Kit Kasai
Love colored magic
QC 2/3: unfixable / Eevee General / -
GP 0/2: - / -
[OVERVIEW]
Gyarados is an extremely potent threat both offensively and defensively in STABmons. Its typing allows it to resist common offensive moves like Gear Grind, Close Combat, and V-Create, and also gives it access to Roost, which greatly helps its walling and sweeping capabilities. This allows it to check common attackers like Scizor-Mega and Heatran. Access to Intimidate further increases its ability to check physically offensive threats, and give you more opportunities to set up.
Access to Dragon Dance also allows Gyarados to be an extremely powerful offensive threat. Additionally, its Water / Flying typing gives it access to powerful STAB moves like Crabhammer and Dragon Ascent. Its naturally high bulk and access to roost makes it extremely difficult to revenge kill. Gyarados also has access to a Mega Evolution, which exchanges its Flying typing for Dark. This gives it powerful STAB in Crunch, and also allows it to set up on pokemon like Slowbro. Its Mega Evolution also gives Gyarados Mold Breaker, which allows it to boost through Quagsire and Clefable and hit Rotom-W with Earthquake.
However, Gyarados still has several exploitable weaknesses. Most notably is its quadruple weakness to Electric, which is a common attacking type in STABmons. Its mega evolution also gives it a weakness to U-turn and Close Combat. Additionally, its coverage options are not strong enough to get past walls like Ferrothorn and Skarmory. A weakness to Stealth Rock also reduces its longevity and forces it to Roost often to keep HP up. It can also be checked by priority status users like Thundurus-I and Sableye if it does not have a substitute up. However, despite these flaws, Gyarados is still a solid defensive Pokemon that also has threatening offensive options, making it a threat that must be considered when teambuilding.
[SET]
name: Mono Attacking Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Crabhammer
move 3: Substitute / Taunt
move 4: Roost
item: Gyaradosite
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 104 Atk / 68 Def / 84 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dragon Dance is necessary to boost Gyarados' attacking stats to allow it to sweep. Crabhammer is the preferred STAB move as it has high base power. Waterfall can also be used because it has 100 accuracy and a flinch chance. Crunch can also be used as an attacking move, but Water STAB gets better coverage. Substitute is useful to stop status and prevents Gyarados from being revenge killed by Fake Out + Extreme Speed. Taunt can also be used to stop status and phazing, but Substitute is usually more useful as it prevents revenge killing. Finally, Roost is necessary to keep Gyarados health up so it can ignore weaker hits in the early game and boost through the opposing team in the late game.
Set Details
========
The given EVs try to maximize Gyarados' bulk and attack power. 84 Spe EVs outspeeds positive natured 100s after one boost. If running Crunch, 144 Spe EVs can be used to outspeed positive natured Latios and Gengar. 252 HP and 68 Def allows your substitute, after mega evolving, to remain intact against Fake Out from Life Orb Braviary, which is the strongest Fake Out you would reasonably encounter. The rest of the points are used to maximize attack. Gyarados can also easily run a fully physically defensive spread to make it even harder to revenge kill, but this weakens its sweeping capabilities. Intimidate is the preferred ability before mega evolution because it gives Gyarados more opportunities to set up. After mega evolving, Gyarados gains Mold Breaker, which gives it the ability to break through Unaware, Sturdy, Water Absorb, and Storm Drain.
Usage Tips
========
This set should definitely be used as a late game cleaner against offensive teams. As such, do not allow it to take too much harassment in the early game. As non-mega Gyarados has an arguably better defensive typing and access to Intimidate, it is better to keep Gyarados in regular form until you are ready to sweep. The immunity to Ground also makes it much easier to set up on pokemon like Garchomp, Landorus-T. When you are in mega forme, you can easily set up on Slowbro / Slowking because of your typing. When you are ready to sweep, try to keep a substitute up if possible so you can't get statused by Sableye or Thundurus-I, which can stop your sweep. The substitute will also prevent you from being revenge killed by Fake Out + Extremespeed. Gyarados-Mega can also be used as a powerful stallbreaker as its high bulk and access to Roost makes it difficult for stall teams to take down.
Team Options
========
Gyarados-Mega needs help clearing bulky water and bulky grass types before it can sweep. Thundurus is excellent for this job because it can easily plow through those pokemon with its STABs. Rotom-H and Raikou are good teammates because they can check the electric types that threaten Gyarados, and can also use Volt Switch to gain momentum. Because Gyarados is weak to Stealth Rock, some form of hazard control is usually needed on your team. Excadrill is a good option to keep rocks off the field with rapid spin, and can also provide offensive pressure. Alternatively, Landorus-T and Zapdos are good defog users that can also use U-turn and Volt Switch to gain momentum. Gyarados may also need a cleric if it gets statused before it has the opportunity to get a sub up. Clefable and Porygon-2 are good defensive options, while Latios / Latias can provide support in the form of Lunar Dance while also providing Defog support.
[SET]
name: Offensive Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Crabhammer
move 3: Crunch / Earthquake
move 4: Roost / Substitute / Taunt
item: Gyaradosite
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant
evs: 112 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dragon Dance boosts Gyarados' attack and speed to threatening levels. Crabhammer is preferred as your main STAB move as it hits hard and has decent coverage in the meta. The second attacking move helps Gyarados get through some of its counters. Crunch is a solid STAB move that allows Gyarados to deal a large amount of damage to bulky Grass and Water types like defensive Gyarados, Venusaur and Ferrothorn and allows you to OHKO Latios / Latias. Earthquake allows it to OHKO Rotom-W while still dealing decent damage to other defensive threats. The last move gives Gyarados some utility. Roost allows Gyarados to keep its health up throughout the game and allows it to check a few threats. Substitute helps you be more resistant to revenge killing, while Taunt prevents status.
Set Details
========
This set aims to maximize Gyarados' attack while taking advantage of its natural bulk to set up. 252 Atk EVs and an Adamant nature allows Gyarados to deal as much damage as possible. 144 Spe EVs outspeeds positive natured 110s like Latios / Latias and Gengar after one boost. The rest of the EVs are put into HP to maximize bulk. Intimidate is the preferred ability as it makes it easier to switch into physical attackers and set up on them. Moxie can be used to allow Gyarados to steamroll through weakened teams, but it does not have as many setup opportunities as Intimidate does. Gyaradosite allows Gyarados to mega evolve, gaining Mold Breaker. This allows it to break through Unaware and Sturdy, as well as hitting Levitate pokemon with Earthquake.
Usage Tips
========
This set is an extremely potent cleaner against weakened teams. However, running two attacks means it can only afford one moveslot for a utility move, meaning you need to take more care when using offensive Gyarados to sweep. Try to make sure that all of Gyarados' checks and counters are weakened to the point where they can be KO'd at +1 attack, and do not attempt to set up if the opponent has a fast status user that can shut down Gyarados. If you are running Roost as your utility move, you can afford to use Gyarados as a check to certain threats (preferably in non-Mega form when you still have Intimidate) and you can switch Gyarados in directly. Otherwise, make sure Gyarados does not take any unnecessary damage.
Team Options
========
Mega Gyarados has high power and decent coverage, but it prefers to have the opposing team weakened before it sweeps. Offensive Gyarados appreciates very similar support to mono-attacking Gyarados. Thundurus-I is a great teammate that can easily deal with many of the pokemon that give Gyarados trouble, like Venusaur-Mega, Skarmory, and defensive Gyarados. Raikou can easily counter the fast Electric types that try to revenge kill Gyarados. Landorus-T and Zapdos are good options for hazard removal, and they can both grant you momentum with U-turn / Volt Switch. Offensive Gyarados also highly appreciates cleric support from its team as it has less options to protect itself than mono-attacking Gyarados. Latios is a great offensive option that provides Defog support as well as cleric support in the form of Lunar Dance. Porygon-2 can work as a slightly more defensive option.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Roost
move 2: Crabhammer
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Roar / Dragon Tail / Brave Bird
item: Leftovers
ability: Intimidate
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Roost is the most necessary move on this set as it restores Gyarados' HP, which allows it to continually check opposing threats. Crabhammer is a powerful STAB move that allows it to hit pokemon it checks like Heatran. Thunder Wave allows Gyarados to cripple opposing sweepers and make it easier for the rest of the team to deal with them. Roar and Dragon Tail both allow Gyarados to phaze sweepers, but both have drawbacks. Roar is stopped by Taunt, while Dragon Tail can be stopped by Substitute and can miss. Brave Bird can also be used if you want a secondary STAB option.
Set Details
========
This set maximizes Gyarados' physical bulk to allow it to continuously check common physical threats like Scizor-Mega and various FakeSpeeders. 8 Spe EVs allows it to outspeed Azumarill. Gyarados can also run a specially defensive spread to check pokemon like Charizard-Mega-Y and Heatran better, but a physically defensive spread is usually preferred as it checks many more threats and takes better advantage of Intimidate. Leftovers keeps Gyarados healthy, though Rocky Helmet can be run to wear down the opponent.
Usage Tips
========
Gyarados' great typing and defensive stats allow it to easily switch into threats like Scizor and Heatran, and threaten them back by hitting them with its strong STAB moves or crippling them with Thunder Wave. Gyarados can use Roar to stop opposing pokemon from setting up and can allow Gyarados to spread status throughout the opposing team. Intimidate makes it easier for Gyarados to check physical threats, but the given EV spread means that Gyarados can be taken down by strong physical threats if it has taken prior damage. As such, it is necessary to use Roost to keep Gyarados' health up from damage taken from attacks and Stealth Rocks.
Team Options
========
Gyarados benefits from Stealth Rock users, as it can use Roar to rack up hazard damage. Ferrothorn is a good hazard setter that has good defensive synergy with Gyarados as it can take the Electric and Rock type moves that Gyarados has trouble with. Heatran is also another good defensive option, as it offers phazing and Stealth Rock support for Gyarados, and Gyarados can handle the Fighting, Ground, and Water type moves that hurt Heatran. Gyarados also greatly appreciates a way to keep hazards off the field. Landorus-T is a great defog user that can check rock types like Tyranitar and Terrakion that give Gyarados trouble. As Gyarados has no way of removing status from itself, it is useful to have a cleric on your team. Chansey can is a good cleric that can tank extremely strong special hits, while Clefable is another option that can check sweepers that get out of hand.
[SET]
name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Crabhammer
move 3: Dragon Ascent / Brave Bird
move 4: Roost / Substitute / Taunt
item: Lum Berry / Leftovers
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant
evs: 112 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dragon Dance boosts Gyarados' speed and attack so that it can sweep. Crabhammer is necessary as high power water STAB, and is preferred over Waterfall because of its high base power. Dragon Ascent and Brave Bird are both powerful secondary STAB moves, but they each have their own drawbacks. Dragon Ascent drops your defensive stats, while Brave Bird makes you take recoil damage. They both make you more susceptible to revenge killing. Roost is preferred in the final slot as it allows Gyarados to check certain threats before sweeping and keeps its HP up. It also allows it to recover from Brave Bird recoil. Substitute can also be used to stop status and make it more difficult to be revenge killed, while Taunt also stops status and prevents phazing by Roar / Whirlwind.
Set Details
========
This set aims to maximize Gyarados' attack while taking advantage of its natural bulk to set up. 252 Atk EVs and an Adamant nature allows Gyarados to deal as much damage as possible. 144 Spe EVs outspeeds positive natured 110s like Latios / Latias and Gengar after one boost. The rest of the EVs are put into HP to maximize bulk. Intimidate is the preferred ability as it makes it easier to switch into physical attackers and set up on them. Moxie can be used to allow Gyarados to steamroll through weakened teams, but it does not have as many setup opportunities as Intimidate does. Lum Berry is used as an item as it allows Gyarados to prevent status once from fast status users like Sableye and Thundurus-T, but Leftovers is also an option to give Gyarados some passive recovery while sweeping. Life Orb can also be used to increase Gyarados' power further, but the recoil damage it incurs makes it much easier to revenge kill.
Usage Tips
========
Gyarados should not be set up until its counters are weakened or fainted. It should be used mainly as a sweeper and a cleaner, not as a wallbreaker. Similarly, avoid setting up Gyarados when the opponent has a lot of opportunities to wear you down with Fake Out. Gyarados' natural bulk, ability, and typing mean you can switch it into support pokemon like Landorus-T and Heatran and easily set up on them. If using Roost, be sure to keep your health up throughout the game so you can have as much HP as possible when you are ready to sweep. If you are using Substitute, do not use it too early in the game or you may end up wasting HP points. If you are using Taunt, use it on passive defensive threats that have little means of threatening you like Skarmory to prevent them from phazing or statusing you.
Team Options
========
Gyarados has a high sweeping potential, but its coverage options are rather limited. Heatran is a great partner because it provides a stealth rock setter and allows you to deal with Ferrothorn and Skarmory. Magnezone can also be used to trap some of Gyarados' counters. Excadrill is a good offensive partner because it can spin away Stealth Rock for Gyarados, and can check many of the pokemon that give Gyarados trouble, like Thundurus (lacking Focus Blast). It also threatens Rotom-Wash and Quagsire, two pokemon that can easily wall Gyarados. Landorus-T and Scizor-Mega are great Defog users that can also pivot to Gyarados with U-Turn.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Dragon Dance + 3 attacks set can be run on both Gyarados and Gyarados-Mega for better coverage and more damage, but it gets easily worn down, revenged, or statused by prankster. Also, additional coverage moves like Stone Edge or Ice Fang do not grant Gyarados much more relevant coverage than it already gets. Similarly, Gyarados can run 252 Atk / 252 Spe for maximum offensive offensive presence, but this reduces its ability to switch into resisted moves and makes it more prone to revenge killing. Gyarados can run a RestTalk + Dragon Dance set effectively, which gives it a way to remove status from itself, but it has less room than a Roost + Dragon Dance set for other moves. Gyarados can also run Water Shuriken for priority, but it is only +1 priority so it does not help against ExtremeSpeed. Gyarados is also fast enough after one boost to not really need priority moves. Defensively, Gyarados has access to Defog, but it takes away a moveslot from other useful support moves, and it is somewhat risky to run Defog on a pokemon that is weak to Rock. Scald can also be run to give Gyarados a chance to burn its opponent, but it is weak and highly luck based.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water Types**: This is especially true if Gyarados lacks Flying coverage. Pokemon like Blastoise-Mega and Slowbro can easily soak up a Crabhammer and hit back with strong attacks, or try to status with scald. Rotom-Wash can easily wall Gyarados and gain momentum volt-switching out. Quagsire can also easily wall non-mega Gyarados sets.
**Electric Types**: Electric type moves can easily OHKO Gyarados and can prevent offensive variants from setting up. Prankster Thundurus can use Thunder Wave to shut down Gyarados's sweep. Fast pokemon like Thundurus and Raikou can also outspeed lesser invested sets even when Gyarados is at +1
**Physical Walls**: Pokemon like Skarmory and Ferrothorn can take even boosted hits from Gyarados, and can be a huge nuisance if Gyarados lacks Taunt. They can easily phaze out or status Gyarados to stop it from sweeping.
**Fast Status Users**: Prankster status users like Sableye and Thundurus-I can shut down Gyarados' sweep if it doesn't have a sub up. Also, fast pokemon like Darkrai, Gengar, and Sceptile-Mega can sometimes outspeed Gyarados even after a boost and status it to stop its sweep.
GP 0/2: - / -
[OVERVIEW]
Gyarados is an extremely potent threat both offensively and defensively in STABmons. Its typing allows it to resist common offensive moves like Gear Grind, Close Combat, and V-Create, and also gives it access to Roost, which greatly helps its walling and sweeping capabilities. This allows it to check common attackers like Scizor-Mega and Heatran. Access to Intimidate further increases its ability to check physically offensive threats, and give you more opportunities to set up.
Access to Dragon Dance also allows Gyarados to be an extremely powerful offensive threat. Additionally, its Water / Flying typing gives it access to powerful STAB moves like Crabhammer and Dragon Ascent. Its naturally high bulk and access to roost makes it extremely difficult to revenge kill. Gyarados also has access to a Mega Evolution, which exchanges its Flying typing for Dark. This gives it powerful STAB in Crunch, and also allows it to set up on pokemon like Slowbro. Its Mega Evolution also gives Gyarados Mold Breaker, which allows it to boost through Quagsire and Clefable and hit Rotom-W with Earthquake.
However, Gyarados still has several exploitable weaknesses. Most notably is its quadruple weakness to Electric, which is a common attacking type in STABmons. Its mega evolution also gives it a weakness to U-turn and Close Combat. Additionally, its coverage options are not strong enough to get past walls like Ferrothorn and Skarmory. A weakness to Stealth Rock also reduces its longevity and forces it to Roost often to keep HP up. It can also be checked by priority status users like Thundurus-I and Sableye if it does not have a substitute up. However, despite these flaws, Gyarados is still a solid defensive Pokemon that also has threatening offensive options, making it a threat that must be considered when teambuilding.
[SET]
name: Mono Attacking Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Crabhammer
move 3: Substitute / Taunt
move 4: Roost
item: Gyaradosite
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 104 Atk / 68 Def / 84 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dragon Dance is necessary to boost Gyarados' attacking stats to allow it to sweep. Crabhammer is the preferred STAB move as it has high base power. Waterfall can also be used because it has 100 accuracy and a flinch chance. Crunch can also be used as an attacking move, but Water STAB gets better coverage. Substitute is useful to stop status and prevents Gyarados from being revenge killed by Fake Out + Extreme Speed. Taunt can also be used to stop status and phazing, but Substitute is usually more useful as it prevents revenge killing. Finally, Roost is necessary to keep Gyarados health up so it can ignore weaker hits in the early game and boost through the opposing team in the late game.
Set Details
========
The given EVs try to maximize Gyarados' bulk and attack power. 84 Spe EVs outspeeds positive natured 100s after one boost. If running Crunch, 144 Spe EVs can be used to outspeed positive natured Latios and Gengar. 252 HP and 68 Def allows your substitute, after mega evolving, to remain intact against Fake Out from Life Orb Braviary, which is the strongest Fake Out you would reasonably encounter. The rest of the points are used to maximize attack. Gyarados can also easily run a fully physically defensive spread to make it even harder to revenge kill, but this weakens its sweeping capabilities. Intimidate is the preferred ability before mega evolution because it gives Gyarados more opportunities to set up. After mega evolving, Gyarados gains Mold Breaker, which gives it the ability to break through Unaware, Sturdy, Water Absorb, and Storm Drain.
Usage Tips
========
This set should definitely be used as a late game cleaner against offensive teams. As such, do not allow it to take too much harassment in the early game. As non-mega Gyarados has an arguably better defensive typing and access to Intimidate, it is better to keep Gyarados in regular form until you are ready to sweep. The immunity to Ground also makes it much easier to set up on pokemon like Garchomp, Landorus-T. When you are in mega forme, you can easily set up on Slowbro / Slowking because of your typing. When you are ready to sweep, try to keep a substitute up if possible so you can't get statused by Sableye or Thundurus-I, which can stop your sweep. The substitute will also prevent you from being revenge killed by Fake Out + Extremespeed. Gyarados-Mega can also be used as a powerful stallbreaker as its high bulk and access to Roost makes it difficult for stall teams to take down.
Team Options
========
Gyarados-Mega needs help clearing bulky water and bulky grass types before it can sweep. Thundurus is excellent for this job because it can easily plow through those pokemon with its STABs. Rotom-H and Raikou are good teammates because they can check the electric types that threaten Gyarados, and can also use Volt Switch to gain momentum. Because Gyarados is weak to Stealth Rock, some form of hazard control is usually needed on your team. Excadrill is a good option to keep rocks off the field with rapid spin, and can also provide offensive pressure. Alternatively, Landorus-T and Zapdos are good defog users that can also use U-turn and Volt Switch to gain momentum. Gyarados may also need a cleric if it gets statused before it has the opportunity to get a sub up. Clefable and Porygon-2 are good defensive options, while Latios / Latias can provide support in the form of Lunar Dance while also providing Defog support.
[SET]
name: Offensive Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Crabhammer
move 3: Crunch / Earthquake
move 4: Roost / Substitute / Taunt
item: Gyaradosite
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant
evs: 112 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dragon Dance boosts Gyarados' attack and speed to threatening levels. Crabhammer is preferred as your main STAB move as it hits hard and has decent coverage in the meta. The second attacking move helps Gyarados get through some of its counters. Crunch is a solid STAB move that allows Gyarados to deal a large amount of damage to bulky Grass and Water types like defensive Gyarados, Venusaur and Ferrothorn and allows you to OHKO Latios / Latias. Earthquake allows it to OHKO Rotom-W while still dealing decent damage to other defensive threats. The last move gives Gyarados some utility. Roost allows Gyarados to keep its health up throughout the game and allows it to check a few threats. Substitute helps you be more resistant to revenge killing, while Taunt prevents status.
Set Details
========
This set aims to maximize Gyarados' attack while taking advantage of its natural bulk to set up. 252 Atk EVs and an Adamant nature allows Gyarados to deal as much damage as possible. 144 Spe EVs outspeeds positive natured 110s like Latios / Latias and Gengar after one boost. The rest of the EVs are put into HP to maximize bulk. Intimidate is the preferred ability as it makes it easier to switch into physical attackers and set up on them. Moxie can be used to allow Gyarados to steamroll through weakened teams, but it does not have as many setup opportunities as Intimidate does. Gyaradosite allows Gyarados to mega evolve, gaining Mold Breaker. This allows it to break through Unaware and Sturdy, as well as hitting Levitate pokemon with Earthquake.
Usage Tips
========
This set is an extremely potent cleaner against weakened teams. However, running two attacks means it can only afford one moveslot for a utility move, meaning you need to take more care when using offensive Gyarados to sweep. Try to make sure that all of Gyarados' checks and counters are weakened to the point where they can be KO'd at +1 attack, and do not attempt to set up if the opponent has a fast status user that can shut down Gyarados. If you are running Roost as your utility move, you can afford to use Gyarados as a check to certain threats (preferably in non-Mega form when you still have Intimidate) and you can switch Gyarados in directly. Otherwise, make sure Gyarados does not take any unnecessary damage.
Team Options
========
Mega Gyarados has high power and decent coverage, but it prefers to have the opposing team weakened before it sweeps. Offensive Gyarados appreciates very similar support to mono-attacking Gyarados. Thundurus-I is a great teammate that can easily deal with many of the pokemon that give Gyarados trouble, like Venusaur-Mega, Skarmory, and defensive Gyarados. Raikou can easily counter the fast Electric types that try to revenge kill Gyarados. Landorus-T and Zapdos are good options for hazard removal, and they can both grant you momentum with U-turn / Volt Switch. Offensive Gyarados also highly appreciates cleric support from its team as it has less options to protect itself than mono-attacking Gyarados. Latios is a great offensive option that provides Defog support as well as cleric support in the form of Lunar Dance. Porygon-2 can work as a slightly more defensive option.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Roost
move 2: Crabhammer
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Roar / Dragon Tail / Brave Bird
item: Leftovers
ability: Intimidate
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Roost is the most necessary move on this set as it restores Gyarados' HP, which allows it to continually check opposing threats. Crabhammer is a powerful STAB move that allows it to hit pokemon it checks like Heatran. Thunder Wave allows Gyarados to cripple opposing sweepers and make it easier for the rest of the team to deal with them. Roar and Dragon Tail both allow Gyarados to phaze sweepers, but both have drawbacks. Roar is stopped by Taunt, while Dragon Tail can be stopped by Substitute and can miss. Brave Bird can also be used if you want a secondary STAB option.
Set Details
========
This set maximizes Gyarados' physical bulk to allow it to continuously check common physical threats like Scizor-Mega and various FakeSpeeders. 8 Spe EVs allows it to outspeed Azumarill. Gyarados can also run a specially defensive spread to check pokemon like Charizard-Mega-Y and Heatran better, but a physically defensive spread is usually preferred as it checks many more threats and takes better advantage of Intimidate. Leftovers keeps Gyarados healthy, though Rocky Helmet can be run to wear down the opponent.
Usage Tips
========
Gyarados' great typing and defensive stats allow it to easily switch into threats like Scizor and Heatran, and threaten them back by hitting them with its strong STAB moves or crippling them with Thunder Wave. Gyarados can use Roar to stop opposing pokemon from setting up and can allow Gyarados to spread status throughout the opposing team. Intimidate makes it easier for Gyarados to check physical threats, but the given EV spread means that Gyarados can be taken down by strong physical threats if it has taken prior damage. As such, it is necessary to use Roost to keep Gyarados' health up from damage taken from attacks and Stealth Rocks.
Team Options
========
Gyarados benefits from Stealth Rock users, as it can use Roar to rack up hazard damage. Ferrothorn is a good hazard setter that has good defensive synergy with Gyarados as it can take the Electric and Rock type moves that Gyarados has trouble with. Heatran is also another good defensive option, as it offers phazing and Stealth Rock support for Gyarados, and Gyarados can handle the Fighting, Ground, and Water type moves that hurt Heatran. Gyarados also greatly appreciates a way to keep hazards off the field. Landorus-T is a great defog user that can check rock types like Tyranitar and Terrakion that give Gyarados trouble. As Gyarados has no way of removing status from itself, it is useful to have a cleric on your team. Chansey can is a good cleric that can tank extremely strong special hits, while Clefable is another option that can check sweepers that get out of hand.
name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Crabhammer
move 3: Dragon Ascent / Brave Bird
move 4: Roost / Substitute / Taunt
item: Lum Berry / Leftovers
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant
evs: 112 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dragon Dance boosts Gyarados' speed and attack so that it can sweep. Crabhammer is necessary as high power water STAB, and is preferred over Waterfall because of its high base power. Dragon Ascent and Brave Bird are both powerful secondary STAB moves, but they each have their own drawbacks. Dragon Ascent drops your defensive stats, while Brave Bird makes you take recoil damage. They both make you more susceptible to revenge killing. Roost is preferred in the final slot as it allows Gyarados to check certain threats before sweeping and keeps its HP up. It also allows it to recover from Brave Bird recoil. Substitute can also be used to stop status and make it more difficult to be revenge killed, while Taunt also stops status and prevents phazing by Roar / Whirlwind.
Set Details
========
This set aims to maximize Gyarados' attack while taking advantage of its natural bulk to set up. 252 Atk EVs and an Adamant nature allows Gyarados to deal as much damage as possible. 144 Spe EVs outspeeds positive natured 110s like Latios / Latias and Gengar after one boost. The rest of the EVs are put into HP to maximize bulk. Intimidate is the preferred ability as it makes it easier to switch into physical attackers and set up on them. Moxie can be used to allow Gyarados to steamroll through weakened teams, but it does not have as many setup opportunities as Intimidate does. Lum Berry is used as an item as it allows Gyarados to prevent status once from fast status users like Sableye and Thundurus-T, but Leftovers is also an option to give Gyarados some passive recovery while sweeping. Life Orb can also be used to increase Gyarados' power further, but the recoil damage it incurs makes it much easier to revenge kill.
Usage Tips
========
Gyarados should not be set up until its counters are weakened or fainted. It should be used mainly as a sweeper and a cleaner, not as a wallbreaker. Similarly, avoid setting up Gyarados when the opponent has a lot of opportunities to wear you down with Fake Out. Gyarados' natural bulk, ability, and typing mean you can switch it into support pokemon like Landorus-T and Heatran and easily set up on them. If using Roost, be sure to keep your health up throughout the game so you can have as much HP as possible when you are ready to sweep. If you are using Substitute, do not use it too early in the game or you may end up wasting HP points. If you are using Taunt, use it on passive defensive threats that have little means of threatening you like Skarmory to prevent them from phazing or statusing you.
Team Options
========
Gyarados has a high sweeping potential, but its coverage options are rather limited. Heatran is a great partner because it provides a stealth rock setter and allows you to deal with Ferrothorn and Skarmory. Magnezone can also be used to trap some of Gyarados' counters. Excadrill is a good offensive partner because it can spin away Stealth Rock for Gyarados, and can check many of the pokemon that give Gyarados trouble, like Thundurus (lacking Focus Blast). It also threatens Rotom-Wash and Quagsire, two pokemon that can easily wall Gyarados. Landorus-T and Scizor-Mega are great Defog users that can also pivot to Gyarados with U-Turn.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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A Dragon Dance + 3 attacks set can be run on both Gyarados and Gyarados-Mega for better coverage and more damage, but it gets easily worn down, revenged, or statused by prankster. Also, additional coverage moves like Stone Edge or Ice Fang do not grant Gyarados much more relevant coverage than it already gets. Similarly, Gyarados can run 252 Atk / 252 Spe for maximum offensive offensive presence, but this reduces its ability to switch into resisted moves and makes it more prone to revenge killing. Gyarados can run a RestTalk + Dragon Dance set effectively, which gives it a way to remove status from itself, but it has less room than a Roost + Dragon Dance set for other moves. Gyarados can also run Water Shuriken for priority, but it is only +1 priority so it does not help against ExtremeSpeed. Gyarados is also fast enough after one boost to not really need priority moves. Defensively, Gyarados has access to Defog, but it takes away a moveslot from other useful support moves, and it is somewhat risky to run Defog on a pokemon that is weak to Rock. Scald can also be run to give Gyarados a chance to burn its opponent, but it is weak and highly luck based.
Checks and Counters
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**Bulky Water Types**: This is especially true if Gyarados lacks Flying coverage. Pokemon like Blastoise-Mega and Slowbro can easily soak up a Crabhammer and hit back with strong attacks, or try to status with scald. Rotom-Wash can easily wall Gyarados and gain momentum volt-switching out. Quagsire can also easily wall non-mega Gyarados sets.
**Electric Types**: Electric type moves can easily OHKO Gyarados and can prevent offensive variants from setting up. Prankster Thundurus can use Thunder Wave to shut down Gyarados's sweep. Fast pokemon like Thundurus and Raikou can also outspeed lesser invested sets even when Gyarados is at +1
**Physical Walls**: Pokemon like Skarmory and Ferrothorn can take even boosted hits from Gyarados, and can be a huge nuisance if Gyarados lacks Taunt. They can easily phaze out or status Gyarados to stop it from sweeping.
**Fast Status Users**: Prankster status users like Sableye and Thundurus-I can shut down Gyarados' sweep if it doesn't have a sub up. Also, fast pokemon like Darkrai, Gengar, and Sceptile-Mega can sometimes outspeed Gyarados even after a boost and status it to stop its sweep.
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