[OVERVIEW]
Glalie has a niche in the UU metagame as a Spikes lead on hyper offense teams and as a rare mid-game Spiker with Explosion on bulky offense teams. Although it faces direct competition from prominent Spikers Omastar and Qwilfish, Glalie's niche comes from its pure Ice typing giving it a defensive edge against Electric- and Ground-type attacks from offensive Normal- and Electric-types. Glalie has positive matchups against both other Spikers and Rapid Spinners, giving it good self-sufficiency for winning Spikes wars. Many of Glalie's offensive teammates appreciate the momentum that Glalie provides with the combination of Spikes and Explosion, making it a good Spiker on teams that prefer Glalie's defensive typing. However, Glalie isn't infallible, as any team with an Arcanine can quickly reverse the momentum it generates. This is what separates Glalie from Qwilfish, whose Water typing allows it to resist Arcanine's Fire Blast to safely lay down Spikes while also providing reliable speed control for its team with Thunder Wave, leaving Qwilfish as the preferred hyper offense lead in the modern metagame.
[SET]
Name: Spikes
Move 1: Spikes
Move 2: Explosion
Move 3: Earthquake
Move 4: Hidden Power [Grass]
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Glalie safely sets up Spikes against Pokemon such as Omastar, Ampharos, Walrein, and Lanturn with its pure Ice typing and solid 80/80/80 bulk. Explosion breaks a hole in the opposition, severely denting anything that doesn't resist Normal or allowing Glalie's team to play a favorable 5v5. Explosion also comes in handy for removing slower setup sweepers such as Granbull, Slowking, and Curse Muk, which can otherwise outlast teams with great bulk and Rest. Earthquake puts pressure on Poison-types like Qwilfish and Tentacruel, taxing either of them for using Spikes or Rapid Spin, respectively, and allows Glalie to hit Electric-types without resorting to Explosion, breaking Electrode and Manectric's Substitutes to keep them from possibly taking advantage of Glalie. Hidden Power Grass is used to pressure Omastar, limiting the amount of Spikes it puts out while Glalie sets its own and making sure Glalie's Explosion connects on a different target that doesn't resist it.
A Jolly nature on lead Glalie ensures it will outspeed leads such as Adamant Kangaskhan and neutral-natured base 85 Speed Pokemon such as Nidoking. A physically defensive spread of 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 Spe with an Impish nature allows Glalie to more effectively set up Spikes against Normal-types, as it can dodge a 2HKO from offensive Kangaskhan's Double-Edge, Bulk Up Granbull's unboosted Return, and an OHKO from Choice Band Granbull's Double-Edge. It also narrowly dodges an OHKO from non-Choice Band Kangaskhan and Granbull's Focus Punch while it sets up Spikes.
Team Options
=========
Offensive Electric-types like Electrode, Manectric, and Electabuzz like Glalie as a teammate, for all their checks take Spikes damage, and they appreciate Glalie's ability to safely set up and use Explosion on Kangaskhan, Ampharos, and Lanturn. Psychic-types like Xatu, Lunatone, and Grumpig love Glalie's Spikes support increasing their offensive presence. They can force switches against positive matchups by taking advantage of Psychic's Special Defense drops and few notable resistances to set up a Substitute or Calm Mind. Arcanine likes Glalie as a partner both because it likes Spikes to help it break through specially bulky walls, and Glalie can wear down Tentacruel with Earthquake as well as using Explosion on other bulky Water-types such as Walrein, Blastoise, Lanturn, and Slowking. In a similar vein, physical wallbreakers like offensive Kangaskhan, Scyther, Granbull, Solrock, Nidoking, and Nidoqueen appreciate Glalie wearing down physical walls like Omastar, Granbull, and Vileplume through Spikes, Hidden Power Grass pressure for Omastar, and Explosion to remove the latter two. Late-game cleaners such as Scyther, Gorebyss, and Rain Dance Omastar are good Spikes partners, appreciating the extra push of Spikes damage to KO bulkier targets.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Glalie can be used as a mid-game Spiker with a specially defensive spread of 252 HP / 236 SpD / 20 Spe and a Careful nature to better switch into Water- and Electric-types. Taunt can be used over Hidden Power Grass to prevent slower foes from using Toxic to put Glalie on a timer, Kangaskhan from using Wish or Rest, or slower Spikers like Omastar from setting up. Ice Beam gives Glalie a STAB option that prevents Flying-type setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Scyther and Gligar from turning Glalie into setup fodder without resorting to Explosion. Icy Wind is a speed control tool to prevent Taunt users from denying Spikes or to lay more layers of Spikes against Pokemon such as Tentacruel and Electabuzz, though Qwilfish is better at speed control through Thunder Wave paralysis. Light Screen allows Glalie to survive special attacks more comfortably and set up on Omastar, Tentacruel, and Ampharos, and it can keep it active for a teammate after using Explosion. Lum Berry gives Glalie a safety net against Toxic and paralysis to let it lay more layers of Spikes without being put on a timer or losing its Speed for a fast Explosion.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Arcanine**: Arcanine hard stops Glalie from applying pressure, as it is faster than max Speed Glalie and OHKOes it with Fire Blast. Lead Arcanine can deny Glalie the opportunity to lay Spikes and pressure common switch-ins with Thief if Glalie switches out, while any non-lead Arcanine can limit Glalie to one layer of Spikes before exerting its own offense. If Glalie preemptively uses Explosion turn 1 on the Arcanine switch, this means Glalie has not laid down any Spikes, and Explosion can not OHKO Arcanine after Intimidate, keeping Arcanine healthy to receive Wish passes from Kangaskhan.
**Solrock**: Solrock's Rock Slide puts a dent into Glalie; Choice Band Solrock can OHKO it, while other variants usually 2HKO it. It is also Spikes-immune, resistant to Explosion, and not easily pressured by Glalie's coverage. Solrock can even safely set up Reflect or Light Screen against non-Taunt Glalie to enable certain setup sweepers.
**Fighting-types**: Hitmontop is a spinner Glalie has trouble against, as Brick Break puts the fear of a 2HKO into Glalie, while Rapid Spin removes its Spikes. Glalie can explode on Hitmontop after it has laid Spikes, but Intimidate means it will not OHKO, leaving Glalie to need prior chip damage or a revenge killer for Hitmontop. Hitmonlee is an anti-Spikes lead that can OHKO Glalie with Choice Band Brick Break, or use Bulk Up on its Spikes turn or switch-out turns.
**Haunter**: Haunter makes for a good anti-Spikes lead, as it can Taunt any attempts to lay Spikes and has an immunity to Explosion, leaving Glalie no other option than to switch out, or use the uncommon Ice Beam. Haunter thus makes its own progress by spreading Will-O-Wisps, Thieving any Leftovers, or using Substitute to push itself into Salac/Petaya Berry range and scout the switch-in.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ellingtonreborn.619555/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bouff.121672/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bigfatmantis.507497/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/milak.262594/
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