[OVERVIEW]
Fairy
========
Mega Gardevoir is a great wallbreaker with Pixilate-boosted Hyper Voice and a high Special Attack stat, easily breaking walls like Clefable and Mega Slowbro. Its Psychic typing gives it good coverage and helps it check some Poison-types like Mega Venusaur, which is especially helpful for Fairy teams. It has a good movepool as well; Focus Blast gives it great coverage, and its utility options in Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, and Encore allow it to cripple physical attackers and deal with some defensive threats, respectively. Trace is a good pre-Mega ability to have, as Gardevoir can copy useful abilities to revenge kill weather sweepers, especially Sand Rush Excadrill. Mega Gardevoir also has a decent but crowded Speed tier that allows it to outspeed Pokemon like Kyurem-B and Landorus-T and Speed tie with Pokemon such as Manaphy. However, Gardevoir's low physical bulk makes it susceptible to being revenge killed by fast physical threats, and it may take lots of damage if it can't manage to KO the foe. This also makes it susceptible to priority users, especially Mega Scizor, which already has a positive matchup against Fairy. It's also easily walled by notable special walls like Chansey even with its great wallbreaking capabilities. Lastly, Gardevoir faces direct competition for the Mega slot from Mega Diancie, which has the ability to go mixed and break special walls, a higher Speed tier, and a Rock typing that helps it check Flying, Fire, and Poison teams; despite Mega Gardevoir's Psychic typing, Mega Diancie is actually a better check to Poison teams due to its neutrality to the type and ability to break past Alolan Muk.
[SET]
name: Mega Wallbreaker
move 1: Hyper Voice
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Taunt
item: Gardevoirite
ability: Trace
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hyper Voice is Mega Gardevoir's main STAB move and is capable of shattering many walls thanks to its Pixilate-boosted power. It's also capable of bypassing Substitutes from Pokemon like Suicune. Psyshock allows Mega Gardevoir to hit some special walls decently hard and lets it check some Poison-types, especially Mega Venusaur. Focus Blast is a valuable coverage move that allows Mega Gardevoir to hit Steel-types like Heatran and Excadrill. Will-O-Wisp can cripple physical attackers like Mega Scizor and Excadrill and slightly chip at foes. It notably cripples Alolan Muk, which is a huge threat to Mega Gardevoir and Fairy in general. Alternatively, Taunt allows Mega Gardevoir to shut down some walls and work as a decent stallbreaker. Encore is also an option, as it gives Gardevoir more stallbreaking potential, (AC) but it is generally less useful overall.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack investment allows Mega Gardevoir to hit as hard as possible. Maximum Speed with a Timid nature enables Mega Gardevoir to make use of its good Speed tier and outspeed most walls along with key threats like Nidoking and Xurkitree. Trace allows Gardevoir to sometimes inherit useful abilities like Intimidate and Sand Rush before Mega Evolving and possibly revenge kill weather sweepers like Excadrill and Mega Swampert. However, be wary, as not Mega Evolving leaves Gardevoir without a Fairy-type STAB attack. Pixilate allows Mega Gardevoir to hit very hard with Hyper Voice. Gardevoirite is needed to enable Gardevoir to Mega Evolve.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Gardevoir should be used as an early-game wallbreaker, weakening the opposing team for teammates to clean up later. Hyper Voice should be used most of the time, for it has the most power and has decent coverage. Due to this, it is a very spammable move as well. On the other hand, use the appropriate move when the situation calls for it, like using Focus Blast to KO Heatran or Will-O-Wisp when a physical attacker switches in. Taunt or Encore can be used to allow Mega Gardevoir to wear down walls and make them easier to KO later on. In addition, they both give Mega Gardevoir some stallbreaking potential, enabling it to beat down some walls like Chansey. Gardevoir should also Mega Evolve as soon as possible in most situations to gain the stat boosts and Pixilate. Sometimes, though, if the opponent has a weather sweeper like Excadrill, it may be useful to postpone Mega Evolving to Trace useful abilities and revenge kill weather sweepers. However, this comes with the cost of leaving Hyper Voice a weak Normal-type attack. Gardevoir is not very bulky, especially physically, so bringing it in with double switches or U-turn or Volt Switch support is a good idea. Mega Gardevoir should also be played carefully against Poison teams, especially due to the inability to use Mega Diancie, because Gardevoir may be needed to break through Pokemon like Toxapex and Mega Venusaur. Avoid switching Mega Gardevoir into Pokemon that commonly carry status moves, as most status cripples it heavily.
Team Options
========
Azumarill can benefit from Mega Gardevoir's early-game wallbreaking to clean up late-game with Z-Belly Drum. Tapu Koko is able to deal with Celesteela and Skarmory for Mega Gardevoir and can easily pivot out to Mega Gardevoir with Volt Switch or U-turn. Klefki is an especially great partner thanks to its ability to set up Spikes to aid Mega Gardevoir's wallbreaking, improve Gardevoir's survivability with dual screens, switch into certain Poison-type threats, paralyze threats with Thunder Wave, and check most physical setup sweepers like Mega Scizor with Foul Play. Clefable and Togekiss can hold Babiri Berry and utilize Fire-type coverage to check Steel-types, especially Mega Scizor. Clefable can also set up Stealth Rock, which slowly chips at foes. Tapu Bulu is a strong physical attacker that can break down many special walls that Mega Gardevoir can't touch, like Chansey and Mantine. Grassy Terrain support is also good, since it provides Gardevoir with recovery. Tapu Fini and Togekiss can provide Defog support, which reduces the amount of unnecessary chip damage Mega Gardevoir takes; this is important mostly against Poison teams.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Fairy
--------
Calm Mind can turn Mega Gardevoir into a terrifying wallbreaker but forces it to forgo a more useful move and is a bit difficult for Gardevoir to set up. Substitute can be used when scaring out threats like Dark- and Dragon-types fearing Hyper Voice. It also protects Gardevoir from Bisharp's Sucker Punch and other priority attacks. However, it's generally less useful than Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, and Encore, since they give Gardevoir the ability to cripple certain Pokemon that would otherwise pose threat to it. Thunderbolt can work wonderfully well with Tapu Koko's Electric Terrain and can hit Skarmory and Mantine but still leaves Mega Gardevoir walled by most Celesteela sets and forces Gardevoir to give up a move that's usually more useful. Choice Scarf is an option to let Gardevoir act as a revenge killer to weather and Terrain sweepers like Kingdra and Alolan Raichu, but it is quite weak, and Mega Gardevoir's wallbreaking prowess is preferred most of the time.
Checks and Counters
===================
Fairy
--------
**Steel-types**: Bulky Steel-types like Celesteela, Skarmory, and Mega Scizor are able to easily take any one hit Mega Gardevoir can throw at them. Celesteela especially fears nothing and can easily OHKO Gardevoir with Heavy Slam. Mega Scizor can also threaten Gardevoir with Bullet Punch, though it risks being burned on the switch. Other Steel-types like Choice Scarf or Sand Rush Excadrill, Ferrothorn, and defensive Heatran can also either outspeed Mega Gardevoir and KO it or take an attack and KO it.
**Special Walls**: Dedicated special walls like Chansey, Mantine, and Alolan Muk can easily take most of Gardevoir's attacks. However, Taunt or Encore can be used to cripple these walls and weaken them, and Will-O-Wisp heavily cripples Alolan Muk.
**Revenge Killers**: Mega Gardevoir's Speed is only slightly above average, so faster Pokemon like Greninja, Choice Scarf Landorus-T, and Gengar are able to easily revenge kill it.
**Poison-types**: While most Poison-types are weak to Psyshock, many, such as Nihilego, Gengar, and Scolipede, can outspeed Gardevoir and KO it thanks to their high Speed. Some bulkier Poison-types like Mega Venusaur and Alolan Muk can also take Mega Gardevoir's attacks fairly well and dish out large damage in return.
**Status**: Paralysis severely cripples Mega Gardevoir by halving its Speed, making it extremely susceptible to offensive threats. Toxic poison quickly wears down Mega Gardevoir and renders it incapable of slowly weakening special walls.
Fairy
========
Mega Gardevoir is a great wallbreaker with Pixilate-boosted Hyper Voice and a high Special Attack stat, easily breaking walls like Clefable and Mega Slowbro. Its Psychic typing gives it good coverage and helps it check some Poison-types like Mega Venusaur, which is especially helpful for Fairy teams. It has a good movepool as well; Focus Blast gives it great coverage, and its utility options in Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, and Encore allow it to cripple physical attackers and deal with some defensive threats, respectively. Trace is a good pre-Mega ability to have, as Gardevoir can copy useful abilities to revenge kill weather sweepers, especially Sand Rush Excadrill. Mega Gardevoir also has a decent but crowded Speed tier that allows it to outspeed Pokemon like Kyurem-B and Landorus-T and Speed tie with Pokemon such as Manaphy. However, Gardevoir's low physical bulk makes it susceptible to being revenge killed by fast physical threats, and it may take lots of damage if it can't manage to KO the foe. This also makes it susceptible to priority users, especially Mega Scizor, which already has a positive matchup against Fairy. It's also easily walled by notable special walls like Chansey even with its great wallbreaking capabilities. Lastly, Gardevoir faces direct competition for the Mega slot from Mega Diancie, which has the ability to go mixed and break special walls, a higher Speed tier, and a Rock typing that helps it check Flying, Fire, and Poison teams; despite Mega Gardevoir's Psychic typing, Mega Diancie is actually a better check to Poison teams due to its neutrality to the type and ability to break past Alolan Muk.
[SET]
name: Mega Wallbreaker
move 1: Hyper Voice
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Taunt
item: Gardevoirite
ability: Trace
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hyper Voice is Mega Gardevoir's main STAB move and is capable of shattering many walls thanks to its Pixilate-boosted power. It's also capable of bypassing Substitutes from Pokemon like Suicune. Psyshock allows Mega Gardevoir to hit some special walls decently hard and lets it check some Poison-types, especially Mega Venusaur. Focus Blast is a valuable coverage move that allows Mega Gardevoir to hit Steel-types like Heatran and Excadrill. Will-O-Wisp can cripple physical attackers like Mega Scizor and Excadrill and slightly chip at foes. It notably cripples Alolan Muk, which is a huge threat to Mega Gardevoir and Fairy in general. Alternatively, Taunt allows Mega Gardevoir to shut down some walls and work as a decent stallbreaker. Encore is also an option, as it gives Gardevoir more stallbreaking potential, (AC) but it is generally less useful overall.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack investment allows Mega Gardevoir to hit as hard as possible. Maximum Speed with a Timid nature enables Mega Gardevoir to make use of its good Speed tier and outspeed most walls along with key threats like Nidoking and Xurkitree. Trace allows Gardevoir to sometimes inherit useful abilities like Intimidate and Sand Rush before Mega Evolving and possibly revenge kill weather sweepers like Excadrill and Mega Swampert. However, be wary, as not Mega Evolving leaves Gardevoir without a Fairy-type STAB attack. Pixilate allows Mega Gardevoir to hit very hard with Hyper Voice. Gardevoirite is needed to enable Gardevoir to Mega Evolve.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Gardevoir should be used as an early-game wallbreaker, weakening the opposing team for teammates to clean up later. Hyper Voice should be used most of the time, for it has the most power and has decent coverage. Due to this, it is a very spammable move as well. On the other hand, use the appropriate move when the situation calls for it, like using Focus Blast to KO Heatran or Will-O-Wisp when a physical attacker switches in. Taunt or Encore can be used to allow Mega Gardevoir to wear down walls and make them easier to KO later on. In addition, they both give Mega Gardevoir some stallbreaking potential, enabling it to beat down some walls like Chansey. Gardevoir should also Mega Evolve as soon as possible in most situations to gain the stat boosts and Pixilate. Sometimes, though, if the opponent has a weather sweeper like Excadrill, it may be useful to postpone Mega Evolving to Trace useful abilities and revenge kill weather sweepers. However, this comes with the cost of leaving Hyper Voice a weak Normal-type attack. Gardevoir is not very bulky, especially physically, so bringing it in with double switches or U-turn or Volt Switch support is a good idea. Mega Gardevoir should also be played carefully against Poison teams, especially due to the inability to use Mega Diancie, because Gardevoir may be needed to break through Pokemon like Toxapex and Mega Venusaur. Avoid switching Mega Gardevoir into Pokemon that commonly carry status moves, as most status cripples it heavily.
Team Options
========
Azumarill can benefit from Mega Gardevoir's early-game wallbreaking to clean up late-game with Z-Belly Drum. Tapu Koko is able to deal with Celesteela and Skarmory for Mega Gardevoir and can easily pivot out to Mega Gardevoir with Volt Switch or U-turn. Klefki is an especially great partner thanks to its ability to set up Spikes to aid Mega Gardevoir's wallbreaking, improve Gardevoir's survivability with dual screens, switch into certain Poison-type threats, paralyze threats with Thunder Wave, and check most physical setup sweepers like Mega Scizor with Foul Play. Clefable and Togekiss can hold Babiri Berry and utilize Fire-type coverage to check Steel-types, especially Mega Scizor. Clefable can also set up Stealth Rock, which slowly chips at foes. Tapu Bulu is a strong physical attacker that can break down many special walls that Mega Gardevoir can't touch, like Chansey and Mantine. Grassy Terrain support is also good, since it provides Gardevoir with recovery. Tapu Fini and Togekiss can provide Defog support, which reduces the amount of unnecessary chip damage Mega Gardevoir takes; this is important mostly against Poison teams.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Fairy
--------
Calm Mind can turn Mega Gardevoir into a terrifying wallbreaker but forces it to forgo a more useful move and is a bit difficult for Gardevoir to set up. Substitute can be used when scaring out threats like Dark- and Dragon-types fearing Hyper Voice. It also protects Gardevoir from Bisharp's Sucker Punch and other priority attacks. However, it's generally less useful than Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, and Encore, since they give Gardevoir the ability to cripple certain Pokemon that would otherwise pose threat to it. Thunderbolt can work wonderfully well with Tapu Koko's Electric Terrain and can hit Skarmory and Mantine but still leaves Mega Gardevoir walled by most Celesteela sets and forces Gardevoir to give up a move that's usually more useful. Choice Scarf is an option to let Gardevoir act as a revenge killer to weather and Terrain sweepers like Kingdra and Alolan Raichu, but it is quite weak, and Mega Gardevoir's wallbreaking prowess is preferred most of the time.
Checks and Counters
===================
Fairy
--------
**Steel-types**: Bulky Steel-types like Celesteela, Skarmory, and Mega Scizor are able to easily take any one hit Mega Gardevoir can throw at them. Celesteela especially fears nothing and can easily OHKO Gardevoir with Heavy Slam. Mega Scizor can also threaten Gardevoir with Bullet Punch, though it risks being burned on the switch. Other Steel-types like Choice Scarf or Sand Rush Excadrill, Ferrothorn, and defensive Heatran can also either outspeed Mega Gardevoir and KO it or take an attack and KO it.
**Special Walls**: Dedicated special walls like Chansey, Mantine, and Alolan Muk can easily take most of Gardevoir's attacks. However, Taunt or Encore can be used to cripple these walls and weaken them, and Will-O-Wisp heavily cripples Alolan Muk.
**Revenge Killers**: Mega Gardevoir's Speed is only slightly above average, so faster Pokemon like Greninja, Choice Scarf Landorus-T, and Gengar are able to easily revenge kill it.
**Poison-types**: While most Poison-types are weak to Psyshock, many, such as Nihilego, Gengar, and Scolipede, can outspeed Gardevoir and KO it thanks to their high Speed. Some bulkier Poison-types like Mega Venusaur and Alolan Muk can also take Mega Gardevoir's attacks fairly well and dish out large damage in return.
**Status**: Paralysis severely cripples Mega Gardevoir by halving its Speed, making it extremely susceptible to offensive threats. Toxic poison quickly wears down Mega Gardevoir and renders it incapable of slowly weakening special walls.
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