Don't have a whole lot to say here except that report EV spreads were a little all over the place. I came up with this unique EV spread that checks several boxes for things brought up in those reports.
[SET]
name: Rocky Helmet
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Waterfall / Iron Head
move 3: Earthquake / Ice Fang / Iron Head
move 4: Thunder Wave / Earthquake / Ice Fang
item: Rocky Helmet
tera type: Steel / Ground
ability: Intimidate
nature: Impish
evs: 228 HP / 4 Atk / 220 Def / 4 SpD / 52 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Gyarados utilizes its unique typing alongside Rocky Helmet to cushion physical sweepers such as Scizor, Great Tusk and Palafin.
* **Taunt**: Taunt forces foes such as Corviknight and Dondozo to attack Gyarados, constraining them to take Rocky Helmet while often dealing minimal damage themselves.
* **Waterfall versus Iron Head**: Waterfall provides Gyarados with a reliable STAB move, but Iron Head works better with Thunder Wave thanks to its higher flinch chance. They can be run together, though usually at the cost of overall coverage.
* **Earthquake**: Earthquake checks several common Gyarados switch-ins, such as Iron Hands and Magnezone.
* **Ice Fang**: Ice Fang hits bulky Dragon-types such as Dragonite that otherwise can withstand attacks from Gyarados.
* **Thunder Wave**: Thunder Wave combined with flinch moves like Waterfall and Iron Head can shut down foes for several turns at a time. It can also catch foes switching into Gyarados, though keep in mind that many prominent Gyarados checks are naturally immune.
** **EV Spread**: This spread allows Gyarados to survive two unboosted Moonblasts from Flutter Mane and minimizes Stealth Rock chip. The Speed investment outspeeds 4 Speed Rotom formes and, when using Thunder Wave, outspeeds paralyzed Speed-boosting nature Dragapult.
Other Options
========
* **Dragon Dance**: Rocky Helmet sets can still opt to utilize Dragon Dance for more offensive presence, but this usually involves cutting bulk to invest in Attack and Speed.
Tera Types
========
* **Tera Dependency - Low**: While Gyarados has uses for Terastallization, losing its unique defensive typing jeopardizes its Rocky Helmet niche and makes it much harder to check its key targets. Terastallization must be timed properly if Gyarados is to get proper value out of it.
* **Steel**: Tera Steel powers up Iron Head to more serviceable levels and makes it easier to OHKO bulky Flutter Mane.
* **Ground**: Tera Ground prevents Gyarados from getting dismantled by its 4x Electric-type weakness and provides a sizable power boost to Earthquake.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/photon.516307/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/derpysux.528485/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/yashgreninja.383911/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
[SET]
name: Rocky Helmet
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Waterfall / Iron Head
move 3: Earthquake / Ice Fang / Iron Head
move 4: Thunder Wave / Earthquake / Ice Fang
item: Rocky Helmet
tera type: Steel / Ground
ability: Intimidate
nature: Impish
evs: 228 HP / 4 Atk / 220 Def / 4 SpD / 52 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Gyarados utilizes its unique typing alongside Rocky Helmet to cushion physical sweepers such as Scizor, Great Tusk and Palafin.
* **Taunt**: Taunt forces foes such as Corviknight and Dondozo to attack Gyarados, constraining them to take Rocky Helmet while often dealing minimal damage themselves.
* **Waterfall versus Iron Head**: Waterfall provides Gyarados with a reliable STAB move, but Iron Head works better with Thunder Wave thanks to its higher flinch chance. They can be run together, though usually at the cost of overall coverage.
* **Earthquake**: Earthquake checks several common Gyarados switch-ins, such as Iron Hands and Magnezone.
* **Ice Fang**: Ice Fang hits bulky Dragon-types such as Dragonite that otherwise can withstand attacks from Gyarados.
* **Thunder Wave**: Thunder Wave combined with flinch moves like Waterfall and Iron Head can shut down foes for several turns at a time. It can also catch foes switching into Gyarados, though keep in mind that many prominent Gyarados checks are naturally immune.
** **EV Spread**: This spread allows Gyarados to survive two unboosted Moonblasts from Flutter Mane and minimizes Stealth Rock chip. The Speed investment outspeeds 4 Speed Rotom formes and, when using Thunder Wave, outspeeds paralyzed Speed-boosting nature Dragapult.
Other Options
========
* **Dragon Dance**: Rocky Helmet sets can still opt to utilize Dragon Dance for more offensive presence, but this usually involves cutting bulk to invest in Attack and Speed.
Tera Types
========
* **Tera Dependency - Low**: While Gyarados has uses for Terastallization, losing its unique defensive typing jeopardizes its Rocky Helmet niche and makes it much harder to check its key targets. Terastallization must be timed properly if Gyarados is to get proper value out of it.
* **Steel**: Tera Steel powers up Iron Head to more serviceable levels and makes it easier to OHKO bulky Flutter Mane.
* **Ground**: Tera Ground prevents Gyarados from getting dismantled by its 4x Electric-type weakness and provides a sizable power boost to Earthquake.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/photon.516307/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/derpysux.528485/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/yashgreninja.383911/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Last edited: