[OVERVIEW]
While Tyranitar seems dwarfed both in stature and impact by the Pokemon with massive stats that dominate the Uber tier, it holds several traits that give it a valuable role in the tier. Its sandstorm disrupts the weather dynamic of DPP Ubers that is entirely dominated by rain and sun. This and its STAB moves that pressure many common leads let Tyranitar successfully function as an anti-lead that limits suicide leads like Deoxys-S, Deoxys-A, and Froslass to a single layer of entry hazards. Its impact extends beyond the lead slot, as it can reset the weather mid-game to make the weather setters and the Pokemon they enable easier to handle. It may also use Pursuit to weaken threats like Latias, Latios, Giratina-O, and Blissey. Tyranitar can even pump up the power of its Pursuit with Choice Band, and in the process, it gains the power to smash through stall teams. However, Tyranitar is slow, affected by every form of hazards, and lacks recovery, so it does not last long in games. Additionally, many Pokemon, such as Darkrai and Mewtwo, carry coverage moves like Focus Blast and Aura Sphere, respectively, that pressure Steel-types, and these moves are also effective against Tyranitar. Finally, though Tyranitar is effective at denying Kyogre and Groudon their respective weather, it dislikes staying in against them and can give them entry to establish the weather advantage.
[SET]
name: Focus Sash Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Payback
move 3: Fire Blast / Taunt
move 4: Superpower / Low Kick
item: Focus Sash
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Hasty
evs: 176 Atk / 80 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
When Tyranitar is guaranteed a free turn thanks to Focus Sash, it becomes a great early-game Stealth Rock setter. Payback in conjunction with the sandstorm it sets will remove non-Colbur Berry Deoxys-S in a single turn, leaving it with only a single layer of entry hazards. Fire Blast is the most threatening option against Forretress, while Taunt will completely deny it hazards, forcing it to use Payback or Rapid Spin, which are moves that can be exploited by Tyranitar or its teammates. Superpower is a powerful coverage move that threatens lead Darkrai, but Low Kick is sometimes chosen for its spammability against Dialga and Forretress. Dropping Stealth Rock and picking up another attacking move, Thunder Wave, which slows down faster leads like Rayquaza, or Counter to destroy lead Groudon is also viable.
Set Details
========
80 Special Attack EVs ensure that Fire Blast OHKOes Forretress. A Hasty nature is generally preferred to Speed tie opposing lead Tyranitar at worst. If Tyranitar opts to drop Fire Blast, then moving the Special Attack EVs into Attack and running an Adamant or Jolly nature will maximize both Tyranitar's damage output and its bulk.
Usage Tips
========
Using Payback against Dark-weak leads like Froslass and Deoxys-S is a very safe play, as unless the latter is Colbur Berry, they must make a choice between a layer of entry hazards or bringing Tyranitar down to its Focus Sash. A similar scenario occurs against lead Forretress with Fire Blast or Taunt, except Forretress doesn't commonly carry an attacking move that damages Tyranitar, making the matchup more skewed in its favor. Aside from these matchups, Tyranitar can safely set up Stealth Rock against leads that it has favorable matchups against like Ho-Oh and Giratina-O; even against those that threaten it out like Rayquaza and Kyogre, Tyranitar can set up Stealth Rock and switch out to be used as a sacrifice later in the battle.
Team Options
========
Many teams appreciate Tyranitar's ability to prevent multiple layers of entry hazards from being laid by Deoxys-S. However, Tyranitar itself is slow and not particularly bulky, so this set fits best on offensive teams. Tyranitar dislikes lead Darkrai using Dark Void, so a sleep absorber like Sleep Talk Dialga or Garchomp gives it room to set up Stealth Rock unperturbed. Tyranitar faints fairly early in the battle, so if its Stealth Rock gets removed, then its effort to set them up will be wasted. A spinblocker like Giratina-O can ensure that Stealth Rock stays up, though Giratina-O gets passively chipped by Tyranitar's sandstorm. Checks to Kyogre and Groudon like Palkia for the former, Giratina-O for the latter, and the Lati twins for both ensure that Tyranitar can disrupt their weather over the course of the battle.
[SET]
name: Utility Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock / Pursuit
move 2: Payback / Crunch
move 3: Fire Blast / Taunt
move 4: Superpower / Low Kick
item: Lum Berry / Chople Berry
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Brave
evs: 248 HP / 120 Atk / 80 SpA / 60 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
With extra bulk at the expense of Speed, Tyranitar matches up more reliably into a wider variety of lead matchups, as it is not reliant on its Focus Sash to find turns to do work. It may even give up Stealth Rock to use its bulk to trap Latios and Latias with Pursuit; it can also be used to prevent Colbur Berry Deoxys-S from switching out to be used as a sacrifice later. This Tyranitar set is very slow, so it can utilize Payback's power boost more often, removing Dark-weak leads in a single turn unless they carry a Colbur Berry. However, this Tyranitar set also tends to last outside the lead position, and Crunch's consistency is preferred then. Fire Blast threatens lead Forretress, while Taunt prevents it from setting any entry hazards; this is useful on teams weak to Toxic Spikes. Superpower and Low Kick complete Tyranitar's coverage with its Dark-type STAB moves; Superpower provides a greater hit on Darkrai, while Low Kick maintains the strong hit on heavy foes like Dialga and Kyogre but is much more spammable. Lum Berry is the strongest option against lead Darkrai's Dark Void, and it has utility in bypassing the poison inflicted by Toxic Spikes mid-game. Chople Berry is another option that lets Tyranitar absorb otherwise threatening attacks like Darkrai's Focus Blast, Deoxys-S's Superpower, and Giratina-O's Aura Sphere while not in pristine condition.
Set Details
========
Fire Blast will OHKO Forretress after the Special Attack investment. However, if Fire Blast is not used, then moving the Special Attack into Attack and using an Adamant nature ensures the EVs do not get wasted. The HP and Special Defense investment ensure that even without a Chople Berry, Tyranitar will survive Darkrai's Focus Blast.
Usage Tips
========
Payback is the best move to use against lead Deoxys-S and Froslass, and Fire Blast or Taunt is best against lead Forretress. Additionally, Lum Berry variants of Tyranitar have the bulk investment to safely attack Darkrai with a Fighting-type move. Because this Tyranitar invests in its bulk, it can be used past the lead slot to cut off rain or sun, checking an assault from a weather sweeper like Kingdra.
Team Options
========
This bulky variant of Tyranitar is one of the most reliable leads in the game, and so it fits on a wide variety of offensive teams. While Tyranitar doesn't let lead Kyogre's rain stay up, it also does not like staying in versus it, so a check to Kyogre is appreciated. A Kyogre check might be Latios or Latias, which appreciate Tyranitar's ability to threaten Darkrai. Pursuit Tyranitar can remove the Lati twins and open up teammates that are annoyed by them, including Groudon, Kyogre, and a whole host of Dragon-types.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Payback / Crunch
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Stone Edge / Fire Punch / Crunch
move 4: Superpower / Low Kick
item: Choice Band
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Choice Band Tyranitar's Payback is strong enough to beat lead Deoxys-S even if it carries a Colbur Berry. Crunch can be used to make the most of situations where finds itself a in front of foe that it outspeeds like Blissey. Running both Dark-type moves so that it can operate in both situations is a viable option. At high HP, it can trap and remove foes like Latias and Latios with Pursuit. Stone Edge destroys Ho-Oh, while Fire Punch destroys Forretress and threatens Bronzong. Superpower is Tyranitar's strongest move against Darkrai, but Low Kick is more spammable and is still threatening to the beasts of Ubers like Dialga.
Set Details
========
As Choice Band Tyranitar's main job is to dish out damage, a no-frills spread with maximum Attack investment ensures that it will inflict the most punishment on the opposing team.
Usage Tips
========
Mid-game, Tyranitar is adept at trapping foes like the Lati twins, Cresselia, and Blissey for teammates to take advantage of. It is also strong at pushing damage into defensive teams, especially if it finds itself in front of a Blissey or Forretress that doesn't pressure it in return. Choice Band Tyranitar can be used in the lead slot to absolutely ensure that lead Deoxys-S and Froslass will not get a second turn in the lead slot. This can preserve the HP of Tyranitar and its teammates for the rest of the battle. However, Choice Band Tyranitar can struggle against opposing offensive leads like Darkrai and Kyogre; even if it EVs to survive their attacks, it will be too weak to remove a Latios or Latias later in the battle, which is one of its main functions against offensive teams.
Team Options
========
Tyranitar, especially if using Crunch, appreciates support that increases the number of foes that it outspeeds. The premier way to accomplish this is Trick Room from Bronzong. Tyranitar's ability to remove foes and break down walls helps cleaners that can take advantage of a team weakened by Tyranitar. An example of such a cleaner is Choice Scarf Kyogre.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Earthquake threatens the Steel-types that Fire Blast does not, especially Heatran and Jirachi. Thunder Wave spreads paralysis on faster leads like Rayquaza and Tentacruel so that Tyranitar can mess with them itself; it also supports teammates like Dialga that would be outsped by them. Other tech options on the lead sets include Rock-type attacks to outright remove lead Ho-Oh and Counter to completely eliminate Groudon leads. The utility lead may employ Passho Berry to let Tyranitar swallow an attack from lead Kyogre, which can be used on teams that really need Stealth Rock or early damage dealt to it. Choice Scarf improves Tyranitar's ability to remove the Lati twins by not forcing it to take one of their attacks, but it is easily outsped by faster and frailer foes like Darkrai, Shaymin-S, and Mewtwo and does not let Tyranitar consistently establish sand against lead Kyogre, so it cannot be used in the lead slot. ChestoRest Tyranitar has enough longevity to set up sand and check the Lati twins more times in a game.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Kyogre**: Unless Tyranitar has led off against Kyogre, Kyogre's rain cuts off Tyranitar's Special Defense boost from sandstorm and powers up its super effective STAB moves that threaten to OHKO Tyranitar. Kyogre can also use Tyranitar to spread paralysis or set up with Calm Mind.
**Groudon**: While Groudon is a far less common lead than Kyogre, this means that it can use its immense physical bulk to switch into Tyranitar and gain the weather advantage and pressure it with STAB Earthquake. Like Kyogre, Groudon may spread paralysis and set up with Swords Dance, but can also set up Stealth Rock that digs into Tyranitar and its teammates.
**Fighting-type Coverage**: Many foes, like Darkrai, Mewtwo, and Deoxys-A, carry Fighting-type coverage in Focus Blast, Aura Sphere, and Superpower, respectively, that destroys Tyranitar.
**Jirachi**: Jirachi outspeeds Tyranitar and commonly carries Iron Head, which threatens super effective damage to Tyranitar.
**Rayquaza**: Rayquaza's Air Lock lets it ignore sandstorm, meaning that Focus Sash variants cannot be removed by it in a single turn.
**Ground-types**: The likes of Garchomp and Gliscor threaten huge damage on Tyranitar with their STAB Earthquake and can use Tyranitar's sand against it by activating their Sand Veil ability.
**Water-types**: Many other Water-types partner well with the aforementioned Kyogre, including Palkia, Kabutops, and Manaphy, and threaten Tyranitar with their Water-type STAB moves. One thing to note is that if the Palkia is known to be holding a Choice item and is locked into a non-Water-type attack, then Tyranitar can use Pursuit to weaken it, which can help its own Water- and Dragon-types that get checked by it.
**Entry Hazards**: Because it is affected by Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes and has no form of reliable recovery, Tyranitar is among the most entry hazard-weak Pokemon in the tier. The passive damage caused by hazards pushes Tyranitar into range of many of the Pokemon it is meant to trade hits with, ensuring that it won't be able to take on foes like Giratina-O.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/seldanna.471586/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/inspirited.127823/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lasen.273339/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
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