[OVERVIEW]
Mega Gyarados's good Attack stat and decent Water / Dark typing allow it to threaten a lot of defensive Pokemon such as Giratina, Aegislash, and Mega Tyranitar and serve as a wallbreaker. Its typing also provides good resistances that allow Mega Gyarados to check Primal Kyogre and most Psychic-types as well as enabling it to Imposter-proof itself with Poison Heal or Unaware. It can also check setup sweepers with its decent bulk and resistance to common moves that they bring such as Stored Power, Power Trip, Sunsteel Strike, and Moongeist Beam. Mega Gyarados's Speed, albeit below average, is enough to fulfill to the role of a wallbreaker and also allows it to get a slow U-turn on base 90 Speed Pokemon like Giratina and Primal Kyogre.
However, Mega Gyarados is easily accounted for with its number of weaknesses and can be surprised with coverage moves from Pokemon it should check such as Fleur Cannon from Mega Mewtwo Y and Moonblast from Poison Heal Primal Kyogre. Having an Electric- and Bug-type weakness makes Mega Gyarados especially vulnerable to Pokemon such as Zekrom and U-turn users like Giratina and Primal Kyogre, and it's also susceptible to common coverage in Fairy- and Fighting-type moves from Pokemon such as Xerneas and Mega Gengar and strong physical attackers such as Mega Mewtwo X. This greatly compromises Mega Gyarados's ability to check threats. It is also susceptible to being worn down quickly by entry hazards and has a weakness to common pivot moves in U-turn and Volt Switch from defensive threats. It despises any sort of damaging status, which makes it unable to do its job effectively.
[SET]
name: Unaware
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Spectral Thief / Topsy Turvy
move 3: Shore Up
move 4: U-turn / Anchor Shot
item: Safety Goggles
ability: Unaware
nature: Relaxed / Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off can remove foes' items such as Eviolite, Leftovers, and Safety Goggles. Spectral Thief steals boosts from setup sweepers such as Yveltal, Groudon, and Primal Kyogre. It can also hit Psychic- and Ghost-types for super effective damage. Topsy Turvy can be used on Normal-types such as Regigigas and Slaking and certain setup sweepers that threaten to 2HKO Mega Gyarados such as Life Orb Triage Mega Rayquaza and offensive Poison Heal Primal Kyogre, but it is bounced back by Magic Bounce, cannot go through a Substitute, and does not deal damage. Shore Up increases Mega Gyarados’s longevity so it can continuously tank hits. U-turn gains momentum against defensive Pokemon such as Giratina and Zygarde-C. Alternatively, Anchor Shot lets Mega Gyarados trap Imposter users such as Chansey and PP stall them, although it will leave Mega Gyarados in an awkward spot once the opponent gets a free switch afterward. It also allows Mega Gyarados to trap defensive Pokemon so Mega Gyarados can either remove their items with Knock Off or weaken them along with hitting Fairy-types for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
Safety Goggles prevents Mega Gyarados from being affected by powder moves like Spore from Pokemon such as Mega Rayquaza and Mega Mewtwo Y. Unaware lets Mega Gyarados check common setup sweepers such as Primal Kyogre and Yveltal, even those with Power Trip, Stored Power, Sunsteel Strike, and Moongeist Beam. 0 Speed IVs ensure Mega Gyarados has the slowest possible U-turn and Spectral Thief. 44 Speed EVs can be used to outspeed Mega Mewtwo Y at +2 after stealing its boosts with Spectral Thief. A Relaxed nature is used to patch up Mega Gyarados’s lower physical bulk, allowing it to survive at least 2 Facades from Regigigas and a +6 Necrozma-DM's Sunsteel Strike, as well as win Spectral Thief wars by attacking after the foe. Alternatively, a Sassy nature can be used so Mega Gyarados can better check specially offensive Pokemon such as Mega Mewtwo Y and Primal Kyogre.
Usage Tips
========
A resistance to Moongeist Beam, Sunsteel Strike, Stored Power, and Power Trip helps Mega Gyarados check setup sweepers such as Yveltal and Necrozma-DM, which can be vital because these moves prevent walls such as Fur Coat Chansey or RegenVest users from walling them. Therefore, make sure Mega Gyarados stays healthy if a setup sweeper still exists in the opposing team. Scout for Fairy- and Fighting-type coverage from Pokemon such as Mega Gengar, Mega Mewtwo Y, and Primal Kyogre. Be wary of strong physical attackers such as Mega Mewtwo X, Pheromosa, and Mega Garchomp, as they can deal massive damage even unboosted. Mega Gyarados should be careful when switching into defensive threats due to its vulnerability to Knock Off and common pivoting moves that allow the foe to gain momentum while dealing a lot of damage, and it can be weakened rather quickly from switching into strong attacks repeatedly, allowing setup sweepers to break through it. It can be used to bring in wallbreakers that require slow momentum support with U-turn. Knock Off should be used to remove items such as Eviolite from Chansey and Safety Goggles or Leftovers from defensive Pokemon to allow teammates to break through them with more ease. If not checking setup sweepers, use Knock Off to remove items or U-turn to gain a free switch. Keep entry hazards off the field, as they chip down Mega Gyarados fairly quickly, forcing it to repeatedly use its healing move and making it unable to check setup sweepers effectively.
Team Options
========
Mega Gyarados works well on teams that are weak to setup sweepers and is an option over Prankster Haze users or other Unaware Pokemon. Entry hazard removal from Pokemon such as Defog Giratina and Rapid Spin Necrozma-DM is useful, as Mega Gyarados is easily weakened by constantly switching into entry hazards, allowing the foe to break through it more easily. Imposter users such as Chansey can be used to scout for super effective coverage from Pokemon such as Fleur Cannon Mega Mewtwo Y and Secret Sword Mega Gengar. Magic Bounce users such as Registeel and Giratina are useful for pressuring non-Mold Breaker hazard setters or status effects targeted at Mega Gyarados. As Mega Gyarados helps Imposter-proof setup sweepers on its own team by stealing their boosts, setup sweepers that are not able to Imposter-proof themselves such as Mega Mewtwo Y can take advantage of having Mega Gyarados as a partner. A good physical tank alongside Mega Gyarados such as Zygarde-C or Giratina is a good option, as it can help Mega Gyarados with taking physical hits from the likes of Mega Mewtwo X and Regigigas. Status absorbers such as Poison Heal or Magic Bounce users help Mega Gyarados with status effects. Steel-types such as Solgaleo, Registeel, and Aegislash can help Mega Gyarados with its Fairy-type weakness as well as with -ate users, and Aegislash in particular can help with Mega Gyarados's Fighting-type weakness. If the team is particularly weak to certain physical setup sweepers such as Mega Mewtwo X, another way of stopping setup such as Prankster Haze Zygarde-C or Registeel will be useful. Pokemon able to set up entry hazards are very useful, as Mega Gyarados forces a lot of switches once the opponent knows it is running Unaware.
[SET]
name: Poison Heal Setup
move 1: Shift Gear / Shell Smash / Coil
move 2: Crabhammer / Icicle Crash
move 3: Knock Off / Power Trip
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Spore
item: Toxic Orb
ability: Poison Heal
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shift Gear and Shell Smash boost Mega Gyarados's Attack and Speed, making it a threatening sweeper; while Shell Smash gives a greater boost to Mega Gyarados's Attack, it also lowers defenses. Coil can be used to increase Attack, accuracy, and Defense, allowing Crabhammer or Icicle Crash to hit consistently and letting Mega Gyarados take hits from physical attackers such as Regigigas and Primal Groudon. Crabhammer is Mega Gyarados's most powerful physical STAB move and has a high chance for a critical hit, but Icicle Crash can be used to threaten common physically defensive Pokemon such as Zygarde-C as well as hit Primal Groudon under harsh sunlight. Knock Off is important for removing items like Eviolite from Imposter users and Leftovers from defensive Pokemon such as Zygarde-C and Mega Audino and is usually used with Shift Gear, while Power Trip is a more offensive option used with Shell Smash or Coil, allowing Mega Gyarados to sweep or wallbreak, respectively. Will-O-Wisp can be used to cripple Shedinja and Imposter users trying to come in on Mega Gyarados as well as physical attackers that may try to switch in on Mega Gyarados. Spore can be used to put Imposter users and defensive checks to sleep, giving Mega Gyarados more opportunities to set up or wallbreak. It is also able to take advantage of Knock Off removing Safety Goggles and cannot be reflected by Magic Bounce due to Poison Heal. Sunsteel Strike can be used to hit Shedinja, hit Fairy-types such as Mega Diancie and Mega Audino for super effective damage, and break through Unaware users; however, a Water-type STAB move is usually preferred, as Sunsteel Strike provides only limited coverage and has rather low PP. Sacred Fire is an alternative to Will-O-Wisp to burn Shedinja and Imposter users in order to be not affected by Taunt, although it is generally a rather shaky option, as it has significantly less PP and has a chance to not burn the aforementioned targets. Spiky Shield can be used to chip down -ate users trying to revenge kill Mega Gyarados, KO non-Protective Pads Shedinja if it tries to wall Mega Gyarados, and scout for surprise super effective moves from Pokemon such as Dialga and Mega Mewtwo Y. King's Shield is another alternative that lowers the Attack of -ate priority users to prevent them from revenge killing Mega Gyarados, although it is mostly used for sets with Shell Smash and Shift Gear. Both of these shield moves allow Mega Gyarados to recover more health. However, an important utility move must be forgone, which may cripple common physical threats or give Mega Gyarados fewer opportunities to set up.
Set Details
========
Toxic Orb is mandatory for Mega Gyarados to activate Poison Heal. Poison Heal improves Mega Gyarados's longevity, prevents it from being statused, and Imposter-proofs it. It also allows Mega Gyarados to use Will-O-Wisp or Spore without fearing Magic Bounce. An Adamant nature with maximum Attack investment ensures Mega Gyarados hits as hard as possible, allowing it to 2HKO Mega Mewtwo X, Xerneas, and Mega Audino. 0 Speed investment with a Brave nature can be used on Coil sets to move after most Spectral Thief or Core Enforcer users, allowing Mega Gyarados to set up more easily.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Gyarados should try to activate Toxic Orb as soon as possible, as Knock Off or any status effects aside from Toxic will leave it with no recovery. Switching in through slow VoltTurn allows it to do so safely as well as take minimal damage before setting up. Do not set up Mega Gyarados before -ate users such as Pixilate Mega Diancie and Galvanize Zekrom have been eliminated, as they can easily revenge kill it. Try to cripple opposing Shedinja on the swtich with Will-O-Wisp, as this can help Mega Gyarados's sweep without being revenge killed. If Mega Gyarados is not running Sunsteel Strike or Will-O-Wisp, its teammates should lure out and weaken Shedinja as well as Prankster, Unaware, or Fur Coat users such as Mega Audino and Zygarde-C, as they are able to wall Mega Gyarados even if it sets up. If Mega Gyarados is not running Ice-type coverage, Zygarde-C should be eliminated. Although Mega Gyarados is able to set up against most defensive threats, it should be aware of Spectral Thief and Core Enforcer. Mega Gyarados should try to cripple physical attackers trying to switch in with Will-O-Wisp.
Team Options
========
-ate users such as Mega Diancie and Zekrom revenge kill Mega Gyarados very easily, so Pokemon that can deal with them such as RegenVest Dialga, Soundproof Zygarde-C, and Primal Groudon are good teammates. Checks to Fighting- and Fairy-types such as Aegislash, Mega Slowbro, and Magearna are useful, and they are also able to lure in Steel-types and give Mega Gyarados an opening to set up. Slow pivots such as Aegislash, Mega Audino, and Giratina can safely allow Mega Gyarados to come on the field and set up. Entry hazards setters are good partners to get rid of Shedinja, break potential Focus Sashes, and allow Mega Gyarados to get KOs more easily. Powerful special wallbreakers such as Tinted Lens Mega Mewtwo Y and Aerilate Mega Rayquaza can break through physical Unaware walls such as Zygarde-C and Mega Audino, which Mega Gyarados struggles against even with Sunsteel Strike. Pokemon immune to Spectral Thief such as Mega Audino and Arceus are useful to scout for it, and Imposter users such as Chansey can scout for super effective moves from Mega Mewtwo Y and Primal Kyogre, Unaware users such as Primal Kyogre and Zygarde-C, and utility moves such as Core Enforcer and Spectral Thief so as to better prepare for Mega Gyarados's sweep. Fairy-types that resist Fighting such as Xerneas and Tapu Fini can help Mega Gyarados keep Fighting-type Pokemon such as Mega Mewtwo X and Pheromosa in check and help take Core Enforcer users and defensive Dragon-types like Giratina and Zygarde-C on.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
0 IVs with a Brave nature can be used for Shift Gear and Shell Smash sets to avoid having their boosts stolen the turn they set up, at the cost of a huge amount of Speed. However, since most Spectral Thief users cannot beat Mega Gyarados one-on-one even after stealing its boosts, its utility is limited. A RegenVest set is viable, but Mega Gyarados is weak to both U-turn and Volt Switch as well as common coverage in Fairy- and Fighting-type moves, making it not as effective as other RegenVest users such as Registeel and Necrozma-DM. Choice Band Mega Gyarados with Mold Breaker or Tough Claws can be used as a wallbreaker, but it is easily revenged killed, as its Speed is only mediocre without boosting. Fur Coat can be used for better mixed bulk, but that role is better performed by Chansey, Primal Kyogre, (comma) or Zygarde-C. A Shell Smash set with White Herb and Unburden is usable, but it is stopped fairly quickly by Prankster Haze users and priority attackers, as it has no longevity and can only be used once. A set with Shell Smash and Dazzling is viable, as it cannot be easily revenge killed by -ate users; however, it requires extensive team support and can be stopped by Prankster Haze users such as Aegislash and Primal Kyogre as well as physically defensive Pokemon such as Zygarde-C and Primal Groudon. A set with Shell Smash and Simple is also viable, but unlike the above Shell Smash set, it can be easily revenged killed by priority users and stopped by Prankster Haze or Unaware walls such as Mega Audino and Zygarde-C. It also really gets only one opportunity to set up, having almost no longevity. Dragon Dance can be used over Shift Gear in the Poison Heal set, as it has more PP, allowing Mega Gyarados to not get PP stalled; however, Mega Gyarados usually appreciates the additional Speed boost from Shift Gear.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy**: Mega Gyarados struggles to break past bulky Fairy-types such as Xerneas and Mega Audino and is easily KOed by a super effective move such as Light of Ruin or Pixilated Boomburst from offensive Fairy-types such as Mega Diancie. Mega Gyarados is also overwhelmed by common Fairy-type coverage from Pokemon it checks such as Fleur Cannon from Mega Mewtwo Y.
**-ate users**: -ate users, especially of Pixilate and Galvanize, such as Mega Diancie, Mega Mewtwo X, and Zekrom can threaten Mega Gyarados out with their powerful super effective attacks, although they require prior damage to KO and may get KOed in return by a boosted attack from Mega Gyarados or lose their items to Knock Off, which they do not appreciate.
**Bulky Poison Heal Users**: Poison Heal users such as Xerneas and Primal Kyogre do not mind having their Toxic Orb knocked off after it has been activated. They are able to beat both defensive and offensive variants of Mega Gyarados if it has not accumulated many boosts, as Xerneas can KO with a powerful Moonblast and Primal Kyogre either outboosts or has Spectral Thief.
**Physical Attacks**: Mega Gyarados’s physical bulk is rather low, so strong physical attackers such as Mega Mewtwo X and Kartana force it out easily. Fighting-type coverage moves are also dangerous, as most of them are physical and can easily overwhelm Mega Gyarados. However, physical attackers are unable to switch in directly to the Poison Heal set, as Mega Gyarados can remove their boosting items with Knock Off or cripple them with Will-O-Wisp.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Physically defensive Pokemon such as Zygarde-C and Primal Groudon are able to take hits from offensive Mega Gyarados and remove its boosts or use it as setup fodder, respectively. Primal Groudon is an exceptionally good check to offensive Mega Gyarados, as it is immune to Water-type attacks and cannot lose its Red Orb to Knock Off.
**Common Support Moves**: Status affects Mega Gyarados’s effectiveness in any role, either nullifying its defensive capability or putting it on a timer. Mega Gyarados also is vulnerable to common utility moves like Core Enforcer, Knock Off, and Spectral Thief and is dead weight against VoltTurn.
**Mold Breaker**: Pokemon with Mold Breaker such as Mega Garchomp and Mega Gengar are able to break through Unaware Mega Gyarados.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[XxAwesomePlayzxX, 406162]]
- Quality checked by: [[Funbot28, 255984], [GL Volkner, 330455], [Electrolyte, 148072]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [CryoGyro, 331519]]
Mega Gyarados's good Attack stat and decent Water / Dark typing allow it to threaten a lot of defensive Pokemon such as Giratina, Aegislash, and Mega Tyranitar and serve as a wallbreaker. Its typing also provides good resistances that allow Mega Gyarados to check Primal Kyogre and most Psychic-types as well as enabling it to Imposter-proof itself with Poison Heal or Unaware. It can also check setup sweepers with its decent bulk and resistance to common moves that they bring such as Stored Power, Power Trip, Sunsteel Strike, and Moongeist Beam. Mega Gyarados's Speed, albeit below average, is enough to fulfill to the role of a wallbreaker and also allows it to get a slow U-turn on base 90 Speed Pokemon like Giratina and Primal Kyogre.
However, Mega Gyarados is easily accounted for with its number of weaknesses and can be surprised with coverage moves from Pokemon it should check such as Fleur Cannon from Mega Mewtwo Y and Moonblast from Poison Heal Primal Kyogre. Having an Electric- and Bug-type weakness makes Mega Gyarados especially vulnerable to Pokemon such as Zekrom and U-turn users like Giratina and Primal Kyogre, and it's also susceptible to common coverage in Fairy- and Fighting-type moves from Pokemon such as Xerneas and Mega Gengar and strong physical attackers such as Mega Mewtwo X. This greatly compromises Mega Gyarados's ability to check threats. It is also susceptible to being worn down quickly by entry hazards and has a weakness to common pivot moves in U-turn and Volt Switch from defensive threats. It despises any sort of damaging status, which makes it unable to do its job effectively.
[SET]
name: Unaware
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Spectral Thief / Topsy Turvy
move 3: Shore Up
move 4: U-turn / Anchor Shot
item: Safety Goggles
ability: Unaware
nature: Relaxed / Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off can remove foes' items such as Eviolite, Leftovers, and Safety Goggles. Spectral Thief steals boosts from setup sweepers such as Yveltal, Groudon, and Primal Kyogre. It can also hit Psychic- and Ghost-types for super effective damage. Topsy Turvy can be used on Normal-types such as Regigigas and Slaking and certain setup sweepers that threaten to 2HKO Mega Gyarados such as Life Orb Triage Mega Rayquaza and offensive Poison Heal Primal Kyogre, but it is bounced back by Magic Bounce, cannot go through a Substitute, and does not deal damage. Shore Up increases Mega Gyarados’s longevity so it can continuously tank hits. U-turn gains momentum against defensive Pokemon such as Giratina and Zygarde-C. Alternatively, Anchor Shot lets Mega Gyarados trap Imposter users such as Chansey and PP stall them, although it will leave Mega Gyarados in an awkward spot once the opponent gets a free switch afterward. It also allows Mega Gyarados to trap defensive Pokemon so Mega Gyarados can either remove their items with Knock Off or weaken them along with hitting Fairy-types for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
Safety Goggles prevents Mega Gyarados from being affected by powder moves like Spore from Pokemon such as Mega Rayquaza and Mega Mewtwo Y. Unaware lets Mega Gyarados check common setup sweepers such as Primal Kyogre and Yveltal, even those with Power Trip, Stored Power, Sunsteel Strike, and Moongeist Beam. 0 Speed IVs ensure Mega Gyarados has the slowest possible U-turn and Spectral Thief. 44 Speed EVs can be used to outspeed Mega Mewtwo Y at +2 after stealing its boosts with Spectral Thief. A Relaxed nature is used to patch up Mega Gyarados’s lower physical bulk, allowing it to survive at least 2 Facades from Regigigas and a +6 Necrozma-DM's Sunsteel Strike, as well as win Spectral Thief wars by attacking after the foe. Alternatively, a Sassy nature can be used so Mega Gyarados can better check specially offensive Pokemon such as Mega Mewtwo Y and Primal Kyogre.
Usage Tips
========
A resistance to Moongeist Beam, Sunsteel Strike, Stored Power, and Power Trip helps Mega Gyarados check setup sweepers such as Yveltal and Necrozma-DM, which can be vital because these moves prevent walls such as Fur Coat Chansey or RegenVest users from walling them. Therefore, make sure Mega Gyarados stays healthy if a setup sweeper still exists in the opposing team. Scout for Fairy- and Fighting-type coverage from Pokemon such as Mega Gengar, Mega Mewtwo Y, and Primal Kyogre. Be wary of strong physical attackers such as Mega Mewtwo X, Pheromosa, and Mega Garchomp, as they can deal massive damage even unboosted. Mega Gyarados should be careful when switching into defensive threats due to its vulnerability to Knock Off and common pivoting moves that allow the foe to gain momentum while dealing a lot of damage, and it can be weakened rather quickly from switching into strong attacks repeatedly, allowing setup sweepers to break through it. It can be used to bring in wallbreakers that require slow momentum support with U-turn. Knock Off should be used to remove items such as Eviolite from Chansey and Safety Goggles or Leftovers from defensive Pokemon to allow teammates to break through them with more ease. If not checking setup sweepers, use Knock Off to remove items or U-turn to gain a free switch. Keep entry hazards off the field, as they chip down Mega Gyarados fairly quickly, forcing it to repeatedly use its healing move and making it unable to check setup sweepers effectively.
Team Options
========
Mega Gyarados works well on teams that are weak to setup sweepers and is an option over Prankster Haze users or other Unaware Pokemon. Entry hazard removal from Pokemon such as Defog Giratina and Rapid Spin Necrozma-DM is useful, as Mega Gyarados is easily weakened by constantly switching into entry hazards, allowing the foe to break through it more easily. Imposter users such as Chansey can be used to scout for super effective coverage from Pokemon such as Fleur Cannon Mega Mewtwo Y and Secret Sword Mega Gengar. Magic Bounce users such as Registeel and Giratina are useful for pressuring non-Mold Breaker hazard setters or status effects targeted at Mega Gyarados. As Mega Gyarados helps Imposter-proof setup sweepers on its own team by stealing their boosts, setup sweepers that are not able to Imposter-proof themselves such as Mega Mewtwo Y can take advantage of having Mega Gyarados as a partner. A good physical tank alongside Mega Gyarados such as Zygarde-C or Giratina is a good option, as it can help Mega Gyarados with taking physical hits from the likes of Mega Mewtwo X and Regigigas. Status absorbers such as Poison Heal or Magic Bounce users help Mega Gyarados with status effects. Steel-types such as Solgaleo, Registeel, and Aegislash can help Mega Gyarados with its Fairy-type weakness as well as with -ate users, and Aegislash in particular can help with Mega Gyarados's Fighting-type weakness. If the team is particularly weak to certain physical setup sweepers such as Mega Mewtwo X, another way of stopping setup such as Prankster Haze Zygarde-C or Registeel will be useful. Pokemon able to set up entry hazards are very useful, as Mega Gyarados forces a lot of switches once the opponent knows it is running Unaware.
[SET]
name: Poison Heal Setup
move 1: Shift Gear / Shell Smash / Coil
move 2: Crabhammer / Icicle Crash
move 3: Knock Off / Power Trip
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Spore
item: Toxic Orb
ability: Poison Heal
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shift Gear and Shell Smash boost Mega Gyarados's Attack and Speed, making it a threatening sweeper; while Shell Smash gives a greater boost to Mega Gyarados's Attack, it also lowers defenses. Coil can be used to increase Attack, accuracy, and Defense, allowing Crabhammer or Icicle Crash to hit consistently and letting Mega Gyarados take hits from physical attackers such as Regigigas and Primal Groudon. Crabhammer is Mega Gyarados's most powerful physical STAB move and has a high chance for a critical hit, but Icicle Crash can be used to threaten common physically defensive Pokemon such as Zygarde-C as well as hit Primal Groudon under harsh sunlight. Knock Off is important for removing items like Eviolite from Imposter users and Leftovers from defensive Pokemon such as Zygarde-C and Mega Audino and is usually used with Shift Gear, while Power Trip is a more offensive option used with Shell Smash or Coil, allowing Mega Gyarados to sweep or wallbreak, respectively. Will-O-Wisp can be used to cripple Shedinja and Imposter users trying to come in on Mega Gyarados as well as physical attackers that may try to switch in on Mega Gyarados. Spore can be used to put Imposter users and defensive checks to sleep, giving Mega Gyarados more opportunities to set up or wallbreak. It is also able to take advantage of Knock Off removing Safety Goggles and cannot be reflected by Magic Bounce due to Poison Heal. Sunsteel Strike can be used to hit Shedinja, hit Fairy-types such as Mega Diancie and Mega Audino for super effective damage, and break through Unaware users; however, a Water-type STAB move is usually preferred, as Sunsteel Strike provides only limited coverage and has rather low PP. Sacred Fire is an alternative to Will-O-Wisp to burn Shedinja and Imposter users in order to be not affected by Taunt, although it is generally a rather shaky option, as it has significantly less PP and has a chance to not burn the aforementioned targets. Spiky Shield can be used to chip down -ate users trying to revenge kill Mega Gyarados, KO non-Protective Pads Shedinja if it tries to wall Mega Gyarados, and scout for surprise super effective moves from Pokemon such as Dialga and Mega Mewtwo Y. King's Shield is another alternative that lowers the Attack of -ate priority users to prevent them from revenge killing Mega Gyarados, although it is mostly used for sets with Shell Smash and Shift Gear. Both of these shield moves allow Mega Gyarados to recover more health. However, an important utility move must be forgone, which may cripple common physical threats or give Mega Gyarados fewer opportunities to set up.
Set Details
========
Toxic Orb is mandatory for Mega Gyarados to activate Poison Heal. Poison Heal improves Mega Gyarados's longevity, prevents it from being statused, and Imposter-proofs it. It also allows Mega Gyarados to use Will-O-Wisp or Spore without fearing Magic Bounce. An Adamant nature with maximum Attack investment ensures Mega Gyarados hits as hard as possible, allowing it to 2HKO Mega Mewtwo X, Xerneas, and Mega Audino. 0 Speed investment with a Brave nature can be used on Coil sets to move after most Spectral Thief or Core Enforcer users, allowing Mega Gyarados to set up more easily.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Gyarados should try to activate Toxic Orb as soon as possible, as Knock Off or any status effects aside from Toxic will leave it with no recovery. Switching in through slow VoltTurn allows it to do so safely as well as take minimal damage before setting up. Do not set up Mega Gyarados before -ate users such as Pixilate Mega Diancie and Galvanize Zekrom have been eliminated, as they can easily revenge kill it. Try to cripple opposing Shedinja on the swtich with Will-O-Wisp, as this can help Mega Gyarados's sweep without being revenge killed. If Mega Gyarados is not running Sunsteel Strike or Will-O-Wisp, its teammates should lure out and weaken Shedinja as well as Prankster, Unaware, or Fur Coat users such as Mega Audino and Zygarde-C, as they are able to wall Mega Gyarados even if it sets up. If Mega Gyarados is not running Ice-type coverage, Zygarde-C should be eliminated. Although Mega Gyarados is able to set up against most defensive threats, it should be aware of Spectral Thief and Core Enforcer. Mega Gyarados should try to cripple physical attackers trying to switch in with Will-O-Wisp.
Team Options
========
-ate users such as Mega Diancie and Zekrom revenge kill Mega Gyarados very easily, so Pokemon that can deal with them such as RegenVest Dialga, Soundproof Zygarde-C, and Primal Groudon are good teammates. Checks to Fighting- and Fairy-types such as Aegislash, Mega Slowbro, and Magearna are useful, and they are also able to lure in Steel-types and give Mega Gyarados an opening to set up. Slow pivots such as Aegislash, Mega Audino, and Giratina can safely allow Mega Gyarados to come on the field and set up. Entry hazards setters are good partners to get rid of Shedinja, break potential Focus Sashes, and allow Mega Gyarados to get KOs more easily. Powerful special wallbreakers such as Tinted Lens Mega Mewtwo Y and Aerilate Mega Rayquaza can break through physical Unaware walls such as Zygarde-C and Mega Audino, which Mega Gyarados struggles against even with Sunsteel Strike. Pokemon immune to Spectral Thief such as Mega Audino and Arceus are useful to scout for it, and Imposter users such as Chansey can scout for super effective moves from Mega Mewtwo Y and Primal Kyogre, Unaware users such as Primal Kyogre and Zygarde-C, and utility moves such as Core Enforcer and Spectral Thief so as to better prepare for Mega Gyarados's sweep. Fairy-types that resist Fighting such as Xerneas and Tapu Fini can help Mega Gyarados keep Fighting-type Pokemon such as Mega Mewtwo X and Pheromosa in check and help take Core Enforcer users and defensive Dragon-types like Giratina and Zygarde-C on.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
0 IVs with a Brave nature can be used for Shift Gear and Shell Smash sets to avoid having their boosts stolen the turn they set up, at the cost of a huge amount of Speed. However, since most Spectral Thief users cannot beat Mega Gyarados one-on-one even after stealing its boosts, its utility is limited. A RegenVest set is viable, but Mega Gyarados is weak to both U-turn and Volt Switch as well as common coverage in Fairy- and Fighting-type moves, making it not as effective as other RegenVest users such as Registeel and Necrozma-DM. Choice Band Mega Gyarados with Mold Breaker or Tough Claws can be used as a wallbreaker, but it is easily revenged killed, as its Speed is only mediocre without boosting. Fur Coat can be used for better mixed bulk, but that role is better performed by Chansey, Primal Kyogre, (comma) or Zygarde-C. A Shell Smash set with White Herb and Unburden is usable, but it is stopped fairly quickly by Prankster Haze users and priority attackers, as it has no longevity and can only be used once. A set with Shell Smash and Dazzling is viable, as it cannot be easily revenge killed by -ate users; however, it requires extensive team support and can be stopped by Prankster Haze users such as Aegislash and Primal Kyogre as well as physically defensive Pokemon such as Zygarde-C and Primal Groudon. A set with Shell Smash and Simple is also viable, but unlike the above Shell Smash set, it can be easily revenged killed by priority users and stopped by Prankster Haze or Unaware walls such as Mega Audino and Zygarde-C. It also really gets only one opportunity to set up, having almost no longevity. Dragon Dance can be used over Shift Gear in the Poison Heal set, as it has more PP, allowing Mega Gyarados to not get PP stalled; however, Mega Gyarados usually appreciates the additional Speed boost from Shift Gear.
Checks and Counters
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**Fairy**: Mega Gyarados struggles to break past bulky Fairy-types such as Xerneas and Mega Audino and is easily KOed by a super effective move such as Light of Ruin or Pixilated Boomburst from offensive Fairy-types such as Mega Diancie. Mega Gyarados is also overwhelmed by common Fairy-type coverage from Pokemon it checks such as Fleur Cannon from Mega Mewtwo Y.
**-ate users**: -ate users, especially of Pixilate and Galvanize, such as Mega Diancie, Mega Mewtwo X, and Zekrom can threaten Mega Gyarados out with their powerful super effective attacks, although they require prior damage to KO and may get KOed in return by a boosted attack from Mega Gyarados or lose their items to Knock Off, which they do not appreciate.
**Bulky Poison Heal Users**: Poison Heal users such as Xerneas and Primal Kyogre do not mind having their Toxic Orb knocked off after it has been activated. They are able to beat both defensive and offensive variants of Mega Gyarados if it has not accumulated many boosts, as Xerneas can KO with a powerful Moonblast and Primal Kyogre either outboosts or has Spectral Thief.
**Physical Attacks**: Mega Gyarados’s physical bulk is rather low, so strong physical attackers such as Mega Mewtwo X and Kartana force it out easily. Fighting-type coverage moves are also dangerous, as most of them are physical and can easily overwhelm Mega Gyarados. However, physical attackers are unable to switch in directly to the Poison Heal set, as Mega Gyarados can remove their boosting items with Knock Off or cripple them with Will-O-Wisp.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Physically defensive Pokemon such as Zygarde-C and Primal Groudon are able to take hits from offensive Mega Gyarados and remove its boosts or use it as setup fodder, respectively. Primal Groudon is an exceptionally good check to offensive Mega Gyarados, as it is immune to Water-type attacks and cannot lose its Red Orb to Knock Off.
**Common Support Moves**: Status affects Mega Gyarados’s effectiveness in any role, either nullifying its defensive capability or putting it on a timer. Mega Gyarados also is vulnerable to common utility moves like Core Enforcer, Knock Off, and Spectral Thief and is dead weight against VoltTurn.
**Mold Breaker**: Pokemon with Mold Breaker such as Mega Garchomp and Mega Gengar are able to break through Unaware Mega Gyarados.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[XxAwesomePlayzxX, 406162]]
- Quality checked by: [[Funbot28, 255984], [GL Volkner, 330455], [Electrolyte, 148072]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [CryoGyro, 331519]]
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