[OVERVIEW]
Glalie is a very niche setup sweeper within the Anything Goes metagame due to the interesting ability Moody. By repeatedly using Protect and Substitute, Glalie is able to achieve boosts rather effortlessly. Additionally, Glalie has a sufficient movepool to aid this setup, in addition to a reliable STAB typing that nothing is immune to, unlike other Moody Pokemon. Unfortunately, Glalie has very mediocre stats and a terrible defensive typing. Glalie is relatively weak, struggling to compete with top-tier threats without multiple boosts to its Special Attack. It is also often subject to poor initial boosts and hence isn't as reliable as many other setup sweepers. Lastly, it struggles switching into anything, so it isn't able to see use unless it switches in after a Pokemon has fainted.
[SET]
name: Moody Sweeper
move 1: Protect
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Frost Breath
item: Leftovers
ability: Moody
nature: Timid
evs: 216 HP / 40 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Protect and Substitute are used in tandem to help Glalie obtain multiple boosts from Moody. Taunt allows Glalie to prevent opposing Pokemon from using moves that would otherwise halt setup, such as Haze, Perish Song, and Roar. Frost Breath is Glalie's preferred attack, as it is able to bypass a foe's defensive stat boosts.
Set Details
========
Moody enables Glalie to be viable due to its potency and lack of solid checks. Leftovers provides more longevity for Glalie so that it can use Protect and Substitute more often to obtain larger boosts. Maximum Speed EVs and a Timid nature allow Glalie to outspeed Marshadow, Mega Gengar, and all Mewtwo formes after one Speed boost. 216 HP EVs allow for optimal Leftovers recovery while giving Glalie necessary bulk investment. 40 Defense EVs ensure that Glalie can take common physical attacks such as Primal Groudon's Precipice Blades and defensive Ho-Oh's Sacred Fire the majority of the time.
Usage Tips
========
Use Protect and Substitute repeatedly in order to obtain boosts to aid a late-game sweep. Switch Glalie in once one of its teammates has fainted, and don't bring it directly into attacks. Avoid status, as Glalie needs a myriad of turns of set up to have a significant impact on a match. Remove Marshadow and Magearna prior to setting up, as Glalie must rely on chance if it plans on beating them otherwise. Feel free to switch in another Pokemon if Glalie doesn't obtain optimal boosts initially; however, be careful and ensure you have other checks to Marshadow and Magearna.
Team Options
========
Good switch-ins to Marshadow like Arceus-Fairy and Toxapex are appreciated, as Glalie is incredibly weak to Spectral Thief and should not stay in against it. Toxic Spikes users such as Scolipede and the aforementioned Toxapex are also beneficial, as Glalie can then rack up damage while repeatedly using Protect and Substitute. Entry hazard removal is useful, as Glalie is already quite frail and can't afford to take more damage as it switches in. Steel- and Poison-types like Necrozma-DM, Skarmory, and Arceus-Poison can be used to repeatedly switch into Toxic. Clerics such as Chansey, Blissey, and Xerneas are useful, as Glalie is essentially useless if it obtains a status ailment.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Disable can be used instead of Taunt to prevent Marshadow's Spectral Thief from being used; however, Taunt has much greater overall utility.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Marshadow**: Marshadow's Spectral Thief can't be stopped by Taunt or Substitute and hence can only be prevented if Glalie can deal with Marshadow prior to Spectral Thief connecting. Glalie can exploit Marshadow's lack of longevity by switching out and back in later, however. Marshadow's Close Combat also OHKOes Glalie without multiple defensive boosts.
**Magearna**: Magearna can steal Glalie's boosts with Heart Swap if it forces Glalie into Substitute rather than Taunt. Once enough boosts have been accumulated, however, Glalie can afford to block Heart Swap with Taunt every time it wears off.
**Powerful Attackers**: Glalie is a relatively frail Pokemon compared to other Pokemon within the metagame and generally requires multiple defensive boosts in order to take on common offensive threats.
**Phazing**: While Glalie can avoid Roar and Whirlwind with Taunt and Dragon Tail with Substitute, it cannot always be in a position to use these moves, especially if it obtains poor defensive boosts initially.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Chloe, 262044]]
- Quality checked by: [[lotiasite, 302985], [Catalystic, 314467]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [, ]]
Glalie is a very niche setup sweeper within the Anything Goes metagame due to the interesting ability Moody. By repeatedly using Protect and Substitute, Glalie is able to achieve boosts rather effortlessly. Additionally, Glalie has a sufficient movepool to aid this setup, in addition to a reliable STAB typing that nothing is immune to, unlike other Moody Pokemon. Unfortunately, Glalie has very mediocre stats and a terrible defensive typing. Glalie is relatively weak, struggling to compete with top-tier threats without multiple boosts to its Special Attack. It is also often subject to poor initial boosts and hence isn't as reliable as many other setup sweepers. Lastly, it struggles switching into anything, so it isn't able to see use unless it switches in after a Pokemon has fainted.
[SET]
name: Moody Sweeper
move 1: Protect
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Frost Breath
item: Leftovers
ability: Moody
nature: Timid
evs: 216 HP / 40 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Protect and Substitute are used in tandem to help Glalie obtain multiple boosts from Moody. Taunt allows Glalie to prevent opposing Pokemon from using moves that would otherwise halt setup, such as Haze, Perish Song, and Roar. Frost Breath is Glalie's preferred attack, as it is able to bypass a foe's defensive stat boosts.
Set Details
========
Moody enables Glalie to be viable due to its potency and lack of solid checks. Leftovers provides more longevity for Glalie so that it can use Protect and Substitute more often to obtain larger boosts. Maximum Speed EVs and a Timid nature allow Glalie to outspeed Marshadow, Mega Gengar, and all Mewtwo formes after one Speed boost. 216 HP EVs allow for optimal Leftovers recovery while giving Glalie necessary bulk investment. 40 Defense EVs ensure that Glalie can take common physical attacks such as Primal Groudon's Precipice Blades and defensive Ho-Oh's Sacred Fire the majority of the time.
Usage Tips
========
Use Protect and Substitute repeatedly in order to obtain boosts to aid a late-game sweep. Switch Glalie in once one of its teammates has fainted, and don't bring it directly into attacks. Avoid status, as Glalie needs a myriad of turns of set up to have a significant impact on a match. Remove Marshadow and Magearna prior to setting up, as Glalie must rely on chance if it plans on beating them otherwise. Feel free to switch in another Pokemon if Glalie doesn't obtain optimal boosts initially; however, be careful and ensure you have other checks to Marshadow and Magearna.
Team Options
========
Good switch-ins to Marshadow like Arceus-Fairy and Toxapex are appreciated, as Glalie is incredibly weak to Spectral Thief and should not stay in against it. Toxic Spikes users such as Scolipede and the aforementioned Toxapex are also beneficial, as Glalie can then rack up damage while repeatedly using Protect and Substitute. Entry hazard removal is useful, as Glalie is already quite frail and can't afford to take more damage as it switches in. Steel- and Poison-types like Necrozma-DM, Skarmory, and Arceus-Poison can be used to repeatedly switch into Toxic. Clerics such as Chansey, Blissey, and Xerneas are useful, as Glalie is essentially useless if it obtains a status ailment.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Disable can be used instead of Taunt to prevent Marshadow's Spectral Thief from being used; however, Taunt has much greater overall utility.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Marshadow**: Marshadow's Spectral Thief can't be stopped by Taunt or Substitute and hence can only be prevented if Glalie can deal with Marshadow prior to Spectral Thief connecting. Glalie can exploit Marshadow's lack of longevity by switching out and back in later, however. Marshadow's Close Combat also OHKOes Glalie without multiple defensive boosts.
**Magearna**: Magearna can steal Glalie's boosts with Heart Swap if it forces Glalie into Substitute rather than Taunt. Once enough boosts have been accumulated, however, Glalie can afford to block Heart Swap with Taunt every time it wears off.
**Powerful Attackers**: Glalie is a relatively frail Pokemon compared to other Pokemon within the metagame and generally requires multiple defensive boosts in order to take on common offensive threats.
**Phazing**: While Glalie can avoid Roar and Whirlwind with Taunt and Dragon Tail with Substitute, it cannot always be in a position to use these moves, especially if it obtains poor defensive boosts initially.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Chloe, 262044]]
- Quality checked by: [[lotiasite, 302985], [Catalystic, 314467]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [, ]]
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