Pokémon'south third generation of games brought forth some of the most popular creatures in the entire series and many fans still hold these Pokémon in a special place in their hearts. One of the most recognizable Pokémon from Ruby & Sapphire is Gardevoir for its unique humanoid form, striking colors, general design, and powerful battle prowess.

Gardevoir really took off during the sixth generation with the introduction of Mega Evolution, every bit its Mega Form landed it as a solid high-tier battler. Now that Sword & Shield have brought along new moves, strategies, and Dynamaxing, we're here to simplify Gardevoir's movesets choices for competitive Pokémon battles.

10 GREAT: Choice Specs

This moveset is taken from Smogon'due south Gardevoir strategy page and is probable i of the best possible movesets for the Pokémon. Choice Specs are a held item that increases the holder's Special Attack by i.5x in exchange for just existence able to use i move.

In Gardevoir's case, pairing a Choice Specs with Moonblast, Psyshock, Mystical Fire, and Play tricks or Psychic creates a powerful special sweeper that is able to downwards most Pokémon in a unmarried hit or two. Its Special Attack stat was already extremely high, merely maximizing EVs in Sp. Atk and Speed ensure a decently fast heavy hitter. Along with Trace to re-create the enemy'south useful abilities, this moveset can get quite scary.

9 Atrocious: Physical Attacker

At that place'due south a reason that Kirlia evolves into two different forms, after all. Gallade is meant to be the physical attacker, while Gardevoir has a focus on special attacks, so giving Gardevoir a physical moveset will lead to but virtually nowhere.

Its physical attacks include Trunk Slam, Zen Headbutt, the elemental Punches, and a few other mutual ones. The only exception to using physical attacks with Gardevoir would be the employ of Shadow Sneak, every bit it's a priority move that usually goes first regardless of Speed stats, and can sometimes be used to clutch out a KO.

8 GREAT: Choice Scarf

This moveset is, again, taken from Smogon Academy's website, and is 1 of the all-time options for Gardevoir. Some other Choice particular is seen here, simply now shifts Gardevoir'due south focus to out-speeding opponents rather than hitting them equally difficult as possible.

In exchange for only beingness able to use the first motion selected, Option Scarfs heave Speed by 1.5x. Its attacks are Psychic, Moonblast, Trick or Mystical Burn, and Healing Wish. This moveset gives a lot of utility with both powerful attacking moves and Play a trick on to gain command of the battle flow, or Healing Wish to patch up a more important Pokémon.

vii Awful: Status Infliction

Gardevoir has admission to status inflicting moves such equally Toxic, Will-O-Wisp, and Thunder Wave. Status moves are indeed some of the well-nigh of import aspects of a Pokémon battle, but other Pokémon are far ameliorate suited for it than Gardevoir is.

To get the most out of these moves, Gardevoir would accept to be holding something like a Pick Scarf in society to not get out-sped and wiped out from its poor defenses. Every bit was mentioned earlier, there are but so many better options to be paired with a option scarf and loads of other political party members that handle status effects much amend.

6 GREAT: Calm Heed

At-home Heed is a deadly tool in the easily of Special Assail specialists like Gardevoir, and when effectively used in the middle of a battle, it can create an absolute powerhouse. Calm Mind raises both the user's Sp. Atk and Sp. Def, which are the ii highest stats that Gardevoir has.

If the opponent doesn't have firsthand admission to physical attacks to take down Gardevoir, she turns into a Specially Defensive tank and sweeper with attacks like Psychic and Moonblast. To aid the need to spend a turn using Calm Heed, a defensive item like a Kasib Berry or Babiri Berry tin assistance Gardevoir survive.

5 Atrocious: Trick Room

When looking at Gardevoir's stat spread, it may seem like a expert idea to accept information technology focus on Trick Room, as its base speed is below average compared to most other Special Attackers. However, specially in Sword & Shield, at that place are far better Pokémon that are but but better at using Trick Room.

In order for Gardevoir to be adept with it, she'll demand a speed-lowering item that may or may not make it slower than the opponent. A Pokémon like Hatterene has far less Speed and basically has the aforementioned Special Attack, so there's no reason to give it to Gardevoir instead. Gardevoir'due south counters too consist of a lot of Steel-Types, which already tend to exist slower than it in the first place.

4 Nifty: Doubles Moveset

Gardevoir seems like it was built to be used in doubles battles, and it works well with a ton of other Pokémon. The well-nigh obvious choice for an ability, in this instance, would be Telepathy, as it allows it to take no damage from the side by side party member.

In this example, moves like Surf and Earthquake can exist safely used without worrying nigh needing an particular similar an Air Airship or Absorb Bulb on Gardevoir. Bated from Telepathy, just about any moveset tin exist used for doubles, but ones that include Screens, Trick, or Magic Coat do well in double battles.

iii AWFUL: Taunt

Giving Gardevoir Taunt is like having a shield fabricated of glass; information technology doesn't work. Sure, Gardevoir can make use of it, simply information technology entirely defeats the purpose of a lot of its full general gameplan. First, the ability Synchronize inflicts the same status onto the opponent that is inflicted onto Gardevoir, which is usually the better choice anyways.

Taunt users are likewise ordinarily faster Pokémon, and wasting a Choice Scarf on a Taunt is a lot of missed potential. Also, given Gardevoir'southward poor Defence, forcing the opponent to only use attacking moves tin can heavily backfire and essentially make Gardevoir shoot itself in the human foot.

2 GREAT: Mega Gardevoir

If you can't get over the riddance of Megas from Sword & Shield, here'southward a great moveset for Mega Gardevoir. Mega Gardevoir is the definition of a Special Attacking powerhouse, as its Sp. Atk stat is boosted to an amazing base 165, with a great heave to Sp. Def and Speed as well.

Its new ability, Pixilate, turns Normal-type moves into Fairy ones while boosting their ability past one.2x, making attacks like Hyper Vocalisation become a existent threat. Any other of Gardevoir'south STAB attacks are a great choice here, and the boost in Speed actually allows for previously sub-par moves like Taunt to become viable options.

1 Atrocious: Wonder Room

Similar with Trick Room, Gardevoir just isn't really cutting out for a terrain-based moveset. Wonder Room switches the Defense and Sp. Def stats of all Pokémon on the battlefield. This sounds corking and all, existence able to patch-up Gardevoir's horrendous Defense, merely it also greatly hinders its offensive potential.

Gardevoir does best against opponents with a low Sp. Def, meaning that switching the defenses around will often exit Gardevoir at a deficit when trying to assail. This motility is better suited for Pokémon with good stats in both Attack and Sp. Atk, which Gardevoir just isn't built for.

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