**Water**:
Access to a great setup move in Dragon Dance, a plethora of utility moves including Taunt and Substitute, and a fearsome Attack stat all help to set Gyarados apart from other physically offensive Pokemon on Water-type teams. With Intimidate to help it take physical hits even better, Flying-type coverage to beat Grass-types, notably Mega Venusaur, and a Ground-type immunity that Water teams have a lack of, Gyarados proves itself to be a valuable member to any Water-type team. That being said, its weakness to Stealth Rock and a 4x weakness to Electric hold it back. It suffers from four-moveslot syndrome, as it has access to excellent coverage moves, including Earthquake and Ice Fang, yet to use those, it has to miss out on either Substitute, which makes setting up much easier, or one of its STAB moves. It is unable to make use of its various good defensive traits, such as its helpful Ground-type immunity, its ability Intimidate, and its decent bulk, because of a lack of reliable recovery.
Upon Mega Evolving, Mega Gyarados gains Mold Breaker, letting it break through annoying abilities such as Sturdy and Unaware. It gains an increase in defensive stats that helps in creating more opportunities to set up. It boasts a very high Attack stat coupled with a STAB combination that can create pressure on any team lacking a Pokemon that resists both. STAB Crunch in particular threatens Psychic-type teams greatly and limits possible switch-ins. Despite that, Mega Gyarados has a mediocre Speed stat when unboosted and gets worn down rather quickly because of its weakness to Stealth Rock while non-Mega. It also loses its immunity to Ground and becomes weak to Bug-, Fairy-, and Fighting-type moves.
[SET]
name: Mega Dragon Dance (Water)
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Waterfall
move 4: Substitute / Earthquake
item: Gyaradosite
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dragon Dance bolsters Mega Gyarados's Attack and Speed stat to insane levels. Crunch is its primary STAB move that can hit hard with its fearsome Attack stat. Waterfall is the other STAB move, which Mega Gyarados mainly uses to hit Pokemon that resist Crunch or are weak to Waterfall. There are few Pokemon in the metagame that can switch in safely on its STAB combination after a Dragon Dance. Substitute eases prediction, protects Mega Gyarados from most status moves when setting up Dragon Dance, and allows it to set up on passive Pokemon. Earthquake is a decent option over Substitute to hit Electric-types, notably Rotom-W and Magnezone, bypassing Levitate and Sturdy thanks to Mold Breaker. Being able to hit Azumarill and Keldeo for neutral damage grants it another niche. However, Substitute's utility usually makes it the superior option, as being able to avoid status and set up on passive Pokemon is a lot more helpful in most matchups. Using Taunt over Substitute or Earthquake prevents Whirlwind and Roar users from phazing Mega Gyarados. It's also another option to prevent status moves, but it fails to protect Mega Gyarados from Scald burns and Prankster users such as Klefki, Thundurus, and Sableye. Ice Fang over Earthquake or Substitute hits Dragon- and Grass-types that take little damage from Crunch, notably Hydreigon, bulky Garchomp, and Breloom. However, Gyarados prefers Substitute by a lot, as it makes setting up Dragon Dances much easier, while Earthquake provides the much more needed coverage against Electric-types, as well as having far better Base Power compared to Ice Fang.
Set Details
========
Intimidate is the preferred ability over Moxie, as it creates more opportunities for Mega Gyarados to set up a Substitute or a Dragon Dance. Maximum Attack and Speed EVs allow Mega Gyarados to make full use of its offensive potential. A Jolly nature permits it to outspeed Mega Manectric, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Beedrill after a Dragon Dance as well as Choice Scarf Gardevoir, Togekiss, and Hoopa-U. An Adamant nature can be used instead if you prefer the increase in power.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Gyarados should not be switched in continuously while Stealth Rock is up, as it does not appreciate being worn down quickly, with its lack of access to recovery. Always Mega Evolve wisely. In some cases, it is much more preferable to preserve Intimidate and the Ground-type immunity, while in others you would like to remove the Stealth Rock weakness and be immune to Psychic-type moves. It can also create 50/50s with certain Pokemon like Mega Diancie. As said before, preserving Mega Gyarados's health can be the key to winning the game. If you set up while a check or a counter is still around, you will be forced to switch out and may not get any opportunities to set up a Dragon Dance again. Status heavily hinders Mega Gyarados. Burn halves its damage output, while paralysis allows common wallbreakers to outspeed and OHKO it. Toxic can wear it down quickly, something it dislikes. While Substitute manages to protect Mega Gyarados from most status moves, moves with secondary effects like Discharge, priority Will-O-Wisp from Sableye, and Stun Spore from Whimsicott, can inflict status on it before it sets up a Substitute. Mega Gyarados can take advantage of Choice-locked foes to easily set up. The likes of a Dark-type STAB move-using Hoopa-U or a Draco Meteor-locked -2 Choice Scarf Latios are prime examples.
Team Options
========
Swampert's immunity to Electric-type moves sets it apart from other Stealth Rock users available on Water. Tentacruel is an amazing option as a teammate for Mega Gyarados, being able to Rapid Spin away entry hazards that wear down Mega Gyarados very quickly. It also counters Clefable very well, something that threatens Mega Gyarados, and takes most other Fairy-type attacks easily. Toxic Spikes can very easily cripple most of Mega Gyarados's checks and counters, and Tentacruel is the premier user of it on Water. Choice Band Azumarill lures in and takes out most walls that Mega Gyarados can't do much against such as Ferrothorn and Skarmory; its Waterfall 2HKOes Skarmory after Stealth Rock damage. It also takes Fighting-type moves such as Secret Sword from Keldeo easily and hits back with Play Rough. Lanturn is another Electric-immune Pokemon that helps Mega Gyarados by being able to Heal Bell away the status ailments that heavily hinder Mega Gyarados. It also helps it set up by providing a slow Volt Switch to safely bring it in. Keldeo manages to beat most physical walls that Mega Gyarados has trouble with quite easily. Skarmory, which walls Mega Gyarados when it lacks Taunt, Porygon2, and Ferrothorn are all beaten by Keldeo. Empoleon is an alternative option as a Stealth Rock user, also being able to use Defog. It takes Fairy-type hits that threaten Mega Gyarados and removes Stealth Rock so it doesn't get worn down too quickly. However, using Empoleon stacks the Fighting-type weakness, and thus it is wise to have a Pokemon with Fighting-type resistance such as Azumarill along with it. Starmie is the best option for an offensive Rapid Spin user. Its Analytic-boosted attacks can create holes in the opponent's team, and it takes down Mega Venusaur, something that Mega Gyarados fails to break through. Choice Specs Volcanion can break Mega Venusaur as well. Moreover, it beats Ferrothorn and makes it much easier for Mega Gyarados to prepare a late-game sweep.
[SET]
name: Dragon Dance (Water)
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Bounce
move 4: Substitute
item: Leftovers
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 168 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dragon Dance boosts Gyarados's Attack and Speed to let it sweep easily. Waterfall is its primary STAB move that benefits from Dragon Dance. Bounce provides Flying-type coverage, which is extremely important to hit Grass-types. Substitute makes setting up Dragon Dance much easier, as it allows Gyarados to avoid status moves such as Thunder Wave, Will-O-Wisp, and Toxic. It also protects Gyarados from Scald burns.
Set Details
========
168 Speed EVs coupled with a Jolly nature allow unboosted Gyarados to outspeed Breloom and go for Bounce, which maximum Speed EVs with an Adamant nature fail to do. The EVs not put in Speed are instead put in HP to improve its overall bulk. If the slight increase in bulk isn't desired, the EVs can be put in Speed to allow Gyarados to outspeed Hoopa-U when unboosted and Choice Scarf Togekiss and Gardevoir after a Dragon Dance. Leftovers is the best item on this set, as Gyarados lacks any other reliable recovery and gaining health while it sets up Dragon Dance or Substitute is very helpful. It also works well in tandem with Bounce, as it gains HP on the turn it uses the move. Intimidate is the preferred ability, as it makes it easier to set up and sweep.
Usage Tips
========
Gyarados usually should not be sent in while Stealth Rock is up, as it does not like to get worn down too quickly. Make sure to get it out of the way before sending it in. Setting up while its checks and counters are still healthy is a bad idea because repeatedly switching it in and out lowers its health very quickly, and it rarely manages to find an opportunity to set up again. That being said, this Gyarados set can be sent in early-game to make use of Intimidate and support the team. Status badly hinders Gyarados and leaves it practically useless throughout the match unless you have Heal Bell support. Burn makes it too weak to cause damage, while paralysis leaves it slow enough to get outsped by most wallbreakers. Playing safely and going for Substitute against anything that could possibly inflict status on Gyarados is usually the right play. When using Bounce, make sure that the opponent doesn't have Substitute or any way to boost its stats, as Bounce basically provides the foe with a free turn to set up.
Team Options
========
Swampert provides Stealth Rock to break Focus Sashes or Sturdy and wear Pokemon down to make it easier for Gyarados to sweep. Another benefit that Swampert provides is the Electric-type immunity, as Gyarados falls to any Electric-type attack even with Intimidate and its decent bulk. Tentacruel's ability to set up Toxic Spikes and Rapid Spin away Stealth Rock makes it a good match, as Gyarados can take the Ground-type moves aimed at it. Azumarill forms a great physical wallbreaking duo with Gyarados, as it lures in and KOes many of Gyarados's counters, such as Ferrothorn (Choice Band Superpower does a huge chunk) and Skarmory (Waterfall 2HKOes after Stealth Rock damage). Gyarados also manages to take down Mega Venusaur for Azumarill, which is very helpful. Using regular Gyarados frees up the Mega slot on the team. As such, Mega Sharpedo can make it much easier for Gyarados to set up and sweep, as it can weaken its checks and counters. Gyarados can also be used to wear down the opponent's team first before letting Mega Sharpedo come in and clean up. Empoleon's Defog support comes in handy when preserving health on Gyarados, as it is weak to Stealth Rock and does not like to get worn down quickly. Keldeo and Volcanion are two excellent special wallbreakers that can support Gyarados by taking out physical walls that it fails to break through. Lanturn helps Gyarados greatly by being able to absorb Electric-type attacks aimed at it. Additionally, being able to whittle down walls such as Porygon2 with Toxic and Heal Bell support makes it a perfect match. Its slow Volt Switch can help Gyarados greatly by being able to safely bring it in. Gyarados is a great fit on Water-type teams lacking a Mega Venusaur check.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
**Water**:
RestTalk Mega Gyarados is an alternative option to set up on walls such as Porygon2 and Chansey. However, it is very matchup dependent and is usually outclassed by standard offensive Mega Gyarados. Specially defensive Gyarados makes use of its support movepool, including Thunder Wave and Dragon Tail, along with Intimidate. Yet, just like RestTalk, it is extremely matchup dependent and useless in most games. On regular offensive Gyarados, Life Orb and Lum Berry are options to reach maximum power and get a free turn to set up a Dragon Dance against status moves users, respectively. However, those items fail to capitalize on Water-type teams' defensive synergy and are outshined by Leftovers.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water**:
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types find it easy to revenge kill Mega Gyarados. Choice Scarf Terrakion can outspeed and KO both Mega Gyarados and regular Gyarados even after a Dragon Dance because of Gyarados's mediocre base Speed stat.
**Physically Defensive Walls**: Gyarados finds it extremely hard to beat physically defensive walls, notably Skarmory and Ferrothorn. Both can recover their HP back easily while doing considerable damage to Gyarados.
**Phazers**: Gyarados requires Dragon Dance to become a significant threat and moves that force it out can completely shut it down. The Taunt variant can prevent Whirlwind and Roar, however.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types overall find it easy to shut down both Gyarados and Mega Gyarados. Some particularly annoying Fairy-types for Gyarados are Klefki, Clefable, Whimsicott, and Azumarill.
**Mega Venusaur**: Mega Venusaur can take on Mega Gyarados without taking much damage from Crunch while healing it back with Giga Drain. Regular Gyarados finds it much easier to break through Mega Venusaur with Bounce, however.
**Residual Damage**: Gyarados gets no reliable recovery besides Rest and does not appreciate getting worn down too quickly, as it usually requires maximum health to set up a Dragon Dance or two. Its Speed is nowhere near excellent, and it usually needs two uses of Dragon Dance to not get outsped by common Choice Scarf users.
**Status**: Burn halves Gyarados's attack, lowering its wallbreaking power by a lot, while paralysis allows it to get outsped by pretty much any wallbreaker.
**Revenge Killers**: Once Gyarados or Mega Gyarados has been weakened due to Substitute, Stealth Rock, or damage taken while setting up Dragon Dance, Choice Scarf users such as Victini, Latios, and Kyurem-B can freely revenge kill it.
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