**Draft Order**: Round 5 onwards
**Price Range**: 10-11 points
**Overview**: Gardevoir is a special attacker that is benefitted by its plethora of utility options. Opponents are forced to respect its powerful Moonblast and wide array of coverage moves, which can give it opportunities to disrupt foes or assist teammates. Trace and Synchronize provide some extra utility, and Calm Mind can lead to sweeps. If a player can work around its physical frailty and average Speed, Gardevoir is a great asset to many drafts.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Gardevoir's powerful STAB attacks and good coverage allow it to offensively threaten most Pokemon, especially when paired with a damage-boosting item. Even the bulkiest foes have to deal with the pressure of Psyshock, Future Sight, and Psychic Noise, while Taunt and Encore can disrupt opposing recovery and setup.
**Setup**: Calm Mind further boosts Gardevoir's impressive special stats, giving it the potential to sweep weakened teams. Draining Kiss or Wish can keep it healthy as it does so. When available, Tera creates additional setup opportunities and removes some weaknesses.
**Utility**: Gardevoir has many ways to support its teammates beyond attacking. It can spread status, set dual screens, restore HP, disrupt foes, and more. Healing Wish, Memento, and Teleport are all strong positioning tools it can use to set up for a teammate to sweep.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Moonblast, Alluring Voice, Draining Kiss, Psychic, Psyshock, Psychic Noise, Future Sight
**Setup Moves**: Calm Mind
**Utility Moves**: Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave, Healing Wish, Memento, Encore, Trick, Taunt, Reflect, Light Screen, Trick Room, Teleport, Destiny Bond, Pain Split, Wish, Protect, Knock Off, Night Shade
**Coverage**: Mystical Fire, Focus Blast, Aura Sphere, Vacuum Wave, Shadow Ball, Thunderbolt, Energy Ball, Grass Knot, Icy Wind
Niche Moves
========
**Stored Power**: Stored Power lacks immediate power but can be used on Calm Mind sets to break through bulkier defensive Pokemon, including those with Unaware.
**Hypnosis**: If it lands, Hypnosis effectively removes a foe for the next few turns, creating opportunities for Gardevoir or its teammates.
Common Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Gardevoir with a Choice Scarf can outspeed most unboosted foes while dealing considerable damage. It can also use Trick to disrupt bulky foes or moves like Healing Wish to provide support.
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs can be run instead of Choice Scarf for extra wallbreaking power if Gardevoir's team can handle revenge killing attempts. Other damage-boosting items such as Fairy Feather can be run to achieve a similar effect without a Choice lock.
Niche Items
========
**Leftovers**: Leftovers improves Gardevoir's longevity on bulky sets, particularly those with Calm Mind or Wish.
**Light Clay**: Light Clay should be run with dual screens to maximize the time teammates have to set up under their protection.
**Custap Berry**: Gardevoir can use a Custap Berry to take a variety of actions before foes. Endure makes this strategy more consistent and lets Gardevoir act as a solid emergency stop to opposing sweepers.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries allow Gardevoir to lure its checks and weaken them with coverage or status moves.
**Assault Vest**: Gardevoir becomes extremely specially bulky with an Assault Vest equipped. It can also use Draining Kiss to add some longevity.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Utility-focused sets can appreciate the ability to switch in repeatedly without taking entry hazard damage.
Tera
========
Gardevoir makes for a solid secondary Tera Captain. Tera Fairy is often used for the defensive profile and wallbreaking power it provides. Many other Tera types can be chosen for their offensive or defensive capabilities in a matchup. Tera types like Tera Fighting and Ground can be used to overpower Gardevoir's usual checks on offensive sets. Defensive sets often want to check a specific threat using Tera, though Tera Water and Steel are usually strong options.
Draft Strategy
========
Gardevoir should be chosen to support the stars of a draft. It also works best when not forced into a specific role. The following archetypes can benefit from its presence to form solid teams:
**Speed Control**: Gardevoir is a solid Choice Scarf user, but it doesn't always want to act as a revenge killer or sweeper. Fast attackers like Ogerpon formes, Darkrai, and Iron Bundle are important partners for consistently controlling the pace of games and closing them out.
**Complementary Offense**: Gardevoir can become significantly more threatening offensively with the support of other attackers. Wallbreakers, especially physical ones like Urshifu formes and Great Tusk, scare the Pokemon that defensively check Gardevoir. Fire- and Ground-type attackers similarly pressure Steel-types. Entry hazard setters are also excellent for supporting most offense.
**Physical Defense**: Physically bulky teammates like Garchomp and Metagross are helpful for hindering the opponent's physical attackers defensively. Defensive pivots like Alomomola and Corviknight also help get Gardevoir onto the field safely.
Checks and Counters
========
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Gardevoir's physical bulk is thoroughly unimpressive, leaving it at risk of being OHKOed by even Pokemon it has a type advantage against, like Great Tusk, Urshifu formes, and Garchomp. Unfortunately, its Speed is lower than many common physical threats, forcing it to switch out or accept a KO against many potential revenge killers.
**Faster Pokemon**: Gardevoir's mediocre Speed makes it vulnerable to many faster Pokemon. Fast disruption can shut down bulkier sets, while many attackers are capable of revenge killing Gardevoir. Choice Scarf sets are still at risk due to the prevalence of faster Choice Scarf users.
**Steel-types**: Many Steel-types can stand up to Gardevoir defensively, and most carry STAB attacks that beat it offensively. It can carry coverage for these Pokemon or inflict status, though they're often still losing matchups.
**Special Walls**: Walls with super effective STAB attacks or disruption can be difficult for Gardevoir to break, especially if they have the physical bulk to stand up to Psyshock. Galarian Slowking and Tinkaton, among others, shrug off Gardevoir's coverage attacks and win the exchange.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/abriel.473082/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hacker.387847/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
**Price Range**: 10-11 points
**Overview**: Gardevoir is a special attacker that is benefitted by its plethora of utility options. Opponents are forced to respect its powerful Moonblast and wide array of coverage moves, which can give it opportunities to disrupt foes or assist teammates. Trace and Synchronize provide some extra utility, and Calm Mind can lead to sweeps. If a player can work around its physical frailty and average Speed, Gardevoir is a great asset to many drafts.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Gardevoir's powerful STAB attacks and good coverage allow it to offensively threaten most Pokemon, especially when paired with a damage-boosting item. Even the bulkiest foes have to deal with the pressure of Psyshock, Future Sight, and Psychic Noise, while Taunt and Encore can disrupt opposing recovery and setup.
**Setup**: Calm Mind further boosts Gardevoir's impressive special stats, giving it the potential to sweep weakened teams. Draining Kiss or Wish can keep it healthy as it does so. When available, Tera creates additional setup opportunities and removes some weaknesses.
**Utility**: Gardevoir has many ways to support its teammates beyond attacking. It can spread status, set dual screens, restore HP, disrupt foes, and more. Healing Wish, Memento, and Teleport are all strong positioning tools it can use to set up for a teammate to sweep.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Moonblast, Alluring Voice, Draining Kiss, Psychic, Psyshock, Psychic Noise, Future Sight
**Setup Moves**: Calm Mind
**Utility Moves**: Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave, Healing Wish, Memento, Encore, Trick, Taunt, Reflect, Light Screen, Trick Room, Teleport, Destiny Bond, Pain Split, Wish, Protect, Knock Off, Night Shade
**Coverage**: Mystical Fire, Focus Blast, Aura Sphere, Vacuum Wave, Shadow Ball, Thunderbolt, Energy Ball, Grass Knot, Icy Wind
Niche Moves
========
**Stored Power**: Stored Power lacks immediate power but can be used on Calm Mind sets to break through bulkier defensive Pokemon, including those with Unaware.
**Hypnosis**: If it lands, Hypnosis effectively removes a foe for the next few turns, creating opportunities for Gardevoir or its teammates.
Common Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Gardevoir with a Choice Scarf can outspeed most unboosted foes while dealing considerable damage. It can also use Trick to disrupt bulky foes or moves like Healing Wish to provide support.
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs can be run instead of Choice Scarf for extra wallbreaking power if Gardevoir's team can handle revenge killing attempts. Other damage-boosting items such as Fairy Feather can be run to achieve a similar effect without a Choice lock.
Niche Items
========
**Leftovers**: Leftovers improves Gardevoir's longevity on bulky sets, particularly those with Calm Mind or Wish.
**Light Clay**: Light Clay should be run with dual screens to maximize the time teammates have to set up under their protection.
**Custap Berry**: Gardevoir can use a Custap Berry to take a variety of actions before foes. Endure makes this strategy more consistent and lets Gardevoir act as a solid emergency stop to opposing sweepers.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries allow Gardevoir to lure its checks and weaken them with coverage or status moves.
**Assault Vest**: Gardevoir becomes extremely specially bulky with an Assault Vest equipped. It can also use Draining Kiss to add some longevity.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Utility-focused sets can appreciate the ability to switch in repeatedly without taking entry hazard damage.
Tera
========
Gardevoir makes for a solid secondary Tera Captain. Tera Fairy is often used for the defensive profile and wallbreaking power it provides. Many other Tera types can be chosen for their offensive or defensive capabilities in a matchup. Tera types like Tera Fighting and Ground can be used to overpower Gardevoir's usual checks on offensive sets. Defensive sets often want to check a specific threat using Tera, though Tera Water and Steel are usually strong options.
Draft Strategy
========
Gardevoir should be chosen to support the stars of a draft. It also works best when not forced into a specific role. The following archetypes can benefit from its presence to form solid teams:
**Speed Control**: Gardevoir is a solid Choice Scarf user, but it doesn't always want to act as a revenge killer or sweeper. Fast attackers like Ogerpon formes, Darkrai, and Iron Bundle are important partners for consistently controlling the pace of games and closing them out.
**Complementary Offense**: Gardevoir can become significantly more threatening offensively with the support of other attackers. Wallbreakers, especially physical ones like Urshifu formes and Great Tusk, scare the Pokemon that defensively check Gardevoir. Fire- and Ground-type attackers similarly pressure Steel-types. Entry hazard setters are also excellent for supporting most offense.
**Physical Defense**: Physically bulky teammates like Garchomp and Metagross are helpful for hindering the opponent's physical attackers defensively. Defensive pivots like Alomomola and Corviknight also help get Gardevoir onto the field safely.
Checks and Counters
========
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Gardevoir's physical bulk is thoroughly unimpressive, leaving it at risk of being OHKOed by even Pokemon it has a type advantage against, like Great Tusk, Urshifu formes, and Garchomp. Unfortunately, its Speed is lower than many common physical threats, forcing it to switch out or accept a KO against many potential revenge killers.
**Faster Pokemon**: Gardevoir's mediocre Speed makes it vulnerable to many faster Pokemon. Fast disruption can shut down bulkier sets, while many attackers are capable of revenge killing Gardevoir. Choice Scarf sets are still at risk due to the prevalence of faster Choice Scarf users.
**Steel-types**: Many Steel-types can stand up to Gardevoir defensively, and most carry STAB attacks that beat it offensively. It can carry coverage for these Pokemon or inflict status, though they're often still losing matchups.
**Special Walls**: Walls with super effective STAB attacks or disruption can be difficult for Gardevoir to break, especially if they have the physical bulk to stand up to Psyshock. Galarian Slowking and Tinkaton, among others, shrug off Gardevoir's coverage attacks and win the exchange.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/abriel.473082/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hacker.387847/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited:
