Gliscor
Attack
Defense
Stamina
Best Movesets
Analysis
Without abilities or status moves, Gliscor’s utility in the main games didn’t translate well in GO, as a combination of low Attack and bad moves prevents it from having any offensive purpose. It can make for a decent gym defender, capable of slowing down Machamp and harassing them with its Flying-type moves, but it will fall like a fly [scorpion] to anything remotely chilly.
Offense
- Wing Attack + Acrobatics is one of Shadow Gliscor's STAB options, while Sand Attack + Earthquake is the other.
- Fury Cutter also performs well, due to its quick energy generation.
- Sand Tomb, Aerial Ace, and especially Night Slash are underwhelming.
Defense
- Wing Attack is far better defensively than Sand Attack and Fury Cutter.
- Aerial Ace and Night Slash are similar, but the former is stronger.
- Earthquake and Acrobatics are too slow to pose any real threat.
Sand Attack benefits from STAB and is preferred over Fury Cutter. It is also preferred over Wing Attack, due to the latter's average parameters overall.
Night Slash is valuable for the speed, only requiring 35 Energy, as well as the Dark-type coverage and the 12.5% chance to buff Gliscor's Attack stat by 2 stages at each use. Aerial Ace benefits from STAB and is also cheap to use. Earthquake can deal huge damage with STAB, offers wide coverage when used with Aerial Ace; it is expensive, however. Sand Tomb deals pathetic damage, but its utility is to debuff the opponent's Defense stat and baiting shields.
With a max CP of 2692, Gliscor lacks sufficient stats to perform well in Master League. However, the key coverage mentioned above impressively makes it a viable option here too.
Gliscor is a very interesting Pokemon in PvP, and a difficult one to use. A high Defense stat gives it good bulk, while its Flying/Ground typing causes it to only have two weaknesses (including a double weakness to Ice). Its rare typing and access to Sand Attack and Earthquake allow it to be one of the few Flying-type Pokemon that can break past Electric-, Rock-, and Steel-type Pokemon. Additionally, the cheapness of Aerial Ace allows it to maintain its Flying-type offensive profile by threatening Fighting-, Bug-, and Grass-type Pokemon.
