[OVERVIEW]
Gardevoir stands out as a potent special threat in the metagame due to its high Special Attack stat, decent Speed, and wide movepool. Its strong Special Attack and wide array of coverage moves allow it to function as an effective wallbreaker or revenge killer. Gardevoir’s Psychic-type STAB lets it consistently pressure common threats like Hitmonchan and Nidoqueen, while additional coverage in Signal Beam, Thunderbolt, Focus Blast, and Hidden Power enables it to deal with a variety of opponents, such as Cacturne and Charizard. Gardevoir has access to utility moves like Taunt, Will-o-Wisp, and Encore as well, adding to its usefulness and give utility to the team. Trace provides Gardevoir with the ability to copy opposing abilities like Intimidate from Tauros, Water Absorb from Poliwrath, and Magnet Pull from Magneton, which can trap and KO with either Focus Blast or Hidden Power Ground. Trace also copies Chlorophyll and Swift Swim abilities, and thus, it can get a great matchup against weather teams.
However, Gardevoir's biggest issue is its incredible frailty against physical attacks from the likes of Tauros and Floatzel. Due to this weakness, it even struggles to check and switch into powerful Fighting-type attacks like Close Combat from Hitmonchan. Gardevoir should also be aware of Pursuit from Skuntank, as it can easily switch into Psychic. Skuntank's existence is generally problematic for Gardevoir as it also threatens it with Sucker Punch. Other common physical attacks that Gardevoir doesn't appreciate are priority moves, such as Sucker Punch from Skuntank, Bullet Punch from Medicham, or even Aqua Jet from Sharpedo. Therefore, Gardevoir's physical vulnerability should always be considered in order to effectively create favorable matchups and apply consistent pressure throughout the game.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Thunderbolt / Signal Beam
move 3: Focus Blast / Hidden Power Ground
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Trace
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
=======
This set turns Gardevoir into a revenge killer and late-game cleaner. Choice Scarf boosts Gardevoir's Speed, allowing it to outspeed faster common threats such as Charizard, Tauros, and Haunter. Psychic is first on the set, as it is Gardevoir's most powerful STAB move. Thunderbolt provides coverage against bulky Water-types like Slowking or Flying-types like Articuno, and 2HKOS the troublesome Skuntank after Stealth Rock chip. Signal Beam grants it coverage against Dark-types like Cacturne and denies its ability to use Spikes, as well as opposing Psychic-types like Jynx and opposing Gardevoir. If not running Signal Beam, Gardevoir can run Focus Blast to threaten the Dark-types mentioned, while also targetting Magneton and OHKOing Tauros. Another option for this move slot is Hidden Power Ground that offers Gardevoir more consistent coverage against Magneton, and hits Skuntank pretty hard as well. Trick allows Gardevoir to cripple walls and defensive Pokemon like Lickitung by locking them into one move. A timely Trick can also cripple defensive set-up sweepers like Regirock which will attempt to comfortably boost itself on Gardevoir. Timid nature allow Gardevoir to reach 426 Speed with a Choice Scarf, outspeeding nearly everything in the DPP NU metagame, besides opposing Choice Scarf users like Typhlosion and Tauros.
Team Options
========
Gardevoir appreciates teammates like Regirock, Glalie, and Cacturne, which can provide chip damage by setting up entry hazards like Stealth Rock and Spikes, increasing Gardevoir's ability as a late-game cleaner. Rapid Spin support from the likes of Sandslash and Hitmonchan is appreciated since Gardevoir needs it in order to increase its longevity for its revenge-killing role. Hitmonchan, in particular, is a great partner for Gardevoir as it deals with the Dark-types and Magneton alongside its Rapid Spin support, and in return, Gardevoir removes foes like Vileplume for Hitmonchan. Skuntank is a solid partner for Gardevoir as it handles opposing Ghost-types that threaten Gardevoir, such as Dusclops, Haunter, and Drifblim. Gardevoir is very valnurable against Skuntank as it can switch in to Psychic and threaten Gardevoir with either Pursuit or Sucker Punch. Pokemon like Magneton, Regirock, Sandslash, and Rhydon handle Skuntank pretty well as they can KO Skuntank with their own attacks and can tank its hits comfortably.
[SET]
name: Offensive Utility
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Signal Beam / Thunderbolt
move 3: Hiddden Power Ground / Focus Blast
move 4: Taunt / Encore / Will-o-Wisp
item: Colbur Berry
ability: Trace
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Set Details
========
This set focuses on Gardevoir's ability to combine special attacking presence and utility, making Gardevoir one of the best options in the current metagame to perform the offensive utility role. Colbur Berry is the pillar of this set, as it allows Gardevoir to tank Dark-type moves like Sucker Punch from Shiftry, and switch out of Pursuit once from Skuntank and Tauros. Signal Beam and Thunderbolt are solid options for coverage moves, targetting foes like Cacturne and Slowking, respectively. Focus Blast and Hidden Power Ground can hit Pokemon whom Gardevoir can't harm with its STAB Psychic, such as Magneton and Skuntank. For the last move in this set, Gardevoir has a plethora options to choose from. Taunt shuts down slower walls like Regirock preventing Stealth Rock, or Slowking preventing recovery, and potentially both from using Thunder Wave. Taunt also annoys other utility Pokemon like Articuno and Ampharos by preventing them to use moves like Thunder Wave or Heal Bell. Encore can lock opponents into one move, so Gardevoir is able to stop setup sweepers like Cradily, and cripple defensive walls like Articuno and Slowking. Alternatively, Gardevoir can run Will-o-Wisp, crippling physical attackers that Gardevoir struggle against like Rhydon and Sandslash. Will-o-Wisp comes in very handy in the Skuntank matchup, as Skuntank gets crippled by the burn and Gardevoir threatens it back with Hidden Power Ground.
Team Options
========
This set provides Gardevoir the ability to lure Skuntank and cripple it with burn or threaten it with its attacks, so Pokemon that benefit from this are great partners, such as Haunter and Drifblim. Other Pokemon that appreciate Gardevoir's utility moves, Taunt and Encore, are setup sweepers that struggle setting up on their own like Drifblim, Lickilicky, Rhydon, and Cradily. Gardevoirs helps them by either locking walls like Slowking into one move with Encore, and thus it gives them a free turn of setting up, or by disabling other Pokemon from using their own utility moves with Taunt, such as Toxic from the likes of Articuno and Vileplume's Sleep Powder. Gardevoir threatens slower physical attackers like Hitmonchan and Medicham, so partners like Magneton and Regirock benefit from this, and considered great partners for Gardevoir. Although Gardevoir can run WIll-o-Wisp, it is still threatend by faster physical threats like Tauros and Floatzel, so Regirock is also a good choice to act as Tauros check, while Pokemon like Slowking, Meganium, and Poliwrath are solid options for dealing with Floatzel. Despite its use of Colbur Berry, Gardevoir should always be aware of Dark-type attacks from the likes of Shiftry, especially if Gardevoir is weakend enough to be threatened with a KO. Therefore, partners like Magneton and Skuntank are always appreciated, as they are able to switch into these type of attacks for Gardevoir.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Thanks to Gardevoir's incredibly wide movepool, there are many other options to be considered other than the listed moves above. Memento allows Gardevoir to create setup opportunities for teammates like Linoone, while Healing Wish makes it a valuable support asset for offensive teams, bringing safely in offensive teammates like Typhlosion and Medicham. Destiny Bond is another solid move option, as it gives Gardevoir the ability to force trades and remove key threats that would otherwise KO it, such as Skuntank and Regirock. Gardevoir can also run Thunder Wave in order to provide speed control and help slow teammates like Regirock function better. Wish, Heal Bell, and Pain Split add defensive utility by healing Gardevoir and its teammates or spread status recovery.
Gardevoir can run many other different sets as well. Calm Mind is a set that makes Gardevoir a powerful late-game sweeper, but it gets shut down easily by the faster physical threats. Choice Specs is also another option to be considered other than Choice Scarf, making Gardevoir a hard-hitting special wallbreaker by maximizing its offensive output, but making it more valnurable against Skuntank. It is worth mentioning that both Calm Mind, after one boost, and Choice Specs can KO Skuntank with Hidden Power Ground after Stealth Rock damage. Other sets that could function well on certain team structures are Dual Screens and Weather Support. Dual Screens set allows Gardevoir to use the combination of Light Screen and Reflect, providing setup opportunities for sweepers like Cradily, while Weather Support allows Gardevoir to use either Rain Dance or Sunny Day, with Damp Rock or Heat Rock as item of choice, functioning as a weather setter for dedicated teams. Gardevoir can also run both Taunt and Will-o-Wisp on the same set, allowing Gardevoir to cripple physical attackers like Regirock, but by running that combination it gets rid of one of the useful coverage moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Physical attackers**: Pokemon like Tauros, Floatzel, and Rhydon threaten Gardevoir due to its low physical bulk. Tauros can also use Pursuit on Gardevoir. However, none of these threats will switch into Gardevoir's attacks as they take too much damage, especially from its STAB Psychic.
**Skuntank**: Skuntank is probably the biggest threat to Gardevoir, as it can easily switch into most Gardevoir's attacks, making Choice Scarf set's usage harder, and threaten a KO with either Pursuit or Sucker Punch, even if Gardevoir runs Colbur Berry and is weakened enough. Skuntank might also run Lum Berry to avoid getting burnt from Gardevoir's Will-o-Wisp. If it doesn't run Lum Berry, then Gardevoir can cripple it with the burn, and also Skuntank doesn't take hits from Hidden Power Ground too well. However, Skuntank might also run Shuca Berry that allows it to tank Hidden Power Ground from Gardevoir.
**Other Dark-types**: Pokemon like Shiftry, Cacturne, and Sharpedo can KO Gardevoir with their STAB Dark-type moves. However, none of them afford to get burnt by Will-o-Wisp, but that's situational since they might run special moves like Dark Pulse. Gardevoir's coverage moves, Signal Beam and Thunderbolt, come in very handy in these matchups. Signal Beam, in particular, OHKOes Shiftry and Cacturne. Colbur Berry helps Gardevoir dealing with these matchups.
**Ghost-types**: Haunter and Drifblim threaten Gardevoir with their STAB Shadow Ball. Haunter outspeeds and KOs Gardevoir, while Drifblim take a hit from Psychic and can also activate its Unburden ability, so it can outspeed Gardevoir. However, both of them should be aware of its Choice Scarf set, as Haunter gets OHKOed by Psychic, and Drifblim is threatened by Thunderbolt. Dusclops is also a considerate threat to Gardevoir, as it can take any hit from Gardevoir, even Psychic, if it got special bulk investement, and can offensively check Gardevoir with Shadow Sneak. Sableye is also a solid check to Gardevoir, being immune to Gardevoir's Psychic and tanking every other attack.
**Slowking**: Slowking is a solid check for Gardevoir, as it resists Psychic and can take most hits from Gardevoir pretty well. It is also able to set up either Calm Mind or Nasty Plot in front of Gardevoir, which can mean trouble for the game. However, Slowking can still be worn down with either Signal Beam or Thunderbolt, and doesn't appreciate Gardevoir's utility moves Taunt and Encore, which prevent Slowking from setting up.
**Magneton**: Magneton is a Pokemon that switches into Gardevoir's Psychic if it's healthy enough, and other coverage moves like Signal Beam and Thunderbolt. However, if Gardevoir switches at the right time it can copy Magneton's ability Magnet Pull thanks to Trace and KO Magneton by trapping it and using either Focus Blast or Hidden Power Ground.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lialiabeast.564420/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Gardevoir stands out as a potent special threat in the metagame due to its high Special Attack stat, decent Speed, and wide movepool. Its strong Special Attack and wide array of coverage moves allow it to function as an effective wallbreaker or revenge killer. Gardevoir’s Psychic-type STAB lets it consistently pressure common threats like Hitmonchan and Nidoqueen, while additional coverage in Signal Beam, Thunderbolt, Focus Blast, and Hidden Power enables it to deal with a variety of opponents, such as Cacturne and Charizard. Gardevoir has access to utility moves like Taunt, Will-o-Wisp, and Encore as well, adding to its usefulness and give utility to the team. Trace provides Gardevoir with the ability to copy opposing abilities like Intimidate from Tauros, Water Absorb from Poliwrath, and Magnet Pull from Magneton, which can trap and KO with either Focus Blast or Hidden Power Ground. Trace also copies Chlorophyll and Swift Swim abilities, and thus, it can get a great matchup against weather teams.
However, Gardevoir's biggest issue is its incredible frailty against physical attacks from the likes of Tauros and Floatzel. Due to this weakness, it even struggles to check and switch into powerful Fighting-type attacks like Close Combat from Hitmonchan. Gardevoir should also be aware of Pursuit from Skuntank, as it can easily switch into Psychic. Skuntank's existence is generally problematic for Gardevoir as it also threatens it with Sucker Punch. Other common physical attacks that Gardevoir doesn't appreciate are priority moves, such as Sucker Punch from Skuntank, Bullet Punch from Medicham, or even Aqua Jet from Sharpedo. Therefore, Gardevoir's physical vulnerability should always be considered in order to effectively create favorable matchups and apply consistent pressure throughout the game.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Thunderbolt / Signal Beam
move 3: Focus Blast / Hidden Power Ground
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Trace
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
=======
This set turns Gardevoir into a revenge killer and late-game cleaner. Choice Scarf boosts Gardevoir's Speed, allowing it to outspeed faster common threats such as Charizard, Tauros, and Haunter. Psychic is first on the set, as it is Gardevoir's most powerful STAB move. Thunderbolt provides coverage against bulky Water-types like Slowking or Flying-types like Articuno, and 2HKOS the troublesome Skuntank after Stealth Rock chip. Signal Beam grants it coverage against Dark-types like Cacturne and denies its ability to use Spikes, as well as opposing Psychic-types like Jynx and opposing Gardevoir. If not running Signal Beam, Gardevoir can run Focus Blast to threaten the Dark-types mentioned, while also targetting Magneton and OHKOing Tauros. Another option for this move slot is Hidden Power Ground that offers Gardevoir more consistent coverage against Magneton, and hits Skuntank pretty hard as well. Trick allows Gardevoir to cripple walls and defensive Pokemon like Lickitung by locking them into one move. A timely Trick can also cripple defensive set-up sweepers like Regirock which will attempt to comfortably boost itself on Gardevoir. Timid nature allow Gardevoir to reach 426 Speed with a Choice Scarf, outspeeding nearly everything in the DPP NU metagame, besides opposing Choice Scarf users like Typhlosion and Tauros.
Team Options
========
Gardevoir appreciates teammates like Regirock, Glalie, and Cacturne, which can provide chip damage by setting up entry hazards like Stealth Rock and Spikes, increasing Gardevoir's ability as a late-game cleaner. Rapid Spin support from the likes of Sandslash and Hitmonchan is appreciated since Gardevoir needs it in order to increase its longevity for its revenge-killing role. Hitmonchan, in particular, is a great partner for Gardevoir as it deals with the Dark-types and Magneton alongside its Rapid Spin support, and in return, Gardevoir removes foes like Vileplume for Hitmonchan. Skuntank is a solid partner for Gardevoir as it handles opposing Ghost-types that threaten Gardevoir, such as Dusclops, Haunter, and Drifblim. Gardevoir is very valnurable against Skuntank as it can switch in to Psychic and threaten Gardevoir with either Pursuit or Sucker Punch. Pokemon like Magneton, Regirock, Sandslash, and Rhydon handle Skuntank pretty well as they can KO Skuntank with their own attacks and can tank its hits comfortably.
[SET]
name: Offensive Utility
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Signal Beam / Thunderbolt
move 3: Hiddden Power Ground / Focus Blast
move 4: Taunt / Encore / Will-o-Wisp
item: Colbur Berry
ability: Trace
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Set Details
========
This set focuses on Gardevoir's ability to combine special attacking presence and utility, making Gardevoir one of the best options in the current metagame to perform the offensive utility role. Colbur Berry is the pillar of this set, as it allows Gardevoir to tank Dark-type moves like Sucker Punch from Shiftry, and switch out of Pursuit once from Skuntank and Tauros. Signal Beam and Thunderbolt are solid options for coverage moves, targetting foes like Cacturne and Slowking, respectively. Focus Blast and Hidden Power Ground can hit Pokemon whom Gardevoir can't harm with its STAB Psychic, such as Magneton and Skuntank. For the last move in this set, Gardevoir has a plethora options to choose from. Taunt shuts down slower walls like Regirock preventing Stealth Rock, or Slowking preventing recovery, and potentially both from using Thunder Wave. Taunt also annoys other utility Pokemon like Articuno and Ampharos by preventing them to use moves like Thunder Wave or Heal Bell. Encore can lock opponents into one move, so Gardevoir is able to stop setup sweepers like Cradily, and cripple defensive walls like Articuno and Slowking. Alternatively, Gardevoir can run Will-o-Wisp, crippling physical attackers that Gardevoir struggle against like Rhydon and Sandslash. Will-o-Wisp comes in very handy in the Skuntank matchup, as Skuntank gets crippled by the burn and Gardevoir threatens it back with Hidden Power Ground.
Team Options
========
This set provides Gardevoir the ability to lure Skuntank and cripple it with burn or threaten it with its attacks, so Pokemon that benefit from this are great partners, such as Haunter and Drifblim. Other Pokemon that appreciate Gardevoir's utility moves, Taunt and Encore, are setup sweepers that struggle setting up on their own like Drifblim, Lickilicky, Rhydon, and Cradily. Gardevoirs helps them by either locking walls like Slowking into one move with Encore, and thus it gives them a free turn of setting up, or by disabling other Pokemon from using their own utility moves with Taunt, such as Toxic from the likes of Articuno and Vileplume's Sleep Powder. Gardevoir threatens slower physical attackers like Hitmonchan and Medicham, so partners like Magneton and Regirock benefit from this, and considered great partners for Gardevoir. Although Gardevoir can run WIll-o-Wisp, it is still threatend by faster physical threats like Tauros and Floatzel, so Regirock is also a good choice to act as Tauros check, while Pokemon like Slowking, Meganium, and Poliwrath are solid options for dealing with Floatzel. Despite its use of Colbur Berry, Gardevoir should always be aware of Dark-type attacks from the likes of Shiftry, especially if Gardevoir is weakend enough to be threatened with a KO. Therefore, partners like Magneton and Skuntank are always appreciated, as they are able to switch into these type of attacks for Gardevoir.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Thanks to Gardevoir's incredibly wide movepool, there are many other options to be considered other than the listed moves above. Memento allows Gardevoir to create setup opportunities for teammates like Linoone, while Healing Wish makes it a valuable support asset for offensive teams, bringing safely in offensive teammates like Typhlosion and Medicham. Destiny Bond is another solid move option, as it gives Gardevoir the ability to force trades and remove key threats that would otherwise KO it, such as Skuntank and Regirock. Gardevoir can also run Thunder Wave in order to provide speed control and help slow teammates like Regirock function better. Wish, Heal Bell, and Pain Split add defensive utility by healing Gardevoir and its teammates or spread status recovery.
Gardevoir can run many other different sets as well. Calm Mind is a set that makes Gardevoir a powerful late-game sweeper, but it gets shut down easily by the faster physical threats. Choice Specs is also another option to be considered other than Choice Scarf, making Gardevoir a hard-hitting special wallbreaker by maximizing its offensive output, but making it more valnurable against Skuntank. It is worth mentioning that both Calm Mind, after one boost, and Choice Specs can KO Skuntank with Hidden Power Ground after Stealth Rock damage. Other sets that could function well on certain team structures are Dual Screens and Weather Support. Dual Screens set allows Gardevoir to use the combination of Light Screen and Reflect, providing setup opportunities for sweepers like Cradily, while Weather Support allows Gardevoir to use either Rain Dance or Sunny Day, with Damp Rock or Heat Rock as item of choice, functioning as a weather setter for dedicated teams. Gardevoir can also run both Taunt and Will-o-Wisp on the same set, allowing Gardevoir to cripple physical attackers like Regirock, but by running that combination it gets rid of one of the useful coverage moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Physical attackers**: Pokemon like Tauros, Floatzel, and Rhydon threaten Gardevoir due to its low physical bulk. Tauros can also use Pursuit on Gardevoir. However, none of these threats will switch into Gardevoir's attacks as they take too much damage, especially from its STAB Psychic.
**Skuntank**: Skuntank is probably the biggest threat to Gardevoir, as it can easily switch into most Gardevoir's attacks, making Choice Scarf set's usage harder, and threaten a KO with either Pursuit or Sucker Punch, even if Gardevoir runs Colbur Berry and is weakened enough. Skuntank might also run Lum Berry to avoid getting burnt from Gardevoir's Will-o-Wisp. If it doesn't run Lum Berry, then Gardevoir can cripple it with the burn, and also Skuntank doesn't take hits from Hidden Power Ground too well. However, Skuntank might also run Shuca Berry that allows it to tank Hidden Power Ground from Gardevoir.
**Other Dark-types**: Pokemon like Shiftry, Cacturne, and Sharpedo can KO Gardevoir with their STAB Dark-type moves. However, none of them afford to get burnt by Will-o-Wisp, but that's situational since they might run special moves like Dark Pulse. Gardevoir's coverage moves, Signal Beam and Thunderbolt, come in very handy in these matchups. Signal Beam, in particular, OHKOes Shiftry and Cacturne. Colbur Berry helps Gardevoir dealing with these matchups.
**Ghost-types**: Haunter and Drifblim threaten Gardevoir with their STAB Shadow Ball. Haunter outspeeds and KOs Gardevoir, while Drifblim take a hit from Psychic and can also activate its Unburden ability, so it can outspeed Gardevoir. However, both of them should be aware of its Choice Scarf set, as Haunter gets OHKOed by Psychic, and Drifblim is threatened by Thunderbolt. Dusclops is also a considerate threat to Gardevoir, as it can take any hit from Gardevoir, even Psychic, if it got special bulk investement, and can offensively check Gardevoir with Shadow Sneak. Sableye is also a solid check to Gardevoir, being immune to Gardevoir's Psychic and tanking every other attack.
**Slowking**: Slowking is a solid check for Gardevoir, as it resists Psychic and can take most hits from Gardevoir pretty well. It is also able to set up either Calm Mind or Nasty Plot in front of Gardevoir, which can mean trouble for the game. However, Slowking can still be worn down with either Signal Beam or Thunderbolt, and doesn't appreciate Gardevoir's utility moves Taunt and Encore, which prevent Slowking from setting up.
**Magneton**: Magneton is a Pokemon that switches into Gardevoir's Psychic if it's healthy enough, and other coverage moves like Signal Beam and Thunderbolt. However, if Gardevoir switches at the right time it can copy Magneton's ability Magnet Pull thanks to Trace and KO Magneton by trapping it and using either Focus Blast or Hidden Power Ground.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lialiabeast.564420/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Last edited:
