
[OVERVIEW]
* Mega Gardevoir sets itself apart from other Fairy-type threats like Tapu Lele with its access to Pixilate-boosted Hyper Voice and Trick Room. These moves allow Mega Gardevoir to function as an offensive Trick Room user that can simultaneously apply pressure to two foes.
* Mega Gardevoir's ability to threaten problematic foes to Trick Room teams like Amoonguss also differentiates it from other Trick Room users like Cresselia and Mimikyu.
* Mega Gardevoir is also capable of providing unique team support. Trace copies foes' abilities, and this can come in handy against foes like Landorus-T and Salamence, or scouting foes' abilities. The moveset can also be adjusted to employ utility moves like Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, and Destiny Bond.
* As a Trick Room user, Mega Gardevoir's low physical bulk and high Speed can be detrimental. Mega Gardevoir is easily overwhelmed by a myriad of common physical attackers even when running bulk investment, and it is slower than foes like Tapu Bulu and Porygon2 under Trick Room. This leaves Mega Gardevoir somewhat reliant on its teammates to effectively function, and this combines with the fact that Mega Gardevoir takes up a Mega slot to make it somewhat of a Pokemon that must be built around.
* Gardevoir has little to do against Steel-types like Mega Metagross, Aegislash, Heatran, and Ferrothorn due to them resisting its STAB combination.
* While Mega Gardevoir may seem to be able to run a fast, offensive attacker set, its susceptibility to priority moves and the presence of faster threats like Kartana, Tapu Koko, and Mega Gengar make any sets other than Trick Room hard to justify over other threats like Tapu Lele.
[SET]
name: Trick Room
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Hyper Voice
move 3: Psychic / Psyshock
move 4: Protect
item: Gardevoirite
ability: Trace
nature: Quiet
evs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 SpA
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Trick Room allows Mega Gardevoir to take an effective countermeasure against faster teams, which it would easily be taken down against. Bulk investment and Mega Gardevoir's general offensive power aid its ability to set up Trick Room against a considerable portion of the metagame.
* Hyper Voice nets sizable damage on many neutral foes despite the lack of much investment due to Mega Gardevoir's high Special Attack and a boost from Pixilate. It is the most effective option for Mega Gardevoir to deal with Dragon-types like Mega Salamence.
* Psychic hits a number of important foes that are resistant to Pixilate-boosted Hyper Voice, such as Mega Charizard Y, Amoonguss, and Nihilego for high damage. Psyshock is an alternative to OHKO the latter two and generally hit specially defensive foes like Snorlax harder at a cost of slightly less power.
* Mega Gardevoir's role as a Trick Room setter, access to a spread attack, and frailty entice attacks from foes often. Protect therefore makes a good option to temporarily guard it from offensive pressure.
* The given EV spread ensures that Mega Gardevoir survives two Earthquakes from Jolly Landorus-T and a Sludge Bomb from Mega Gengar. 36 Special Attack EVs allow Mega Gardevoir to benefit the most from its Special Attack-boosting nature.
* An alternative EV spread of 180 HP / 252 Def / 36 SpA / 36 SpD / 4 Spe with a Relaxed nature works if Mega Gardevoir will have to survive Double-Edge from Mega Salamence and Mega Kangaskhan, Tapu Koko's Thuderbolt-based Gigavolt Havoc, and Mega Gengar's Sludge Bomb. Heavy investment in bulk also allows Mega Gardevoir to avoid the 2HKO from Adamant Landorus-T's Earthquake most of the time. Minor investment in Special Attack and Speed allows Mega Gardevoir to OHKO offensive Mega Salamence and often OHKO bulky variants as well, factoring in recoil damage.
* 36 Speed EVs can be run with a Modest or Bold nature so that Mega Gardevoir can outspeed everything up to Jolly Choice Scarf Landorus-T with Tailwind support.
* Various slow physical attackers can work with Mega Gardevoir to take down each other's checks while running rampant when Trick Room is active. Incineroar is a notable partner for easing Mega Gardevoir's attempt to set up Trick Room by weakening foes with Intimidate and using Fake Out.
* Other slow teammates like Snorlax, Tyranitar, and Araquanid can take advantage of Trick Room. All of them can run viable countermeasures to deal with Steel-types and specially defensive foes.
* Landorus-T is a viable teammate that also appreciates Trick Room due to its middling Speed. It offensively checks some of Mega Gardevoir's biggest checks like Mega Metagross, Aegislash, and Heatran.
* Tailwind is also a viable option to support Mega Gardevoir. Offensive teams often lack a proper way to deal with Gardevoir and therefore the Speed boost from Tailwind makes it notoriously difficult to deal with. Zapdos is a viable setter due to its ability to threaten Celesteela and keep Calm Mind Tapu Fini in check, while Kartana is a good teammate thanks to it threatening Steel-types with Sacred Sword and specially defensive foes.
Last edited: