Moves
Good defenses combined with Intimidate and an excellent array of resistances means that Gyarados can take on a defensive role. However, Gyarados lacks reliable recovery and can only heal itself through the combination of Rest and Sleep Talk. Rest helps Gyarados answer foes trying to deal with it through status, such as defensive Jirachi, various Toxic users such as Quagsire, and Will-O-Wisp Heatran. Waterfall has no immunities and is Gyarados's most reliable attack. Even without investment, it 2HKOes frail or Water-weak foes such as Gengar, bulkless Tyranitar, Heatran, and Infernape.
Roar is perhaps the most important move defensive Gyarados has, as it prevents offensive Pokemon from trying to set up on Gyarados and spreads entry hazard damage. Roar has great synergy with Sleep Talk, as if Gyarados is faster than the target and Sleep Talk uses Roar, Gyarados will phaze the opposing Pokemon before it can do anything and get Gyarados closer to waking up.
Set Details
248 HP EVs caps Gyarados's HP off at 393, allowing it to switch into Stealth Rock five times. Defense is maximized and the remaining EVs are placed in Special Defense. Gyarados can spare some Special Defense EVs to better handle attackers like Heatran, such as 56 EVs to survive two non-Life Orb Shadow Ball from Gengar after Stealth Rock. Gyarados sits at a crowded speed tier and can invest some Speed EVs to use Roar before other Gyarados and outspeed Machamp and Swampert. However, avoid taking too many EVs away from its Defense, as it relies on Intimidate to augment its physical bulk and will struggle to wall what it needs to without heavy investment.
Usage Tips
Especially if Stealth Rock is not up, Gyarados should switch in liberally to check Fighting-types, Swampert, Heatran, and Scizor. With Intimidate and its huge bulk, Gyarados is one of the best ways to stop opposing physical sweepers, especially if they cannot hit it super effectively. Take advantage of this to use Roar to spread entry hazard damage and scout more of the opposing team. Keep Gyarados away from Taunt users such as opposing Gyarados and Skarmory, as they will set up on it with impunity. Intimidate is an incredible tool: do not be afraid to find creative ways to weaken opposing attackers to set up entry hazards or help a teammate heal up.
Should Stealth Rock be up, Gyarados should be much more careful about when it switches in. Gyarados struggles to check powerful attackers such as Swords Dance Lucario and Infernape repeatedly especially if they switch out before Gyarados can heal. This will force Gyarados to use Rest often and be vulnerable to offensive pressure and unreliable Sleep Talk rolls. Smart sequencing from Gyarados's teammates can limit the number of times that Gyarados must switch in and check something with Stealth Rock up.
Team Options
Rapid Spin support is mandatory when using defensive Gyarados; it simply is not consistent enough to use without it and other defensive Pokemon such as Latias and Skarmory are better walls if Stealth Rock is up. By far the best partner for Gyarados is specially defensive Forretress, as it has the best synergy with Gyarados as a spinner and sets up entry hazards. Gyarados resists Forretress’s Fire-type weakness and answers sweepers trying to set up on Forretress. Other spinners such as Starmie and Donphan are more commonly used alongside Zapdos, which occupies a similar niche as a defensive Flying-type. Gyarados appreciates walls that can switch into its weaknesses, mainly Electric-types and sweepers with Rock-type coverage. Clefable, Latias, and Blissey are fantastic answers against offensive Pokemon with Electric-type coverage, such as Rotom-A, Zapdos, and Suicune. Clefable can spread Knock Off effectively, exacerbating entry hazard damage, while Blissey can absorb powerful attackers such as Choice Specs Latias and Empoleon that heavily threaten Gyarados while also appreciating Rapid Spin. Latias is an excellent teammate, as Gyarados takes on many of its defensive duties, allowing it to use more offensive sets such as a two attacks Calm Mind with Hidden Power Fire. Gyarados enjoys another physically defensive Pokemon that resists Rock-types, such as Hippowdon, Swampert, and Jirachi, that can ease its burden, especially if Stealth Rock is up. All these Pokemon check Tyranitar with Stone Edge well for Gyarados, while Gyarados phases out itself and absorbs Breloom’s Spore. Other defensive Pokemon such as Rotom-A and Celebi can be effective partners with Gyarados, as Rotom-A helps spread burn with Will-O-Wisp and blocks Rapid Spin while Celebi helps Gyarados take on offensive Water-types.
Gyarados’s ability to check many physical sweepers affords defensive teams flexibility among its teammates. Some example partners include Cresselia to better answer strong attackers such as Dragonite and Flygon, Hitmontop to form a double Intimidate core, and Choice Scarf Tyranitar for speed control, Pursuit trapping Starmie to keep entry hazards up, and handling Electric-types such as Rotom-A and Zapdos. Other defensive Pokemon that appreciate Rapid Spin support such as Heatran and Breloom can potentially fit alongside Gyarados.
Good defenses combined with Intimidate and an excellent array of resistances means that Gyarados can take on a defensive role. However, Gyarados lacks reliable recovery and can only heal itself through the combination of Rest and Sleep Talk. Rest helps Gyarados answer foes trying to deal with it through status, such as defensive Jirachi, various Toxic users such as Quagsire, and Will-O-Wisp Heatran. Waterfall has no immunities and is Gyarados's most reliable attack. Even without investment, it 2HKOes frail or Water-weak foes such as Gengar, bulkless Tyranitar, Heatran, and Infernape.
Roar is perhaps the most important move defensive Gyarados has, as it prevents offensive Pokemon from trying to set up on Gyarados and spreads entry hazard damage. Roar has great synergy with Sleep Talk, as if Gyarados is faster than the target and Sleep Talk uses Roar, Gyarados will phaze the opposing Pokemon before it can do anything and get Gyarados closer to waking up.
Set Details
248 HP EVs caps Gyarados's HP off at 393, allowing it to switch into Stealth Rock five times. Defense is maximized and the remaining EVs are placed in Special Defense. Gyarados can spare some Special Defense EVs to better handle attackers like Heatran, such as 56 EVs to survive two non-Life Orb Shadow Ball from Gengar after Stealth Rock. Gyarados sits at a crowded speed tier and can invest some Speed EVs to use Roar before other Gyarados and outspeed Machamp and Swampert. However, avoid taking too many EVs away from its Defense, as it relies on Intimidate to augment its physical bulk and will struggle to wall what it needs to without heavy investment.
Usage Tips
Especially if Stealth Rock is not up, Gyarados should switch in liberally to check Fighting-types, Swampert, Heatran, and Scizor. With Intimidate and its huge bulk, Gyarados is one of the best ways to stop opposing physical sweepers, especially if they cannot hit it super effectively. Take advantage of this to use Roar to spread entry hazard damage and scout more of the opposing team. Keep Gyarados away from Taunt users such as opposing Gyarados and Skarmory, as they will set up on it with impunity. Intimidate is an incredible tool: do not be afraid to find creative ways to weaken opposing attackers to set up entry hazards or help a teammate heal up.
Should Stealth Rock be up, Gyarados should be much more careful about when it switches in. Gyarados struggles to check powerful attackers such as Swords Dance Lucario and Infernape repeatedly especially if they switch out before Gyarados can heal. This will force Gyarados to use Rest often and be vulnerable to offensive pressure and unreliable Sleep Talk rolls. Smart sequencing from Gyarados's teammates can limit the number of times that Gyarados must switch in and check something with Stealth Rock up.
Team Options
Rapid Spin support is mandatory when using defensive Gyarados; it simply is not consistent enough to use without it and other defensive Pokemon such as Latias and Skarmory are better walls if Stealth Rock is up. By far the best partner for Gyarados is specially defensive Forretress, as it has the best synergy with Gyarados as a spinner and sets up entry hazards. Gyarados resists Forretress’s Fire-type weakness and answers sweepers trying to set up on Forretress. Other spinners such as Starmie and Donphan are more commonly used alongside Zapdos, which occupies a similar niche as a defensive Flying-type. Gyarados appreciates walls that can switch into its weaknesses, mainly Electric-types and sweepers with Rock-type coverage. Clefable, Latias, and Blissey are fantastic answers against offensive Pokemon with Electric-type coverage, such as Rotom-A, Zapdos, and Suicune. Clefable can spread Knock Off effectively, exacerbating entry hazard damage, while Blissey can absorb powerful attackers such as Choice Specs Latias and Empoleon that heavily threaten Gyarados while also appreciating Rapid Spin. Latias is an excellent teammate, as Gyarados takes on many of its defensive duties, allowing it to use more offensive sets such as a two attacks Calm Mind with Hidden Power Fire. Gyarados enjoys another physically defensive Pokemon that resists Rock-types, such as Hippowdon, Swampert, and Jirachi, that can ease its burden, especially if Stealth Rock is up. All these Pokemon check Tyranitar with Stone Edge well for Gyarados, while Gyarados phases out itself and absorbs Breloom’s Spore. Other defensive Pokemon such as Rotom-A and Celebi can be effective partners with Gyarados, as Rotom-A helps spread burn with Will-O-Wisp and blocks Rapid Spin while Celebi helps Gyarados take on offensive Water-types.
Gyarados’s ability to check many physical sweepers affords defensive teams flexibility among its teammates. Some example partners include Cresselia to better answer strong attackers such as Dragonite and Flygon, Hitmontop to form a double Intimidate core, and Choice Scarf Tyranitar for speed control, Pursuit trapping Starmie to keep entry hazards up, and handling Electric-types such as Rotom-A and Zapdos. Other defensive Pokemon that appreciate Rapid Spin support such as Heatran and Breloom can potentially fit alongside Gyarados.