Mega Gallade team

[PlatinumDude]

Gallade has always been one of my favorite Pokemon, but it didn't get much love in standard play for the first two generations it was in. Now that it gained a Mega Evolution this gen, and became OU because of it, I decided to make a team based on it.

Gallade:

>

-Swords Dance
-Close Combat
-Zen Headbutt
-Knock Off
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Item: Galladite
Ability: Justified

The star of the team. Close Combat provides a hard-hitting STAB, Zen Headbutt hits those who resist Close Combat and Knock Off provides utility in removing non-Mega Stone items. Swords Dance lets Gallade hit harder.

Bisharp:

-Sucker Punch
-Iron Head
-Knock Off
-Pursuit
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Item: Black Glasses
Ability: Defiant

Bisharp pairs well with Gallade to deal with troublesome Ghost, Psychic and Fairy Pokemon. It's neutral to Fairy, sure, but Iron Head still hits Fairy Pokemon hard.

Sylveon:

-Hyper Voice
-Psyshock
-Hidden Power (Ground)
-Baton Pass
Nature: Modest
EVs: 244 HP/252 SAtk/12 Spe
Item: Choice Specs
Ability: Pixilate

Sylveon breaks through the Fighting Pokemon Bisharp struggles with (even though Gallade does the same thing for it). It also blasts through Mega Sableye.

Therian Landorus:

-Stealth Rock
-Earthquake
-U-turn
-Stone Edge
Nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP/240 Def/8 SDef/8 Spe
Item: Leftovers

Therian Landorus provides Stealth Rock support for the team. It also has a slow U-turn to get Bisharp and Gallade in safely and checks Talonflame nicely.

Latias:

-Draco Meteor
-Psyshock
-Defog
-Healing Wish
Nature: Timid
EVs: 72 HP/184 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb

Latias provides Defog support for the team. Healing Wish also gives the team a second chance to run through things if they get seriously crippled throughout the match.

Talonflame:

-Swords Dance
-Brave Bird
-Taunt
-Roost
Nature: Careful
EVs: 248 HP/252 SDef/8 Spe
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Gale Wings

Talonflame is the team's backup Mega Sableye counter and general revenge-killer. While it can't Taunt it thanks to Magic Bounce, it's immune to Will-o-Wisp and can set up Swords Dance on it. It also tanks Sableye's unboosted Dark Pulses and Shadow Balls.

Despite Sylveon's presence, this team is pretty much halted by Mega Slowbro, as Anti demonstrated. Some considerations for the team are Raikou and Thundurus.

 

[Khaotic Kebab]

Nice, although I've found that prepping for individual Pokemon rather than a broader range of enemies somewhat hurts the synergy of the team. The only Pokemon I use who is meant to check one particular opponent is my Cofagrigus (who is a NEAR PERFECT M-Lopunny counter), although it can hold its own against nearly anything.

 

[Nah]

While Mega Sableye is something that should always been kept in mind these days when team building, I don't think that you need to have Talonflame in there as a back-up Mega Sableye check. Specs Sylveon absolutely destroys it, even at +2, so you just gotta be a little careful with it. Talonflame's big SR weakness kinda sucks. Mega Bro, like you mentioned, is very much the bigger problem here. So yeah, Raikou or Thundurus are what you'd wanna use here, probably like CM or Scarf on Raikou, Thunder Wave+Taunt for Thundurus.

Sounds good to me anyway, could be wrong lol

And one little thing, more of a personal preference thing I suppose, but you could swap Zen Headbutt for Psycho Cut on Mega Gallade. You basically trade the flinch chance for perfect accuracy (trust me, Zen Headbutt WILL miss) and a boosted crit chance. At +2 it'll probably still rip stuff apart anyway. But that's a really minor thing so whatever.

 

[PlatinumDude]

While Mega Sableye is something that should always been kept in mind these days when team building, I don't think that you need to have Talonflame in there as a back-up Mega Sableye check. Specs Sylveon absolutely destroys it, even at +2, so you just gotta be a little careful with it. Talonflame's big SR weakness kinda sucks. Mega Bro, like you mentioned, is very much the bigger problem here. So yeah, Raikou or Thundurus are what you'd wanna use here, probably like CM or Scarf on Raikou, Thunder Wave+Taunt for Thundurus.

Sounds good to me anyway, could be wrong lol

And one little thing, more of a personal preference thing I suppose, but you could swap Zen Headbutt for Psycho Cut on Mega Gallade. You basically trade the flinch chance for perfect accuracy (trust me, Zen Headbutt WILL miss) and a boosted crit chance. At +2 it'll probably still rip stuff apart anyway. But that's a really minor thing so whatever.

Alright, Thundurus it is.

I'd rather keep Zen Headbutt, tbh.

 

[Dark Azelf]

I still dont think having one answer to something that otherwise walls your whole team is a good thing. If Sylveon gets removed mega sable essentially 5-0's him if he removes Talon. This is also basically his sole answer to Clefable because Bisharp does NOT want to be switching in on that at all.

What if Sylveon is locked into anything not called Hyper Voice? Its things like this that make it prime Gothitelle bait, which amazingly is found on alot of Mega Sable teams. I know its broken so you cant really prep for Goth but still something to think about. Sylveon also doesnt have Leftovers so is actually very prone to being worn down too especially if using Latias to remove hazards (who again is very easy to remove see: Pursuit, hazard users attacking it Latias, chip damage etc).

I think the teams main issue is that basically any stat upper has its way with it and removing Talon further exacerbates this. I mean all something has to do is be able to hit Lando for SE damage and in combo with DD or <stat up move>/being fast the whole team is done. Think DDIce Punch MegaTar, DD MegaDos, even Weavile and foe Wisp Talon basically goes unchecked and once Lando-T gets worn down with a burn again the whole team is done. Things on the special side are equally as bad to you.

Firstly id recommend fixing the teams inherent problems namely being that "it is very slow and doesnt have good defensive synergy to take on stat uppers" and relies far too much on Lando-T before worrying about MegaSable.

 

[PlatinumDude]

I still dont think having one answer to something that otherwise walls your whole team is a good thing. If Sylveon gets removed mega sable essentially 5-0's him if he removes Talon. This is also basically his sole answer to Clefable because Bisharp does NOT want to be switching in on that at all.

What if Sylveon is locked into anything not called Hyper Voice? Its things like this that make it prime Gothitelle bait, which amazingly is found on alot of Mega Sable teams. I know its broken so you cant really prep for Goth but still something to think about. Sylveon also doesnt have Leftovers so is actually very prone to being worn down too especially if using Latias to remove hazards (who again is very easy to remove see: Pursuit, hazard users attacking it Latias, chip damage etc).

I think the teams main issue is that basically any stat upper has its way with it and removing Talon further exacerbates this. I mean all something has to do is be able to hit Lando for SE damage and in combo with DD or <stat up move>/being fast the whole team is done. Think DDIce Punch MegaTar, DD MegaDos, even Weavile and foe Wisp Talon basically goes unchecked and once Lando-T gets worn down with a burn again the whole team is done. Things on the special side are equally as bad to you.

Firstly id recommend fixing the teams inherent problems namely being that "it is very slow and doesnt have good defensive synergy to take on stat uppers" and relies far too much on Lando-T before worrying about MegaSable.

Would Unaware Clefable be an option over Sylveon in that case, then?

 

[Dark Azelf]

Clefable might be a good start actually. It could also either pass Wish and Heal your team or you could use Calm Mind/Moon Blast/Rest/Sleep Talk @ Unaware as a set which is surprisingly effective as a win condition and takes on Slowbro too.