[OVERVIEW]
Gyarados has several traits that make it a solid choice in GSC UU: an unusual typing that grants it useful STAB attacks and resistances, the uncommon combination of high Attack and high Special Defense, and a unique and varied movepool. Its immunity to Spikes and Earthquake is great in a metagame where Ground-types such as Nidoqueen and Piloswine are common, and its resistance to Water alongside its access to Thunder makes it a solid check to the tier's prominent Water-types such as Slowbro and Blastoise. Moreover, its coverage and bulk make it an adequate check to Scyther and allow it to do just enough damage to the tier's bulkier foes that it can sometimes be difficult to deal with. What prevents Gyarados from being a top-tier Pokemon is its crippling weakness to Electric-type attacks, which are sadly a very common sight in the tier. Its low Special Attack stat also means that it has trouble breaking through bulkier Pokemon like Granbull and Slowking. Furthermore, if it lacks Rest or Heal Bell support, then paralysis is highly problematic, as once paralyzed it has very low chances of beating Moonlight Nidoqueen, one of the most common Pokemon in the tier.
[SET]
name: All-out Offensive
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Double-Edge / Roar
move 4: Hidden Power Ground / Hidden Power Flying
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
This set aims to take full advantage of Gyarados's offensive stats and movepool. Once Gyarados has been brought in on a predicted Earthquake or resisted attack such as Surf from Slowbro or Blastoise, it can fire off the attack that its trainer believes will deal the most damage to the Pokemon it will face that turn—Hydro Pump hits Nidoqueen for a 2HKO and scares out most other Ground-types, Thunder hits most Water-types fairly hard and can inflict paralysis, Double-Edge does solid neutral damage off Gyarados's impressive Attack stat, and Hidden Power Ground is the most powerful option against Electric-types such as Magneton and Electabuzz while also hitting Haunter hard on the switch. Very few Pokemon can handle this combination of attacks for long, with the notable exception of Grass-types. Hidden Power Flying is a STAB attack that can be used as an alternative, 2HKOing not only the aforementioned Grass-types but also Scyther and Pinsir, two dangerous Swords Dance users. However, dropping Hidden Power Ground leaves Gyarados without an option to 2HKO Magneton and also causes it to miss 3HKOs on Ampharos and Lanturn. Lastly, if a phazer is absent from your lineup, Gyarados makes for a solid Roar user that can threaten Scyther and potentially disrupt Speed passing attempts from Girafarig.
Team Options
===========
This Gyarados set functions best on bulky offensive teams that run Nidoqueen for its typing synergy and Pokemon that can absorb status and hits like Hypno and Slowking. Spikes help both Gyarados and Nidoqueen punish the switches they force more effectively, so Qwilfish is also a desirable teammate. As Gyarados and Nidoqueen can both struggle to deal with Curse RestTalk Granbull and Spikes are of great importance to this kind of team's success, Haunter makes for another solid choice with its immunity to Rapid Spin and Return. It also has great offensive synergy with Gyarados, as its Explosion can be used to take down Gyarados checks like Ampharos and Hypno. Gyarados also makes for a decent recipient of Scyther's Swords Dance boosts, as it can take many special hits quite well, unlike other physical attackers.
[SET]
name: Rest
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Hidden Power Flying / Thunder / Double-Edge
move 3: Roar / Thunder / Sleep Talk
move 4: Rest
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
============
Rest Gyarados aims to take advantage of its high Special Defense and Spikes immunity to become a more reliable long-term check to bulky Water- and Psychic-types such as Slowbro and Hypno, two Pokemon that can be difficult for offensive teams to switch into due to their access to status moves and scarcely resisted STAB attacks. Hydro Pump is necessary to 2HKO Nidoqueen and threaten Granbull. Hidden Power Flying is the preferred secondary attack to allow Gyarados to deal with top threat Scyther more consistently. However, Thunder can also be used as a less effective option against Scyther while maintaining a KO threat on Blastoise and Slowbro, both of which could otherwise safely attempt to PP stall Gyarados. Double-Edge can be chosen as an option that doesn't sacrifice coverage against Lanturn and Ampharos, but with the set's defensive incline, generally these Pokemon are better dealt with by switching out or using Roar as they enter the field. Roar is a strong option that can be used to both offensively pressure opposing teams with Spikes up and to phaze stat-boosting foes. Alternatively, Gyarados can utilize Sleep Talk to reduce its downtime while asleep and give it the ability to absorb sleep effectively, although this limits its offensive potential. It should also be noted that other Water-types such as Slowking and Slowbro tend to make for better RestTalk users, as they fare better against Nidoqueen and Granbull and are less crippled by Thunder Wave. However, Gyarados has the advantage of Spikes immunity and a better matchup against Scyther.
Team Options
============
This Gyarados set requires support against Electric-types like Ampharos, so Ground-types such Nidoqueen and Piloswine are welcome teammates. Hypno and Ampharos are other useful choices that can easily stomach the Psychic- and Electric-type coverage that many of Gyarados's checks rely on. Chansey can be a useful teammate with Heal Bell, particularly if Gyarados lacks Sleep Talk. Qwilfish is handy for Spikes, which allow Gyarados to pose a greater offensive threat. It is a good idea to use Gyarados alongside a Pokemon that resists Normal, as Granbull and Dodrio have powerful STAB attacks that Gyarados cannot withstand for long, even with Rest. Magneton is a good check to mono-attacking Granbull and also checks Psychic-types. Despite its overlapping weakness to Electric, Omastar is one of the safest checks to the two Normal-type powerhouses.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
============
Zap Cannon can be used in place of Thunder to increase the odds of landing paralysis on checks such as Mr. Mime and Kadabra, although its low accuracy makes it a much less effective tool against the tier's bulky Water-types, so the trade-off is generally not worth it. Substitute can be used in place of Hidden Power Ground to improve Gyarados's matchup against Electric-types that rely on Thunder and take advantage of or block paralysis. Swagger is an option that can be used in combination with Substitute to help Gyarados break past bulky foes like Hypno and Blastoise, but its lack of consistency generally means it isn't worth it unless paralysis can be spread beforehand. Gyarados could use Surf over Hydro Pump, but it misses a crucial guaranteed 2HKO on Nidoqueen so is generally not worth it.
Checks and Counters
=================
**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Electabuzz, Ampharos, Lanturn, and Magneton can OHKO Gyarados with their STAB Electric-type attacks. Gyarados can hit them for a 3HKO on the switch with Hidden Power Ground, however. Magneton also risks a potential OHKO from Hidden Power Ground variants.
**Psychic-types**: Most Psychic-types have a favorable matchup against Gyarados thanks to their access to Electric-type moves and lack of weaknesses to Gyarados's attacks. Hypno is very difficult for Gyarados to get past and can wear it down, inflict status on it, or set up a screen. Unlike Slowbro, Slowking is not 3HKOed by Thunder and can therefore take Gyarados on and wear it down with STAB Psychic or paralyze it. Mr. Mime and Kadabra take heavy damage from Double-Edge and Hidden Power Flying but threaten Gyarados with their Electric-type coverage.
**Grass-types**: Jumpluff and Bellossom wall Gyarados if it lacks Hidden Power Flying and can inflict status on it and wear it down with Leech Seed. However, they are both 2HKOed by Hidden Power Flying if Gyarados has it.
**Normal-types**: Granbull and bulkier Normal-types like Lickitung lack weaknesses to Gyarados's attacks and are bulky enough that Gyarados fails to reliably 3HKO them. Granbull immediately threatens Gyarados back with its powerful STAB Return and can potentially stall Gyarados out of Hydro Pump with RestTalk; however, it does risk a 3HKO from Gyarados, especially if Spikes are up. Chansey can also take Gyarados on somewhat decently thanks to Soft-Boiled, although if it lacks Toxic and Counter, it may run out of Soft-Boiled PP before it can take Gyarados down. If Gyarados lacks Hidden Power Flying, the high recoil from Double-Edge will at least make Gyarados think twice about trying to take Chansey down.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Earthworm, 15210]]
- Quality checked by: [[Diophantine, 370164], [Century Express, 234737]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
Gyarados has several traits that make it a solid choice in GSC UU: an unusual typing that grants it useful STAB attacks and resistances, the uncommon combination of high Attack and high Special Defense, and a unique and varied movepool. Its immunity to Spikes and Earthquake is great in a metagame where Ground-types such as Nidoqueen and Piloswine are common, and its resistance to Water alongside its access to Thunder makes it a solid check to the tier's prominent Water-types such as Slowbro and Blastoise. Moreover, its coverage and bulk make it an adequate check to Scyther and allow it to do just enough damage to the tier's bulkier foes that it can sometimes be difficult to deal with. What prevents Gyarados from being a top-tier Pokemon is its crippling weakness to Electric-type attacks, which are sadly a very common sight in the tier. Its low Special Attack stat also means that it has trouble breaking through bulkier Pokemon like Granbull and Slowking. Furthermore, if it lacks Rest or Heal Bell support, then paralysis is highly problematic, as once paralyzed it has very low chances of beating Moonlight Nidoqueen, one of the most common Pokemon in the tier.
[SET]
name: All-out Offensive
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Double-Edge / Roar
move 4: Hidden Power Ground / Hidden Power Flying
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
This set aims to take full advantage of Gyarados's offensive stats and movepool. Once Gyarados has been brought in on a predicted Earthquake or resisted attack such as Surf from Slowbro or Blastoise, it can fire off the attack that its trainer believes will deal the most damage to the Pokemon it will face that turn—Hydro Pump hits Nidoqueen for a 2HKO and scares out most other Ground-types, Thunder hits most Water-types fairly hard and can inflict paralysis, Double-Edge does solid neutral damage off Gyarados's impressive Attack stat, and Hidden Power Ground is the most powerful option against Electric-types such as Magneton and Electabuzz while also hitting Haunter hard on the switch. Very few Pokemon can handle this combination of attacks for long, with the notable exception of Grass-types. Hidden Power Flying is a STAB attack that can be used as an alternative, 2HKOing not only the aforementioned Grass-types but also Scyther and Pinsir, two dangerous Swords Dance users. However, dropping Hidden Power Ground leaves Gyarados without an option to 2HKO Magneton and also causes it to miss 3HKOs on Ampharos and Lanturn. Lastly, if a phazer is absent from your lineup, Gyarados makes for a solid Roar user that can threaten Scyther and potentially disrupt Speed passing attempts from Girafarig.
Team Options
===========
This Gyarados set functions best on bulky offensive teams that run Nidoqueen for its typing synergy and Pokemon that can absorb status and hits like Hypno and Slowking. Spikes help both Gyarados and Nidoqueen punish the switches they force more effectively, so Qwilfish is also a desirable teammate. As Gyarados and Nidoqueen can both struggle to deal with Curse RestTalk Granbull and Spikes are of great importance to this kind of team's success, Haunter makes for another solid choice with its immunity to Rapid Spin and Return. It also has great offensive synergy with Gyarados, as its Explosion can be used to take down Gyarados checks like Ampharos and Hypno. Gyarados also makes for a decent recipient of Scyther's Swords Dance boosts, as it can take many special hits quite well, unlike other physical attackers.
[SET]
name: Rest
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Hidden Power Flying / Thunder / Double-Edge
move 3: Roar / Thunder / Sleep Talk
move 4: Rest
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
============
Rest Gyarados aims to take advantage of its high Special Defense and Spikes immunity to become a more reliable long-term check to bulky Water- and Psychic-types such as Slowbro and Hypno, two Pokemon that can be difficult for offensive teams to switch into due to their access to status moves and scarcely resisted STAB attacks. Hydro Pump is necessary to 2HKO Nidoqueen and threaten Granbull. Hidden Power Flying is the preferred secondary attack to allow Gyarados to deal with top threat Scyther more consistently. However, Thunder can also be used as a less effective option against Scyther while maintaining a KO threat on Blastoise and Slowbro, both of which could otherwise safely attempt to PP stall Gyarados. Double-Edge can be chosen as an option that doesn't sacrifice coverage against Lanturn and Ampharos, but with the set's defensive incline, generally these Pokemon are better dealt with by switching out or using Roar as they enter the field. Roar is a strong option that can be used to both offensively pressure opposing teams with Spikes up and to phaze stat-boosting foes. Alternatively, Gyarados can utilize Sleep Talk to reduce its downtime while asleep and give it the ability to absorb sleep effectively, although this limits its offensive potential. It should also be noted that other Water-types such as Slowking and Slowbro tend to make for better RestTalk users, as they fare better against Nidoqueen and Granbull and are less crippled by Thunder Wave. However, Gyarados has the advantage of Spikes immunity and a better matchup against Scyther.
Team Options
============
This Gyarados set requires support against Electric-types like Ampharos, so Ground-types such Nidoqueen and Piloswine are welcome teammates. Hypno and Ampharos are other useful choices that can easily stomach the Psychic- and Electric-type coverage that many of Gyarados's checks rely on. Chansey can be a useful teammate with Heal Bell, particularly if Gyarados lacks Sleep Talk. Qwilfish is handy for Spikes, which allow Gyarados to pose a greater offensive threat. It is a good idea to use Gyarados alongside a Pokemon that resists Normal, as Granbull and Dodrio have powerful STAB attacks that Gyarados cannot withstand for long, even with Rest. Magneton is a good check to mono-attacking Granbull and also checks Psychic-types. Despite its overlapping weakness to Electric, Omastar is one of the safest checks to the two Normal-type powerhouses.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
============
Zap Cannon can be used in place of Thunder to increase the odds of landing paralysis on checks such as Mr. Mime and Kadabra, although its low accuracy makes it a much less effective tool against the tier's bulky Water-types, so the trade-off is generally not worth it. Substitute can be used in place of Hidden Power Ground to improve Gyarados's matchup against Electric-types that rely on Thunder and take advantage of or block paralysis. Swagger is an option that can be used in combination with Substitute to help Gyarados break past bulky foes like Hypno and Blastoise, but its lack of consistency generally means it isn't worth it unless paralysis can be spread beforehand. Gyarados could use Surf over Hydro Pump, but it misses a crucial guaranteed 2HKO on Nidoqueen so is generally not worth it.
Checks and Counters
=================
**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Electabuzz, Ampharos, Lanturn, and Magneton can OHKO Gyarados with their STAB Electric-type attacks. Gyarados can hit them for a 3HKO on the switch with Hidden Power Ground, however. Magneton also risks a potential OHKO from Hidden Power Ground variants.
**Psychic-types**: Most Psychic-types have a favorable matchup against Gyarados thanks to their access to Electric-type moves and lack of weaknesses to Gyarados's attacks. Hypno is very difficult for Gyarados to get past and can wear it down, inflict status on it, or set up a screen. Unlike Slowbro, Slowking is not 3HKOed by Thunder and can therefore take Gyarados on and wear it down with STAB Psychic or paralyze it. Mr. Mime and Kadabra take heavy damage from Double-Edge and Hidden Power Flying but threaten Gyarados with their Electric-type coverage.
**Grass-types**: Jumpluff and Bellossom wall Gyarados if it lacks Hidden Power Flying and can inflict status on it and wear it down with Leech Seed. However, they are both 2HKOed by Hidden Power Flying if Gyarados has it.
**Normal-types**: Granbull and bulkier Normal-types like Lickitung lack weaknesses to Gyarados's attacks and are bulky enough that Gyarados fails to reliably 3HKO them. Granbull immediately threatens Gyarados back with its powerful STAB Return and can potentially stall Gyarados out of Hydro Pump with RestTalk; however, it does risk a 3HKO from Gyarados, especially if Spikes are up. Chansey can also take Gyarados on somewhat decently thanks to Soft-Boiled, although if it lacks Toxic and Counter, it may run out of Soft-Boiled PP before it can take Gyarados down. If Gyarados lacks Hidden Power Flying, the high recoil from Double-Edge will at least make Gyarados think twice about trying to take Chansey down.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Earthworm, 15210]]
- Quality checked by: [[Diophantine, 370164], [Century Express, 234737]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
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