In-battle formes
Base
| Type | |
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| Abilities | |
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| HP: | 68 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Attack: | 125 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 65 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 65 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 115 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 80 |
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Mega
| Type | |
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| Abilities | |
| Tier |
| HP: | 68 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Attack: | 165 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 95 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 65 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 115 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 110 |
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Overview
With a great STAB combination, great coverage options, and access to Swords Dance, Gallade differentiates itself from other Fighting-type wallbreakers by being able to beat many traditional checks to Fighting-types like Slowking, Weezing, and Dhelmise with its Psychic-type moves and Knock Off. It also has usable special bulk, giving it setup opportunities against Pokemon like Blastoise and defensive Decidueye. However, Gallade is outsped by many threats like Vivillon and Rotom because of its average Speed, and it cannot take even resisted physical hits like Passimian's Close Combat safely due to its lackluster bulk. Additionally, a Psychic / Fighting typing is quite bad defensively, making Gallade neutral to Dark while still having the same weaknesses as other Fighting-types. Being neutral to Dark also makes Gallade unable to switch into Dark-type attacks safely to utilize its ability Justified. Aside from this, other Fighting-types give it competition by providing better utility for the team, like U-turn from Passimian and priority from Pangoro. Scrafty also has higher overall bulk and better abilities in Shed Skin, which allows it to set up without fear of status, and Moxie, which allows it to snowball and sweep.
Swords Dance
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Moves
Swords Dance allows Gallade to break through defensive Pokemon like Slowking and Palossand more easily. Close Combat is Gallade's strongest STAB move, doing a good chunk of damage to non-resistant Pokemon like Blastoise and Druddigon. Psycho Cut nails Poison-types like Weezing and Garbodor and is chosen over Zen Headbutt because it has better accuracy and does not make contact, meaning Rocky Helmet and Aftermath will not be activated. Knock Off complements Gallade's STAB moves and hits Psychic-types for a decent amount of damage. Shadow Sneak can be used alongside Ghostium Z to provide similar coverage to Knock Off and helps Gallade pick off weakened checks like Rotom and Sigilyph. It also bypasses Colbur Berry, which is often held by Psychic- and Ghost-types. However, it has less power than Shattered Psyche.
Set Details
Maximum Attack and Speed investment alongside a Jolly nature maximizes Gallade's offensive capabilities. Psychium Z gives Gallade a one-time nuke, breaking through Pokemon like Palossand and Dhelmise. Alternatively, Life Orb boosts all of Gallade's attacks without the opportunity cost of the Z-Crystal slot, but it allows Pokemon like Delphox and Sneasel to revenge kill Gallade more easily due to recoil and stat drops from Close Combat. Justified is only really useful against Passimian locked into Knock Off and if Gallade is holding a Z-Crystal, as most Dark-type attacks are able to severely damage Gallade or straight up KO it, although it is still Gallade's best ability.
Usage Tips
Spam Knock Off early-game to weaken the opposing team. Gallade's switch-ins all dislike taking a Knock Off; for example, Whimsicott is more threatening with Choice Specs, and Ghost-types may be unable to stop Gallade's sweep late-game if they have already lost their Colbur Berry. You should also note that Gallade is rather frail and does not have any useful resistances, so it is best to bring it in through VoltTurn users so it has enough health to wallbreak or set up a Swords Dance. Aside from that, Gallade should also avoid any status effects, as they compromise Gallade's ability to sweep and wear it down even quicker. Gallade does well against bulkier teams, as it has a Speed advantage, giving it more opportunities to set up Swords Dance and making it harder to revenge kill. Against offensive teams, however, Gallade should focus on spamming its attacks to soften up the opposing team for its teammates, as they struggle to take Gallade's hits safely even without any boosts. You can also use Gallade's Speed and type advantage to revenge kill Pokemon like Swords Dance Incineroar and Rhydon, although Gallade cannot come in on these threats.
Team Options
Pokemon such as Steelix and Rhydon can check Flying-types for Gallade, while Weezing and Garbodor, as well as Steelix, can handle Fairy-types. All four can support Gallade in wallbreaking via entry hazard support. Fairy-types like Comfey and Whimsicott are also good partners; Comfey appreciates Gallade's ability to weaken or eliminate Steel- and Poison-types so it can sweep more easily late-game, while Whimsicott is able to U-turn out of Steel- and Poison-types and bring in Gallade. Dark-types can threaten Ghost-types for Gallade, allowing it to spam Close Combat more freely. Some of them like Swords Dance Incineroar can form a powerful wallbreaking core with Gallade. Pivots such as Heliolisk, Rotom, Choice Scarf Togedemaru, and Whimsicott are great for bringing in Gallade safely. One can opt for a Wish user like Vaporeon or Delphox to heal up Gallade and give it more wallbreaking opportunities. Additionally, Vaporeon can provide Heal Bell support, while Delphox can check Fairy-types and appreciates Gallade keeping Rock- and Dark-types in check offensively.
Other Options
Thunder Punch with Electrium Z can be used, as Thunder Punch provides decent neutral coverage alongside Gallade's STAB moves, hitting Pokemon like Xatu, Sigilyph, and Slowking, although it worsens Gallade's matchup against Palossand and Dhelmise. Choice Scarf may seem appealing to Gallade, allowing it to KO most fast targets with its powerful attacks and support sweepers like Incineroar, Vivillon, and Mismagius via Memento support, but it forces Gallade to KO itself. It also faces fierce competition from Passimian, the most common Choice Scarf user in the tier, which is slightly bulkier and has access to U-turn, and Medicham, which is much stronger than Gallade thanks to Pure Power. Z-Hypnosis is also an interesting option, which enables Gallade to circumvent its average Speed while still being able to switch moves. However, Gallade will have to give up a coverage option or Swords Dance, which reduces Gallade's wallbreaking abilities and makes it generally an undesirable option.
Checks and Counters
Psychic-types: Slowking, Xatu, and Delphox all resist Gallade's STAB combination, although none of them enjoy taking a super effective Knock Off. Slowking and Xatu can stomach one unboosted Knock Off from full health, while Delphox can revenge kill Gallade, although it requires Gallade to be at around 50% health to do so.
Ghost-types: Although most of them are pressured by Gallade's powerful moves, Rotom and Mismagius can revenge kill it with Shadow Ball. Palossand is hugely pressured by Gallade's Z-Moves and the threat of Knock Off, but it can stomach any move at +2 and use Shadow Ball on Gallade.
Fairy-types: Comfey and Whimsicott will usually force Gallade out, as they always outspeed Gallade, are able to deal huge damage with their STAB moves, and can survive any hit from unboosted Gallade, although Comfey fails to properly take on +2 Gallade one-on-one without prior damage or Special Defense drops from Close Combat.
Flying-types: Aerodactyl, Sigilyph, and Vivillon cannot directly switch in, as they take a lot of damage from Gallade's attacks but can all outspeed and OHKO it with their powerful Flying-type STAB moves. Vivillon can also outspeed Gallade and use Sleep Powder on it, giving it a free opportunity to set up Quiver Dance.
Faster Pokemon: There are many Pokemon that outspeed Gallade aside from the aforementioned Fairy- and Flying-types, such as Heliolisk, Sneasel, and Delphox. While none of them can OHKO Gallade without prior damage or Close Combat defense drops, they can all take a large chunk of its health away.
