Gallade (Analysis Update) [GP 2/2]

EonX

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http://www.smogon.com/bw/pokemon/gallade/ru

[Overview]

<p>Gallade is perhaps the most versatile Fighting-type in RU. With a great stat spread, superb movepool, and solid typing, Gallade is capable of running many sets, ranging from a Choice Band set to a specially defensive set and almost everything in between. Gallade's versatility is further enhanced by setup moves such as Swords Dance, Substitute, and Bulk Up, along with a very high Attack stat. Additionally, Gallade's great Special Defense allows Gallade to run bulkier boosting sets while its typing leaves it with few exploitable weaknesses. This unpredictability leads to major difficulty when dealing with Gallade, as simply knowing what setup move it has won't make it any easier to handle.</p>

<p>Despite all of these amazing qualities, Gallade is not without its flaws. Gallade suffers one of the most severe cases of four-moveslot syndrome in RU, as it will never be able to cover all of RU's major threats at once. The ubiquity of Spiritomb also doesn't help either, as it's immune to both of Gallade's STABs and has the bulk to handle anything else Gallade tries to throw at it offensively. Gallade's base Speed might be good, but it's not blazing fast, and a low Defense stat means most faster physical attackers will give Gallade some problems. However, in spite of these flaws, Gallade is a force to be reckoned with and should be prepared for when building any team.</p>

[SET]
name: Bulky Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Psycho Cut
move 4: Night Slash / Leaf Blade
item: Lum Berry / Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant
evs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is Gallade's is most commonly seen set in RU. With a base 125 Attack stat, a solid base 115 Special Defense, and a decent typing both offensively and defensively, a bulky Swords Dance set fits Gallade perfectly. This is aided by Gallade's decent base 80 Speed, which allows it to outspeed most defensive Pokemon with minimal investment.</p>

<p>Swords Dance is Gallade's boosting move of choice on this set. Once Gallade gets in, it can easily threaten out an opposing Pokemon and set up a Swords Dance on the switch. Drain Punch is the primary STAB move, which has solid power, great coverage, and the ability to restore Gallade's HP and increase its longevity significantly. This is important as few Pokemon possess the ability to outspeed and OHKO Gallade. Psycho Cut is a solid secondary STAB move that is able to get past many Pokemon that can take Drain Punch, such as Qwilfish, Amoonguss, and Hariyama. The last slot gives Gallade coverage on Pokemon that can handle its STAB combination. Night Slash is preferred to handle Mesprit, Sigilyph, and Uxie. However, Leaf Blade is an option to get past Alomomola, Quagsire, and Rhydon, the latter of which is not OHKOed by +2 Drain Punch when holding Eviolite and can retaliate with a powerful STAB Earthquake that will leave Gallade extremely susceptible to the next thing that comes in. Regardless of whether one chooses Night Slash or Leaf Blade, both will hit Slowking and Golurk hard, which is important as both can handle Gallade‘s STAB moves and retaliate with Psyshock or Shadow Punch, respectively.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>56 Speed EVs allow Gallade to jump ahead of neutral base 55s such as Omastar and Bouffalant. The remaining EVs get placed in HP to improve Gallade's overall bulk. Lum Berry is the best item for this set, as it gives Gallade a one-time immunity to status, which is important when trying to set up against more defensive teams. However, Leftovers is also an option, as Gallade will take its fair share of hits during a sweep and a single round of Leftovers recovery can sometimes be just what Gallade needs to survive an incoming attack and KO its target. X-Scissor is the most notable coverage move not used on this set, being the best move Gallade has for Tangrowth and still retaining coverage on all Psychic-types except for Sigilyph. Stone Edge is an option for crushing Moltres while also hitting Spiritomb harder than any other move. Finally, Shadow Sneak is an option to pick off weakened threats, but it still isn't very strong even after a boost and will struggle to KO many threats unless they have a low Defense stat.</p>

<p>Entry hazards are a necessity for this set in order to compensate for the lower power of Drain Punch. On offensive teams, Omastar, Scolipede, and Smeargle are effective partners while more balanced teams can use Ferroseed, Rhydon, and Qwilfish. Spiritomb is an absolute pain for this set, as it can survive any boosted attack and 2HKO Gallade with Shadow Sneak or OHKO it with Foul Play after a Swords Dance boost. Emboar is a very good partner for this reason, as not only does it handle Spiritomb nicely, but it also deals with Escavalier, another major problem for this set. Other Fire-types, such as Typhlosion, Entei, and Moltres, can also be used to handle these threats. Entei and Moltres can are also royal pains for this set in addition to being good partners; Qwilfish is able to check Entei and Escavalier while Lanturn is a good answer to Moltres. Paralysis support is welcome so Gallade doesn't have to take as many hits. The aforementioned Qwilfish and Lanturn are solid options to provide this, as are Ferroseed and specially defensive Druddigon. Although it has Night Slash, Gallade will have some problems with Sigilyph thanks to its powerful Flying-type STAB. Spiritomb can be used to trap and KO Sigilyph to ensure Gallade's sweep isn't interrupted. Mesprit is also a feasible option thanks to having access to both Thunderbolt and Ice Beam, while its access to Healing Wish can also give Gallade a second chance to sweep if it gets stopped earlier on.</p>

[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Psycho Cut
move 4: Night Slash / Shadow Sneak
item: Lum Berry / Life Orb
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is a more offensive approach to Swords Dance. While this set lacks the longevity and flexibility of its bulkier counterpart, this Gallade is much less reliant on boosting to leave its mark on the opposing team. Swords Dance skyrockets Gallade's already dangerous Attack stat, while Close Combat is the chosen Fighting STAB move, as its incredible 120 Base Power allows Gallade to even weaken some Pokemon that resist Fighting-type moves after a boost. Psycho Cut is Gallade's secondary STAB move and hits the likes of Qwilfish and Amoonguss much harder than Close Combat would. Night Slash is the preferred option in the final slot, allowing Gallade to get past bulky Psychic-types such as Uxie, Slowking, and Mesprit much more easily. However, Shadow Sneak is an option to fend off revenge killers looking to take advantage of the defense drops caused by using Close Combat.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Because Close Combat lowers Gallade's defenses with each use, a fully offensive EV spread is utilized. A Lum Berry is still the preferred item to get a one-time immunity to status, which can often mean the difference between a sweep and a crippled Gallade. However, a Life Orb is certainly viable, as with a Life Orb, Gallade is even less reliant on boosting than it already is and can be turned into more of a wallbreaker. Adamant is the preferred nature to give Gallade more power and to, again, lessen the reliance on setting up to deal major damage. However, Jolly can be used if outspeeding neutral-natured base 92s and below, such as Rotom-C, Hitmonlee, and Lilligant, is desired. Leaf Blade is the only coverage option worth considering. Although a super effective Leaf Blade only hits as hard as a neutral Close Combat, it can be useful against the likes of Rhydon and Alomomola when the defense drops from Close Combat aren’t desired. However, Night Slash and Shadow Sneak are generally the better moves to use.</p>

<p>Gallade appreciates entry hazard support to gain more KOs and ensure that its targets can't take advantage of the defense drops from using Close Combat. Smeargle, Omastar, and Accelgor can utilize entry hazards on more offensive teams, and Druddigon, Roselia, and Uxie can be used on more balanced teams. With the defense drops from Close Combat, this Gallade is extremely vulnerable to being revenge killed. For this reason, paralysis support from Pokemon such as Ferroseed, Lanturn, and Slowking can be very helpful. As always, Spiritomb is an absolute pain for Gallade, as Gallade has no hope of OHKOing it while Spiritomb's Shadow Sneak does a real number on it. For this reason, Emboar, Entei, and Aggron are all good partners as they can all effectively handle Spiritomb. Sigilyph is problematic thanks to its STAB Air Slash and Psyshock. A Spiritomb of your own can trap and KO Sigilyph with Pursuit so Gallade can sweep without fear later. Fast attackers are solid teammates as they can pick up Gallade's slack if it can't complete its sweep. Sceptile, Swellow, and Choice Scarf variants of Rotom-C, Emboar, and Braviary can all work nicely in this role.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Psycho Cut
move 3: Night Slash
move 4: Stone Edge / Leaf Blade
item: Choice Band
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While Gallade is most commonly seen striking fear into an opponent with a setup move, the simplicity of a Choice Band can also be quite effective. The inability to switch moves or set up is made up for with the immediate power boost Gallade receives from said item. This is arguably the scariest wallbreaker in RU, as a massive base 125 Attack and Gallade's great coverage options gives the opponent major issues.</p>

<p>Close Combat is the main STAB move on this set. With a massive 120 Base Power, few things will be safe from Gallade's wrath. The defense drops are somewhat mitigated with the hit-and-run nature of this set. Psycho Cut allows Gallade to lay the hurt on Qwilfish and Amoonguss without much difficulty. Night Slash is very important for being able to deal with Uxie and Slowking and keeping them from trying to cripple Gallade with paralysis or a burn. The last slot reinforces Gallade's coverage on certain threats. Stone Edge is preferred, as it's the strongest move Gallade has to hit Spiritomb with while it also destroys any Moltres that tries to switch-in. Leaf Blade provides a safer move to use in order to hammer Alomomola, Rhydon, and Quagsire, but keep in mind that a neutral Close Combat will hit just as hard as a 2x super effective Leaf Blade.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>An Adamant nature is preferred because Choice Band Gallade is primarily used as a wallbreaker. However, Jolly is feasible in order to outspeed Absol and Smeargle while also tying with other positive-natured base 80s such as Mesprit and Kabutops. There aren't really any other moves to consider on this set as Gallade's Close Combat will often be hitting harder than other super effective coverage moves, such as X-Scissor.</p>

<p>Entry hazard support goes a long way to help Gallade break down walls such as Tangrowth and Alomomola. Smeargle, Crustle, and Omastar are solid choices for offensive teams of which this Gallade is usually found on. Partners that can check Spiritomb are a must for this set, as Gallade will be incapable of using either of its STAB moves with freedom if it is around. Pokemon such as Escavalier, Steelix, and Emboar can be used for this. This variant of Gallade is the most vulnerable to status because it lacks any method of healing. For this reason, clerics and designated status absorbers are very helpful. Clefable can absorb status rather easily and is capable of keeping Gallade healthy with Wish. On the other hand, Lanturn provides cleric and paralysis support to help Gallade while also checking Moltres, lessening the pressure on Gallade to predict its switch in with Stone Edge. A Pursuit user, such as Absol and Escavalier, can be used to clear out bulky Ghost- and Psychic-types so Gallade can freely use Close Combat. Due to its fantastic wallbreaking capabilities, Choice Band Gallade pairs very well with fast physical attackers that are capable of cleaning up a team that Gallade has left its mark on. Choice Scarf Braviary and Emboar are solid examples of this, while Swellow and Entei can use their combination of speed and power to finish off the opposing team. If a wallbreaking core is desired, Choice Specs Rotom-C and Typhlosion as well as mixed attacking Samurott work nicely with Gallade.</p>

[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Night Slash / Ice Punch
move 4: Substitutite
item: Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Careful
EVs: 240 HP / 244 SpD / 56 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While Gallade's other sets become a major threat after just one turn of set up, this set attempts to use Bulk Up to slowly become a threat while simultaneously becoming more and more difficult to revenge kill. While this might be the hardest set to pull off a sweep with, it is also the hardest offensive set to revenge kill thanks to heavy investment in special bulk and boosting its Defense through Bulk Up.</p>

<p>Bulk Up is the chosen boosting move for this set, as it boosts Gallade's great Attack stat and subpar Defense as well. Drain Punch fits the goal of this set perfectly; it provides solid power and simultaneously heals Gallade in the process, thus increasing its longevity. The coverage option is a difficult choice, as it will leave Gallade open to certain defensive threats. Night Slash is generally preferred thanks to the neutral coverage it gets with Gallade's Fighting STAB while being able to smash Slowking, Uxie, and Mesprit. However, Ice Punch is also a viable option, as with Ice Punch, Gallade is able to handle Amoonguss and Tangrowth more easily. Do keep in mind, though, that Slowking and Qwilfish can now wall Gallade. Substitute fills in the last slot to shield Gallade from status and to make revenge killing this set that much harder.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EV spread looks odd, but it is actually quite simple. 56 Speed EVs is necessary to outspeed neutral-natured base 55s such as Omastar and Bouffalant, and 240 HP EVs hits an optimal HP number for making Substitutes. The remaining EVs get thrown into Special Defense and when combined with a Careful nature, Gallade gains far more setup opportunities against special attackers such as Sceptile, Lanturn, and support Uxie.</p>

<p>Entry hazard support is more important for this Gallade set than any other due to the low initial power it has. Ferroseed, Qwilfish, and Rhydon are solid choices for this role, as this Gallade will usually find itself on more balanced teams. Entei and Escavalier are perhaps the biggest issues for this set, as both can still OHKO Gallade at +1 Defense with Flare Blitz and Megahorn, respectively. Alomomola, Qwilfish, and Rhydon can be used to check Entei while Moltres, Emboar, and Typhlosion can keep Escavalier at bay. Spiritomb is still a bit of a pain for this set thanks to the lack in initial power. Emboar, Aggron, and Escavalier can all keep Spiritomb in check. Even with this set's heavy investment in special bulk, Moltres's STAB Hurricane will still run right through Gallade. For this reason, Lanturn is a solid partner to not only keep it in check but to also provide paralysis support so Gallade has to take fewer hits. Other paralysis inducers, such as Ferroseed and Uxie, can also be helpful so Gallade isn't forced to use Substitute as often.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Thanks to its wide movepool, Gallade has plenty of other options at its disposal. A Choice Scarf set seems like a perfect fit thanks to Gallade's base 125 Attack and a somewhat middling Speed stat when not holding said item. However, Medicham is much better for this role thanks to Pure Power. Gallade has the elemental punches available to it, but for the most part, they aren't really useful when compared to Gallade's main attacks. Earthquake is powerful, but it runs into the same problems that the elemental punches do. Like many other Psychic-types, Gallade has access to Calm Mind, as well as various special moves such as Psyshock, Focus Blast, and Thunderbolt. However, a paltry base 65 Special Attack makes this a bad option for Gallade.</p>

<p>In terms of support options, a combination of Taunt and Will-O-Wisp can be used to break down stall teams, but these types of teams aren’t too common in RU. A dual screens set with Memento is usable, but it faces stiff competition from Uxie and Mesprit in this role, as both have better overall bulk than Gallade. A set utilizing Trick Room is possible to make up for Gallade's mediocre Speed. However, it still runs into competition with Uxie and Mesprit, and on top of that, it lets major threats such as Escavalier and Druddigon outspeed Gallade. Destiny Bond is gimmicky, but it can net a surprise kill every once and a while. Finally, a SubDisable set is possible a la Gengar in OU, but Gallade’s lack of immunities limits its viability.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Put simply, there is no surefire counter to Gallade. Its versatility, power, coverage, and support options make such a task impossible. Spiritomb is probably the best response, as it is able to handle most offensive Gallade sets thanks to its immunity to both of Gallade's STABs and its solid bulk. However, it must be careful around specially defensive sets because Will-O-Wisp can cripple Spiritomb. Moltres and Mesprit are two of the safer options to handle Gallade, as each resists one or both of Gallade's STAB moves and only fear one of its coverage moves. Perhaps the easiest way to deal with Gallade is to use its major case of four-moveslot syndrome to your advantage. Most sets use a setup move and two STAB moves, so finding out its coverage move will go a long way to handling Gallade. If Gallade lacks Leaf Blade, Alomomola and Quagsire can handle it admirably. Without Night Slash, Mesprit becomes all the more dangerous while Uxie can generally outlast Gallade in most scenarios. Tangrowth only fears Close Combat and the rare Ice Punch and X-Scissor, and it can hit Gallade with a STAB Power Whip on its weaker Defense stat. However, Bulk Up sets can set up on Tangrowth variants without Power Whip. Escavalier is capable of overpowering Gallade with its powerful STAB Megahorn, but Substitute and specially defensive sets can put Escavalier in a tough situation. The Substitute set 2HKOes with Drain Punch and may have a Substitute up to block Escavalier's first attack, and the specially defensive set can cripple Escavalier with a burn. The specially defensive set struggles with most Flying-types; Pokemon such as Braviary, Moltres, and Sigilyph are more than capable of dealing with this set. Cinccino can easily check the Substitute set, but it has no hope of actually switching into it thanks to its frailty.</p>

<p>Preying on Gallade's base 80 Speed and lackluster base 65 Defense is perhaps the easiest way to limit the damage Gallade can do. Choice Scarf users, such as Emboar and Braviary, do quite well while naturally fast Pokemon such as Swellow, Tauros, and Archeops are capable of smashing Gallade before it gets a chance to strike them. Priority users can also be effective, with examples being Entei, Spiritomb, and Feraligatr. Note that Sucker Punch users such as Absol run the risk of activating Justified if they are unable to KO Gallade and will likely be hit with a decisive blow after the attack. As Gallade will often want to use a setup move before attacking, one can always resort to offensive pressure to limit Gallade's chances to setup. However, this is risky as Gallade usually has enough raw power and coverage to do damage even without a setup move, and the Choice Band set doesn't set up at all.</p>

[Overview]

  • Premier Fighting-type in RU
  • Versatile threat capable of running both offensive and defensive sets
  • Great set-up moves in Swords Dance, Substitute, and Bulk Up
  • Wide move pool lets it cover p. much anything it wants
  • Unpredictability makes it very difficult to deal with; can run bulkier offensive sets, pure offensive sets, and a SpDef set
  • 80 Speed is solid, but not blazing fast by any means
  • 65 Defense leaves it susceptible to faster physical attackers such as Scarf Emboar and Braviary
  • 4MSS hurts…. A LOT. p. much the only thing that makes it counterable
  • Hates Spiritomb
  • Great all-purpose offensive Pokemon capable of fitting onto almost any team
  • Make sure you have an answer for it. Otherwise, Gallade will find great joy in pummeling your team

[SET]
name: Bulky Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Psycho Cut
move 4: Night Slash / Leaf Blade
item: Lum Berry / Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant
evs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

  • blends power, bulk, and coverage into one set
  • Swords Dance to give a power boost and let Gallade sweep
  • Drain Punch is the primary STAB. Solid power and healing side effect gives Gallade great staying power
  • Psycho Cut for Qwilfish, Amoonguss, and fellow Fighting-types
  • Night Slash to nail Uxie and Mesprit as well as Sigilyph on the switch
  • Leaf Blade if covering Alomomola, Rhydon (not OHKOed by +2 Drain Punch) and Quagsire is desired

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

  • Speed EVs get the jump on neutral 55s to KO them before they can hit back
  • Max Attack to hit as hard as possible. The rest is poured into HP
  • X-Scissor if Tangrowth is a nuicance
  • Shadow Sneak if priority is desired, but it's rather weak
  • Hazard users; Smeargle, Scolipede, Omastar for offensive teams. Ferroseed, Qwilfish, and Druddigon for balanced ones
  • Hates Entei and Moltres. Slowking, Qwilfish, and Lanturn can handle one or both of them
  • Spiritomb sucks. Can take any boosted move and 2HKO with Shadow Sneak
  • Use Emboar, Entei, or Typhlosion to check it. Emboar also handles CB Escavalier quite nicely
  • Spiritomb of your own to handle Sigilyph. Mesprit is also feasible for this. Note that Gallade can handle CP Sigilyph on its own with a Lum Berry + Night Slash

[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Psycho Cut
move 4: Night Slash / Leaf Blade / Shadow Sneak
item: Lum Berry / Life Orb
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

  • More offensive approach to Swords Dance and uses Gallade's sheer power to impose its will.
  • Not as reliant on boosting as the Bulky SD set thanks to Close Combat.
  • Close Combat destroys stuff and is the STAB move of choice
  • Psycho Cut to deal with Close Combat resists such as Amoonguss and Moltres (catch it on the switch!)
  • Night Slash for coverage on Psychics
  • Leaf Blade to take out physical walls such as Alomomola and Quagsire
  • Shadow Sneak for priority if coverage isn't needed

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

  • Adamant over Jolly for the power boost and to lessen dependency on SD to become a powerhouse. Jolly is feasible to ensure Absol can't outspeed and KO with Night Slash (though it will likely Sucker Punch anyway)
  • Lum Berry preferred to get a free pass on status. Life Orb can turn this set into more of a wallbreaking set though.
  • Entry hazards to gain more KOes.
  • Accelgor, Smeargle, and Scolipede for offensive teams. Qwilfish, Roselia, and Uxie for balanced ones
  • Paralysis support as this set is very susceptible to being revenge killed
  • Ferroseed and Lanturn both accomplish this as does Uxie. All 3 are capable of providing various other forms of support
  • Fast attackers in case Gallade can't finish a sweep.
  • Sceptile, Rotom-C, Braviary, and Emboar work nicely

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Psycho Cut
move 3: Night Slash
move 4: Leaf Blade / Stone Edge / Shadow Sneak
item: Choice Band
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

  • Gives up the ability to set-up and switch moves to hit hard right off the bat
  • One of the scariest wallbreakers to face thanks to base 125 Attack, STAB Close Combat, and great coverage
  • Close Combat nukes stuff. Even frail resists get 2HKOed with ease!
  • Psycho Cut can catch Qwilfish and friends trying to take a Close Combat.
  • Night Slash handles what Gallade's STABs can't; bulky Psychics and Spiritomb
  • Last moveslot to add and reinforce coverage
  • Leaf Blade is stronger against Slowking and takes out Rhydon, Alomomola, and Quagsire too
  • Stone Edge is the strongest move Gallade has on Spiritomb. Also donks Moltres which is cool
  • Shadow Sneak for priority if the services of Leaf Blade and Stone Edge aren't needed. Low power makes it a bad move to be locked in on unless you absolutely have to revenge something

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

  • Adamant nature for that added power.
  • Jolly is feasible to always outspeed Absol and Speed tie, at worst, with Mesprit and other base 80s (unless they're Scarfed)
  • Entry hazards to push stuff into KO range
  • Smeargle, Crustle, and Omastar for offensive teams that CB Gallade is typically used on
  • Abhors status and faster 'mons, so clerics are useful
  • Lanturn really helps as it also provides paralysis support to slow stuff down.
  • Clefable and Sigilyph can both absorb status, though beware of paralysis and shared weaknesses when using Sigilyph
  • Pursuit user to take out bulky Ghost- and Psychic-types. Absol, Escavalier, and Spiritomb all work
  • Great wallbreaker, so fast physical attackers pair nicely
  • Scarf versions of Braviary and Emboar are nice. Entei can spam CB ExtremeSpeed if Rocks and Steels are gone
  • Specs versions of Rotom-C and Typhlosion to form a wallbreaking core if desired.

[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Night Slash / Ice Punch
move 4: Substitute
item: Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Careful
EVs: 240 HP / 212 SpD / 56 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

  • Uses Bulk Up to slowly boost power while also becoming harder and harder to revenge kill
  • Hardest offensive set to sweep with, but also the most difficult one to revenge kill
  • Bulk Up to boost power and lackluster base 65 Defense
  • Drain Punch to provide recovery and a reliable STAB option
  • Night Slash gets unresisted coverage alongside Drain Punch and donks Slowking
  • Ice Punch handles Amoonguss and Tangrowth better should your team have more trouble with them
  • Sub to block status and make revenge killing even harder

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

  • Odd EV spread, but simpler than it looks
  • 56 Speed EVs to jump ahead of neutral base 55s such as Omastar and Bouffalant
  • 240 HP EVs to get an optimal HP number for Subs.
  • Rest in Special Defense and a Careful nature to increase setup chances on special attackers.
  • Needs hazards support more than any other set due to low initial power
  • Crustle, Smeargle, and Accelgor for more offensive teams
  • Ferroseed, Qwilfish, and Uxie fit the bill for more defensive teams
  • Checks to Escavalier and CB Entei as both can still OHKO +1 Gallade
  • Typhlosion, Emboar, and Moltres for Escavalier
  • Slowking, Qwilfish, and Rhydon for Entei
  • Moltres kills despite SpDef investment. Lanturn can check it and provide paralysis support
  • Emboar and Escavalier to handle many Gallade checks and maintain offensive pressure
  • Paralysis support to reduce the amount of hits Gallade is forced to take, thus letting it use Sub less often.
  • Ferroseed, Lanturn, and Uxie can all do this and provide other forms of support

[Other Options]

  • Choice Scarf; outdone by Medicham
  • Elemental Punches
  • Earthquake
  • LolCM
  • Taunt+Will-O-Wisp to break stall
  • Dual Screens; outdone by Uxie and Mesprit
  • Destiny Bond for lol kills
  • OTR. A little too fast though to provide consistent results
  • SubDisable a la Gengar. No immunities sucks though

[Checks and Counters]

  • HA, good luck
  • Spiritomb is the safest. Hates Will-O-Wisp from the SpDef set though
  • Moltres, Mesprit, and Entei… if they find a way in safely. Stone Edge donks Moltres, Night Slash hammers Mesprit, and Entei doesn’t resist either STAB
  • Just use 4MSS to your advantage
  • No Leaf Blade means Mola and Quagsire do well
  • No Night Slash gives bulkier Psychics a chance. (Slowking still gets destroyed by Leaf Blade though, the move that most commonly is used over Night Slash)
  • Tangrowth if no X-Scissor or Ice Punch. Bulk Up set can setup on it though
  • Escavalier, though Sub and SpDef sets give it trouble. Drain Punch from the Sub set
  • 2HKOes (and Sub blocks Escavalier’s attack) and SpDef set cripples it with Will-O-Wisp
  • Revenge killers/priority users, but beware of Sub and SpDef sets!
  • Tauros, Zangoose, and Braviary are most notable; they get a free pass on Shadow Sneak to boot!
  • Entei, Feraligatr, and Spiritomb are notable priority users
  • SpDef set struggles against physical flyers. Think Swellow and Braviary
  • Cinccino crushes the Sub set, but can’t begin to think of trying to switch-in directly
  • Offensive pressure. Gallade usually wants to use a set-up move before attacking. Risky answer due to coverage and raw power though.
 
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EonX

Battle Soul
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Ok, so obviously this is still a WIP as I haven't outliined CB and Bulk Up yet, but I just wanted to go ahead and get this posted to spark some discussion/suggestions/anything else you can think of with this. Gallade is one of the most promminent threats in RU right now and it's analysis is a little dated with set order, moves, etc. Feel free to drop input here so we can get this up-to-date!
 

complete legitimacy

is it cold in the water?
is a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnus
I wrote the Specially Defensive set pretty recently so I don't think it needs updating. You had pretty much all the same things in the skeleton that are already in the writing so I think updating it would be unnecessary.
 

ScraftyIsTheBest

On to new Horizons!
is a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
Not going to approve this yet since it's a WIP but might as well remove Sub+3 Attacks since you're already writing it in another thread.
 

EonX

Battle Soul
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Ok, now that I've been able to outline CB and BU, this is officially ready for QC checks.

@c_l: yeah, I'm probably just going to c/p the entire SpDef set that's on-site right now when I do the write-up, but for the sake of consistency, I put it in skeleton form with everything else. This will end up happening with part of each set that's currently on-site with changes coming as necessary with the moveset changes
@SiTB: Sub+3 Attacks will be removed before the write-up, but I wanted the skeleton to show all the sets that will eventually be in the analysis when it gets on site.
 

EonX

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Ok, after some suggestions, here's where it stands:

Removed Sub+3 Attacks and Specially Defensive. Sub+3 Attacks just finished GP and Specially Defensive doesn't really need an update, just a move up in the analysis.

As for Leaf Blade, it's actually a bit more important than it looks. Close Combat is only being used on two sets (Offensive SD and CB) so it certainly has use on Bulky SD. There aren't tons of better options for CB since Stone Edge is inaccurate and really only hits Moltres (Sigilyph is hit by Night Slash) and Shadow Sneak just isn't good to lock into in most scenarios. Offensive SD has Night Slash first for the reasons you mentioned, but Leaf Blade is there since Gallade can take out Mola to possibly help something like Entei or Emboar sweep. I wouldn't say bulky Psychics are completely safe from Leaf Blade. Slowking is actually hit harder while Uxie and Mesprit have no reliable means of recovery which means that it's fairly easy to weaken them (or outright KO them with Pursuit support) before Gallade comes in.
Also, I have Spiritomb listed in pretty much every section, so I'm obviously going to talk more about it in the write-up as I'm well aware that it's the best answer to Gallade in RU.
 

Oglemi

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- Remove the Shadow Sneak slash on CB, it's super weak and sucks ass to get locked into. and slash stone edge before leaf blade here, icecream's point about close combat is most apparent here especially since gallade will be switching around a lot anyway and stone edge's hit on moltres/spiritomb is far more important than the "safety" of leaf blade
- I'd remove Leaf Blade entirely from offensive SD and move to AC; +2 Close Combat is annihilating everything Leaf Blade is anyway, plus you already have Night Slash available for Slowking. Alomomola and Quagsire aren't threatening enough to warrant it being slashed, the most Leaf Blade does is possibly extend Gallade's sweep a bit so it doesn't have to get lowered defenses vs. Rhydon/Alo

Looks good to me otherwise

QC Approved 1/3
 

EonX

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Ok, implented both QC checks, made suggested changes, and got this written up. Ready for the final QC check!
 
My goodness you wrote this fast.

[Everything]
  • Include <p> and </p> tags!
  • A placeholder for where you believe that Specially Defensive and Substitute would go would be useful during the upload (probably 4th and 3rd respectively, but its up to you)
[Overview]
  • Avoid the usage of Numbers in general if its explaining stats. You could look up and see that Gallade has 125 base attack or 65 base defense. Just describe them as high or low (this is only particularly important for the overview which is literally right below the stats)
[Bulky Swords Dance Set Comments]
  • Specify that the Rhydon is one holding an Eviolite, as any other item is a OHKO at +2. Unfortunately, a Rhydon with an Eviolite cannot OHKO the current spread without something like a Choice Band (Gallade will probably be at full health after attacking a high HP mon like Rhydon).
[Bulky Swords Dance Additional Comments]
Entry hazards are a necessity for this set in order to drop threats into KO ranges
  • Any ones in particular that it KOs with entry hazards? If there aren't any, then it is probably more preferable to state that it is useful to compensate for Drain Punch's lack of power or something. Anywhere where one of the two reasons is not mentioned is probably better off removed, as in many scenarios every Pokemon loves entry hazard support to the point where is almost unnecessary to mention it, unless it is rather important.
[Choice Band Additional Comments]
  • It is probably worth mentioning a partner to take down Spiritomb (Escavalier, Steelix, etc.) on this set in particular. As it is immune to both STABs and you can't switch moves, Spiritomb literally checkmates Gallade by using Pursuit (p. much KOs it outright if it switches which it is forced to do)
[Bulk Up Additional Comments]
  • Bulk Up has no place on Offensive teams imo because of how slow it sets up, so removing offensive entry hazard users would present the preferred teamstyle.
[Checks and Counters]
  • Tangrowth fears Close Combat more than X-Scissor and Ice Punch because Close Combat does more damage. Also, mention what it can do back to it (cripple it with some form of status as it walls it)
Other than this, nice job!

QC Approved 3/3
 

EonX

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Ok, implemented S-R's check. Normally I would say it's ready for GP, but I feel there's a couple of things that should be addressed before moving on to that stage.

First one being the placeholders for the Sub + 3 Attacks and Specially Defensive sets. I did what I felt S-R meant by a placeholder for each set, but if it needs to be different, let me know and I'll change it.

The other thing is the set order, particularly with Specially Defensive and Offensive Swords Dance. As it stands right now, I have Specially Defensive as the 3rd set and Offensive Swords Dance as the 4th. I'm a bit on the fence about this as I feel both are about the same in terms of effectiveness at what they do. The main reason I have Specially Defensive at #3 is that it not only provides a Wish supporter for stall teams, but it also has some offensive presence which is something most teams lack without giving up some major utility. Unless others have overwhelming support for Offensive Swords Dance being the 3rd set, I intend to keep it that way, but I wanted to let the other QC members weigh in on this bit before moving on to the GP stage.
 

Oglemi

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offensive SD > Specially Defensive

you don't need the placeholders tbh, I or DC will know what to do when we upload it
 

complete legitimacy

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Tangrowth fears Close Combat more than X-Scissor and Ice Punch because Close Combat does more damage. Also, mention what it can do back to it (cripple it with some form of status as it walls it)
This is incorrect. Because Gallade's best item on offensive sets is Lum Berry, you have to emphasize that Power Whip Tangrowth is one of the best Gallade checks around, and sets that rely on status and don't run Power Whip are actually just setup fodder. To be fair, sets that run Close Combat win most of the time even if you're running Power Whip and your opponent is smart, but those that don't are usually beaten by Power Whip Tangrowth.
 

EonX

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Ok, if there everyone is on board with it, the finalized set order will be as follows:

1. Bulky SD
2. Sub + 3 Attacks
3. Offensive SD
4. Specially Defensive
5. Choice Band
6. Bulk Up

Also, removed the placeholders as per Oglemi's request and clarified the Tangrowth tidbit in C&C. This should be ready to move on to the GP stage now.
 

Blast

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Amcheck, good job @EonX- ! Just note that the term "setup move" uses "setup" and not "set up." :)

ADD
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COMMENTS


[Overview]

<p>Gallade is perhaps the best most versatile Fighting-type in RU. With a great stat spread, superb movepool, and solid typing, Gallade is capable of running many sets, ranging from a Choice Band set to a Specially Defensive set and almost everything in between. This Gallade's versatility is further backed enhanced by setup (remove space) moves such as Swords Dance, Substitute, and Bulk Up, (AC) and a very high Attack stat. Additionally, Gallade's great Special Defense stat lends itself to bulkier boosting sets while Gallade's its typing leaves it with few exploitable weaknesses. This unpredictability leads to major difficulty in when dealing with Gallade, (AC) as simply knowing what setup (remove space) move it has isn't enough to know its set doesn't make it any less dangerous.</p> Feel free to reword that last change if you don't like it.

<p>Despite all of these awesome things amazing qualities, Gallade is not without its flaws. Gallade's movepool is almost too good for it, as it faces suffers one of the most severe cases of four-moveslot syndrome in RU, (AC) as it will never be able to cover all of RU's major threats at once. The ubiquity of Spiritomb also doesn't help, (AC) either, (AC) as it's immune to both of Gallade's STABs and has the bulk to handle anything else Gallade tries to throw at it offensively. Gallade's base Speed may be good, but it's not blazing fast either, (AC) and a low Defense stat means most faster physical attackers will give Gallade some problems. However, in spite of these flaws, Gallade is a force to be reckoned with and should be prepared for when building any team. If you aren't prepared for it, Gallade will find great joy in pummeling your team.</p> Last sentence was kind of redundant imo...

[SET]
name: Bulky Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Psycho Cut
move 4: Night Slash / Leaf Blade
item: Lum Berry / Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant
evs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is the set Gallade's is most commonly seen running set in RU. With a base 125 Attack stat, a solid base 115 Special Defense, and a decent typing both offensively and defensively that gives Gallade few exploitable weaknesses, a Bulky Swords Dance set fits Gallade perfectly. This is aided by Gallade's decent base 80 Speed which allows it to outspeed most defensive Pokemon with minimal investment.</p>

<p>Swords Dance is Gallade's boosting move of choice on this set. Once Gallade gets in, it can easily threaten out an opposing Pokemon and set (add space) up a Swords Dance on the switch. Drain Punch gets the nod for is the primary STAB move, (change period to comma) It has with solid power, great coverage, and it also the ability to restores Gallade's HP to and increase its staying power significantly. This is important as few Pokemon possess the ability to outspeed and OHKO Gallade. Psycho Cut is a solid secondary STAB move that is able to get past many Pokemon that can take Drain Punch, (change period to comma) such as Qwilfish, Amoonguss, and Hariyama are all hit hard by Psycho Cut. The last slot gives Gallade coverage on Pokemon that can handle its STAB combination. Night Slash is preferred to handle Mesprit, Sigilyph, and Uxie. However, Leaf Blade is an option to get past Alomomola, Quagsire, and Rhydon, (change period to comma) Do note that a Rhydon holding Eviolite the latter of which is not OHKOed by +2 Drain Punch and can retaliate with a powerful STAB Earthquake that will leave Gallade extremely susceptible to the next thing that comes in weakened. <--The change on the Leaf Blade thing is optional, just sounds better imo. Regardless of whether one chooses Night Slash or Leaf Blade, both will hit Slowking and Golurk hard, both of which is important as both can handle Gallade‘s STAB moves and retaliate with Psyshock or Shadow Punch, (AC) respectively.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EV spread is much simpler than it looks. Doesn't really look that complicated to me. Maximum Attack and an Adamant nature is used to let Gallade hit as hard as possible, (change period to comma) With while 56 Speed EVs (RC) allow Gallade is able to jump ahead of positive base 55s such as Omastar and Bouffalant in order to KO them before they can attack Gallade. The remaining EVs get placed in HP to improve Gallade’s overall bulk. Lum Berry is the best item for this Gallade as it allows gives Gallade to get a free pass on one-time immunity to status, which is important when trying to set up against more defensive teams. However, Leftovers is also an option, (change period to comma) As as Gallade will take its fair share of hits during a sweep (RC) and a single round of Leftovers recovery can sometimes be just what Gallade needs to survive an incoming attack and KO its target. X-Scissor is the most notable coverage move not used on this set, (change period to comma) It's being the best move Gallade has for Tangrowth and it still retainsing coverage on all Psychic-types with the lone exception of except for Sigilyph. Stone Edge is an option for absolutely crushing Moltres while also hitting Spiritomb harder than any other move. Finally, Shadow Sneak is an option to pick off weakened threats, (change period to comma) However, even after a boost, Shadow Sneak but still isn't is not very strong even after a boost and will struggle to KO many threats unless they are severely weakened already. You should probably reword this last part, it's kind of redundant.</p>

<p>Entry hazards are a necessity for this set in order to compensate for the lower power of Drain Punch. On offensive teams, (AC) can find Omastar, Scolipede, and Smeargle to be are effective partners while more balanced teams can use Ferroseed, Rhydon, and Qwilfish to supply entry hazards. Spiritomb is an absolute pain for this set, (AC) as it can survive any boosted attack and either 2HKO Gallade with Shadow Sneak or use OHKO it with Foul Play to turn Gallade's boosted Attack against it after a Swords Dance boost. Emboar is a very good partner for this reason, (AC) as it not only handles does it handle Spiritomb nicely, but it also deals with Escavalier, another major check to problem for this set. Other Fire-types, (AC) such as Typhlosion, Entei, and Moltres, (AC) can also be used to handle these threats. Despite being good partners, Entei and Moltres can also be are also royal pains for this set in addition to being good partners; (change period to semicolon) Qwilfish is able to check Entei and Escavalier while Lanturn is a good answer to Moltres. Paralysis support is welcome so Gallade doesn’t have to take as many hits. The aforementioned Qwilfish and Lanturn are solid options to provide this, as are Ferroseed and Specially Defensive Druddigon. Although it has Night Slash, Gallade will have some problems with Sigilyph thanks to its powerful Flying-type STAB. A Spiritomb of your own can be used to trap and KO Sigilyph to ensure Gallade's sweep isn't interrupted later when it tries to sweep. Mesprit is also a feasible option thanks to having access to both Thunderbolt and Ice Beam, (change period to comma) and/while its access to Healing Wish can also give Gallade a second chance to sweep if it gets stopped earlier on.</p>

[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Psycho Cut
move 4: Night Slash / Shadow Sneak
item: Lum Berry / Life Orb
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is a more offensive approach to Swords Dance. While this set lacks the longevity and flexibility of its bulkier counterpart, this Gallade is much less reliant on boosting to leave its mark on the opposing team. Only one paragraph Swords Dance is the chosen boosting move for this set as it skyrockets Gallade's already dangerous Attack stat, (change period to comma) while Close Combat is the chosen Fighting STAB move for this set, (change period to comma) as its incredible 120 base power allows Gallade to even lay the hurt on some Fighting resistances to the move after a boost. Psycho Cut is Gallade's secondary STAB move and hits the likes of Qwilfish and Amoonguess Amoonguss much harder than Close Combat would. Night Slash is the preferred option in the final slot, (change period to comma) With it, allowing Gallade is able to get past bulky Psychic-types such as Uxie, Slowking, and Mesprit much more easily. However, Shadow Sneak is an option to fend off revenge killers looking to take advantage of the defense drops caused by using Close Combat.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Since Close Combat drops lowers Gallade's defenses one stage with each use, a fully offensive EV spread is utilized. A Lum Berry is still the preferred item to get a free pass on one-time immunity to status, which can often mean the difference between a sweep and a crippled Gallade. However, a Life Orb is certainly viable, (change period to comma) as with a Life Orb, this Gallade is even less reliant on boosting than it already is and can be turned into more of a wallbreaker. Adamant is the preferred nature to give Gallade more power and to, again, lessen the reliance on setting up to deal major damage. However, Jolly can be used if outspeeding neutral-natured base 92s and below such as Rotom-C, Hitmonlee, and Lilligant is desired. Leaf Blade is the only coverage option worth considering. Although it a super effective Leaf Blade only hits as hard as a neutral Close Combat, it can be useful against the likes of Rhydon and Alomomola when the defense drops from Close Combat aren't desired, possibly prolonging Gallade’s sweep a little. However, Night Slash and Shadow Sneak are generally the better moves to use.</p>

<p>Gallade appreciates entry hazards support to gain more KOs and ensure that its targets can’t take advantage of the defense drops from using Close Combat. Smeargle, Omastar, and Accelgor can utilize entry hazards for on more offensive teams, (AC) while Druddigon, Roselia, and Uxie can be used on more balanced teams. With the lack of Substitute and defense drops from Close Combat, this Gallade is extremely vulnerable to being revenge killed. Sub was never even mentioned on this set, so you shouldn't include "the lack of Substitute". For this reason, paralysis support from the likes of Ferroseed, Lanturn, and Slowking can be very helpful. As always, Spiritomb is an absolute pain for Gallade, as Gallade has no hope of OHKOing it, (AC) while Spiritomb's Shadow Sneak does a real number on it. For this reason, Emboar, Entei, and Aggron are all good partners, as they can all effectively handle Spiritomb. Sigilyph is problematic thanks to STAB Air Slash and Psyshock. A Spiritomb of your own can trap Sigilyph and KO it with Pursuit so Gallade can sweep without fear later. Fast attackers are solid teammates as they can pick up the slack for Gallade's slack if it can't complete its sweep. Sceptile, Swellow, and Choice Scarf variants of Rotom-C, Emboar, and Braviary can all work nicely in this role.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Psycho Cut
move 3: Night Slash
move 4: Stone Edge / Leaf Blade
item: Choice Band
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While Gallade is most commonly seen striking fear into an opponent with a setup (remove space) move, the simplicity of a Choice Band set can also be quite effective. The inability to switch moves or set up is made up for with the immediate power boost Gallade receives from a Choice Band said item. This is arguably the scariest wallbreaker in RU as a massive base 125 Attack and Gallade's great coverage options/moves gives the opponent major issues.</p>

<p>Close Combat is the main STAB move on this set. With a massive 120 base power, few things will be safe from Gallade's wrath. The defense drops work well are somewhat mitigated with the hit-and-run nature of this set as well, making it all the better. I wouldn't say defense drops "work well," since they're still annoying if you want to stay in. I know what you're trying to say, but try not to sound like the defense drops HELP Gallade in any way. Psycho Cut allows Gallade to lay the hurt on Qwilfish and Amoonguss without much difficulty. The immediate power of Night Slash is huge very important for being able to deal with Uxie and Slowking in a timely manner and keeping them from trying to cripple Gallade with paralysis or a burn. The last slot reinforces Gallade's coverage on certain threats. Stone Edge is preferred as it's the strongest move Gallade has to hit Spiritomb with while it also destroys any Moltres that’s over-eager tries to switch-in. Leaf Blade provides a safer move to use in order to hammer Alomomola, Rhydon, and Quagsire, but keep in mind that a neutral Close Combat will hit just as hard as a 2x super effective Leaf Blade.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>An Adamant nature is primarily used since Choice Band Gallade is primarily used as a wallbreaker. However, Jolly is feasible in order to outspeed Absol and Smeargle while also tying, at worst, with other positive-natured base 80s such as Mesprit and Kabutops. There aren't really any other moves to really consider on this set as Gallade's Close Combat will often be hitting harder than other super effective coverage moves such as X-Scissor.</p>

<p>Entry hazards go a long way to help Gallade break down walls such as Tangrowth and Alomomola. Smeargle, Crustle, and Omastar are solid choices for the offensive teams that this of which Gallade is usually used found on. Last change is optional, again I just think it sounds better. Checking Partners that can check Spiritomb is are a must for this set, (AC) as Gallade will be incapable of using either of its STAB moves with freedom if it is around. Pokemon such as Escavalier, Steelix, and Emboar can be used for this. (Add space after period) This variant of Gallade is the most vulnerable to status as it lacks a Lum Berry or Substitute any method to avoid it. For this reason, clerics and designated status absorbers are very helpful. Clefable can absorb status rather easily and is capable of keeping Gallade healthy with Wish. On the other hand, Lanturn provides both cleric and paralysis support to help Gallade while also checking Moltres, lessening the pressure on Gallade to try and nail it with Stone Edge on a switch predict its switch-in with Stone Edge. A Pursuit user, (AC) such as Absol and Escavalier, (AC) can be used to clear out bulky Ghost- and Psychic-types so Gallade can freely spam Close Combat. Due to its fantastic wallbreaking capabilities, Choice Band Gallade pairs very well with fast physical attackers that are capable of cleaning up a team that Gallade has imposed its will left its mark on. Choice Scarf versions of Braviary and Emboar are solid examples of this, while Swellow and Entei can use their combination of speed and power to finish off the opposing team. If a wallbreaking core is desired, Choice Specs versions of Rotom-C and Typhlosion as well as mixed attacking Samurott work nicely with Gallade.</p>

[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Night Slash / Ice Punch
move 4: Substitutite
item: Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Careful
EVs: 240 HP / 244 SpD / 56 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While most offensive Gallade's other sets become a major threat after just one turn of set up, this set attempts to use Bulk Up to slowly become a threat while simultaneously becoming more and more difficult to revenge kill. While this may be the hardest set to pull off a sweep with, it is also the hardest offensive set to revenge kill thanks to heavy investment in special bulk and defense boosting its Defense through from Bulk Up.</p>

<p>Bulk Up is the chosen boosting move for this set, (AC) as it boosts Gallade's great Attack stat and subpar Defense as well. Drain Punch fits the goal of this set perfectly; (change period to semicolon) it provides solid power and gives Gallade HP recovery simultaneously heals Gallade in the process, thus increasing its longevity. The coverage option is a difficult choice as it will leave Gallade open to certain defensive threats. Night Slash is generally preferred thanks to the neutral coverage it gets with Gallade's Fighting STAB, (change period to comma) It smashes while being able to smash Slowking, Uxie, and Mesprit. However, Ice Punch is also a viable option, (change period to comma) as with Ice Punch, Gallade is able to handle Amoonguss and Tangrowth more easily. (change comma to period) but However, keep in mind that Slowking and Qwilfish will then can now wall Gallade. Substitute fills in the last slot to shield Gallade from status and to make revenge killing this set that much harder.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EV spread looks odd, but it is actually quite simple. 56 Speed EVs is necessary to outspeed neutral-natured base 55s such as Omastar and Bouffalant, (change period to comma) while 240 HP EVs hits an optimal HP number for making Substitutes. The remaining EVs get thrown into Special Defense and when combined with a Careful nature, (AC) is used to gain Gallade gains far more setup (remove space) opportunities on against special attackers.</p>

<p>Entry hazard support is more important for this Gallade set than any other due to the low initial power this set it has. Ferroseed, Qwilfish, and Rhydon are solid choices for this role, as this Gallade will usually find itself on more balanced teams. Entei and Escavalier are perhaps the biggest issues for this set, (AC) as both can still OHKO a +1 Gallade at +1 Defense with Flare Blitz and Megahorn, (AC) respectively. Alomomola, Qwilfish, and Rhydon can be used to check Entei while Moltres, Emboar, and Typhlosion can keep Escavalier in check at bay. Spiritomb is still a bit of a pain for this set thanks to the lack in initial power. Emboar, Aggron, and an Escavalier of your own can all keep Spiritomb in check. Even with this much this set's heavy investment in special bulk, Moltres's STAB Hurricane will still run right through Gallade. For this reason, Lanturn is a solid partner to not only keep it in check, but to also to provide paralysis support so Gallade has to take fewer hits. Other paralysis inducers, (AC) such as Ferroseed and Uxie, (AC) can also be helpful so Gallade isn't forced to use Substitute as often.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Thanks to its wide movepool, Gallade has plenty of other options at its disposal. A Choice Scarf set seems like a perfect fit thanks to that Gallade's base 125 Attack and a its somewhat middling Speed stat when not holding said item. However, Medicham is much better for this role thanks to Pure Power. Gallade has the elemental punches available to it, but outside of Ice Punch on the Bulk Up set for the most part, they aren't really useful when compared to Gallade's main attacks. Earthquake is powerful, but it runs into the same problems that the aforementioned elemental punches do. Like many other Psychic-types, Gallade has access to Calm Mind, (AC) While it has as well as various special moves such as Psyshock, Focus Blast, and Thunderbolt. (AP) to utilize Calm Mind, However, a paltry base 65 Special Attack makes this a bad option for Gallade.</p>

<p>In terms of support options, a combination of Taunt + and Will-O-Wisp can be used to break down stall teams, but these types of teams aren’t too common in RU. A Dual Screens set with Memento is usable, but it faces stiff competition from Uxie and Mesprit in this role, as both have better overall bulk than Gallade. A set utilizing Trick Room is possible to make up for Gallade's mediocre base 80 Speed. Again, However, it still runs into competition with Uxie and Mesprit, but it also and on top of that lets major threats such as Escavalier and Druddigon outspeed Gallade. Destiny Bond is gimmicky, but it can net a surprise kill every once and a while. Finally, a SubDisable set is possible a la Gengar in OU, but Gallade’s lack of immunities hurts limits its viability.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Put simply, there is no surefire counter to Gallade. Its versatility, power, coverage, and support options make such a task impossible. However, Spiritomb is probably the best response, (change period to comma) as it is able to handle most offensive Gallade sets thanks to its immunity to both of Gallade's STABs and its solid bulk. However, it must be careful around Specially Defensive sets since Will-O-Wisp can cripple Spiritomb. Moltres and Mesprit are two of the safer options to handle Gallade, (AC) as each resists one or both of Gallade's STAB moves and only fear one of its coverage moves. Perhaps the easiest way to deal with Gallade is to use its major case of four-moveslot (four-moveslot, not four moveslot) syndrome to your advantage. Most sets use a setup (remove space) move and two STAB moves, which means that so finding out its coverage move will go a long way to handling Gallade. If Gallade lacks Leaf Blade, Alomomola and Quagsire can handle it admirably. Without Night Slash, Mesprit becomes all the more dangerous while Uxie can generally outlast Gallade in such a scenario most scenarios. Tangrowth only fears Close Combat and the rare Ice Punch and X-Scissor. If Gallade has none of these moves, it, (AC) and can hit Gallade with a STAB Power Whip on its weaker defense Defense stat. However, Bulk Up sets can set up on Tangrowth variants without Power Whip, however. Escavalier is capable of overpowering Gallade with its powerful STAB Megahorn. However, (AC) but Substitute and Specially Defensive sets can put Escavalier in a tough situation. The Substitute set 2HKOes with Drain Punch and may have a Substitute up to block Escavalier's first attack, while the Specially Defensive set can cripple Escavalier with a burn. The Specially Defensive set struggles with most Flying-types; (change period to semicolon) Pokemon such as Braviary, Moltres, and Sigilyph are more than capable of dealing with this set. While Cinccino can easily take out check the Substitute set, but it has no hope of actually switching into it thanks to its frailty.</p>

<p>Praying Preying on Gallade's base 80 Speed and lackluster base 65 Defense with revenge killers is perhaps the easiest way to limit the damage Gallade can do. Choice Scarf users, (AC) such as Emboar and Braviary, (AC) do quite well. (AP) Meanwhile, (AC) naturally fast Pokemon such as Swellow, Tauros, and Archeops are capable of smashing Gallade before it gets a chance to strike them. Priority users can also be effective, (AC) some examples being Entei, Spiritomb, and Feraligatr are the most notable ones. Note that Sucker Punch users such as Absol run the risk of activating Justified if they are unable to KO Gallade and will likely be hit with a decisive blow after the attack. As Gallade will often want to use a setup (remove space) move before attacking, one can always resort to offensive pressure to limit Gallade's chances to set up. However, this is risky since Gallade usually has enough raw power and coverage to do damage even without a setup (remove space) move, while the Choice Band set uses no time to set up in the first place doesn't set up at all.</p>
 

Governess

A Beautiful Blossom Waiting to Bloom
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Hihi, GP Check! :)

This is very well written, and the amcheck Dat Blast did was fantastic. However, while the prose was definitely fixed, there were a lot of simple grammar / capitalization errors that weren't caught in the check, and a few things were changed for the sake of being changed. Keep that in mind for next time.

Additions / Changes
Removes


[Overview]

<p>Gallade is perhaps the most versatile Fighting-type in RU. With a great stat spread, superb movepool, and solid typing, Gallade is capable of running many sets, ranging from a Choice Band set to a Sspecially Ddefensive set and almost everything in between. Gallade's versatility is further enhanced by setup moves such as Swords Dance, Substitute, and Bulk Up, andlong with a very high Attack stat. Additionally, Gallade's great Special Defense stat lends itselfallows Gallade to run bulkier boosting sets while its typing leaves it with few exploitable weaknesses. This unpredictability leads to major difficulty when dealing with Gallade, as simply knowing what setup move it has won't make it any easier to handle.</p>

<p>Despite all of these amazing qualities, Gallade is not without its flaws. Gallade suffers one of the most severe cases of four-moveslot syndrome in RU, as it will never be able to cover all of RU's major threats at once. The ubiquity of Spiritomb also doesn't help, (RC) either, as it's immune to both of Gallade's STABs and has the bulk to handle anything else Gallade tries to throw at it offensively. Gallade's base Speed mayight be good, but it's not blazing fast either, and a low Defense stat means most faster physical attackers will give Gallade some problems. However, in spite of these flaws, Gallade is a force to be reckoned with and should be prepared for when building any team.</p>

[SET]
name: Bulky Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Psycho Cut
move 4: Night Slash / Leaf Blade
item: Lum Berry / Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant
evs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is Gallade's is most commonly seen set in RU. With a base 125 Attack stat, a solid base 115 Special Defense, and a decent typing both offensively and defensively, a Bbulky Swords Dance set fits Gallade perfectly. This is aided by Gallade's decent base 80 Speed, (AC) which allows it to outspeed most defensive Pokemon with minimal investment.</p>

<p>Swords Dance is Gallade's boosting move of choice on this set. Once Gallade gets in, it can easily threaten out an opposing Pokemon and set up a Swords Dance on the switch. Drain Punch is the primary STAB move, withich has solid power, great coverage, and the ability to restore Gallade's HP and increase its staying powerlongevity significantly. This is important as few Pokemon possess the ability to outspeed and OHKO Gallade. Psycho Cut is a solid secondary STAB move that is able to get past many Pokemon that can take Drain Punch, such as Qwilfish, Amoonguss, and Hariyama. The last slot gives Gallade coverage on Pokemon that can handle its STAB combination. Night Slash is preferred to handle Mesprit, Sigilyph, and Uxie. However, Leaf Blade is an option to get past Alomomola, Quagsire, and Rhydon, the latter of which is not OHKOed by +2 Drain Punch when holding Eviolite and can retaliate with a powerful STAB Earthquake that will leave Gallade extremely susceptible to the next thing that comes in. Regardless of whether one chooses Night Slash or Leaf Blade, both will hit Slowking and Golurk hard, which is important as both can handle Gallade's STAB moves and retaliate with Psyshock or Shadow Punch, respectively.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Maximum Attack and an Adamant nature is used to let Gallade hit as hard as possible, while 56 Speed EVs allow Gallade to jump ahead of neutral base 55s such as Omastar and Bouffalant. The remaining EVs get placed in HP to improve Gallade’s overall bulk. Lum Berry is the best item for this Galladeset, (AC) as it gives Gallade a one-time immunity to status, which is important when trying to set up against more defensive teams. However, Leftovers is also an option, as Gallade will take its fair share of hits during a sweep and a single round of Leftovers recovery can sometimes be just what Gallade needs to survive an incoming attack and KO its target. X-Scissor is the most notable coverage move not used on this set, being the best move Gallade has for Tangrowth and still retaining coverage on all Psychic-types except for Sigilyph. Stone Edge is an option for crushing Moltres while also hitting Spiritomb harder than any other move. Finally, Shadow Sneak is an option to pick off weakened threats, but it still isn't very strong even after a boost and will struggle to KO many threats unless they have low physical Defense stat.</p>

<p>Entry hazards are a necessity for this set in order to compensate for the lower power of Drain Punch. On offensive teams, Omastar, Scolipede, and Smeargle are effective partners while more balanced teams can use Ferroseed, Rhydon, and Qwilfish. Spiritomb is an absolute pain for this set, as it can survive any boosted attack and 2HKO Gallade with Shadow Sneak or OHKO it with Foul Play after a Swords Dance boost. Emboar is a very good partner for this reason, as not only does it handle Spiritomb nicely, but it also deals with Escavalier, another major problem for this set. Other Fire-types, such as Typhlosion, Entei, and Moltres, (AC) can also be used to handle these threats. Entei and Moltres can are also royal pains for this set in addition to being good partners; Qwilfish is able to check Entei and Escavalier while Lanturn is a good answer to Moltres. Paralysis support is welcome so Gallade doesn’t have to take as many hits. The aforementioned Qwilfish and Lanturn are solid options to provide this, as are Ferroseed and Sspecially Ddefensive Druddigon. Although it has Night Slash, Gallade will have some problems with Sigilyph thanks to its powerful Flying-type STAB. Spiritomb can be used to trap and KO Sigilyph to ensure Gallade's sweep isn't interrupted. Mesprit is also a feasible option thanks to having access to both Thunderbolt and Ice Beam, while its access to Healing Wish can also give Gallade a second chance to sweep if it gets stopped earlier on.</p>

[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Psycho Cut
move 4: Night Slash / Shadow Sneak
item: Lum Berry / Life Orb
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is a more offensive approach to Swords Dance. While this set lacks the longevity and flexibility of its bulkier counterpart, this Gallade is much less reliant on boosting to leave its mark on the opposing team. Swords Dance skyrockets Gallade's already dangerous Attack stat, (RC) while Close Combat is the chosen Fighting STAB move, as its incredible 120 base pBase Power allows Gallade to even lay the hurt on someweaken Pokemon that resist Fighting resistance-type attacks after a boost. Psycho Cut is Gallade's secondary STAB move and hits the likes of Qwilfish and Amoonguss much harder than Close Combat would. Night Slash is the preferred option in the final slot, allowing Gallade to get past bulky Psychic-types such as Uxie, Slowking, and Mesprit much more easily. However, Shadow Sneak is an option to fend off revenge killers looking to take advantage of the defense drops caused by using Close Combat.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>SincBecause Close Combat lowers Gallade's defenses with each use, a fully offensive EV spread is utilized. A Lum Berry is still the preferred item to get a one-time immunity to status, which can often mean the difference between a sweep and a crippled Gallade. However, a Life Orb is certainly viable, as with a Life Orb, Gallade is even less reliant on boosting than it already is and can be turned into more of a wallbreaker. Adamant is the preferred nature to give Gallade more power and to, again, lessen the reliance on setting up to deal major damage. However, Jolly can be used if outspeeding neutral-natured base 92s and below such as Rotom-C, Hitmonlee, and Lilligant is desired. Leaf Blade is the only coverage option worth considering. Although a super effective Leaf Blade only hits as hard as a neutral Close Combat, it can be useful against the likes of Rhydon and Alomomola when the defense drops from Close Combat aren’t desired. However, Night Slash and Shadow Sneak are generally the better moves to use.</p>

<p>Gallade appreciates entry hazard support to gain more KOs and ensure that its targets can’t take advantage of the defense drops from using Close Combat. Smeargle, Omastar, and Accelgor can utilize entry hazards on more offensive teams, whileand Druddigon, Roselia, and Uxie can be used on more balanced teams. With the defense drops from Close Combat, this Gallade is extremely vulnerable to being revenge killed. For this reason, paralysis support from the likes ofPokemon such as Ferroseed, Lanturn, and Slowking can be very helpful. As always, Spiritomb is an absolute pain for Gallade, as Gallade has no hope of OHKOing it while Spiritomb's Shadow Sneak does a real number on it. For this reason, Emboar, Entei, and Aggron are all good partners as they can all effectively handle Spiritomb. Sigilyph is problematic thanks to its STAB Air Slash and Psyshock. A Spiritomb of your own can trap and KO Sigilyph with Pursuit so Gallade can sweep without fear later. Fast attackers are solid teammates as they can pick up Gallade's slack if it can't complete its sweep. Sceptile, Swellow, and Choice Scarf variants of Rotom-C, Emboar, and Braviary can all work nicely in this role.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Psycho Cut
move 3: Night Slash
move 4: Stone Edge / Leaf Blade
item: Choice Band
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While Gallade is most commonly seen striking fear into an opponent with a set up move, the simplicity of a Choice Band can also be quite effective. The inability to switch moves or set up is made up for with the immediate power boost Gallade receives from said item. This is arguably the scariest wallbreaker in RU as a massive base 125 Attack and Gallade's great coverage options gives the opponent major issues.</p>

<p>Close Combat is the main STAB move on this set. With a massive 120 base pBase Power, few things will be safe from Gallade's wrath. The defense drops arestat recoil is somewhat mitigated with the hit-and-run nature of this set, making it all the better. Psycho Cut allows Gallade to lay the hurt on Qwilfish and Amoonguss without much difficulty. Night Slash is very important for being able to deal with Uxie and Slowking and keeping them from trying to cripple Gallade with paralysis or a burn. The last slot reinforces Gallade's coverage on certain threats. Stone Edge is preferred, (AC) as it's the strongest move Gallade has to hit Spiritomb with while it also destroys any Moltres that tries to switch- in. Leaf Blade provides a safer move to use in order to hammer Alomomola, Rhydon, and Quagsire, but keep in mind that a neutral Close Combat will hit just as hard as a 2x super effective Leaf Blade.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>An Adamant nature is preferred sincbecause Choice Band Gallade is primarily used as a wallbreaker. However, Jolly is feasible in order to outspeed Absol and Smeargle while also tying, at worst, with other positive-natured base 80s such as Mesprit and Kabutops. There aren't really any other moves to consider on this set as Gallade's Close Combat will often be hitting harder than other super effective coverage moves, (AC) such as X-Scissor.</p>

<p>Entry hazard support goes a long way to help Gallade break down walls such as Tangrowth and Alomomola. Smeargle, Crustle, and Omastar are solid choices for offensive teams of which this Gallade is usually found on. Partners that can check Spiritomb are a must for this set, as Gallade will be incapable of using either of its STAB moves with freedom if it is around. Pokemon such as Escavalier, Steelix, and Emboar can be used for this. This variant of Gallade is the most vulnerable to status because it lacks any method around it. For this reason, clerics and designated status absorbers are very helpful. Clefable can absorb status rather easily and is capable of keeping Gallade healthy with Wish. On the other hand, Lanturn provides cleric and paralysis support to help Gallade while also checking Moltres, lessening the pressure on Gallade to predict its switch- in with Stone Edge. A Pursuit user, such as Absol and Escavalier, can be used to clear out bulky Ghost- and Psychic-types so Gallade can freely spamuse Close Combat. Due to its fantastic wallbreaking capabilities, Choice Band Gallade pairs very well with fast physical attackers that are capable of cleaning up a team that Gallade has left its mark on. Choice Scarf Braviary and Emboar are solid examples of this, while Swellow and Entei can use their combination of sSpeed and power to finish off the opposing team. If a wallbreaking core is desired, Choice Specs Rotom-C and Typhlosion as well as mixed attacking Samurott work nicely with Gallade.</p>

[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Night Slash / Ice Punch
move 4: Substitutite
item: Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Careful
EVs: 240 HP / 244 SpD / 56 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While Gallade's other sets become a major threat after just one turn of set up, this set attempts to use Bulk Up to slowly become a threat while simultaneously becoming more and more difficult to revenge kill. While this mayight be the hardest set to pull off a sweep with, it is also the hardest offensive set to revenge kill thanks to heavy investment in special bulk and boosting its Defense through Bulk Up.</p>

<p>Bulk Up is the chosen boosting move for this set, as it boosts Gallade's great Attack stat and subpar Defense as well. Drain Punch fits the goal of this set perfectly; it provides solid power and simultaneously heals Gallade in the process, thus increasing its longevity. The coverage option is a difficult choice, (AC) as it will leave Gallade open to certain defensive threats. Night Slash is generally preferred thanks to the neutral coverage it gets with Gallade's Fighting STAB, (RC) while being able to smash Slowking, Uxie, and Mesprit. However, Ice Punch is also a viable option, as with Ice Punch, Gallade is able to handle Amoonguss and Tangrowth more easily. However, keep in mind that Slowking and Qwilfish can now wall Gallade. Substitute fills in the last slot to shield Gallade from status and to make revenge killing this set that much harder.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EV spread looks odd, but it is actually quite simple. 56 Speed EVs is necessary to outspeed neutral-natured base 55s such as Omastar and Bouffalant, whileand 240 HP EVs hits an optimal HP number for making Substitutes. The remaining EVs get thrown into Special Defense and when combined with a Careful nature, Gallade gains far more setup opportunities against special attackers. (maybe list some examples?)</p>

<p>Entry hazard support is more important for this Gallade set than any other due to the low initial power it has. Ferroseed, Qwilfish, and Rhydon are solid choices for this role, as this Gallade will usually find itself on more balanced teams. Entei and Escavalier are perhaps the biggest issues for this set, as both can still OHKO Gallade at +1 Defense with Flare Blitz and Megahorn, respectively. Alomomola, Qwilfish, and Rhydon can be used to check Entei while Moltres, Emboar, and Typhlosion can keep Escavalier at bay. Spiritomb is still a bit of a pain for this set thanks to the lack in initial power. Emboar, Aggron, and Escavalier can all keep Spiritomb in check. Even with this set's heavy investment in special bulk, Moltres's STAB Hurricane will still run right through Gallade. For this reason, Lanturn is a solid partner to not only keep it in check, (RC) but to also provide paralysis support so Gallade has to take fewer hits. Other paralysis inducers, (AC) such, (RC) as Ferroseed and Uxie, can also be helpful so Gallade isn't forced to use Substitute as often.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Thanks to its wide movepool, Gallade has plenty of other options at its disposal. A Choice Scarf set seems like a perfect fit thanks to Gallade's base 125 Attack and a somewhat middling Speed stat when not holding said item. However, Medicham is much better for this role thanks to Pure Power. Gallade has the elemental punches available to it, but for the most part, they aren't really useful when compared to Gallade's main attacks. Earthquake is powerful, but it runs into the same problems that the elemental punches do. Like many other Psychic-types, Gallade has access to Calm Mind, as well as various special moves such as Psyshock, Focus Blast, and Thunderbolt. However, a paltry base 65 Special Attack makes this a bad option for Gallade.</p>

<p>In terms of support options, a combination of Taunt and Will-O-Wisp can be used to break down stall teams, but these types of teams aren’t too common in RU. A Dual Sdual screens set with Memento is usable, but it faces stiff competition from Uxie and Mesprit in this role, as both have better overall bulk than Gallade. A set utilizing Trick Room is possible to make up for Gallade's mediocre Speed. However, it still runs into competition with Uxie and Mesprit, and on top of that, it lets major threats such as Escavalier and Druddigon outspeed Gallade. Destiny Bond is gimmicky, but it can net a surprise kill every once and a while. Finally, a SubDisable set is possible a la Gengar in OU, but Gallade’s lack of immunities limits its viability.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Put simply, there is no surefire counter to Gallade. Its versatility, power, coverage, and support options make such a task impossible. Spiritomb is probably the best response, as it is able to handle most offensive Gallade sets thanks to its immunity to both of Gallade's STABs and its solid bulk. However, it must be careful around Sspecially Ddefensive sets sincbecause Will-O-Wisp can cripple Spiritomb. Moltres and Mesprit are two of the safer options to handle Gallade, as each resists one or both of Gallade's STAB moves and only fear one of its coverage moves. Perhaps the easiest way to deal with Gallade is to use its major case of four-moveslot syndrome to your advantage. Most sets use a setup move and two STAB moves, so finding out its coverage move will go a long way to handling Gallade. If Gallade lacks Leaf Blade, Alomomola and Quagsire can handle it admirably. Without Night Slash, Mesprit becomes all the more dangerous while Uxie can generally outlast Gallade in most scenarios. Tangrowth only fears Close Combat and the rare Ice Punch and X-Scissor, and it can hit Gallade with a STAB Power Whip on its weaker Defense stat. However, Bulk Up sets can set up on Tangrowth variants without Power Whip. Escavalier is capable of overpowering Gallade with its powerful STAB Megahorn, but Substitute and Sspecially Ddefensive sets can put Escavalier in a tough situation. The Substitute set 2HKOes with Drain Punch and mayight have a Substitute up to block Escavalier's first attack, whileand the Sspecially Ddefensive set can cripple Escavalier with a burn. The Sspecially Ddefensive set struggles with most Flying-types; Pokemon such as Braviary, Moltres, and Sigilyph are more than capable of dealing with this set. Cinccino can easily check the Substitute set, but it has no hope of actually switching into it thanks to its frailty.</p>

<p>Preying on Gallade's base 80 Speed and lackluster base 65 Defense is perhaps the easiest way to limit the damage Gallade can do. Choice Scarf users, such as Emboar and Braviary, do quite well while naturally fast Pokemon such as Swellow, Tauros, and Archeops are capable of smashing Gallade before it gets a chance to strike them. Priority users can also be effective, somewith examples being Entei, Spiritomb, and Feraligatr. Note that Sucker Punch users such as Absol run the risk of activating Justified if they are unable to KO Gallade and will likely be hit with a decisive blow after the attack. As Gallade will often want to use a setup move before attacking, one can always resort to offensive pressure to limit Gallade's chances to setup. However, this is risky asince Gallade usually has enough raw power and coverage to do damage even without a setup move, whileand the Choice Band set doesn't set up at all.</p>

1/2
 

EonX

Battle Soul
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Thanks for the check Governess! Still need to work on when and when not to capitalize set names lol. Anyways, this should be ready for the 2nd GP check now.
 

GatoDelFuego

The Antimonymph of the Internet
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Social Media Contributor Alumnusis a Community Leader Alumnusis a Smogon Discord Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Top Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
@EonX-

REMOVE CHANGE COMMENTS

[Overview]

<p>Gallade is perhaps the most versatile Fighting-type in RU. With a great stat spread, superb movepool, and solid typing, Gallade is capable of running many sets, ranging from a Choice Band set to a specially defensive set and almost everything in between. Gallade's versatility is further enhanced by setup moves such as Swords Dance, Substitute, and Bulk Up, along with a very high Attack stat. Additionally, Gallade's great Special Defense stat allows Gallade to run bulkier boosting sets while its typing leaves it with few exploitable weaknesses. This unpredictability leads to major difficulty when dealing with Gallade, as simply knowing what setup move it has won't make it any easier to handle.</p>

<p>Despite all of these amazing qualities, Gallade is not without its flaws. Gallade suffers one of the most severe cases of four-moveslot syndrome in RU, as it will never be able to cover all of RU's major threats at once. The ubiquity of Spiritomb also doesn't help either, as it's immune to both of Gallade's STABs and has the bulk to handle anything else Gallade tries to throw at it offensively. Gallade's base Speed might be good, but it's not blazing fast, and a low Defense stat means most faster physical attackers will give Gallade some problems. However, in spite of these flaws, Gallade is a force to be reckoned with and should be prepared for when building any team.</p>

[SET]
name: Bulky Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Psycho Cut
move 4: Night Slash / Leaf Blade
item: Lum Berry / Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant
evs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is Gallade's is most commonly seen set in RU. With a base 125 Attack stat, a solid base 115 Special Defense, and a decent typing both offensively and defensively, a bulky Swords Dance set fits Gallade perfectly. This is aided by Gallade's decent base 80 Speed, which allows it to outspeed most defensive Pokemon with minimal investment.</p>

<p>Swords Dance is Gallade's boosting move of choice on this set. Once Gallade gets in, it can easily threaten out an opposing Pokemon and set up a Swords Dance on the switch. Drain Punch is the primary STAB move, which has solid power, great coverage, and the ability to restore Gallade's HP and increase its longevity significantly. This is important as few Pokemon possess the ability to outspeed and OHKO Gallade. Psycho Cut is a solid secondary STAB move that is able to get past many Pokemon that can take Drain Punch, such as Qwilfish, Amoonguss, and Hariyama. The last slot gives Gallade coverage on Pokemon that can handle its STAB combination. Night Slash is preferred to handle Mesprit, Sigilyph, and Uxie. However, Leaf Blade is an option to get past Alomomola, Quagsire, and Rhydon, the latter of which is not OHKOed by +2 Drain Punch when holding Eviolite and can retaliate with a powerful STAB Earthquake that will leave Gallade extremely susceptible to the next thing that comes in. Regardless of whether one chooses Night Slash or Leaf Blade, both will hit Slowking and Golurk hard, which is important as both can handle Gallade‘s STAB moves and retaliate with Psyshock or Shadow Punch, respectively.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>56 Speed EVs allow Gallade to jump ahead of neutral base 55s such as Omastar and Bouffalant. The remaining EVs get placed in HP to improve Gallade's overall bulk. Lum Berry is the best item for this set, as it gives Gallade a one-time immunity to status, which is important when trying to set up against more defensive teams. However, Leftovers is also an option, as Gallade will take its fair share of hits during a sweep and a single round of Leftovers recovery can sometimes be just what Gallade needs to survive an incoming attack and KO its target. X-Scissor is the most notable coverage move not used on this set, being the best move Gallade has for Tangrowth and still retaining coverage on all Psychic-types except for Sigilyph. Stone Edge is an option for crushing Moltres while also hitting Spiritomb harder than any other move. Finally, Shadow Sneak is an option to pick off weakened threats, but it still isn't very strong even after a boost and will struggle to KO many threats unless they have low a low Defense stat.</p>

<p>Entry hazards are a necessity for this set in order to compensate for the lower power of Drain Punch. On offensive teams, Omastar, Scolipede, and Smeargle are effective partners while more balanced teams can use Ferroseed, Rhydon, and Qwilfish. Spiritomb is an absolute pain for this set, as it can survive any boosted attack and 2HKO Gallade with Shadow Sneak or OHKO it with Foul Play after a Swords Dance boost. Emboar is a very good partner for this reason, as not only does it handle Spiritomb nicely, but it also deals with Escavalier, another major problem for this set. Other Fire-types, such as Typhlosion, Entei, and Moltres, can also be used to handle these threats. Entei and Moltres can are also royal pains for this set in addition to being good partners; Qwilfish is able to check Entei and Escavalier while Lanturn is a good answer to Moltres. Paralysis support is welcome so Gallade doesn't have to take as many hits. The aforementioned Qwilfish and Lanturn are solid options to provide this, as are Ferroseed and specially defensive Druddigon. Although it has Night Slash, Gallade will have some problems with Sigilyph thanks to its powerful Flying-type STAB. Spiritomb can be used to trap and KO Sigilyph to ensure Gallade's sweep isn't interrupted. Mesprit is also a feasible option thanks to having access to both Thunderbolt and Ice Beam, while its access to Healing Wish can also give Gallade a second chance to sweep if it gets stopped earlier on.</p>

[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Psycho Cut
move 4: Night Slash / Shadow Sneak
item: Lum Berry / Life Orb
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is a more offensive approach to Swords Dance. While this set lacks the longevity and flexibility of its bulkier counterpart, this Gallade is much less reliant on boosting to leave its mark on the opposing team. Swords Dance skyrockets Gallade's already dangerous Attack stat, while Close Combat is the chosen Fighting STAB move, as its incredible 120 Base Power allows Gallade to even weaken heavily damage even some Pokemon that resist Fighting-type moves after a boost. Psycho Cut is Gallade's secondary STAB move and hits the likes of Qwilfish and Amoonguss much harder than Close Combat would. Night Slash is the preferred option in the final slot, allowing Gallade to get past bulky Psychic-types such as Uxie, Slowking, and Mesprit much more easily. However, Shadow Sneak is an option to fend off revenge killers looking to take advantage of the defense drops caused by using Close Combat.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Because Close Combat lowers Gallade's defenses with each use, a fully offensive EV spread is utilized. A Lum Berry is still the preferred item to get a one-time immunity to status, which can often mean the difference between a sweep and a crippled Gallade. However, a Life Orb is certainly viable, as with a Life Orb, Gallade is even less reliant on boosting than it already is and can be turned into more of a wallbreaker. Adamant is the preferred nature to give Gallade more power and to, again, lessen the reliance on setting up to deal major damage. However, Jolly can be used if outspeeding neutral-natured base 92s and below, (AC) such as Rotom-C, Hitmonlee, and Lilligant, (AC) I just felt the flow here needed to be broken up; it was sounding a little to long of a phrase is desired. Leaf Blade is the only coverage option worth considering. Although a super effective Leaf Blade only hits as hard as a neutral Close Combat, it can be useful against the likes of Rhydon and Alomomola when the defense drops from Close Combat aren't desired. However, Night Slash and Shadow Sneak are generally the better moves to use.</p>

<p>Gallade appreciates entry hazard support to gain more KOs and ensure that its targets can't take advantage of the defense drops from using Close Combat. Smeargle, Omastar, and Accelgor can utilize entry hazards on more offensive teams, and Druddigon, Roselia, and Uxie can be used on more balanced teams. With the defense drops from Close Combat, this Gallade is extremely vulnerable to being revenge killed. For this reason, paralysis support from Pokemon such as Ferroseed, Lanturn, and Slowking can be very helpful. As always, Spiritomb is an absolute pain for Gallade, as Gallade has no hope of OHKOing it while Spiritomb's Shadow Sneak does a real number on it. For this reason, Emboar, Entei, and Aggron are all good partners, (AC) as they can all effectively handle Spiritomb. Sigilyph is problematic thanks to its STAB Air Slash and Psyshock. A Spiritomb of your own can trap and KO Sigilyph with Pursuit so Gallade can sweep without fear later. Fast attackers are solid teammates as they can pick up Gallade's slack if it can't complete its sweep. Sceptile, Swellow, and Choice Scarf variants of Rotom-C, Emboar, and Braviary can all work nicely in this role.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Psycho Cut
move 3: Night Slash
move 4: Stone Edge / Leaf Blade
item: Choice Band
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While Gallade is most commonly seen striking fear into an opponent with a setup move, the simplicity of a Choice Band can also be quite effective. The inability to switch moves or set up is made up for with the immediate power boost Gallade receives from said item. This is arguably the scariest wallbreaker in RU, (AC) as a massive base 125 Attack and Gallade's great coverage options gives the opponent major issues.</p>

<p>Close Combat is the main STAB move on this set. With a massive 120 Base Power, few things will be safe from Gallade's wrath. Also, the defensive drops are stat recoil is somewhat mitigated with the hit-and-run nature of this set, making it all the better. Psycho Cut allows Gallade to lay the hurt on Qwilfish and Amoonguss without much difficulty. Night Slash is very important for being able to deal with Uxie and Slowking and keeping them from trying to cripple Gallade with paralysis or a burn. The last slot reinforces Gallade's coverage on certain threats. Stone Edge is preferred, as it's the strongest move Gallade has to hit Spiritomb with while it also destroys any Moltres that tries to switch in. Leaf Blade provides a safer move to use in order to hammer Alomomola, Rhydon, and Quagsire, but keep in mind that a neutral Close Combat will hit just as hard as a 2x I didn't really feel it was necessary, but feel free to keep it. super effective Leaf Blade.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>An Adamant nature is preferred because Choice Band Gallade is primarily used as a wallbreaker. However, Jolly is feasible in order to outspeed Absol and Smeargle while also tying with other positive-natured base 80s such as Mesprit and Kabutops. There aren't really any other moves to consider on this set as Gallade's Close Combat will often be hitting harder than other super effective coverage moves, (AC) such as X-Scissor.</p>

<p>Entry hazard support goes a long way to help Gallade break down walls such as Tangrowth and Alomomola. Smeargle, Crustle, and Omastar are solid choices for offensive teams of which this Gallade is usually found on. Partners that can check Spiritomb are a must for this set, as Gallade will be incapable of using either of its STAB moves with freedom if it is around. Pokemon such as Escavalier, Steelix, and Emboar can be used for this. This variant of Gallade is the most vulnerable to status because it lacks any method of healing around it. For this reason, clerics and designated status absorbers are very helpful. Clefable can absorb status rather easily and is capable of keeping Gallade healthy with Wish. On the other hand, Lanturn provides cleric and paralysis support to help Gallade while also checking Moltres, lessening the pressure on Gallade to predict its switch in with Stone Edge. A Pursuit user, such as Absol and Escavalier, can be used to clear out bulky Ghost- and Psychic-types so Gallade can freely use Close Combat. Due to its fantastic wallbreaking capabilities, Choice Band Gallade pairs very well with fast physical attackers that are capable of cleaning up a team that Gallade has left its mark on. Choice Scarf Braviary and Emboar are solid examples of this, while Swellow and Entei can use their combination of speed and power to finish off the opposing team. If a wallbreaking core is desired, Choice Specs Rotom-C and Typhlosion as well as mixed attacking Samurott work nicely with Gallade.</p>

[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Night Slash / Ice Punch
move 4: Substitutite
item: Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Careful
EVs: 240 HP / 244 SpD / 56 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While Gallade's other sets become a major threat after just one turn of setup, this set attempts to use Bulk Up to slowly become a threat while simultaneously becoming more and more difficult to revenge kill. While this might be the hardest set to pull off a sweep with, it is also the hardest offensive set to revenge kill thanks to heavy investment in special bulk and boosting its Defense through Bulk Up.</p>

<p>Bulk Up is the chosen boosting move for this set, as it boosts Gallade's great Attack stat and subpar Defense as well. Drain Punch fits the goal of this set perfectly; it provides solid power and simultaneously heals Gallade in the process, thus increasing its longevity. The coverage option is a difficult choice, as it will leave Gallade open to certain defensive threats. Night Slash is generally preferred thanks to the neutral coverage it gets with Gallade's Fighting STAB while being able to smash Slowking, Uxie, and Mesprit. However, Ice Punch is also a viable option, as with Ice Punch, Gallade is able to handle Amoonguss and Tangrowth more easily. However, Do keep in mind, though, Didn't want to start two sentences in a row with "however" that Slowking and Qwilfish can now wall Gallade. Substitute fills in the last slot to shield Gallade from status and to make revenge killing this set that much harder.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EV spread looks odd, but it is actually quite simple. 56 Speed EVs is necessary to outspeed neutral-natured base 55s such as Omastar and Bouffalant, and 240 HP EVs hits an optimal HP number for making Substitutes. The remaining EVs get thrown into Special Defense and when combined with a Careful nature, Gallade gains far more setup opportunities against special attackers such as Sceptile, Lanturn, and support Uxie.</p>

<p>Entry hazard support is more important for this Gallade set than any other due to the low initial power it has. Ferroseed, Qwilfish, and Rhydon are solid choices for this role, as this Gallade will usually find itself on more balanced teams. Entei and Escavalier are perhaps the biggest issues for this set, as both can still OHKO Gallade at +1 Defense with Flare Blitz and Megahorn, respectively. Alomomola, Qwilfish, and Rhydon can be used to check Entei while Moltres, Emboar, and Typhlosion can keep Escavalier at bay. Spiritomb is still a bit of a pain for this set thanks to the lack in initial power. Emboar, Aggron, and Escavalier can all keep Spiritomb in check. Even with this set's heavy investment in special bulk, Moltres's STAB Hurricane will still run right through Gallade. For this reason, Lanturn is a solid partner to not only keep it in check but to also provide paralysis support so Gallade has to take fewer hits. Other paralysis inducers, such as Ferroseed and Uxie, can also be helpful so Gallade isn't forced to use Substitute as often.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Thanks to its wide movepool, Gallade has plenty of other options at its disposal. A Choice Scarf set seems like a perfect fit thanks to Gallade's base 125 Attack and a somewhat middling Speed stat when not holding said item. However, Medicham is much better for this role thanks to Pure Power. Gallade has the elemental punches available to it, but for the most part, they aren't really useful when compared to Gallade's main attacks. Earthquake is powerful, but it runs into the same problems that the elemental punches do. Like many other Psychic-types, Gallade has access to Calm Mind, as well as various special moves such as Psyshock, Focus Blast, and Thunderbolt. However, a paltry base 65 Special Attack makes this a bad option for Gallade.</p>

<p>In terms of support options, a combination of Taunt and Will-O-Wisp can be used to break down stall teams, but these types of teams aren't too common in RU. A dual screens set with Memento is usable, but it faces stiff competition from Uxie and Mesprit in this role, as both have better overall bulk than Gallade. A set utilizing Trick Room is possible to make up for Gallade's mediocre Speed. However, it still runs into competition with Uxie and Mesprit, and on top of that, it lets major threats such as Escavalier and Druddigon outspeed Gallade. Destiny Bond is gimmicky, but it can net a surprise kill every once and a while. Finally, a SubDisable set is possible a la Gengar in OU, but Gallade's lack of immunities limits its viability.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Put simply, there is no surefire counter to Gallade. Its versatility, power, coverage, and support options make such a task impossible. Spiritomb is probably the best response, as it is able to handle most offensive Gallade sets thanks to its immunity to both of Gallade's STABs and its solid bulk. However, it must be careful around specially defensive sets because Will-O-Wisp can cripple Spiritomb This is only mentioned once, though, and "specially defensive" isn't really a gallade set. Perhaps just say "the bulk up set" and play up Will-O-Wisp as a bigger option in that one's Additional Comments?. Moltres and Mesprit are two of the safer options to handle Gallade, as each resists one or both of Gallade's STAB moves and only fear one of its coverage moves. Perhaps the easiest way to deal with Gallade is to use its major case of four-moveslot syndrome to your advantage. Most sets use a setup move and two STAB moves, so finding out its coverage move will go a long way to handling Gallade. If Gallade lacks Leaf Blade, Alomomola and Quagsire can handle it admirably. Without Night Slash, Mesprit becomes all the more dangerous while Uxie can generally outlast Gallade in most scenarios. Tangrowth only fears Close Combat and the rare Ice Punch and X-Scissor, and it can hit Gallade with a STAB Power Whip on its weaker Defense stat. However, Bulk Up sets can set up on Tangrowth variants without Power Whip. Escavalier is capable of overpowering Gallade with its powerful STAB Megahorn, but Substitute and specially defensive sets can put Escavalier in a tough situation. The Substitute set 2HKOes with Drain Punch and may have a Substitute up to block Escavalier's first attack, and the specially defensive set can cripple Escavalier with a burn. The specially defensive set struggles with most Flying-types; Pokemon such as Braviary, Moltres, and Sigilyph are more than capable of dealing with this set. Cinccino can easily check the Substitute set, but it has no hope of actually switching into it thanks to its frailty.</p>

<p>Preying on Gallade's base 80 Speed and lackluster base 65 Defense is perhaps the easiest way to limit the damage Gallade can do. Choice Scarf users, such as Emboar and Braviary, do quite well while naturally fast Pokemon such as Swellow, Tauros, and Archeops are capable of smashing Gallade before it gets a chance to strike them. Priority users can also be effective, with examples being Entei, Spiritomb, and Feraligatr. Note that Sucker Punch users such as Absol run the risk of activating Justified if they are unable to KO Gallade and will likely be hit with a decisive blow after the attack. As Gallade will often want to use a setup move before attacking, one can always resort to offensive pressure to limit Gallade's chances to set up. However, this is risky as Gallade usually has enough raw power and coverage to do damage even without a setup move, and the Choice Band set doesn't set up at all.</p>


Wow, nice work on this doozy of an analysis!

Most of my changes were curly apostrophes and setup/set up. Just watch those in the future, and good job on this thing!

2/2
 
Last edited:

EonX

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Thanks for the check @GatoDelFuego !

This is ready for upload now. Friendly reminder that Substitute + 3 Attacks is to be the 2nd set and Specially Defensive is the 4th for whoever uploads this.
 
uploaded

[Overview]

<p>Gallade is perhaps the most versatile Fighting-type in RU. With a great stat spread, superb movepool, and solid typing, Gallade is capable of running many sets, ranging from a Choice Band set to a specially defensive set and almost everything in between. Gallade's versatility is further enhanced by setup moves such as Swords Dance, Substitute, and Bulk Up, along with a very high Attack stat. Additionally, Gallade's great Special Defense allows Gallade to run bulkier boosting sets while its typing leaves it with few exploitable weaknesses. This unpredictability leads to major difficulty when dealing with Gallade, as simply knowing what setup move it has won't make it any easier to handle.</p>

<p>Despite all of these amazing qualities, Gallade is not wiGallade has a few limitations that keep it from plowing throut its flaws. Galladegh most teams. It suffers one of the most severe cases of four-moveslot syndrome in RU, as it will never be able to cover all of RU's major threats at once. The ubiquity of Spiritomb also doesn't help either, as it's immune to both of Gallade's STABs and has the bulk to handle anything else Gallade tries to throw at it offensively. Gallade's base Speed might be good, but it's not blazing fast, and a low Defense stat means most faster physical attackers will givforce Gallade some problems. However, in spite of these flaws, Gallade is a force to be reckoned withoff the field. Nevertheless, Gallade is a top threat and should be prepared for when building any team.</p>

[SET]
name: Bulky Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Psycho Cut
move 4: Night Slash / Leaf Blade
item: Lum Berry / Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant
evs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is Gallade's is most commonly seen set in RU. With a base 125 Attack stat, a solid base 115 Special Defense, and a decent typing both offensively and defensively, a bulky Swords Dance set fits Gallade perfectly. This is aided by Gallade's decent base 80 Speed, which allows it to outspeed most defensive Pokemon with minimal investment.</p>

<p>Swords Dance is Gallade's boosting move of choice on this set. Once Gallade gets in, it can easily threaten out an opposing Pokemon and set up a Swords Dance on the switch. Drain Punch is the primary STAB move, which has solid power, great coverage, and the ability to restore Gallade's HP and increase its longevity significantlwhich sets it apart from other offensive sets by significantly increasing its longevity. This is important as few Pokemon possess the ability to outspeed and OHKO Gallade. Psycho Cut is a solid secondary STAB move that is able to get past many Pokemon that can take Drain Punch, such as Qwilfish, Amoonguss, and Hariyamaopposing Gallade. The last slot gives Gallade coverage on Pokemon that can handle its STAB combination. Night Slash is preferred to handle Mesprit, Sigilyph, and Uxie. However, Leaf Blade is an option to get past Alomomola, Quagsire, and Rhydon, the latter of which is not OHKOed by +2 Drain Punch when holding Eviolite and can retaliate with a powerful STAB Earthquake that will leave Gallade extremely susceptible to the next thing that comes in. Regardless of whether one chooses Night Slash or Leaf Blade, both will hit Slowking and Golurk hard, which is important as both can handle Gallade's STAB moves and retaliate with Psyshock or Shadow Punch, respectively.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>56 Speed EVs allow Gallade to jump ahead of neutral base 55s such as Omastar and Bouffalant. The remaining EVs get placed in HP to improve Gallade's overall bulk. Lum Berry is the best item for this set, as it gives Gallade a one-time immunity to status, which is important when trying to set up against more defensive teams. However, Leftovers is also an option, as Gallade will take its fair share of hits during a sweep and a single round of Leftovers recovery can sometimes be just what Gallade needs to survive an incoming attack and KO its target. X-Scissor is the most notable coverage move not used on this set, being the best move Gallade has for Tangrowth and still retaining coverage on all Psychic-types except for Sigilyph. Stone Edge is an option for crushing Moltres while also hitting Spiritomb harder than any other move. Finally, Shadow Sneak is an option to pick off weakened threats, but it still isn't very strong even after a boost and will struggle to KO many threats unless they have a low Defense stat.</p>

<p>Entry hazards are a necessity for this set in order to compensate for the lower power of Drain Punch. On offensive teams, Omastar, Scolipede, and Smeargle are effective partners while more balanced teams can use Ferroseed, Rhydon, and Qwilfish. Spiritomb is an absolute pain for this set, as it can survive any boosted attack and 2HKO Gallade with Shadow Sneak or OHKO it with Foul Play after a Swords Dance boost. Emboar is a very good partner for this reason, as not only does it handle Spiritomb nicely, but it also deals with Escavalier, another major problem for this set. Other Fire-types, such as Typhlosion, Entei, and Moltres, can also be used to handle these threats. Entei and Moltres can are also royal pains for this set in addition to being good partners; Qwilfish is able to check Entei and Escavalier while Lanturn is a good answer to Moltres. Paralysis support is welcome so Gallade doesn't have to take as many hits. The aforementioned Qwilfish and Lanturn are solid options to provide this, as are Ferroseed and specially defensive Druddigon. Although it has Night Slash, Gallade will have some problems with Sigilyph thanks to its powerful Flying-type STAB. Spiritomb can be used to trap and KO Sigilyph to ensure Gallade's sweep isn't interrupted. Mesprit is also a feasible option thanks to having access to both Thunderbolt and Ice Beam, while its access to Healing Wish can also give Gallade a second chance to sweep if it gets stopped earlier on.</p>

[SET]
name: Substitute + 3 Attacks
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Night Slash / Leaf Blade
move 4: Psycho Cut
item: Life Orb
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While Gallade is capable of boosting its Attack stat with Swords Dance and Bulk Up, a simple Substitute + 3 Attacks set suits Gallade very nicely. Thanks to the sheer offensive presence Gallade imposes when it enters the battle, it can force many switches, thus buying it time to set up a Substitute to ease prediction and showcase its great coverage.</p>

<p>Substitute shields Gallade from revenge killers and status moves, which are two common methods of dealing with it. Once it's behind a Substitute, Gallade can unleash its great power and coverage to pick apart the opposing team. Drain Punch is the chosen STAB move and it gives this set great staying power. With it, Gallade is able to deal serious damage and heal itself of the HP it lost through making Substitutes and Life Orb recoil. Gallade's coverage move comes down to whether you need it to be more of a standalone attacker or a lure for a teammate. Night Slash is the more useful move for Gallade itself as it easily 2HKOes Uxie, Mesprit, and Sigilyph. This allows Gallade to better handle Uxie, and to seriously dent or KO two of the most common offensive responses to Gallade. However, if you need Gallade to handle physical walls to aid a teammate, then Leaf Blade is perfectly usable. With it, Gallade is able to take on the likes of Alomomola, Rhydon, and Quagsire without a second thought, which can easily clear a path for a teammate to sweep unimpeded. Regardless of the move you choose, both will hit Slowking, a very common threat, for super effective damage. Psycho Cut fills up the last moveslot as it allows Gallade to get past Qwilfish and Amoonguss without much difficulty, while also OHKOing Emboar, a common revenge killer that typically targets Gallade.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>A Jolly nature is used to ensure Gallade outspeeds positive base 75s, notably Smeargle. Although you can use an Adamant nature to give Gallade more power, the ability to outspeed Smeargle unconditionally is usually too important to give up. If Gallade outspeeds Smeargle, then it's unable to cripple Gallade with Spore. With the offensive EV spread, it's easy to understand that you would want to use Close Combat. However, this is not advised under any circumstances as the staying power and flexibility Drain Punch brings is just too good to give up. The reason Gallade is able to use a Life Orb in the first place is because of the healing side effect of Drain Punch, and the use of Life Orb will help to offset the power difference between Drain Punch and Close Combat. X-Scissor is the most notable coverage move that can be used on this set. It's the strongest move Gallade has to handle Tangrowth, and it will retain coverage on all Psychic-types with the exception of Sigilyph. Stone Edge is another alternative coverage move that can be used if you absolutely hate Sigilyph and Moltres. However, Sigilyph is hit hard enough by Night Slash and Moltres is OHKOed by Psycho Cut after Stealth Rock damage.</p>

<p>Entry hazard support will go a long way to supporting this set as the opponent will likely be forced to switch again after Gallade sets up a Substitute. Smeargle, Omastar, and Scolipede can provide Stealth Rock and Spikes support for more offensive-minded teams while more balanced teams can turn to the likes of Rhydon, Qwilfish, Ferroseed, and Mesprit for this support. Druddigon particularly makes for a very solid partner as it can not only set up Stealth Rock, but it can also keep up offensive pressure. As Gallade isn't the fastest thing in RU, paralysis support can be helpful as well to make it even easier for Gallade to sweep late-game. The aforementioned Ferroseed can provide this support on top of Spikes support while keeping Spiritomb in check without too much difficulty. Lanturn can also provide paralysis support and check Moltres throughout the match. It can also provide cleric support and use a slow Volt Switch to allow Gallade to switch in freely. Because this Gallade can be both a sweeper and a wallbreaker, it's very easy to form an offensive core with. Most Fire-types work very well with this set. Emboar is a great example, as it can easily check Spiritomb and Tangrowth, and it cleans up weakened teams with Flare Blitz after Gallade has done its job. Other Fire-types such as Typhlosion, Entei, and Moltres can also be effective in this regard. Without Night Slash, a Pursuit user such as Absol or Escavalier can be effective to trap Psychic-types such as Uxie and Mesprit. If Gallade forgoes Leaf Blade, it will need help to get around Alomomola and Quagsire. Grass-types such as Sceptile, Rotom-C, and Lilligant fit the bill nicely as they will find it much easier to sweep if Gallade has removed special walls. On the other hand, you can use a Spikes user such as Ferroseed or Roselia to take advantage of the low offensive presence these two Water-types have, which could help Gallade break past them later.</p>

[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Psycho Cut
move 4: Night Slash / Shadow Sneak
item: Lum Berry / Life Orb
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is a more offensive approach to Swords Dance. While this set lacks the longevity and flexibility of its bulkier counterpart, this Gallade is much less reliant on boosting to leave its mark on the opposing team. Swords Dance skyrockets Gallade's already dangerous Attack stat, while Close Combat is the chosen Fighting STAB move, as its incredible 120 Base Power allows Gallade to even weaken some Pokemon that resist Fighting-type moves after a boost. Psycho Cut is Gallade's secondary STAB move and hits the likes of Qwilfish and Amoonguss much harder than Close Combat would. Night Slash is the preferred option in the final slot, allowing Gallade to get past bulky Psychic-types such as Uxie, Slowking, and Mesprit much more easily. However, Shadow Sneak is an option to fend off revenge killers and faster, frail Pokemon like Rotom and Archeops looking to take advantage of the defense drops caused by using Close Combat.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Because Close Combat lowers Gallade's defenses with each use, a fully offensive EV spread is utilized. A Lum Berry is still the preferred item to get a one-time immunity to status, which can often mean the difference between a sweep and a crippled Gallade. However, a Life Orb is certainly viable, as with a Life Orb, Gallade is even less reliant on boosting than it already is and can be turned into more of a wallbreaker. Adamant is the preferred nature to give Gallade more power and to, again, lessen the reliance on setting up to deal major damage. However, Jolly can be used if outspeeding neutral-natured base 92s and below, such as Rotom-C, Hitmonlee, and Lilligant, is desired. Leaf Blade is the only coverage option worth considering. Although a super effective Leaf Blade only hits as hard as a neutral Close Combat, it can be useful against the likes of Rhydon and Alomomola when the defense drops from Close Combat aren't desired. However, Night Slash and Shadow Sneak are generally the better moves to use.</p>

<p>Gallade appreciates entry hazard support to gain more KOs and ensure that its targets can't take advantage of the defense drops from using Close Combat. Smeargle, Omastar, and Accelgor can utilize entry hazards on more offensive teams, and Druddigon, Roselia, and Uxie can be used on more balanced teams. With the defense drops from Close Combat, this Gallade is extremely vulnerable to being revenge killed. For this reason, paralysis support from Pokemon such as Ferroseed, Lanturn, and Slowking can be very helpful. As always, Spiritomb is an absolute pain for Gallade, as Gallade has no hope of OHKOing it while Spiritomb's Shadow Sneak does a real number on it. For this reason, Emboar, Entei, and Aggron are all good partners as they can all effectively handle Spiritomb. Sigilyph is problematic thanks to its STAB Air Slash and Psyshock. A Spiritomb of your own can trap and KO Sigilyph with Pursuit so Gallade can sweep without fear later. Fast attackers are solid teammates as they can pick up Gallade's slack if it can't complete its sweep. Sceptile, Swellow, and Choice Scarf variants of Rotom-C, Emboar, and Braviary can all work nicely in this role. Other powerful attackers such as Druddigon and Durant work well with Gallade, as a combination of two strong physical attackers can overwhelm the opponent. Another Fighting-type is especially good since Gallade can weaken Psychic-types with Night Slash to pave the way for a Hitmonlee or Medicham sweep.</p>

[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Wish
move 2: Protect
move 3: Drain Punch
move 4: Will-O-Wisp
item: Leftovers
ability: Steadfast
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 244 SpD / 16 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While Gallade is more commonly known for its offensive prowess, it can also take advantage of its stellar Special Defense and typing to use a specially defensive set that can beat some of the metagame's most threatening special attackers. Specially attacking Sceptile, Rotom-C, Galvantula, Expert Belt Magmortar, and Omastar are only a few of the threats that Gallade checks. Gallade has many unique traits that separate it from the rest of RU's special walls; the most notable of these is access to reliable recovery in the form of Wish. Gallade also stands out because it isn't weak to Pursuit, whether by typing or just low Defense, and this is crucial because many of the top special walls are susceptible to Pursuit, including Slowking, Cryogonal, and Roselia. In fact, your opponent might be hesitant to use Pursuit on Gallade for fear of activating Justified, a common ability on Gallade, and granting it a free Attack boost. Also, Gallade is resistant to Stealth Rock, making it hard to wear down through double switches unless your opponent has Spikes up. These traits make Gallade perfect for defensive balance or full stall teams.</p>

<p>As said before, Wish is a great move that Gallade has access to and helps set it apart from Pokemon like Uxie, which is more physically bulky. Protect ensures that Gallade receives the recovery from Wish, as without it Gallade could just be forced out again and again until it is within 2HKO range from a threatening sweeper. Protect can also be used to scout moves from Choice item users such as Slowking and Switcheroo Manectric. Be careful though, as Protect gives your opponent a free turn to set up, and sometimes it's best to use Will-O-Wisp to deter a physical sweeper that might try to get a free boost off of Protect. However, this does nothing to stop entry hazards from going up or Pokemon like Calm Mind Spiritomb or Misdreavus, which don't mind being burned due to Rest and Heal Bell, respectively. Drain Punch is a reliable STAB move that still hits prettdecently hard even without investment thanks to Gallade's high base Attack, and has that cool side effect of regaining a bit of health afterwards. Will-O-Wisp is another great move for Gallade, as it can cripple its common switch-ins easily such as Spiritomb, Drapion, and Escavalier. As mentioned before, it also ensures that Gallade isn't setup fodder for any moderately bulky physical sweeper; Pokemon such as Feraligatr and Fraxure will think twice about setting up as opposed to attacking.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Almost maximum HP and Special Defense investment is used to make Gallade as specially bulky as possible, while 16 Speed EVs outrun Adamant Aggron so that Gallade can burn it or just KO with Drain Punch after Stealth Rock and one layer of Spikes. Steadfast is the only ability that Gallade can use with Wish; Justified would be the superior choice if not for its illegality on this set. Thunder Wave and Toxic are alternative status moves that can be used, but even if you are building a team around either of these two statuses, Will-O-Wisp is still better the majority of the time. Stone Edge serves one purpose and one purpose only: to OHKO Moltres as it tries to switch in for free. Drain Punch is better in just about every other situation though, so only use Stone Edge if your team is absurdly weak to Moltres. Zen Headbutt is a middle ground between Drain Punch and Stone Edge; however, it still doesn't KO Moltres even after Stealth Rock and has only a trivial amount of higher Base Power, so only use it if you're extremely worried about Accelgor getting a Special Defense drop or a critical hit, as Zen Headbutt hits that harder too. Drain Punch is a lot better because of its perfect accuracy and healing side effect.</p>

<p>Gallade doesn't really require any specific support, but there are some Pokemon that it works better with than others. Regirock is a great partner for this set, as it can take on nearly all of the special attackers that Gallade has trouble with, such as Moltres, Sigilyph, and Substitute + Calm Mind Uxie and Mesprit, and can also check Entei. In return, Gallade can easily pass Wishes to compensate for Regirock's lack of reliable recovery. Qwilfish is another solid partner that can check a good amount of physical attackers that Gallade struggles with such as Entei, Escavalier, and Feraligatr. It also lacks reliable recovery, and can set up Spikes to take advantage of the many switches that Gallade forces due to its sheer special bulk. Similarly, Alomomola checks many of the same things that Qwilfish does and can form a dual Wish core with Gallade that can be very hard to break. Gallade struggles against opposing Psychic-types, especially those that can set up on it with Substitute or a Lum Berry; Spiritomb and Escavalier are two of the best Psychic-type killers in the metagame, and they too appreciate Wish support as they can be worn down quickly due to frequent switch-ins and commonly don't use Leftovers. Spiritomb is a better check to Sigilyph while Escavalier has better synergy with Gallade, resisting Ghost-type moves, and is better against the Dark-types that also typically pose a threat to Gallade such as Spiritomb and Absol. Status is extremely crippling to this set, especially burn, so using a cleric as a teammate is also a good idea. Lanturn beats Moltres and appreciates Wish support, although Misdreavus, Miltank, and Lickilicky are also good choices.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Psycho Cut
move 3: Night Slash
move 4: Stone Edge / Leaf Blade
item: Choice Band
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While Gallade is most commonly seen striking fear into an opponent with a setup move, the simplicity of a Choice Band can also be quite effective. The inability to switch moves or set up is made up for with the immediate power boost Gallade receives from said item. This is arguably the scariest wallbreaker in RU, as a massive base 125 Attack and Gallade's great coverage options gives the opponent major issues.</p>

<p>
Close Combat is the main STAB move on this set. With a massive 120 Base Power, few things will be safe from Gallade's wrath. The defense drops are somewhat mitigated with the hit-and-run nature of this set. Psycho Cut allows Gallade to lay the hurt on Qwilfish and Amoonguss without much difficulty. Night Slash is very important for being able to deal with Uxie and Slowking and keeping them from trying to cripple Gallade with paralysis or a burn. The last slot reinforces Gallade's coverage on certain threats. Stone Edge is preferred, as it's the strongest move Gallade has to hit Spiritomb with while it also destroys any Moltres that tries to switch- in. Leaf Blade provides a safer move to use in order to hammer Alomomola, Rhydon, and Quagsire, but keep in mind that a neutral Close Combat will hit just as hard as a 2x super effective Leaf Blade.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>An Adamant nature is preferred because Choice Band Gallade is primarily used as a wallbreaker. However, Jolly is feasible in order to outspeed Absol and Smeargle while also tying with other positive-natured base 80s such as Mesprit and Kabutops. There aren't really any other moves to consider on this set as Gallade's Close Combat will often be hitting harder than other super effective coverage moves, such as X-Scissor.</p>

<p>Entry hazard support goes a long way to help Gallade break down walls such as Tangrowth and Alomomola. Smeargle, Crustle, and Omastar are solid choices for offensive teams of which this Gallade is usually found on. Partners that can check Spiritomb are a must for this set, as Gallade will be incapable of using either of its STAB moves with freedom if it is around. Pokemon such as Escavalier, Steelix, and Emboar can be used for this. This variant of Gallade is the most vulnerable to status because it lacks any method of healing. For this reason, clerics and designated status absorbers are very helpful. Clefable can absorb status rather easily and is capable of keeping Gallade healthy with Wish. On the other hand, Lanturn provides cleric and paralysis support to help Gallade while also checking Moltres, lessening the pressure on Gallade to predict its switch in with Stone Edge. A Pursuit user, such as Absol and Escavalier, can be used to clear out bulky Ghost- and Psychic-types so Gallade can freely use Close Combat. Due to its fantastic wallbreaking capabilities, Choice Band Gallade pairs very well with fast physical attackers that are capable of cleaning up a team that Gallade has left its mark on. Choice Scarf Braviary and Emboar are solid examples of this, while Swellow and Entei can use their combination of speed and power to finish off the opposing team. If a wallbreaking core is desired, Choice Specs Rotom-C and Typhlosion as well as mixed attacking Samurott work nicely with Gallade.</p>

[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Night Slash / Ice Punch
move 4: Substitutitee
item: Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Careful
EVs: 240 HP / 244 SpD / 56 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While Gallade's other sets become a major threat after just one turn of set up, this set attempts to use Bulk Up to slowly become a threat while simultaneously becoming more and more difficult to revenge kill. While this might be the hardest set to pull off a sweep with, it is also the hardest offensive set to revenge kill and use walls to deal with thanks to heavy investment in special bulk and boosting its Defense through Bulk Up.</p>

<p>Bulk Up is the chosen boosting move for this set, as it boosts Gallade's great Attack stat and subpar Defense as well. Drain Punch fits the goal of this set perfectly; it provides solid power and simultaneously heals Gallade in the process, thus increasing its longevity. The coverage option is a difficult choice, as it will leave Gallade open to certain defensive threats. Night Slash is generally preferred thanks to the neutral coverage it gets with Gallade's Fighting STAB while being able to smash Slowking, Uxie, and Mesprit. However, Ice Punch is also a viable option, as with Ice Punch, Gallade is able to handle Amoonguss and Tangrowth more easily. Do keep in mind, though, that Slowking and Qwilfish can now wall Gallade. Substitute fills in the last slot to shield Gallade from status and to make revenge killing this set that much harder.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EV spread looks odd, but it is actually quite simple. 56 Speed EVs is necessary to outspeed neutral-natured base 55s such as Omastar and Bouffalant, and 240 HP EVs hits an optimal HP number for making Substitutes. The remaining EVs get thrown into Special Defense, and when combined with a Careful nature, Gallade gains far more setup opportunities against special attackers such as Sceptile, Lanturn, Tangrowth, Amoonguss, and support Uxie.</p>

<p>Entry hazard support is more important for this Gallade set than any other due to the low initial power it has. Ferroseed, Qwilfish, and Rhydon are solid choices for this role, as this Gallade will usually find itself on more balanced teams. Entei and Escavalier are perhaps the biggest issues for this set, as both can still OHKO Gallade at +1 Defense with Flare Blitz and Megahorn, respectively. Alomomola, Qwilfish, and Rhydon can be used to check Entei while Moltres, Emboar, and Typhlosion can keep Escavalier at bay. Spiritomb is still a bit of a pain for this set thanks to the lack in initial power. Emboar, Aggron, and Escavalier can all keep Spiritomb in check. Even with this set's heavy investment in special bulk, Moltres's STAB Hurricane will still run right through Gallade. For this reason, Lanturn is a solid partner to not only keep it in check but to also provide paralysis support so Gallade has to take fewer hits. Other paralysis inducers, such as Ferroseed and Uxie, can also be helpful so Gallade isn't forced to use Substitute as often.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Thanks to its wide movepool, Gallade has plenty of other options at its disposal. A Choice Scarf set seems like a perfect fit thanks to Gallade's base 125 Attack and a somewhat middling Speed stat when not holding said item. However, Medicham is much better for this role thanks to Pure Power. Gallade has the elemental punches available to it, but for the most part, they aren't really useful when compared to Gallade's main attacks. Earthquake is powerful, but it runs into the same problems that the elemental punches do. Like many other Psychic-types, Gallade has access to Calm Mind, as well as various special moves such as Psyshock, Focus Blast, and Thunderbolt. However, a paltry base 65 Special Attack makes this a bad option for Gallade.</p>

<p>In terms of support options, a combination of Taunt and Will-O-Wisp can be used to break down stall teams, but these types of teams aren't too common in RU. A dual screens set with Memento is usable, but it faces stiff competition from Uxie and Mesprit in this role, as both have better overall bulk than Gallade. A set utilizing Trick Room is possible to make up for Gallade's mediocre Speed. However, it still runs into competition with Uxie and Mesprit, and on top of that, it lets major threats such as Escavalier and Druddigon outspeed Gallade. Destiny Bond is gimmicky, but it can net a surprise kill every once and a while. Finally, a SubDisable set is possible a la Gengar in OU, but Gallade's lack of immunities limits its viability.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Put simply, there is no surefire counter to Gallade. Its versatility, power, coverage, and support options make such a task impossible. Spiritomb is probablyGallade is difficult to counter due to its versatility, power, coverage, and support options, but there are ways to deal with each set. Spiritomb, specifically with a defensive set, is the best response, as it is able to handle most offensiveevery Gallade sets thanks to its immunity to both of Gallade's STABs and its solid bulk. However, it must be careful around special, solid bulk and Foul Play. If it lacks Rest, however, it must be careful around specially defensive sets because Will-O-Wisp can cripple offensive Spiritomb. Choice Specs Slowking can tank all of Gallade's unboosted attacks and can OHKO with Psyshock; similarly, defensive sets because Will-O-Wisp can cripple SpiritombSlowking can take hits more easily and 2HKO with Psyshock or burn Gallade with Scald. Moltres and Mesprit are two of the safer options to handle Gallade, as each resists one or both of Gallade's STAB moves. can outspeed, and only fear one of its coverage moves. Perhaps the easiest way to deal with Gallade is to use its major case of four-moveslot syndrome to your advantage. Most sets use a setup move and two STAB moves, so finding out its coverage move will go a long way towhen handling Gallade. If Gallade lacks Leaf Blade, Alomomola and Quagsire can handle it admirably. Without Night Slash, Mesprit becomes all the more dangerous while Uxie can generally outlast Gallade in most scenarios. Tangrowth only fears a +2 Close Combat and the rare Ice Punch and X-Scissor, and it can hitKO a slightly weakened Gallade with a STAB Power Whip on its weaker Defense stat. However, Bulk Up sets can set up on Tangrowth variants without Power Whip. Escavalier is capable of overpowering Gallade with its powerful STAB Megahorn, but Substitute and specially defensive sets can put Escavalier in a tough situation. Tthe Substitute set 2HKOes with Drain Punch and mayight have a Substitute up to block Escavalier's first attack, and the specially defensive set can cripple Escavalier with a burn. The specially defensive set struggles with most Flying-types; Pokemon such as Braviary, Moltres, and Sigilyph are more than capable of dealing with this set. Cinccino can easily check the Substitute set, but it has no hope of actually switching into it thanks to its frailty.</p>

<p>Preying on Gallade's base 80 Speed and lackluster base 65 Defense is perhaps the easiest way to limit the damage Gallade can do. Choice Scarf users, such as Emboar and Braviary, do quite well, while naturally fast Pokemon such as Swellow, Tauros, and ArcheopsDurant are capable of smashing Gallade before it gets a chance to strike them. Pokemon that can take a hit and KO back with a STAB move, such as Golurk and Exeggutor, can check Gallade as well. Priority users can also be effective, with examples being Entei, Spiritomb, and Feraligatr. Note that Sucker Punch users such as Absol run the risk of activating Justified if they are unable to KO Gallade and will likely be hit with a decisive blow after the attack. As Gallade will often want to use a setup move before attacking, one can always resort to offensive pressure to limit Gallade's chances to setup. However, this is risky as Gallade usually has enough raw power and coverage to do damage even without a setup move, and the Choice Band set doesn't set up at all.</p>
 
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