Glaceon - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Glaceon Movesets in Other Games
SV	SWSH

This is a strategy guide for using Glaceon in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Glaceon, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Glaceon - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Glaceon

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Glaceon
Abilities
Snow Cloak	Raises evasion in a hailstorm.
Ice Body (Hidden)	The Pokemon gradually regains HP in a hailstorm.

Glaceon Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage	-
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage	-
Takes 0x damage	-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Glaceon

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Glaceon

Special Attacker Moveset & Best Build

This set takes advantage of Glaceon's high base Special Attack to make it a wicked Special hitter. As it learns Freeze-Dry for the first time in this generation, it can run roughshod over Water types, but the loss of Hidden Power, available in previous generations, sharply restricts the potential of its moveset. This change has made it abundantly clear which matchups Glaceon can handle, and which ones it can't.

Its EVs are set to allow it to outspeed a Corviknight with 4 EVs in Speed, and even when going head-to-head with one it can survive a hit from Iron Head or Body Press. Blizzard or Ice Beam can take it out in two hits.

Other Viable Moves

Assault Vest Moveset & Best Build

In contrast to the previous build, this build instead takes advantage of Glaceon's high Defense and Special Defense to make a set that holds the line through enemy fire, then lashes out with its own barrage. Special attackers can be dispatched with Mirror Coat, while Freeze-Dry serves as its main weapon.

Its primary weak point is dealing with Special Defense tanks like Gyarados and Togekiss, who won't keel over even after taking a super effective attack head-on. Try to avoid these matchups instead of falling prey to them.

About Glaceon's EV Spread

The EVs here are organized to allow it to maximize the possible damage from Mirror Coat, placing 252 EVs in HP. On the Defense end, it's got the numbers to survive a Fishious Rend from a Jolly Dracovish with a Choice Scarf, while on Special Defense it can survive an Overheat from Heat Rotom as long as it doesn't have Choice Specs.

Its Special Attack stat won't change regardless of if it has 76 or 80 EVs, so the remaining 4 have been placed in Speed so they don't go to waste and allowing it to outspeed other Pokemon with a base 65 Speed.

Other Viable Moves

Focus Sash Moveset & Best Build

This build relies on Focus Sash to guarantee survival if hit with a potential OHKO move and goes well with Mirror Coat to punish special attackers.

You can increase the damage done by Mirror Coat by not putting any IVs in Special Defense.

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Glaceon Effectively

A Pokemon born and bred for Special Attacking

Glaceon rocks a Special Attack of 130 that's ready to be put to good use. Unfortunately, the type range of its movepool is extremely limited, adding responsibility for its teammates to provide the coverage it lacks.

Defensive stats also on the high end

Although its HP doesn't stand out, its Defense and Special Defense are rather high, so depending on how you place your EVs, it has the potential to survive attacks before striking back as well.

Freeze-Drying Water-type Pokemon

Since Glaceon can learn Freeze-Dry, it is able to stand up against Water-type Pokemon. Additionally, Freeze-Dry is very useful against Water- / Ground-type Pokemon which like Swampert and Quagsire.

Counters for Glaceon

Weakness

Take advantage of its low HP and knock it out with super effective damage

Although Glaceon has high Defense and Special Defense, its HP is middling, allowing a heavy-hitting Rock- or Steel-type attack to take it out with relative ease.

As it frequently holds Mirror Coat, it's important to watch out when trying to hit a weak point with a Special attacker.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Tyranitar	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can deal super-effective damage with Rock-type moves. ・Sandstorm will raise its Special Defense, allowing it to handle Glaceon's attacks. Moveset & Best Build for Tyranitar
Scizor	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Utilize Bullet Punch's priority to exploit Glaceon's weakness to Fighting-type moves. ・Resists Ice-type moves by half. Moveset & Best Build for Scizor
Glastrier	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Resists Ice-type moves and can use Steel- and Fighting-type moves. ・Has high Special Defense stats. Moveset & Best Build for Glastrier
Cinderace	Ranking: ★★★★ ・A good type against Ice offensively and defensively. ・Can deal heavy damage with Pyro Ball. Moveset & Best Build for Cinderace
Galarian Darmanitan	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can deal high damage in a single attack. ・Can resist Ice-type moves, allowing it to switch in on Glaceon without fear or weather an attack without fear. Moveset & Best Build for Galarian Darmanitan
Excadrill	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can deal super-effective damage with Steel-type moves. ・Special Defense is low. Moveset & Best Build for Excadrill
Aegislash	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can deal super-effective damage with Steel-type moves. ・Can survive super-effective hits while in Shield Forme. Moveset & Best Build for Aegislash
Arcanine	Ranking: ★★★★ ・A good type against Ice offensively and defensively. ・Glaceon may survive Flare Blitz if its EVs are stacked in Defense. Moveset & Best Build for Arcanine

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for Returning Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu
Hawlucha	Shiftry	Tsareena
Ludicolo