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Protect on Gardevoir

Gardevoir

Unlike many support or defensive Pokemon, Gardevoir lacks a reliable recovery move. Her best form of healing is Wish, which takes time to work. Unless she has paralysis or confusion support through Thunder Wave or Confuse Ray, respectively, it is unlikely that she will survive long enough for Wish to activate.

Protect remedies this situation, allowing Gardevoir to use Wish safely, as well as gather additional leftovers recovery. Also, it allows her scout out opposing moves. For example, should Gardevoir find herself facing Weavile, she can use Protect to determine if Weavile will use Pursuit, and if so, stay in and burn with Will-o-Wisp instead.

However, having Wish, Protect, and a supporting move leaves Gardevoir with only one slot for attack. Usually, the attacking move will be Psychic, but that leaves her unable to hit dark types, and is resisted by many others.

There are many obvious benefits on both sides. Protect allows Gardevoir to perform her duties much more effectively, as well as guard against potential threats. On the other hand, an additional attacking move will give her more coverage and allows her to fight back better when the need arises.

What do you think would benefit Gardevoir more?
 
The main question is whether the benefits of Protect will be worth sacrificing a second attacking move.

As a supporter, Gardevoir should not be attacking too often, but should she have an additional attack for those times? Or should she focus more on her supporting duties?
 
I don't know about this. Protect is predictable when used once in battle, and someone can switch in a Gardevoir counter while you increase your Protect timer.
 
I really like using protect on pokes who are weak to pursuit. It saves their life pretty much every match and helps in handling dangerous stuff like cbtar. Protect going well with wish is just a bonus.
 
Protect is predictable when used once in battle
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I'd say the same goes to Ice Beam, Puruit, Thunder Wave and every other move out there. Using Protect is pretty safe as long as your opponent cannot set up with his current Pokemon...worst case scenario for a careful player is that you Protect on a switch.
 
Hmm, the one problem with this argument is that if the Weavile has Swords Dance, you're royally screwed if he swords dances on the protect assuming a switch.
 
Another benefit of using Will-O-Wisp / Toxic with Wish + Protect is that they'll take more damage from it as you sit there doing nothing. I am considering using Gardevoir on my stall team, as it can not only Wish, which I really want, but it can also Trace, which is cool. Switch into Heatran, laugh as Flash Fire helps you out. Switch into Gyarados and Trace Intimidate, keeping you alive long enough to Thunderbolt. I plan to use Wish, Protect, Psychic, Thunderbolt because I'll have Toxic Spikes.
 
Protect/Wish is a pretty nice combination on any pokemon, Protect with leftovers really does help out. I think with all the Weaviles running around in DP, Gardevoir should at least be able to hit them so having Psychic as her only move is not the best idea - I'd go with Focus Blast to be honest.

You bring up the subject of Weavile, and I think it is important to note that Protect is also useful to scout for Pursuit so you don't KO yourself on a switch-out. Obviously in most situations you're going to die anyway but it may allow you to get in an extra Wish or support move for your team. Not to mention a Focus Blast to knock said Weavile for six.
 
But like many Pokemon, Gardevoir suffers from moveslot syndrome. She has so many useful moves, but not enough slots to use them.

She cannot afford to give up her most powerful STAB move, Psychic.

But without an additional attack like Thunderbolt, Grass Knot, or Focus Blast, she will not be able to hit dark types.

Wish is her best form of healing, and it also serves as team support.

Protect helps scout for opposing moves, and allows Wish to activate more easily.

And as a supporting Pokemon, she needs Will-o-Wisp, Thunder Wave, or Hypnosis.

Which one could she afford to give up?
 
My Gardevoir has Focus Blast, Psychic, Calm Mind, and Wish. I must admit, Wish is sorta annoying how it takes a turn to work, but if you use it at the right times, it can work for you. Basically, wish first thing, anything that can't 2HKO gardevoir lets you get a calm mind up. This thing does a lotta damage too, so getting even one calm mind can really screw up and opponent.
 
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