[OVERVIEW]
First and foremost, Tyranitar is the only Pokemon in ADV with access to the powerful ability Sand Stream. Dealing damage and canceling out the effect of Leftovers to all but Steel-, Ground-, and Rock-types, the effect that Sand has on the metagame is tremendous, single-handedly dictating the roles that Pokemon can fulfill. Dealing damage to Suicune but not Swampert; Starmie but not Claydol; Zapdos but not Skarmory; parallel roles are shifted towards Pokemon that are immune to Sand which can more reliably sustain themselves. Damage under Sand will stick, greatly neutering the effectiveness of Pokemon like Suicune and Snorlax which are otherwise very hard Pokemon to deal with while also forcing frequent instant recovers from the likes of Celebi, Blissey, and Milotic. Sand also provides a lot of information in battle, revealing the item on Pokemon like Salamence and Heracross that sometimes do not run Leftovers. Additionally, Sand reveals the relative speeds of the Pokemon on the field, dealing damage to the faster Pokemon first. Finally, Sand limits offense by denying healing via Leftovers which means that non-immune Pokemon have their longevity greatly reduced and by diminishing the effectiveness of Choice Banded and Berry-focused sets by dealing a consistent 6% that usually cannot be recovered.
Sand isn’t enough for you? Tyranitar itself a behemoth in battle, with a strong stat distribution and large movepool it can fulfill a variety of roles on almost every team ranging from sweeping with Dragon Dance, Pursuit-trapping, wallbreaking with a myriad of physical and special options, and phazing important threats with Roar — all to great effect. Its typing allows it serve as a switch in to the Normal-, Fire-, Flying-, and Psychic-type moves that must be covered in a team.
While Tyranitar has an incredible number of strengths, it is not without weaknesses. While its Speed stat is decent, it fails to outspeed many things without considerable Speed investment — even with a Speed boost from Dragon Dance. While it’s typing is mostly positive for it, the Ground- and Water-type weaknesses in particular prevent it from staying in on bulky Waters and allow it to be easily trapped by Dugtrio.
[SET]
name: Fast Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Bug / Ice Beam
item: Lum Berry
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Naive / Jolly
evs: 244 Atk / 12 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
This purpose of this Tyranitar is to quickly set up, outspeed, and heavily dent or outright sweep most of the metagame. It achieves this with one Dragon Dance, and with the powerful EdgeQuake combination and coverage move it can cleave through most defensive cores and clean up any remaining Pokemon. Dragon Dance boosts Tyranitars already impressive Attack to insane levels, and boosts the middling speed to a respectable 364, which allows it to outspeed the entire metagame bar Dugtrio, Aerodactyl, and Jolteon. Rock Slide is the STAB move of choice, dealing severe damage to all Pokemon that do not resist it, while also having a 30% chance to flinch the foe. This crucial secondary effect allows Tyranitar to potentially break through would-be checks like Milotic and Skarmory. Earthquake forms strong coverage alongside Rock Slide, most importantly hitting targets like Metagross, opposing Tyranitar, Jirachi, and Magneton super effectively while dealing decent neutral damage to other Pokemon like Swampert. HP Grass hits the main target, Swampert, for a huge amount of damage. HP Bug at +1 Attack will OHKO offensive Starmie and Celebi while 2HKOing Claydol. Ice Beam is an option that allows this otherwise walled by Flygon set to break through it. It also will OHKO Salamence without needing to risk the accuracy of Rock Slide regardless of Intimidate drops on Tyranitar. It also hits Claydol for respectable damage, though the main function of this move is to kill Flygon. Lum Berry is used to set up on status moves like Zapdos’ Thunder Wave, Gengar’s Will-o-Wisp and Hypnosis, Magneton’s Thunder Wave, and finally both Blissey’s Thunder Wave and Toxic which would prevent it from sweeping.
The presented EV spread allows Tyranitar to hit 364 Speed after 1 Dragon Dance which outspeeds Starmie and quicker Gengar. 12 SpA EVs gives Tyranitar a fair shot at 2HKOing even the bulkiest Swampert, even through Protect healing. The remaining EVs are put into Attack to give Tyranitar the best possible chances at sweeping. Naive is run so as to not weaken the Hidden Power Grass hit on Swampert. When running Hidden Power Bug, move the Special Attack EVs into attack, and run a Jolly Nature. With Ice Beam, no Special Attack EVs are needed.
Be sure to send Tyranitar against foes that cannot threaten it from full health very much like Blissey, Magneton, Jirachi, a Choice-locked Salamence, Gengar, and other weak attackers that cannot easily 2HKO it. These are the opportunities that Tyranitar needs to get that one (and sometimes even two) Dragon Dance up and wreak havoc. If intending to sweep with Tyranitar, make sure that the appropriate checks like Swampert and Milotic have been weakened to the point that they cannot contest Tyranitar’s sweep. This can be achieved through a multitude of methods, most often involving Explosion.
Team Options
========
This fast Tyranitar is most frequently seen on quick-paced offenses that appreciate a sweeper that isn't stopped by Starmie. Due to Tyranitar's abilities to both wallbreak and sweep with this set, it synergizes well with other physical attackers like Dragon Dance Salamence, Metagross, and Aerodactyl that appreciate Skarmory and Swampert being weakened by Rock Slide and Hidden Power Grass, respectively. Zapdos and Tyranitar form natural synergy with Zapdos being able to weaken foes like Blissey and Celebi down for Tyranitar to get a safe switch on a recovery move. Snorlax is able to deal with the Water-types that scare Tyranitar out and is also able to weaken Tyranitar checks like Skarmory with Paralysis from Body Slam or deal respectable damage with Focus Punch.
[SET]
name: Bulky Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Hidden Power Bug / Taunt
Item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Adamant
evs: 248 HP / 80 Atk / 180 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Describe what this set does in relation to the meta, alongside some tips on how to use the set. Include various set details when necessary. As a reference, include details on moves, and usage tips.
Team Options
========
Include potential teammates for the Pokemon, as well as descriptions and details as to why.
[SET]
name: Pursuit
move 1: Pursuit
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Fire Blast / Ice Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Ice Beam / Roar / Brick Break
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Modest / Quiet
evs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
The primary function of this set is to trap and kill the ubiquitous Gengar
Describe what this set does in relation to the meta, alongside some tips on how to use the set. Include various set details when necessary. As a reference, include details on moves, and usage tips.
Team Options
========
Include potential teammates for the Pokemon, as well as descriptions and details as to why.
[SET]
name: Mixed
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Hidden Power Grass
move 3: Ice Beam / Rock Slide
move 4: Brick Break / Focus Punch
item: Lum Berry / Leftovers
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Hasty
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Describe what this set does in relation to the meta, alongside some tips on how to use the set. Include various set details when necessary. As a reference, include details on moves, and usage tips.
Team Options
========
Include potential teammates for the Pokemon, as well as descriptions and details as to why.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Rock Slide
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Hidden Power Bug
move 4: Focus Punch / Roar
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Describe what this set does in relation to the meta, alongside some tips on how to use the set. Include various set details when necessary. As a reference, include details on moves, and usage tips.
Team Options
========
Include potential teammates for the Pokemon, as well as descriptions and details as to why.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Rock Slide
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Focus Punch
move 4: Hidden Power Bug
item: Choice Band
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Describe what this set does in relation to the meta, alongside some tips on how to use the set. Include various set details when necessary. As a reference, include details on moves, and usage tips.
Team Options
========
Include potential teammates for the Pokemon, as well as descriptions and details as to why.
[SET]
name: Physical SubPunch
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Focus Punch
move 3: Rock Slide
move 4: Hidden Power Bug / Hidden Power Grass
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 212 Atk / 44 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Describe what this set does in relation to the meta, alongside some tips on how to use the set. Include various set details when necessary. As a reference, include details on moves, and usage tips.
Team Options
========
Include potential teammates for the Pokemon, as well as descriptions and details as to why.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
List some options for the Pokemon user that are plausible but not always recommended due to either being not consistent enough or too outclassed by other Pokemon in the metagame.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Insert Threat Here**: Describe why the Pokemon is a threat.
**Insert Threat Here**: Describe why the Pokemon is a threat.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Watchog, 288832]]
- Quality checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
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