[OVERVIEW]
Rock
========
Tyranitar is one of the most essential Pokemon on Rock teams due to its vast array of utility options. Its excellent bulk allows it to survive most neutral hits, which can at times allow it to check Pokemon such as Tapu Koko and Xurkitree. Its ability Sand Stream can grant all Rock-types increased Special Defense for five turns, aiding not only Tyranitar but also its teammates. Its varied physical movepool including Fire Punch and Earthquake does well at complementing its amazing Attack stat, making it a much more formidable wallbreaker. Tyranitar can additionally perform the role of a bulky pivot with an Assault Vest. Moreover, its decent Special Attack and strong special moves like Fire Blast and Ice Beam allow it to beat threats like Skarmory, Ferrothorn, Gliscor, and Landorus-T. Access to Pursuit allows it to trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Latios and Gengar, and with a Choice Band, it can trap and remove frail Pokemon like Greninja and Nihilego. However, Tyranitar's poor Speed stat usually means that it'll be forced to take damage first against most offensive threats. Its typing grants it an excessive number of weaknesses to common attacking types like Ground and Fairy, as well as a 4x weakness to Fighting. Additionally, it doesn't cover for any of Rock's natural weaknesses. Sand Stream can allow threats such as Sand Rush Excadrill to gain significantly more momentum.
[SET]
name: Choice Band (Rock)
move 1: Stone Edge
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Fire Punch
move 4: Pursuit / Earthquake
item: Choice Band
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stone Edge is Tyranitar's strongest move, giving it the most damage output against defensive Pokemon like Mega Sableye and Mega Venusaur. Crunch is its most spammable move, allowing it to break through bulkier Psychic-types like Mega Slowbro and Mega Latias. Fire Punch is solid coverage for hitting Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Celesteela as well as preventing Mega Scizor from setting up safely. Pursuit allows Tyranitar to trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Latios and Gengar as well as frail Pokemon like Greninja and Nihilego. Earthquake is another option over Pursuit for consistently 2HKOing Toxapex.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Attack and Speed is used to make Tyranitar as fast and strong as possible. An Adamant nature goes further lengths to increase Tyranitar's wallbreaking potential, allowing Crunch to guarantee a 2HKO against Mega Slowbro. A Jolly nature can also be used in order to outspeed Mega Gallade and Garchomp after Sticky Web. A Choice Band bolsters the power of Tyranitar's moves at the cost of being locked into a single one. Sand Stream summons sand upon switching in, which increases Tyranitar's Special Defense. This lets it survive a Moonblast from Mega Diancie and Hydro Pump from Greninja.
Usage Tips
========
Make sure to send in Tyranitar frequently to wallbreak, especially against more balanced types like Poison and Water. In spite of Tyranitar's great defenses, its lack of longevity makes it unable to actively take multiple hits. Try taking advantage of how Tyranitar can switch into walls like Mega Latias and Zapdos to bring it in safely to wallbreak. It's also a good idea to send it in when expecting the opponent to switch into a slower entry hazard remover like Armaldo or Torkoal in order to keep entry hazards up. If Pursuit is being used, try predicting when a weakened threat like Toxapex or Slowbro or a Choiced Pokemon locked into a weak move attempts to switch out so that Tyranitar can either remove it or severely chip it down. It can also be used to trap physically frail Pokemon like Excadrill and Diggersby. However, be careful when you use Pursuit, since, for example, trapping Latios can grant Mega Altaria a free setup opportunity. Despite being able to change the weather with Sand Stream, it's best not to bring Tyranitar in directly against weather setters like Torkoal and Pelipper, since they can threaten to burn it with Lava Plume and Scald, respectively. Against Ground, try sacrificing Tyranitar on the last turn of sand to allow a teammate like Alolan Golem to revenge kill Excadrill if Sticky Web is up. Avoid status as much as possible, especially burn, since it will diminish Tyranitar's effectiveness as a physical wallbreaker.
Team Options
========
Shuckle can set up Sticky Web, allowing Tyranitar to outspeed Psychic-types such as Mew and Mega Gallade. It can also use Encore to lock foes into a weak move so that Tyranitar can safely Pursuit trap them. Mega Diancie can bounce back status moves like Toxic and Will-O-Wisp with Magic Bounce while also being able to beat Fighting-types like Keldeo and Breloom. It also complements Tyranitar's slow wallbreaking with its fast revenge killing and sweeping to form an effective offensive core. Terrakion can check Steel-types like Excadrill and Bisharp and Fairy-types like Mega Diancie and Tapu Bulu. In return, Tyranitar can switch into Psychic-type attacks for Terrakion, and use Pursuit to trap Latios and Mega Latias. It can also break past walls like Mandibuzz and Mega Sableye so that Terrakion can have an easier opportunity to sweep. Rhyperior and Alolan Golem are both capable of beating Mega Scizor for Tyranitar. Rhyperior can serve as a blanket check to powerful physical attackers like Excadrill, Landorus-T, and Terrakion, while Alolan Golem can trap and remove Steel-types like Skarmory and Celesteela. Nihilego checks Water-types like Swampert and Suicune with Grass Knot as well as Ground-types like Landorus and Garchomp with Hidden Power Ice. In return, Tyranitar can beat threatening Psychic-types like Latios and Mew if Sticky Web is up. Cradily switches into Water-type attacks for Tyranitar while also being able to switch into Ground-types like Hippowdon, Seismitoad, and Choice Scarf Landorus-T. It also appreciates Tyranitar's sand in order to avoid a 2HKO from Greninja's Ice Beam. Omastar, after setting up a Shell Smash, can beat Ground-types like Mamoswine, Hippowdon, and Landorus. It also appreciates Tyranitar's ability to break past special walls.
[SET]
name: Assault Vest (Rock)
move 1: Stone Edge
move 2: Crunch / Ice Beam
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: Fire Blast / Ice Beam
item: Assault Vest
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stone Edge is Tyranitar's strongest attack, allowing it deal large amounts of damage to most Pokemon. Crunch is its most spammable move, being able to do consistent damage to Psychic-types like Mew and Mega Latias. Pursuit allows Tyranitar to trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Latios and Gengar, as well as frail Pokemon like Greninja and Alolan Raichu. Fire Blast's coverage allows Tyranitar to nail Steel-types like Skarmory and Ferrothorn, as well as prevent Mega Scizor from setting up Swords Dance against it. Ice Beam is another option to KO Ground-types like Gliscor and Landorus.
Set Details
========
Full investment in Special Defense with a Sassy nature maximizes Tyranitar's special bulk while simultaneously preserving the power of its special moves. Sand Stream is Tyranitar's best ability, since sand bolsters Tyranitar's Special Defense even further, allowing it to avoid a 2HKO from Choice Specs Kingdra and Pelipper. Assault Vest is used to further increase Tyranitar's Special Defense, making it more effective as a bulky pivot.
Usage Tips
========
Use Tyranitar to frequently pivot into special attacks from Pokemon like Greninja, Tapu Koko, and Latios. However, if there's a threat that you need Tyranitar as healthy as possible for, like Gliscor or Choice Scarf Landorus-T, it's usually best to preserve it. Despite being mainly used as a special attacking sponge, it can still come in on weaker physical attacks from certain entry hazard removers like Armaldo and Crobat. Try bluffing Choice Band against Pokemon like Heatran and Mantine so that you can hit a potential switch-in like Skarmory or Gliscor on the switch with the proper coverage move. This is also helpful against Focus Sash Alakazam, since you can break its Focus Sash with a special move to avoid a Counter. It's a good idea to use Pursuit to wear down Pokemon that Tyranitar can naturally force out, such as Greninja and Mega Charizard Y. Avoid status as much as possible, since burn will leave Tyranitar incapable of doing significant damage with its physical moves, and poison will quickly wear it down.
Team Options
========
Terrakion can beat Normal-types like Chansey and Porygon2 that can take hits from Tyranitar. In return, Tyranitar can switch into and beat Psychic-types like Latios. Mega Diancie can bounce back entry hazards that wear down Tyranitar rather quickly while also checking Fighting-types like Mega Gallade and Buzzwole. Shuckle can set up Stealth Rock to wear down the opposing team for Tyranitar and can also use Knock Off to remove items such as Chansey's Eviolite so that Tyranitar can do more against it. Nihilego can check Water- and Ground-types like Gastrodon and Garchomp with Grass Knot and Hidden Power Ice, respectively, as well as Grass-types like Tapu Bulu and Breloom with a STAB Sludge Wave. In return, Tyranitar can switch into Psychic-type attacks for Nihilego and give it a helpful Special Defense increase with sand, allowing it to take Toxapex and Suicune's Scalds better. Rhyperior and Alolan Golem are both able to check Mega Scizor for Tyranitar. Rhyperior can blanket check Fighting-types like Terrakion and Heracross and Ground-types like Excadrill and Dugtrio. Alolan Golem is able to trap and remove Steel-types like Celesteela and Ferrothorn. Cradily can switch into Water-type attacks for Tyranitar and beat bulky Ground-types like Hippowdon and Gastrodon that would otherwise beat Tyranitar. Shell Smash Omastar is able to beat Pokemon that threaten to OHKO Tyranitar such as Buzzwole and Mamoswine. It also appreciates Tyranitar's sand to give it better Special Defense for setting up with Shell Smash.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rock
--------
Superpower can be used on Choice Band sets in order to hit Chansey and Porygon2. However, it does reduce Tyranitar's Attack and Defense, making it less effective as a wallbreaker, and Earthquake is better coverage for consistently 2HKOing Toxapex. Life Orb can be used to allow Tyranitar to switch up between moves. However, this will result in Tyranitar being worn down far more quickly, and without a Choice Band, it won't have a chance of OHKOing Excadrill with a boosted Pursuit. Dragon Dance is an option to turn Tyranitar into a powerful late-game sweeper, especially with support from Shuckle's Sticky Web. However, the immediate power offered by Choice Band is generally preferred as a means of 2HKOing Toxapex as it switches in.
Checks and Counters
===================
Rock
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**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types like Mega Gallade and Terrakion can very easily outspeed Tyranitar and OHKO it with their Fighting-type STAB moves. However, Mega Gallade can be outsped after Sticky Web if Tyranitar is running a Jolly nature.
**Water-types**: Water-types like Keldeo and Mega Swampert are able to OHKO Tyranitar with their STAB moves. Keldeo in particular resists both parts of Tyranitar's STAB combination, allowing it to actively switch into and threaten it at times.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Bisharp and Mega Scizor are capable of outspeeding and OHKOing Tyranitar. While Tyranitar resists Bisharp's priority in Sucker Punch, it's vulnerable to Mega Scizor's Bullet Punch even with Sticky Web support.
**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Mega Garchomp and Excadrill are able to outspeed Tyranitar and OHKO it with their Ground-type STAB moves. Excadrill in particular can exploit Tyranitar's Sand Stream to double its Speed.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Hippowdon and Porygon2 avoid a 2HKO from any of Tyranitar's attacks and can slowly wear it down, while being able to sustain themselves with their respective recovery moves.
**Status**: Tyranitar is hindered by all forms of status. Burn halves its Attack, leaving it ineffective as a wallbreaker, paralysis makes it unable to outspeed hazard removers like Mantine, Armaldo, and Mandibuzz, and poison quickly wears it down.
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