Gardevoir Movesets and Best Builds

Gardevoir Movesets in Other Games
SV	SWSH

This is a guide to movesets and best builds for using Gardevoir in competitive play for the games Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV). Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, Tera Type, and Held Items to use with Gardevoir, as well as its strengths and weakness.

Gardevoir - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Moveset for Ranked Battle	Tera Raid Build

Gardevoir Base Stats, Type, Ability and Weakness

Paldea #64 Kitakami #59		Type
Gardevoir
		Abilities
		Synchronize Trace Telepathy (Hidden)
Weak to:
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Resists:	(0.5x)
	(0.25x)
Immune to:	(0x)

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Gardevoir

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Gardevoir

Offensive Lead Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EV Spread	Def 4 / Sp.Atk 252 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	HP 143 / Def 86 / Sp.Atk 177 / Sp.Def 135 / Spe 145
Ability	Trace
Tera Type
Held Item	Focus Sash
Moveset	・ Moonblast ・ Psyshock ・ Encore ・ Destiny Bond

Summary

Gardevoir's dual-typing and access to key support moves allow it to fill the role of an offensive lead.

Great dual Psychic/Fairy typing. Trace allows it to copy the opposing Pokemon's Ability. Access to Encore allows it to check setup sweepers.

Ability and Held Item

Ability	Held Item
Trace	Focus Sash

Trace allows Gardevoir to copy an opposing Pokemon's Ability and is useful when facing against Pokemon with the Abilities Intimidate, Good as Gold, and Purifying Salt.

Focus Sash allows Gardevoir to survive a hit that would otherwise KO it and synergizes well with Destiny Bond.

Moves Breakdown

Moonblast is a strong Fairy-type STAB move that has great coverage, hitting the very common Dark, Dragon, and Fighting-types that populate the Singles metagame, while Psyshock is a secondary STAB move used to hit Special Walls on their weaker Defense stat.

Encore locks a target on the last move it used for the next three turns and is best used against setup sweepers and defensive Pokemon. Destiny Bond synergizes well with Focus Sash, allowing Gardevoir to KO a Pokemon once it faints.

Normal Tera Type Matchup
Weak to:
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Immune to:	(0x)

Normal Tera Type gives Gardevoir immunity to Ghost-types while also making it neutral to Poison and Steel-types at the consequence of being weak to Fighting-type moves.

Best Normal Type Pokemon for Ranked Battle

EV Spread and Nature

We're using a standard offensive EV spread with full investment in Special Attack and Speed so that Gardevoir hits as hard as possible with its STAB moves, while the remaining 4 EVs are placed in Defense to round off its bulk.

Other Viable Moves

Key Damage Calculations

The following calculations take into account Gardevoir's EV Spread with a Timid Nature.

Damage Dealt by Gardevoir
262 HP｜145 Sp.Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Sp.Def 252 (Careful) Item: Leftovers	Moonblast 102-120 (38.9 - 45.8%) Guaranteed 3HKO
130 HP｜75 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 0 | Sp.Def 4 (Timid) Item: Choice Specs	Psyshock 108-127 (83 - 97.6%) Guaranteed 2HKO

Game8's Competitive Damage Calculator

Choice Scarf Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EV Spread	Sp.Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	HP 143 / Def 85 / Sp.Atk 177 / Sp.Def 136 / Spe 145
Ability	Trace
Tera Type
Held Item	Choice Scarf
Moveset	・ Moonblast ・ Psychic ・ Tera Blast ・ Trick

With Choice Scarf, Timid Gardevoir can outspeed faster attackers and surprise them with its dual STAB and coverage moves and allow it to function as an unexpected revenge killer. Trace is the best Ability as it allows Gardevoir to copy the opponent's Ability once it switches in.

Moonblast and Psyshock are its main STAB moves and has great neutral coverage in the current metagame. Fire Tera Blast is its main coverage move and allows Gardevoir to stay on the field and threaten Steel-types like Gholdengo and Lucario.

Trick is its last move and allows Gardevoir to shut down defensive Pokemon by stealing their Leftovers and lock them into a defensive move.

Other Viable Moves

Key Damage Calculations

The following calculations take into account Gardevoir's Offensive EV spread with a Timid Nature.

Damage Dealt by Gardevoir
192 HP｜205 Sp. Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Sp.Def 252 (Calm) Item: Leftovers	Moonblast 96-114 (50 - 59.3%) 70.7% chance to 2HKO
222 HP｜201 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Def 252 (Impish) Item: Leftovers	Psychic 242-288 (109 - 129.7%) Guaranteed OHKO
194 HP｜112 Sp.Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Sp.Def 4 (Modest) Item: Leftovers	Tera Blast 144-170 (74.2 - 87.6%) Guaranteed 2HKO

Doubles Movesets for Gardevoir

Doubles Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Modest (+Sp.Atk, -Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Def 4 / Sp.Atk 252
Final Stat Values	HP 175 / Def 86 / Sp.Atk 194 / Sp.Def 135 / Spe 100
Ability	Trace
Tera Type
Held Item	Assault Vest
Moveset	・ Dazzling Gleam ・ Psychic ・ Thunderbolt ・ Focus Blast

Assault Vest Gardevoir can function as a bulky attacker in the Doubles format, with its Trace Ability copying the opposing Pokemon's beneficial Abilities such as Intimidate, Protosynthesis, and Quark Drive.

Dazzling Gleam is its main STAB move and hits both opposing Pokemon in Doubles, while Psychic allows it to threaten common Poison-types such as Iron Moth (in formats that permit it) and Clodsire.

Its last two moves are for extra coverage; Thunderbolt allows it to hit Water and Flying-types like Dondozo and Corviknight, while Focus Blast hits Garganacl and Kingambit for super effective damage.

Other Viable Moves

Key Damage Calculations

Damage Dealt by Gardevoir
149 HP｜81 Sp. Def No Defensive EV Investment: HP 0 | Sp.Def 4 (Jolly) Item: Booster Energy	Dazzling Gleam 218-258 (146.3 - 173.1%) Guaranteed OHKO
221 HP｜145 Sp.Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Sp.Def 252 (Calm) Item: Black Sludge	Psychic 134-162 (60.6 - 73.3%) Guaranteed 2HKO
257 HP｜86 Sp.Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Sp.Def 4 (Adamant) Item: Leftovers	Thunderbolt 154-182 (59.9 - 70.8%) Guaranteed 2HKO
205 HP｜106 Sp.Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Sp.Def 4 (Adamant) Item: Leftovers	Thunderbolt 124-148 (60.4 - 72.1%) Guaranteed 2HKO
206 HP｜156 Sp.Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 244 | Sp.Def 256 (Sassy) Item: Leftovers	Focus Blast 112-134 (54.3 - 65%) Guaranteed 2HKO
190 HP｜123 Sp.Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 116 | Sp.Def 140 (Sassy) Item: Sitrus Berry	Focus Blast 288-340 (151.5 - 178.9%) Guaranteed OHKO

Doubles Support Moveset & Best Build

The following calculations take into account Gardevoir's Offensive EV spread with a Modest Nature.

Nature	Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Def 252 / Sp.Def 4
Final Stat Values	HP 175 / Def 128 / Sp.Atk 145 / Sp.Def 136 / Spe 100
Ability	Trace
Tera Type
Held Item	Sitrus Berry or Mental Herb
Moveset	・ Helping Hand ・ Will-O-Wisp ・ Life Dew ・ Icy Wind

Gardevoir's Trace Ability allows it to function as a great support Pokemon in Doubles, potentially copying powerful Abilities such as Purifying Salt and Good as Gold from Garganacl and Gholdengo respectively.

Helping Hand allows it to boost the power of its ally's move by 50%, while Will-O-Wisp lets it shut down physical attackers by cutting their attack in half with a burn.

Life Dew heals both Gardevoir and its partner Pokemon by 25% of their maximum HP, ensuring that both can stay on the field for longer. Icy Wind is its only attacking move, hitting both opposing Pokemon and lowering their Speed stat by one stage.

Gardevoir's Hidden Ability, Telepathy, is a good alternative to Trace for this defensive build. However, the benefits from copying the opposing team's Ability outweigh Telepathy granting immunity to the ally's multi-target moves.

Other Viable Moves

Key Damage Calculations

The following calculations take into account Gardevoir's Defensive EV spread with a Bold Nature.

Damage Received by Gardevoir
182 Atk Offensive EV Investment: Atk 252 (Jolly) Item: Choice Band	Iron Head 130-154 (74.2 - 88%) Guaranteed 2HKO
205 Atk Offensive EV Investment: 252 Atk (Adamant) Item: Lum Berry	Iron Head 146-174 (83.4 - 99.4%) Guaranteed 2HKO
200 Atk Offensive EV Investment: 252 Atk (Adamant) Item: Choice Band	Bullet Punch 158-188 (90.2 - 107.4%) 43.8% Chance to OHKO

How to Use Gardevoir Effectively

Equip it with Choice Scarf in Singles

Gardevoir is often outclassed by other special attackers in the Singles Battle format such as Flutter Mane and Iron Bundle, both of which have better coverage and are faster.

Gardevoir, however, has a niche as a Choice Scarf user that can use Trick to swap items with the opposing Pokemon. This gives it some utility as it can shut down defensive Pokemon with the move without sacrificing its offenses.

Use it as a Support Pokemon in Doubles

Although Gardevoir can function as an attacker in Doubles, it's best used as a support Pokemon with Helping Hand and its Trace Ability providing great utility to its teammates.

It's also one of the few Pokemon that can learn Life Dew, which allows it to keep itself and its ally healthy throughout the match.

How to Build a Team with Gardevoir

Gardevoir can fit into almost any teams, but flourishes in more balanced team compositions in both the Singles and Doubles battle format.

Sample Singles Team

Lead Support	Physical Attacker	Special Attacker
Iron Treads	Garchomp	Gardevoir

This balanced Singles team features Iron Treads as lead support, setting up Stealth Rock and using Rapid Spin to remove opposing entry hazards. Garchomp serves as this team's main attacker, setting up with Swords Dance and attacking with its dual STAB.

Gardevoir initially fills the role of a revenge killer on this team, outspeeding its usual checks and counters with Choice Scarf. However, once it encounters a defensive Pokemon that Garchomp struggles with like Hippowdon, it should use Trick to swap items with it to prevent it from staying on the field.

Sample Doubles Team

Lead Support	Special Attacker
Gardevoir	Gholdengo
Redirection Support	Physical Attacker
Amoonguss	Roaring Moon

Gardevoir is best used as a lead on this balanced Doubles team so that it can immediately copy Abilities from Pokemon with Intimidate, which most players lead with in Doubles. Gholdengo appreciates Helping Hand support, allowing it to fire off boosted Make it Rain without needing to setup with Nasty Plot.

Amoonguss is this team's secondary support Pokemon and is who Gardevoir switches into if its partner needs Rage Powder support. Roaring Moon fills the role of physical attacker and like Gholdengo, appreciates Helping Hand support to boost the power of its moves.

Counters for Gardevoir

Take Advantage of its Low Defense

The Choice Scarf attacking Gardevoir has very low physical bulk and even if it terastallizes into a Fire-type, it's susceptible to getting knocked out by powerful physical attackers.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Tyranitar	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Tyranitar's Sand Stream Ability boosts its Special Defense by 50%. ・Easily KOs Gardevoir with Stone Edge even if it hasn't terastallized into a Fire-type. ▶️Tyranitar Best Movesets
Mimikyu	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Gardevoir can't copy Mimikyu's Disguise with Trace. ・Easily KOs Gardevoir with Swords Dance-boosted Shadow Claw even it it has terastallized into a Fire-type. ▶️Mimikyu Best Movesets

Wear it Down with Repeated Attacks

Even with full Defense investment, Gardevoir's low physical bulk means it's often forced to repeatedly use Life Dew every turn to recover damage from repeated attacks.

This makes it every susceptible to setup sweepers who can simply boost their own offenses to overpower Gardevoir.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Baxcalibur	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Thermal Exchange absorbs Will-O-Wisp and instead boosts its Attack by one stage. ・Can set up with Dragon Dance or Swords Dance, and KO Gardevoir with Icicle Crash or Iron Head. ▶️Baxcalibur Best Movesets
Gholdengo	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Resists all of Gardevoir's attacks and immune to Will-O-Wisp thanks to Good as Gold. ・Easily KOs Gardevoir with Make it Rain even without Nasty Plot boost. ▶️Gholdengo Best Movesets
Cinderace	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Resists Icy Wind and immune to Will-O-Wisp. ・Easily KOs Gardevoir with Swords Dance-boosted Pyro Ball. ▶️Cinderace Best Movesets

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