Has anyone ever used the 'Charizard counter' Gyarados sets?
Gyarados @ Chesto Berry
Intimidate
Impish
252 HP, 164 Def, 88 in something else
- Rest
- Thunder Wave
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake / Sleep Talk
The given physical bulk with intimidate avoids the 2HKO from Mega Charizard X's Dragon Claw excluding Stealth Rock, but I often find that players will try to evolve Charizard in the beginning of the match, before their hazards are in place (maybe I'm fighting inexperienced players?). You do have to watch out for the uncommon ThunderPunch that might be carried for Azumarill.
Whether or not the last 88 EVs are placed in special defense, Gyarados is only 3HKOd by Fire Blast in the sun, with none of Mega Charizard Y's other attacks except for the rare HP Electric doing more damage.
On Gyarados' side, 0 Atk Stone Edge always OHKOs 4 / 0 ZardY while guaranteeing a 2HKO on ZardX. Earthquake is my personal preference for ZardX, because Stone "Miss" is bound to kick in. If accuracy isn't an issue for you, you can run Sleep Talk to function after the Chesto Berry or possibly Roar/Dragon Tail to parashuffle. Here are some possible scenarios in battle:
The opponent sent out Charizard!
Ferrothorn, come back! Go, Gyarados! Gyarados's Intimidate lowered the opponent's Charizard's Attack!
The opponent's Charizard is Mega Evolving! The opponent's Mega Charizard used Dragon Dance!
Attack is now +0 and speed is +1.
The opponent's Charizard used Dragon Claw!
Gyarados took 45%. Gyarados used Thunder Wave! The opponent's Charizard is paralyzed! It may be unable to move!
Gyarados used Stone Edge! CharizardX took 57%. Charizard used Dragon Claw! Gyarados took 47%.
Gyarados used Rest! Gyarados fell asleep and became healthy! Gyarados's Chesto Berry woke it up!
CharizardX used Dragon Claw! Gyarados took 43%.
Gyarados used Earthquake! The foe's Charizard fainted!
The opponent sent out Charizard!
Tyranitar, come back! Go, Gyarados!
Gyarados's Intimidate lowered the opponent's Charizard's Attack!
The opponent's Charizard is Mega Evolving! The opponent's Mega Charizard used SolarBeam! Gyarados takes 39%.
The opponent's CharizardY used Fire Blast! Gyarados takes 41%.
Gyarados used Thunder Wave! The foe's CharizardY is paralyzed! It may be unable to move!
Gyarados used Stone Edge! ZardY takes 100%. Faints
The idea is to Thunder Wave first. Either you paralyze MCharizard for another teammate to handle later, or you paralyze the switch in (mostly electric types).
Gyarados seems to be the most reliable switch in to Charizard, as it can handle both forms long as it doesn't pack electric coverage. Air Balloon Heatran comes close behind, but you do not want to switch into anything that's not fire/ground coverage because then they'll EQ next turn to remove you AND a 'Charizard counter' Heatran would have to pack a Rock attack (Stone Edge, Ancient Power), both options needing attack/SpA investment to do the job, which deviates from the usual, more effective Heatran sets.