The atrocious sea monster Gyarados is one of the metagame's most threatening attackers, being able to wreak havoc on many threats, such as Garchomp, Landorus-T, Rotom-W, and Blaziken, after a Dragon Dance boost. For an offensive sweeper, Gyarados has excellent bulk thanks to Intimidate, which can be very handy against physical attackers such as Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Mawile, and Garchomp. This allows Gyarados to set up Dragon Dance more safely and still survive attacks from the opposing threat. Gyarados's Water / Flying typing gives it resistances to Bug, Fighting, Fire, Steel, and Water and only two weaknesses, to Electric and Rock. Additionally, it has an immunity to Ground-types, which allows it to switch in safely on a predicted Earthquake. Gyarados has access to some nice support moves such as Thunder Wave, Toxic, and Taunt, which allow it to shut down Choice Scarf users such as Hydreigon, faster Pokemon such as Mega Kangaskhan, and defensive Pokemon such as Cresselia and Chansey. After Mega Evolving, Mega Gyarados has increased bulk, making setting up Dragon Dance even more easy. Furthermore, Mold Breaker allows it to deal with threats such as Rotom-W and Multiscale Dragonite, which previously troubled it.
Unfortunately, Gyarados has no reliable recovery, which is problematic especially when going for a defensive or stall set, and its weakness to Electric-type moves can be troublesome prior to and after Mega Evolving. Mega Gyarados's Dark typing also isn't very useful, as it adds weakness to Fairy, Fighting, and Grass. In a metagame full of fast attackers, Mega Gyarados is stuck with mediocre base 81 Speed and has to rely on Dragon Dance to outpace Pokemon such as Jolly Mega Kangaskhan, though it helps it outspeed Mamoswine, Aegislash, and Tyranitar.
[SET]
name: Dragon Dance Sweeper
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Earthquake / Crunch
move 4: Ice Fang / Crunch / Substitute
item: Gyaradosite / Lum Berry
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dragon Dance boosts Mega Gyarados's Attack and Speed to more fearsome levels, allowing it to act as an efficient setup sweeper. Waterfall hits Rock-, Fire-, and Ground-types such as Tyranitar, Heatran, Talonflame, and Mamoswine, OHKOing the former two after a Dragon Dance boost, and has a chance to flinch the foe. Earthquake checks Steel-types such as Mega Mawile, Aegislash, and Heatran. Additionally, after Mega Evolving, Earthquake allows Mega Gyarados to hit Rotom-W due to Mold Breaker bypassing Levitate. Crunch can be used instead of Earthquake, as it hits several threatening Pokemon, most notably Cresselia and Mega Slowbro. Crunch 2HKOes Cresselia on the switch and can also be used instead of Waterfall if Mega Gyarados's teammates can deal with Hippowdon and Mamoswine. Ice Fang gives more coverage by checking Dragon-, Flying-, and Grass-types such as Mega Salamence, Garchomp, Dragonite, Gliscor, Landorus-T, Serperior, and Mega Venusaur. Substitute can be used instead to avoid any status ailments and block weak attacks such as Scald burns from the likes of Suicune. This can be used with Dragon Dance so that Mega Gyarados can get a free boost.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed EVs in conjunction with a Jolly nature maximize Mega Gyarados's damage output while still allowing it to outpace threats such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T, Mega Manectric, and Mega Gengar after a Dragon Dance boost. An Adamant nature can be used instead of Jolly for even more damage output; however, Mega Gyarados won't be able to outspeed most Choice Scarf Pokemon even after a boost.
Intimidate is very useful for Gyarados, as well as its teammates, prior to Mega Evolving, reducing the damage they take from physical attackers such as Mega Kangaskhan, Garchomp, Mega Salamence, Talonflame, and Landorus-T. In particular, the Attack drop prevents Mega Gyarados from being 2HKOed by Adamant Choice Band Talonflame's Brave Bird and Mega Kangaskhan's Double Edge after a Fake Out. Gyaradosite is required for Gyarados to Mega Evolve and gain considerable boosts in its offenses and bulk. Lum Berry can be used instead of Gyaradosite to prevent status from crippling Gyarados so it can freely set up a Substitute or a Dragon Dance. After Mega Evolving, Mold Breaker is very useful for Mega Gyarados to hit Levitate users, such as Rotom-W, with Earthquake.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Gyarados's priority is to set up Dragon Dance and sweep, and therefore it should be brought in after a teammate has fainted so that it doesn't take any damage after switching into a threat. If you're planning on having Mega Gyarados set up, make sure you have powerful attackers such as Choice Scarf Garchomp or even those that can help cripple foes such as Rotom-W or Ferrothorn. Prior to Mega Evolving, Gyarados should always be brought into a physical attacker to weaken it with Intimidate, making setting up much more easier. Gyarados can also use Intimidate to its advantage early-game to assist its teammates. You don't need to Mega Evolve Gyarados right away if you're unsure about the matchup because of the weaknesses that it adds; this is important especially when it's against Fairy-, Fighting-, or Grass-types such as Sylveon, Mega Gardevoir, Conkeldurr, Mega Venusaur, Mega Lucario, and Breloom. Mega Evolve Gyarados later in the match if you need Gyarados's Flying typing to handle serious threats for your team. For example, Gyarados can take advantage of its base forme before by setting up or attacking to survive certain hits that its Dark typing wouldn't normally allow, such as non-Choice Specs variants of Sylveon and Blaziken. Other examples include certain Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur and Pokemon that are Choice locked into a Ground-type move, such as Landorus-T and Garchomp.
Gyarados is still useful prior to Mega Evolving because of Intimidate and its Ground-type immunity. However, be careful not to switch Gyarados in too often because getting worn down isn't good for a setup sweeper like it. Earthquake is mainly used to hit Mega Charizard X, Steel-types, and Rotom-W. Additionally, this keeps Mega Gyarados from being affected by Aegislash's King's Shield or Rocky Helmet. When running Substitute, set up on defensive Pokemon such as Cresselia, Chansey, Ferrothorn, Suicune, and Slowbro. They won't be able to inflict any status condition, and Mega Gyarados can get a free Dragon Dance boost behind the Substitute.
Team Options
========
Steel-types such as Aegislash, Ferrothorn, and Heatran can come into a resisted Fairy-type attack for Mega Gyarados and clear the field of Pokemon such as Sylveon, Mega Gardevoir, and Clefable. Aegislash can also switch into Fighting-type moves for Mega Gyarados. Heatran, Blaziken, and Talonflame are all helpful partners in removing Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur and Serperior. Talonflame can support Mega Gyarados with its priority STAB Brave Bird that takes care of Fighting-types such as Mega Heracross and Conkeldurr. In turn, Mega Gyarados can remove threats such as Garchomp and Landorus-T. Fairy-types such as Gardevoir and Sylveon can both threaten Fighting-types such as Mega Gallade, Mega Lopunny, and Conkeldurr, and in return, Mega Gyarados can switch into resisted Steel-type moves and take on Heatran and Aegislash. Mega Gyarados appreciates its foes getting burned by the likes of Rotom-H, as this enables it to set up a little more easily, given the physical attackers's Attack is lowered by Intimidate as well. Rotom-H can also take several hits from Talonflame thanks to its resistance to both its STAB moves and its ability to switch into a Will-O-Wisp. Rotom-H can handle Ferrothorn for Mega Gyarados and be a good check to Mega Mawile; however, Rotom-H needs to be wary of Knock Off.
Thunder Wave support from the likes of Porygon2, Thundurus, Klefki, and Cresselia can allow Mega Gyarados to outspeed many threats and get free turns to freely set up Dragon Dance. Klefki and Cresselia deserve a special mention because the former can set up dual screens while the latter has access to Lunar Dance, giving Mega Gyarados another chance to sweep. Mega Gyarados appreciates Stealth Rock support from Garchomp, which gives it an easier time to sweep and breaks Focus Sash from Pokemon such as Breloom. Grass-types such as Serperior can deal with other Water-types that Mega Gyarados has trouble against such as Rotom-W, Azumarill, and Suicune. Having Contrary Leaf Storm, Serperior won't have any trouble breaking past physically defensive variants of Rotom-W and Suicune. Raikou can provide dual screen support for Mega Gyarados, which helps it set up Dragon Dance more easily; in turn, Mega Gyarados can eliminate Ground-types that pose as huge threats to Raikou. Gengar can get rid of Fairy-types such as Mega Gardevoir, Sylveon, and Azumarill with its STAB Sludge Bomb. Gengar also has no problem dealing with Chansey, as it's immune to Seismic Toss and Toxic.
[SET]
name: Defensive Helmet
move 1: Thunder Wave
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Ice Fang
move 4: Taunt
item: Rocky Helmet
ability: Intimidate
nature: Impish
evs: 220 HP / 244 Def / 44 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunder Wave helps Gyarados cripple Choice Scarf users such as Hydreigon and Togekiss as well as fast attackers such as Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Gengar, Blaziken, and Greninja. Additionally, it has a chance to prevent the foe from moving. Waterfall is a nice STAB move used for hitting Talonflame, Heatran, Blaziken, and Mamoswine. Ice Fang gives Gyarados coverage against Dragon- and Flying-types such as Garchomp, Mega Salamence, and Landorus-T. Taunt allows Gyarados to shut down defensive Pokemon that tend to inflict status such as Cresselia, Chansey, and Hippowdon.
Set Details
========
220 HP EVs allow Gyarados to take more damage. 244 Defense EVs with an Impish nature maximize Gyarados's defensive capabilities. This spread allows Gyarados to have a very high chance to survive two Double-Edges from Mega Kangaskhan. 44 Speed EVs allow Gyarados to outspeed Cresselia, Suicune, and uninvested Mamoswine. With physical attackers being so common, Rocky Helmet helps Gyarados by passively damaging users of contact moves. Additionally, Rocky Helmet damage KOes non-Will-O-Wisp variants of Talonflame after a Waterfall. Intimidate grants Gyarados a little bit more longevity by allowing it to take physical attacks more easily while also providing support for Gyarados's teammates.
Usage Tips
========
Gyarados can function as a lead thanks to Thunder Wave and Taunt, which works well early-game. Use Taunt on defensive Pokemon such as Chansey, Hippowdon, Skarmory, and Ferrothorn, as the move is used to stallbreak and force them to attack Gyarados and take chip damage by Rocky Helmet. This is also a perfect opportunity to go for a Thunder Wave, predicting they would switch out. When there's no presence of Electric-types on the opponent's side, Gyarados should always cripple faster attackers and Choice Scarf Pokemon with Thunder Wave because paralysis makes the opposing threat vulnerable to the rest of your team. Always switch into physical attackers to cripple them with Intimidate. With this in mind, Gyarados won't be taking much damage from the opposing threat, which in return will take chip damage from Rocky Helmet. Make sure you have an Electric- or Grass-type in order to beat Suicune or Rotom-W because Gyarados is heavily walled by these two.
Team Options
========
Setup sweepers make for excellent partners for Gyarados, as they appreciate foes being crippled by Thunder Wave. Additionally, Gyarados's teammates appreciate Intimidate, as the reduced damage from physical attackers helps them set up more easily. Good examples of sweepers include Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Mawile, Mega Heracross, Mega Salamence, and Aegislash. Mega Kangaskhan can set up with Power-Up Punch while the foe is paralyzed and punch holes with powerful attacks such as Double-Edge and Earthquake. In turn, Gyarados can take attacks for Mega Kangaskhan. Mega Blaziken can handle Grass-types that threaten Gyarados such as Serperior and Ferrothorn. Mega Heracross can beat Psychic-types, such as Mega Slowbro and Cresselia, with Pin Missile and Porygon2 with a powerful STAB move in Close Combat. Mega Mawile and Aegislash can both set up Swords Dance and get rid of Fairy-types while these are paralyzed. Mega Salamence can beat Fighting-types such as Breloom. Other sweepers such as Swords Dance Garchomp can be great status absorbers against Thunder Wave users for Gyarados and eliminate Electric-types such as Raikou and Thundurus.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Aqua Tail is an alternate STAB attack that hits a little harder than Waterfall. Unfortunately, its low accuracy will give Gyarados a chance to miss its target, creating a possible game-changing situation. Stone Edge allows Gyarados to make quick work of Pokemon such as Thundurus, Zapdos, and Mega Charizard Y; however, its a chance of missing can give the foe the opportunity to retaliate. Toxic can be used on the defensive set to cripple defensive Pokemon such as Zapdos, Porygon2, Cresselia, and Rotom-W. Rest gives Gyarados a means of recovery and longevity, and it can be used in conjunction with Sleep Talk so that Gyarados won't have to waste turns while asleep. With Rest, Gyarados can go defensive with Thunder Wave and Waterfall, or it can go offensive with Dragon Dance. Leftovers should be used for the defensive set as a way for Gyarados to gain passive recovery to prolong its presence on the field every turn.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Rotom-W, especially physically defensive variants, can tank several hits from Gyarados's STAB moves and cripple it with Will-O-Wisp. Raikou, in particular Calm Mind variants, is able to KO Gyarados with Thunderbolt; however, it'll need to be wary about Mega Gyarados already setting up with Dragon Dance. Zapdos can OHKO Gyarados with Thunderbolt, and physically defensive variants carry Rocky Helmet, which can be very troublesome for Mega Gyarados. Thundurus deserves a special mention because it's able to cripple Mega Gyarados with Thunder Wave and defeat it with its STAB Electric-type moves. With access to Intimidate after Mega Evolving, Mega Manectric can also revenge kill Gyarados.
**Fairy-types**: After Mega Evolving, Mega Gyarados becomes more susceptible to Fairy-types. Mega Altaria, Mega Gardevoir, and Sylveon can all KO Mega Gyarados with a Pixilate-boosted Hyper Voice. Both Mega Mawile and Azumarill can get rid of Mega Gyarados with Play Rough. Mawile can get an Intimidate off on Mega Gyarados before Mega Evolving, and Azumarill resists Mega Gyarados's STAB moves, which really leaves Earthquake its only option for dealing damage. Mega Altaria deserves a special mention because it can set up on Mega Gyarados with Dragon Dance, but it needs to be wary of Dragon Dance-boosted Ice Fang.
**Status**: Gyarados cannot afford to be inflicted with burns, paralysis, or poison due to its lack of recovery. Burns cut its Attack in half and paralysis cuts its Speed, hindering its wallbreaking capabilities. Notable Pokemon that can inflict Gyarados with status ailments are Mega Sableye, Talonflame, Rotom-W, Cresselia, Klefki, Thundurus, Porygon2, and Chansey.
**Grass-types**: Mega Venusaur, Serperior, and Breloom will give Gyarados a lot of trouble. After Mega Evolving, Mega Venusaur won't take much damage, and Earthquake is the only move Gyarados can use against it to deal significant damage. Serperior can paralyze Gyarados with Glare and proceed to KO it with Leaf Storm.
**Priority Attackers**: Gyarados is susceptible to priority attacks such as Choice Band Adamant Talonflame's Brave Bird, Lucario's ExtremeSpeed or Vacuum Wave, and Breloom's and Conkeldurr's Mach Punch.
**Bulky Physical Walls**: Mega Slowbro and Rotom-W can take several hits from Gyarados even after a couple of Dragon Dance boosts. Rotom-W can cripple it with Will-O-Wisp or Volt Switch into a better threat for Gyarados. Mega Slowbro can simply set up with Iron Defense and threaten it with Thunder Wave if Substitute isn't used. Ferrothorn can easily shrug off Gyarados's attacks and deal passive damage with Leech Seed. Skarmory can stall out Gyarados with Toxic + Roost. Additionally, many run Iron Defense, especially Rocky Helmet variants.
**Fighting-types**: Breloom can put Gyarados to sleep with Spore and proceed to use Rock Tomb to decrease its Speed prior to Mega Evolving or easily get rid of it with STAB Bullet Seed. Mega Heracross won't have much of an issue dealing with Gyarados due to having Rock Blast and STAB Pin Missile.
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