QC Checks: Fried Rhys, Nails, wilson46
GP Checks: Komodo, Omicron
[Overview]
<p>BW is known as the Fighting Generation. With new challengers approaching and veteran Fighting-types getting buffs, Gallade was left in the dust. Not only did it miss out on the Hi Jump Kick bandwagon, it was also leapfrogged by many rookie Unova Fighting-types, and with that, Gallade vanished from OU. Some say that after its OU career was crushed by monsters such as Terrakion and Conkeldurr, Gallade became a hermit in the mountains of RU; it lives its dream superficially by beating up little kids such as Ferroseed. However, 5th Gen was not all doom and gloom for Gallade; for each shattered dream begets new opportunity. Dream World gave it an ability that's not completely useless, Justified. A power buff to Drain Punch, coupled with a decent 115 base Special Defense, allows Gallade to run a destructive Bulk Up set. A Swords Dance-boosted Close Combat makes its fellow RU Fighting-types drool in jealously. Shadow Sneak allows it to pick off potential revenge killers, and it has access to excellent coverage moves such as Night Slash, Zen Headbutt, and Ice Punch. Gallade has all the right tools to wreak havoc in RU.</p>
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Shadow Sneak / Night Slash
move 4: Substitute / Taunt
item: Leftovers
ability: Steadfast
nature: Careful
evs: 240 HP / 224 SpD / 44 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With the power buff to Drain Punch, Bulk Up Gallade becomes extremely effective. Drain Punch gives Gallade a pseudo-recovery method without jeopardizing its offensive prowess, and access to various coverage moves make him extremely difficult to contain. This set abuses Gallade's above average special bulk, and after a few Bulk Up boosts, it becomes extemely difficult to break through. Moreover, Gallade tends to force a ton of switches, and thus, should have plenty of opportunities to set up. Although this set lacks the immediate explosiveness of other sets, it is by no means inferior. For what it sacrifices in short term destruction, it makes up for with long term gain. After a series of boosts, no wall can stand up to Gallade's immense power, and will inevitably be overwhelmed. Bulk Up Gallade is sure to cause panic every time it enters the field, because even if it fails to maul an entire team, it can cause irreversible damage to the opposing defensive core, and open up a sweep for a teammate.</p>
<p>Bulk Up and Drain Punch are the crux of this set. Bulk Up, Bulk Up, Bulk Up, when Gallade makes its presence known, each turn seems like a countdown. Ticking, ticking while the opponent struggles in vain to stop the inevitable time bomb from going off. Chipping away at its health will not work, for Gallade can simply heal up using Drain Punch. Although Justified is illegal with Drain Punch, the longetivity Drain Punch offers is well worth the loss of an average ability. Night Slash provides near flawless coverage in RU, with the only exception being Croagunk, which is never seen. Shadow Sneak can be used to retain the coverage (perfect coverage in fact), and Gallade trades power for the ability to pick off potential revenge killers. Substitute is the best option in the final slot, as Drain Punch and Leftovers recovery can quickly make up for the HP lost from making Substitutes. It also protects Gallade from status, helps it against potential revenge killers, and allows it to scout for unorthodox movesets. However, Taunt is still a viable option for shutting down opposing walls' abilities to heal, spread status, or set up hazards.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>While Night Slash generally provides the best coverage, there are various other options that prevent Gallade from being walled by other specific threats. Zen Headbutt allows it to take out bulky Poison-types such as Qwilfish and Weezing. Ice Punch allows it to dispatch Eviolite Gligar, and since Drain Punch is already illegal with Justified, there are no drawbacks. Finally, Stone Edge can be used to hit Moltres, the bane of Gallade's existence. Furthermore, an additional coverage move can be used over Substitute and Taunt, although Gallade won't enjoy the risk of status at all. 44 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed uninvested Gligar and Qwilfish and either get in an extra Bulk Up, or KO with Ice Punch and Zen Headbutt, respectively. HP EVs ensure that Gallade's HP stat is 1 away from being divisible by 4, which is optimal for making Substitutes.</p>
<p>Bulk Up Gallade tends to force a lot of switches, and when combined with its offensive capability, makes it a prime candidate for abusing entry hazards. Ferroseed and Omastar are both excellent entry hazard setters, and share decent synergy with Gallade. Additionally, Ferroseed helps against Pokemon such as Archeops, Durant, and Rotom, while Omastar helps against Pokemon such as Moltres and Typhlosion. This set is best paired with other strong physical attackers who can bring down Pokemon that give Gallade trouble, while Gallade returns the favor by weakening physical walls for them to sweep. Rhydon can easily bring down Qwilfish and Honchkrow, while Gallade can take down walls such as Ferroseed. Medicham is another example; it can take down opposing Poison-types with Zen Headbutt, and spam Hi Jump Kick once Gallade has exorcised opposing ghosts.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Shadow Sneak
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Night Slash / Ice Punch
item: Life Orb
ability: Justified / Steadfast
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Gallade is truly a sight to behold in RU. Here, he sets the gold standard for power, as a +2 Close Combat absolutely blows away every Pokemon that does not resist it. Gallade is like the chubby, average looking girl at a high school dance who surrounds herself with fat, unattractive girls. When guys see her, it seems she is more attractive than she actually is, since its all relative. Similarly, the "power level" of this tier just cannot keep up with Gallade, as it can easily destroy almost any wall that stands before it after a Swords Dance boost. It has sufficient bulk to set up, and enough Speed to dominate a good portion of the tier. If it is lucky enough to pick up a Justified boost, Gallade's immense power becomes amplified to frightening heights.</p>
<p>Close Combat, of course, is Gallade's pride and joy, and is its primary tool for mauling opposing teams. This 120 Base Power STAB move, coupled with a base 120 Attack and a Swords Dance boost, is arguably the most vicious attack in the tier. Shadow Sneak mitigates Gallade's problem against revenge killers, as a +2 Life Orb Shadow Sneak can bring down troublesome threats such as Kadabra, Rotom, and Haunter. Shadow Sneak also has the added benefit of giving Gallade perfect neutral coverage. The final move is chosen for coverage; Night Slash allows Gallade to strike down bulky Ghosts such as Cofagrigus, Ice Punch allows Gallade to make short work of Eviolite Gligar, and finally, Zen Headbutt recieves STAB and allows Gallade to dispose of Poison-types such as Qwilfish and Weezing. The EV spread is standard; maximizing Attack and Speed gives the best mileage out of Gallade's tremendous sweeping potential.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Additionally, Stone Edge can be used as the designated coverage move. Although Stone Edge is rather situational, hitting Moltres on the switch could shift the tides of a battle. If Zen Headbutt's accuracy seems unappealing, Psycho Cut can be used instead. ThunderPunch and Ice Punch can be used instead of Shadow Sneak and Night Slash for physical "Boltbeam" coverage; however, the coverage that Close Combat and Night Slash provide is generally superior, and the fact that Ice Punch is illegal with Justified is also unappealing. Likewise, an additional coverage move can be used instead of Shadow Sneak, although this is not recommended, as it makes Gallade more prone to being revenge killed. Substitute or Taunt can be run over moves not named Swords Dance or Close Combat. The former protects Gallade from status while scouting for potential revenge killers, while the latter protects Gallade from status from opposing walls and stops them from healing or phazing Gallade out.</p>
<p>All variants of Gallade absolutely love entry hazard support. Swords Dance Gallade is no different, as it gets so many extra OHKOs and 2HKOs with Stealth Rock and Spikes support. Furthermore, Gallade's immense power is bound to force a lot of switches, and the damage from entry hazards will build up as time goes on. Omastar and Ferroseed are ideal teammates, as they can provide either entry hazard. They can also help against Pokemon such as Archeops and Durant, which tend to give Gallade some problems. Even with Night Slash, Gallade loathes bulky Ghosts and bulky Psychics such as Cofagrigus and Uxie. It is therefore suggested that you pair Gallade with a powerful Pursuit user such as Honchrow or Krookodile to eliminate these threats. Gallade also despises revenge killers with a passion, as Shadow Sneak is a rather weak move, especially when unboosted. Thunder Wave support from the likes of Uxie can help in this regard.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Zen Headbutt
move 3: Shadow Sneak / Night Slash
move 4: Stone Edge / Night Slash / Ice Punch
item: Choice Band / Choice Scarf
ability: Justified / Steadfast
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With immense power but middling Speed, Gallade is an ideal candidate for a Choice item. Close Combat is Gallade's most prominent move, so of course it would be featured on a Choice set. Zen Headbutt gives Gallade secondary STAB, and it can take out the common Fighting resists such as Qwilfish and Weezing. If the user opts not to run Night Slash, Zen Headbutt still hits bulky Ghosts incredibly hard. Shadow Sneak is used to pick off weakened threats, but keep in mind that when using Choice Scarf, Shadow Sneak is incredibly inefficient, and Night Slash should be used instead. Night Slash is useful for taking out bulky Ghosts and Psychics such as Cofagrigus, Rotom, and Claydol. However, Stone Edge is generally preferred for the fourth moveslot, as Gallade needs it to take out the bane of its existence: Moltres, and to a lesser extent, Charizard. Finally, Ice Punch is another viable option in the fourth moveslot to take down Eviolite Gligar, while maintaining coverage against Claydol. Although Ice Punch is illegal with Justified, Gallade will rarely stay in long enough to abuse the Attack boost, so this is non-issue.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The choice between (pun not intended) Band and Scarf depends on function. Choice Band turns Gallade into a relentless killing machine, plowing through everything in its path. This is especially true for Close Combat, which at least 2HKOs any Pokemon in the tier that does not resist it, and even some that do. This allows Gallade to dent walls and potentially open up a sweep for a teammate. It also puts more power behind Shadow Sneak for revenge killing purposes. On the other hand, Choice Scarf turns Gallade into a potent revenge killer. Gallade's middling Speed is its greatest hindrance, and Choice Scarf can easily mitigate this. While the Choice Scarf variant lacks the colossal power of the Choice Band variant, Gallade's immense natural power allows it to still hit incredibly hard, and it is more than capable of going on late-game sweeps. The choice between Adamant and Jolly depends on preference. Adamant allows Gallade to grab many extra 2HKOs and OHKOs, especially with heavy entry hazard support, while Jolly allows Gallade to at least Speed tie fellow Base 80s and outspeed neutral-natured Base 92s, which includes prominent threats such as Krookodile, Moltres, Lilligant, and Porygon-Z.</p>
<p>Gallade despises status of all sorts, so a designated status absorber such as Clefable, or a cleric such as Lanturn make helpful teammates. Since Choiced Gallade is more of a hit and run Pokemon, it gets worn down quickly by Spikes. As such, it is recommended to pair Gallade with a reliable Rapid Spinner, such as Claydol or Hitmonlee. Hitmonlee, in particular, makes an interesting teammate. Hitmonlee provides Rapid Spin support and takes out bulky Ghosts with Foresight and Hi Jump Kick, while Gallade reciprocates by taking out the common Fighting resists such as Claydol to facilitate a Hitmonlee sweep. In general, Fighting-types tend to pair well together. At the end of the day, Gallade would like to mindlessly spam Close Combat, so Pokemon such as Honchrow and Krookodile can be used to eliminate Ghost-types.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Gallade is one of those Pokemon with a gigantic support movepool, but not the defensive stats to utilize it. Dual screens and Memento is an interesting option, as it gives Gallade's teammates easy set-ups. Safeguard allows Gallade to protect itself as well as its teammates from status. Unfortunately, Gallade does not possess sufficient bulk to use these moves reliably. Trick Room lets Gallade abuse its middling Speed and maul offensively oriented teams, although Gallade will have even more difficulty against bulky Ghosts. A SubDisable set can be used against mono-attackers, although it is rather situational, and Gallade's lack of immunities makes it a gimmick at best.</p>
<p>Thunder Wave and Will-O-Wisp both have their merits. The former alleviates Gallade's Speed issues while the latter helps it survive physical attacks. Toxic, Substitute, and Drain Punch can be used together to slowly wear down opposing walls. In general, however, Shadow Sneak is more helpful than Thunder Wave, while Bulk Up is more reliable for improving Defense and wallbreaking. Additionally, Hypnosis can be used for a free set-up, although Hypnosis's horrible accuracy is a letdown.</p>
<p>Knock Off is an interesting option to neuter opposing Pokemon, especially Eviolite users such as Gligar and Misdreavus. Leaf Blade and X-Scissor are also part of Gallade's offensive movepool. The former fails to hit any bulky Waters harder than Close Combat bar Quagsire, while the latter is inferior to Night Slash as a coverage move.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Moltres is a pestilence to Gallade. It resists Close Combat, and has enough bulk to shrug off any attack bar Stone Edge, and can outspeed and threaten to KO with Air Slash. Charizard shares most of these traits, but its lower bulk makes it a less than ideal switch-in. Gallade does not have any true counters, as its unparalleled strength and fantastic coverage make it incredibly difficult to wall. However, it does suffer from the proverbial four moveslot syndrome. Without Shadow Sneak, it is revenge killed by Haunter or Kadabra. Without Night Slash, it is perpetually walled by Uxie and Claydol. Without Zen Headbutt, it is stopped cold by Qwilfish and Weezing. And without Ice Punch, it falls to Eviolite Gligar. Dusknoir and Cofagrigus are perhaps the best options, as they can take an unboosted Night Slash and either neuter Gallade with Will-O-Wisp or hit it hard with a super effective STAB Shadow Ball. Drapion technically walls Gallade, but it really can't do much besides set up Toxic Spikes or Taunt it.</p>
<p>The most reliable way to deal with Gallade is by revenge killing it. While this is incredibly inefficient, Gallade's offensive potency simply makes dealing with it defensively too difficult. It is much easier to pounce on Gallade's unimpressive Speed and physical bulk. Pokemon such as Archeops, Sceptile, Scyther, and Scarf Honchrow can take it down using powerful Flying-type moves. Durant is an interesting option, as it can take an unboosted Close Combat and attempt to flinch-hax Gallade to death with Iron Head.</p>
GP Checks: Komodo, Omicron
[Overview]
<p>BW is known as the Fighting Generation. With new challengers approaching and veteran Fighting-types getting buffs, Gallade was left in the dust. Not only did it miss out on the Hi Jump Kick bandwagon, it was also leapfrogged by many rookie Unova Fighting-types, and with that, Gallade vanished from OU. Some say that after its OU career was crushed by monsters such as Terrakion and Conkeldurr, Gallade became a hermit in the mountains of RU; it lives its dream superficially by beating up little kids such as Ferroseed. However, 5th Gen was not all doom and gloom for Gallade; for each shattered dream begets new opportunity. Dream World gave it an ability that's not completely useless, Justified. A power buff to Drain Punch, coupled with a decent 115 base Special Defense, allows Gallade to run a destructive Bulk Up set. A Swords Dance-boosted Close Combat makes its fellow RU Fighting-types drool in jealously. Shadow Sneak allows it to pick off potential revenge killers, and it has access to excellent coverage moves such as Night Slash, Zen Headbutt, and Ice Punch. Gallade has all the right tools to wreak havoc in RU.</p>
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Shadow Sneak / Night Slash
move 4: Substitute / Taunt
item: Leftovers
ability: Steadfast
nature: Careful
evs: 240 HP / 224 SpD / 44 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With the power buff to Drain Punch, Bulk Up Gallade becomes extremely effective. Drain Punch gives Gallade a pseudo-recovery method without jeopardizing its offensive prowess, and access to various coverage moves make him extremely difficult to contain. This set abuses Gallade's above average special bulk, and after a few Bulk Up boosts, it becomes extemely difficult to break through. Moreover, Gallade tends to force a ton of switches, and thus, should have plenty of opportunities to set up. Although this set lacks the immediate explosiveness of other sets, it is by no means inferior. For what it sacrifices in short term destruction, it makes up for with long term gain. After a series of boosts, no wall can stand up to Gallade's immense power, and will inevitably be overwhelmed. Bulk Up Gallade is sure to cause panic every time it enters the field, because even if it fails to maul an entire team, it can cause irreversible damage to the opposing defensive core, and open up a sweep for a teammate.</p>
<p>Bulk Up and Drain Punch are the crux of this set. Bulk Up, Bulk Up, Bulk Up, when Gallade makes its presence known, each turn seems like a countdown. Ticking, ticking while the opponent struggles in vain to stop the inevitable time bomb from going off. Chipping away at its health will not work, for Gallade can simply heal up using Drain Punch. Although Justified is illegal with Drain Punch, the longetivity Drain Punch offers is well worth the loss of an average ability. Night Slash provides near flawless coverage in RU, with the only exception being Croagunk, which is never seen. Shadow Sneak can be used to retain the coverage (perfect coverage in fact), and Gallade trades power for the ability to pick off potential revenge killers. Substitute is the best option in the final slot, as Drain Punch and Leftovers recovery can quickly make up for the HP lost from making Substitutes. It also protects Gallade from status, helps it against potential revenge killers, and allows it to scout for unorthodox movesets. However, Taunt is still a viable option for shutting down opposing walls' abilities to heal, spread status, or set up hazards.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>While Night Slash generally provides the best coverage, there are various other options that prevent Gallade from being walled by other specific threats. Zen Headbutt allows it to take out bulky Poison-types such as Qwilfish and Weezing. Ice Punch allows it to dispatch Eviolite Gligar, and since Drain Punch is already illegal with Justified, there are no drawbacks. Finally, Stone Edge can be used to hit Moltres, the bane of Gallade's existence. Furthermore, an additional coverage move can be used over Substitute and Taunt, although Gallade won't enjoy the risk of status at all. 44 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed uninvested Gligar and Qwilfish and either get in an extra Bulk Up, or KO with Ice Punch and Zen Headbutt, respectively. HP EVs ensure that Gallade's HP stat is 1 away from being divisible by 4, which is optimal for making Substitutes.</p>
<p>Bulk Up Gallade tends to force a lot of switches, and when combined with its offensive capability, makes it a prime candidate for abusing entry hazards. Ferroseed and Omastar are both excellent entry hazard setters, and share decent synergy with Gallade. Additionally, Ferroseed helps against Pokemon such as Archeops, Durant, and Rotom, while Omastar helps against Pokemon such as Moltres and Typhlosion. This set is best paired with other strong physical attackers who can bring down Pokemon that give Gallade trouble, while Gallade returns the favor by weakening physical walls for them to sweep. Rhydon can easily bring down Qwilfish and Honchkrow, while Gallade can take down walls such as Ferroseed. Medicham is another example; it can take down opposing Poison-types with Zen Headbutt, and spam Hi Jump Kick once Gallade has exorcised opposing ghosts.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Shadow Sneak
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Night Slash / Ice Punch
item: Life Orb
ability: Justified / Steadfast
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Gallade is truly a sight to behold in RU. Here, he sets the gold standard for power, as a +2 Close Combat absolutely blows away every Pokemon that does not resist it. Gallade is like the chubby, average looking girl at a high school dance who surrounds herself with fat, unattractive girls. When guys see her, it seems she is more attractive than she actually is, since its all relative. Similarly, the "power level" of this tier just cannot keep up with Gallade, as it can easily destroy almost any wall that stands before it after a Swords Dance boost. It has sufficient bulk to set up, and enough Speed to dominate a good portion of the tier. If it is lucky enough to pick up a Justified boost, Gallade's immense power becomes amplified to frightening heights.</p>
<p>Close Combat, of course, is Gallade's pride and joy, and is its primary tool for mauling opposing teams. This 120 Base Power STAB move, coupled with a base 120 Attack and a Swords Dance boost, is arguably the most vicious attack in the tier. Shadow Sneak mitigates Gallade's problem against revenge killers, as a +2 Life Orb Shadow Sneak can bring down troublesome threats such as Kadabra, Rotom, and Haunter. Shadow Sneak also has the added benefit of giving Gallade perfect neutral coverage. The final move is chosen for coverage; Night Slash allows Gallade to strike down bulky Ghosts such as Cofagrigus, Ice Punch allows Gallade to make short work of Eviolite Gligar, and finally, Zen Headbutt recieves STAB and allows Gallade to dispose of Poison-types such as Qwilfish and Weezing. The EV spread is standard; maximizing Attack and Speed gives the best mileage out of Gallade's tremendous sweeping potential.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Additionally, Stone Edge can be used as the designated coverage move. Although Stone Edge is rather situational, hitting Moltres on the switch could shift the tides of a battle. If Zen Headbutt's accuracy seems unappealing, Psycho Cut can be used instead. ThunderPunch and Ice Punch can be used instead of Shadow Sneak and Night Slash for physical "Boltbeam" coverage; however, the coverage that Close Combat and Night Slash provide is generally superior, and the fact that Ice Punch is illegal with Justified is also unappealing. Likewise, an additional coverage move can be used instead of Shadow Sneak, although this is not recommended, as it makes Gallade more prone to being revenge killed. Substitute or Taunt can be run over moves not named Swords Dance or Close Combat. The former protects Gallade from status while scouting for potential revenge killers, while the latter protects Gallade from status from opposing walls and stops them from healing or phazing Gallade out.</p>
<p>All variants of Gallade absolutely love entry hazard support. Swords Dance Gallade is no different, as it gets so many extra OHKOs and 2HKOs with Stealth Rock and Spikes support. Furthermore, Gallade's immense power is bound to force a lot of switches, and the damage from entry hazards will build up as time goes on. Omastar and Ferroseed are ideal teammates, as they can provide either entry hazard. They can also help against Pokemon such as Archeops and Durant, which tend to give Gallade some problems. Even with Night Slash, Gallade loathes bulky Ghosts and bulky Psychics such as Cofagrigus and Uxie. It is therefore suggested that you pair Gallade with a powerful Pursuit user such as Honchrow or Krookodile to eliminate these threats. Gallade also despises revenge killers with a passion, as Shadow Sneak is a rather weak move, especially when unboosted. Thunder Wave support from the likes of Uxie can help in this regard.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Zen Headbutt
move 3: Shadow Sneak / Night Slash
move 4: Stone Edge / Night Slash / Ice Punch
item: Choice Band / Choice Scarf
ability: Justified / Steadfast
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With immense power but middling Speed, Gallade is an ideal candidate for a Choice item. Close Combat is Gallade's most prominent move, so of course it would be featured on a Choice set. Zen Headbutt gives Gallade secondary STAB, and it can take out the common Fighting resists such as Qwilfish and Weezing. If the user opts not to run Night Slash, Zen Headbutt still hits bulky Ghosts incredibly hard. Shadow Sneak is used to pick off weakened threats, but keep in mind that when using Choice Scarf, Shadow Sneak is incredibly inefficient, and Night Slash should be used instead. Night Slash is useful for taking out bulky Ghosts and Psychics such as Cofagrigus, Rotom, and Claydol. However, Stone Edge is generally preferred for the fourth moveslot, as Gallade needs it to take out the bane of its existence: Moltres, and to a lesser extent, Charizard. Finally, Ice Punch is another viable option in the fourth moveslot to take down Eviolite Gligar, while maintaining coverage against Claydol. Although Ice Punch is illegal with Justified, Gallade will rarely stay in long enough to abuse the Attack boost, so this is non-issue.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The choice between (pun not intended) Band and Scarf depends on function. Choice Band turns Gallade into a relentless killing machine, plowing through everything in its path. This is especially true for Close Combat, which at least 2HKOs any Pokemon in the tier that does not resist it, and even some that do. This allows Gallade to dent walls and potentially open up a sweep for a teammate. It also puts more power behind Shadow Sneak for revenge killing purposes. On the other hand, Choice Scarf turns Gallade into a potent revenge killer. Gallade's middling Speed is its greatest hindrance, and Choice Scarf can easily mitigate this. While the Choice Scarf variant lacks the colossal power of the Choice Band variant, Gallade's immense natural power allows it to still hit incredibly hard, and it is more than capable of going on late-game sweeps. The choice between Adamant and Jolly depends on preference. Adamant allows Gallade to grab many extra 2HKOs and OHKOs, especially with heavy entry hazard support, while Jolly allows Gallade to at least Speed tie fellow Base 80s and outspeed neutral-natured Base 92s, which includes prominent threats such as Krookodile, Moltres, Lilligant, and Porygon-Z.</p>
<p>Gallade despises status of all sorts, so a designated status absorber such as Clefable, or a cleric such as Lanturn make helpful teammates. Since Choiced Gallade is more of a hit and run Pokemon, it gets worn down quickly by Spikes. As such, it is recommended to pair Gallade with a reliable Rapid Spinner, such as Claydol or Hitmonlee. Hitmonlee, in particular, makes an interesting teammate. Hitmonlee provides Rapid Spin support and takes out bulky Ghosts with Foresight and Hi Jump Kick, while Gallade reciprocates by taking out the common Fighting resists such as Claydol to facilitate a Hitmonlee sweep. In general, Fighting-types tend to pair well together. At the end of the day, Gallade would like to mindlessly spam Close Combat, so Pokemon such as Honchrow and Krookodile can be used to eliminate Ghost-types.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Gallade is one of those Pokemon with a gigantic support movepool, but not the defensive stats to utilize it. Dual screens and Memento is an interesting option, as it gives Gallade's teammates easy set-ups. Safeguard allows Gallade to protect itself as well as its teammates from status. Unfortunately, Gallade does not possess sufficient bulk to use these moves reliably. Trick Room lets Gallade abuse its middling Speed and maul offensively oriented teams, although Gallade will have even more difficulty against bulky Ghosts. A SubDisable set can be used against mono-attackers, although it is rather situational, and Gallade's lack of immunities makes it a gimmick at best.</p>
<p>Thunder Wave and Will-O-Wisp both have their merits. The former alleviates Gallade's Speed issues while the latter helps it survive physical attacks. Toxic, Substitute, and Drain Punch can be used together to slowly wear down opposing walls. In general, however, Shadow Sneak is more helpful than Thunder Wave, while Bulk Up is more reliable for improving Defense and wallbreaking. Additionally, Hypnosis can be used for a free set-up, although Hypnosis's horrible accuracy is a letdown.</p>
<p>Knock Off is an interesting option to neuter opposing Pokemon, especially Eviolite users such as Gligar and Misdreavus. Leaf Blade and X-Scissor are also part of Gallade's offensive movepool. The former fails to hit any bulky Waters harder than Close Combat bar Quagsire, while the latter is inferior to Night Slash as a coverage move.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Moltres is a pestilence to Gallade. It resists Close Combat, and has enough bulk to shrug off any attack bar Stone Edge, and can outspeed and threaten to KO with Air Slash. Charizard shares most of these traits, but its lower bulk makes it a less than ideal switch-in. Gallade does not have any true counters, as its unparalleled strength and fantastic coverage make it incredibly difficult to wall. However, it does suffer from the proverbial four moveslot syndrome. Without Shadow Sneak, it is revenge killed by Haunter or Kadabra. Without Night Slash, it is perpetually walled by Uxie and Claydol. Without Zen Headbutt, it is stopped cold by Qwilfish and Weezing. And without Ice Punch, it falls to Eviolite Gligar. Dusknoir and Cofagrigus are perhaps the best options, as they can take an unboosted Night Slash and either neuter Gallade with Will-O-Wisp or hit it hard with a super effective STAB Shadow Ball. Drapion technically walls Gallade, but it really can't do much besides set up Toxic Spikes or Taunt it.</p>
<p>The most reliable way to deal with Gallade is by revenge killing it. While this is incredibly inefficient, Gallade's offensive potency simply makes dealing with it defensively too difficult. It is much easier to pounce on Gallade's unimpressive Speed and physical bulk. Pokemon such as Archeops, Sceptile, Scyther, and Scarf Honchrow can take it down using powerful Flying-type moves. Durant is an interesting option, as it can take an unboosted Close Combat and attempt to flinch-hax Gallade to death with Iron Head.</p>
