Gligar Weakness Pokemon Go: Best Counters and Strategy

Gligar is a dual Ground and Flying-type Pokémon originally discovered in the Johto region. In the ever-evolving landscape of Pokémon GO, it has cemented its position as a high-tier contender, particularly in the Great League. Understanding the specific Gligar weakness in Pokémon GO is essential for any trainer looking to climb the ranks in the GO Battle League or efficiently take down Gligar in various raid or Team GO Rocket encounters. Its unique typing provides it with a fascinating defensive profile, making it a formidable wall against certain types while remaining extremely fragile to others.

Understanding Gligar’s Elemental Typing

The combination of Ground and Flying is one of the more unique pairings in the game. On paper, Ground is typically weak to Water, Grass, and Ice. Flying, on the other hand, is weak to Electric, Ice, and Rock. However, when these types merge, they create a synergy that covers many traditional vulnerabilities.

For instance, the Ground-type effectively nullifies the Flying-type's weakness to Electric moves, granting Gligar a resistance rather than a vulnerability. Similarly, the Flying-type cancels out the Ground-type's weakness to Grass. This leaves a very specific set of openings that opponents must exploit to secure a fast victory.

The Critical 2X Weakness: Ice

The most significant Gligar weakness in Pokémon GO is Ice-type attacks. Because both Ground and Flying types are individually weak to Ice, Gligar suffers from what is known as a "double weakness." In technical terms, Ice-type moves deal 256% of their standard damage to Gligar.

This massive multiplier means that even a non-Ice-type Pokémon utilizing an Ice-type coverage move (like a Mewtwo using Ice Beam or a Swampert using Blizzard) can deal devastating chunks of damage. For trainers looking to end a battle quickly, focusing on Ice-type DPS (Damage Per Second) is the gold standard strategy.

The Secondary Weakness: Water

Gligar’s second vulnerability is to Water-type moves. Unlike the Ice-type weakness, this is a standard single weakness, resulting in 160% damage. While not as explosive as Ice attacks, Water moves are extremely common in the Great League meta (think Hydro Cannon or Surf). This makes Water-type Pokémon reliable checks to Gligar, especially if you lack a dedicated Ice-type attacker on your roster.

Resistance Profile: What to Avoid

To understand how to beat Gligar, you must also know what moves are ineffective. Using the wrong type of attack can lead to a significant loss in momentum. Gligar is resistant to several common types:

Electric: Despite being a Flying-type, Gligar’s Ground typing makes it resistant to Electric moves (62.5% damage).
Fighting: Its Flying side provides resistance to Fighting-type attacks (62.5% damage).
Poison: Standard resistance (62.5% damage).
Bug: Standard resistance (62.5% damage).
Ground: Gligar possesses a triple resistance (effectively 39.1% damage) to Ground-type attacks, as Flying types are immune to Ground in the main series games, translated here as a major reduction.

Top Raid Counters for Gligar

When Gligar appears in raids or as a high-HP encounter against Team GO Rocket, you want to maximize your damage output using the best counters available. Given the 256% Ice weakness, the list of top performers is dominated by Ice-type specialists.

Elite Ice-Type Attackers

Galarian Darmanitan: Utilizing Ice Fang and Avalanche, this Pokémon offers some of the highest non-Mega Ice damage in the game. It is a glass cannon but can shred through Gligar's health bar in seconds.
Mamoswine: Often considered the king of Ice attackers, Mamoswine combines High Attack with the moves Powder Snow and Avalanche. Its Ground typing also helps it resist some of Gligar’s potential moves.
Baxcalibur: A newer addition to the top tiers, Baxcalibur with Ice Fang and Avalanche is an exceptional counter that holds up well in longer engagements.
Weavile: Shadow Weavile is even more potent. With Ice Shard and Avalanche, it capitalizes on Gligar's double weakness with extreme speed.
Glaceon: A very accessible option for most players. Frost Breath and Avalanche make Glaceon a reliable and cost-effective counter.

Mega and Shadow Considerations

If you have access to Mega Evolutions, Mega Glalie or Mega Abomasnow are the premier choices. Not only do they deal massive damage, but they also provide an "Ice-type boost" to all other trainers in the raid, making the group effort significantly faster.

Shadow versions of Mamoswine, Mewtwo (with Ice Beam), and Weavile are technically the fastest ways to eliminate a Gligar, though they require more Stardust and Candy to power up. If you are soloing a raid, these Shadow variants are often necessary to beat the clock.

Gligar in the Great League Meta

While raids are straightforward, facing Gligar in the GO Battle League (GBL) is a different challenge. Gligar has seen a massive surge in popularity due to its high stat product and the efficiency of its moveset, particularly after buffs to Wing Attack.

Common Gligar Movesets

In PvP, you will most likely encounter a Gligar running:

Fast Move: Wing Attack (High energy generation).
Charged Moves: Aerial Ace (Spammy STAB) and Dig (High damage Ground coverage) or Night Slash (Shield baiting and potential Attack buff).

How to Counter Gligar in GBL

Countering Gligar in a 3v3 format requires more than just knowing its weakness; it requires alignment and shield management.

The Lanturn Matchup: While Gligar is resistant to Electric, Lanturn is a unique threat because of its Water-type moves. A Lanturn running Water Gun or Surf can pressure Gligar, although it must be wary of Gligar’s Ground-type moves like Dig.
Dewgong and Walrein: These are the ultimate Gligar hunters. Both possess Ice-type fast moves and charged moves (Icy Wind/Icicle Spear) that can 2-shot a Gligar before it can reach its heavier hitting moves.
Skarmory: This is often a stalemate or a "skill matchup." Skarmory resists Gligar’s Ground and Flying moves, while Gligar struggles to do neutral damage back. Usually, the one with the shield advantage or better energy management wins.
Azumarill: As a bulky Water/Fairy type, Azumarill can absorb Gligar’s hits and respond with Ice Beam or Hydro Pump, both of which target Gligar’s primary weaknesses.

The Impact of Shadow Gligar

Shadow Gligar is frequently used in the Great League because the 20% Attack boost makes its Wing Attacks and Aerial Aces significantly more threatening. However, the 20% reduction in Defense makes it even more vulnerable to its weaknesses.

If you are using an Ice-type against a Shadow Gligar, the battle will end almost instantly. A single Avalanche from a Mamoswine can often One-Hit Knockout (OHKO) a Shadow Gligar, even from full health, depending on IV spreads. When facing a Shadow Gligar, your priority should be to align your Ice or Water attacker with it at all costs.

Weather and Battlefield Conditions

Pokémon GO’s weather system can shift the tide of battle by boosting certain move types by 20%.

Snowy Weather: This is the nightmare scenario for Gligar. Ice moves are boosted, making already lethal counters like Glaceon or Mamoswine unstoppable.
Rainy Weather: Water moves are boosted. While not a double weakness, a weather-boosted Hydro Cannon from a Feraligatr or Swampert will put immense pressure on a Gligar user.
Sunny/Windy Weather: Conversely, these conditions boost Gligar. Sunny weather boosts Ground moves (Dig), and Windy weather boosts Flying moves (Wing Attack, Aerial Ace). Be extra cautious when fighting Gligar under these conditions, as its damage output will be noticeably higher.

Evolution: Transitioning to Gliscor

It is worth noting that Gligar evolves into Gliscor with the use of 100 Candies and a Sinnoh Stone. Does Gliscor solve Gligar's weakness problems? In short: No.

Gliscor shares the exact same Ground/Flying typing. This means Gliscor is also 256% weak to Ice and 160% weak to Water. While Gliscor has higher stats and access to different moves like Earthquake or Hurricane, the fundamental strategy to defeat it remains identical. If your team is prepared to handle a Gligar, it is inherently prepared to handle a Gliscor.

Practical Tips for Trainers

To wrap up your strategy for handling this fly-scorpion Pokémon, keep these practical points in mind:

Check for Ice Coverage: Even if you don't have a dedicated Ice-type on your team, check if any of your Pokémon can learn an Ice move. Moves like Ice Beam, Blizzard, or Triple Axel can be game-changers as surprise coverage.
Shield the Dig: If you are using a Steel or Poison-type, Gligar’s Dig move is a massive threat. Always save a shield if you suspect the Gligar has enough energy for Dig.
Don't Switch Too Early: In GBL, if you lead with a Pokémon weak to Gligar (like a Fighting-type), don't immediately swap to your Ice-type. A smart opponent will swap their Gligar out to protect it. Try to bait out their counter-switch first so your Ice-type can eventually "trap" the Gligar later in the game.
IV Hunting: If you are catching Gligar for your own use, look for low Attack and high Defense/Stamina IVs for Great League performance. This allows it to tank more hits, potentially surviving a stray Water move that would otherwise take it out.

By focusing on the massive 256% Ice-type weakness, trainers can effectively neutralize Gligar's presence on the battlefield. Whether you are facing it in a tier-1 raid or at the top of the GBL leaderboard, a cool-headed approach—pun intended—is the most reliable path to victory. Gligar is a powerful tool in the right hands, but its elemental vulnerabilities are clear and highly exploitable for those who prepare accordingly.