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Is Gliscor a Good Pokemon in Platinum? An Expert Analysis

Yes, Gliscor is an excellent Pokémon in Platinum. It’s not just good; it’s arguably one of the best Pokémon you can obtain in the game, especially considering its relative availability and impact on key battles. Gliscor boasts a fantastic typing (Ground/Flying), a phenomenal ability (Poison Heal), and a solid stat distribution that makes it both offensively capable and defensively resilient. Its movepool is diverse enough to handle a wide variety of threats, making it a valuable asset throughout the entire Platinum adventure. In short, if you have the opportunity to acquire and train a Gliscor in Platinum, you absolutely should.

Gliscor’s Strengths in Platinum

Gliscor shines in Platinum for several key reasons:

Type Coverage: Ground/Flying provides excellent type coverage, hitting many common Pokémon types in Sinnoh for super-effective damage. It’s especially useful against Electric, Rock, Ice, and Steel types. The typing also offers immunity to Electric attacks, which are prevalent and dangerous in Platinum.
Poison Heal: This ability is what truly elevates Gliscor. When holding a Toxic Orb, Gliscor is badly poisoned, but Poison Heal heals 1/8 of its maximum HP each turn instead of taking damage. This passive healing makes it incredibly difficult to take down, turning it into a resilient wall that can wear down opponents.
Solid Stats: Gliscor has well-rounded stats. Its high Defense (125) makes it a physical tank, while its decent Attack (95) allows it to hit reasonably hard. Its Speed (95) is sufficient to outspeed many common threats, and its HP is respectable enough to take a few hits before Poison Heal kicks in.
Strong Movepool: Gliscor has access to powerful moves like Earthquake, Aerial Ace, Stone Edge, Ice Fang, and Swords Dance. This movepool allows it to cover a variety of weaknesses and boost its attack to devastating levels. Furthermore, moves like Roost synergize perfectly with Poison Heal, allowing Gliscor to recover even more HP.
Availability: While Gligar is only available late in the game at Acuity Lakefront, it is guaranteed if you are playing at night. The Razor Fang, used to evolve Gligar, is available after defeating the Elite Four, meaning Gliscor is obtainable prior to fighting the post game content.

Key Battles Where Gliscor Excels

Gliscor’s capabilities make it invaluable in numerous crucial battles throughout Platinum:

Volkner (Sunyshore City Gym): Volkner’s Electric-type Pokémon are completely shut down by Gliscor’s Ground/Flying typing and immunity to Electric attacks. Earthquake easily sweeps through his team.
Flint (Elite Four): While Flint’s team is primarily Fire-type, it contains Pokémon with varied typings. Gliscor can handle several of them, including Drifblim, Rapidash, and Lopunny.
Lucian (Elite Four): Gliscor can effectively counter some of Lucian’s Psychic-type Pokémon, particularly Bronzong. While not a guaranteed sweep, it can provide valuable support.
Cynthia (Champion): While Cynthia’s team is diverse and challenging, Gliscor can be strategically used against certain Pokémon like Roserade and potentially Spiritomb, depending on its moveset and Cynthia’s AI.

Gliscor’s Limitations

Despite its many strengths, Gliscor isn’t without its weaknesses:

Ice Weakness: Gliscor is quadruply weak to Ice-type moves, making it extremely vulnerable to Ice Beam, Ice Punch, and other powerful Ice attacks.
Special Defense: Its Special Defense stat is relatively low (75), making it susceptible to strong special attackers, especially those with Ice or Water moves.
Status Conditions: While Poison Heal negates other status conditions, moves like Will-O-Wisp can still be problematic if they land before the Toxic Orb activates.
Relying on Toxic Orb: Gliscor’s effectiveness is heavily reliant on holding the Toxic Orb. If the Orb is removed by moves like Knock Off or Trick, Gliscor loses its passive healing and becomes much less effective.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Gliscor in Platinum

Here are 15 frequently asked questions regarding Gliscor and its viability in Pokémon Platinum:

How do I evolve Gligar into Gliscor in Platinum? You need to level up Gligar while it is holding a Razor Fang at night. The Razor Fang can be found on Route 225 or purchased from the Battle Frontier after defeating the Elite Four.
Is it worth waiting until late game to get a Gliscor? Absolutely! Gliscor’s impact on the late-game and post-game content makes the wait worthwhile. Its utility against the Elite Four and Cynthia is invaluable.
What is the best nature for Gliscor in Platinum? Impish (+Defense, -Special Attack) is generally considered the best nature, as it maximizes Gliscor’s physical bulk. Jolly (+Speed, -Special Attack) is a viable alternative if you want to prioritize outspeeding opponents.
What moves should I teach my Gliscor? A common moveset includes: Earthquake, Aerial Ace (or Flying STAB move), Roost, and Swords Dance (or Ice Fang). Adapt the set to the strengths and weaknesses of your other team members.
How does Poison Heal work, exactly? When Gliscor is badly poisoned (typically by holding a Toxic Orb), Poison Heal heals 1/8 of its maximum HP at the end of each turn, instead of dealing damage. This effectively gives Gliscor incredible passive recovery.
Is Gliscor viable in the Battle Tower? Yes, Gliscor can be very effective in the Battle Tower with the right moveset and strategy. Its defensive capabilities and self-healing make it a tough opponent to take down.
What items besides Toxic Orb can Gliscor hold? While Toxic Orb is essential for Poison Heal, other items like Leftovers can provide passive healing in the absence of the ability, or Black Sludge if you want to punish Pokemon that use moves such as Trick. However, Poison Heal is what makes Gliscor truly exceptional.
How do I counter a Gliscor in Platinum? Strong Ice-type moves are the best way to deal with Gliscor due to its quadruple weakness. Powerful special attackers with Water or Electric moves can also pose a threat.
Is Gliscor better than other Ground/Flying types like Landorus (if available via hacking/events)? In a hack or ROM where you can obtain pokemon that are not normally available, Landorus is statistically superior to Gliscor, but Gliscor remains an outstanding choice.
Can Gliscor learn any good status moves? Gliscor can learn moves like Toxic or Confuse Ray, but these are generally less effective than relying on its offensive capabilities and Poison Heal. Protect is often used to stall an extra turn for healing.
Does Gliscor have any particularly bad matchups in the Elite Four? Yes, Gliscor struggles against Bertha’s Water/Ground types and Aaron’s Bug types. Cynthia’s Togekiss can also pose a challenge if it has Aura Sphere.
How early can I obtain Gligar? Gligar is available fairly late in the game, specifically at Acuity Lakefront, after defeating Candice, the Snowpoint City Gym Leader.
Is Gliscor a good lead Pokémon? It depends on the team and the opponent. Gliscor can be a decent lead, especially against teams that rely on Electric-type attacks.
Are there any strategies that specifically counter Poison Heal Gliscor? Moves like Trick that swap items can ruin Gliscor’s strategy. Pokémon with the ability Mold Breaker ignore Poison Heal, allowing them to deal full damage.
Where can I learn more about Pokémon strategies and game design? For in-depth discussions and analyses on various aspects of games, including strategy and design, I recommend checking out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. They have tons of research and resources for gaming enthusiasts and academics alike.

Conclusion

Gliscor’s unique combination of typing, ability, stats, and movepool makes it a standout Pokémon in Platinum. While it has some weaknesses, its strengths far outweigh its limitations. If you’re looking for a reliable and powerful Pokémon to add to your team, Gliscor is an excellent choice. With proper training and strategy, Gliscor can carry you through some of the toughest battles Platinum has to offer.

Is Gliscor a good Pokemon in Platinum?