Gallade Movesets & Competitive Sets

Swords Dance turns Gallade into an even more powerful wallbreaker, with +2 STAB moves OHKOing Pokemon like Sandaconda and Regirock after minimal chip damage. Psycho Cut helps Gallade avoid activating Rocky Helmet and Iron Barbs, while Zen Headbutt is stronger but less consistent. Shadow Sneak is recommended to pick off faster foes like Ribombee at +2, but Knock Off can always be used to wear down switch-ins like Jellicent to sweep more easily later. Life Orb ensures the 2HKO with Close Combat on Quagsire, which can otherwise take a +2 hit due to Unaware, and provides more general power. Lum Berry is useful for avoiding status and allows Gallade to set up on Pokemon like Jellicent, Weezing, and Hattrem. A Jolly nature lets Gallade outspeed as many foes as possible, such as Modest Magmortar, and Speed tie with Timid Mesprit; an Adamant nature is unnecessary due to the sheer power behind a +2 Life Orb Gallade. This set fits mainly on more offensive teams due to its volatile nature, and it appreciates fast pivots like Ninjask and Archeops; in turn, they enjoy Gallade scaring out Togedemaru and Regirock, respectively. Without Shadow Sneak, Gallade is helpless against revenge killers like Gourgeist-S and Whimsicott, so Pokemon that can take advantage of them like Charizard and Choice Scarf Togedemaru are heavily appreciated.

Psycho Cut allows Gallade to avoid activating Rocky Helmet and Aftermath, which gives Gallade more opportunities to wallbreak. Psycho Cut is fully accurate and doesn't make contact, but Zen Headbutt has more power and can help Gallade get past answers like Aromatisse with brute force. Thunder Punch and Leaf Blade deny switch-ins such as defensive Charizard and Sandaconda. Knock Off hits bulky Psychic-types like Uxie and cripples other switch-ins like Jellicent. Muscle Band ensures 2HKOs on Pokemon like Quagsire and Hattrem with Close Combat and Knock Off, respectively. Assault Vest grants Gallade more defensive utility and allows it to survive one hit from super effective special attackers like Ribombee and Charizard, but it sacrifices power. Heavy-Duty Boots is an option to avoid entry hazard damage, which can quickly wear Gallade down; however, Muscle Band is heavily recommended due to granting better odds for OHKOs and 2HKOs. Justified punishes weak Knock Offs from Pokemon like Audino. Gallade appreciates the support of pivots like Ninjask and Wishwashi; the former can threaten Gallade's offensive checks like Galarian Articuno and baits in Pokemon like Gigalith and Togedemaru for Gallade to threaten, while the latter can switch into Pokemon like Charizard that force Gallade out and provide a free switch via its slow U-turn. Entry hazards support from Pokemon like Gigalith and Ferroseed helps wear down Gallade's answers like Alcremie and Comfey, especially if Gallade removes their Heavy-Duty Boots with Knock Off.

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. Ice Punch 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.

An excellent Speed tier, a sky-high Attack stat, and a great secondary type in Fighting that aids greatly against Steel and Dark teams make Mega Gallade an amazing physical wallbreaker on Psychic teams. Swords Dance allows Mega Gallade to further increase its already high Attack stat, allowing it to easily break through a majority of teams and walls like Celesteela. Close Combat is Mega Gallade's primary STAB option, dealing with troublesome Steel-, Dark-, Normal-, and Rock-types like Bisharp, Zarude, Porygon2, and Tyranitar. Zen Headbutt allows it to deal with Poison- and Fighting-types like Mega Venusaur, Toxapex, and Keldeo. Psycho Cut can be used in lieu of Zen Headbutt at the cost of some Base Power as a more accurate option that also avoids damage from Rocky Helmet and Rough Skin, as well as Poison from Toxapex's Baneful Bunker. Knock Off helps against opposing Psychic-types like Slowbro and Victini that resist both of Mega Gallade's STAB options while also helping with Ghost-types like Galarian Corsola and Aegislash. Knock Off also gets rid of items like Leftovers and Heavy-Duty Boots, crippling the foe as a result. Shadow Sneak can be used instead of Knock Off as a form of priority that also helps against fast Psychic- and Ghost-types like Latios and Choice Scarf Blacephalon. However, Knock Off is generally preferred for the increased power against bulky Psychic- and Ghost-types like Slowbro and Galarian Corsola, and Shadow Sneak proves to be counter-productive when paired with Tapu Lele. Justified, prior to Mega Evolution, allows Gallade to switch into weak Dark-type moves like Mega Sableye's Knock Off and gain an Attack boost. Maximum Speed investment along with a Jolly nature makes Mega Gallade outspeed threats like Choice Specs Blacephalon, Keldeo, and Landorus. All of Mega Gallade's teammates appreciate its ability to deal with Dark-types like Hydreigon and Mega Tyranitar. Steel-types like Jirachi and Metagross pair up well with Mega Gallade, as they deal with Fairy-types like Mega Diancie and Clefable that threaten it, and they can better handle Dragon-type attacks like Draco Meteor from Latios and Latias while also being able to provide Stealth Rock support. Victini and Mega Gallade form a formidable physical wallbreaking core while also synergizing well against Steel teams, as Victini deals with threats like Celesteela, while Mega Gallade in return takes care of Heatran reliably. Latios and Latias act as the most reliable Choice Scarf users on Psychic-type teams and can provide Defog support. Latias in particular can provide Healing Wish support for Mega Gallade, which it appreciates greatly. Fairy-types like Hatterene and Tapu Lele further improve the Dark matchup while also dealing with Dragon-type threats like Mega Altaria and Dragonite. Slowbro provides a reliable defensive pivot, can act as a reliable Fire-resistant Pokemon against Pokemon like Cinderace, and is also able to bring Mega Gallade safely into the field thanks to Teleport. Celebi is a great teammate, as it reliably deals with Water- and Ground-types that threaten Mega Gallade such as Mega Swampert and Excadrill. Deoxys-S breaks through Flying-type teams thanks to its BoltBeam coverage in conjunction with Nasty Plot. Albeit not common, Meloetta can provide a reliable switch-in against Ghost-type attacks directed at Mega Gallade from the likes of Gengar and Blacephalon.

Moves Swords Dance boosts Mega Gallade's already high Attack stat, helping it overwhelm bulkier teams and break through defensive Pokemon such as Clefable, Mega Latias, and Zapdos. Zen Headbutt is used to beat Pokemon that resist Close Combat like Toxapex, Clefable, and Tapu Fini; it's also the best option against Flying-types such as Tornadus-T and Gliscor if Ice Punch isn't used. Knock Off allows Mega Gallade to beat bulky Psychic-types like Reuniclus, Slowbro, and Mew that would otherwise wall it. Crippling foes by removing their items such as Clefable's Leftovers and Landorus-T's Choice Scarf is also useful in general. Ice Punch targets Flying-types such as Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, and Gliscor; it also OHKOes offensive Garchomp without a boost and does more to Mega Latias and Mega Latios than Knock Off. Set Details Justified is used as Gallade's pre-Mega ability, as it can punish Knock Off from weaker foes such as Toxapex and Tangrowth. Usage Tips Mega Gallade is best used early- to mid-game to break through defensive cores; however, thanks to its solid Speed tier, it can also be used to clean late-game. Be careful when switching it in, as taking too much damage early on can limit its ability to wallbreak. Status conditions, especially paralysis and burn, also limit Mega Gallade's wallbreaking ability, so avoid directly switching it into foes like Rotom-W, Heatran, and Toxapex. It'll also struggle to use Swords Dance safely if it's continuously being worn down. For these reasons, Mega Gallade should be brought in through aggressive switches or VoltTurn support from teammates. Use Swords Dance against weaker defensive Pokemon or on forced switches. It's best to set up if a boost is needed to threaten a defensive switch-in such as Reuniclus or Clefable. If an offensive pivot such as Tornadus-T or Choice Scarf Landorus-T is predicted, hitting them hard with the appropriate move or removing their item with Knock Off is recommended. Knock Off can be spammed early-game against most teams to chip down certain checks and counters, especially since most Pokemon holding a Mega Stone or Z-Crystal won't want to switch in. Mega Gallade's decent Special Defense means it can take attacks like Moonblast from Clefable and Tapu Fini or multiple Ice Beams from Mega Latias and set up against them, trading its health to weaken them for a teammate. Similarly, it can take a hit from offensive foes such as Greninja and Mega Alakazam, sacrificing most of its health to remove or weaken them. However, this should only be done if Mega Gallade's health is no longer needed. Team Options Mega Gallade fits best on bulky offense teams with VoltTurn support from Pokemon such as Rotom-W, Assault Vest Magearna, Landorus-T, and Choice Scarf Jirachi. The former two can also switch into Tornadus-T. Other wallbreakers like Swords Dance Garchomp and Landorus-T as well as Choice Band Kartana can weaken physically defensive walls, giving Mega Gallade an easier time cleaning up. The former two also can set up Stealth Rock and pressure common Defog users. Tapu Lele is a particularly useful partner that can assist in wallbreaking while also providing Psychic Terrain to boost Mega Gallade's Zen Headbutt and block priority moves such as Sucker Punch from Mega Mawile and Fake Out from Mega Medicham. Mega Gallade is forced out by Tornadus-T and Mega Alakazam when at low health, so switch-ins to them are necessary. Electric-types such as Rotom-W and Zapdos can switch into Tornadus-T and generate momentum with Volt Switch. Steel-types like Magearna and Celesteela can switch into Mega Alakazam and also take on Fairy-types for Mega Gallade. If not using Knock Off, Mega Gallade struggles to break through bulky Psychic-types. In this case, Pursuit trappers such as Tyranitar and Weavile are useful partners. They can also use Pursuit to weaken Tornadus-T.

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Moves Swords Dance boosts Mega Gallade's already impressive Attack stat, allowing it to break past Pokemon such as Gastrodon and Toxapex. Close Combat is another strong STAB move and can be used on Pokemon that resist or are immune to Zen Headbutt, such as threatening Dark-types like Bisharp and Tyranitar. Zen Headbutt is a powerful STAB move that allows Mega Gallade to greatly damage Pokemon that do not resist it and deal with Pokemon that resist Close Combat like Flying-types such as Zapdos. Knock Off provides a way to hit the Psychic-types that resist Mega Gallade's dual STAB combination while also taking out Ghost-types and removing items such as Choice Scarf from Landorus-T as it switches-in. Shadow Sneak is another way to hit Ghost- and Psychic-types and has the advantage of priority, thus hitting Choice Scarf users like Gengar, Blacephalon, and Latios before they can attack. It is also able to take out faster offensive threats such as Tapu Koko after they've been weakened. However, this move is significantly weaker than Knock Off. Alternatively, it can be used with Knock Off to provide anti-Psychic coverage, making Mega Gallade a valuable sweeper against opposing Psychic teams. Set Details Maximum investment in Attack and Speed allows Mega Gallade to efficiently function as a powerful physical sweeper and wallbreaker. Galladite allows Gallade to Mega Evolve, which greatly increases its Speed and Attack. Justified allows Gallade to get an Attack boost when switching in on Dark-type moves like Knock Off. Inner Focus guarantees that Mega Gallade cannot flinch. Usage Tips Avoid being inflicted by status at all costs because that will completely cripple Mega Gallade. Mega Gallade should only set up in situations where it doesn't risk getting knocked out or afflicted with status. It does this well late-game if revenge killers are eliminated beforehand. Another situation where it should not set up is if there is a Ditto, which can reverse sweep the team with a boosted Knock Off. Use Mega Gallade to force foes to switch out; if the potential switch-ins are unable to handle a boosted Mega Gallade, use Swords Dance on the forced switch. Mega Gallade should not switch in on attacks often because that limits its ability to set up and sweep late-game. Likewise, Mega Gallade should stay healthy against teams with threats like Mega Sharpedo and Bisharp because it can survive a hit from them and OHKO in return. Knock Off should be used to hit predicted Ghost-type switch-ins or to remove items like Leftovers. Utilize Mega Gallade as a late-game cleaner that takes advantage of slower Pokemon or an early-game wallbreaker to eliminate threatening walls early on. Mega Gallade can be used to punch holes in the opposing team very early in the game, making its partners like Choice Scarf Victini and Latios more threatening. It should be used to quickly break walls that can be problematic in the long run like Rotom-W and Gastrodon. Close Combat should not be used in situations where Zen Headbutt can get the KO, because drops will increase Mega Gallade's vulnerability to priority moves. However, there is a risk of missing Zen Headbutt, so Close Combat would be preferable if that risk is not worth it. Avoid taking residual damage because this also amplifies Mega Gallade's weakness to priority. Shadow Sneak should be used to clean up the opposing team late-game once its revenge killers are weakened. Team Options Deoxys-S is able to stack entry hazards on the opposing side, which helps Mega Gallade sweep and wallbreak, while also preventing entry hazards on its side with Taunt, limiting the amount of residual damage Mega Gallade suffers. It is also able to set dual screens, which give Mega Gallade a better opportunity to set up. Jirachi helps Mega Gallade by dealing with the Fairy-types that it struggles against, bringing it in safely with U-turn, giving Mega Gallade two chances to sweep by using Healing Wish or healing Gallade with Wish, setting up Stealth Rock for Mega Gallade, and paralyzing faster threats with Thunder Wave. Victini helps break other physical walls, and they complement each other in the Steel-type matchup, with Mega Gallade taking out Heatran for it and Victini removing Pokemon like Celesteela. Choice Band Victini is also able to wallbreak, beating Pokemon that Mega Gallade struggles against like Mega Sableye. Latios and Latias are able to remove entry hazards for Mega Gallade, while it can take out the Dark-types they are vulnerable to like Tyranitar and Bisharp. Moreover, both are able to help it set up with Memento and Healing Wish, respectively. Mew is able to do many helpful things for Mega Gallade; the Mewnium Z set is able to form a powerful sweeping core with it, and Mew's stallbreaker set can help it take on threatening bulky Pokemon such as Skarmory and Mega Slowbro. Focus Sash + Counter Alakazam is able to handle Mega Sharpedo and Bisharp for Mega Gallade if it has taken too much damage in the battle. Meloetta's immunity to Ghost-types attacks allows it to switch in on the Choice Scarf users of this type that threaten non-Shadow Sneak Mega Gallade. The two together for a potent wallbreaking core, with Mega Gallade dealing with special walls like Chansey and Meloetta dealing with physical walls like Skarmory.

Moves Swords Dance makes Mega Gallade a threat to almost any Pokemon hoping to switch in. Close Combat is Mega Gallade’s main STAB move, as it is extremely powerful. This comes at the cost of lowering defenses, however, leaving Mega Gallade open to being revenge killed. Zen Headbutt is Mega Gallade’s secondary STAB move and is primarily used to 2HKO Mega Venusaur and Toxapex, which wall Mega Gallade and most Fighting teams otherwise. It's also used as a good STAB move if Close Combat is resisted, namely against Bug-types such as Volcarona. Knock Off is a great coverage option that can hit Psychic- and Ghost-types for a lot of damage while also removing their items. This is especially useful for threats like Latios. Ice Punch is an alternative coverage option that can beat Pokemon like Garchomp and Landorus while still managing to hit Latios very hard. Unlike Knock Off, it does not manage to OHKO Latios without prior chip damage, however. Finally, Shadow Sneak can be used as an option for priority that offers unresisted coverage in combination with Close Combat. It's usually very weak, however, and is merely used for getting chip damage. Set Details The given EV spread maximizes Mega Gallade’s Attack and Speed, allowing it to hit as hard and fast as possible. Justified is the preferred ability before Mega Evolving, as it can allow Gallade to switch into attacks such as Knock Off and gain an Attack boost. A Jolly nature is necessary so that Mega Gallade can outspeed as many relevant offensive Pokemon as possible, giving it more opportunities to sweep. Inner Focus allows Mega Gallade to avoid flinching from attacks like Fake Out and Iron Head. Galladite is required for Mega Gallade to Mega Evolve. Usage Tips Mega Gallade is typically used early-game as a wallbreaker that can help a faster teammate such as Choice Scarf Terrakion clean late-game by beating the walls that trouble it. Similarly, if all faster revenge killers have been KOed, Mega Gallade can be used as a dangerous sweeper late-game. It is important to be selective when deciding to set up with Swords Dance instead of simply using an attack, as faster Pokemon can find various opportunities to revenge kill Mega Gallade. It should be brought out against defensive threats like Mega Venusaur and Toxapex, since it can easily 2HKO both of them with Zen Headbutt. It is recommended for Stealth Rock to be on the field early-game, as Mega Gallade’s immediate attacking power forces many switches. In matchups where dangerous Choice Scarf users such as Latios and Greninja are present, Mega Gallade should be preserved, as it can survive a hit from these Pokemon and OHKO them in return. Status conditions, especially burn and paralysis, should be avoided, as they cripple Mega Gallade for the rest of the game. Additionally, Mega Gallade should not recklessly switch into special and especially physical attacks, as it is very easily worn down. Similarly, do not use Close Combat unless necessary, as the defense drops make it even more vulnerable to priority moves and revenge killing. Team Options Cobalion is an excellent team option that is able to function as a Stealth Rock setter while crippling faster threats with Thunder Wave, giving Mega Gallade a better chance to sweep. Terrakion is another great teammate that can shine against more offensive teams thanks to its ability to use a Choice Scarf and beat problematic Pokemon such as Mega Diancie. Keldeo is a very strong special wallbreaker that can break many Pokemon that Mega Gallade struggles with, such as Mega Sableye. Mega Gallade, in return, can beat Mega Venusaur and Toxapex, which wall Keldeo. Clangorous Soulblaze Kommo-o is great against more offensive teams, which Mega Gallade often struggles against. Heracross can be used in combination with Mega Gallade as a great sweeper against Psychic teams and can effectively Pursuit trap threats such as Victini after V-create. Buzzwole is another Choice Scarf user that can pivot into many physical attacks and serve as a very good Pokemon in the Psychic matchup. Breloom can beat bulky Water-types that can wall Mega Gallade such as Mega Slowbro and serve as a way to handle defensive threats such as Toxapex thanks to Spore. Choice Band Infernape can form a deadly wallbreaking core with Mega Gallade, as it can beat Mega Gallade's counters such as Mega Sableye.

Moves Bulk Up is used to boost Gallade's Attack and subpar Defense. Drain Punch is a decent STAB move that works well with the slow-boosting nature of this set by providing longevity. Knock Off provides great coverage with Drain Punch, nailing Mesprit, Uxie, and Sigilyph, and has the additional utility of removing the target's item. Substitute is used to block status as well as to make Gallade very difficult to revenge kill. Safeguard is an interesting move that gives Gallade another method to block status without having to reduce its health. It also allows Gallade to set up on Spiritomb variants that do not carry Foul Play and prevents 50-50s with Jellicent. Set Details Leftovers provides plenty of longevity alongside the recovery provided by Drain Punch, which is very important when making Substitutes. Justified is the ability of choice in case Gallade is hit by a Dark-type move, giving Gallade to get a free Attack boost. Near-maximum HP investment is used to augment Gallade's bulk. The Speed investment is used to outspeed Modest Exploud and Jolly Scrafty in order to get off a Drain Punch before they can heavily damage Gallade. The rest is put in Special Defense with a Careful nature to make Gallade as specially bulky as possible. A spread with maximum HP and Special Defense is an option to make Gallade more bulky. Usage Tips Gallade should not be exposed to status ailments, as they could cripple it severely. If Gallade is running Substitute, it should be careful of Spiritomb and Exploud, as the former can burn Gallade through Substitute thanks to Infiltrator while the latter can use its STAB Boomburst to damage it severely. Set up Substitute, Safeguard, or Bulk Up on Pokemon that cannot do much against Gallade, such as Alomomola and Jellicent. Gallade should not recklessly set up on Pokemon that carry Roar or Whirlwind, as they can phaze Gallade even through a Substitute. It should be noted that even though Gallade can set up on Spiritomb, it needs to be careful of Foul Play variants, as they can 2HKO it. Team Options Pokemon that can get rid of Toxic Spikes, such as Flygon and Drapion, are great partners, as poison cripples Gallade; the latter can also provide its own Toxic Spikes support to help wear down opposing foes for Gallade. Alomomola in particular makes for a great partner, as it can handle physical attackers that beat an unboosted Gallade as well as provide Wish support. Pokemon that can take care of Spiritomb, such as Aromatisse and Togetic, work well with Gallade, and both of them can provide Heal Bell support to keep Gallade safe from status. Wallbreakers such as Mega Glalie can still heavily dent Gallade even at +1 Defense, so Pokemon that can beat them are great teammates. Registeel is a great partner; it can also provide Stealth Rock support, and it has the benefit of being able to beat Fairy-types that annoy Gallade, such as Mega Audino and Aromatisse.

Moves Swords Dance boosts Gallade's Attack by two stages, turning it into a fearsome wallbreaker. Close Combat has a very high Base Power and can punch holes in opposing teams. Zen Headbutt has great coverage with Close Combat, as it hits Poison-types such as Venusaur and Weezing super effectively. Knock Off rounds off Gallade's great coverage by hitting Psychic-types such as Uxie, Sigilyph, and Musharna hard, and it has the additional utility of removing its target's item. Set Details Life Orb is used to give Gallade additional damage output. Lum Berry is an option, acting as a safety net against status moves such as Thunder Wave and Scald burns. Justified is the ability of choice in case Gallade is hit by a Dark-type move, giving Gallade a free Attack boost. A Jolly nature is used to Speed tie with Jolly Glalie before it Mega Evolves. An Adamant nature is an alternative for more firepower. The maximum Attack investment is used to maximize Gallade's wallbreaking capabilities while the rest is put in Speed for Gallade to outspeed Jolly Emboar and Modest Exploud. Usage Tips It is recommended for players not to expose Gallade to status moves of any kind, as they can cripple it for the entirety of the match. If Gallade is facing defensive teams, players should set up a Swords Dance to threaten foes. If Gallade is facing offensive teams, Gallade need not set up a Swords Dance, as its natural raw power can threaten them with ease. Because Gallade has great natural special bulk, it can safely switch or pivot into weak special attacks. Gallade should switch out most of the time against revenge killers, especially after a Defense drop from Close Combat, as they can KO it or heavily damage it. Team Options Gallade is very weak to offensively oriented teams, so Pokemon that have great matchups against them such as Choice Scarf Rotom-C and Jolteon are helpful for Gallade. In turn, Gallade can deal with defensive Pokemon that they have trouble against. Gallade appreciates Healing Wish support from the likes of Mesprit and Musharna, as it can then be played more aggressively early-game and be revived late-game to get a second chance at wallbreaking. Spiritomb is a problem for this set, so Pokemon such as Emboar, Exploud, and Aromatisse are helpful in beating it. Fighting-types such as Hitmonlee and Virizion are great partners, as Gallade can weaken Psychic-types for them to ease the opportunity for them to sweep late-game. Though Uxie shares a Ghost weakness with Gallade, it pairs well with Gallade, as it can provide Thunder Wave and Stealth Rock support and generate momentum with U-turn. In addition, Uxie can provide dual screens support to ease setup for Gallade.

Mega Gallade can leverage its terrifying offensive presence to force switches and safely set up with Swords Dance. Close Combat is Mega Gallade's strongest and most spammable STAB move, allowing it to check Dark- and Steel-types. Drain Punch is an alternative option that provides Mega Gallade a form of recovery at the cost of not being able to outright OHKO certain Pokemon like Ferrothorn. Shadow Sneak is a great priority move that prevents boosted Mega Gallade from being revenge killed by Pokemon like Choice Scarf Victini, Gengar, and Latios. Knock Off gives Mega Gallade a stronger way to hit Psychic-types and is great utility in general. With Knock Off and Shadow Sneak, Mega Gallade is equipped with the tools to dismantle opposing Psychic and Ghost teams with ease. Substitute is an option over Knock Off that lets Mega Gallade take advantage of its forced switches and weaker defensive Pokemon, like Porygon2, to set up safely. It also gives Mega Gallade a way to play around a boosted Bisharp's Sucker Punch. Victini forms a fantastic Steel-breaking core with Mega Gallade. It can also beat faster threats like Tornadus-T with Choice Scarf and safely bring Mega Gallade in with U-turn. Latios and Latias are Ground-immune Defoggers that can pivot into threats like Landorus and Mega Charizard Y. Choice Specs Latios can wallbreak alongside Mega Gallade, while Choice Scarf Latias can support it with Healing Wish. Jirachi and Celebi can set Stealth Rock, making it easier for Mega Gallade to clean up with Shadow Sneak. Jirachi can also paralyze faster threats like Tornadus-T and Swift Swim Kingdra with Thunder Wave, while Celebi can take on Water-types like Slowbro more easily. Colbur Berry users like Celebi, Reuniclus, and Slowbro are able to take on Mega Sharpedo and Mega Gyarados, which can be huge threats to Mega Gallade when boosted. Stallbreaker Mew beats the few defensive answers to Mega Gallade, like Mega Venusaur and Mandibuzz. Deoxys-S makes a great teammate to Mega Gallade, as it can almost singlehandedly take on Flying teams that Mega Gallade generally struggles against. In return, Deoxys-S appreciates Mega Gallade's wallbreaking abilities in other matchups, like Steel and Dark, as it can clean up late-game more easily.

Moves Swords Dance boosts Mega Gallade's Attack to allow it to sweep easily. Close Combat is the strongest and most reliable attack Mega Gallade has and can be used to break walls. Drain Punch is an alternative for improved sweeping potential because of the lack of Defense and Special Defense drops and the healing it provides. Zen Headbutt is the preferred Psychic-type STAB attack because it guarantees several KOs, most importantly against Mega Venusaur at +2, and can neutrally hit Fairy-type Pokemon. Knock Off gives Mega Gallade a way to hit Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon for great damage. After a Swords Dance, Knock Off can OHKO Slowbro after Stealth Rock damage and Mew. Shadow Sneak can be used instead of Knock Off to hit faster threats such as Choice Scarf Gengar and Choice Scarf Victini, but it is far weaker than Knock Off and lacks the general utility that it would bring. As a final alternative, Ice Punch can be used to lure in and KO Flying- and Dragon-type Pokemon such as Dragonite, Landorus, and Garchomp, but Mega Gallade will be utterly walled by Psychic-types in exchange. Set Details Maximum Speed EV investment and a Jolly nature allow Mega Gallade to take full advantage of its base 110 Speed to outspeed the likes of Terrakion and, at worst, Speed tie with Latios. Investing 252 Attack EVs maximizes Mega Gallade's damage output, helping it sweep and wallbreak. Gallade's ability should be Justified on the very unlikely chance that somehow it gets hit by a Dark-type move on a switch in before it Mega Evolves to get an Attack boost. Usage Tips Mega Gallade should use Swords Dance to set up and sweep but can also use it to become a powerful wallbreaker. For example, a +2 Close Combat has a chance to OHKO Skarmory after Stealth Rock damage, making it risky for Skarmory to switch in. Similarly, a +2 Zen Headbutt OHKOes Mega Venusaur. Depending on whether Close Combat or Drain Punch is used, Mega Gallade can choose to either assist in wallbreaking or dedicate itself to sweeping. Mega Gallade using Close Combat should take advantage of its sheer strength and use it to chip away and weaken its checks so that it can sweep late-game. Mega Gallade does have passable bulk, but if Drain Punch isn't used, it's not recommended to switch into even any unresisted move to maximize its chances to sweep. Mega Gallade must avoid status at all costs, as a crippling burn or paralysis could end any hopes of sweeping. Toxic poison will also slowly wear down Mega Gallade that don't pack Drain Punch. Generally, Mega Gallade should wait until its checks have been worn down or taken out before going for the late-game sweep. While Shadow Sneak lacks power, it can still be used to revenge kill weakened threats. If using Knock Off, Mega Gallade should aim to Knock Off the items of its checks as early as possible to make a sweep much easier to pull off later on. Thanks to its Inner Focus ability, Mega Gallade cannot flinch, allowing it to choose to set up Swords Dance against Choice Scarf Jirachi, as Iron Head fails to 2HKO, and Drain Punch will easily heal back most of the lost health. It also prevents Choice Scarf Togekiss from stopping a +2 Mega Gallade's sweep, as Mega Gallade can survive one Air Slash to Knock Off its Choice Scarf. Team Options Stealth Rock support is critical for many KOs. Many walls including Mandibuzz, Mega Venusaur, and Slowbro can be taken out by the appropriate move after the chip damage. Infernape is a phenomenal teammate for setting up the entry hazard while also handling Steel-type foes. It can easily break past the likes of Skarmory and Doublade for Mega Gallade. Cobalion is a great help as well thanks to its Stealth Rock support. It can also spread paralysis with Thunder Wave, bring Mega Gallade in with Volt Switch, and handle Fairy-types with its STAB Iron Head. Choice Scarf Guts Heracross is a great teammate for being able to soak up status for Mega Gallade while also revenge killing faster threats to help set the stage for Mega Gallade's late-game sweep. In the same vein, Choice Scarf Terrakion is especially good for its ability to threaten other Choice Scarf users. Choice Scarf Victini, in particular, is easily revenge killed by Terrakion, helping Mega Gallade that lack Shadow Sneak beat Psychic teams. Terrakion also threatens out most Flying-type foes and appreciates Close Combat Mega Gallade's ability to weaken or outright KO Skarmory. Another setup sweeper can be a great teammate for Mega Gallade. Hawlucha and Swords Dance Lucario share many checks with Mega Gallade, wearing down these shared checks over the course of a battle so that Mega Gallade can more easily sweep. Nasty Plot Lucario can also be used because they and Mega Gallade set up on one another's checks quite nicely. Breloom can be useful for its Spore support, giving Mega Gallade free turns to set up, and its Bullet Seed, which can KO Slowbro with ease.

Moves Close Combat is Gallade's hardest-hitting STAB move, dealing high amounts of damage with any neutral hit and KOing almost anything hit super effectively. Zen Headbutt takes out Fighting- and Poison-types and hits foes such as Mega Charizard Y neutrally which Close Combat cannot. Ice Punch is a great coverage move, used to deal with Dragon-types as well as Flying-types and Ground-types, particularly Mega Salamence and Landorus-T. Knock Off hits Aegislash, Cresselia, and other Psychic-types super effectively. Protect is obligatory to avoid damage from moves, as well as giving Gallade an opportunity to safely Mega Evolve for the Speed boost. Set Details Galladite lets Gallade Mega Evolve, turning him into the offensive terror that he is. Full Attack and Speed investment with a Jolly nature allows Mega Gallade to maximize damage output as well as Speed tie with other base 110 Speed Pokemon and outspeed things below, such as Terrakion. Justified is useful before Mega Evolving for switching into a Dark-type move, particularly Knock Off. Usage Tips While Mega Gallade does have Inner Focus, make sure you think out how you lead with it, as it can fend off a Fake Out but will be slower on the crucial turn one, sporting the risk to take too much initial damage. Close Combat, while being the move of choice for dealing the most damage, will stack defense drops after several uses, making Mega Gallade very vulnerable to priority and faster threats. Team Options Mega Gallade enjoys Pokemon that will alleviate its struggle against Cresselia, Aegislash, and Sylveon. Bisharp will take care of all three as well as deter Intimidate users from trying to weaken Mega Gallade. Suicune, and bulky Water-types in general, will get rid of Talonflame and Landorus, two threats to Mega Gallade. Rotom-A formes and Tyranitar take on Talonflame. Ghost-types such as Aegislash and Gengar beat out opposing Ghost- and Psychic-types, while Mega Gallade takes out Dark-types for them. Gallade also functions well with Heatran, which alleviates Gallade's Fairy weakness and deals with Aegislash. Use Quick Guard users such as Terrakion to protect Mega Gallade from Talonflame's Brave Bird and Thundurus's Thunder Wave.

Moves Close Combat gives Gallade reliable STAB damage output. Zen Headbutt gives Gallade another strong STAB move as well as a way to KO Amoonguss, Mega Venusaur, and other Fighting-types. Knock Off helps damage Aegislash and Cresselia, two common threats that plague Gallade. Wide Guard shields both Gallade and its partner from incoming spread attacks, while Quick Guard protects Gallade's side of the field from priority attacks and priority status. Icy Wind and Trick Room both provide a means of speed control; the choice of which is determined by what supports your team better. Set Details The EV spread allows Gallade to outspeed Bisharp and Mega Lucario after Icy Wind and OHKO maximum HP Mega Kangaskhan, with the rest of the EVs put in HP. The spread lets Mega Gallade survive a Mega Kangaskhan's Return after an Intimidate drop. Focus Sash helps extend Gallade's longevity which is otherwise hampered by Gallade's low defenses and the defense drops it suffers from using Close Combat. If running Trick Room the EV spread should be changed to 252 HP / 196 Atk / 60 Def. Brave or Adamant with 0 Speed IV both work, with Adamant being the nature of choice for semi-Trick Room teams. Gallade has bulkier options with spreads such as 252 HP / 100 Atk / 156 Def with an Adamant or Brave nature to survive Mega Kangaskhan's Returns. Sitrus Berry is the item of choice for this spread, but if it's already being used it can be replaced with Safety Goggles or Rocky Helmet. Usage Tips Close Combat undermines any defensive investment Gallade has, so use it cautiously if you wish to keep Gallade alive. Wide Guard supports teammates such as Mega Charizard Y against Landorus-T and other Rock Slide users, which gives Gallade's partner safe plays. Remember to use speed control; Trick Room depends on your team, but once in a position to attack after using Icy Wind or Trick Room you can follow up with Close Combat. This Gallade set works best as a lead to support and apply offensive pressure at the same time. Team Options Using Gallade with Pokemon that are commonly the fodder of spread or priority moves (respective to which Guard move you're running) such as Mega Metagross and Mega Charizard Y is opportune to let them set up or attack for free. Togekiss makes for a good partner, as Gallade can deal with Steel-, Poison-, and Rock-types and use Wide Guard against Rock Slides, while Togekiss can redirect attacks to allow Gallade to support with speed control or attack. Amoonguss likes Trick Room being up alongside Gallade to Spore foes freely while Gallade protects against things such as Talonflame and Prankster Taunt with Quick Guard.

Choice Scarf Gallade can act as a speedy revenge killer or a late game sweeper, while Choice Band Gallade can dent almost anything it faces with STAB Close Combat. Frailer Pokemon attempting to come in on a resisted Close Combat, such as Roserade, will be promptly 2HKOed, demonstrating just how powerful Gallade is with a Choice Band. Trick allows Gallade to severely cripple an opposing wall, such as Slowbro, Dusclops, and Gligar. This grants Gallade a much easier time against the crippled wall, and also gives it the ability to switch moves. Ice Punch allows it to hit Flying-types expecting a resisted Close Combat; Zen Headbutt, on the other hand, is another strong STAB move with a neat flinch chance. Night Slash allows Gallade to destroy Psychic- and Ghost-types, such as Mew, Dusclops, and Mismagius, who may attempt to switch into a Close Combat and either set up or try to burn Gallade with Will-O-Wisp. Furthermore, the combination of Night Slash and Close Combat have excellent neutral coverage resisted by only a few Pokemon such as Heracross. Stone Edge is a good alternative to Ice Punch, but sacrifices reliability for power. A Jolly nature can be used to let Gallade outspeed Adamant Heracross and Modest Nidoking. As Choice Scarf Gallade often lacks the power to destroy dedicated walls such as Slowbro, wallbreakers such as Nidoking are good teammates. Another strong physical attacker, such as Guts Heracross, is a good partner to Gallade. As they share common counters, they can work in tandem to weaken the opponent's physical walls, allowing one of them to easily sweep the devastated team. Bug- and Dark-type teammates can smash Psychic- and Ghost-types attempting to wall Gallade, while Grass-, Water-, and Ice-types can make short work of bulky Ground-types, such as Swampert, that trouble Choice Scarf Gallade.

Gallade already has a high base 115 Special Defense, which makes it difficult to take down with neutral special attacks. However, a reasonably strong physical attack can easily break through Gallade's pathetic base 65 Defense. Bulk Up boosts Gallade's low Defense to a level comparable to its Special Defense, and also powers up its already good Attack to astronomical heights. Drain Punch provides Gallade with a fairly reliable method of recovery, and more importantly, functions as a fantastic STAB move that does great amounts of damage after a Bulk Up. Drain Punch also provides Gallade with some longevity, especially after a few Bulk Ups, making it extremely hard to take down. Ice Punch gives Gallade handy super effective coverage against Ground- and Flying-types, while Night Slash slices apart Ghost- and Psychic-types that take little to no damage from Drain Punch. X-Scissor is more powerful than Night Slash, and is hence a better option to deal with Psychic-types; however, it leaves Gallade helpless against Ghost-types. Stone Edge is an alternative to Ice Punch, with higher Base Power but lower accuracy. The given EV spread allows Gallade to outpace neutral base 100 Speed Pokemon without Speed investment. HP EVs are maximized to provide the bulk that Gallade needs to take hits more comfortably. The leftover EVs are put into Attack and an Adamant nature is used to provide additional power, but the EVs can instead be placed in Special Defense to give Gallade an easier time setting up against special attackers. Gallade absolutely abhors status, especially burn and poison. A burn essentially shuts down Gallade and takes away any chance it might have at sweeping, while bad poison from Toxic will put Gallade on a timer, significantly decreasing the number of turns Gallade can be left on the field. Eviolite Dusclops is arguably the best counter to this set. It is immune to Gallade's STAB Drain Punch, takes pittance from even a boosted Night Slash, and can follow up with Will-O-Wisp. Slowbro is in the same boat, as its immense Defense lets it take Night Slashes comfortably.

Reaching an Attack stat of 766 after a Swords Dance, Gallade's huge attacking power enables it to wreak havoc upon the UU tier. After a Swords Dance boost, its extremely powerful STAB Close Combat tears apart many teams. Ice Punch lets Gallade smash Flying-types into the ground while fast, frail Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Azelf and Mismagius are taken care of by Shadow Sneak. Each of the moves listed above has a purpose: Stone Edge can be used over Ice Punch to do more damage to Moltres, and also hits Arcanine super effectively. However, all things considered, Ice Punch is the more reliable move. Night Slash can be used over Shadow Sneak to deal greater damage to bulky Psychic-types, such as Slowbro, which otherwise completely wall Gallade. Gallade's excellent movepool includes moves for almost any situation, and for any Pokemon. Zen Headbutt helps it beat Weezing, the bane of most Fighting-types, while it also offers a great flinch chance and may be of use in a clutch situation. Drain Punch allows Gallade to heal off any residual damage taken, and unlike Close Combat, doesn't saddle Gallade with defense drops. Other move options it can utilize include Leaf Blade, Psycho Cut, Fire Punch, and Headbutt, but the ones listed will usually suffice, unless your team desperately needs to surprise and eliminate specific threats. The EVs listed are optimal, but they can be changed to meet your needs. The only reason one would choose to run max Speed is to tie with Adamant Heracross (basically Choice Band variants), but most tend to use a Choice Scarf. This is nonetheless a viable option, as the HP EVs do not provide Gallade with much significant bulk. Maximizing Speed and giving Gallade a Jolly nature also comes with the benefit of Speed tying with max Speed base 80 Pokemon and the rare Altaria. Gallade's other ability, Steadfast, might come in handy against Pokemon who use flinching moves, such as Durant, but this gimmick loses its luster when one realizes Gallade doesn't survive Togekiss's Air Slash. Finally, Gallade can choose to run Leftovers over Life Orb for added recovery, but this isn't recommended considering Gallade's bulk—or lack thereof—and the offensive nature of this set. Physical walls are the bane of this set, and almost every other Gallade set, too. Pokemon such as Milotic pose almost complete hard stops to Gallade. Their attacking moves hit Gallade hard through its paper-thin defenses, and Gallade can't do much in return even after a Swords Dance boost.

Unlike most Trick Room users, Gallade can hit from the physical side and make use of its own Trick Room to abuse its great dual STABs. Close Combat, a 120 Base Power STAB move, should be a self-explanatory choice. Psycho Cut makes mincemeat out of the common Fighting-type Fake Out users, while Shadow Sneak can break Focus Sash and finish weakened Pokemon outside of Trick Room. The fourth move largely depends on Gallade's teammate. If you're using a Follow Me user that can't heal itself efficiently, such as Amoonguss, Heal Pulse is a great way to keep your teammate healthy and ready to spam Spore or similar moves. Protect does as advertised, protecting Gallade from Fake Out and attacks that would otherwise KO it. Unlike other variants of Gallade, Trick Room Gallade can afford to drop the fourth slot's options in order to gain more coverage, so a moveset such as Trick Room / Close Combat / Psycho Cut / Shadow Sneak is perfectly viable. If you don't fear Fake Out or similar flinch-inducing moves, Steadfast becomes an option, if only for 4th gen moves such as Zen Headbutt and Drain Punch, asthey are illegal with Justified. Keep in mind Steadfast can raise Gallade's Speed, which can work against it in Trick Room. Gallade is a rare case; pairing it with conventional Fake Out users such as Hitmontop and Hariyama is ill-advised due to overlapping weaknesses. Sableye is probably the best Fake Out user to pair with Gallade typing-wise, and can use Taunt and Will-O-Wisp to prevent Trick Room being reversed and to burn physical attackers, respectively. Togekiss and Coba Berry Amoonguss make great partners for Gallade, keeping it safe from gang attacks and annoying the opponent under Trick Room with Air Slash and Spore, respectively. Tyranitar makes a good partner for KOing Psychic- and Ghost-types, and has the option of Unnerve if you don't want Sand Stream. Beyond these Pokemon, regular Trick Room Pokemon such as Scizor, Gigalith, and slower variants of Dragonite are good partners to take advantage of Gallade's Trick Room.

Gallade's strength lies in its ability to take common special attacks, maintain offensive presence, and provide team support, and this set capitalizes on that. Investment in HP ensures Gallade isn't taken out easily from attacks such as Rotom-W's rain-boosted Hydro Pump, Abomasnow's Blizzard, and Latios's Life Orb-boosted Draco Meteor. Close Combat is a powerful move, but if you really want Gallade to live through more powerful attacks, Drain Punch is a safer option. Zen Headbutt is another reliable STAB move, and comes with a nice chance of flinching. The third slot is reserved for the myriad of supportive options Gallade is blessed with. Heal Pulse is great when your partner is bulky, but should be used with discretion when your opponent is using a Follow Me Pokemon. Helping Hand is just generally a great doubles move, powering up moves that would otherwise deal less than desirable damage. Thunder Wave can also benefit Gallade, patching up its lackluster Speed stat and forming a slightly weaker version of the infamous ParaFlinch combination when used in combination with Zen Headbutt. There are many options for the last slot; Protect is good for scouting random Shadow Balls and priority moves, whereas Shadow Sneak is useful for breaking Focus Sashes and finishing off survivors of more powerful assaults such as Close Combat. The third slot's options can spill over into the fourth slot if you need more support, and Gallade can accomplish a lot with them. Be careful about using Gallade without Protect or a priority move, however; once your opponent discovers Gallade can't Protect itself, they will gang up and attack it without hesitation. Because Gallade can't do much to stop bulky Psychic- and Ghost-types, Hydreigon is an excellent partner. Hydreigon especially enjoys Gallade's paralysis support, which makes its only decent Speed stat less of an issue. Pokemon that have the ability Intimidate make fine partners, as they help patch up Gallade's awful Defense. Arcanine and Salamence love Thunder Wave support, and the former particularly enjoys its ExtremeSpeeds being powered up by Helping Hand. Both Salamence and Arcanine appreciate the protection against Tyranitar that Gallade provides, and can weaken Earthquakes from Tyranitar's common partners. Zapdos also enjoys the absence of Tyranitar, and can make opposing Dragon-types freeze in their tracks with Hidden Power Ice; it can also OHKO Acrobatics users such as Crobat. Fast Rock Slide users such as Terrakion and Aerodactyl help fend off Flying-types, and in Aerodactyl's case, remove the effects of Lum and Chople Berries, as well as supporting Gallade with Tailwind. Finally, if one is extremely fearful of Zen Headbutt's accuracy, Psycho Cut can be used instead, but it loses some power and the flinch chance.

This is a sample set. We aren't working on BW Monotype analyses at the moment, but check out BW Monotype resources for more information about the metagame.