I wanted to share my experience using Tyranitar on the ladder. I’m mid-1400s, so I’m nothing special, and I’d like to get any insight into Ttar in the current metagame from higher-rated players.
Recently, I’ve been getting a lot of ladder games with a few different teams using Tyranitar, just because he’s my favorite guy. I’ve had a lot of fun with him in the builder and in practice. Not everything has worked, but he’s still performed very well.
The first Tyranitar I used was a straight specially defensive utility set:
Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
Stealth Rock
Toxic / Thunder Wave
Crunch
Rock Slide / Earthquake
Pretty simple: maximum special defense investment and 8 Attack because I wanted to be cute, I guess. With this level of bulk, I can actually switch into a lot of threatening attacks like Lele’s Moonblast, Heatran’s Magma Storm and Earth Power, and Charizard-Y after it Mega Evolves. Since this set is more about utility, it also lets me switch into Toxapex and Slowbro more comfortably. Thunder Wave is nice for catching non-Ground and non-Electric types that try to take advantage of Tyranitar. Not my favorite set, but it gets the job done.
The set I’ve been having the most fun with lately, though, is a Dragon Dance wallbreaker:
Tyranitar @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Sand Stream
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
Dragon Dance
Ice Punch
Fire Punch
Stone Edge
Most people would probably run Mega Tyranitar for Dragon Dance sweeping, but I prefer this Shuca set unless I’m running a dedicated sand team with an Excadrill or something. What I like about this set is that Shuca Berry lets me Dragon Dance right in the face of a Ground-type check like Landorus-Therian, Garchomp, or Gliscor. Ice Punch obliterates all three of them at +0, and obviously at +1. After a +1 Speed boost, I’m able to outspeed base 115s and below. Notably Latias, Garchomp, and Kartana. This set is all about baiting and blasting, and I’ve had a ton of fun with it on this team: https://pokepast.es/05ceea87489e8447.
I also looked at a Choice Scarf set:
Tyranitar @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 8 HP / 252 Atk / 248 Spe
Jolly Nature
Stone Edge
Crunch
Pursuit
Superpower
I ruled this one out pretty quickly because it’s just not what it used to be. In DPP, this was a very standard and common Tyranitar spread since it lets you outspeed a lot of faster important threats with crippling Dark weaknesses. But in Gen 8, Pursuit just isn’t hitting like it used to. Maybe I’m not applying it right, but now, pretty much everything you’d want to trap with Pursuit is either too strong, too bulky, or ironically, too slow. Slowbro is bulky enough to burn Tyranitar with Scald if you go for Crunch, then regenerate off at least half the damage you just did. Toxapex is a similar case. Tapu Lele just smashes right through you. Mega Latias definitely wouldn’t appreciate a Choice Scarfed Crunch, but I don’t see it often enough to feel justified running this set.
Recently, I’ve been getting a lot of ladder games with a few different teams using Tyranitar, just because he’s my favorite guy. I’ve had a lot of fun with him in the builder and in practice. Not everything has worked, but he’s still performed very well.
The first Tyranitar I used was a straight specially defensive utility set:
Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
Stealth Rock
Toxic / Thunder Wave
Crunch
Rock Slide / Earthquake
Pretty simple: maximum special defense investment and 8 Attack because I wanted to be cute, I guess. With this level of bulk, I can actually switch into a lot of threatening attacks like Lele’s Moonblast, Heatran’s Magma Storm and Earth Power, and Charizard-Y after it Mega Evolves. Since this set is more about utility, it also lets me switch into Toxapex and Slowbro more comfortably. Thunder Wave is nice for catching non-Ground and non-Electric types that try to take advantage of Tyranitar. Not my favorite set, but it gets the job done.
The set I’ve been having the most fun with lately, though, is a Dragon Dance wallbreaker:
Tyranitar @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Sand Stream
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
Dragon Dance
Ice Punch
Fire Punch
Stone Edge
Most people would probably run Mega Tyranitar for Dragon Dance sweeping, but I prefer this Shuca set unless I’m running a dedicated sand team with an Excadrill or something. What I like about this set is that Shuca Berry lets me Dragon Dance right in the face of a Ground-type check like Landorus-Therian, Garchomp, or Gliscor. Ice Punch obliterates all three of them at +0, and obviously at +1. After a +1 Speed boost, I’m able to outspeed base 115s and below. Notably Latias, Garchomp, and Kartana. This set is all about baiting and blasting, and I’ve had a ton of fun with it on this team: https://pokepast.es/05ceea87489e8447.
I also looked at a Choice Scarf set:
Tyranitar @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 8 HP / 252 Atk / 248 Spe
Jolly Nature
Stone Edge
Crunch
Pursuit
Superpower
I ruled this one out pretty quickly because it’s just not what it used to be. In DPP, this was a very standard and common Tyranitar spread since it lets you outspeed a lot of faster important threats with crippling Dark weaknesses. But in Gen 8, Pursuit just isn’t hitting like it used to. Maybe I’m not applying it right, but now, pretty much everything you’d want to trap with Pursuit is either too strong, too bulky, or ironically, too slow. Slowbro is bulky enough to burn Tyranitar with Scald if you go for Crunch, then regenerate off at least half the damage you just did. Toxapex is a similar case. Tapu Lele just smashes right through you. Mega Latias definitely wouldn’t appreciate a Choice Scarfed Crunch, but I don’t see it often enough to feel justified running this set.
