Community POTW #47

[PhilosophicalPsychologica]

"If you go off topic, I'll infract you."

I must say that made me lol...

You'd think we'd do Gallade and Gardevoir together, but I regress...

inb4medichamcomparisons
First off, Gallade obviously benefits from the Drain Punch power boost (especially due to resisting it itself). What makes him stand out over Medicham is pure bulk, so Gallade can charge up the Swords and theaten with DP very easily (Medicham obviously is a much more brash Pokemon, esp. with HJK).
Gallade is one of the more defensive Fighters out there, which is an advantage Gall must use to avoid overshadowing by the other new Fighters.

Key moves of Gallade's include Shadow Sneak and also the variety Psychic-Type brings, like another STAB and a plethora of TMs and Egg Moves like WOW and T-Wave.

Gallade also strongly benefits from Justified, as it is a Psychic-Type not weak to Dark. This is especially helpful on Psychic-mono teams. It also Gallade to appreciate switching into an attack such as Knock Off, and especially Beat Up in multi-battles. Otherwise, Gallade can use Skill Swap.

It is also notable how comfortably Gallade can combat Jellicent, with moves such as Leaf Blade, Magic Coat, Safeguard, Taunt, and pure SpDef.

In multibattles, Gallade's options broaden by much:
Reflect, Light Screen, Safeguard, Hypnosis, Helping Hand, Heal Pulse, Encore, Disable, Ally Switch, Destiny Bond, Memento, Grudge.

Although use these moves at your discretion; Gardevoir's support options are identical to that of Gallade's, and Gardevoir has the Telepathy Ability to make use of.

I have the feeling we'll do Vanilluxe very soonish...

[Kraleck]

Wannabe Breloom
Leftovers/Stead Fast
Impish/252HP/252attack
-Hypnosis
-Substitute
-Focus Punch
-Ice Punch/Night Slash/Stone Edge

Hypnosis puts an enemy sleep, forcing a free swap out. Then, you can substitute safely. Third move is STAB, and last move is coverage.

I love Sub-Punchers as much as the next guy, but Gallade is one you'd least expect. That said, you can catch so many people off guard with Hypno-Sub-Punch Gallade. They'll see Hypnosis and likely think you're a Status-spammer, only to get Focus Punched in the face.

Any Pokemon capable of Sub-piercing (Technician Cinccino, Icicle Spear-Cloyster, Dual Chop-Dragons, Bonemerang/Bone Rush-Marowak, and a few others) will have a good chance to ruin a Sub-Punch since Multi-hit Moves (like those mentioned) are Physical. Rock Blast is the least worrysome because of the bad matchup of Rock VS Fighting, so you have a slim chance to keep your Sub, even with Gallade's low HP. My mention of Rock Blast use reminded me of Garbodor, who has access to Acid Spray, and that got me thinking further...

Among potential Special options for countering Gallade, Acid Spray is one of the ones to worry about. Your Sp.Def getting halved in one hit ruins any Focus Sash potential (unlikely) and decreases Gallade's ability to Special Wall. Few Pokemon have the Sp.Atk to use Acid Spray properly, but Tentacruel, Accelgor, and Octillery have the best potential. However, all 3 have issues against Gallade's offense:
-Accel' fears getting hit in-general* and can only neutral-hit Gallade
-Octillery needs Trick Room to outrun Gallade, is easily handled by either Thunderpunch or Leaf Blade, and is only-slightly-less of a glass cannon than Rampardos
-'cruel has low Defense, slightly-above-average Sp.Atk, and is handled by either Thunderpunch or Bulldoze/EQ
-All 3 may only get a single shot in if they have to switch into Gallade

* Crunching the numbers, CB-Shadow Sneak is a rarely-3-mostly-2 KO (barring Giga Drain, Leftovers, Sitrus Berry, etc.) against an Accelgor with 31 IV, 4 EV HP and 31 IV, 0 EV Defense (those EVs are rather likely, given its high Base Speed and Sp.Atk stats). CB-Shadow Sneak is guaranteed to 2KO after a single Justified boost. Given Gallade's possibility for stronger Moves, you'll probably only see this matchup (if at all) when both are at the start of a battle.

[VictiniKing]

I love Gallades! They have that knight feel to them. A matter of fact, Galade is named after a famous sword, Gladius!

[Zachmac]

Among potential Special options for countering Gallade, Acid Spray is one of the ones to worry about. Your Sp.Def getting halved in one hit ruins any Focus Sash potential (unlikely) and decreases Gallade's ability to Special Wall. Few Pokemon have the Sp.Atk to use Acid Spray properly, but Tentacruel, Accelgor, and Octillery have the best potential. However, all 3 have issues against Gallade's offense:
-Accel' fears getting hit in-general* and can only neutral-hit Gallade
-Octillery needs Trick Room to outrun Gallade, is easily handled by either Thunderpunch or Leaf Blade, and is only-slightly-less of a glass cannon than Rampardos
-'cruel has low Defense, slightly-above-average Sp.Atk, and is handled by either Thunderpunch or Bulldoze/EQ
-All 3 may only get a single shot in if they have to switch into Gallade

Or rather then worrying about it's strong point, you can simply take hit it's weak point, it's defense. You'll have to watch out for will-o-wisp though.

Physically defense tentacruel will be something to worry about, since Earthquake is usually a was on fighting types. It hits mostly rock and steel, which fighting already does.

Edit: Gallade might carry Psycho cut, though, so physically defensive tentacruel only counters some sets. Sending in a strong physical attacker like Salamence or Gyarados is probably a better idea.

Any Pokemon capable of Sub-piercing (Technician Cinccino, Icicle Spear-Cloyster, Dual Chop-Dragons, Bonemerang/Bone Rush-Marowak, and a few others) will have a good chance to ruin a Sub-Punch since Multi-hit Moves (like those mentioned) are Physical.

Fortunately, Cinccino and Marowak aren't too common. Non of them are safe swap ins, though. Usually when someone sees a fighting type, they won't use Cloyster. The only pokemon with dual chop are Garchomp and Haxorus, and one of them is Uber.

They all handle fighting sub punch, though, but they will need to realize it's subpunch first.

[BionicToaster]

I'm thinking having psycho cut isn't such a good idea. Tyranitar (and any other dark type) is immune (and is safe if you're choiced) and is resisted by all the steels, especially metagross and jirachi, with the occassional bronzong. If you're running a stat boosting move, have shadow sneak over it, because it at least gives you priority. Psychic is not the best STAB in the world, as its really only useful for fighting types, who can easily switch out into a steel.

[Zachmac]

I'm thinking having psycho cut isn't such a good idea. Tyranitar (and any other dark type) is immune (and is safe if you're choiced) and is resisted by all the steels, especially metagross and jirachi, with the occassional bronzong. If you're running a stat boosting move, have shadow sneak over it, because it at least gives you priority. Psychic is not the best STAB in the world, as its really only useful for fighting types, who can easily switch out into a steel.

But it's fighting attacks can handle T-tar and steel types.

Skarmory, Bronzong and friends would wall it anyway. Though it can hit the most popular of them(ferrothorn) super-effectively with fighting STAB.

The Psychic/Fighting combo is on only resisted by enemy psychics(and shedinja, but that doesn't count).

[SoulMuse]

I agree with Zachmac on this one. If you don't want an immune Tyranitar, then just don't choice it. The choice items are not the only way to power up an attack, and they wouldn't work well with Gallade anyway.

[Serpentine]

I think that t-wave paralyzing ground types was a rumor running around in early gen 5, and some people haven't realized that this hasn't changed.

Oh relly? Yeh, I was following the launch... ^^; Oops. Fixing~

[Voice Of The Forest]

This is the way to run a bulky set up gallade
@ Leftovers
Careful
Steadfast
252 hp 60 atk 196 sp def
Wish
Drain Punch
WoW/Psycho Cut
Bulk Up

[Zachmac]

This is the way to run a bulky set up gallade
@ Leftovers
Careful
Steadfast
252 hp 60 atk 196 sp def
Wish
Drain Punch
WoW/Psycho Cut
Bulk Up

How does it get wish, anyway? I can't find it on it's pokedex page, so I figured it's an event....not easy to get on wi-fi.

Ice Punch and Night Slash work for moveslot three, also, both provide good coverage.

[Voice Of The Forest]

Thats a good idea FYI there were a series a wish event pokes in gen III and ralts was one of them

[Kraleck]

Or rather then worrying about it's strong point, you can simply take hit it's weak point, it's defense. You'll have to watch out for will-o-wisp though.

Physically defense tentacruel will be something to worry about, since Earthquake is usually a was on fighting types. It hits mostly rock and steel, which fighting already does.

Edit: Gallade might carry Psycho cut, though, so physically defensive tentacruel only counters some sets. Sending in a strong physical attacker like Salamence or Gyarados is probably a better idea. Fortunately, Cinccino and Marowak aren't too common. Non of them are safe swap ins, though. Usually when someone sees a fighting type, they won't use Cloyster. The only pokemon with dual chop are Garchomp and Haxorus, and one of them is Uber.

They all handle fighting sub punch, though, but they will need to realize it's subpunch first.

All very true and really good points. That's part of why I love Sub-Punch Gallade (it's like the Spanish Inquisition from Monty Python) and why it's almost entirely futile to aim for the Sp.Def. Like you said, none are safe-ins and you won't see much of 'chomp nor Hax' unless you actually set foot on their lawn.

However, Burns, as you've pointed out, are slightly more of a threat to Gallade's offense. Special Moves on Gallade are too useless because of Gardevoir, so only a true fool would shy away from Status and Physical on Gallade to use 'voir's...Special-ty...with it (I know, bad pun, but I think I deserved that one).

Notable counters are likely going to have a difficult time getting in because Gallade can cover so many Type-bases. Only Sableye, Spiritomb, and Elektross are going to have near-universal neutrality to Moves (barring Scrappy+Fighting for the Ghosts and Mold Breaker+Ground for 'tross), so they can come into Gallade's STABs and EQ/Bulldoze, respectively, but only on a well-predicted switch (going to get slammed by any other Move, though).

Flying Types have somewhat of a hassle, despite the Type advantage. Staraptor, Salamence, Gyarados, and Skarmory are the best candidates to screw with your offense with Intimidate (for the first three) and colossal Defense (for Skarmory). However, you still have to worry about elemental punches with them.

Most of the Ghost Types that could hassle Gallade also get hassled by Gallade because they fall under one or more of the following:
-Reliant upon Sp.Atk
-Low Defense
-Low HP
-Low Speed
...that said, Eviolite-clops, Dusknoir, and Cof' are the major threats. Cof' is probably the worst by a small margin because of its insane Defense and the contact-Ability, but Eviolite-clops and Dusknoir also have colossal Defense plus Pressure, Shadow Sneak to compensate for low Speed, and Pain Split to compensate for low HP and low Speed. Gallade's Shadow Sneak and Night Slash will have issues with all 3, despite the Type advantage, plus you can't use your superior Fighting STABs over Psycho Cut for DPS.

[sbktdreed]

Personal Moveset
Ability: Justified
Item: Scope Lens/Mental Herb
Psycho Cut
Brick Break
Thunderbolt
Night Slash

Muscle/Choice Band (Physical-only)
Abilty: Justified
Adamant nature with 255 Defense/100-150 Attack/105-155 Speed
Psycho Cut
Brick Break
Stone Edge/Rock Slide/Aerial Ace
Night Slash

Choice Specs/Wise Glasses (Special-only)
Abilty: Steadfast
Modest Nature with 200-225 Sp Attack/200-25 Defense/ 60-110 Speed
Psychic/Psyshock
Focus Blast
Thunderbolt/Charge Beam
Shadow Ball

Partners:
Apparantly using Weavile or Houndoom to use Beat-up on Gallade can take advantage with Justified.
Other than that personally, having a rock, electric, ice, dark, or steel-type can do nicely.

Countering:
Shadow Claw, Shadow Punch, Brave Bird, Drill Peck, Bounce, Fly, and uneuipped Acrobatics are the most useful againse Gallade; espically if it's a Flying and/or Ghost-type.
Equip with Power Herb, Sky Attack can be useful.
Trick Room Dusknoir, Will-o-wisp Cofagrigus, Acrobatic Gliscor, and Fan Rotom are the most recommended highly-defensive pokemon I recommend.

[kal2400]

Gallade an excellent set
Nature:Adamant/Jolly
Ability: Steadfast/Justified
Held item:Chocie Band
Evs: 4hp/252Atk/252spe
moveset
Close Combat
Ice Punch
Shadow Sneak
Psycho cut/ Night Slash

Gallade
Nature:Adamant/Jolly
Ability:steadfast/Justified
@Leftovers/life orb/ lum berry
Evs:124Hp/252Atk/132 spe
Moveset
Close Combat
Ice Punch
Shadow Sneak
Swords Dance

[MajinYoshi]

Critical hits are your bff, NOT Paris Hilton!
Psycho Cut
Night Slash
Stone Edge
Leaf Blade/ Close Combat
Item: Scope Lens
Ability: Steadfast/Justified
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Nature: Adamant (+Atk/-Sp.Atk.)
This set uses four nice moves with a high chance of scoring a Critical hit (with Sniper or Super Luck, Gallade could increase damage done from Criticals or increasing the odds of scoring Criticals)
Psycho Cut is your STAB move, while Night Slash and Stone Edge covers Ghost and Flying opposition respectively. For your last slot you can choose between Close Combat (for another STAB) or Leaf Blade (for Critical hits)
Scope Lens increases the odds off getting Critical hits.

Relying on Crits is EXTREMELY risky and Night Slash is weak.

[kal2400]

A counter to her counter sets A special attacker appears.

Gallade
Nature:Timid
Evs:4hp/252SpA/252spe
item: Leftovers
Moveset
Focus Blast
Psyshock
HP Ice
Calm mind

Tested it out usually took out 1-2 pokemon in 20/25 matches on PO.

[Kraleck]

A counter to her counter sets A special attacker appears.

Gallade
Nature:Timid
Evs:4hp/252SpA/252spe
item: Leftovers
Moveset
Focus Blast
Psyshock
HP Ice
Calm mind

Tested it out usually took out 1-2 pokemon in 20/25 matches on PO.

The obvious is not so obvious. Seeing Gallade as a pure Physical Attacker leaves your opponent struggling to salvage their strategy when a wannabe-Gardevoir appears. However, your damage suffers with Gallade's subpar Base 65 Sp.Atk, even after CM boosts.

That said, Special Gallade, while unusual and underwhelming, can benefit from Hypnosis+Dream Eater because few expect it. Charge Beam could be a better alternative to CM on that set. Wise Glasses, too.

[Zachmac]

I'd suggest that special gallade is something to go under other options, if anything. It's not good enough to be one of the main sets.

I'll bet it's better then specavalier, though.

[Ilan]

The obvious is not so obvious. Seeing Gallade as a pure Physical Attacker leaves your opponent struggling to salvage their strategy when a wannabe-Gardevoir appears. However, your damage suffers with Gallade's subpar Base 65 Sp.Atk, even after CM boosts.

That said, Special Gallade, while unusual and underwhelming, can benefit from Hypnosis+Dream Eater because few expect it. Charge Beam could be a better alternative to CM on that set. Wise Glasses, too.

Dream eater is useless... sleep clause...

Like I stated before: SPECIAL GALLADE=GARDEVOIR!!!!!!!!!! so no point trying

[kal2400]

@Zachmac Specs Excavalier is better then Physical for OU battling, A special Gallade would through off his usually physical bulky counters and cause pivotal double switches.