Tempo-Driven Gligar to Gliscor Deck Build

Gligar card illustration from Paradox Rift SV04-091

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Tempo-Driven Path: From Gligar to Gliscor

In the bustling world of the Pokémon TCG, tempo is a rhythm you can ride. A well-timed evolution line can swing turns in your favor, forcing your opponent to react while you press forward with momentum. The basic Gligar present in Paradox Rift (sv04) offers a sharp, budget-friendly line to practice tempo play. With 70 HP, a single-colorless attack, and a coin-flip mechanic that can poison the opponent’s Active Pokémon, Gligar is a spark that can become a steady flame when evolved to Gliscor. This article walks through how to structure a tempo-centric deck around this evolution line, balancing aggression, disruption, and the steady hand required to pull off the timing that wins games. ⚡🔥

Card spotlight: Gligar (sv04-091)

Name: Gligar

Set: Paradox Rift (sv04)
Rarity: Common
Stage: Basic
HP: 70
Type: Fighting
Attack: Toxic — Colorless Energy (cost). Flip a coin. If heads, your opponent's Active Pokémon is now Poisoned. During Pokémon Checkup, put 2 damage counters on that Pokémon instead of 1.
Retreat: 1
Illustrator: HYOGONOSUKE
Regulation: Mark G; Standard & Expanded legal

The Toxic attack is the key tempo mechanic here. A successful Poison can set up quick two-damage-counter checks through the turn structure, pressuring your opponent to pivot resources to heal or retreat. With Gligar’s low HP, however, you’ll want to minimize risk by leveraging efficient draws and early disruption to keep the pressure on without overexposing your basic attacker. This is where the evolution into Gliscor—and the rest of your tempo toolkit—really shines.

“Toxic’s coin flip adds a controlled risk-reward element. When it lands heads, you’re stacking constant pressure across turns, which is essential for tempo-based play.”

Gligar’s evolution into Gliscor is the moment the tempo truly accelerates. Gliscor typically presents a sturdier body and more impactful attacks that can threaten the opponent’s board while you maintain momentum from your earlier setup. The timing is everything: you aim to have the stage clear of key threats by the moment you promote into Gliscor, then you press forward with a pace that your opponent struggles to match. This approach rewards careful bench management, precise sequencing, and constant pressure rather than burst power in a single turn.

Building around tempo: deck construction ideas

Crafting a tempo-focused Gligar-to-Gliscor deck means balancing draw, search, and energy efficiency with the awkward but potent Toxic mechanic. Here are practical guidelines to consider:

Consistency first: Include several ways to fetch Gligar quickly—search options like “Quick Ball” or other deck-searching tools help you set up your board in the opening turns. The objective is to reach Gligar by Turn 2 and begin pressuring immediately.
Evolve with purpose: Prioritize a clean evolution path to Gliscor. While the exact tools depend on your overall card pool, maintain a plan to evolve once you’ve pinned the opponent’s Active with Poison and a weakening bench setup. Expect Gliscor to stabilize the game by accelerating your tempo and widening your attack window.
Energy efficiency: Since Toxic costs Colorless energy, you can afford a lean energy base early on. Use supporting cards that help you fetch or stall without overloading on energy too soon.
Draw and disruption: Tempo decks live on card advantage and pressurizing the opponent’s hand and board. Include draw-supporting supporters and items that keep your engine running while you apply pressure. Disruption tools help deny the opponent the exact cards they need to answer your setup.
Bench management: With a relatively low HP on Gligar, you’ll want to minimize exposure to quick trades. Plan bench space carefully and prepare safe promote-and-switch sequences so that you aren’t forced into unfavorable trades as you upgrade to Gliscor.

Strategic play examples

In practice, you’ll start by laying a Gligar on Turn 1 or 2, then backfill with draw and search to guarantee a Turn 2 or Turn 3 Gliscor arrival. When you land Toxic, your opponent must decide whether to invest in healing or risk a poisoned setup that compounds over subsequent turns. If you pair Gligar’s pressure with a steady trickle of damage from subsequent attacks or effects, you can create a tempo swing where your opponent is chasing your next move rather than setting up a full offense themselves.

In addition, leverage the set’s flavor and art to anchor the deck’s theme. HYOGONOSUKE’s illustration for Gligar evokes a nimble, flickering presence—perfect for a deck that thrives on tempo, misdirection, and precise timing. And even as you chase a Gliscor midgame threat, the art and lore of Paradox Rift can inspire how you pace your plays across the match.

Market insights and collecting notes

For collectors and budget-conscious players, Gligar in sv04 remains a practical inclusion. CardMarket data (as of late 2025) shows the common copy trading around a modest average of about €0.05, with lows near €0.02 and a gentle upward trend of about 0.04 over recent periods. Holo variants, when available, can sit a bit higher, often around €0.10 on average, with notable fluctuations tied to set rotations and demand. This makes Gligar a friendly pickup for players testing tempo ideas without a heavy financial commitment, while still offering a collectible edge for fans who crave a complete Paradox Rift lineup on their shelf. 💎

In the long term, the Paradox Rift set’s breadth — including 182 official cards within a 266-card total print run — keeps certain archetypes resonant within the meta. The sv04 index’s regulation mark “G” ensures a stable legality profile for standard and expanded play, letting you experiment with tempo builds across formats. When you’re crafting a Gligar-Gliscor tempo shell, you’re not just building a deck—you’re shaping a rhythm that can outpace heavier, slugging strategies and turn a patient plan into a rapid, punishing response. 🎴

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