QC Checks: Moosical / Tyke / Eien
AM QC Checks: Haaku. / roman
GP Checks: A Cake Wearing A Hat / The Dutch Plumberjack
AM GP Checks: allstarapology
Dark
========
Tyranitar is the premier Stealth Rock setter for Dark-type teams due to its great natural bulk and proficiency as a lead with tons of useful utility and coverage moves such as Toxic, Thunder Wave, and Fire Blast, and its Mega Evolution is a potent setup sweeper with access to great coverage options, allowing it to take on threatening types such as Steel and Ground. Due to Tyranitar's phenomenal natural bulk along with the sandstorm it summons with Sand Stream boosting its Special Defense, it can act as a defensive pivot and blanket check to many special attackers such as Latios and Nihilego. Tyranitar's part Rock typing also gives it a resistance to Fire-type attacks, allowing it to take on Pokemon such as Victini. Mega Tyranitar's natural bulk also allows it to more readily set up with Dragon Dance against weaker Pokemon such as Klefki and Alolan Muk. Tyranitar's decent offensive stats even when left uninvested prevent it from being passive when using defensive sets, allowing it to still threaten hazard removers such as Zapdos, Mantine, and Armaldo. Tyranitar's wide movepool allows it to function as either a Stealth Rock setter or a Dragon Dance sweeper with access to fantastic coverage moves such as Ice Punch for Ground-types and Fire Punch for Steel-types. However, Mega Tyranitar's mediocre Speed stat leaves it susceptible to common revenge killers like Mega Lopunny and Choice Scarf Excadrill, even at +1. Due to Tyranitar's rather poor defensive typing, it is left weak to many common offensive types and stacks the Fighting weakness, giving Mega Tyranitar trouble setting up against a wide variety of Pokemon such as Terrakion and Tapu Bulu. Since Tyranitar does not have a solid form of recovery, chip damage from entry hazards and status conditions such as being poisoned and burned affect Tyranitar's longevity. Dragon Dance Mega Tyranitar also does not appreciate status conditions, as they all negatively affect its ability to sweep late-game.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive Stealth Rock Dark)
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Stone Edge / Rock Slide
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Fire Blast
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock chips foes when they switch in and can break abilities and items such as Dragonite's Multiscale and Breloom's Focus Sash. Stone Edge is Tyranitar's main STAB move and form of damage output and allows Tyranitar to hit Pokemon such as Volcarona, Zapdos, and Kyurem-B. Rock Slide is a more reliable Rock-type STAB move that can be run over Stone Edge. Thunder Wave gives Tyranitar a form of speed control, allowing it to cripple offensive foes such as offensive Dragon Dance Mega Altaria. Fire Blast allows Tyranitar to hit Steel-types such as Skarmory, Ferrothorn, and Mega Scizor that would otherwise wall Tyranitar.
Set Details
========
The EV spread and Sassy nature maximize Tyranitar's special bulk, letting it more easily take on special threats such as Hydreigon and Volcarona. The Sassy nature also does not sacrifice the power of Tyranitar's Fire Blast. Sand Stream sets up sand, which gives Tyranitar an increase in Special Defense. Leftovers gives Tyranitar passive recovery, allowing it to continually switch into battle, tank attacks, and set up Stealth Rock.
Usage Tips
========
Tyranitar should try to keep up Stealth Rock throughout the game. When a Flying-type Defogger comes in to clear entry hazards, Tyranitar should be switched in to force a switch with its STAB Stone Edge and take advantage of it to set up Stealth Rock again. Thunder Wave should be used against faster threats that Tyranitar cannot OHKO with Stone Edge, such as Latios, allowing teammates such as Mandibuzz and Greninja to more easily check it. Tyranitar is a great special sponge and should switch in on attacks it is not weak to, such as Kyurem-B's Ice Beam and Mega Pidgeot's Hurricane. Preserve Tyranitar against types like Flying and Normal, where it comes in handy against threats like Mega Charizard Y and Porygon-Z. Sand Stream can be used to chip Focus Sash and Multiscale users such as Breloom and Dragonite, allowing teammates to more easily revenge kill these Pokemon. Tyranitar should avoid status conditions, as they affect its longevity in battle due to lack of reliable recovery. For the same reason, it should also avoid switching into entry hazards and weak attacks that its teammates like Mandibuzz can take care of.
Team Options
========
Mandibuzz forms an entry hazard control core with Tyranitar and also possesses a Fighting-type neutrality, allowing it to switch into powerful STAB attacks such as Infernape's Close Combat. Mandibuzz also forms a nice defensive core with Tyranitar, as it is a fantastic physical wall. Mega Sableye possesses a Fighting-type immunity to support Tyranitar, can defend against Trick and Knock Off users that target Tyranitar, and can reflect hazards and status conditions with Magic Bounce such as Toxic Spikes from Toxapex and Toxic from Porygon2. Mega Sableye can also threaten physical attackers with Will-O-Wisp, leaving them unable to wallbreak successfully. Mega Sharpedo appreciates Tyranitar's ability to set up Stealth Rock, as it can clean more easily with the chip damage Stealth Rock provides. Mega Sharpedo can also take care of Fighting-types that Tyranitar struggles against such as Keldeo with Psychic Fangs at +1 Speed. Alolan Muk is a nice switch-in to Fairy-type attacks and can remove items such as Hydreigon's Choice Specs with Knock Off, giving Tyranitar an easier time setting up Stealth Rock. Greninja is a great Choice Scarf user, able to pivot Tyranitar in with U-turn, outspeed and OHKO Dragonite after Multiscale is broken, and revenge kill Tapu Bulu, and it also appreciates Tyranitar's ability to switch into strong special attackers such as Volcarona lacking Bug Buzz. Greninja can also form a hazard stacking core with Tyranitar, as it has access to Spikes and Toxic Spikes. Bisharp can break past Fairy-type Pokemon such as Klefki and Clefable for Tyranitar and threaten Defoggers such as Zapdos due to Defiant. Hydreigon is a fantastic special wallbreaker that can take care of Pokemon such as Skarmory for Tyranitar and can switch directly into Water- and Grass-type attacks as well as Ground-type attacks due to Levitate.
[SET]
name: Dragon Dance (Dark)
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Fire Punch
move 4: Earthquake / Ice Punch
item: Tyranitarite
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dragon Dance boosts Tyranitar's Attack and Speed by one stage each, allowing it to outspeed Pokemon such as Tapu Koko after one boost. Stone Edge is Mega Tyranitar's strongest STAB attack. Fire Punch allows Tyranitar to hit Steel-type Pokemon such as Ferrothorn that would otherwise wall it. Earthquake provides good coverage with Stone Edge and allows Mega Tyranitar to hit Electric-, Rock-, Poison-, and Steel-type Pokemon such as Alolan Golem, Toxapex, and Excadrill. Ice Punch allows Tyranitar to hit Ground-type Pokemon such as Hippowdon and Landorus-T, preventing them from walling it. Crunch is Tyranitar's main Dark-type STAB attack and allows it to threaten Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon such as Mew and Hoopa, though opting for Crunch means that Tyranitar loses out on being able to threaten Ground-types such as Garchomp with Ice Punch. Stealth Rock is an option over Fire Punch for teams that need role compression, but this means Tyranitar will be walled by Pokemon such as Ferrothorn that would otherwise be no problem for it.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed and Attack investment allows Mega Tyranitar to be as fast and strong as possible. A Jolly nature allows Mega Tyranitar to outspeed key threats such as Tapu Koko and Greninja at +1 Speed and Pokemon such as Jolly Bisharp before a Dragon Dance. Tyranitarite allows Tyranitar to Mega Evolve, making it a more formidable sweeper with a decent increase in Speed, Attack, and overall bulk. Sand Stream boosts Tyranitar's Special Defense by 50% and chips the foe at the end of each turn for five turns.
Usage Tips
========
Against passive Pokemon such as Klefki, which Tyranitar is not threatened by at all, Mega Tyranitar should and can easily use Dragon Dance to sweep through the team. Wait for Mega Tyranitar's checks, such as Choice Scarf Keldeo, to be removed before attempting to set up. Mega Tyranitar should switch out to a teammate such as Alolan Muk on all status-inducing moves, as all status conditions threaten it and hinder its ability to sweep. Since Mega Tyranitar is best used as a late-game cleaner, you should make sure it does not take too much damage to give it the best chance to sweep. Mega Tyranitar should be preserved to help check threats such as Kyurem-B and Volcarona before attempting to set up and sweep. If Stealth Rock is run, it should be used to capitalize on when Mega Tyranitar forces a switch, as this will give it a free turn to do so.
Team Options
========
Greninja acts as a nice blanket check to offensive Pokemon that threaten Mega Tyranitar due to its great coverage in moves like Gunk Shot to hit Fairy-types like Tapu Koko and Ice Beam to hit Ground-type Pokemon such as Garchomp. Greninja appreciates Mega Tyranitar's ability to take on special walls that wall it such as Chansey. Krookodile takes the role of Stealth Rock setter, allowing Tyranitar to run the Dragon Dance set. Krookodile can also remove items such as Greninja's Choice Scarf with Knock Off to ease Mega Tyranitar's attempts at sweeping and Taunt other slower leads such as Skarmory to prevent them from setting up Stealth Rock, allowing Mega Tyranitar to more easily set up. Mandibuzz is the best answer to Fighting-type teams when Mega Tyranitar is being used and can tank Fighting-type attacks such as Close Combat from Heracross and Terrakion. Mandibuzz can also clear away entry hazards with Defog so that Mega Tyranitar can more easily switch in through the match, and Mega Tyranitar can beat Ice- and Electric-type Pokemon such as Weavile and Tapu Koko for Mandibuzz. Alolan Muk is a nice switch-in to Fairy-type attacks and can remove items such as Hydreigon's Choice Specs with Knock Off, giving Mega Tyranitar an easier time setting up Dragon Dance. Hydreigon is a fantastic special wallbreaker that is capable of taking on physical walls that Mega Tyranitar has difficulty breaking past such as Ferrothorn and Quagsire. Bisharp can set Stealth Rock for Mega Tyranitar, which allows it to freely run Fire Punch, and can also paralyze faster threats such as Terrakion with Thunder Wave. Bisharp can also act as an excellent Swords Dance sweeper alongside Mega Tyranitar, as they both share similar checks and appreciate the other being able to wear them down.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Dark
--------
Rockium Z in combination with Dragon Dance can be utilized on hyper offensive Dark-type teams, allowing Tyranitar to become a potent sweeper that can OHKO Pokemon such as Gliscor with +1 Continental Crush. This set is typically run so Mega Sharpedo can be used as the team's Mega Evolution and Krookodile can be used as the Stealth Rock setter. However, Tyranitar's rather poor Speed stat leaves it outsped by a ton of common Pokemon at +1 such as Tapu Koko and Greninja. Choice Band allows Tyranitar to become a powerful wallbreaker, making it very hard to switch into and allowing it to 2HKO defensive Skarmory and Celesteela, which Flying-type teams typically use as checks to Tyranitar. Other defensive utility moves can be used on specially defensive Stealth Rock setter Tyranitar such as Toxic over Thunder Wave, putting threats such as Azumarill on a timer. Protect and Toxic can be used over Thunder Wave and Fire Blast to scout which move Choice-locked Pokemon such as Greninja and Heracross use. However, this means that Tyranitar loses out on the speed control that Thunder Wave provides and on the ability to hit Steel-types like Ferrothorn for good damage.
Checks and Counters
===================
Dark
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**Fighting-types**: Tyranitar struggles against Fighting-types such as Terrakion and Breloom, which resist both its STAB attacks and deal 4x super effective damage to it in return.
**Ground-types**: Ground-type Pokemon resist Tyranitar's main STAB move in Stone Edge and can easily threaten it in return with their super effective Ground-type STAB moves. Hippowdon deserves a special mention, as it can very easily wall all variants of Tyranitar and phaze it with Whirlwind or inflict it with Toxic poison, severely limiting its time in battle.
**Physical Walls**: Physical walls such as Toxapex and Hippowdon can easily take on a boosted Mega Tyranitar and threaten it with their STAB attacks. Toxapex should watch out for Earthquake, as it can not switch into it and is 2HKOed by it when Mega Tyranitar has not set up.
**Status Conditions**: Both Tyranitar and Mega Tyranitar do not appreciate status conditions, especially Mega Tyranitar, as they all affect its ability to sweep. Toxic poison, in particular, puts both of them on a very limited timer.
**Water-types**: Many offensive Water-type Pokemon such as Manaphy threaten Tyranitar with their STAB attacks. Defensive Water-types such as Gastrodon and Toxapex can also burn Tyranitar with Scald, leaving it unable to sweep, with the latter additionally being able to Haze away its boosts.
**Revenge Killers**: Due to Mega Tyranitar's mediocre base Speed, it can be easily revenge killed even after a Dragon Dance boost by common Choice Scarf users such as Tapu Bulu and naturally fast Pokemon like Mega Lopunny.
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