[OVERVIEW]
Psychic
========
Mega Gallade is the premier option for a setup sweeper on Psychic teams. Its part-Fighting typing grants it a coveted neutrality to Dark-type attacks, which it can take advantage of with its base ability Justified. Mega Gallade's monstrous Attack stat combined with its Fighting-type STAB move lets it wallbreak commonly annoying walls for Psychic teams, such as Heatran, Ferrothorn, Chansey, and Tyranitar. Its great Speed tier and priority in Shadow Sneak make it harder to revenge kill and let it easily run through opposing teams. All of these benefits come at the opportunity cost of not being able to use other Mega Evolutions, such as Mega Gardevoir and Mega Latias. Mega Gardevoir is an even better check to Dark-types that can also pass Wish, while Mega Latias is a Ground-immune defensive pivot and Defogger that can check Flying-types. Additionally, in its base forme, Gallade's Speed is poor, making it harder to find opportunities to safely Mega Evolve. Mega Gallade's lackluster Defense can also be exploited by priority users and faster revenge killers that take little from Shadow Sneak like Dragonite and Choice Scarf Landorus-T.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat / Drain Punch
move 3: Shadow Sneak
move 4: Knock Off
item: Galladite
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Mega Gallade can leverage its terrifying offensive presence to force switches and safely set up with Swords Dance. Close Combat is Mega Gallade's strongest and most spammable STAB move, allowing it to check Dark- and Steel-types. Drain Punch is an alternative option that provides Mega Gallade a form of recovery at the cost of not being able to outright OHKO certain Pokemon like Ferrothorn. Shadow Sneak is a great priority move that prevents boosted Mega Gallade from being revenge killed by Pokemon like Choice Scarf Victini, Gengar, and Latios. Knock Off gives Mega Gallade a stronger way to hit Psychic-types and is great utility in general. With Knock Off and Shadow Sneak, Mega Gallade is equipped with the tools to dismantle opposing Psychic and Ghost teams with ease. Substitute is an option over Knock Off that lets Mega Gallade take advantage of its forced switches and weaker defensive Pokemon, like Porygon2, to set up safely. It also gives Mega Gallade a way to play around a boosted Bisharp's Sucker Punch.
Victini forms a fantastic Steel-breaking core with Mega Gallade. It can also beat faster threats like Tornadus-T with Choice Scarf and safely bring Mega Gallade in with U-turn. Latios and Latias are Ground-immune Defoggers that can pivot into threats like Landorus and Mega Charizard Y. Choice Specs Latios can wallbreak alongside Mega Gallade, while Choice Scarf Latias can support it with Healing Wish. Jirachi and Celebi can set Stealth Rock, making it easier for Mega Gallade to clean up with Shadow Sneak. Jirachi can also paralyze faster threats like Tornadus-T and Swift Swim Kingdra with Thunder Wave, while Celebi can take on Water-types like Slowbro more easily. Colbur Berry users like Celebi, Reuniclus, and Slowbro are able to take on Mega Sharpedo and Mega Gyarados, which can be huge threats to Mega Gallade when boosted. Stallbreaker Mew beats the few defensive answers to Mega Gallade, like Mega Venusaur and Mandibuzz. Deoxys-S makes a great teammate to Mega Gallade, as it can almost singlehandedly take on Flying teams that Mega Gallade generally struggles against. In return, Deoxys-S appreciates Mega Gallade's wallbreaking abilities in other matchups, like Steel and Dark, as it can clean up late-game more easily.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psychic
--------
Zen Headbutt lets Mega Gallade hit Pokemon that resist or take little from its coverage moves, like Mega Venusaur and Gyarados before it Mega Evolves, hard. A bulkier EV spread can be used, particularly with Substitute, in order to be able to set up on weaker Pokemon more easily and take a hit from Pokemon like Mega Sharpedo better. Bulk Up may also be run on more defensively-oriented spreads. However, it will take more boosts before Mega Gallade is able to steamroll through a team.
Checks and Counters
===================
Psychic
--------
**Revenge Killers**: Even with Shadow Sneak, many faster Pokemon, like Choice Scarf Victini and Tornadus-T, and priority users that can take advantage of Mega Gallade's below average Defense, like Dragonite and Mega Scizor, can revenge kill Mega Gallade.
**Status**: Paralysis makes Mega Gallade overly reliant on a weak Shadow Sneak, while burn completely diminishes its offensive presence.
**Bulky Fighting-resistant Pokemon**: Pokemon that resist Mega Gallade's Fighting-type STAB move while taking little damage from Knock Off and Shadow Sneak, like Clefable, Mega Venusaur, and Mega Heracross, are able to switch into and KO Mega Gallade. They do need to be wary of the very rare Zen Headbutt, however.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Izaya, 311872]]
- <Psychic> analysis by: [[Izaya, 311872]]
- Quality checked by: [[Cell, 244276], [roxiee, 481576]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [DC, 449990]]
Psychic
========
Mega Gallade is the premier option for a setup sweeper on Psychic teams. Its part-Fighting typing grants it a coveted neutrality to Dark-type attacks, which it can take advantage of with its base ability Justified. Mega Gallade's monstrous Attack stat combined with its Fighting-type STAB move lets it wallbreak commonly annoying walls for Psychic teams, such as Heatran, Ferrothorn, Chansey, and Tyranitar. Its great Speed tier and priority in Shadow Sneak make it harder to revenge kill and let it easily run through opposing teams. All of these benefits come at the opportunity cost of not being able to use other Mega Evolutions, such as Mega Gardevoir and Mega Latias. Mega Gardevoir is an even better check to Dark-types that can also pass Wish, while Mega Latias is a Ground-immune defensive pivot and Defogger that can check Flying-types. Additionally, in its base forme, Gallade's Speed is poor, making it harder to find opportunities to safely Mega Evolve. Mega Gallade's lackluster Defense can also be exploited by priority users and faster revenge killers that take little from Shadow Sneak like Dragonite and Choice Scarf Landorus-T.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat / Drain Punch
move 3: Shadow Sneak
move 4: Knock Off
item: Galladite
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Mega Gallade can leverage its terrifying offensive presence to force switches and safely set up with Swords Dance. Close Combat is Mega Gallade's strongest and most spammable STAB move, allowing it to check Dark- and Steel-types. Drain Punch is an alternative option that provides Mega Gallade a form of recovery at the cost of not being able to outright OHKO certain Pokemon like Ferrothorn. Shadow Sneak is a great priority move that prevents boosted Mega Gallade from being revenge killed by Pokemon like Choice Scarf Victini, Gengar, and Latios. Knock Off gives Mega Gallade a stronger way to hit Psychic-types and is great utility in general. With Knock Off and Shadow Sneak, Mega Gallade is equipped with the tools to dismantle opposing Psychic and Ghost teams with ease. Substitute is an option over Knock Off that lets Mega Gallade take advantage of its forced switches and weaker defensive Pokemon, like Porygon2, to set up safely. It also gives Mega Gallade a way to play around a boosted Bisharp's Sucker Punch.
Victini forms a fantastic Steel-breaking core with Mega Gallade. It can also beat faster threats like Tornadus-T with Choice Scarf and safely bring Mega Gallade in with U-turn. Latios and Latias are Ground-immune Defoggers that can pivot into threats like Landorus and Mega Charizard Y. Choice Specs Latios can wallbreak alongside Mega Gallade, while Choice Scarf Latias can support it with Healing Wish. Jirachi and Celebi can set Stealth Rock, making it easier for Mega Gallade to clean up with Shadow Sneak. Jirachi can also paralyze faster threats like Tornadus-T and Swift Swim Kingdra with Thunder Wave, while Celebi can take on Water-types like Slowbro more easily. Colbur Berry users like Celebi, Reuniclus, and Slowbro are able to take on Mega Sharpedo and Mega Gyarados, which can be huge threats to Mega Gallade when boosted. Stallbreaker Mew beats the few defensive answers to Mega Gallade, like Mega Venusaur and Mandibuzz. Deoxys-S makes a great teammate to Mega Gallade, as it can almost singlehandedly take on Flying teams that Mega Gallade generally struggles against. In return, Deoxys-S appreciates Mega Gallade's wallbreaking abilities in other matchups, like Steel and Dark, as it can clean up late-game more easily.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psychic
--------
Zen Headbutt lets Mega Gallade hit Pokemon that resist or take little from its coverage moves, like Mega Venusaur and Gyarados before it Mega Evolves, hard. A bulkier EV spread can be used, particularly with Substitute, in order to be able to set up on weaker Pokemon more easily and take a hit from Pokemon like Mega Sharpedo better. Bulk Up may also be run on more defensively-oriented spreads. However, it will take more boosts before Mega Gallade is able to steamroll through a team.
Checks and Counters
===================
Psychic
--------
**Revenge Killers**: Even with Shadow Sneak, many faster Pokemon, like Choice Scarf Victini and Tornadus-T, and priority users that can take advantage of Mega Gallade's below average Defense, like Dragonite and Mega Scizor, can revenge kill Mega Gallade.
**Status**: Paralysis makes Mega Gallade overly reliant on a weak Shadow Sneak, while burn completely diminishes its offensive presence.
**Bulky Fighting-resistant Pokemon**: Pokemon that resist Mega Gallade's Fighting-type STAB move while taking little damage from Knock Off and Shadow Sneak, like Clefable, Mega Venusaur, and Mega Heracross, are able to switch into and KO Mega Gallade. They do need to be wary of the very rare Zen Headbutt, however.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Izaya, 311872]]
- <Psychic> analysis by: [[Izaya, 311872]]
- Quality checked by: [[Cell, 244276], [roxiee, 481576]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [DC, 449990]]
Last edited:
