[OVERVIEW]
Gallade is a very threatening wallbreaker that uses its Sharpness-boosted offensive coverage options to threaten big damage on most of the metagame. It can notably 2HKO walls like Hippowdon, Slowbro, and Galarian Weezing, making it an excellent tool at dealing with defensive teams in particular, as nothing can reliably take its hits. It is, however, held back by its average bulk. While its special bulk can let it tank some pretty big hits like Hisuian Zoroark's Shadow Ball, Volcanion's Steam Eruption, and Magnezone's Discharge, its physical bulk is terrible, and it will have trouble taking hits it doesn't resist from any mildly threatening foes such as Slither Wing's First Impression and Mamoswine's Earthquake. Its biggest weakness is its mediocre Speed leaving it vulnerable to revenge killing attempts from faster threats like Krookodile, Salamence, and Noivern; Choice Scarf users such as Galarian Zapdos and Gardervoir; and priority users like Mimikyu and Bisharp. It therefore struggles against more offensive teams containing more of these fast threats.
[SET]
Setup Sweeper (Gallade) @ Lum Berry / Life Orb / Scope Lens
Ability: Sharpness
Tera Type: Steel / Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance / Agility
- Sacred Sword
- Psycho Cut
- Leaf Blade
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Gallade has a unique niche in being a wallbreaker that threatens a 2HKO on the main physical walls of the tier such as Galarian Weezing and Slowbro. Psycho Cut not making contact comes in handy against Rocky Helmet users and Flame Body Pokemon, like Hippowdon and Talonflame. Leaf Blade is useful coverage for hitting bulky Water- and Ground-types that could wall Gallade otherwise such as Slowbro and Hippowdon. With Swords Dance, Gallade gets the opportunity to OHKO most physical walls in the tier like Galarian Weezing, Hippowdon, and Slowbro, while Agility allows it to outspeed foes that would normally revenge kill it like Galarian Zapdos, Hisuian Zoroark, and Gardevoir. Lum Berry allows it to shrug off status effects that can be inflicted by Slowbro, Talonflame, and Galarian Weezing; it works best on Swords Dance sets, as they don't need more damage. Life Orb is an alternative that fits the most on Agility variants, as it adds damage that can be lacking, letting them OHKO some notable threats like Gardevoir after Stealth Rock. Scope Lens is another option to get additional damage on Agility sets; it is less reliable than Life Orb but crucially doesn't cause recoil, which can help Gallade to tank important hits such as Earthquake from Krookodie and First Impression from Slither Wing. It can also let Gallade break through Iron Defense setup sweepers such as Tera Ghost Registeel. Tera Steel is at its best on Swords Dance sets, letting Gallade sponge hits from Fairy-types such as Gardevoir and Fezandipiti extremely well while also letting it beat Choice-locked Galarian Zapdos. Since Agility sets have less issue with these threats and much prefer an offensive item over Lum Berry, Tera Fire is preferred to absorb burns from Galarian Weezing and Talonflame.
Gallade is a huge threat on Sticky Web and bulky offense teams, as it's able to dig holes in the opponent's defensive structure and can take advantage of paralysis and Sticky Web to fix its speed issue. Because of its average bulk, it also loves pivots, thus working well with allies such as Jirachi, Fezandipiti, and Galarian Zapdos; Jirachi can also spread paralysis to allow it to outpace foes like Galarian Zapdos, Slither Wing, and Gardevoir. Fezandipiti likes Gallade being able to threaten Steel- and Poison-types, which cannot be poisoned, and Galarian Zapdos benefits from Gallade's wallbreaking potential, helping it find an opening to clean a weakened team. However, they're all weak to Armarouge, so priority moves from the likes of Entei and Bisharp or bulky allies that resist Armor Cannon such as Volcanion, Noivern, and Cyclizar may be needed. On teams utilizing Ribombee's Sticky Web, Gallade will need to be heavily supported, as it is quite weak to some already difficult foes to deal with for Sticky Web teams like Galarian Zapdos, Bisharp, and Armarouge. One particularly great ally is Low Kick Bisharp, which can consistently beat opposing Bisharp and revenge kill Armarouge. Calm Mind + Heavy-Duty Boots Armarouge is a great Galarian Zapdos revenge killer, as it can survive a hit and enable Weak Armor while also being a threatening sweeper on its own; it may also force a special wall in, which is perfect to give Gallade an opportunity to set up. Teams stacking multiple physical setup sweepers such as Bisharp, Salamence, and Maushold appreciate Swords Dance Gallade's ability to help wear down shared checks like Galarian Weezing and Hippowdon. Agility Gallade benefits most from other wallbreakers like Mamoswine, Crawdaunt, and Galarian Zapdos thanks to their ability to weaken physical walls, letting it clean a weakened team. After using Agility, it can outspeed most Choice Scarf users, aside from Hisuian Zoroark and Gengar, helping it clean teams relying on the likes of Galarian Zapdos and Gardevoir for speed control. Entry hazard support such as Stealth Rock or Spikes can help greatly with putting foes such as Gardevoir or Galarian Weezing in KO range of Gallade's attacks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Knock Off or Night Slash can be used over Leaf Blade to hit bulky Psychic-types, notably Armarouge, harder. Night Slash has consistently high damage and good synergy with Scope Lens thanks to its higher critical chance. Knock Off hits for slightly less and only gets its boosted Base Power once, resulting in it being less effective against the likes of Slowbro, Reuniclus, and Cresselia, but it has the upside of removing items like Rocky Helmet and Heavy-Duty Boots.
Checks and Counters
====
**Armarouge**: Armarouge's good bulk, unique typing that resists both of Gallade's STAB moves and Leaf Blade, high damage, and Weak Armor ability make it an effective check that can use Gallade as setup fodder.
**Faster Wallbreakers**: Faster wallbreakers like Galarian Zapdos and Maushold can threaten Gallade prior to it using Agility, while Choice Scarf users like Hisuian Zoroark and Gengar are still faster than +2 Gallade.
**Priority Users**: As a setup sweeper with mediocre Defense, Gallade is especially weak to priority moves; it's weak to Mimikyu's Shadow Sneak and neutral to Sucker Punch and Aqua Jet from the likes of Crawdaunt and Bisharp, which can easily revenge kill it. While Extreme Speed, Ice Shard and First Impression from Entei, Mamoswine and Slither Wing hit it hard, it can, in a pinch, use Tera Steel to take less damage.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/canard.664444/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rarelyme.513635/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rose.511181/
Gallade is a very threatening wallbreaker that uses its Sharpness-boosted offensive coverage options to threaten big damage on most of the metagame. It can notably 2HKO walls like Hippowdon, Slowbro, and Galarian Weezing, making it an excellent tool at dealing with defensive teams in particular, as nothing can reliably take its hits. It is, however, held back by its average bulk. While its special bulk can let it tank some pretty big hits like Hisuian Zoroark's Shadow Ball, Volcanion's Steam Eruption, and Magnezone's Discharge, its physical bulk is terrible, and it will have trouble taking hits it doesn't resist from any mildly threatening foes such as Slither Wing's First Impression and Mamoswine's Earthquake. Its biggest weakness is its mediocre Speed leaving it vulnerable to revenge killing attempts from faster threats like Krookodile, Salamence, and Noivern; Choice Scarf users such as Galarian Zapdos and Gardervoir; and priority users like Mimikyu and Bisharp. It therefore struggles against more offensive teams containing more of these fast threats.
[SET]
Setup Sweeper (Gallade) @ Lum Berry / Life Orb / Scope Lens
Ability: Sharpness
Tera Type: Steel / Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance / Agility
- Sacred Sword
- Psycho Cut
- Leaf Blade
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Gallade has a unique niche in being a wallbreaker that threatens a 2HKO on the main physical walls of the tier such as Galarian Weezing and Slowbro. Psycho Cut not making contact comes in handy against Rocky Helmet users and Flame Body Pokemon, like Hippowdon and Talonflame. Leaf Blade is useful coverage for hitting bulky Water- and Ground-types that could wall Gallade otherwise such as Slowbro and Hippowdon. With Swords Dance, Gallade gets the opportunity to OHKO most physical walls in the tier like Galarian Weezing, Hippowdon, and Slowbro, while Agility allows it to outspeed foes that would normally revenge kill it like Galarian Zapdos, Hisuian Zoroark, and Gardevoir. Lum Berry allows it to shrug off status effects that can be inflicted by Slowbro, Talonflame, and Galarian Weezing; it works best on Swords Dance sets, as they don't need more damage. Life Orb is an alternative that fits the most on Agility variants, as it adds damage that can be lacking, letting them OHKO some notable threats like Gardevoir after Stealth Rock. Scope Lens is another option to get additional damage on Agility sets; it is less reliable than Life Orb but crucially doesn't cause recoil, which can help Gallade to tank important hits such as Earthquake from Krookodie and First Impression from Slither Wing. It can also let Gallade break through Iron Defense setup sweepers such as Tera Ghost Registeel. Tera Steel is at its best on Swords Dance sets, letting Gallade sponge hits from Fairy-types such as Gardevoir and Fezandipiti extremely well while also letting it beat Choice-locked Galarian Zapdos. Since Agility sets have less issue with these threats and much prefer an offensive item over Lum Berry, Tera Fire is preferred to absorb burns from Galarian Weezing and Talonflame.
Gallade is a huge threat on Sticky Web and bulky offense teams, as it's able to dig holes in the opponent's defensive structure and can take advantage of paralysis and Sticky Web to fix its speed issue. Because of its average bulk, it also loves pivots, thus working well with allies such as Jirachi, Fezandipiti, and Galarian Zapdos; Jirachi can also spread paralysis to allow it to outpace foes like Galarian Zapdos, Slither Wing, and Gardevoir. Fezandipiti likes Gallade being able to threaten Steel- and Poison-types, which cannot be poisoned, and Galarian Zapdos benefits from Gallade's wallbreaking potential, helping it find an opening to clean a weakened team. However, they're all weak to Armarouge, so priority moves from the likes of Entei and Bisharp or bulky allies that resist Armor Cannon such as Volcanion, Noivern, and Cyclizar may be needed. On teams utilizing Ribombee's Sticky Web, Gallade will need to be heavily supported, as it is quite weak to some already difficult foes to deal with for Sticky Web teams like Galarian Zapdos, Bisharp, and Armarouge. One particularly great ally is Low Kick Bisharp, which can consistently beat opposing Bisharp and revenge kill Armarouge. Calm Mind + Heavy-Duty Boots Armarouge is a great Galarian Zapdos revenge killer, as it can survive a hit and enable Weak Armor while also being a threatening sweeper on its own; it may also force a special wall in, which is perfect to give Gallade an opportunity to set up. Teams stacking multiple physical setup sweepers such as Bisharp, Salamence, and Maushold appreciate Swords Dance Gallade's ability to help wear down shared checks like Galarian Weezing and Hippowdon. Agility Gallade benefits most from other wallbreakers like Mamoswine, Crawdaunt, and Galarian Zapdos thanks to their ability to weaken physical walls, letting it clean a weakened team. After using Agility, it can outspeed most Choice Scarf users, aside from Hisuian Zoroark and Gengar, helping it clean teams relying on the likes of Galarian Zapdos and Gardevoir for speed control. Entry hazard support such as Stealth Rock or Spikes can help greatly with putting foes such as Gardevoir or Galarian Weezing in KO range of Gallade's attacks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Knock Off or Night Slash can be used over Leaf Blade to hit bulky Psychic-types, notably Armarouge, harder. Night Slash has consistently high damage and good synergy with Scope Lens thanks to its higher critical chance. Knock Off hits for slightly less and only gets its boosted Base Power once, resulting in it being less effective against the likes of Slowbro, Reuniclus, and Cresselia, but it has the upside of removing items like Rocky Helmet and Heavy-Duty Boots.
Checks and Counters
====
**Armarouge**: Armarouge's good bulk, unique typing that resists both of Gallade's STAB moves and Leaf Blade, high damage, and Weak Armor ability make it an effective check that can use Gallade as setup fodder.
**Faster Wallbreakers**: Faster wallbreakers like Galarian Zapdos and Maushold can threaten Gallade prior to it using Agility, while Choice Scarf users like Hisuian Zoroark and Gengar are still faster than +2 Gallade.
**Priority Users**: As a setup sweeper with mediocre Defense, Gallade is especially weak to priority moves; it's weak to Mimikyu's Shadow Sneak and neutral to Sucker Punch and Aqua Jet from the likes of Crawdaunt and Bisharp, which can easily revenge kill it. While Extreme Speed, Ice Shard and First Impression from Entei, Mamoswine and Slither Wing hit it hard, it can, in a pinch, use Tera Steel to take less damage.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/canard.664444/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rarelyme.513635/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rose.511181/
Last edited by a moderator:
