Bulk Up Gallade

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There is no Bulk Up set in the analysis, and I think there should be; it's not a gimmicky set, as it allows Gallade to beat out some common counters, while still remaining a threat rather than just a "creative" set to beat that which usually beats it. This is part of what I was going to post in the Analysis Workshop before I decided that it would be better to post here instead and gather general opinions, which is why it looks like it's in SCMS format.

I also apologize in advance if this thread seems kind of rick-shacketty. It's kind a cut/paste job from various PMs or notes to myself that I've written, so if something is repeated more than once, contradicts itself somewhere else in the post, or doesn't make sense, just let me know and I'll fix it ;). Thank you for reading!


name: Gaylade**
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Psycho Cut
move 4: Night Slash
item: Leftovers
nature: Adamant
evs: 230 HP / 32 Atk / 120 Def / 84 SpD / 44 Spd

Although it may seem gimmicky, this is an interesting and viable set to use. After one Bulk Up, it has 334 HP, 487 Atk, 294 Def, and 287 SpD, which is very workable. With the boosted attack, Drain Punch does respectable damage and STAB Psycho Cut hits hard almost all that doesn't resist it. The Spe EVs provide 207 Spe, allowing you to beat out Cressy and Suicune with a Timid nature and no EVs. With 334 HP / 294 Def / 287 SpD, you'll survive a Timid Life Orbed Shadow Ball from Gengar, a CBTar's Crunch, or a Adamant CBHera's Megahorn, and can then OHKO back with a +1 Psycho Cut or Drain Punch (whichever is super-effective).

It may appear that Snorlax can do this better with Curse, but it has no means of recovery besides Rest, and it has movepool problems that keep it from hitting either Gengar or Steel types, both of which are hit hard Gallade's STABed moves. Another advantage that this has over Snorlax is that you can continue to Bulk Up while your opponent's counter comes in, because most Pokemon that counter the expected sets, such as Gliscor and Sleep Talk Cresselia, can't really do anything to it after it has a defense boost. You also still outspeed things after Bulking Up, which Snorlax can't do with Curse, and having a fighting resist more than makes up for having a Flying and Ghost weak.

This set wouldn't really work without Drain Punch. It provides staying power through being a decent means of recovery and is a sturdy STAB move once powered up. It keeps Tyranitar and Weavile at bay (if you do manage to nab a hit on either of these, you're looking towards gaining at least 45% of your health), while also allowing you to put to rest any weak, last-ditch attempts at stopping your sweep.


How does it handle its counters? After a Bulk Up, Adamant CBHera's Megahorn doesn't OHKO (barring a crit), while Psycho Cut OHKOs back. It beats out any Cresselia or Uxie that doesn't have Thunder Wave with its good SpDef and Night Slash. BulkyGyara's Waterfall does 33% max after a Bulk Up (you can also continue to Bulk Up while he DDs, allowing you to keep on the upper hand on the defensive), which is the same amount your now +0 Atk Psycho Cut can do (you also have that boosted Crit rate). If Gliscor switches in on a Bulk Up, it can only do 36% with Aerial Ace (if it hasn't - it isn't all too common from my experience) and 29% with Earthquake. Sadly, this is outsped by Gliscor and BulkyGyara, but you can take those Atk EVs away and place them in Spd if you really feel the need to outspeed them (which can help in certain situations). All those other counters
From analysis said:
Generally, you should prey on his two weakest stats: Speed and Defense. If you manage to switch them in unscathed, then most fast, physical sweepers will scare him off.
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are either hampered by the Def boost or risk switching into a super-effective attack (or even a critical hit, as this has two high-rate crit moves). Spiritomb still can wall this set like no other if its HP is at a decent level (with Taunt/WoW and immunity to both of Gallade's STAB moves).

Here are some miscelaneous calcs:
NOTE: All of these calcs were done with 100 Atk EVs rather than just 32, so to get the real damage done, multiply the damage done by .94 ;)

+1 Attack:
Drain Punch vs. 252/156 Impish Skarmory: 26-30%
Drain Punch vs. 252/96 Impish Forretress: 25-30%
Drain Punch vs. 148/252 Bold Blissey: 74-87%
Drain Punch vs. 172/0 Timid Starmie: 26-30%
Drain Punch vs. 252/12 Adamant Metagross: 31-36%
Drain Punch vs. 252/0 Quiet Tyranitar: 129-152%
Drain Punch vs. 252/8 Relaxed Bronzong: 28-33%
Drain Punch vs. 52/0 Modest Heatran: 80-94%

Psycho Cut vs. 104/0 Adamant Heracross: 128-150%
Psycho Cut vs. 252/252 Impish Gliscor: 29-34%
Psycho Cut vs. 4/0 Timid Gengar: 190-223%
Psycho Cut vs. 252/252 Bold Weezing: 63-74%
Psycho Cut vs. 252/252 Impish Donphan: 27-32%

Night Slash vs. 20/252 Modest Cresselia: 40-47%
Night Slash vs. 252/76 Impish Dusknoir: 50-58%
Night Slash vs. 252/100 Bold Uxie: 42-49%
Night Slash vs. 172/0 Timid Starmie: 82-97%
Night Slash vs. 252/0 Careful Spiritomb: 33-40%

Remember that this is only with +1 Atk, and you also gain reasonable defenses and have good HP along with this. To see how much you'd do with two Bulk Ups, multiply the damage by 4/3. To find how much a critical hit would do (since this has two high crit-rate moves, Psycho Cut and Night Slash), just multiply the damage by 2.

**Why Gaylade, you ask? Well, when I first started using this set, and it was beating a friend of mine quite badly (either kami or Bentendo - kami thinks it was him), and he remarked on AIM something to the effect of "dude, this is gay." It sounds better than BUGallade, and is easier/funner to type than Bulk Up Gallade, and it's caught on with Ben/Gin/Kami, so I hope it will catch on with the rest of the Population...
 
I suppose the main reason that this isn't on the analysis is because people value the better offenses of the SD set. While that's a good set, I find that a slower Pokemon values a defensive and offensive boost like that more than just an offensive one. The SD set almost requires Twave support, or an Agilipass, but this one is self-sufficient (it does benefit from Twave support, though). I don't think this set could be obvious enough, though. Physical attackers with high special defense seem to call out for this move, yet Bulk Up only in Other Options on our site's strategy dex.

I think there is some room for slashes, primarily to mention Stone Edge, but I like how the set looks and performs.
 
This looks like a good set, but it has nothing to stop common pHazers like Skarmory, Suicune, Swampert, etc., so watch out for those. Like you said Spiritom lols at this set, so does WoW Dusknoir, defensive Togekiss, and Taunt Gliscor. Drain Punch is not the most reliable means of recovery and only has 8 PP. Overall it seems pretty solid.
 
Maybe a spread of 230 HP / 32 Atk / 120 Def / 84 SpD / 44 Spe could work as you can still OHKO Tyraniboah and Heracross and 2HKO Heatran, Blissey, Starmie, and possibly 2HKO Careful Dusknoir (252 HP/80Def). All the calcs were done on your spreads.

If you give Gallade 230 HP/84 SpD you can survive 1 Life Orbed Shadow Ball from a Timid Gengar, which can be crucial but with all the residual damage and switch ins Gallade probably wouldn't survive. You can take a CB Tyranitar's Crunch too.

With 44 Speed EVs it hits 207 Speed outspeeding Cresselia and Suicune without a + Speed Nature and any Speed EVs.

I'm not so good with EV Spreads. >.>
 
Yeah, this is a good set. I usually like to EV it more on the special defensive side. IIRC it requires 64 special defense EVs (with 230 HP) to survive Specs Mence's Draco Meteor. Like Mr. Darkrai said, it'd take 84 special defensive EVs to take a LO'd Shadow Ball from timid Gar. However, just going all out careful 252 HP/252 sp def is fine by me, no matter how reckless it may be. :P
 
Bentendo13 said:
Yeah, this is a good set. I usually like to EV it more on the special defensive side. IIRC it requires 64 special defense EVs (with 230 HP) to survive Specs Mence's Draco Meteor. Like Mr. Darkrai said, it'd take 84 special defensive EVs to take a LO'd Shadow Ball from timid Gar. However, just going all out careful 252 HP/252 sp def is fine by me, no matter how reckless it may be. :P
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I prefer Careful too. Allows mt to take hits better at the cost off a few Attack points. I made a pretty good set off of a random Careful Gallade I bred.
 
Skarm is the only one that really threatens this, with a powerful STAB Brave Bird. Spiritomb takes this set on with ease, as I mentioned, but both Togekiss and Dusknoir will be wary of switching in due to the fear of Choice Band (and if Togekiss flinches Gallade, it gets a speed boost, making it even deadlier). Taunt Gliscor can stop it, but only after it has 2 Bulk Ups, which will allow it to beat said Gliscor (if Gallade is faster).

I appreciate the effort put into the EV spread, Mr. Darkrai. I forgot to add in my post that the spread is very much up in the air. Living through a Shadow Ball and other SE special moves is helpful enough, as is outspeeding no-speed Gliscor and BulkyGyara. Therefore, your EV spread can depend on where your priorities lie. You can place most of your Atk EVs in Spd, allowing you to beat out BulkyGyara and Gliscor, or you can place them in SpDef to help you live through those hits. You could even run more Def and a Careful nature if you wish to take more hits (I haven't really looked into this, though - there probably is a better spread defensively with a Careful nature). Anways, my point is, and spread reccomendations are well accepted!
 
Maybe consider Shadow Sneak over Night Slash? It gives Gallade a nice priority option and still hits things that Night Slash would SE.
 
Shinryu said:
Maybe consider Shadow Sneak over Night Slash? It gives Gallade a nice priority option and still hits things that Night Slash would SE.
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From my calcs a Shadow Sneak cannot OHKO Gengar (4HP/0Def) after one Bulk Up and after two Bulk Ups Gengar still has a chance at surviving. So it wouldn't do much.
 
Someone used this Gallade against me. I thought it was pretty interesting, but really, Night Slash works better than Shadow Sneak.
 
Shupo said:
Gallade does get Wish via NYPC Ralts, so if you wanted you could run Brick Break / [Ice Punch / Stone Edge / Psycho Cut / Night Slash / Shadow Sneak] / Wish / Bulk Up.

A bit of slash-itis in the second slot.
All the moves for the second slot offer decent coverage. Shadow Sneak is great for no resists and allowing you to easily take out Gengar. Psycho Cut offers secondary stab, but you will have trouble getting by Cresselia.
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The thing is that Drain Punch will heal you a bit more if you have like 2 bulk ups. (I think)

Also; I run this set but Careful 252 hp 252 sp def but i also put subsitute. Kinda like a CM Raikou.
 
Might want to consider Hypnosis somewhere on this set, to allow it to set up a little more and potentially disable one of its counters for a while. I don't see Psycho Cut being all too useful when you go and stick Night Slash on the set as well.
 
BeastlyTyson said:
The thing is that Drain Punch will heal you a bit more if you have like 2 bulk ups. (I think)

Also; I run this set but Careful 252 hp 252 sp def but i also put subsitute. Kinda like a CM Raikou.
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Bulk Up is already listed as an option in the analysis, so why did you have to bump a four-month-old thread?
 
The same set works on Hitmonchan too(which gets a Iron Fist boost to the elemental punches and Drain Punch). I used it on my team unitl yesterday when i replaced him with Spiritomb.

Hitmonchan with Drain Punch/Bulk Up/Thinderpunch/Ice Punch it was
 
I've tried Bulk Up (with Wish given out via event Ralts) to a little success. With Bulk Up / Wish / Brick Break / Night Slash, Gallade can safely set up on Cresselia and kill with Night Slash.

The main flaw of a Bulk Up set are Gallade's horrible HP stopping him from tanking like Curse Snorlax. Swords Dance hits harder and faster, too, so why not do that?

Oh, this is a 5 month old bump.
 
How about Wow or Hypnosis over Night Slash? It leaves it walled by Cresselia as well but that will teach those Swampert and Skarmories not to switch in. Spiritomb and Suicune won't mind sleep or burn though. Having a support move allows Gallade to get more bulkups as well.

I use Careful for this but I think it lacks offense with Careful so I might use Adamant instead.

Edit: Ops, didn't realize that date..sorry. :(
 
Precisely my thought, ChouToshio. The Psychic/Bug combo is only walled by Steel types, which are handled by Drain Punch. X-Scissor has a higher BP, anyway.

What you said is true, too (or at least should be...).
 
I find Drain Punch to weak for me. If it has as much PP as Giga Drain, then maybe it would be viable. But for now, Drain Punch doesn't do enough damage, and its PP isn't high enough.
 
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