[Pros]
<ul>
<li>It has an awesome Attack stat.</li>
<li>Great bulk and access to Dragon Dance make it a fearsome sweeper.</li>
<li>It has an immunity to Toxic Spikes, Spikes and Sticky Web.</li>
<li> It resists Fighting- and Steel-type attacks.</li>
<li>Immunity to Ground-type attacks gives it many opportunities to switch in.</li>
<li>It has access to Moxie, which combined with Dragon Dance, allows it to become a huge threat when kills a Pokemon.</li>
<li>When it Mega Evolves, its Attack, Defense, and Special Defencse stats rise.</li>
<li>After it Mega Evolves, it resists Ghost-type attacks, making it a good check to Ghost-types such as Aegislash.</li>
<li>When it Mega Evolves, thanks to Mold Breaker, Gyarados hits hard Rotom-W with Earthquake.</li>
</ul>
[Cons]
<ul>
<li>It is x4 weak to Electric.</li>
<li>Its Stealth rRock weakness limits the number of times it can switch in.</li>
<li>81 base Speed means that it is outsped by a variety of threats.</li>
<li>When it Mega Evolves, its type becomes Water / Dark, and it isn't exactly great.</li>
<li>Water / Dark type means that it is weak to Mach Punch and other Fighting-type moves in its Mega form.</li>
<li>After it Mega Evolves, it loses Moxie.</li>
</ul>
[Set Recommendations]
<p>Gyarados @ Leftovers<br />
Ability: Moxie<br />
EVs: 88 HP / 248 Atk / 4 Def / 168 Spe <br />
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -SAtk)<br />
- Substitute / Taunt<br />
- Dragon Dance<br />
- Waterfall<br />
- Stone Edge / Earthquake</p>
- Able to make a solid Substitute.
- Able to use Taunt for stop those who try to boost itself with Swords Dance or Dragon Dance.
- Access to Dragon Dance.
- Access to Moxie for boost attack stat without to use Dragon Dance.
- Great base 125 attack and great offensive STAB.
- Partners well with Grass-types like Breloom or Venusaur that kill easy bulky water Pokemons.
<p>Gyarados @ Lum Berry / Life Orb<br />
Ability: Moxie<br />
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe <br />
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -SAtk) / Adamant (+Atk, - Satk)<br />
- Dragon Dance<br />
- Waterfall<br />
- Stone Edge<br / >
- Earthquake</p>
- The most offensive set.
- Great base 125 Atk, Dragon Dance, and great offensive STABs make this a potent threat.
- Moxie makes Gyarados a war machine for each kill.
- Low speed can let it down, choice between Jolly and Adamant.
- More coverage with Stone Edge and Earthquake together in the set.
- Terrifying power under rain.
- Good teammates are Garchomp to cover Electric-types, Aegislash can switch in Rock-type attacks.
<p>Gyarados @ Leftovers<br />
Ability: Intimidate<br />
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD<br />
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)<br />
- Waterfall<br />
- Roar / Dragon Tail<br />
- Rest<br />
- Sleep Talk</p>
- Great bulk make it a good bulky water.
- Excellent type with resistence to Steel- Fighting- and Bug-type attacks.
- Access to Roar to drive out setup pokemons and it isn't stopped by Substitute, Fairy-type pokemons or King's Shield.
- But Dragon Tail causes damage and isn't affected by Magic Bounce or Taunt.
- This set works at best with some Entry Hazard onto the opponent's field, thanks to the last move.
- So, a good partner is Ferrothorn with its Stealth Rock, Spikes and resistance to rock- and electric-type moves.
[Mega Evolution Recommendations]
<p>Gyarados @ Gyaradosite<br />
Ability: Intimidate / Moxie<br />
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd<br />
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)<br />
- Dragon Dance<br />
- Waterfall<br />
- Earthquake<br / >
- Bite / Stone Edge / Substitute</p>
- More power thanks to the Mega evolution.
- Now that Mega Gyarados has Water and Dark type, you can take advantage of Bite with the relative flinch rate.
- Earthquake now can hit Rotom-W, the best opponent of Gyarados in the old BW, thanks to Mold Breaker.
- With Water / Dark type, Mega Gyarados resist to Aegislash's STABs such as Iron Head and Shadow Sneak.
- Good teammates are Gourgeist (Super or Large) for stop Breloom. Gliscor and Talonflame can kill Scizor and Ferrothorn.
[Checks and Counters]
Gyarados
- Skarmory is ever ready to drive out Gyarados with Whirlwind.
- Ferrothorn can broke any Gyarados' substitutes with Power Whip.
- Rotom-Wash is just scared by Stone Edge when Gyarados is too boosted, otherwise the washing-machine can kill him easy with a Volt Switch or stops with Will-O-Wisp.
- Toxicroak wrecking Gyarados if it lacks Earthquake, and can use it as setup field.
- Fast Electric-types such as Jolteon and Heliolisk with Choice Scarf, are good checks and kill Gyarados with their STABs.
- MegaVenusaur and Trevenant can stomach hits and can stop it with Leech Seed, Sleep Powder or their STABs.
Mega Gyarados
- Breloom can scare him with Bullet Seed or Mach Punch.
- Scizor can count on his U-turn and Superpower.
- Chesnaught can hit hard with his fighting moves.
- Anyway, Skarmory and Ferrothorn are even valid.
- MegaVenusaur can stomach hits and can stop it with Leech Seed, Sleep Powder or its STAB.
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