweeping potential with a Choice Scarf set, which revenge kills and cripples Pokemon like Reuniclus and Volcarona that can set up on Gliscor like Reuniclus and Volcarona. Ferrothorn and Skarmory are able to set up Spikes to wear down switch-ins so Gliscor can sweep more easily. Ferrothorn pivots switches into Dragon-types like Latios and Dragonite lacking Fire Punch and Superpower as well as Water-types like Starmie and Politoed. It provides other forms of support with Stealth Rock and Knock Off while appreciating Gliscor checking Fighting- and Fire-types like Terrakion, Breloom, and Heatran. Skarmory checks strong physical attackers like Dragonite and Scizor while also acting as a more reliable pivot switch-in for Ground-types that can overwhelm Gliscor, like Landorus-T and Mamoswine. It can also pivot into handle Alakazam and Latios should it be running a specially defensive spread. Heatran counters Grass- and Fire-types like Celebi and Volcarona and set Stealth Rock or act in a more offensive role that wears Gliscor's checks down so it can more easily break through them while appreciating Gliscor's Fighting resistance. (easiest serial comma ever, i'm not fixing this for you)

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Taunt over Stealth Rock allows Gliscor to stop Pokemon like Skarmory, Gastrodon, Reuniclus, and Ferrothorn from setting up entry hazards or recovering against it. Toxic can be used on the Stealth Rock set to cripple switch-ins like Rotom-W, Gastrodon, and Latios. However, this is usually not worth it, since many of Gliscor's other switch-ins, like Skarmory, opposing Gliscor, Reuniclus, and Refresh Politoed, (comma) are all immune to or can cure themselves of immune to or unbothered by poison. A more offensive Swords Dance set with Hyper Cutter, Flying Gem, and Acrobatics can be used to pose a much more immediate offensive threat with its very strong and reliable STAB Acrobatics that breaks through Acrobatics to break through Earthquake-resistant Pokemon like Celebi, Latios, and Landorus-T, which Landorus-T can't replicate. It can even do this in tandem with use Rock Polish to effectively sweep once its answers are worn down. However, Landorus-T, Mamoswine, and Garchomp are still usually better as offensive Ground-types due to their higher power and wider coverage letting them break through checks like Skarmory and Rotom-W that Gliscor can't, even with Acrobatics, while their defensive utility gives them more chances to set up. Substitute can be used over Protect on the Swords Dance set to get setup opportunities and punish switches against Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Excadrill. However, Protect is usually superior as a result of its better utility. Roost lets Gliscor recover a lot of health in one turn, making it more sustainable in the short term. However, Protect has much more utility and the free recovery it provides in tandem with Poison Heal usually suffices for recovery because since Gliscor takes so little residual damage. Substitute + Toxic + Protect alongside Magnezone and Pursuit Tyranitar can be used to stay at full health while Substitute and Protect spamming against a poisoned Pokemon to Toxic stall it foes. However, this set is very fringe since such a set abandons team support and common Pokemon like Reuniclus, Refresh Politoed, and Encore Alakazam all stop it in its tracks while Gliscor loses its ability to support its team. Rock Slide OHKOes Volcarona and does solid damage to Thundurus-T while also creating solid neutral coverage in tandem with Earthuake. (serial comma again) However, it doesn't hit any other targets, wastes a valuable moveslot, and these Pokemon can be better handled through teammates than a valuable moveslot.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Skarmory**: Skarmory walls and uses Gliscor as setup fodder for Spikes should it lack Taunt. However, it (watch out for switching the identity of "it") must be careful against a potential Magnezone partner teammates and can't do anything to Gliscor running Taunt.

**Mamoswine**: Mamoswine threatens to OHKO Gliscor with Icicle Crash and can set up Substitute or Stealth Rock as it switches. However, it Mamoswine can't switch into Earthquake more than once or twice, especially with Stealth Rock on the field, (comma) and Gliscor can scout what move Choice Band variants lock into.

**Ice-type Coverage**: Common Pokemon like Landorus-T, Thundurus-T, Alakazam, Reuniclus, Volcarona, and Tyranitar can all run Ice-type coverage to lure in and heavily damage Gliscor, even making it struggle to recover back to high health if Stealth Rock is up. However, most of these Pokemon can struggle to switch into Earthquake and Facade, especially when boosted, and dislike having their item get knocked off Knock Off.

**Water-types**: Water-types like Rotom-W, Politoed, Gastrodon, and Keldeo can all greatly threaten Gliscor with their super effective STAB and ability to take its hits when unboosted can take unboosted hits. However, they can't take many boosted Earthquakes or Facades attacks from the Swords Dance set, (comma) and also struggle checking it long-term with Leftovers knocked off.

**Very Strong Pokemon**: Strong wallbreakers like Dragonite, Kyurem-B, Latios, and Landorus-T can all break through Gliscor as a result of their strong attacks and ability to outspeed it higher Speed.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Ophion, 433215], [Sagdiyev, 548404]]
- Quality checked by: [[Zokuru, 263906], [BluBirD252, 347088], [Finchinator, 114198]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
 

Rabia

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GP & NU Leader
add remove comments
[OVERVIEW]

Gliscor is one of the best and most common Pokemon on sand teams thanks to its fantastic defensive utility, good support movepool, and ability to act as a wincon sweep with its Swords Dance set. Its typing and Poison Heal grant it immunities to common residual damage methods like Spikes, sand, and status, giving it incredible longevity. This longevity lets it make consistent use of its valuable immunities to Electric and Ground, resistance to Fighting, and general bulk to check common Pokemon like Tyranitar, Jirachi, specially defensive Heatran, Garchomp, Terrakion, and Excadrill. Its support movepool includes Stealth Rock and Knock Off, making letting it able to make progress despite its lack of power. It can also run a sweeping Swords Dance set that leverages its defensive utility to find many setup opportunities against common Pokemon like Heatran, Jirachi, Reuniclus lacking Hidden Power Ice, and Tyranitar. This set also enables it to defeat less sturdy checks, like Rotom-W (RC) and Gastrodon. However, Stealth Rock Gliscor cannot threaten defensive Pokemon like Reuniclus, Gastrodon, Skarmory, and Rotom-W beyond using Knock Off. It also tends to get overwhelmed by common special attackers like Keldeo, Alakazam, Reuniclus, and Latios due to its average special bulk. It can get lured in and taken out by Pokemon running Ice-type coverage, like Tyranitar, Thundurus-T, Alakazam, Reuniclus, and Heatran. These aspects in tandem with its weakness to Water make it dead weight against rain teams. Gliscor also competes with Landorus-T as a result of its better offensive prowess and Intimidate.

[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Protect
move 4: Knock Off / U-turn
item: Toxic Orb
ability: Poison Heal
nature: Impish
evs: 244 HP / 140 Def / 116 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Gliscor gets many opportunities to set Stealth Rock by proxy of its longevity and ability to threaten the most common Rapid Spin users spinners, Tentacruel and Excadrill. Protect allows Gliscor to scout Choice item users and for coverage meant to lure it, like Ice Beam Tyranitar and Hidden Power Ice Alakazam and Heatran. It also lets Gliscor safely activate Toxic Orb. Knock Off is useful in longer games with its high PP and ability to remove Leftovers from Pokemon like Landorus-T, Skarmory, and Ferrothorn. U-turn pivots Gliscor's teammates in safely (RC) and,(AC) particularly,(AC) lets Pursuit Tyranitar safely trap Latios, Reuniclus,(AC) and even Focus Sash Alakazam safely. Ice Fang can be used over Knock Off or U-turn to hit Dragonite, Breloom, and Garchomp, and Wing Attack can be used to OHKO Breloom should Gliscor's team be especially weak to it.

Set Details
========

The given EV spread avoids a 2HKO from Adamant Sand Force Excadrill's Iron Head after Stealth Rock, with the HP investment also maximizing Poison Heal recovery. A more specially defensive spread of 244 HP / 72 Def / 192 SpD and with a Careful nature lets Gliscor take Alakazam's Hidden Power Ice and Choice Specs Latios's Surf and check other special attackers like Heatran and Volcarona more effectively. Lowering Gliscor's Speed IVs allows for a slower U-turn, which lets it more consistently pivot its teammates in safely. However, it lets Pokemon like Rotom-W and Jirachi outspeed and heavily dent Gliscor.

Team Options
========

Stealth Rock Gliscor is best used on bulky sand teams;(semicolon) thanks to it checking checks threats to sand teams like Terrakion,(AC) and setting sets Stealth Rock,(AC) while appreciating and appreciates sand and Pursuit support further wearing down its checks. Tyranitar sets sand and Pursuit traps Reuniclus, Latios, and Alakazam with a Chople Berry set while also being able to run a coverage move or Thunder Wave with Gliscor setting Stealth Rock. It can also run a Choice Scarf set that checks offensive threats Gliscor can't cover, like Starmie and Thundurus-T. In return, Gliscor checks Ground-types like Excadrill and opposing Gliscor. Ferrothorn and Skarmory set up Spikes to accompany Gliscor's Stealth Rock and Knock Off. Skarmory checks strong physical attackers like Dragonite and Scizor and more reliably switches into Ground-types that can overwhelm Gliscor, like Landorus-T and Mamoswine. It can also pivot into Alakazam and Latios should it be running a specially defensive spread. Ferrothorn, on the other hand, switches into Dragon-types like Latios and Dragonite lacking Fire Punch and Superpower as well as Water-types like Starmie and Politoed. Meanwhile, Gliscor checks Fighting- and Fire-types like Terrakion, Breloom, and Heatran. Psychic-types like Alakazam, Latios, and Reuniclus appreciate Gliscor's Stealth Rock and Knock Off support wearing down their switch-ins. Focus Sash Alakazam can revenge kill any Pokemon and punish Pokemon that try to set up on Gliscor, mainly Reuniclus, with Encore and Thunder Wave. Latios switches into Water-, Grass-, and Electric-types like Keldeo, Celebi, and Thundurus-T while bringing sweeping potential with a Choice Scarf set, which revenge kills and cripples Pokemon that can set up on Gliscor like Reuniclus and Volcarona. Reuniclus appreciates its switch-ins being worn down so it can sweep with Calm Mind and more easily wallbreak if running its 3 three attacks set. Jellicent can take on strong special attackers like Volcarona, Politoed, and Keldeo while spreading more residual damage with Will-O-Wisp and stopping recovery with Taunt, with Gliscor checking strong physical threats like Terrakion, Garchomp, and Excadrill. Gastrodon is a good partner because it more easily checks strong Electric- and Water-types like Thundurus-T, Rotom-W, Starmie, and Keldeo and switches into Heatran more safely. Excadrill pressures Reuniclus and checks Electric- and Dragon-types while appreciating Gliscor countering Ground-types like Excadrill and opposing Gliscor. Heatran counters Grass- and Fire-types like Celebi and Volcarona and can drop Stealth Rock on its defensive set with Gliscor covering that role or serve an offensive role with the residual damage support Gliscor provides. Rotom-W checks Water-(AH) and Ice-types like Starmie, Keldeo, and Mamoswine while also spreading burns with Will-O-Wisp in tandem with Gliscor's Stealth Rock and Knock Off. Magnezone traps Skarmory, a Gliscor counter, while beneiftting benefitting from Gliscor checking Fighting- and Ground-types.

[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Protect
move 4: Facade
item: Toxic Orb
ability: Poison Heal
nature: Careful
evs: 244 HP / 72 Def / 192 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Swords Dance Gliscor is a potent balance breaker thanks to its longevity and bulk giving it many setup opportunities and making it able to beat Pokemon that'd otherwise check it, like Reuniclus lacking Hidden Power Ice and Rotom-W. Protect allows Gliscor to activate Toxic Orb safely and scout Choice item users and for coverage meant to lure it, like Ice Beam Tyranitar and Hidden Power Ice Alakazam and Heatran. Facade hits many Pokemon resistant to Earthquake, like Rotom-W, Latios, Breloom, and opposing Gliscor, while also having good neutral coverage and high PP for good utility in longer games. Ice Fang can be run over Facade to hit Breloom, Dragonite, Landorus-T, and opposing Gliscor much harder. However, it has less PP and worse neutral coverage, making it more situational.

Set Details
========

A spread of 244 HP / 72 Def / 192 SpD and with a Careful nature lets Gliscor take Alakazam's Hidden Power Ice and Choice Specs Latios's Surf, with the HP investment also maximizing Poison Heal recovery.

Team Options
========

This set fits on sand teams because they can remove and wear down its counterplay. Tyranitar brings sand and can set up Stealth Rock with a Chople Berry set that Pursuit traps Pokemon that can keep Gliscor from sweeping, like Alakazam, Perish Song Celebi, and Hidden Power Ice Reuniclus. Magnezone traps Skarmory, a Gliscor counter, while beneiftting benefitting from Gliscor checking Fighting- and Ground-types. Rotom-W checks Water- and Ice-types like Starmie, Keldeo, and Mamoswine and spreads burns with Will-O-Wisp. Alakazam can create setup oppourtinities opportunities with Encore, revenge kill any one threat thanks to Focus Sash, and clean up late-game with the holes Gliscor can break create against Pokemon like Reuniclus and Gastrodon. Latios switches into Water-, Grass-, and Electric-types like Keldeo, Celebi, and Thundurus-T while bringing sweeping potential with a Choice Scarf set, which revenge kills and cripples Pokemon that can set up on Gliscor like Reuniclus and Volcarona. Ferrothorn and Skarmory set up Spikes to wear down switch-ins so Gliscor can sweep more easily. Ferrothorn switches into Dragon-types like Latios and Dragonite lacking Fire Punch and Superpower as well as Water-types like Starmie and Politoed. It provides other forms of support with Stealth Rock and Knock Off while appreciating Gliscor checking Fighting- and Fire-types like Terrakion, Breloom, and Heatran. Skarmory checks strong physical attackers like Dragonite and Scizor while also acting as a more reliable switch-in for Ground-types that can overwhelm Gliscor, like Landorus-T and Mamoswine. It can also handle Alakazam and Latios should it be running a specially defensive spread. Heatran counters Grass- and Fire-types like Celebi and Volcarona, set Stealth Rock, or act in a more offensive role that wears Gliscor's checks down so it can more easily break through them while appreciating Gliscor's Fighting resistance. Heatran counters Grass- and Fire-types like Celebi and Volcarona in addition to setting Stealth Rock, but it can instead run an offensive set to wear down Gliscor's checks while appreciating its Fighting resistance.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Taunt over Stealth Rock allows Gliscor to stop Pokemon like Skarmory, Gastrodon, Reuniclus, and Ferrothorn from setting up entry hazards or recovering. Toxic can be used on the Stealth Rock set to cripple switch-ins like Rotom-W, Gastrodon, and Latios. However, many of Gliscor's other switch-ins, like Skarmory, opposing Gliscor, Reuniclus, and Refresh Politoed, are immune to or unbothered by poison. A more offensive Swords Dance set with Hyper Cutter, Flying Gem, and Acrobatics can pose a much more immediate offensive threat with Acrobatics to and break through Earthquake-resistant Pokemon like Celebi, Latios, and Landorus-T, which Landorus-T can't replicate. It can even use Rock Polish to effectively sweep once its answers are worn down. However, Landorus-T, Mamoswine, and Garchomp are usually better as offensive Ground-types due to their higher greater power and wider coverage letting them break through checks like Skarmory and Rotom-W, while their defensive utility gives them more chances to set up. Substitute can be used over Protect on the Swords Dance set to get more setup opportunities and punish switches against Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Excadrill. Roost lets Gliscor recover a lot of health in one turn, making it more sustainable in the short term. However, Protect has much more utility and usually suffices for recovery because Gliscor takes so little residual damage. Substitute + Toxic + Protect alongside Magnezone and Pursuit Tyranitar can be used to Toxic stall foes. However, such a set abandons team support,(AC) and common Pokemon like Reuniclus, Refresh Politoed, and Encore Alakazam stop it in its tracks. Rock Slide OHKOes Volcarona, does solid damage to Thundurus-T, and creates solid neutral coverage in tandem with Earthquake. However, these Pokemon can be better handled through teammates than a valuable moveslot.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Skarmory**: Skarmory uses Gliscor as setup fodder for Spikes. However, Skarmory it must be careful against a Magnezone teammate and can't do anything to Gliscor running Taunt.

**Mamoswine**: Mamoswine threatens to OHKO Gliscor with Icicle Crash and can set up Substitute or Stealth Rock as it switches. However, Mamoswine can't switch into Earthquake more than once or twice, especially with Stealth Rock on the field, and Gliscor can scout what move Choice Band variants lock into.

**Ice-type Coverage**: Common Pokemon like Landorus-T, Thundurus-T, Alakazam, Reuniclus, Volcarona, and Tyranitar can run Ice-type coverage to lure in and heavily damage Gliscor, even making it struggle to recover if Stealth Rock is up. However, most of these Pokemon can struggle to switch into Earthquake and Facade, especially when boosted, and dislike Knock Off.

**Water-types**: Water-types like Rotom-W, Politoed, Gastrodon, and Keldeo greatly threaten Gliscor and can take unboosted hits. However, they can't take many boosted attacks from the Swords Dance set and struggle checking it long-term with Leftovers knocked off removed.

**Very Strong Pokemon**: Strong wallbreakers like Dragonite, Kyurem-B, Latios, and Landorus-T can break through Gliscor as a result of their strong attacks and higher Speed.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Ophion, 433215], [Sagdiyev, 548404]]
- Quality checked by: [[Zokuru, 263906], [BluBirD252, 347088], [Finchinator, 114198]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519], [, ]]

GP 2/2 when done
 

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