Gallade

[Athena]

Gallade​

Psychic / Fighting​

68 / 125 / 65 / 65 / 115 / 80​

Steadfast:
Whenever Gallade Flinches, Gallade's Speed is raised by one stage.​

(Dream World) Righteous Heart:
Raises Gallade's Attack by one stage after it is damaged by a Dark-type attack.​

Although Gallade faces very tough competition with Lucario and to a lesser extent, Heracross, Gallade has a few nice qualities which seperate it from the rest. For one, it has powerful Psychic type attacks which gains respectable coverage along with Close Combat. Also, Gallade is able to learn Trick, which lets it cripple walls it wouldn't normally be able to pass. Strictly speaking, Gallade has no absolute counter as Gallade is able to 2HKO most Pokemon.​

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Level Up Moves: Lv1: Leaf Blade, Lv1: Night Slash, Lv1: Leer, Lv1: Confusion, Lv1: Double Team, Lv1: Teleport, Lv6: Confusion, Lv10: Double Team, Lv12: Teleport, Lv17: Fury Cutter, Lv22: Slash, Lv25: Healing Wave, Lv31: Swords Dance, Lv36: Psycho Cut, Lv39: Helping Hand, Lv45: Feint, Lv50: False Swipe, Lv53: Protect, Lv59: Close Combat, Lv64: Assist Power.

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Egg Moves: Disable, Mean Look, Memento, Destiny Bond, Grudge, Shadow Sneak, Confuse Ray, Encore, Synchro Noise, Skill Swap.

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TMs / HMs: TM03 - Psycho Shock, TM04 - Calm Mind, TM06 - Toxic,TM08 - Bulk Up, TM10 - Hidden Power, TM11 - Sunny Day, TM12 - Taunt, TM15 - Hyper Beam, TM16 - Light Screen, TM17 - Protect, TM18 - Rain Dance, TM19 - Telekinesis, TM20 - Safeguard, TM21 - Frustration, TM24 - Thunderbolt, TM26 - Earthquake, TM27 - Return, TM29 - Psychic, TM30 - Shadow Ball, TM31 - Brick Break, TM32 - Double Team, TM33 - Reflect, TM39 - Rock Tomb, TM40 - Aerial Ace, TM41 - Torment, TM42 - Facade, TM44 - Rest, TM45 - Attract, TM46 - Thief, TM47 - Ankle Sweep, TM48 - Troll, TM49 - Echo Voice, TM51 - Side Change, TM52 - Focus Blast, TM54 - False Swipe, TM56 - Fling, TM57 - Charge Beam, TM61 - Will-O-Wisp, TM67 - Get Even, TM68 - Giga Impact, TM70 - Flash, TM71 - Stone Edge, TM73 - Thunder Wave, TM75 - Swords Dance, TM77 - Psych Up, TM78 - Smooth Over, TM80 - Rock Slide, TM81 - X-Scissor, TM83 - Cheer Up, TM84 - Poison Jab, TM85 - Dream Eater, TM86 - Grass Knot, TM87 - Swagger, TM90 - Substitute, TM92 - Trick Room, TM94 - Rock Smash, HM01 - Cut, HM04 - Strength

Potential Sets:​

Lead @ Focus Sash​

Adamant​

252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
or
252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe​

~Close Combat
~Night Slash
~Stone Edge / Ice Punch
~Shadow Sneak​

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Gallade is able to function well as a lead thanks to Shadow Sneak. Basically hit the opponent with the appropriate move, and if the foe is faster, finish it off with Shadow Sneak.

Swords Dance @ Life Orb / Leftovers / Lum Berry​

Jolly / Adamant​

4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe​

~Swords Dance
~Close Combat
~Psycho Cut
~Stone Edge / Ice Punch​

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This set hasn't changed from last gen, but is still capable of wreaking havoc. After a single Swords Dance (assuming Adamant nature), Gallade reaches an astounding attack of 766. Meanwhile, if it runs Jolly, it attains an attack of 698. These moves attain good coverage in order to sweep. Gallade is unfortunately beaten by faster foes so it is recommended to run paralysis support when having Gallade on your team.

Substitute + 3 Attacks @ Leftovers​

Adamant​

252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe​

~Substitute
~Close Combat
~Night Slash
~Psycho Cut / Thunder Wave​

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Though similar to the Swords Dance set, this set uses Substitute to scout switch-ins and hit them with the appropriate move, easing prediction. Basically, bring Gallade on something you can threaten, Substitute as they switch out, and cripple them with Thunder Wave or hit them with the appropriate attack. Thunder Wave allows it to outspeed that Pokemon later in the game to allow for an easier sweep.

Choice @ Choice Scarf / Choice Band​

Adamant / Jolly​

4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe​

~Trick
~Close Combat
~Ice Punch / Stone Edge / Night Slash
~Psycho Cut​

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Gallade seperates it from the other Fighting types by it's secondary Psychic typing and access to Trick, which cripple walls. Choice Band gets more power, likewise Scarf gets the speed to revenge threats.

Liechi Swords Dance @ Liechi Berry [Suggested by SlimMan]​

Adamant​

4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe​

~Swords Dance
~Endure
~Shadow Sneak
~Close Combat​

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SD once or twice, and Endure when you predict a KO. Liechi will activate, giving you at least +3 Atk almost every time. Then you spam Shadow Sneak. On things like Swampert or and Empoleon, which you out-speed, you can CC for huge damage. As it turns out, the Steel and Normal types which resist/immune to Shadow Sneak are weak to CC, giving the famous Ghost-Fighting neutral coverage. Anyway, spamming priority off of base 125 Atk with +3 or more will decimate unprepared teams. I don't know about its viability in GenV, but it sure worked in GenIV.

Bulk Up @ Leftovers [Suggested by Breludicolo and Frost Nocturne]​

Adamant​

252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Sp Def​

~Bulk Up
~Drain Punch
~Rest
~Sleep Talk / Night Slash​

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Bulk Up boosts Gallade's attack and defense, making it a fearsome threat after a few Bulk Ups. Drain Punch recovers HP while hits with STAB, and Rest can be more reliable for healing. Night Slash over Sleep Talk if you want better coverage (if you don't use Night Slash, make sure to eliminate ghosts before sweeping).

Special Defensive Bulk Up @ Leftovers [Suggested by Galblade]​

Adamant​

252 HP / 252 SDef / 4 Spe​

~Drain Punch
~Shadow Sneak
~Bulk Up
~Thunder Wave​

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Fighting / Ghost is unresisted. While Drain punch heals, Shadow Sneak is for hitting those pesky ghosts into oblivion. Thunder Wave helps the team and itself by crippling faster Pokemon.

Triple Battles @ Leftovers [Suggested by PlatinumDude]​

Careful​

252 HP/64 Atk or Def/192 SpD​

~Healing Wave
~Brick Break / Drain Punch
-Night Slash/Ice Punch/Stone Edge
-Night Slash/Ice Punch/Stone Edge​

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This Gallade is able to function in triple battles by healing team mates by 50% and itself with Drain Punch. Night Slash / Ice Punch / Stone Edge provide good coverage alongside with Drain Punch / Brick Break.

Gallade hasn't changed much since Gen IV, and in this case, is not a good thing. With the new monstrous threats introduced in Gen V, Gallade can no longer match up with them. Gallade, however, should by no means be underestimated.​

Any opinions or suggestions?​

 

[Keclleon]

Looks interesting, maybe a Smooth Over set? Any opinions?

Gallade @ Leftovers

Adamant / Jolly Nature

4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd

-Smooth Over
-Close Combat
-Psycho Cut / Night Slash
-Substitute

So you simply Substitute or Smooth Over depending on the situation, and hit them with your STAB moves. Night Slash is an option for better coverage.

 

[worcestershire]

gallade is by no means a bad monster, but I don't see it gaining any new popularity in the generation shift. It's ghost weakness does it no favors with things like shanderaa and desukan running around, especially if shanderaa actually gets shadow tag. also, I'm relatively new here, but a smooth over set seems a little too gimmicky. the stat drop will help gallade outspeed his opponents, but all they have to do is switch in another monster to cancel out the speed drop. He might could work as a psuedo-hazer on a stall team, but it's a tricky to use.

 

[ShinyAzelf]

Yeah, I agree with everyone else. Even the ability it got from Dream World is not good. If Gallade resisted Dark, its a different story, but it can't switch into things like Crunch without taking tons of damage, just for an Attack boost.

I can see it being dominant in the under tiers though.

 

[Noble Cactus]

Yeah, I agree with everyone else. Even the ability it got from Dream World is not good. If Gallade resisted Dark, its a different story, but it can't switch into things like Crunch without taking tons of damage, just for an Attack boost.

I can see it being dominant in the under tiers though.

What? Justice Heart doesn't absorb Dark moves. In a generation of absorption moves? I… Game Freak… you… I don't…

*Shakes head*

Ugh.

Well, it's too bad Gallade didn't see much improvement. He's definitely not "bad" (a term grossly overused in the competitive community). He has status effects to separate him from his Fighting brethren.

There's always the third game…

 

[Athena]

Yeah, I agree with everyone else. Even the ability it got from Dream World is not good. If Gallade resisted Dark, its a different story, but it can't switch into things like Crunch without taking tons of damage, just for an Attack boost.

I can see it being dominant in the under tiers though.

Gallade will wreak havoc in the lower tiers, but the new ghosts and monsters going around in Gen V isn't going to help it out at all.

 

[breh]

Drain Punch is a huge, huge boost for Gallade. This means that it can actually run a (gasp) good bulk up set, relying now on a move with 10 pp and 75 base power, not a move with 5 pp and 60 base power >_<

 

[Karoda Gai]

Wallade is awesome but basically never used
Gallade @ chesto
252 HP/156 Def/100 SDef
~Will o wisp
~Bulk up
~Drain Punch
~Rest
Drain punch got boosted this gen, but this is still a little gimmicky set that actually works decently against people switching in fear of scarf Gallade. Just putting this set out there... :)

 

[heroic poke]

what does Healing Wave do?

EDIT: also, Gallade gets Shadow Sneak as an egg move. can't count that out.

 

[SlimMan]

I'm posting, once again, when I gotta go, so I've only read the OP. But here's a set I like to abuse (in GenIV, anyway):

Gallade@Liechi Berry
Steadfast; Adamant
252 Atk, 252 Spe, 4 HP

Swords Dance
Endure
Shadow Sneak
Close Combat

SD once or twice, and Endure when you predict a KO. Liechi will activate, giving you at least +3 Atk almost every time. Then you spam Shadow Sneak. On things like Swampert or and Empoleon, which you out-speed, you can CC for huge damage. As it turns out, the Steel and Normal types which resist/immune to Shadow Sneak are weak to CC, giving the famous Ghost-Fighting neutral coverage. Anyway, spamming priority off of base 125 Atk with +3 or more wil decimate unprepared teams. I don't know about its viability in GenV, but it sure worked in GenIV.

 

[breh]

Well... to actually contribute, this is the set I'd run.

[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
ability: Steadfast
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def

Eliminate ghosts (scarftar, etc.) and then sweep.

 

[scarletnova]

but gallade can switch into a dark pulse which wont even 2HKO(coz it can take an air slash from togekiss)

 

[PlatinumDude]

what does Healing Wave do?

It heals the target by 50% HP (it gives the target a free Recover). It's not useful in singles, but it could see some use in doubles when you can give defensive Pokemon that lack reliable recovery moves reliable recovery.

Anyway, Gallade is my favorite Pokemon. Too bad he didn't change much. To actually contribute to this thread, I came up with a set that could be used in doubles/triples (though Gallade is supposed to be offensive, this set is more on the supporting side):
-Healing Wave
-Brick Break
-Night Slash/Ice Punch/Stone Edge
-Night Slash/Ice Punch/Stone Edge
Nature: Careful
Item: Leftovers
EVs: 252 HP/64 Atk or Def/192 SpD
Ability: Steadfast

I opted for Brick Break over Close Combat because CC lowers your defenses and a supporting set wouldn't like having its defenses lowered. Healing Wave is for healing teammates, while the 2-move combination of Night Slash, Ice Punch and Stone Edge is for coverage.

 

[Frost Nocturne]

It heals the target by 50% HP (it gives the target a free Recover). It's not useful in singles, but it could see some use in doubles when you can give defensive Pokemon that lack reliable recovery moves reliable recovery.

Anyway, Gallade is my favorite Pokemon. Too bad he didn't change much. To actually contribute to this thread, I came up with a set that could be used in doubles/triples (though Gallade is supposed to be offensive, this set is more on the supporting side):
-Healing Wave
-Brick Break
-Night Slash/Ice Punch/Stone Edge
-Night Slash/Ice Punch/Stone Edge
Nature: Careful
Item: Leftovers
EVs: 252 HP/64 Atk or Def/192 SpD
Ability: Steadfast

I opted for Brick Break over Close Combat because CC lowers your defenses and a supporting set wouldn't like having its defenses lowered. Healing Wave is for healing teammates, while the 2-move combination of Night Slash, Ice Punch and Stone Edge is for coverage.

Nice set, but Drain Punch should always be used over Brick Break now that it has the same BP.

Gallade is my favorite Pokemon as well. I used him to great success as a lead in OU, and I was glad to see he got a useful Dream World ability to absorb Dark Attacks...until I found out it doesn't. That's great and all for Lucario, sporting a 4x resist, but Gallade is neutral to Dark with terrible defense. >_> At least it could get a boost from dark pulse? Oh well, hopefully he'll get Agility or Mach Punch from the 3rd game Tutors. The buff to Drain Punch is nice as well, letting him abuse his perfectly placed stats with regard to Bulk Up. This could work:

Gallade @ Careful
252 HP / 252 Sp.Def / 4 Spd
Bulk Up
Drain Punch
Wish/Rest
Protect/Sleep Talk/Night Slash

Also, that Substitute + Thunderwave set in the OP looks pretty good. It's one niche he has over other fighting types.

 

[Athena]

Everything has been updated. If you have any more opinions and / or suggestions, feel free to post!

 

[heroic poke]

I am definitely going for the SubWave set. As mentioned before, it's what really sets him apart from the rest, although I'm thinking it should be a little bulkier so you can make more Subs while waiting for the FP hax.

 

[Galblade]

Everyone is making silly sets involving Drain punch...

Gallade (M) @ Leftovers Trait: Steadfast
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Drain Punch
- Shadow Sneak
- Bulk Up
- Thunder Wave


Fighting/ghost is unresisted. While Drain punch heals, SS is for hitting those pesky ghosts into oblivion. Rest would be useful to remove status though spreading status is alot better for the team. Justice Heart would be PRO but it can't pass it on via egg move as there are no female Gallade's to do so...

 

[Trackman]

Not to be a twit, but could somebody update with eggmoves please? Thanks

 

[Athena]

Not to be a twit, but could somebody update with eggmoves please? Thanks

Sorry, I'll get that done shortly.

 

[Kibago]

Sigh. Why isn't Righteous Heart an immunity + attack raise to Dark type moves? that'd be a legitimate upgrade.

Gallade's movepool remains the key to utilizing him in standard battles. We've got some new powerful physical attacking threats with SD, like the mole, but Gallade's massive pool of options allows him lots of "super effective!"

I don't know if it's firstpost-worthy, but in gen #4, I had a lot of success with Gallade in standard using 252 HP/252 Atk Adamant with Leftovers + Thunder Wave and 3 attacks (CC/Nightslash/Stone Edge, I believe.) It was very easy for him to lure in fast threats like Gengar/Rotom-A and cripple them with paralysis + hit them with super-effective Night Slash. This gen has a lot of pokemon at base 101+ speed (along with a lot faster then Gallade, such as Sazando and Ono,) who don't want to be slowed down.

 

[Frost Nocturne]

The Lead set should definitely have Psycho Cut or Zen Headbutt at least slashed with Night Slash. It gives him a reliable secondary STAB move and kills off the often annoying Lead Machamp, who is apparently still popular and useful as a gen V lead. Also helpful against poison types like Tentacruel and popular new Fighting types like Roopushin.

 

[Mario With Lasers]

Sigh. Why isn't Righteous Heart an immunity + attack raise to Dark type moves? that'd be a legitimate upgrade.

Immunity to Taunt.

 

[Game Fusion Master]

gallade
nature adamant
item leftovers
moves
close combat
drain punch
night slash
stone edge

 

[Banryu]

Swords Dance @ Life Orb / Leftovers / Lum Berry

Jolly / Adamant
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
~Swords Dance
~Close Combat
~Shadow Sneak
~Stone Edge / Ice Punch​

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​

While Shadow Sneak is well-used on many other sets, I think that having it on this one is probably preferable over the Psychic STAB.

 

[leingodf8]

another option on the lead set (over say night slash or shadow sneak) is magic coat. Lets it block entry hazard attempts and sleep inducing leads. Also comes as a big surprise to most ^^