[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: Knock Off / Triple Axel
item: Galladite
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
As a Psychic / Fighting wallbreaker, Mega Gallade often draws comparison to Mega Medicham. Although Mega Medicham has more immediate power, Mega Gallade's access to Swords Dance, a higher Speed tier, and Knock Off differentiate it enough to give it a niche. Swords Dance allows Mega Gallade to clean up easier in the late game, when checks such as defensive Landorus-T are weakened into Zen Headbutt range. Knock Off can be used to threaten Slowbro, Reuniclus, and Slowking and cripple Pokemon that rely on their item, such as Volcarona, Zapdos, and Moltres. Triple Axel can be used to revenge kill Garchomp as well as nailing Gliscor, Mega Latias, and Landorus-T. It is important to note that upon Mega Evolving, Mega Gallade gains Inner Focus, protecting it from Landorus-T's Intimidate. Justified is the chosen ability prior to Mega Evolving to get an Attack boost by absorbing a weak Knock Off from Tangrowth or Toxapex. Maximum Speed investment and a Jolly nature allow Mega Gallade to outspeed Kartana and Garchomp as well as Speed tying Mega Latias and threatening the aforementioned Pokemon with an OHKO.
Quite possibly the best partner for Mega Gallade is Tapu Lele, as it appreciate Mega Gallade's ability to break through Corviknight, Slowking, and Heatran, and it provides Psychic Terrain to boost the power of Mega Gallade's Zen Headbutt, allowing it to break through Clefable. Other teammates that appreciate Mega Gallade's ability to pressure Corviknight, Slowbro, and Heatran include Garchomp, Volcarona, and Serperior. Additionally, solid checks to Fairy-types are appreciated, such as Ferrothorn and Jirachi. Jirachi is an especially great teammate, as its Healing Wish gives Mega Gallade a second opportunity to sweep. Solid entry hazard removal is also mandatory to give Mega Gallade more longevity, so Defoggers such as Corviknight, Zapdos, and Rotom-W pair well. Mega Gallade also appreciates Tyranitar and Weavile's ability to threaten Zapdos and trap Psychic-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Bulk Up and Drain Punch may seem appealing to offer some form of recovery, but they fail to break through Corviknight in the same manner as Swords Dance. Ice Punch has higher accuracy than Triple Axel, but is far weaker by comparison. Shadow Sneak also seems nice, as it gives Mega Gallade a priority move, but it has no relevant targets and is simply not better than any of the listed options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Strong Priority**: Rillaboom's Grassy Glide, Mega Scizor's Bullet Punch, Aegislash's Shadow Sneak, and Mega Mawile and Bisharp's Sucker Punch bypass Mega Gallade's solid Speed tier and threaten to deal heavy damage to it.
**Revenge Killers**: Faster revenge killers such as Tapu Koko, Ash-Greninja, and Mega Lopunny all scare Mega Gallade out. None of these Pokemon can switch into it though, nor can they check a full health Mega Gallade due to its solid bulk.
**Status**: Being burned severely impedes Mega Gallade's ability to break through bulkier cores, and being Paralyzed ruins its solid Speed tier, leaving it vulnerable to slower foes such as Tapu Lele, Tapu Fini, and Zapdos.
**Fairy-type Pokemon**: Fairy-types such as Mega Mawile, Clefable, and Tapu Lele can stomach a hit from Mega Gallade, and threaten it back with their STAB moves.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Avery, 497633]]
- Quality checked by: [[Optify, 511832], [Pannuracotta, 517892]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Kris, 241023]]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: Knock Off / Triple Axel
item: Galladite
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
As a Psychic / Fighting wallbreaker, Mega Gallade often draws comparison to Mega Medicham. Although Mega Medicham has more immediate power, Mega Gallade's access to Swords Dance, a higher Speed tier, and Knock Off differentiate it enough to give it a niche. Swords Dance allows Mega Gallade to clean up easier in the late game, when checks such as defensive Landorus-T are weakened into Zen Headbutt range. Knock Off can be used to threaten Slowbro, Reuniclus, and Slowking and cripple Pokemon that rely on their item, such as Volcarona, Zapdos, and Moltres. Triple Axel can be used to revenge kill Garchomp as well as nailing Gliscor, Mega Latias, and Landorus-T. It is important to note that upon Mega Evolving, Mega Gallade gains Inner Focus, protecting it from Landorus-T's Intimidate. Justified is the chosen ability prior to Mega Evolving to get an Attack boost by absorbing a weak Knock Off from Tangrowth or Toxapex. Maximum Speed investment and a Jolly nature allow Mega Gallade to outspeed Kartana and Garchomp as well as Speed tying Mega Latias and threatening the aforementioned Pokemon with an OHKO.
Quite possibly the best partner for Mega Gallade is Tapu Lele, as it appreciate Mega Gallade's ability to break through Corviknight, Slowking, and Heatran, and it provides Psychic Terrain to boost the power of Mega Gallade's Zen Headbutt, allowing it to break through Clefable. Other teammates that appreciate Mega Gallade's ability to pressure Corviknight, Slowbro, and Heatran include Garchomp, Volcarona, and Serperior. Additionally, solid checks to Fairy-types are appreciated, such as Ferrothorn and Jirachi. Jirachi is an especially great teammate, as its Healing Wish gives Mega Gallade a second opportunity to sweep. Solid entry hazard removal is also mandatory to give Mega Gallade more longevity, so Defoggers such as Corviknight, Zapdos, and Rotom-W pair well. Mega Gallade also appreciates Tyranitar and Weavile's ability to threaten Zapdos and trap Psychic-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Bulk Up and Drain Punch may seem appealing to offer some form of recovery, but they fail to break through Corviknight in the same manner as Swords Dance. Ice Punch has higher accuracy than Triple Axel, but is far weaker by comparison. Shadow Sneak also seems nice, as it gives Mega Gallade a priority move, but it has no relevant targets and is simply not better than any of the listed options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Strong Priority**: Rillaboom's Grassy Glide, Mega Scizor's Bullet Punch, Aegislash's Shadow Sneak, and Mega Mawile and Bisharp's Sucker Punch bypass Mega Gallade's solid Speed tier and threaten to deal heavy damage to it.
**Revenge Killers**: Faster revenge killers such as Tapu Koko, Ash-Greninja, and Mega Lopunny all scare Mega Gallade out. None of these Pokemon can switch into it though, nor can they check a full health Mega Gallade due to its solid bulk.
**Status**: Being burned severely impedes Mega Gallade's ability to break through bulkier cores, and being Paralyzed ruins its solid Speed tier, leaving it vulnerable to slower foes such as Tapu Lele, Tapu Fini, and Zapdos.
**Fairy-type Pokemon**: Fairy-types such as Mega Mawile, Clefable, and Tapu Lele can stomach a hit from Mega Gallade, and threaten it back with their STAB moves.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Avery, 497633]]
- Quality checked by: [[Optify, 511832], [Pannuracotta, 517892]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Kris, 241023]]
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