[OVERVIEW]
Gallade is a devastatingly powerful wallbreaker thanks to its strong STAB combination, excellent Attack stat, and solid coverage moves, which hit common physical walls such as Sandaconda and Doublade for super effective damage. With access to Shadow Sneak, it can pick off faster threats like Galarian Articuno and Whimsicott. Its STAB Close Combat is naturally strong in a tier with Rock- and Steel-types like Regirock and Togedemaru everywhere, and its Psychic-type STAB moves take on Fighting-resistant Pokemon like Comfey and Garbodor pretty well. With access to Swords Dance, Gallade can become even more powerful at the cost of losing coverage options. However, Gallade's Speed, while useful for outspeeding other slow wallbreakers like Centiskorch and Perrserker, is overall lackluster, and it relies heavily on ensuring faster foes like Ribombee and Sneasel are within Shadow Sneak range if it cannot survive a hit from them. Gallade's special bulk is decent, but its physical bulk is very subpar, which, combined with its few resistances and weaknesses to popular Fairy-, Flying-, and Ghost-type moves, leaves Gallade with little defensive utility. Finally, Gallade lacks recovery, and thus it gets quickly worn down by residual damage from entry hazards, Rocky Helmet, and stray hits.
[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Psycho Cut / Zen Headbutt
move 3: Shadow Sneak
move 4: Knock Off / Leaf Blade / Thunder Punch
item: Muscle Band / Assault Vest
ability: Justified
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Psycho Cut allows Gallade to avoid activating Rocky Helmet and Aftermath, which gives Gallade more opportunities to wallbreak. Psycho Cut is fully accurate and doesn't make contact, but Zen Headbutt has more power and can help Gallade get past answers like Aromatisse with brute force. Thunder Punch and Leaf Blade deny switch-ins such as defensive Charizard and Sandaconda. Knock Off hits bulky Psychic-types like Uxie and cripples other switch-ins like Jellicent. Muscle Band ensures 2HKOs on Pokemon like Quagsire and Hattrem with Close Combat and Knock Off, respectively. Assault Vest grants Gallade more defensive utility and allows it to survive one hit from super effective special attackers like Ribombee and Charizard, but it sacrifices power. Heavy-Duty Boots is an option to avoid entry hazard damage, which can quickly wear Gallade down; however, Muscle Band is heavily recommended due to granting better odds for OHKOs and 2HKOs. Justified punishes weak Knock Offs from Pokemon like Audino. Gallade appreciates the support of pivots like Scyther and Wishwashi; the former brings Knock Off utility and can threaten Gallade's offensive checks like Galarian Articuno, while the latter can switch into Pokemon like Charizard that force Gallade out and provide a free switch via its slow U-turn. Entry hazards support from Pokemon like Gigalith and Ferroseed helps wear down Gallade's answers like Alcremie and Cofagrigus, especially if Gallade removes their Heavy-Duty Boots with Knock Off.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Psycho Cut / Zen Headbutt
move 4: Shadow Sneak / Knock Off
item: Life Orb / Lum Berry
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance turns Gallade into an even more powerful wallbreaker, with +2 STAB moves OHKOing Pokemon like Sandaconda and Regirock after minimal chip damage. Psycho Cut helps Gallade avoid activating Rocky Helmet and Iron Barbs, while Zen Headbutt is stronger but less consistent. Shadow Sneak is recommended to pick off faster foes like Ribombee at +2, but Knock Off can always be used to wear down switch-ins like Jellicent to sweep more easily later. Life Orb ensures the 2HKO with Close Combat on Quagsire, which can otherwise take a +2 hit due to Unaware, and provides more general power. Lum Berry is useful for avoiding status and allows Gallade to set up on Pokemon like Jellicent, Weezing, and Hattrem. A Jolly nature lets Gallade outspeed as many foes as possible, such as Vanilluxe, and Speed tie with Timid Mesprit; an Adamant nature is unnecessary due to the sheer power behind a +2 Life Orb Gallade. This set fits mainly on more offensive teams due to its volatile nature, and it appreciates fast pivots like Ninjask and Archeops; in turn, they enjoy Gallade scaring out Togedemaru and Regirock, respectively. Without Shadow Sneak, Gallade is helpless against revenge killers like Scyther and Whimsicott, so Pokemon that can take advantage of them like Lycanroc and Choice Scarf Togedemaru are heavily appreciated.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Heracross2.0, 414072]]
- Quality checked by: [[[asa, 400292], [MZ, 202117]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
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