Gallade

12/15/2014, 12:11 pm

Gallade: 68/125/65/65/115/80 Mega Gallade: 68/165/95/65/115/110

A fan-favorite among many Pokémon players has finally left the shadow of stronger physical attackers such as Mega Medicham and Conkeldurr. Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire gifted Gallade with a new Mega Evolution, boosting its attack, defense, and speed. Gallade has an expansive movepool, from Leaf Blade to Close Combat to Psycho Cut - which is complimented by its great attack stat. It's also quite fast, speed tying with Mega Diancie, Latias, Latios, and Gengar, among others. Its high Sp. Defense stat also helps it to take a few special attacks. Its typing is rather good - hitting Ice, Steel, Rock, Dark, Normal, Poison, and Fighting-types for super effective damage. However, despite having good offensive Psychic / Fighting typing, it's kind of a double-edged sword for Gallade - it leaves it weak to common Flying-type Pokémon such as Talonflame and Staraptor, as well as fairy-type moves from the likes of Sylveon and Mega Diancie, among others. It is also prone to being burned, and it has no way to cure potential burns without team support. Its ability, Inner Focus, isn't very useful outside of avoid the flinch from Fake Out. Luckily, between Gallade's expansive movepool and great stats, it is still a great choice as a physical powerhouse.

Mega Gallade @ Galladite - Jolly Nature (Inner Focus)

EVs: 252 Attack / 4 Defense / 252 Speed

Set Name: Swords Dance

move 1: Swords Dance

move 2: Close Combat / Drain Punch

move 3: Zen Headbutt / Psycho Cut

move 4: Knock Off

This is a relatively straightforward set. Swords Dance boosts Gallade's attack to obsene levels, allowing it to break through just about any Pokémon after a few boosts. Close Combat, backed by base 165 attack and potential Swords Dance boosts, hits extremely hard but lowers Gallade's defenses. Drain Punch, although much less powerful, can be used in its place to restore Gallade's health over time. Zen Headbutt is its strongest Psychic-type move, dealing a consistent 80 points of damage. Psycho Cut is also an option, and has a 1/8 chance to land a critical hit, but it has slightly lower base power. Knock Off removes the opponent's held item unless it is a mega stone. It also nails ghost and psychic-types like Mew and Gengar for a ton of damage.

Using the Swords Dance set

This set is simple to use. Switch Gallade in on something that you know cannot deal a fatal blow to it, and set up a Swords Dance. It is, however, important not to get greedy with boosts, as just one will suffice. After that, Gallade can attempt to sweep. After one boost, Gallade can rip through the sturdiest of physical walls, including Hippowdon and Skarmory.

Mega Gallade @ Galladite - Jolly Nature (Inner Focus)
EVs: 252 Attack / 4 Defense / 252 Speed
Set Name: Substitute Attacker
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Close Combat / Drain Punch
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Psycho Cut

This set is pretty similar to the Swords Dance set, with one difference: Substitute. With this move, you effectively create a shield to hide behind at the cost of a quarter of Gallade's health. Using this shield, Gallade can spam Close Combat without having to worry about being picked off by a powerful Ghost or Flying-type move. Knock Off is necessary on any Gallade set, as it has a very high base power if it strikes an item-holding opponent. Zen Headbutt has a higher base power, while Psycho Cut has a higher critical hit rate, making either a solid choice for the set.

Using the Substitute Attacker set
As soon as Gallade switches in, it is advised to Mega Evolve and get up a Substitute as soon as possible. If the Pokémon you are facing can break Gallade's Substitute in one hit, there's not much of a point to using it; it is best used against something like Mew, which will usually try and burn Gallade. Substitute blocks status moves, so there's no need to worry about him getting poisoned, paralyzed, or put to sleep by opposing Pokémon.

Other Options
Gallade has many other options outside of Close Combat, Zen Headbutt, and Knock Off, but those three moves are really all it needs to get the job done. Ice Punch in particular is great on Gallade, despite not being listed on any of the above sets, hitting Garchomp, Zygarde, Dragonite, Landorus, and Gliscor for great damage. Leaf Blade has a 1/8 chance to land a critical hit just like Psycho Cut, but it is generally weak, even against water-types like Slowbro - which can only defeat it in three hits.

Team Options
Gallade appreciates teammates that can handle the flying-types that plague it. Rhyperior, Diancie, and checks to these threats work as far as partners go, while Heatran in particular can handle Talonflame and Fairy-types like Clefable and Sylveon. However, Gallade's best partner by far is Bisharp, who smacks Fairy and Psychic-types around while discouraging the use of Intimidate and stat-lowering attacks thanks to its ability, Defiant. Rotom-W provides a slow Volt Switch, which can get Mega Gallade in safely. Stealth Rock also wears down all of its checks, especially flying-types such as Talonflame and Mega Pinsir.

Countering Mega Gallade
You shouldn't have too much of a problem taking out Mega Gallade if your team has the right support. Talonflame, Staraptor, and Mega Pidgeot are all capable of outspeeding Gallade (Staraptor needs the Choice Scarf to do this, however) and KOing it with their powerful flying-type moves. Mega Diancie, Mega Altaria, Clefable, and Sylveon also do a nice job at taking it out in a pinch, possessing fairy-type moves capable of defeating it.

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