[SET]
name: Dragon Dance Sweeper
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Bounce
move 4: Power Whip / Earthquake
item: Flyinium Z
ability: Moxie
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Dragon Dance Gyarados is one of, if not the most, dangerous sweeper in the metagame. Between its excellent power and coverage as well as a decent defensive profile, Gyarados is not only almost impossible to check defensively but also tough to revenge kill without certain Choice Scarfers. Indeed, Gyarados is the sole reason that Choice Scarfers such as Jirachi and Urshifu-RS often run Thunder Punch, Choice Scarf Latias runs Thunderbolt, and that Choice Scarf Keldeo runs Hidden Power Electric. Bounce with Flyinium Z gives Gyarados access to an extremely powerful STAB Supersonic Skystrike, allowing it to easily break through threats like Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, Tapu Bulu, and Mega Altaria. It should be noted that Bounce is still a fine move to use after the Z-move, as it is quite powerful and hits the Grass-types of the tier harder than anything else. Power Whip allows Gyarados to bash its way past Rotom-W and prevents Quagsire and Pyukumuku from easily beating it for Stall teams, therefore making Gyarados a huge threat to Stall. It also allows it to break other Water-types, like Starmie and Slowking, without having to use its Z-move. Earthquake, on the other hand, allows Gyarados to deal more damage to Empoleon and Jirachi (as it has a shot to OHKO offensive variants at +1), while also allowing Gyarados to do more damage to Mega Altaria without having to rely on the two turn Bounce should its Z-move have been used already. However, the benefits of Power Whip are very tangible and usually too good to pass up. An Adamant Nature is preferred for maximum power, but Jolly can be used to outrun Scarf Togekiss and Scarf Chandelure, as well as Zeraora at +1. Moxie is the best ability, as it allows Gyarados to snowball with greater ease, and it can still find setup opportunities on the likes of Scizor, Celesteela, and Buzzwole.
Gyarados fits on all kinds of teams, ranging from balance to bulky offensive to hyper offense. This is thanks to the immense sweeping potential that it provides them. Gyarados should look to scout for threats that can revenge kill it, such as Choice Scarfers in Jirachi and Latias as well as strong priority from the likes of Diggersby and Weavile. Options that can punish these threats are good partners. Rocky Helmet Amoonguss can wear down Jirachi and Urshifu-RS quickly, therefore clearing the way for Gyarados to sweep. Spikes and Stealth Rock from Pokemon such as Klefki, Diggersby, Krookodile, and Mega Diancie make for good partners. In addition, Diggersby and Mega Diancie can break past walls, making it easier for Gyarados to sweep, while Krookodile can Pursuit trap Choice Scarf Jirachi and Latias. Variants running Earthquake should look for ways to lure out and rid themselves of Rotom-W, so Mega Venusaur and Tapu Bulu are good options, as they can consistently force out Rotom-W, forcing it to take Stealth Rock damage and chipping it into range of Supersonic Skystrike.
[SET]
name: Mega Dragon Dance Sweeper
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Ice Fang / Substitute / Taunt
item: Gyaradosite
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Mega Gyarados has very stiff competition in the form of its regular form, as its regular form is effectively more powerful thanks to its access to Z-moves and Moxie. However, Mega Gyarados distinguishes itself from its normal form thanks to its typing and superior bulk, as it loses its quadruple weakness to Electric and its weakness to Rock. This makes it hard for teams relying on Scarfers such as Jirachi, Latias, and Krookodile to effectively revenge kill it. In addition, Mold Breaker makes it arguably even harder for stall teams to deal with, as it couldn't care less about the Unaware Pokemon in Quagsire and Pyukumuku, as well as letting it effectively dispose of Rotom-W with Earthquake. Earthquake is used thanks to its good coverage and its ability to hit many Dark-resists, such as Infernape, Terrakion, and Mega Diancie super effectively as well as hitting others like Grimmsnarl, Keldeo, and Mega Altaria neutrally. Ice Fang deals more damage to Tapu Bulu, Breloom, and Mega Altaria. Substitute allows Mega Gyarados to take advantage of forced switches and easily set up on threats that can't threaten it offensively, such as Celesteela, Mega Sableye, Slowking, and Chandelure. Taunt serves a similar purpose in letting Mega Gyarados to dominate Stall teams and easily setup on weak defensive Pokemon like Alomomola, Suicune, and Jellicent. An Adamant Nature is preferred for maximum Power, but Jolly's ability to outrun Zeraora and Scarf Togekiss makes it worth considering. Intimidate is the preferred ability to make setting up easier should Mega Gyarados switch into something as its pre-mega form, but Moxie has some purpose in that it can potentially give Gyarados an extra boost should it revenge kill something in its pre-mega form.
Mega Gyarados usually only fits on Hyper Offense teams, as it is outclassed by its pre-mega form elsewhere. These Hyper Offenses appreciate Mega Gyarados reliably breaking stall for them, as these teams can often struggle with hardcore stall teams. It is sometimes wise to not Mega Evolve Gyarados immediately, as it loses its Ground-immunity and gains weaknesses to Fairy-, Bug- and Fighting-type moves. It is therefore prudent, occasionally, to set up first as normal Gyarados against threats such as Scizor, Infernape, and Mega Altaria, before Mega Evolving after they either switch out or Mega Gyarados can confirm a kill onto them. Mega Gyarados appreciates teammates that can set many hazards, as it needs them to effectively break through and wear down threats such as Keldeo, Mega Altaria, and Tapu Bulu. Hyper Offense leads such as Azelf, Krookodile, and Froslass can get the game off to a very good start, while Screens from Grimmsnarl can make revenge killing Mega Gyarados a very tall order. Other staples on Hyper offense, such as Mimikyu, Bisharp, Scizor, Xurkitree, and Latias, help to form an extremely threatening offensive onslaught that can overwhelm opposing teams. These threats appreciate Mega Gyarados breaking stall teams easily, which many of them fail to do effectively.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[SputnikGT, 475916]]
- Quality checked by: [[N_Mareanie, 373066], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
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