Pokemon Sword and Shield

Glaceon - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Glaceon.png

Glaceon Movesets in Other Games
Pokemon Scarlet LogoSV Pokemon SWSH LogoSWSH

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
Pokemon SWSH - Glaceon Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SWSH - Glaceon Best BuildBuild for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Glaceon

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Ice Type
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
Pokemon Fire Image Pokemon Fighting Image Pokemon Rock Image Pokemon Steel Image
Takes 0.5x damage
Pokemon Ice Image
Takes 1/4x damage
-
Takes 0x damage
-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP Attack Defense Sp. Atk Sp. Def Speed
65 60 110 130 95 65

Best Nature for Glaceon

Best Natures
Modest
(+SpAtk, -Atk)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Glaceon

Special Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature Modest (+SpAtk, -Atk)
EV Spread HP 228 / Sp. Atk. 252 / Spd. 28
Final Stat Values HP 169 / Def. 130 / Sp. Atk. 200 / Sp. Def. 115 / Spd. 89
Ability Snow Cloak
Held Item Choice Specs
Life Orb
Never-Melt Ice
Moveset Freeze-Dry
Blizzard
Ice Shard
Shadow Ball

Special Attacker Glaceon.png

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

Ice Beam An alternate choice for Blizzard, if you want to put accuracy first. As Blizzard has perfect accuracy in Hail, consider this if you don't plan on Dynamaxing and setting up Hail with Max Hailstorm.
Mirror Coat Take advantage of its Special Defense to reflect Special attackers' hits. Becomes Max Mindstorm when Dynamaxed, expanding Glaceon's limit moveset.
Icy Wind Ice-type move that can reduce Speed of opponents. Use this move if holding Never-Melt Ice.
Yawn Prevents opponents from using Glaceon to set up. When used together with Mirror Coat, Max Mindstorm can overwrite Electric Terrain and Misty Terrain to prevent negating Yawn's effects.

Assault Vest Moveset & Best Build

Nature Modest (+SpAtk, -Atk)
EV Spread HP 252 / Def. 84 / Sp. Atk. 76 / Sp. Def. 92 / Spd. 4
Final Stat Values HP 172 / Def. 141 / Sp. Atk. 176 / Sp. Def. 127 / Spd. 86
Ability Snow Cloak
Held Item Assault Vest
Moveset Freeze-Dry
Ice Beam
Mirror Coat
Ice Shard

Assault Vest Glaceon.png

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

Shadow Ball For dealing with foes who can't be stopped with Ice attacks. Can deal fair damage.
Weather Ball For dealing with foes who can't be stopped with Ice attacks. Can deal fair damage.
Blizzard An alternate choice for Ice Beam for if you're willing to change accuracy for power, and you're considering Dynamaxing Glaceon.
Icy Wind Ice-type move that can reduce Speed of opponents. Use this move if holding Never-Melt Ice. Has low damage, however.

Focus Sash Moveset & Best Build

Nature Rash (SpAtk+, SpDef-)
EV Spread HP 252 / Sp. Atk. 252 / Spd. 4
Final Stat Values HP 172 / Def. 130 / Sp. Atk. 200 / Sp. Def. 115 / Spd. 86
Ability Ice Body
Held Item Focus Sash
Moveset Freeze-Dry
Shadow Ball
Mirror Coat
Ice Shard

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

Blizzard A move with high power but has low accuracy. Can break through Flying-types that spreads EVs in durability.
Ice Beam Ice-type move more accurate than Blizzard.
Yawn Prevents opponents from using Glaceon to set up. When used together with Mirror Coat, Max Mindstorm can overwrite Electric Terrain and Misty Terrain to prevent negating Yawn's effects.

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

Glaceon
Weakness Pokemon Fire Image Pokemon Fighting Image Pokemon Rock Image Pokemon Steel Image

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
Pokemon SWSH - Tyranitar ImageTyranitar 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
Pokemon SWSH - Scizor ImageScizor 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
Pokemon SWSH - Glastrier ImageGlastrier Ranking: ★★★★★
・Resists Ice-type moves and can use Steel- and Fighting-type moves.
・Has high Special Defense stats.
Moveset & Best Build for Glastrier
Pokemon SWSH - Cinderace ImageCinderace Ranking: ★★★★
・A good type against Ice offensively and defensively.
・Can deal heavy damage with Pyro Ball.
Moveset & Best Build for Cinderace
Pokemon SWSH - Galarian Darmanitan ImageGalarian 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
Pokemon SWSH - Excadrill ImageExcadrill Ranking: ★★★★
・Can deal super-effective damage with Steel-type moves.
Special Defense is low.
Moveset & Best Build for Excadrill
Pokemon SWSH - Aegislash ImageAegislash Ranking: ★★★★
・Can deal super-effective damage with Steel-type moves.
・Can survive super-effective hits while in Shield Forme.
Moveset & Best Build for Aegislash
Pokemon SWSH - Arcanine ImageArcanine 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

Pokemon Sword and Shield - Best Builds for Ranked Battle

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Tier ListTier List Pokemon SWSH - Best BuildsBest Builds Pokemon Sword and Shield - Ranked Battle Series 10 Contenders.pngSeries 10 List of Contenders
Pokemon SWSH - Doubles Tier ListDoubles Tier List Pokemon SWSH - Competitive Team BuildingTeam Building Pokemon SWSH - Rental TeamsRental Teams

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