Community POTW #47

[Serpentine]

I Choose To Be Awesome

Item: Choice Scarf / Band
Ability: Justified / Steadfast
EVs: 252 Att, 4 S.Def, 252 Spd
Nature: Jolly (+Spd, -S.Att)

- Close Combat / Drain Punch
- Psycho Cut
- Stone Edge / Rock Slide/ Ice Punch
- Shadow Sneak

Close Combat is the powerful STAB, but Drain Punch could be used too if you want to fancy, especially now that it is stronger. Psycho Cut is more handy this generation with all the fighting types menacing all over the place. Stone Edge, Rock Slide and Ice Punch are for coverage and Shadow Sneak is good against glass cannons that that are faster than you.

Band or Scarf depends on whther you want to emphasize on Gallade's awesome Att stat or his non-cutting-edge 284 Speed (With Jolly). Steadfast is more reliable, but Justified should be considered too. Gallade has good S.Def, meaning it can take a Dark Pulse and become stronger.


Annoyllade

Item: Choice Scarf
Ability: Steadfast
EVs: 252 Spd, 4 S.Def, 252 HP Spd
Nature: Jolly (+Spd, -S.Att)

- Destiny Bond
- Trick
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt

This Gallade likes to play with it's enemies. Trick gives a choice scarf to those that don't need it. Taunt messes up walls and stat boosters. Will-O-Wisp ruins Physical sweepers and tanks. Destiny bond takes the foe with you when you know you are going down.

the last one probably isn't the best idea since if you get taunted, you're done for.

[Zachmac]

Thunder Punch should get put under other options, since it hits Gyarados. It's mostly outclassed by Leaf Blade and Stone edge, but I think it should still get a mention.

Ice Punch is also a good idea, it'll hit Gliscor, who'd otherwise wall it, and the common dragons.

Encore could work as a support move.

With Thunderwave and Confuse ray, it could probably run a parafusion gimmick.

the last one probably isn't the best idea since if you get taunted, you're done for.

Also, it's a waste of it's 125 base attack, and Destiny Bond is kind of useless on anything but suicide lead froslass.

I vote Drain Punch gets put on it.

[sixonesix]

I disagree, Steadfast is a great ability if you can get it switched in on an opponent that will always use Fake Out.

In doubles Steadfast is even better because you can just pair it with Weavile or Ambipom and speed boost it youself (although purposefully taking damage IS kind of iffy)

if the idea is to make the opponent laugh so hard that they miss the one minute window to choose their moves for the following turn and the game picks them at random then yes, this could probably work a couple of times on random wifi

otherwise just use something better like tailwind on gallade's partner, or anything

[dragontamer98]

OO GALLADE!

Gallade @ Focus Sash
Trait: Steadfast
EVs: 252 Attack/ 252 Speed/ 4 HP
Nature: Adamant
-Close Combat
-Shadow Sneak
-Magic Coat
-Ice Punch/ Stone Edge
This is a DT original. Magic coat is the main move on this lead set. It bounces back Taunt, Stealth Rock, Spikes, you name it. It also keeps away nasty burns and paralysis. Close Combat is his hard-hitting STAB, and Shadow Sneak if for coverage and priority. The last move is for coverage as well. I generally go with Ice Punch to decimate Gliscor, Landorus, and Dragons, as well as anything else that won't appreciate an Ice Punch to the face. Stone Edge helps with stuff like Volcarona, which I've found to be a problem occasionally.

Gallade @ Focus Sash/ Leftovers/ Life Orb
Trait: Steadfast
EVs: 252 Attack/ 252 HP/ 4 Def
Nature: Brave
-Drain Punch
-Trick Room
-Swords Dance/ Night Slash
-Hypnosis/ Night Slash
This set is suprisingly fun Itz a Trick Room set, playing similiarly to Slowking. Drain Punch is for STAB, Trick Room is for Trick Room. Swords Dance helps to boost you're attack, which is helpful with Drain Punch. More damage, more recovery. Hypnosis helps you get set up, but Night Slash is needed to prevent Ghosts from walling you. Hypnosis also helps if you want to play this in a lead position. Otherwise, you should go with Night Slash for coverage.

Gallade @ Leftovers/ Life Orb
Trait: Steadfast
EVs: 252 HP/ 176 Atk/ 80 Def
Nature: Bold
-Thunder Wave
-Confuse Ray
-Drain Punch
-Night Slash
A set like this gives Gallade multiple chances to attack the opponent, while minimizing the amount of times Gallade takes damage. Thunder Wave causes the opponent to only attack 50% of the time, while Confuse Ray adds to that ratio. This turns Gallade into a Parafuser. Drain Punch is for recovery and STAB, and Night Slash is for coverage.

[Zachmac]

if the idea is to make the opponent laugh so hard that they miss the one minute window to choose their moves for the following turn and the game picks them at random then yes, this could probably work a couple of times on random wifi

But Luvdisc does a much better job at that.

Anyway, I think I'll post one of my sets...I haven't seen this one yet.

Bulky
Steadfast/Leftovers
Impish/252HP/I suck at EVs
-Will-o-Wisp
-Drain Punch
-Night Slash/Stone Edge/Ice Punch
-Bulk Up/Taunt/Toxic/Thunder Wave/Pain Split

Will-o-Wisp helps to make up for it's poor defense stat, along with the impish nature. Drain Punch is STAB and restores health. The third move provides coverage for Fighting, and the last could boost defense and attack, stop walls, cripples sweepers, or recovers it's health.

Anyway, I might call this it's niche over other fighting types. Lucario, Mienshao, and Infernape don't have the Bulk to pull this off, while Conkeldurr lacks the special defense. Machamp only has 80/80 defenses, and no will-o-wisp to boost it's defenses.

[Wire]

Its mostly outclassed by Lucario, but its more bulky and is only weak to Ghost and Flying, both extremely rare types in OU. Its probably far more dangerous to stall teams due to how they generally rely on Gliscor, Tentacruel or Quagsire to beat Lucario.. none of which beat Gallade.

It also gets Shadow Sneak which is overall worse than Extremespeed, but it does wipe out Gengar which is pretty much the only thing in OU that has a super-effective STAB. The other is Skarmory with Brave Bird, but +2 Close Combat easily OHKOs.

Tornadus is common enough, and hurricane on dragonite is somewhat viable, as well as nasty plot lucario w/ shadow ball

[Zachmac]

Tornadus is common enough, and hurricane on dragonite is somewhat viable, as well as nasty plot lucario w/ shadow ball

Last time I checked, Tornadus wasn't even OU, and thats only for rain teams. Edit: Tornadus is UU.

Lucario wouldn't be able to set up a nasty plot with Gallade's super effective fighting STAB, and it probably won't OHKO with shadow ball otherwise.

[Missingno. Master]

Knights of the Choice Scarf
Gallade@Choice Scarf
Adamant nature
Justified
252 Atk/252 Spd/4 HP
~Close Combat
~Psycho Cut
~Night Slash
~Leaf Blade

Gallade is pretty good. Excellent Attack, nice Special Defense, great movepool... Remind me why this thing isn't OU? Oh, yeah, the Speed. Luckily, Gallade's Speed isn't nearly as hopeless as that of its fellow knight Escavalier (which, as it happens, we covered last week, lol. Next week will be Bisharp, calling it right now), thus making a Choice Scarf set possible. Close Combat and Psycho Cut are for STAB. Night Slash and Close Combat have nearly perfect coverage together. And Leaf Blade is an excellent filler move for those pesky Quagsire and Gastrodon.

Item is obvious. Ability is preferable because barring Fake Out, Gallade ain't gonna be flinching much. And even then, before Justified activates, nobody in their right mind is gonna Fake Out a Gallade anyway.


ChivalRest
Gallade@Leftovers
Careful nature
Steadfast
252 HP/252 Sp. Def/4 Atk
~Bulk Up
~Rest
~Sleep Talk
~Night Slash

This set attempts to capitalize on Gallade's considerable special bulk, hence the EVs. Bulk Up increases Gallade's Attack and Speed, allowing it to attempt a bulky sweep. The RestTalk combo is there for quick and reliable recovery.

Item keeps Gallade alive moar. Ability is the only one legal with Sleep Talk.

Dances With Swords
Gallade@Leftovers
Jolly nature
Steadfast
252 Spd/200 Atk/56 HP
~Swords Dance
~Psycho Cut
~Shadow Sneak
~Close Combat

Gallade can learn Swords Dance, and it knows how to use it! The EVs are made to capitalize on its Speed so Swords Dance can handle the Attack. Close Combat and Psycho Cut are for STAB, and Shadow Sneak is a neat little priority move Gallade gets, which, as a Ghost move, has perfect coverage with Close Combat.

Item helps recover any damage taken on the setup turn. Ability is preferred because let's be honest here. Gallade's Speed needs all the help it can get.


Other options:
*A Gallade from Generation IV has access to the elemental punches, but they're all illegal with Justified.
*X-Scissor makes a decent filler move if you can make room for it.
*Gallade has access to Calm Mind and a decent special movepool, including stuff like Psychic, Thunderbolt, Focus Blast, Shadow Ball, and Grass Knot. It also, unfortunately, has a horrible Special Attack, so it might be best to leave that area up to Gardevoir.
*Gallade learns Trick Room, but it's Speed is at that maddening area where it's too low to really be effective, yet too high for Trick Room abuse.
*Gallade can also pull off the EdgeQuake combo, but it might be best to stick with Close Combat/Night Slash, as Stone Edge has an increasingly bad reputation for shitty accuracy, and it gets STAB on Close Combat.


Abilities:
*Steadfast: Raises Gallade's Speed by one stage when it flinches. Not a bad ability, but nobody's gonna be fool enough to go with Fake Out on Gallade. Plus, most flinch-inducing moves are physical, and thus hit Gallade on its worse defensive stat. Might be a necessity in some cases, however.
*Justified: Gallade's Hidden Ability. Increases its Attack one stage when it's hit by a Dark move. Unlike stuff such as Sap Sipper, this doesn't give Gallade an immunity to Dark. Probably the better idea, as it's a little more common to see Gallade taking a Dark move. Also, this can be activated on a switch-in, unlike Steadfast, because Gallade can't flinch on the same turn it's being sent out.


Partners:
Any Gallade set appreciates Tailwind support. The Swords Dance set would especially enjoy being Smashpassed to.


Counters:
Really powerful physical moves that Gallade is weak to, such as Brave Bird and Shadow Claw, will do it in with ease, with the possible exception of the Bulk Up set, and even then, I don't know. Any physical wall will probably do a good job, but Ferrothorn needs to watch out for Close Combat, Skarmory needs to be careful of ThunderPunch, and both of them need to beware of Fire Punch. Spiritomb and Sableye are immune to both of Gallade's STABs and can blast it with Will-O-Wisp, which all but the Bulk Up set will find extremely crippling.


Opinion:
Gallade is really cool, but I'm at a loss as to why they didn't make it faster. Seriously, a couple dozen more points in its base Speed stat could sent it flying up to OU.

[Zachmac]

ChivalRest
Gallade@Leftovers
Careful nature
Steadfast
252 HP/252 Sp. Def/4 Atk
~Bulk Up
~Rest
~Sleep Talk
~Night Slash

This set attempts to capitalize on Gallade's considerable special bulk, hence the EVs. Bulk Up increases Gallade's Attack and Speed, allowing it to attempt a bulky sweep. The RestTalk combo is there for quick and reliable recovery.

Item keeps Gallade alive moar. Ability is the only one legal with Sleep Talk.

Rest talk would be best under "other options", since it gets STAB drain punch an Pain Split.

Also, why night slash? That's dark type, so it doesn't get any STAB.

*Gallade has access to Calm Mind and a decent special movepool, including stuff like Psychic, Thunderbolt, Focus Blast, Shadow Ball, and Grass Knot. It also, unfortunately, has a horrible Special Attack, so it might be best to leave that area up to Gardevoir.

Because of Gallade's sister, this shouldn't even be under other options.

Gallade is really cool, but I'm at a loss as to why they didn't make it faster.

Probably because it's a more stationary fighting type. It's only quick movements are in it's arms. Meanwhile, Infernape, Mienshao and friends are moving their whole bodies at high speed.

[ringuma]

Gallade of Gales
Ability: Steadfast
EVs: 252 Atk, 252 Spd, 4 Hp
Item: Focus Sash/ Leftovers
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, +Spd), Jolly (+Spd, +Atk)
Moves:
-Shadow Sneak/ Night Slash
-Psycho Cut
-Drain Punch/ Close Combat
-Thunder Punch/ Ice Punch/ Thunder Wave

Probably the best set you’ll see for Gallade as a sweeper. Steadfast helps with Gallade’s iffy Speed while Shadow Sneak gives you immediate speed advantage over Psychic types and Ghost types. Night slash is a more powerful alternative, but it doesn’t give you speed support. Psycho Cut is Gallade’s main STAB, while Drain Punch is a good offensive and recovery move. Close Combat is stronger, but it's also an all-out attack with risks. Thunder Punch and Ice Punch are great coverage for Flying types, but Thunder Wave guarantees speed advantage.

[Ninja Gallade]

Gallade is my favorite pokemon, as you can tell with my Username, Avatar, and Fav pokemon in my sig. Any way, now to the move set

CHOICE
Item: Choice Band/Scarf
Ability: dependent on Item (Justified if Band, SteadFast if Scarf)
Lonely nature, 252 Attack 252 Speed 4 HP
-Close Combat
-Psycho Cut
-Shadow Sneak
-Leaf Blade/Night Slash
Standard Choice Set. Hit as Hard as you can, then switch out when you need to.

Sir Gallade, the Dancer
Item: Life Orb/Muscle Band
Ability: Justified
Lonely/Hasty nature, 252 Attack 252 Speed 4 HP
-Swords Dance
-Close Combat
-Night Slash
-Psycho Cut
SD gets an IMMENSE attack If you can use it multiple times. Then just beat the crap out of them with it.

Oh, I'm just getting started.
Item: Focus Sash/Band, Leftovers
Ability: Stead Fast
Mild Nature, 252 Special Attack 252 Speed 4 HP
-Work Up/Bulk Up/ Calm Mind
-Stored Power
-Thunder Wave/Hypnosis/Double Team/X-Scissor/Focus Blast
-Thunder Wave/Hypnosis/Double Team/X-Scissor/Focus Blast
I tried to incorporate Stored power in a move set, and this is what I got. Just Store up, and wail on the enemy.

[Serpentine]

Gallade's pretty good. Only problems are his low defense, HP, and Speed. He also lacks a lot of good fighting moves. He has Close Combat, but he loses Defense and that's already low. His Sp. Atk is low so he can't really utilize Focus Blast and Vaccuum Wave. Both of his abilities are kind of useless. You can't really time when someone's going to use a dark move and you don't really see flinching happen that often, only with Fake Out and by chance, Steadfast raises Speed which is vital and makes him deadly and Justified raises his attack which also makes him a threat.

Speed Gallade
Steadfast
Muscle Band/Life Orb/Scope Lens/Razor Claw/Leftovers
Jolly +Spd/-SpAtk
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd

Thunder Wave/Low Sweep/Bulldoze
Night Slash
Drain Punch
Psycho Cut

Thunder Wave cuts the opponent's speed in half and has a chance of making them not attack. Low Sweep and Bulldoze do the same thing; they lower the opponent's speed, but Low Sweep gets STAB and Bulldoze covers more. Night Slash covers one of your two weaknesses. Drain Punch gets STAB and is better now that it's stronger. Psycho Cut also gets STAB.
~~~
Power House
Justified or Steadfast
Muscle Band/Life Orb/Leftovers
Adamant +Atk/-SpAtk
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd

Swords Dance/Bulk Up
Close Combat
Earthquake/Stone Edge
Night Slash

Swords Dance doubles Gallade's attack. Bulk Up is there to help with Gallade's bad Defense. It also can be used with Close Combat Lowering Gallade's defense is bad, but its Special Defense is high so it should be fine. Earthquake gets a lot of coverage and it's strong. Stone Edge is also strong and it covers one of your weaknesses. Night Slash covers your other weakness.
~~~
Critical Hit
Justified or Steadfast
Scope Lens/Razor Claw
Adamant +Atk/-SpAtk
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd

Stone Edge
Leaf Blade
Psycho Cut
Night Slash

All of the moves have a high critical-hit ratio. Combined with Gallade's amazing attack stat and the items, the chance of getting a critical hit is 25%.
~~~
Harakiri
Steadfast
Life Orb
Jolly +Spd/-SpAtk or Adamant +Atk/-SpAtk
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd or 252 HP/252 Atk/4 Def

Momento/Destiny Bond/Grudge
Close Combat
Psycho Cut
Earthquake/Giga Impact/Stone Edge

Close Combat and Psycho Cut get STAB. Earthquake, Giga Impact and Stone Edge are all powerful moves. Deal a ton of damage. Use Momento, Grudge, or Destiny Bond before you faint. Momento will sharply lower the opponent's Attack and Special Attack and make yourself faint. Grudge makes the opponent lose all of their HP for the last move used on you and Destiny Bond will bring the opponent down with you. Grudge and Destiny Bond won't work unless your opponent defeats you that turn.

*This set is best used on a Trick Room team to ensure his final move (Grudge, Destiny Bond, Momento) is used before it faints. If it's used on a Trick Room team use Adamant and 252 HP, 252 Atk, and 4 Def, other wise use Jolly and 4 HP, 252 Atk, 252 Spd.

[Mean Mr. Snorlax]

To those of you who say leaf blade is a poor choice (you know who you are) Jellicent needs a word with you.

Also, Leaf Blade has save my *** against Bulky Waters/Grounds many times. It's DEFINITELY worth mention.

[NAMBIRI]

Sri Gallahead
Justified preferred.
@Leftovers
Naive 252 speed 252 HP and 6sp.atk
-Bulk Up
-Calm Mind
-Drain Punch
-Stored Power

Just to use double STAB.
SOOOO DAMN BORED ON THE TRAIN RIGHT NOW!!!

[Shadow249]

Sharp-eyed Focus
Moves: Double Team
Focus Punch
Bulk up
Aerial Ace
Item: Focus Sash

[NAMBIRI]

Sri Gallahead
Justified preferred.
@Leftovers
Naive 252 speed 252 HP and 6sp.atk
-Bulk Up
-Calm Mind
-Drain Punch
-Stored Power

Just to use double STAB.
SOOOO DAMN BORED ON THE TRAIN RIGHT NOW!!!

[MuddyMuncher9000]

Whoop whoop, one of my favorite Fighting Types.

BULK UP @ Leftovers
Ability: Justified/Steadfast (both not too bad, take your pick)
-Bulk Up
-Drain Punch
-Psycho Cut/Ice Punch
-Night Slash/Ice Punch/Shadow Sneak/Leaf Blade
Jolly Nature
252 HP/252 SpD/4 Def

This utilizes Gallade's AMAZING Special Defense while boosting up its poor defense and good base 125 attack. The three primarily listed offensive moves get perfect coverage, but you could go Ice Punch or Shadow Sneak in place of Night slash to cover ground types and to finish weak foes off with Shadow Sneak. Leaf Blade also hits ground types as well as water types, too.

[Vandslaux]

Sharp-eyed Focus
Moves: Double Team
Focus Punch
Bulk up
Aerial Ace
Item: Focus Sash

double team is banned and it's a gimmicky move anyway if it was allowed

[pottsy]

one of my favourites, and as long as my signature is still what i think it was you can understand why, not to mention he is the backbone of my competitive team

basically what heracross did
close combat
psycho cut
night slash
ice punch/stone edge/earthquake/thunderpunch/fire punch/poison jab/leaf blade/x-scissor
att/spe/spd 252/252/4
adamant/jolly
choice scarf
fighting/dark attacking types are perfect together, psychic makes for a good auxiliary attack type and for the last you have a small number of options :P

basically what scizor does but in standard
thunderpunch/ice punch/fire punch/leaf blade
thunderpunch/ice punch/fire punch/leaf blade
thunderpunch/ice punch/fire punch/leaf blade
close combat/psycho cut
252/252/4
choice scarf
gallade can make a great counter to many of the top threats because of his varied move pool, and choice scarf can be used with his passable speed to get in quick and change out fast. thunderpunch can ko any gyarados, ice punch gets its usual dragon flying ground etc. threats fire punch takes care of ferothorn and scizor and leaf blade rips apart swampert

[MetalCrow]

The best partner for Gallade is probably a baton passer... aka Ninjask... Ninjask and Gallade are buddies to the end because of how incredibly, insanely, ludicrous, and unfortunately odd Gallade's speed is. And Ninjask is the perfect cure for all those problems...
I mean, it's way too fast to abuse Trick Room, but too slow to have a chance at a sweep without(insert baton pass ideas here)boosting...
I think Ninjask is perfect for passing a couple of speed boosts(at least) as well as a Sword Dance... Cuz Gallade sure enjoys them swords