[OVERVIEW]
* Gyarardos is an excellent setup sweeper that can set up freely against Celesteela thanks to Intimidate and its typing.
* Mega Gyarados is one of the only setup sweepers that isn't shut down by Mimikyu's Disguise thanks to Mold Breaker.
* Mega Gyarados's Dark typing offers great coverage but leaves it vulnerable to Fairy-types such as the Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, and Azumarill.
* Gyarados sits at an awkward base 81 Speed, making it very reliant on setting up in order to outspeed threats such as Mega Gengar and Tapu Koko.
* Gyarados lacks reliable recovery, so defensive sets are susceptible to being quickly worn down.
[SET]
name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Crunch / Earthquake / Ice Fang
move 4: Substitute / Earthquake / Taunt
item: Gyaradosite / Waterium Z / Lum Berry
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Dragon Dance boosts Gyarados's Attack and Speed, allowing it to outspeed up to base 130 Speed Pokemon, such as Tapu Koko, and attempt to sweep.
* Waterfall is Gyarados's primary STAB move, hitting Fire- and Rock-types such as Volcarona, Blaziken, and Tyranitar.
* Crunch is Mega Gyarados's Dark-type STAB move, which lets it break through Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Mega Gengar, Mega Slowbro, and Latios.
* Ice Fang hits Mega Salamence and Garchomp harder than Crunch, and prevents Mega Salamence from attempting to set up against non-Mega variants.
* Earthquake hits Electric-types such as Tapu Koko and Magnezone and provides great coverage alongside Waterfall for non-Mega variants. Mega Gyarados can also use Earthquake to break through Rotom-W thanks to Mold Breaker.
* Substitute protects Gyarados from status and most notably allows it to set up on Celesteela without being worn down by Leech Seed.
* Taunt can be used to shut down defensive foes trying to hit Gyarados with status moves or sweepers attempting to set up alongside Gyarados such as Swords Dance Garchomp.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Attack and Speed investment allows Gyarados to hit as hard and fast as possible, and the remaining EVs are put in Special Defense.
* A Jolly nature is used in order to outspeed base 130 Speed Pokemon such as Tapu Koko and Mega Gengar after one Dragon Dance.
* Intimidate offers great utility in lowering the foe's Attack, which makes it easier for Gyarados to set up on physical attackers such as Garchomp and Celesteela.
* Gyaradosite is the preferred item in order to gain access to Mold Breaker and Dark STAB upon Mega Evolution. Mega Evolution also makes Gyarados significantly bulkier, which helps it set up more easily.
* Waterium Z is an alternative if the benefits of the Mega Stone aren't necessary, instead giving Gyarados the ability to break through bulkier foes like Porygon2 with Hydro Vortex.
* Lum Berry can be used to avoid status such as Scald burns from Suicune and Prankster Thunder Wave from Thundurus, but lacks the power that Gyaradosite and Waterium Z provide.
Usage Tips
========
* Gyarados is a sweeper, so it should ideally be brought in against a foe that it can set up against such as Celesteela or Garchomp.
* Gyarados often forces switches, so try setting up Substitute in these situations. Setting up a Substitute in front of a more passive threat such as Celesteela can immediately put Gyarados in a winning situation.
* If using Mega Gyarados, try to avoid Mega Evolving until you think it's in a position to sweep because if Gyarados needs to switch out at any point, you'll still be able to take advantage of Intimidate and its Flying typing when it comes back in.
* Mega Gyarados is very bulky, so don't be afraid to let it take another hit if you think another turn of setup will win you the game.
Team Options
========
* Alolan Marowak covers Electric-types like Tapu Koko and Magnezone for Gyarados while also being able to switch into Fairy- and Fighting-type moves that threaten Mega Gyarados. In return, Gyarados can switch into Water- and Ground-type moves that threaten Marowak.
* Aegislash covers most of Gyarados's weaknesses and notably deals with Choice Scarf Tapu Lele that try to revenge kill Mega Gyarados after it sets up, while Gyarados can switch into Fire- and Ground-type moves that threaten Aegislash. SubToxic Aegislash notably helps Gyarados break through Porygon2.
* Mega Scizor forms a double Mega core with Gyarados, dealing with Fairy- and Grass-types that threaten Mega Gyarados while Gyarados handles Fire-types that threaten Mega Scizor. Both also function without needing to Mega Evolve, so you can afford to bring both in some matchups.
* Gyarados appreciates teammates that can handle Fairy-types it has trouble breaking through such as Tapu Fini, Tapu Bulu, and Azumarill. Magnezone, Alolan Muk, Gengar, and Nihilego can all deal with these Fairy-types to varying degrees.
* Gyarados can also function on rain teams as a late-game cleaner. Pelipper can deal with Grass-types while Kingdra outspeeds common Choice Scarf Pokemon that threaten Mega Gyarados such as Tapu Lele.
* Fire-types such as Blaziken, Heatran, and Volcarona can deal with Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur, Serperior, and Ferrothorn that otherwise threaten Gyarados.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Waterfall
move 2: Ice Fang
move 3: Thunder Wave / Toxic
move 4: Taunt
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Intimidate
nature: Impish
evs: 220 HP / 244 Def / 44 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Waterfall is Gyarados's strongest STAB move, providing solid neutral coverage and having a chance to flinch to disrupt slower foes.
* Ice Fang allows Gyarados to threaten Mega Salamence and Garchomp and hits Grass-types harder than Waterfall.
* Thunder Wave disrupts faster threats such as Mega Salamence and Gengar, and pairs well with Waterfall to form a paraflinch combo.
* Toxic is useful for dealing with defensive foes such as Slowbro and Cresselia that otherwise don't mind anything that Gyarados can do to them.
* Taunt allows Gyarados to shut down defensive threats that might try to hit Gyarados with status, such as Cresselia. It also shuts down setup sweepers such as Suicune and Mega Slowbro.
Set Details
========
* The given EVs maximize physical bulk while ensuring that Gyarados outspeeds uninvested base 85 Speed Pokemon such as Suicune, Cresselia, and Tapu Fini so that it can use Taunt on them.
* An Impish nature is preferred to boost Gyarados's Defense further.
* Intimidate provides great support by lowering the foe's Attack, allowing it to handle physical attackers better.
* Rocky Helmet punishes physical attackers that make contact with Gyarados, notably including Mega Kangaskhan.
* Leftovers provides recovery, which Gyarados doesn't get otherwise.
Usage Tips
========
* This Gyarados is best used as a check to physical attackers such as Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Lucario, and Pheromosa, so it should be switching into these threats in order to weaken their attacks and wear them down with Rocky Helmet.
* Gyarados has no form of recovery outside Leftovers, though, so be careful switching in too often if Gyarados needs to be healthy in order to check a particular foe.
* Taunt should be a priority against defensive foes, since Gyarados wants to avoid being hit by status as much as possible.
* Gyarados often forces switches from foes expecting Gyarados to be a Dragon Dance variant, so use this as an opportunity to cripple a switch-in with Thunder Wave or Toxic. Be wary of Electric-types that may switch in, though, in which case switching out may be safer.
Team Options
========
* Pokemon that struggle with Fighting-types, such as Hydreigon and Heatran, appreciate Gyarados's ability to check threats such as Mega Lucario, Blaziken, and Pheromosa.
* Ground-types such as Garchomp, Mamoswine, and Mudsdale can deal with Electric-types that threaten Gyarados. Garchomp in particular appreciates the Thunder Wave support to help it sweep with Swords Dance.
* Fighting-types such as Pheromosa, Buzzwole, and Conkeldurr deal with Porygon2, which otherwise threatens Gyarados. Blaziken and Mega Lucario in particular greatly appreciate Gyarados's ability to switch into Ground-type moves that threaten them.
* Aegislash covers most common special attackers that threaten Gyarados, such as Tapu Lele and Latios. Gyarados can also switch into Ground- and Fire-type moves that threaten Aegislash.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Stone Edge hits other Gyarados and still hits Salamence, but doesn't have too many targets outside of that.
* Life Orb can be used if power is desired, but Gyaradosite and Waterium Z are generally better options on Gyarados.
* Bounce can be used with Flyinium Z to give Gyarados a reliable Flying-type STAB move in order break through bulky Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur and Serperior, which otherwise don't fear much from Gyarados.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Tapu Fini, Azumarill, and Clefable all wall Mega Gyarados and KO back with their respective Fairy-type moves. Unaware Clefable notably stops Gyarados even if it's managed to set up for several turns.
**Porygon2**: Porygon2 can shrug off any hit from Gyarados and threaten it back with Thunderbolt or stall it out with Toxic and Recover.
**Electric-types**: Focus Sash or Shuca Berry Tapu Koko can threaten Mega Gyarados even after it sets up, while Electric Z-Conversion Porygon-Z threatens Gyarados with Thunderbolt. Timid Choice Scarf Xurkitree outspeeds even Jolly Gyarados after a Dragon Dance and can revenge kill with Thunderbolt.
**Tapu Lele**: Choice Scarf Tapu Lele revenge kills Mega Gyarados, though Moonblast needs prior damage to ensure it KOes due to Mega Gyarados's bulk. Thunderbolt Tapu Lele also deals with non-Mega variants, which aren't OHKOed by Psychic or Moonblast.
**Bulky Grass-types**: Tapu Bulu resists most of Gyarados's common moves and can win out with Grassy Terrain-boosted STAB moves, though it must be wary of Z-Bounce. Mega Venusaur can also stall out any Gyarados not using Z-Bounce. Ferrothorn can beat most offensive Gyarados variants with a combination Power Whip, Iron Barbs, and Leech Seed. Similarly, Kartana can deal with most Gyarados variants, though it must be wary of Intimidate.
**Fighting-types**: While most Fighting-types can't do much to Gyarados before it Mega Evolves, Buzzwole, Conkeldurr, and Pheromosa can threaten Gyarados with their respective Fighting-type moves and can run coverage to hit Gyarados even if it doesn't Mega Evolve.
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