Physiology
Gallade have a white lower body that consists of bold rounded hips with strong legs. The torso is thin and colored in a balance between the green of its upper body, and the white of its lower body. Sharp red hornlike protrusions stick out of the chest and back, similar to Gardevoir. Gallade's arms are shaped like tonfas, with extendable blades in the elbows. His head resembles a gladiator's helmet, with a white face and a light-teal colored head crest. Like his counterpart Gardevoir, Gallade has spikes on the sides of his face. He has a very tiny mouth at the bottom of his head.
Gender differences
Gallade is male-only. Some count Gardevoir as his female counterpart, as they both evolve from the same Pokémon, although Gardevoir can be of either gender.
Special abilities
Thanks to Gallade's arm blades, which can be withdrawn and extended to two lengths, he can learn a variety of sword-like attacks in several types. These include Leaf Blade, Night Slash, and the rarely known Psycho Cut. He is one of two non-Template:Type2 Pokémon that can learn Leaf Blade. As with other Template:Type2 Pokémon, Gallade can summon Earthquakes, and launch rocks at his opponents (in the forms of Stone Edge, Rock Slide or Rock Tomb). It can also learn punching attacks like those elemental punches. He has one of the greatest varieties of moves. Since Gallade is a fully-evolved Pokémon, he can learn Hyper Beam or Giga Impact.
Behavior
Gallade are masters of courtesy and swordsmanship, defending the weak from harm.
Habitat
Gallade hide up in very tall trees, watching for trouble. When the time is right, they leap from their homes to forewarn civilians or fight enemies.
Diet
- Main article: Pokémon food
- Gallade's Attack and Special Attack are the reverse of Gardevoir's.
- Gallade's number in the Sinnoh Pokédex in Pokémon Platinum and the Almia Browser is the same: 160. This makes him and his evolution family one of only four families of Pokémon (comprising eleven Pokémon altogether) to have the same numbers in more than one Pokédex-like listing.
- Gallade has the same weight as Blaziken, another dual-typed final form Template:Type2 Pokémon whose first form only has its primary type.
- Gallade is the only Pokémon that is able to learn Leaf Blade naturally that is not of the Grass-type.
- Gallade can learn five moves with an above average chance of inflicting a critical hit; more than any other Pokémon.
- Gallade has the highest Special Defense of all non-legendary Fighting-type Pokémon. He shares this trait with Zuruzukin.
- Gallade shares several similarities with Kirikizan. Both have warrior-esque designs (that prominently feature arm-blades and helmets), both have the same height (5'03"), and both share the species name of "Blade Pokemon".
Origin
The single fin on Gallade's head resembles the helmet worn by Murmillo-class Roman gladiators or the Corinthian helmet (with a horsehair crest) that was worn by Greek hoplites. He may also be based on medieval knights. Additionally, his battle stances (depicted in-game and in artwork) resemble the en garde position and parries of modern fencing.
Name origin
Gallade may be a portmanteau of 'gallant', and 'blade', and may also be a reference to Roman gladiators and Sir Galahad. Erlade might be a portmanteau of 'Earl' (in antiquity, a chieftain or military leader; in present day, a rank in the British nobility), or 'elbow', and 'blade', referring to the sword-like appendages on its arms. Or, in accordance with the musical origin of Ralts and the French Gardevoir, it could be based on 'ballade', French for 'ballad', a type of French poetry.