Gardevoir moveset
What should be done with C/SB:
1. Leave it
2. TM until DG?
(I know this question has been asked before but searching “Gardevoir” is only pullling up the Gardevoir description page instead of old discussions)
Edit: Have 20+ charge TM. So, not constrained there.
Answers
If you feel like you need or would often use a Gardevoir with Dazzling Gleam, TM it. If not you can just keep it as is. Having the optimal moveset doesn't matter if you won't use it anyway.
TM it at least once, you're guaranteed a better move, there isn't really a need for Shadow Ball. Look at the types it's effective against, Psychic and Ghost.
You wouldn't really use a Gardevoir against another psychic type because Confusion would be resisted. Mewtwo works because it has Psycho Cut which builds up energy quickly so that you can use Shadow Ball frequently plus it's got super high attack that it's on par with dark type Counters, but Confusion doesn't work as well since it's energy gain is low/mediocre.
Against ghost types, the only relevant one is Gengar because it's a raid boss, but Psychic would work almost just as well due to Gengar's poison typing, but having Psychic would also make Gardevoir a good psychic type attacker for example against Machamp. Gengar has lots of counters anyway, a Shadow Ball Gardevoir is not necessary.
Hit the nail on the head. Gardevoir is not the best Ghost counter because it is still weak to ghost, and is not the best Psychic counter because charge beam is a relatively weak move and has no advantage against Psychic types outside of Starmie, and Confusion is a slow, lower EPS move that Psychic types resist.
Mewtwo is good with Shadow Ball against Fighting types because the damage, compared with Psychic being super effective against Fighting, is similar, but Gardevoir gets access to Dazzling Gleam, which is super effective against Fighting and is also a MUCH better option. Dazzling Gleam's Fairy-typing, like Shadow Ball's Ghost-typing, is resisted by very few, and the only type you're likely to run into problems with on offense would be Fire (Since you wouldn't use Psychic moves on a Steel-type, would you?). Shadow Ball, overall, is a slightly faster move then Dazzling Gleam for the same damage, but Dazzling Gleam gains STAB, and it is effective against many more relevant types, such as Dragon, Fighting, and Dark.
Gardevoir is good on offense, and great on defense. Machamp flat out can't beat it, and Dragonites and Tyranitars will struggle. Defensive gameplay favors strong, slow moves (of which Confusion is one of the best) and multi-bar charge moves. Dazzling Gleam fulfills this, and also has a pretty early dodge window.
