Gyarados Movesets & Competitive Sets

Dragon Dance in conjunction with Moxie makes Gyarados a powerful setup sweeper. As for coverage, it can run Power Whip to hit Water-types like Gastrodon, Seismitoad, and Rotom-W more reliably. Earthquake can also be used to hit Pokemon like Duraludon and Dracozolt that resist its STAB moves or safely take out a Haze user like Toxapex. Heavy-Duty Boots prevents Gyarados from being hindered from Stealth Rock, as Water-type teams do not run entry hazard removal. Gyarados is unable to set up against Pokemon with Electric- or Rock-type coverage, which makes Seismitoad an excellent partner. In exchange, Gyarados is able to remove its Grass-type threats. It also has excellent synergy with Swift Swim Pokemon like Barraskewda and Drednaw, as they can break down the opposing Pokemon for the other to clean up late-game. The two also have the advantage of eliminating Ice-types with Freeze-Dry, which otherwise prevent Gyarados from setting up, like Lapras. Toxapex is a great partner, as it can take hits for Gyarados and cripple the foe with status such as burn or poison. Burning a physical attacker gives Gyarados more opportunities to set up with Dragon Dance.

Thanks to its Water typing and the combination of Power Whip and Earthquake, Gyarados sets itself apart from other Flying-types as the best option to tackle Fire and Water teams. After a Dragon Dance, Gyarados OHKOes almost every Water-type with Power Whip and can beat Toxapex one-on-one. Because Water teams are typically good at setting Stealth Rock against Flying, it is important to give Gyarados Heavy-Duty Boots in order to make sure it is as healthy as possible when attempting to sweep. While often used to handle Water, Gyarados is effective in other matchups too; for example, Ground teams have no defensive answer to the perfect Water + Grass coverage that Gyarados uses. While Gyarados is very powerful against Fire teams, keep in mind that sun halves Waterfall's damage output, it will find much more success if Torkoal is either removed or weakened before attempting to sweep. Intimidate is preferred in order to give Gyarados more opportunities to set up, as the matchups it is most effective in only require a single Attack boost, but Moxie is another option to make sweeping slightly easier if Gyarados can find a KO. Gyarados is fairly self-sufficient in its particular matchups and doesn't rely on its teammates for too much. However, Xatu's dual screens make it much easier to set up. Gyarados fits best on teams that use one or two Pokemon to cover each matchup, so Pokemon like Corviknight that are extremely effective against types, such as Steel, that it struggles with are especially useful. While Gyarados does not require Defog support, Mandibuzz can still act as a support Pokemon with its slow U-turn to bring it in safely on setup fodder. Because Gyarados is almost entirely walled by Grass-types, it is essential to have a very solid answer that can counter them, such as Charizard or Togekiss.

Thanks to its high Attack and decent Speed, Gyarados serves as a strong wallbreaker, with powerful STAB moves like Surging Strikes threatening common defensive Pokemon like Clefable and Hippowdon. Dragon Dance further bolsters its offensive presence, letting it overwhelm the likes of Toxapex and Ferrothorn, as well as outspeeding revenge killers like Zeraora, Gengar, and Choice Scarf Latios at +2. Dragon Ascent is a powerful STAB move that allows Gyarados to pressure Water-resistant and immune foes like Ferrothorn and Seismitoad. Substitute protects it from revenge killers like Accelerock Tyranitar and Aerodactyl, Toxic from Seismitoad and Heatran, and Strength Sap from Ferrothorn, instead using these Pokemon as setup fodder. Power Whip can be run instead of Substitute to deal more damage to defensive Water-types like Rotom-W and Seismitoad. Leftovers provides passive recovery that allows Gyarados to use Substitute more times, but Heavy-Duty Boots is preferred on non-Substitute sets to prevent Stealth Rock damage. Pokemon like Aerodactyl and Zeraora that struggle to harm walls like Gastrodon and Mudsdale appreciate Gyarados's ability to pressure them. Teammates like Excadrill and Rillaboom check the Rock- and Electric-types that threaten Gyarados. Entry hazard setters like Diggersby and Mew are also good teammates to wear down opposing Pokemon like Celesteela and make it easier for Gyarados to KO them.

Gyarados is a terrifying sweeper due to its combination of Dragon Dance and Moxie letting it snowball through weakened teams after it gets a KO. Its stellar typing allows it to pivot into Ground-type moves and set up, while bluffing a Mega Gyarados set. However, its crippling Stealth Rock weakness alongside a poor initial Speed tier means it struggles to find setup opportunities against a lot of teams. Bounce in conjunction with Flyinium Z allows Gyarados to OHKO erstwhile switch-ins like Grass-types such as Tangrowth, Tapu Bulu, and Amoonguss, which Gyarados lures in. Earthquake allows Gyarados to break through Toxapex easily and reliably stop Magnezone, Mega Mawile, and Tapu Koko from revenge killing it. Power Whip is another option that allows Gyarados to break past Slowbro, Rotom-W and Tapu Fini efficiently, although it is generally inferior to Earthquake due to Gyarados struggling to break past Toxapex, and Power Whip's main targets can be chipped into Earthquake range easily. Gyarados fits best on hyper offense teams because it often struggles to find multiple setup opportunities, and its reliance on its Z-Move to break through defensive checks means it needs a lot of support from its teammates to clean late-game. Dual screens setters such as Tapu Koko and Grimmsnarl give Gyarados many more setup opportunities than its mediocre bulk otherwise allows. Pokemon that can wear down Gyarados's checks, including bulky Grass- and Flying-types such as Corviknight, Zapdos, and Tangrowth, such as Mega Garchomp and Serperior are great partners. Mega Garchomp in particular is exceptional due to providing an Electric immunity to cover Gyarados's most crippling weakness, as well as greatly appreciating Gyarados luring in bulky Grass-types such as Tangrowth for it. Lastly, leads that deny or remove entry hazards such as Mega Diancie and Excadrill are extremely beneficial to help Gyarados's crippling weakness to Stealth Rock. Taunt users such as Hawlucha, Tapu Koko, and Grimmsnarl are other examples, and they can deny Pokemon like Toxapex recovery to force damage on them.

Mega Gyarados's high Attack stat, good offensive typing after Mega Evolution, Dragon Dance, and great ability in Mold Breaker make it a threatening sweeper. Mold Breaker lets it ignore abilities of Pokemon such as Unaware Clefable and Quagsire and Storm Drain Gastrodon, which would normally check it with ease. Mega Gyarados's good typing and base ability Intimidate grant it many setup opportunities to set up with Dragon Dance against foes like Heatran and Mega Scizor and clean late-game. Waterfall neutrally hits Pokemon such as Clefable, Tapu Koko, and Corviknight, and its flinch chance lets Mega Gyarados bypass some of its checks. Crunch hits Water-resistant Pokemon such as Tangrowth and Mega Latias. Substitute offers Mega Gyarados temporary status immunity and lets it avoid Scald burns and Toxic poison from foes like Toxapex, Blissey, and Alomomola. Taunt prevents Pokemon such as Toxapex from removing Mega Gyarados's boosts with Haze and allows it to avoid status from Will-O-Wisp Rotom-W and Toxic Heatran. Earthquake hits Toxapex, Hydreigon, and Rotom-W hard. Mega Gyarados works best on hyper offense teams. Since it often struggles to find opportunities to set up and gets chipped too easily, dual screens support from Tapu Koko and Grimmsnarl is extremely beneficial. Entry hazard support from dedicated hyper offense leads such as Landorus-T, Excadrill, and Mew wears down Mega Gyarados's checks such as Tangrowth, Toxapex, and Alomamola. Rillaboom, Hawlucha, and Serperior assist Mega Gyarados against faster teams and benefit from it beating bulkier teams. Due to its middling Speed and subpar defensive typing, Mega Gyarados is very vulnerable to being revenge killed by faster Pokemon such as Kartana, Rillaboom, and Hawlucha, so checks to them such as Volcarona, Thundurus-T, and Kommo-o are imperative. Hawlucha is an exceptional partner, as it appreciates Mega Gyarados dealing with bulkier teams and pressuring Zapdos and Toxapex.

Gyarados's combination of unique typing and movepool make it a good choice for Max Airstream sweeping. Dragon Dance is a great option on Gyarados, making it less reliant on Dynamax to sweep. Power Whip provides coverage against bulky Water-types, most notably slamming Rotom-W, Tapu Fini, and Swampert. Earthquake deals massive damage to Electric-types such as Raikou, Tapu Koko, and Magnezone, while giving Gyarados a valuable Special Defense boost as Max Quake. Taunt deserves special mention for shutting down passive Pokemon such as Hippowdon, Swampert, and defensive Celesteela, giving Life Orb Gyarados more set up opportunities. Ice Fang is also a reasonable coverage option, hitting Dragon-types such as Garchomp, Salamence, and Dragonite much more effectively. Stone Edge is Gyarados's strongest option against Zapdos. Intimidate is a good choice for allowing Gyarados to set up Dragon Dance more freely, while Moxie allows Gyarados to potentially sweep with just KOs from Max Airstream. A Jolly nature and the given EV spread ensures that Gyarados outspeeds Tapu Koko and Dragapult after a Speed boost. Items Lum Berry insulates Gyarados from status such as Sleep and Burn. When used with Dragon Dance, this makes Gyarados an effective lead against Hippowdon and Swampert. Life Orb makes Gyarados an effective Dynamax sweeper, and should always be used if Gyarados gives up Dragon Dance for more coverage. Wacan Berry is a less common option for Gyarados that lets it survive some Electric-type attacks while Dynamaxed.

This Gyarados takes a slower approach to sweeping, and uses increased bulk and Intimidate to better check major threats. Taunt is extremely useful for punishing passive Pokemon that Gyarados may otherwise have trouble setting up on, such as Hippowdon, Swampert, and defensive Celesteela. Items Sitrus Berry is a good, reliable way for Gyarados to gain back a short burst of health. When paired with Chesto Berry, Rest is useful for giving Gyarados a second chance at sweeping later, at the cost of immediate recovery that Sitrus Berry provides. EV Spreads 252 HP / 156 Def / 100 Spe with Impish: This EV spread allows Gyarados to outspeed Nihilego with one Speed boost, and avoid a 2HKO from Life Orb Cinderace's Max Airstream with Sitrus Berry after Stealth Rock damage. 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe with Impish: This EV spread maximizes Gyarados's physical bulk. 156 HP / 164 Def / 188 Spe with Impish: This EV spread outspeeds Timid Celesteela, while still giving Gyarados a 95% chance to avoid a 2HKO from Cinderace's Life Orb Max Airstream after Stealth Rock and Sitrus Berry. 252 HP / 132 Atk / 20 Def / 4 SpD / 100 Spe with Adamant: This is a more offensive approach for Gyarados, allowing it to survive two Max Airstreams from Life Orb Cinderace after Sitrus Berry, and outspeed Nihilego after one Speed boost 252 HP / 20 Def / 4 SpD / 232 Spe with Jolly: This EV spread allows Gyarados to outspeed up to Timid Dragapult and Tapu Koko after one Speed boost, while being able to avoid a 2HKO from Life Orb Cinderace's Max Airstream after Sitrus Berry.

Moves Bounce allows Gyarados to execute a powerful Supersonic Skystrike, which hits Pokemon like Mega Venusaur and slow Kommo-o for super effective damage and after a Dragon Dance hits hard enough to take out the likes of Mega Charizard X. Taunt is particularly useful against Pokemon like Jumpluff, Ferrothorn, and Substitute Primarina. Dragon Dance allows Gyarados to outspeed threats like Greninja, Mega Charizard Y, Garchomp, and Mega Lopunny after a single boost. Waterfall lets Gyarados deal with Heatran and Donphan. Bulldoze is an interesting move option over Waterfall that allows Flyinium Z Gyarados to bypass faster Taunt users like stall Deoxys-S by slowing them down enough so that Gyarados can Taunt them first. Set Details 208 Speed investment with a Jolly nature allows Gyarados to outspeed common threats like Smeargle, non-Hasty Kommo-o, and, after a Dragon Dance, Garchomp and Jumpluff. 8 HP EVs with 84 Special Defense EVs enable Gyarados to survive a Hidden Power Electric from Mega Charizard Y. The rest is invested into Attack to allow it to hit as hard as possible and help with rolls against bulky Mega Charizard X. Intimidate increases Gyarados's survivability against physical threats such as Choice Band Garchomp, Kartana, and Mega Lopunny. Flyinium Z turns Bounce into Supersonic Skystrike, not only boosting its power but also allowing Gyarados to use a Flying-type attack immediately. Alternatively, the set can be varied to better take on bulky Mega Charizard X. 252 Atk / 84 Def / 172 Spe with an Adamant nature lets Gyarados OHKO Mega Charizard X with +1 Supersonic Skystrike while also tanking an Outrage after a Dragon Dance. However, this means it underspeeds Pokemon like Smeargle and Tapu Bulu, as well as Mega Lopunny even after a Dragon Dance. A spread of 120 HP / 120 Atk / 12 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with a Jolly nature allows Gyarados to outspeed Smeargle and tank an Outrage from Mega Charizard X after a Dragon Dance as well as Hidden Power Electric from Mega Charizard Y. However, this set fails to KO bulky Mega Charizard X, which is the more common variant. Usage Tips Against defensive Mega Venusaur, it is better to use Taunt before using Supersonic Skystrike, in case they survive the initial attack. Against Greninja, use Dragon Dance turn one in case they are running Torrent. Follow up with Supersonic Skystrike if they do not use Substitute; if they do, use Taunt, and use Waterfall to break their Substitute before unleashing Gyarados's Z-Move. Against Primarina, it is best to test the waters to see if they are running Substitute. Use Dragon Dance first, and if they use Substitute, use Taunt to prevent them from using Substitute again. Then, use Bounce to break their Substitute, and finish them off with a Supersonic Skystrike. If they do not have Substitute, just set up Dragon Dance twice and then use Supersonic Skystrike. Despite Gyarados's ability to lure in and take out most Grass-types, Serperior in particular is a tricky matchup, as Gyarados overrelies on Bounce. As long as Serperior baits out the Z-Move and uses Protect on Supersonic Skystrike, it has the upper hand, particularly as Leaf Storm 2HKOes Gyarados. The best play for Gyarados is to use Dragon Dance first and Taunt Serperior after. If they have a Substitute up, use Waterfall to break the Substitute, then go for Supersonic Skystrike. Team Options Flyinium Z Gyarados appreciates teammates that lure in the likes of Mega Venusaur, Kommo-o, and Mega Charizard Y. Serperior is a great partner for this reason, as it is vulnerable to opposing Grass-, Dragon-, and Fire-types and appreciates Gyarados's coverage, in particular its ability to handle both Mega Charizard X and Y. On the other hand, Serperior deals with threats like most Sturdy Pokemon, Zeraora and Magearna, in addition to Mega Gyarados. Magearna is another good partner that lures in Mega Venusaur while also dealing with Sturdy Pokemon that Gyarados has trouble taking on, such as Golem, Crustle, and Donphan. It also sufficiently deals with Dragonite and Porygon-Z. Gyarados beats Fire-types like Mega Charizard Y and Heatran in return. Bulky Ground-types like Zygarde and Landorus-T aid Gyarados by taking care of most Sturdy Pokemon, as well as providing an immunity to Electric-type moves, which Gyarados is 4x weak to, allowing them to beat Pokemon like Zeraora and Victini. They also beat pesky Steel-types like Magearna and Mega Mawile. Gyarados helps with Greninja and Jumpluff, Pokemon that Landorus-T and Zygarde struggle against. Taunt Air Balloon Heatran is very useful in taking out SubSeed users like Serperior that Gyarados has unreliable matchups against, as well as providing a decent check to Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan and Golem. In return, Gyarados covers Kommo-o, Garchomp, and Mega Lopunny.

Moves Dragon Dance boosts Mega Gyarados's Attack and Speed stats, allowing it to take on faster Pokemon better, notably beating certain variants of Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Mega Metagross. Waterfall is Mega Gyarados's Water STAB move and hits Landorus-T, Donphan, Golem, and Crustle super effectively. It also has a very useful 20% chance to flinch. Crunch provides Mega Gyarados with a Dark-type STAB attack and hits Mega Metagross, Mega Slowbro, Meloetta, and Necrozma. Be wary of Thunder Punch variants of Mega Metagross, however, which beat this Mega Gyarados set. Note also that in order to check Mega Slowbro, Taunt must be used. In addition to the aforementioned coverage-dependent targets, Taunt can beat Mega Sableye and stop Pokemon like Zygarde and Crustle from using setup moves. Outrage hits equally as hard as Mega Gyarados's STAB attacks and provides valuable coverage against opposing Mega Gyarados, Dragonite, Zygarde, and Garchomp. In order to beat Zygarde, however, Mega Gyarados must have Taunt so that Zygarde can't use Coil. Earthquake can be used to beat most Magnezone and get a better matchup against Magearna and Mega Mawile. Stone Edge allows Gyarados to reliably beat Mega Charizard Y and most Mega Pinsir, and in the absence of Outrage, it is useful against Mega Charizard X and Dragonite. Set Details 248 HP EVs help maximize Mega Gyarados's mixed bulk better than 252 HP EVs would. 28 Defense EVs with the given HP nearly guarantee that Mega Gyarados can avoid a 2HKO from Adamant Mega Charizard X's Outrage. Similarly, 44 SpD EVs with the given HP give Mega Gyarados an extremely favorable roll against Porygon-Z's Uproar, avoiding a 2HKO without investing many EVs. 144 Speed EVs allow Mega Gyarados to outspeed Pokemon with base 110 Speed like Mega Metagross and Mega Diancie after a Dragon Dance. The remainder of Mega Gyarados's EVs are placed into Attack to hit as hard as possible, and for the same reason, an Adamant nature is used. Intimidate is Mega Gyarados's most viable pre-Mega ability, as it effectively increases Mega Gyarados's physical bulk by a factor of 1.5. Mega Gyarados can also run a spread of 248 HP / 44 SpD / 216 Spe with an Adamant nature, which lets it outspeed Greninja after a Dragon Dance, covering for the unpredictability of Greninja, in exchange for the loss in reliability, while still retaining its extremely favorable Uproar Porygon-Z odds. This will sacrifice slight offensive presence and the avoided 2HKO roll from Adamant Mega Charizard X, however. Usage Tips Against Donphan and other Counter users, outside of Golem, it is advisable to use Dragon Dance twice before attacking with Waterfall so that Mega Gyarados can OHKO them, thus avoiding a potential Counter. If Waterfall is not being run, Outrage or Crunch will usually 2HKO them +1, but Counter must still be played around. If you end up in a seemingly unwinnable matchup and are running Waterfall, it is advisable to go for flinches, which can allow you to win through luck. This is not a strategy that should be relied upon, however. Versus Crustle, Mega Gyarados should use Taunt immediately, if it is running it, set up Dragon Dance, and then KO with Waterfall. If Waterfall isn't being used, Mega Gyarados must play correctly by using Taunt only on turns where Crustle tries to set up Shell Smash and never attack on a turn on which Crustle uses Counter. Without Waterfall, this matchup is not favorable. If Mega Gyarados is using Taunt and Crunch, to beat most Mega Slowbro, it should use Crunch until Slowbro opts to Mega Evolve, as Slowbro has the Oblivious ability, which Mold Breaker is ineffective against. When pitted against Zygarde, Mega Gyarados should use Taunt, set up Dragon Dance, and only then attack. Provided that Gyarados is using Earthquake, it may also check Magearna by using Earthquake (and not Mega Evolving) on turn one and following it up with a Taunt or additional Earthquake depending upon whether Magearna uses Iron Defense or Twinkle Tackle. In some situations, it may be advantageous to not Mega Evolve, which preserves regular Gyarados's Water / Flying typing. This gives it a better shot at beating Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y, Greninja, and Sawk, although Gyarados must still be wary of Electric-type coverage. Team Options Fast and hard-hitting Pokemon such as Naganadel, Greninja, and Choice Scarf Porygon-Z make for good teammates, as they can deal with various Pokemon that threaten Mega Gyarados like Mega Charizard Y, Tapu Lele, and Genesect, while Gyarados can cover up their weaknesses to Sturdy users. Jumpluff makes for a strong Mega Gyarados teammate, as it can deal with Magearna, Mega Metagross, Landorus-T, and certain variants of Mega Charizard Y and Tapu Lele. Meanwhile, Mega Gyarados can support Jumpluff by beating Pokemon that it struggles against such as Crustle, Heatran, and Naganadel. Pokemon with typings that have synergy with Mega Gyarados's make for good teammates. Grass- and Fire- type Pokemon in particular form a Fire / Water / Grass core with Mega Gyarados and cover its weaknesses to Electric- and Grass-type Pokemon. Examples of such Pokemon include Mega Venusaur, Mega Charizard X, and Victini.

Moves Dragon Dance and Taunt make Mega Gyarados a threatening sweeper against defensive teams, as it can accumulate multiple boosts by taking advantage of passive foes by preventing status moves and phazing with Taunt. STAB Crunch hits a number of important foes like Mega Gengar, Lugia, and both formes of Giratina super effectively. Waterfall hits Ho-Oh and Arceus-Ground and deals neutral damage to Fairy-types like Xerneas, Arceus-Fairy, and Magearna. An alternative Water-type STAB move, Aqua Tail provides Mega Gyarados with significantly better chances to OHKO Ho-Oh, Arceus-Ground, and Marshadow after a Dragon Dance at the cost of lower accuracy and the occasional flinch. Earthquake allows Mega Gyarados to improve its matchup against a number of its checks by letting it OHKO Magearna at +1 after minimal prior damage and hit other foes like Primal Groudon super effectively. Bear in mind that forgoing Waterfall significantly worsens Mega Gyarados's matchup against foes like Yveltal, Ho-Oh, and Arceus-Ground. Set Details The given EV spread maximizes Mega Gyarados's damage output while allowing it to outspeed as many foes as possible. A Jolly nature is generally preferred to let Mega Gyarados outspeed base 130 Speed foes and below after a Dragon Dance, preventing it from getting revenge killed by foes like Mega Gengar and Ultra Necrozma. An Adamant nature is an alternative option to provide Mega Gyarados with extra power to achieve a few benchmarks; with Stealth Rock support or Aqua Tail, Adamant Mega Gyarados can achieve OHKOs on Marshadow, Giratina-O, and Lugia at +1. Usage Tips To fully take advantage of Mega Gyarados's defensive capabilities, keep the field clean of entry hazards and prevent it from taking other unnecessary damage from weak attacks or status moves. Do not recklessly Mega Evolve Gyarados, as Intimidate and its Flying typing allow it to check foes like Primal Groudon and Mega Lucario, which it cannot do after Mega Evolution. Mega Gyarados also somewhat lacks physical bulk without Intimidate, so do not overestimate its durability. Gyarados can support its team by softening physical attackers with Intimidate and preventing the likes of Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM from netting excessive damage on its team. Many teams employ checks like Xerneas and Mega Salamence that comfortably take on Mega Gyarados, so setting up early-game is not the best move unless the damage Mega Gyarados can deal to such foes is needed for other teammates. Gyarados uses common Pokemon found on stall teams like Arceus-Ground, Mega Sableye, Chansey, Giratina, and Lugia as setup fodder. While some of them are completely shut down by Taunt, other foes like Mega Sableye can still inflict considerable amount of damage to Mega Gyarados, and the likes of defensvie Zygarde-C, Giratina, and Lugia can prevent Mega Gyarados from setting up on them if carrying Dragon Tail. To facilitate the sweep, keep Gyarados in pristine condition until its checks have been weakened or eliminated, keep it away from status moves by any means necessary, and set up on a passive and slow foe; the latter is especially important, as Mega Gyarados is slower than Arceus formes and other foes that can inflict status on Mega Gyarados before they are afflicted by Taunt. If Dragon Tail users are problematic and cannot be dealt with properly, Gyarados can remain as the last Pokemon so it can't be phazed. Team Options Entry hazard support is essential for Mega Gyarados to sweep successfully and achieve some crucial KOs at +1. Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM are reliable Stealth Rock users that are also some of the better checks to Fairy-types. Primal Groudon can also run Hidden Power Ice to weaken or eliminate Zygarde-C for Mega Gyarados. Ferrothorn sets Spikes to wear down Mega Gyarados's checks faster and checks Fairy-types. All of these Pokemon can also use Toxic to lure certain foes and put them on a timer and further facilitate Mega Gyarados's sweep. Hazard setters like Cloyster and Dialga are appropriate partners on more offensive teams. Xerneas is one of the best partners to Mega Gyarados for various reasons. Geomancy variants appreciate Mega Gyarados pressuring Steel-types and threatening special walls, while Xerneas can clean up weakened foes late-game. Choice Scarf variants are better checks to Yveltal and Zygarde-C, the latter of which is capable of setting up on Mega Gyarados on a forced switch. Cleric support from Aromatherapy and hazard removal with Defog are other fantastic support options that Xerneas has to offer. Other hazard removers like Arceus-Ground and Giratina-O help Gyarados to remain in pristine condition and serve as good checks to Primal Groudon. Powerful wallbreakers like Ultra Necrozma and Deoxys-A can pressure many defensive foes, and they appreciate Mega Gyarados threatening Ghost-types. Gyarados may struggle to set up against offensive teams due to offensive pressure. Many Pokemon that excel against offensive teams, such as mixed Rock Polish Primal Groudon, Yveltal, and Marshadow have good synergy with Gyarados, and they appreciate Gyarados threatening defensive teams. Deoxys-A and Tapu Lele have good offensive synergy with Mega Gyarados. Both of them can work to break through Arceus formes and physically defensive foes, while Mega Gyarados can check Necrozma-DM and Ghost-types.

Set Information Waterfall gets STAB and can also be used to fish for flinches when outspeeding the opposing Pokemon. Crunch makes Mega Gyarados a reliable check to Psychic-type Pokemon and can also cause useful Defense drops. Earthquake allows Mega Gyarados to hit Alolan Muk, Melmetal, and Poliwrath harder than its STAB moves. Substitute allows Mega Gyarados to avoid status conditions from the likes of Eevee-S and Melmetal and also gives it a safe spot to hide from weak attacks. Mega Gyarados's ability to force switches also makes it easier to set it up. Alternatively, Thunder Wave can be used to slow down the opposing Pokemon and annoy them with Waterfall flinches and paralysis and also aids Mega Gyarados's teammates later in the game. An Adamant nature allows Mega Gyarados to hit harder, as the Pokemon it 2HKOes, such as Dragonite, rarely run a +Speed nature as well. Usage Tips Mega Gyarados should be used primarily to wallbreak and clean the opposing team thanks to its high Attack. Additionally, it can be used as a lead against potential Stealth Rock setters bar Mew, which can outspeed and burn it. If it's the only Gengar and Mega Alakazam check on the team, Mega Evolving as soon as possible is recommended. If predicting a switch, Mega Gyarados should use Substitute to have an easier time wearing down the switch-in. Substitute can also be used against Pokemon that cannot hit it hard or against status-inducing moves, such as Melmetal's Thunder Wave. Mega Gyarados should be switched in when predicting the foe to use a resisted move, such as a Water- or Ice-type move from Cloyster, a Steel-type move from Melmetal, or a Psychic-type move from Mega Alakazam, Starmie, and Mew. However, it should avoid switching into common status inducers such as Eevee-S. Finally, it is recommended to keep Mega Gyarados as healthy as possible so it can switch in multiple times and do its job properly. Team Options Zapdos is a good teammate to consider, as it can lure in Ground-types like Rhydon, Nidoqueen, and Alolan Dugtrio and safely bring in Mega Gyarados with U-turn, which can use this as opportunity to clean. It also deals well with annoying threats to Mega Gyarados such as Mega Venusaur and Poliwrath. Ground-types, such as Rhydon, Alolan Dugtrio, and Nidoqueen, can switch into Electric-type moves that threaten Mega Gyarados and can also set up Stealth Rock, which helps Mega Gyarados to break the opposing team. A late-game sweeper, such as Nasty Plot Mew or Agility Dragonite, appreciates Mega Gyarados's ability to wear down foes as well. An additional check to Psychic-types, like Snorlax or Melmetal, is recommended to reduce the burden on Mega Gyarados to check them, especially in the event it is used for something else.

Moves Dragon Dance boosts Gyarados's Attack and Speed; after a single boost, it can outpace metagame threats such as Tapu Koko and Mega Diancie. Bounce along with Flyinium Z allows Gyarados to blow past Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur. Bounce is a two-turn attack after Flyinium Z is used, which makes it very susceptible to Protect users that don't care about Waterfall, such as Toxapex and Ferrothorn. However, it has a chance to paralyze foes, which can be helpful in certain situations. Waterfall is Gyarados's most reliable STAB move that hits Pokemon that resist Bounce, such as Skarmory and Tyranitar. It also has 100% accuracy, unlike Bounce, and a chance to flinch. Taunt allows Gyarados to shut down and freely set up against walls such as Ferrothorn, Toxapex, Hippowdon, and Skarmory. Substitute allows Gyarados to avoid status. Gyarados's teammates can help it set up on weaker physical attackers such as Ferrothorn by burning them with Scald, leaving the foes unable to break Gyarados's Substitute. Gyarados can also use Substitute and Dragon Dance liberally on weaker resisted special attacks from Pokemon such as Gastrodon and Torkoal. Taunt is generally more useful to break through teams; however, Substitute allows Gyarados to set up on weak attacks and be safe from Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Victini revenge killing it. Set Details Maximum Attack investment is used to maximize Gyarados's power. Maximum Speed investment and a Jolly nature are used so Gyarados can outpace offensive threats such as Breloom and Bisharp before setup. A Jolly nature also lets it outpace other threats such as Tapu Koko, Mega Lopunny, and some Choice Scarf users such as Tapu Bulu at +1. Moxie allows Gyarados to sweep teams much more easily after a KO or two. Intimidate eases Gyarados's setup against physical attackers and allows it to use Taunt more freely against slower physical attackers. Intimidate also forces some physical attackers to switch, giving it a free turn to set up. Flyinium Z gives Gyarados a one-time 160-Base Power Supersonic Skystrike to power through walls and get an easier Moxie boost. Usage Tips Use Dragon Dance on walls such as Clefable, on resisted attacks from Pokemon such as Scizor, or to capitalize on Choice Scarf users being locked into attacks that Gyarados resists or is immune to such as Fire Blast or Earthquake. Utilize Taunt against Pokemon like Skarmory and Toxapex to prevent them from removing Gyarados's boosts. Similarly, use Taunt against walls that might have Toxic or Thunder Wave, such as Gastrodon and Chansey. You can also lead with Gyarados and use Taunt against slower entry hazard users such as Clefable and Skarmory to prevent hazards being set up. Capitalize on forced switches by setting up Dragon Dance. However, be careful if your opponent switches out to a faster Choice Scarf revenge killer such as Nihilego or Victini that can KO Gyarados before it does any damage. Use Substitute against passive walls to prevent status. This is especially important against weaker Pokemon that carry Scald such as Gastrodon, as the secondary effect of a burn can possibly ruin Gyarados's sweep if a Substitute isn't up. Pokemon such as Torkoal and Swampert can also otherwise put Gyarados to sleep with Yawn, preventing a sweep. Fish for Scald burns with teammates to make setup easier against physical attackers. Preserve Gyarados's health and Flyinium Z in matchups against types such as Grass and Poison, as it is very important to use the Z-Move to KO problematic Pokemon, such as Ferrothorn and Toxapex, and avoid wasting it on a resisted target or one that uses Protect. Eliminate fast revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Victini so Gyarados doesn't have to worry about trying to get multiple Dragon Dance boosts before sweeping. Try to avoid switching into even resisted attacks unless necessary, as chip damage can leave Gyarados too weak to safely set up and sweep. Moreover, remove Stealth Rock before attempting to set up, as it greatly hinders Gyarados's sweeping potential. Keep in mind that Gyarados greatly threatens types such as Bug and Rock, so making double switches into more passive Pokemon that you can set up on can easily tilt the momentum in Gyarados's favor. Team Options Empoleon provides Defog support to prevent Gyarados from taking unnecessary Stealth Rock damage while setting Stealth Rock itself to wear down the foes for an easier sweep. Empoleon also switches into powerful Rock-type attacks from threatening Pokemon such as Mega Diancie. Swampert can set Stealth Rock and switch into Electric-type attacks that could potentially KO Gyarados. Swampert can also put a Pokemon to sleep with Yawn, which can be used for free setup bait for Gyarados late-game. Gastrodon provides an Electric-type immunity and thus can switch into attacks from Pokemon such as Tapu Koko. Lanturn also switches into Electric-type attacks, has Heal Bell to heal any status Gyarados has been inflicted with, spreads Toxic poison and burns, and can bring Gyarados in safely with a slow Volt Switch. Rotom-W has similar benefits in Volt Switch and its ability to spread status. Toxapex can switch into Rock-type attacks from Pokemon such as Mega Aerodactyl and set up Toxic Spikes freely against walls such as Chansey or weaker attackers to cripple everything for an easier sweep. Azumarill equipped with a Choice Band can power through walls for an easier sweep. In the same way, Mega Sharpedo can assist Gyarados with its Strong Jaw-boosted Crunch to power through the opposition, or Gyarados can do some early-game wallbreaking with Supersonic Skystrike, allowing for Mega Sharpedo to clean late-game. Choice Specs Keldeo can ruin problematic walls such as Porygon2 for Gyarados. Suicune can stall out the opposition's PP and break opposing teams with Calm Mind-boosted Scalds, clearing the way for Gyarados to clean. Choice Scarf Greninja removes huge threats such as Tapu Bulu and Tapu Koko with Gunk Shot and outpaces and KOes faster Choice Scarf users that threaten Gyarados such as Victini and Latios. It can also provide Spikes to wear down the opposition.

Moves Dragon Dance boosts both Gyarados's Attack and Speed, powering up its physical attacks while letting it outspeed quite a few Pokemon, including Mega Beedrill and Choice Scarf Chandelure. Bounce is Gyarados's Flying-type STAB move and has a nifty 30% chance to paralyze the foe, but it has a charge turn that can be exploited by opponents who can then switch out into a Pokemon that resists it. When Bounce is used with Flyinium Z, it turns into a powerful 160-Base Power Supersonic Skystrike, which can be used to KO a bulky foe like Toxapex. However, it is a one-time move, so it should be used only when needed. Waterfall is Gyarados's primary STAB move and can be used to hit Rock-type Pokemon that Flying teams struggle against. Substitute can be used against bulky Pokemon that cannot break Gyarados's substitute easily, such as Toxapex, and it also shields Gyarados from status such as poison and Scald burns, allowing Gyarados to set up easily. Taunt can be used to shut down support and bulky Pokemon such as Celesteela, giving Gyarados ample opportunities to set up with Dragon Dance. It can also be used to prevent status from moves such as Thunder Wave and Will-O-Wisp, which Gyarados greatly dislikes. Set Details Maximum Attack and Speed investment maximizes Gyarados's sweeping potential. A Jolly nature ensures that Gyarados outspeeds Tapu Koko, Choice Scarf Togekiss, and Mega Manectric after a Dragon Dance. Flyinium Z turns Bounce into a powerful Supersonic Skystrike that can be used to KO Gyarados's would-be checks after a Dragon Dance. Moxie boosts Gyarados's Attack every time it gets a KO, effectively snowballing into a sweep once Gyarados can set up. Usage Tips Use Dragon Dance to set up against Ground-, Fighting-, Bug-, and Fire-type Pokemon that Gyarados threatens, such as Gliscor, Keldeo, and Volcarona. This can give Gyarados free opportunities to set up as they switch out. However, you should avoid switching Gyarados into attacks, as they can wear it down and make it unable to set up properly. Similarly, attempt to remove Stealth Rock before Gyarados enters the battlefield. After a Dragon Dance or two, use Supersonic Skystrike to KO Pokemon that would otherwise wall Gyarados such as Toxapex. It is also best to avoid letting Gyarados get inflicted with status, as burns and paralysis halve one of Gyarados's offensive stats, while Toxic poison can rack up, making Gyarados much easier to revenge kill. Also be careful about wasting Supersonic Skystrike, especially if it is needed to break past a certain Pokemon like Porygon2. However, Supersonic Skystrike can be used as the first move to semi-guarantee a Moxie boost. Against support Pokemon or walls such as Celesteela and Jirachi, use Substitute to block incoming status moves and start setting up with Dragon Dance. If Gyarados is running Taunt, use it to shut down bulkier and support Pokemon such as Clefable, giving Gyarados free opportunities to set up, either by forcing them to switch out or by taking little damage from their attacks. It is also helpful to eliminate Gyarados's checks, including bulky Water-types, Electric-types, and Protect users such as Toxapex, Magnezone, and Ferrothorn before bringing it in, as they can usually stop a sweep and force Gyarados out. It is better to set up with Gyarados late-game, especially as it usually only has one chance to sweep because of Flyinium Z's one-time use. When applicable, use Dragon Dance at least two times to avoid getting Gyarados revenge killed by fast Choice Scarf users such as Nihilego. Team Options Gyarados is useful on Flying teams due to its ability to check Rock and Ice teams, allowing Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y and Dragonite to be used more effectively due to Gyarados dealing with their checks such as Terrakion and Weavile. Additionally, Mega Charizard Y can deal with physical walls that Gyarados struggles with such as Rotom-W and Skarmory. Defoggers such as Mantine and Skarmory remove Stealth Rock, which Gyarados dislikes; however, Mantine shares its typing with Gyarados, which makes for a defensive redundancy. Skarmory can also set up Stealth Rock, aiding Gyarados's sweeping potential. Zapdos can easily take most Electric-type attacks for Gyarados, remove entry hazards, and bring Gyarados in safely with Volt Switch. Landorus provides an Electric immunity for Gyarados and can deal large damage to most Electric-type Pokemon and Toxapex. It is also a special wallbreaker that is able to deal with most physical walls that give Gyarados trouble, and it can set up Stealth Rock on top of that. Landorus-T provides another Electric immunity, takes care of Electric-type Pokemon, can set up Stealth Rock, and has Intimidate, which can help Gyarados set up against physical threats. It can also bring Gyarados in safely with U-turn. Gliscor can work as an effective stallbreaker, wearing down Pokemon to ease Gyarados's sweep. It also provides another Electric immunity while being able to spread Toxic to aid Gyarados's setup. Gliscor's utility set can also set up Stealth Rock, making it easier for Gyarados to sweep. Aerodactyl can set up Stealth Rock instead of Landorus or Skarmory, allowing them to run either a different attack in Landorus's case or Spikes in Skarmory's case. Finally, defensive Pokemon such as Celesteela can sponge hits for Gyarados while wearing down foes with their support moves.

Moves Waterfall is Gyarados's strongest STAB move, providing solid neutral coverage and having a chance to flinch to disrupt slower foes. Ice Fang allows Gyarados to threaten Mega Salamence and Garchomp and hits Grass-types harder than Waterfall. Thunder Wave disrupts faster threats such as Mega Salamence and Gengar, and pairs well with Waterfall to form a paraflinch combo. Toxic is useful for dealing with defensive foes such as Slowbro and Cresselia that otherwise don't mind anything that Gyarados can do to them. Taunt allows Gyarados to shut down defensive threats that might try to hit Gyarados with status, such as Cresselia. It also shuts down setup sweepers such as Suicune and Mega Slowbro. Set Details The given EVs maximize physical bulk while ensuring that Gyarados outspeeds uninvested base 85 Speed Pokemon such as Suicune, Cresselia, and Tapu Fini so that it can use Taunt on them. An Impish nature is preferred to boost Gyarados's Defense further. Intimidate provides great support by lowering the foe's Attack, allowing it to handle physical attackers better. Rocky Helmet punishes physical attackers that make contact with Gyarados, notably including Mega Kangaskhan. Leftovers provides recovery, which Gyarados doesn't get otherwise. Usage Tips This Gyarados is best used as a check to physical attackers such as Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Lucario, and Pheromosa, so it should be switching into these threats in order to weaken their attacks and wear them down with Rocky Helmet. Gyarados has no form of recovery outside Leftovers, though, so be careful switching in too often if Gyarados needs to be healthy in order to check a particular foe. Taunt should be a priority against defensive foes, since Gyarados wants to avoid being hit by status as much as possible. Gyarados often forces switches from foes expecting Gyarados to be a Dragon Dance variant, so use this as an opportunity to cripple a switch-in with Thunder Wave or Toxic. Be wary of Electric-types that may switch in, though, in which case switching out may be safer. Team Options Pokemon that struggle with Fighting-types, such as Hydreigon and Heatran, appreciate Gyarados's ability to check threats such as Mega Lucario, Blaziken, and Pheromosa. Ground-types such as Garchomp, Mamoswine, and Mudsdale can deal with Electric-types that threaten Gyarados. Garchomp in particular appreciates the Thunder Wave support to help it sweep with Swords Dance. Fighting-types such as Pheromosa, Buzzwole, and Conkeldurr deal with Porygon2, which otherwise threatens Gyarados. Blaziken and Mega Lucario in particular greatly appreciate Gyarados's ability to switch into Ground-type moves that threaten them. Aegislash covers most common special attackers that threaten Gyarados, such as Tapu Lele and Latios. Gyarados can also switch into Ground- and Fire-type moves that threaten Aegislash.

Moves Dragon Dance boosts Mega Gyarados's Attack and Speed, allowing it to outspeed up to base 130 Speed Pokemon, such as Tapu Koko, and attempt to sweep. Waterfall is Mega Gyarados's primary STAB move, hitting Fire- and Rock-types such as Volcarona, Blaziken, and Tyranitar. Ice Fang hits Mega Salamence and Garchomp hard, and it prevents Mega Salamence from attempting to set up against non-Mega variants. Earthquake hits Electric-types such as Tapu Koko. Mega Gyarados can also use Earthquake to break through Rotom-Heat and Rotom-Wash thanks to Mold Breaker. Taunt can be used to shut down defensive foes trying to hit Gyarados with status moves or sweepers attempting to set up alongside Gyarados such as Swords Dance Garchomp. Set Details Maximum Attack and Speed investment allows Gyarados to hit as hard and fast as possible, and the remaining EVs are put in Special Defense. A Jolly nature is used in order to outspeed base 130 Speed Pokemon such as Tapu Koko and Mega Gengar after one Dragon Dance. Intimidate offers great utility in lowering the foe's Attack, which makes it easier for Gyarados to set up on physical attackers such as Garchomp and Celesteela. Gyaradosite is the preferred item in order to gain access to Mold Breaker and Dark STAB upon Mega Evolution. Mega Evolution also makes Gyarados significantly bulkier, which helps it set up more easily. Usage Tips Gyarados is a sweeper, so it should ideally be brought in against a foe that it can set up against such as Celesteela or Garchomp. Gyarados often forces switches, so try setting up Substitute in these situations. Setting up a Substitute in front of a more passive threat such as Celesteela can immediately put Gyarados in a winning situation. If using Mega Gyarados, try to avoid Mega Evolving until you think it's in a position to sweep because if Gyarados needs to switch out at any point, you'll still be able to take advantage of Intimidate and its Flying typing when it comes back in. Mega Gyarados is very bulky, so don't be afraid to let it take another hit if you think another turn of setup will win you the game. Team Options Rotom-Heat covers Electric-types like Tapu Koko for Gyarados while also being able to switch into Fairy-type moves that threaten Mega Gyarados. In return, Gyarados can switch into Water-type moves that threaten Rotom-Heat. Aegislash covers most of Gyarados's weaknesses and notably deals with Choice Scarf Tapu Lele that try to revenge kill Mega Gyarados after it sets up, while Gyarados can switch into Fire- and Ground-type moves that threaten Aegislash. SubToxic Aegislash notably helps Gyarados break through Porygon2. Mega Scizor forms a double Mega Evolution core with Gyarados, dealing with Fairy- and Grass-types that threaten Mega Gyarados, while Gyarados handles Fire-types that threaten Mega Scizor. Both also function without needing to Mega Evolve, so you can afford to bring both in some matchups. Gyarados appreciates teammates that can handle Fairy-types it has trouble breaking through such as Tapu Fini, Tapu Bulu, and Azumarill. Magnezone, Alolan Muk, Gengar, and Nihilego can all deal with these Fairy-types to varying degrees. Gyarados can also function on rain teams as a late-game cleaner. Pelipper can deal with Grass-types while Kingdra outspeeds common Choice Scarf Pokemon that threaten Mega Gyarados such as Tapu Lele. Fire-types such as Blaziken, Heatran, and Volcarona can deal with Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur, Serperior, and Ferrothorn that otherwise threaten Gyarados.

Moves Rest + Sleep Talk gives Gyarados a form of recovery that can also rid it of status and allows it to continuously check the plethora of physical threats this set is meant to check such as Infernape, Mamoswine, Entei, and Cobalion. Waterfall hits the Fire- and Ground-types that Gyarados tends to switch into super effectively. Roar allows Gyarados to phaze certain setup sweepers such as Cobalion, Suicune, and Reuniclus. Toxic gives Gyarados an option to cripple bulky Water- and Grass-types such as Suicune, Swampert, and Chesnaught, which can comfortably take Gyarados's Water-type STAB. Thunder Wave is another viable option over Toxic to give the team a form of speed control, and Gyarados's access to STAB Waterfall means Gyarados can paraflinch fairly well. Scald, coupled with Roar, allows Gyarados to phaze while burning the foe, making it a very effective status spreader. Set Details Leftovers is the best item for Gyarados, as it gives it a form of passive recovery, allowing it to continue taking hits. An Impish nature further bolsters Gyarados's Defense stat. The EV spread maximizes Leftovers recovery, provides an extra point in Defense, and hits enough Speed to outspeed Crawdaunt. The remaining EVs are dumped into Special Defense to give Gyarados a much better chance of surviving Infernape's +2 Grass Knot after Stealth Rock with Leftovers. It also avoids the 2HKO from Adamant Life Orb Mamoswine after Stealth Rock with the given nature and Intimidate factored in. Rocky Helmet is also a nice option to punish U-turn users as well as getting chip damage on foes if they try to use Knock Off against Gyarados. This particular set works well on entry hazard-stacking teams, as Roar can gain a ton of chip damage on the foes while potentially stopping any sweepers from setting up. Usage Tips Gyarados should pivot in on common physical threats such as Mamoswine, Cobalion, and Infernape, as its invested bulk and Intimidate allow it to take repeated hits. It must watch out for Stealth Rock, as that cuts into its bulk heavily, leaving it susceptible to being overpowered. Team Options Entry hazards from the likes of Forretress, Swampert, and Roserade complement this set very nicely, as they allow Gyarados to rack up chip damage via Roar. Forretress can also provide entry hazard removal, which aids Gyarados's longevity, as Stealth Rock chips away 25% of its HP every time it switches in. However, most Defoggers such as Crobat and Empoleon stack weaknesses with Gyarados, making it difficult to keep entry hazards off Gyarados's side of the field. Special walls such as Blissey and Sylveon are good partners, as they appreciate Gyarados's ability to take most physical attacks while they can tank most special attacks aimed at Gyarados. Krookodile and Cobalion can be really helpful in wearing down the opposing team, as they can provide Stealth Rock support. Ground-types such as Swampert and Nidoqueen resist Rock-type moves and are immune to Electric. Nidoqueen in particular is really nice, as it can provide power and Stealth Rock support.

Moves Substitute gives Gyarados an immunity to status moves, which can cut its sweep short. Dragon Dance is the obligatory setup move, giving Gyarados sweeping potential after just one boost. Waterfall is Gyarados's main STAB move, hitting most of the tier for great neutral damage as well as hitting Fire- and Ground-type Pokemon such as Entei and Krookodile super effectively. Bounce is the best option Gyarados has for a Flying STAB move, and it still allows Gyarados to hit Grass-types, such as Roserade and Shaymin, as well as hitting Pokemon with Water immunities, such as Toxicroak and Heliolisk. However, since it is a two-turn move, the opponent can just switch out to something that can tank the hit. Earthquake is an option over Bounce that doesn't require to wait a turn before it hits and hits common switch-ins such as Empoleon and Heliolisk. Set Details Maximum Attack and Speed EVs with a Jolly nature allow Gyarados to outspeed positive-natured base 80s such as Chandelure and Mamoswine and OHKO them with its Water-type STAB move as well as outspeed Mega Sceptile and Mega Beedrill at +1. Leftovers is best used with Substitute, as it provides Gyarados with a form of passive recovery, allowing for more potential Substitutes. Usage Tips This set aims to set up on Water-types that lack a phazing option such as Alomomola and CroCune. Gyarados is meant to pivot in and out early- to mid-game, using Intimidate to check physical threats such as Mamoswine and Infernape. It must be wary of Stealth Rock being on the field, as it chips 25% of Gyarados's HP every time it switches in. Gyarados shouldn't set up until mid- or late-game when certain checks such as Empoleon and Heliolisk are gone or worn down to the point of being OHKOed at +1. Gyarados should only be switching in on physical threats, as its Stealth Rock weakness and its lack of bulk investment make it hard to tank hits as well as it wants to. Team Options Ground-types such as Krookodile, Swampert, and Nidoqueen can provide amazing defensive synergy, as they are immune to Electric and resist Rock. They both can set Stealth Rock as well, aiding in a Gyarados sweep. Grass-types such as Shaymin and Roserade can help break down bulky Water-types that can cripple Gyarados with a Scald burn or force it out via Roar. Pokemon such as Gligar, Mandibuzz, and Forretress can remove Stealth Rock via Defog or Rapid Spin, which otherwise severely hinders Gyarados's opportunities to switch in. Other setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Cobalion and Swords Dance Lucario can partner with Gyarados to wear down each other's checks and counters, paving the way for either one to set up and sweep.

Moves Dragon Dance gives Gyarados a way to boost its Attack and Speed in one move. Waterfall is Gyarados's main STAB move, hitting Fire- and Ground-type Pokemon such as Chandelure and Mamoswine super effectively. Bounce is the only good Flying-type STAB Gyarados has access to. It gives Gyarados the ability to hit Grass-types, such as Chesnaught, as well as hitting Pokemon with Water immunities, such as Toxicroak, hard; however, it is requires two turns, which can allow the opponent to just switch to their Gyarados check. Earthquake provides Gyarados with a super effective move against Pokemon that typically can check it such as Empoleon and Heliolisk. Double-Edge has decent neutral coverage and hits as hard as Waterfall without requiring a charge turn like Bounce, but it leaves Gyarados walled by Empoleon and Jellicent. Stone Edge allows Gyarados to eliminate opposing Gyarados that try to set up themselves. Set Details Maximum Attack and Speed EVs with a Jolly nature allow Gyarados to outspeed positive-natured base 80s such as Gardevoir as well as faster Pokemon such as Mega Beedrill at +1. Lum Berry is the optimal choice to prevent status from crippling Gyarados, while Life Orb can be nice to provide Gyarados with more initial power but leaves it susceptible to status and being worn down quicker. Charti Berry is also a nice option to allow Gyarados to tank a Stone Edge from Mega Aerodactyl, which outspeeds it at +1, and proceed to finish it off with a STAB Waterfall. Usage Tips Gyarados shouldn't be coming in until late-game when walls have been weakened and, if it doesn't carry a Lum Berry, status users have been eliminated. Most of its checks don't have to be gone, but rather weakened, thanks to this set running more than one coverage move. The Stealth Rock weakness also means that Gyarados can't pivot as easily as it wants to despite being a nice check to Mamoswine and Infernape. If Gyarados lacks Lum Berry, it should avoid status at all costs, as any status ailment can cause it problems. Team Options Mamoswine is a nice partner, as it provides an Electric immunity and can weaken a lot of Gyarados's checks, giving it an easier time setting up. Grass-types such as Whimsicott and Shaymin are even more important for this set, as they can break down bulky Water-types that can cripple Gyarados with a Scald burn, while Gyarados can use special walls to set up and overpower the opposing team. Healing Wish users such as Gardevoir can allow Gyarados to play more aggressively, as it can potentially set up and sweep again. Entry hazard support from Cobalion, Forretress, and Swampert can be really helpful in aiding in a Gyarados sweep. Forretress can also provide entry hazard removal to get rid of Stealth Rock and a slow Volt Switch to bring Gyarados in safely.

Moves Crunch is used as Mega Gyarados's main STAB move because it hits a lot of Pokemon for neutral or super effective damage. Earthquake is mainly used to hit Primal Groudon and Klefki hard as well as anything that resists Crunch. Taunt is useful to avoid status moves and phazing and to stop Xerneas from setting up. Lastly, Dragon Dance boosts Mega Gyarados's Attack and Speed, making it an even more threatening Pokemon. Set Details Maximum Attack EVs are used to deal maximum damage even without a boost. An Adamant nature is needed to OHKO Lugia and 2HKO defensive Arceus formes at +2 with Crunch. Maximum EVs in Speed allow Mega Gyarados to outspeed Darkrai and Shaymin at +1. Running a Jolly nature is an option to outspeed Mega Gengar and Mewtwo at +1. Intimidate should be used as the initial ability because it provides utility versus hyper offense. Lastly, Mold Breaker as a post-Mega Evolution ability helps Mega Gyarados break through common abilities such as Magic Bounce, Multiscale, and Sturdy. Usage Tips When playing against a stall team, make sure to bring Gyarados in safely without letting it get hit by a status move. Furthermore, never use Dragon Dance until an opposing Sableye has Mega Evolved because its base forme has Prankster and Will-O-Wisp. When playing against a hyper offensive team, it's not easy to sweep with Mega Gyarados because of how common Xerneas and Mega Salamence are on these teams, so just save it to check Primal Groudon and offensive Arceus-Ghost. Against Primal Groudon, try playing around Lava Plume and Thunder Wave instead of directly switching Mega Gyarados into it. Team Options Mega Gyarados shines on balanced and bulky offensive teams. It should be paired with solid Xerneas checks such as Primal Groudon, Ho-Oh, and Klefki, as well as solid Mega Salamence checks such as defensive Arceus formes. It's very important that other team members cover Mega Gyarados's weakness to hyper offensive and bulky offensive teams, as Mega Gyarados can only take care of stall and some balanced teams. Finally, Extreme Killer Arceus performs well versus offense and Mega Gyarados takes care of its checks, such as Giratina, Lugia, and Arceus-Ghost.

Moves Waterfall is Gyarados's most powerful STAB move. Thunder Wave allows Gyarados to cripple faster foes. Earthquake provides decent all-field coverage. Taunt allows Gyarados to deal with Pokemon that like to play around with status and setting up. Protect can be used in the last slot to scout opponents. Set Details The HP and Defense EVs allow Gyarados to survive hard hits such as Mega Kangaskhan's Return as well as Garchomp's Rock Slide. 252 Attack EVs and an Adamant nature maximize Gyarados's Attack, allowing it to leave lasting dents in opposing Pokemon. Alternatively, 68 Attack EVs can be run to boost Gyarados's Attack a moderate amount in exchange for more Speed EVs to allow Gyarados to Speed tie with neutral-natured maximum base 58 Speed Pokemon such as Scrafty and outspeed Pokemon such as Mega Mawile. Alternatively, full Speed investment can allow for faster utility moves against threats such as Smeargle. If you choose to run 252 Speed EVs, be certain to run Jolly as well. Sitrus Berry can give Gyarados immediate health recovery once its HP gets low enough, whereas Leftovers provides residual HP recovery throughout the course of the battle. However, Leftovers should not be run unless Gyarados is using Protect, as it otherwise cannot utilize the item fully. Intimidate allows Gyarados to passively support teammates lacking in Defense. Usage Tips Be certain to keep Gyarados away from Electric-type attacks, as it can rarely take any Electric-type attack. Use Taunt against Pokemon such as Amoonguss to prevent them from either sleeping one of your Pokemon or using Rage Powder. If running Protect, use it to scout if you're unsure of what the opponent is going to do. Team Options Pokemon that appreciate the Intimidate support go nicely with Gyarados, such as Mega Alakazam and Gengar. Pokemon that can remove the threatening Rotom-W, such as Amoonguss, make for good partners as well. Lastly, Pokemon that can remove opposing Amoonguss, such as Talonflame or Rotom-H, are good teammates.

Moves Waterfall is a good STAB move with a chance to flinch foes. Ice Fang hits Salamence and Garchomp very hard. Stone Edge wrecks Talonflame, Mega Charizard Y, and Rotom-H. Earthquake can be used for a spread attack, albeit a slightly underwhelming one, in the last slot. Return can be used in the fourth slot instead for a 100% accurate coverage attack for Pokemon Gyarados would hit for neutral damage anyway, such as Rotom-W. Set Details An Adamant nature and 252 Attack EVs maximize Gyarados's damage output. This set runs enough Speed to outrun minimum Speed Rotom-W. The rest is invested in HP for a boost to Gyarados's bulk. Choice Band boosts Gyarados's Attack, and Intimidate lowers the foe's Attack stat whenever Gyarados switches in. Usage Tips Don't be afraid to switch often for more Intimidates, as it will cripple some Pokemon and Gyarados is bulky enough to take attacks. Make sure to stay away from Rotom-W and other Electric-types, as they can beat Gyarados with one of their 4x super effective STAB attacks. Team Options Pokemon that deal with Rotom-W and Amoonguss, such as Ferrothorn, generally are good teammates. Example of these Pokemon include Amoonguss itself, Talonflame, Rotom-H, and Mega Charizard Y.

Moves Waterfall is Gyarados's main STAB move, and it has a nice chance to flinch opposing Pokemon. Earthquake provides spread damage and is really spiffy after Gyarados has Mega Evolved and gained Mold Breaker, as it allows Gyarados to OHKO Rotom-W. Taunt allows Gyarados a ton of little options. You can Taunt Aromatisse through Aroma Veil, for example. Dragon Dance boosts Gyarados's Attack and Speed and puts a lot of pressure on your opponent to beat Gyarados as soon as possible. Set Details The EV spread gives Gyarados enough Speed to outrun minimum Speed Rotom-W and maximum Attack, with the rest put into HP. A Speed creep is highly recommended however as most Rotom-A Speed creep. Gyaradosite is the item of choice so Gyarados can Mega Evolve which allows it to take on Rotom-W. Wacan Berry allows Gyarados to take a Thunderbolt from Rotom-W better. Usage Tips Make sure to Mega Evolve conservatively. Switch in and out liberally for as many Intimidate drops as possible before you Mega Evolve Gyarados. Never stay in on an Electric-type unless Gyarados's Wacan Berry is still intact, if you decide to run that. Team Options Gyarados pairs up well with Pokemon that appreciate the Fighting- and Water-type resistances and Earthquake immunity it brings, such as Tyranitar. Pokemon that resist or are immune to Electric and Rock, such as Garchomp, are especially good partners. Rotom-H can take Electric-type hits and KO Amoonguss with Overheat, and therefore it is a good teammate. Amoonguss shuts down Rotom-W for Gyarados and provides a cushion for Gyarados to set up Dragon Dance under. Talonflame beats up the Grass-types Gyarados might have trouble with and is still immune to Earthquake after Gyarados Mega Evolves.

Moves Dragon Dance boosts Gyarados's Attack and Speed to let it sweep easily. Waterfall is its primary STAB move that benefits from Dragon Dance. Bounce provides Flying-type coverage, which is extremely important to hit Grass-types. Substitute makes setting up Dragon Dance much easier, as it allows Gyarados to avoid status moves such as Thunder Wave, Will-O-Wisp, and Toxic. It also protects Gyarados from Scald burns. Set Details 168 Speed EVs coupled with a Jolly nature allow unboosted Gyarados to outspeed Breloom and go for Bounce, which maximum Speed EVs with an Adamant nature fail to do. The EVs not put in Speed are instead put in HP to improve its overall bulk. If the slight increase in bulk isn't desired, the EVs can be put in Speed to allow Gyarados to outspeed Hoopa-U when unboosted and Choice Scarf Togekiss and Gardevoir after a Dragon Dance. Leftovers is the best item on this set, as Gyarados lacks any other reliable recovery and gaining health while it sets up Dragon Dance or Substitute is very helpful. It also works well in tandem with Bounce, as it gains HP on the turn it uses the move. Intimidate is the preferred ability, as it makes it easier to set up and sweep. Usage Tips Gyarados usually should not be sent in while Stealth Rock is up, as it does not like to get worn down too quickly. Make sure to get it out of the way before sending it in. Setting up while its checks and counters are still healthy is a bad idea because repeatedly switching it in and out lowers its health very quickly, and it rarely manages to find an opportunity to set up again. That being said, this Gyarados set can be sent in early-game to make use of Intimidate and support the team. Status badly hinders Gyarados and leaves it practically useless throughout the match unless you have Heal Bell support. Burn makes it too weak to cause damage, while paralysis leaves it slow enough to get outsped by most wallbreakers. Playing safely and going for Substitute against anything that could possibly inflict status on Gyarados is usually the right play. When using Bounce, make sure that the opponent doesn't have Substitute or any way to boost its stats, as Bounce basically provides the foe with a free turn to set up. Team Options Swampert provides Stealth Rock to break Focus Sashes or Sturdy and wear Pokemon down to make it easier for Gyarados to sweep. Another benefit that Swampert provides is the Electric-type immunity, as Gyarados falls to any Electric-type attack even with Intimidate and its decent bulk. Tentacruel's ability to set up Toxic Spikes and Rapid Spin away Stealth Rock makes it a good match, as Gyarados can take the Ground-type moves aimed at it. Azumarill forms a great physical wallbreaking duo with Gyarados, as it lures in and KOes many of Gyarados's counters, such as Ferrothorn (Choice Band Superpower does a huge chunk) and Skarmory (Waterfall 2HKOes after Stealth Rock damage). Gyarados also manages to take down Mega Venusaur for Azumarill, which is very helpful. Using regular Gyarados frees up the Mega slot on the team. As such, Mega Sharpedo can make it much easier for Gyarados to set up and sweep, as it can weaken its checks and counters. Gyarados can also be used to wear down the opponent's team first before letting Mega Sharpedo come in and clean up. Empoleon's Defog support comes in handy when preserving health on Gyarados, as it is weak to Stealth Rock and does not like to get worn down quickly. Volcanion is a excellent special wallbreaker that can support Gyarados by taking out physical walls that it fails to break through. Lanturn helps Gyarados greatly by being able to absorb Electric-type attacks aimed at it. Additionally, being able to whittle down walls such as Porygon2 with Toxic and Heal Bell support makes it a perfect match. Its slow Volt Switch can help Gyarados greatly by being able to safely bring it in. Gyarados is a great fit on Water-type teams lacking a Mega Venusaur check.

Moves Dragon Dance bolsters Mega Gyarados's Attack and Speed stat to insane levels. Crunch is its primary STAB move that can hit hard with its fearsome Attack stat. Waterfall is the other STAB move, which Mega Gyarados mainly uses to hit Pokemon that resist Crunch or are weak to Waterfall. There are few Pokemon in the metagame that can switch in safely on its STAB combination after a Dragon Dance. Substitute eases prediction, protects Mega Gyarados from most status moves when setting up Dragon Dance, and allows it to set up on passive Pokemon. Earthquake is a decent option over Substitute to hit Electric-types, notably Rotom-W and Magnezone, bypassing Levitate and Sturdy thanks to Mold Breaker. Being able to hit Azumarill for neutral damage grants it another niche. However, Substitute's utility usually makes it the superior option, as being able to avoid status and set up on passive Pokemon is a lot more helpful in most matchups. Using Taunt over Substitute or Earthquake prevents Whirlwind and Roar users from phazing Mega Gyarados. It's also another option to prevent status moves, but it fails to protect Mega Gyarados from Scald burns and Prankster users such as Klefki, Thundurus, and Sableye. Ice Fang over Earthquake or Substitute hits Dragon- and Grass-types that take little damage from Crunch, notably Hydreigon, bulky Garchomp, and Breloom. However, Gyarados prefers Substitute by a lot, as it makes setting up Dragon Dances much easier, while Earthquake provides the much more needed coverage against Electric-types, as well as having far better Base Power compared to Ice Fang. Set Details Intimidate is the preferred ability over Moxie, as it creates more opportunities for Mega Gyarados to set up a Substitute or a Dragon Dance. Maximum Attack and Speed EVs allow Mega Gyarados to make full use of its offensive potential. A Jolly nature permits it to outspeed Mega Manectric, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Beedrill after a Dragon Dance as well as Choice Scarf Gardevoir, Togekiss, and Hoopa-U. An Adamant nature can be used instead if you prefer the increase in power. Usage Tips Mega Gyarados should not be switched in continuously while Stealth Rock is up, as it does not appreciate being worn down quickly, with its lack of access to recovery. Always Mega Evolve wisely. In some cases, it is much more preferable to preserve Intimidate and the Ground-type immunity, while in others you would like to remove the Stealth Rock weakness and be immune to Psychic-type moves. It can also create 50/50s with certain Pokemon like Mega Diancie. As said before, preserving Mega Gyarados's health can be the key to winning the game. If you set up while a check or a counter is still around, you will be forced to switch out and may not get any opportunities to set up a Dragon Dance again. Status heavily hinders Mega Gyarados. Burn halves its damage output, while paralysis allows common wallbreakers to outspeed and OHKO it. Toxic can wear it down quickly, something it dislikes. While Substitute manages to protect Mega Gyarados from most status moves, moves with secondary effects like Discharge, priority Will-O-Wisp from Sableye, and Stun Spore from Whimsicott, can inflict status on it before it sets up a Substitute. Mega Gyarados can take advantage of Choice-locked foes to easily set up. The likes of a Dark-type STAB move-using Hoopa-U or a Draco Meteor-locked -2 Choice Scarf Latios are prime examples. Team Options Swampert's immunity to Electric-type moves sets it apart from other Stealth Rock users available on Water. Tentacruel is an amazing option as a teammate for Mega Gyarados, being able to Rapid Spin away entry hazards that wear down Mega Gyarados very quickly. It also counters Clefable very well, something that threatens Mega Gyarados, and takes most other Fairy-type attacks easily. Toxic Spikes can very easily cripple most of Mega Gyarados's checks and counters, and Tentacruel is the premier user of it on Water. Choice Band Azumarill lures in and takes out most walls that Mega Gyarados can't do much against such as Ferrothorn and Skarmory; its Waterfall 2HKOes Skarmory after Stealth Rock damage. It also takes Fighting-type moves such as Close Combat from Terrakion easily and hits back with Play Rough. Lanturn is another Electric-immune Pokemon that helps Mega Gyarados by being able to Heal Bell away the status ailments that heavily hinder Mega Gyarados. It also helps it set up by providing a slow Volt Switch to safely bring it in. Empoleon is an alternative option as a Stealth Rock user, also being able to use Defog. It takes Fairy-type hits that threaten Mega Gyarados and removes Stealth Rock so it doesn't get worn down too quickly. However, using Empoleon stacks the Fighting-type weakness, and thus it is wise to have a Pokemon with Fighting-type resistance such as Azumarill along with it. Starmie is the best option for an offensive Rapid Spin user. Its Analytic-boosted attacks can create holes in the opponent's team, and it takes down Mega Venusaur, something that Mega Gyarados fails to break through. Choice Specs Volcanion can break Mega Venusaur as well. Moreover, it beats Ferrothorn and makes it much easier for Mega Gyarados to prepare a late-game sweep.

Moves Roost restores Gyarados's HP, which allows it to continually check opposing threats. Waterfall is pretty powerful despite lacking investment, gives Gyarados an offensive presence, and has solid neutral coverage on the metagame. Thunder Wave allows Gyarados to cripple opposing sweepers and makes 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 the preferred phazing move, but it is stopped by Taunt, while Dragon Tail can be stopped by Substitute and Fairy-types and can miss. Set Details This set maximizes Gyarados's physical bulk to allow it to continuously check common physical threats such as Excadrill and various Fake Out + Extreme Speed users. 8 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed Adamant Azumarill. Gyarados can also run a specially defensive spread to check Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y and Heatran better, but a physically defensive spread is usually preferred, as physically defensive Gyarados checks many more threats, takes better advantage of Intimidate, and still handles said Pokemon because Gyarados takes 41% at most from Mega Charizard Y's Blue Flare in sun. Leftovers keeps Gyarados healthy, though Rocky Helmet can be run to wear down opposing physical attackers. Gyaradosite can be used to boost Gyarados's bulk, but it takes up the Mega slot. Usage Tips Gyarados's great typing and defensive stats allow it to easily switch into threats such as Mega 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 potentially spread status throughout the opposing team. Because this set doesn't rely on massive damage output, avoiding status moves isn't as important. 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 Rock. Team Options Gyarados benefits from Stealth Rock users, as it can use Roar to rack up hazard damage. Ferrothorn is a good entry hazard setter that has good defensive synergy with Gyarados, as it can take the Electric- and Rock-type moves that Gyarados has trouble with. Ferrothorn can also act as a cleric with Aromatherapy. Celebi can provide momentum with U-turn and Baton Pass, as well as provide helpful Spore support. Heatran is another good defensive option, as it offers phazing and Stealth Rock support for Gyarados, and Gyarados can take the Fighting-, Ground-, and Water-type moves that hurt Heatran. Gyarados also greatly appreciates a way to keep entry hazards off the field. Landorus-T is a great Defog user that can check Rock-types such as Tyranitar and Terrakion, which give Gyarados trouble. As Gyarados has no way of removing status from itself, it is useful to have a cleric on your team. Chansey is a good cleric that can tank extremely strong special hits, while Clefable is another option that can handle sweepers that get out of hand.

Moves Dragon Dance boosts Gyarados's Attack and Speed to threatening levels. Waterfall is the preferred STAB move, as it hits hard and has solid coverage in the metagame. The second attacking move helps Gyarados get through some of its checks. Crunch is a solid STAB move that allows Gyarados to deal a large amount of damage to bulky Water- and Grass-types such as defensive Gyarados, Venusaur, and Ferrothorn and allows it to OHKO Latios and Latias. Earthquake hits more relevant threats such as Rotom-W and Heatran, and it is able to avoid the Attack drop from King's Shield on Steel-types, though Earthquake is generally weaker than Crunch. The last move gives Gyarados some utility. Roost allows Gyarados to keep its health up throughout the game and allows it to be played more defensively in checking threats. Taunt allows Gyarados to switch into defensive Pokemon easily and force them out, creating easy setup opportunities. Finally, Substitute helps it be more resistant to revenge killing; however, it costs 25% of its HP, which can make Gyarados a lot easier to handle considering it has no recovery. Set Details This set aims to maximize Gyarados's Attack while taking advantage of its natural bulk to set up. Running 252 Attack EVs and an Adamant nature allows Gyarados to deal as much damage as possible. 152 Speed EVs ensure Gyarados outspeeds maximum Speed Thundurus 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 create any additional setup opportunities. Gyaradosite allows Gyarados to Mega Evolve, gaining Mold Breaker and Dark typing along with STAB on Crunch. This allows it to break through Unaware and Sturdy, as well as hitting Levitate users such as Rotom-W with Earthquake, while being able to heavily damage Pokemon such as Ferrothorn and Serperior with Crunch. Leftovers can be used over Gyaradosite if the Mega slot is occupied, which allows it to run Substitute with less risk. 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's checks and counters are weakened to the point where they can be KOed after a Dragon Dance, and do not attempt to set up if the opponent has a fast status user that can shut down Gyarados. If it is running Roost as its utility move, you can afford to use Gyarados as a check to certain threats and you can switch Gyarados in directly. Otherwise, make sure Gyarados does not take any unnecessary damage. If running Taunt, try to switch into slower threats that Gyarados can force out as, they will not be able to phaze or inflict status on it, and if running Substitute, try to keep the Substitute up prior to Prankster users coming in to avoid their priority Thunder Waves and Will-O-Wisps. Team Options Mega Gyarados has high power and decent coverage, but it prefers to have the opposing team weakened before it sweeps. Thundurus is a great teammate that can easily deal with many of the Pokemon that give Gyarados trouble, such as Mega Venusaur, Skarmory, and defensive Gyarados. Raikou and Thundurus-T can easily counter Thundurus that try to revenge kill Gyarados. Landorus-T and Zapdos are good options for entry hazard removal, and they can both grant you momentum with U-turn and Volt Switch, respectively. Offensive Gyarados also highly appreciates cleric support from its team, as it has fewer 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. Serperior is a great teammate for this set, as it helps clean late-game and breaks teams that are capable of handling Mega Gyarados with its threatening Substitute + Spore set.

Moves Dragon Dance is necessary to boost Gyarados's Attack and Speed and allow it to sweep. Waterfall is the preferred STAB move due to its decent power and flinch rate. Crunch can also be used as an attacking move, but Water has better coverage. Roost is necessary to keep Gyarados's health up so it can heal off weaker hits in the early-game and boost through the opposing team in the late-game. Roost also allows Gyarados to come in multiple times before attempting a sweep and handle Fake Out + Extreme Speed easily because of its massive bulk. Substitute is useful to stop status, prevent Gyarados from being revenge killed by Fake Out + Extreme Speed, and prevent Prankster users from stopping its sweep. Finally, Taunt can also be used to stop status and phazing, but Substitute is usually more useful, as it prevents revenge killing. Set Details 152 Speed EVs allow Gyarados to outspeed maximum Speed Thundurus after one Dragon Dance. The rest of the EVs are placed into HP and Defense, along with an Impish nature, to maximize Gyarados's bulk and to provide easy setup opportunities; for example, Silk Scarf Ursaring's -1 Extreme Speed does 33% maximum, and 42% with Guts activated. 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 Evolving 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 be used as a late-game cleaner against offensive teams. Therefore, do not allow it to be crippled by status moves. As non-Mega Gyarados has an arguably better defensive typing and access to Intimidate, it is better to keep Gyarados in its regular forme until it is ready to sweep. The immunity to Ground also makes it much easier to set up on Pokemon such as Garchomp and Landorus-T. When Gyarados has Mega Evolved, it can easily set up on Slowbro and Slowking. When Gyarados ready to sweep, try to keep a Substitute up if possible so it can't get hit by Will-O-Wisps or Thunder Waves from Sableye or Thundurus, respectively, which can prevent its sweep. Substitute will also prevent Gyarados from being revenge killed by Fake Out + Extreme Speed and is able to block Transform from Chansey, allowing Gyarados to 2HKO it. Mega Gyarados can also be used as a powerful stallbreaker, as its high bulk and access to Roost make it difficult for stall teams to take down. Team Options Mega Gyarados needs help clearing bulky Water-types and bulky Grass-types before it can sweep. Thundurus is excellent for this job because it can easily plow through those Pokemon with its STAB moves. Rotom-H and Raikou are good teammates because they can check the Electric-types that threaten Gyarados, and they can also use Volt Switch to gain momentum. Because Gyarados is weak to Stealth Rock, some form of entry hazard control is usually needed on your team. Excadrill is a good option to keep it off the field with Rapid Spin, and it can also provide offensive pressure. Alternatively, Landorus-T and Zapdos are good Defog users that can also use U-turn and Volt Switch, respectively, to gain momentum. Gyarados may also need a cleric if it gets hit by a status move before it has the opportunity to get a Substitute up. Clefable and Porygon2 are good defensive options, while Latios and Latias can provide support in the form of Lunar Dance while also providing Defog support. Stoutland is a great hazard remover with Rapid Spin, which can help Gyarados switch in easily. Serperior is a great teammate for Mega Gyarados, as it can break teams Gyarados struggles with, especially ones with faster revenge killers and physically defensive Pokemon. Kyurem-B is an amazing teammate for its ability to either clean weakened teams with a Choice Scarf set, heavily weaken teams with a powerful special attacking set, or overwhelm the opposing team with double Dragon Dance.

Moves Waterfall is Gyarados's most reliable Water-type STAB attack. Earthquake should be used when running Gyaradosite as the item, while Ice Fang is a nice alternative move to hit opposing Dragon-types that can tank a Waterfall, such as Salamence and Latios. Stone Edge allows Gyarados to OHKO Mega Charizard Y unboosted and Thundurus after one Dragon Dance. Dragon Dance further increases Gyarados's power and Speed and is highly necessary because Gyarados's Speed is very low. Protect allows Gyarados to scout foes and protects against potential status. Set Details 244 Speed with a Jolly nature allows Gyarados to outrun Adamant max Speed Choice Scarf Landorus-T after one Dragon Dance. An Adamant nature can be used for maximum damage output; however, a Jolly nature is preferred because with an Adamant nature, Gyarados can be revenge killed even after a Dragon Dance by Choice Scarf Landorus-T with Superpower or Rock Slide depending on whether it has Mega Evolved or not, respectively. Maximum Attack EVs guarantee maximum damage output. The remaining 12 EVs are put into HP. Intimidate is by far the best ability for Gyarados, as it allows Gyarados to set up Dragon Dances easier against physical attacker. Gyaradosite allows Gyarados to Mega Evolve and gain boosted stats as well as beat non-Mega Gyarados checks, such as Rotom-W. Lum Berry is a nice item choice to heal from status conditions such as burn and paralysis that will severely cripple Gyarados; using it will also open up a slot for a Mega Evolution on your team. Usage Tips It is better at times to delay Gyarados's Mega Evolution due to Intimidate and its type change. For example, against a Pokemon such as Ludicolo, it is best to Dragon Dance before Mega Evolving because, unlike Mega Gyarados, regular Gyarados isn't weak to Grass-type attacks. Pay attention to what Pokemon are currently out on the field, as you can use Gyarados's type change to your advantage. For example, you can Mega Evolve Gyarados on an incoming Psychic-type attack. Team Options Pokemon with access to Follow Me, such as Clefairy and Clefable, are great partners for Mega Gyarados because they can help it set up easier by redirecting super effective hits, such as Close Combat, and statuses away from Gyarados. Talonflame is a nice partner because it can check Grass-types that Gyarados has trouble hitting for massive damage. Talonflame is also immune to Earthquake, which can allow Gyarados to use it freely without worrying about damaging its partner, and is benefited greatly by Gyarados's ability to remove Rotom-W, Rotom-H, and opposing Rock-types. Aegislash can switch into Fighting-, Fairy-, and Rock-type attacks aimed at Gyarados while also being able to provide Wide Guard support for moves such as Rock Slide. Aegislash can also check Terrakion and Virizion, both of which are problems for Gyarados if it has not set up a Dragon Dance yet. Ground-types are really good partners for Gyarados. Landorus-T can switch into Fighting- and Electric-type attacks aimed at Gyarados while also being able to force out opposing Electric- and Rock-type Pokemon. Landorus is also benefited greatly by Gyarados's ability to remove Rotom-W. Mamoswine can force out Electric- and Rock-type Pokemon that threaten Gyarados; it is also able to deal massive damage to opposing Dragon-type Pokemon, such as Mega Salamence and Hydreigon, that Gyarados can't hit hard. If using non-Mega Gyarados, both Mega Metagross and Mega Venusaur are great partners for it. Gyarados plows through Fire-types that Metagross has trouble hitting, such as Heatran, as well as Ground-types like Landorus. Metagross, in turn, checks Rock-types, such as Terrakion, that give Gyarados troubles. These two together put a lot of pressure on the opponent's team. Mega Venusaur breaks through bulky Water-types that generally wall regular Gyarados, such as Rotom-W, and Rock-types. Gyarados, in turn, checks Fire-types, such as Heatran and Rotom-H, that threaten Venusaur.

Moves Waterfall is Gyarados's most reliable Water-type STAB attack and gives it some offensive presence. Taunt shuts down opposing Trick Room and status users, such as Cresselia and Amoonguss. Thunder Wave provides a form of speed control. Protect allows Gyarados to scout for Taunt or super effective attacks. Stone Edge can be used to OHKO Mega Charizard Y, which allows Gyarados to further support Steel-types. Set Details Maximum HP EVs with 108 Defense and an Impish nature optimize Sitrus Berry recovery and guarantee that a -1 Adamant Mega Kangaskhan's Double-Edge will only be a 3HKO after Sitrus Berry. 52 Attack EVs give Gyarados some offensive presence. 44 Special Defense EVs guarantee that Hydreigon won't OHKO with a Modest Choice Specs Draco Meteor and Sylveon will not 2HKO with Hyper Voice after Sitrus Berry. 52 Speed EVs allow Gyarados to outrun 80 Speed Heatran, Cresselia, and 0 Speed Rotom-A so that it can use Taunt. An alternative spread with 236 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature can be used to outrun positive max Speed base 80s such as Smeargle and Adamant Choice Scarf Landorus-T after it has been hit with an Icy Wind. Intimidate is by far the best ability as it increases Gyarados's bulk and cripples opposing physical attackers. Sitrus Berry is the preferred item, as it gives a one-time 25% HP boost unlike the passive recovery afforded by Leftovers. Lum Berry is an option if Sitrus Berry is already being used because it allows Gyarados to shut down Smeargle. Wacan Berry can help Gyarados tank an Electric-type attack that would otherwise OHKO or deal massive damage to it. Usage Tips Be sure to switch Gyarados in and out as required to Intimidate shuffle and cripple opposing physical attackers. Gyarados can switch into many physical attackers and cripple them, such as Talonflame and Mawile. Gyarados also works really well as a lead against Trick Room teams because it can Taunt the Trick Room user before they are able to set up. Team Options Strong attackers that benefit from the support that Gyarados provides generally make good partners. Mega Kangaskhan is benefits greatly from the Intimidate and speed control support that Gyarados provides, allowing it to outspeed threats that it normally wouldn't, such as Terrakion. Mega Charizard Y is also greatly benefited by Gyarados's speed control options as well as its ability to hit Heatran and Rotom-H for super effective damage. Ground-types such as Landorus-T and Garchomp are nice Gyarados partners, as they not only benefit from benefited by the support that Gyarados provides but also complement it really well by being able to switch into Rock- and Electric-type attacks. Mega Metagross synergizes really well with Gyarados, as it is able to check Rock-types that threaten Gyarados, thus increasing Gyarados's longevity and allowing Gyarados to further support its teammates. Gyarados can open opportunities for Mega Metagross to sweep by crippling faster threats with Thunder Wave and weakening their Attack with Intimidate. Mega Venusaur forms a really bulky anti-meta core with Gyarados because it is able to threaten and cripple common Pokemon such as Landorus-T. Mega Venusaur can check bulky Water-types that wall Gyarados while Gyarados checks Fire-types that wall Mega Venusaur.

Utilizing Intimidate to support its teammates is what Gyarados does best. Coupled with its strong supporting moves, this set allows Gyarados to be the ultimate team player. While one might immediately start to pick out supporting moves like a kid looking at ice cream toppings, Gyarados requires some form of offense. Waterfall is arguably Gyarados's best attacking move, and is boosted by STAB, so it hits hard and also has a useful 20% chance to flinch. Gyarados isn't exactly the epitome of speed, so Thunder Wave gives it the ability to slow down foes, and allows Gyarados to imitate Togekiss's deadly paraflinch combo. If one prefers to slow down two Pokemon at once, Icy Wind does just that, although its slightly lower accuracy might be somewhat off-putting. Taunt is a great move for this set, allowing it to cripple common setup Pokemon, such as Cresselia and Dusclops. This allows Gyarados to function as a decent Trick Room counter, which, when set up, turns Gyarados's Speed-dropping moves back on itself. If one does not fear Trick Room, Stone Edge provides an additional attacking option, allowing Gyarados to hit Pokemon resistant to Water-type moves such as Abomasnow, and is Gyarados's best bet against Zapdos. Protect has been called the Swiss Army Knife of VGC, and that is a perfect representation. Its numerous uses include stalling out Trick Room, shielding Gyarados from damage, and allowing weather conditions to take down a Pokemon low on HP. The given EV spread is enough to make one's head itch intensely, but do not fear, it has its place. Maximum HP EVs allow Gyarados to tank most attacks with ease, especially those that are physically-based. The 140 Defense EVs further boost Gyarados's physical capabilities, as do the 52 EVs invested in Attack. The 20 Special Defense EVs guarantee that it can survive a Zapdos's Thunderbolt, provided a Wacan Berry is used. The remaining 44 EVs are put in Speed in order to guarantee that it outspeeds 4 Speed Cresselia, so it can Taunt Cresselia before it can do anything. The aforementioned Wacan Berry is the main item on this set, and for good reason: Gyarados is hard-pressed to do anything if it cannot take an Electric-type attack. If one wishes to avoid type-resist berries, Gyarados can utilize a Lum Berry to great effect, making it a great switch-in to common status users, such as Cresselia and Amoonguss. Intimidate is one of the best abilities in the game; it lowers both opponents' Attack stats when Gyarados switches in. Because of this, Gyarados makes a great partner for many Pokemon that would normally have trouble with physical attackers. Weavile, in particular, works well with Gyarados, appreciating the drop in power from opposing Rock-type moves Weavile loathes, while using its STAB Ice Punch to take on Zapdos and Thundurus, two of Gyarados's biggest counters. Gyarados's Flying-type allows its partner to utilize Earthquake without worrying about damaging Gyarados, further bolstering its role as a supporting Pokemon.

This is a sample set. We aren't working on BW Monotype analyses at the moment, but check out BW Monotype resources for more information about the metagame.

This is a sample set. We aren't working on BW Monotype analyses at the moment, but check out BW Monotype resources for more information about the metagame.

In a metagame where threats such as Chandelure, Keldeo, and Dragonite run rampant, Gyarados's solid 95 / 79 / 100 defenses backed by Intimidate and superb defensive typing become all the more relevant. While Gyarados's defensive stats aren't the best in DW, it has tools that make it an excellent defensive Pokemon. Thunder Wave is useful for stopping setup sweepers, and it works great in tandem with Waterfall's flinch rate, making it tough for the opponent to even land a hit. When Gyarados isn't crippling foes with Thunder Wave, it can phaze them out, which is bolstered by the switches Gyarados tends to generate due to its offensive potential. Dragon Tail is the main choice of phazing move as it isn't affected by Taunt, and with Gyarados's naturally high Attack stat, few sweepers will be able to keep their Substitute up against it. Roar is an option for its reliable accuracy, and is a significantly better option against Substitute + Bulk Up users such as Toxicroak, as well as Substitute Jirachi. Taunt rounds out the set, prevent phazing attempts, status, or attempts at setting up hazards. Even uninvested, Gyarados's base 80 Speed lets it outrun a large portion of the utility Pokemon in DW, allowing it to shut them down with Taunt. The EVs maximize Gyarados's ability to take physical hits, while 248 HP EVs allow for five switches into Stealth Rock as opposed to four. The presence of Stealth Rock greatly hampers Gyarados's ability to switch into attacks, so Forretress can be used a Rapid Spin partner; it can also provide hazards to wear opponents down after Gyarados phazes them out. Ferrothorn is an excellent partner to Gyarados as it can provide hazards as well and heal Gyarados through Leech Seed. Furthermore, Ferrothorn can check one of Gyarados's greatest nemeses: Rotom-W. Jirachi forms an incredibly tough defensive core alongside Gyarados as the two share great type synergy. Jirachi can also provide Gyarados with Wish support, and as Jirachi is capable of spreading paralysis, Gyarados can forgo Thunder Wave for another move, such as Protect, which is useful for scouting VoltTurn cores and more recovery. Rest is another option over Thunder Wave. In this case, a cleric such as Blissey or Chansey could prove useful. Thanks to its Drizzle ability, Politoed is a very useful partner, as in addition to boosting Gyarados's Water STAB, it eliminates residual damage caused by hail or sandstorm.

Thanks to Moxie, Gyarados makes a terrific Choice Scarf user. In addition to being able to revenge kill a large portion of set-up sweepers in DW, Gyarados can also function as a late-game cleaner, as it receives an Attack boost from Moxie after simply revenge killing something. Therefore, Gyarados will essentially have a Dragon Dance boost while locked into a move. It is imperative that this set be used in rain, as the boosted Waterfall will greatly help Gyarados obtain the first Moxie KO, at which point very few Pokemon in DW will be able to take a hit from it. This will let it rack up more Moxie boosts for an increasingly unstoppable sweep. Waterfall is Gyarados's primary attack, and lets it revenge kill +1 Volcarona and Choice Scarf Chandelure. Earthquake takes out Empoleon and Ferrothorn, while Ice Fang comes in handy for revenge killing Dragon Dance Dragons, such as Salamence and Dragonite. While Stone Edge is mainly filler, it is Gyarados's strongest option against opposing Gyarados. A Jolly nature is required to outspeed +1 Haxorus, Dragonite, and every unboosted Pokemon in DW save for Deoxys-S. Jolly also allows Gyarados to both revenge kill Timid Jolteon and prevent Jolteon from revenge killing it. Drizzle Politoed is the best method of supplying Gyarados with rain; the Choice Specs variant is preferred as it can soften walls for Gyarados with its powerful rain-boosted Hydro Pumps. A Stealth Rock-weak Pokemon with a Choice item usually appreciates Rapid Spin support, and Gyarados is no exception. Forretress makes a good spinner, as it can lay hazards and switch into Choice Scarf Terrakion and Landorus, who both outspeed Gyarados. Gyarados will like to fire off its strong Waterfalls, so a teammate that can combat opposing Water resists is a good idea. In addition to spinning away Stealth Rock for Gyarados, Starmie can eliminate Water-types with Thunderbolt, and Grass- and Dragon-types with Ice Beam.

Moxie coupled with rain and Dragon Dance allow Gyarados to rip through unprepared teams. This set is an immediate threat offensively, outspeeding all base 120s after a single Dragon Dance. Waterfall is Gyarados's main weapon and hits extremely hard after a Dragon Dance, thanks to boosts from Life Orb and possibly rain. Waterfall's flinch rate make it even more of a threat; it allows Gyarados to possibly break down bulkier Pokemon such as Skarmory. Stone Edge provides excellent neutral coverage alongside Waterfall, hitting Pokemon such as Dragonite, Serperior, and Celebi. One can opt for Bounce for strong secondary STAB, but it as not as safe of an option on this set; Gyarados lacks protection from Substitute, so it is susceptible to attacks when landing. Earthquake is Gyarados's best option against Empoleon and Ferrothorn. Adamant is preferred for generally more power, but a Jolly nature can be used to outspeed positive-natured base 130s, such as Jolteon and Aerodactyl, after a Dragon Dance. Moxie is the preferred ability as it makes Gyarados an extremely dangerous late-game cleaner; if the opponent sacrifices a Pokemon, Gyarados will become even more threatening. However, Intimidate can be used to ease switching in. Life Orb grants more power, but Lum Berry is an option to shield Gyarados from status, making it easier to set up. Additionally, the Life Orb boost isn't even always necessary if Gyarados can rack up Moxie boosts. Ice Fang can be used over Stone Edge or Bounce to deal with Grass-types while maintaining coverage against Flying- and Dragon-types, but it sometimes doesn't hit hard enough. Taunt can be used over Earthquake to prevent phazing attempts from Pokemon such as Skarmory, status, or opposing Taunts, but this leaves Gyarados walled by Ferrothorn, a prominent defensive threat in the metagame. This set doesn't typically switch around a lot as it is best used as a late-game sweeper, but Rapid Spin support is useful to extend a sweep. Forretress is a good candidate for Rapid Spinning, as it can also lay hazards, which makes Gyarados incredibly hard to switch into. As this set runs into trouble against bulky Water-types, such as Slowbro, Alomomola, and Cloyster, a strong special sweeper, such as Thundurus, can be used as an offensive partner, eliminating each other's checks. Gyarados and Thundurus are furthermore both excellent rain sweepers. If Gyarados is using Life Orb, then status, such as burn and paralysis, will really hamper its ability to sweep. Therefore, a cleric would prove useful. Jolteon can be used as an offensive cleric while also playing a similar role to Thundurus in eliminating Gyarados's checks.

This set aims to obtain multiple Dragon Dances behind a Substitute to attempt a sweep. Substitute is incredibly useful on Gyarados, as it grants Gyarados protection from status, Taunt, Volt Switches from Pokemon such as Rotom-W, revenge killers such as Terrakion and Landorus, and priority moves, in addition to the ability to set up on bulky Water-types without worrying about Scald burns. Substitute also provides protection while Gyarados is airborne after using Bounce, allowing it to rack up even more Leftovers recovery, which somewhat compensates for its weakness to Stealth Rock. Waterfall serves as powerful, reliable STAB, and its flinch rate coupled with Bounce's paralysis rate form a paraflinch combination. All of this means there are very few Pokemon in DW who can handle this set one-on-one. The EVs for this set enable Gyarados to outspeed all base 115s such as Starmie after one Dragon Dance, and also prevent a burned Ferrothorn from breaking its Substitutes with an uninvested Power Whip. However, note that both Bounce and Waterfall make Gyarados take damage from Ferrothorn's Iron Barbs, so Gyarados should look to obtain as many boosts as possible to minimize Iron Barbs damage. Both of Gyarados's abilities, Moxie and Intimidate, have their uses on this set. Moxie allows Gyarados to quickly become more of a threat offensively, while Intimidate gives Gyarados more opportunities to switch in or set up. Politoed makes an excellent partner to Gyarados as it makes Gyarados more of an offensive threat initially, while also eliminating residual damage from sand or hail. Gyarados could make use of Rapid Spin support for more switch-in opportunities: Starmie makes a good Rapin Spin user for this set as it can break down physical walls such as Skarmory, Cloyster, and Quagsire. Gyarados loves paralysis support when behind a Substitute; this can be provided by Ferrothorn and Jirachi. The former is also able to lay hazards, while the latter can supply Gyarados with Wishes. Finally, Magnezone can be used as a partner to eliminate some checks to Gyarados, such as Skarmory, Ferrothorn, and Choice-locked Genesect.

Set Details Dragon Dance transforms Gyarados from a supportive pivot into an offensive sweeper. Its natural bulk gives it the chance to set up in the face of opposing threats, then outspeed all but the fastest Choice Scarf Pokemon. This allows Gyarados to become an immense issue, as it can often remove the few checks a team has with support and then beat the rest of the team by itself. It can function as either the main win condition of a team or a simple offensive threat that can also punish passive turns from an opponent. Gyarados is forced to choose between one of two coverage moves: Stone Edge and Ice Fang. While boosted, each allows it to beat one of the Pokemon that would normally check it. Stone Edge can OHKO Zapdos, the main Electric-type in the tier, while Ice Fang lets it defeat Dragon-types like Latios and Garchomp consistently. Both can also be useful as an option to hit opposing Gyarados, which otherwise may attempt to stop a sweep with Thunder Wave or Taunt. The item choices are similar to the supportive set, with Sitrus Berry often being swapped for Lum Berry. The goal of these items is to provide Gyarados with a single turn to gain an advantage. Wacan Berry allows it to survive a hit and boost to outspeed Zapdos and Latios, flipping the matchup entirely. Lum Berry gives it a different form of safety, allowing it to safely Dragon Dance without fearing burn or paralysis shutting it down. The EV spread here is focused on outspeeding some of the fastest Pokemon in the tier and knocking out common checks. At +1 Speed, Gyarados outspeeds Raikou, Azelf, and Adamant Choice Scarf Metagross. At +1 Attack, it OHKOs bulky Zapdos with Stone Edge and KOs a standard Latios after Life Orb chip damage with Ice Fang. The defensive EVs allow it to take a Thunderbolt from Jolly Zapdos or Life Orb Latios with Wacan Berry. Note that Gyarados can still run the defensive EV spread while running Dragon Dance if the player is willing to sacrifice OHKOs for the ability to survive Modest Zapdos's Thunderbolt. Teambuilding Due to being a setup threat, Dragon Dance Gyarados appreciates support from Pokemon with Fake Out or Follow Me. This includes Infernape, Smeargle, and Togekiss. These can make Gyarados extremely hard to stop, as it can target down specific threats to clear the way for a full sweep while opposing Pokemon are forced to focus on the support. Gyarados also still matches up well against the Steel-types common in the meta, as they allow for easy opportunities to set up. The pairing of Zapdos and Garchomp can do significant damage before it Gyarados gets set up through the use of spread moves and force it to choose who to attack. Similarly, other strategies that utilize strong spread moves, like Trick Room or Explosion spam, can be difficult for Gyarados and its supports to deal with. As mentioned above, supports that either give it Gyarados a turn to set up or redirect damage are extremely useful for executing the main strategy of the set. Other Pokemon like Garchomp, Abomasnow, and Rhyperior that resist Electric or Rock can be utilized with it to mitigate the damage from Zapdos and Garchomp and improve its matchup against Trick Room. Rhyperior can also run Lightning Rod to redirect attacks away from Gyarados. These partners either allow Gyarados to safely pivot out and set up at a later time or combine with it to beat threats before they can become issues.

Set Details Gyarados acts as one of the premier support Pokemon in VGC 2009, utilizing its unique combination of stats, typing, moveset, and ability. These traits position it well into much of the meta, allowing it to absorb hits through Intimidate and natural bulk, then deny many common strategies by spreading paralysis with Thunder Wave and using Taunt to shut down Trick Room. Its naturally high Attack stat also means that it can consistently deal damage, making it threatening in its own right. Waterfall is used as a consistent STAB move. It also pairs incredibly well with Thunder Wave; Gyarados can paralyze opposing Pokemon to outspeed them, then use Waterfall's flinch chance to significantly reduce the foe's chance of moving. This combination can allow Gyarados to beat Pokemon that it may otherwise have a poor matchup against. Taunt gives Gyarados the ability to shut down numerous strategies in 2009. Notably, Gyarados is naturally faster than Smeargle, allowing it to Taunt Smeargle before it has the opportunity to use Dark Void. It also prevents dominant strategies like Trick Room and paralysis spam, making Gyarados a consistent answer on any team for a wide variety of matchups. Stone Edge is useful as a coverage move for Gyarados, allowing it to deal significant damage to many of the Pokemon that threaten or resist it normally. This includes Zapdos and Latios, which can hit it with Thunderbolt, as well as opposing Gyarados that can normally take Waterfall hits safely. Wacan Berry helps to alleviate Gyarados's significant weakness to Electric-type moves, and its EVs can be adjusted to let it survive all but the absolute strongest Electric-type moves in the format with it. Sitrus Berry simply adds extra longevity, which can be extremely useful for a Pokemon that often loves to switch in and take hits. This EV spread has a heavy focus on Speed, running Jolly to outspeed maximum Speed Smeargle and Heatran as well as Adamant Kangaskhan. It also survives Modest Zapdos's Thunderbolt with Wacan Berry and always survives a Life Orb Latios Draco Meteor. The rest of the EVs are dumped into Attack. Teambuilding Gyarados's typing makes it match up well against most of the Steel-types in the format, since it resists both the STAB and common coverage moves of Pokemon like Heatran and Metagross. Its supportive moves in Thunder Wave and Taunt can dominate the speed control of a battle. Thunder Wave enables slower threats like Snorlax and Metagross to attack safely and can help reduce the fear of Speed ties for Pokemon like Latios. Taunt can safely deny setup strategies and Trick Room, allowing the rest of your team to enforce their own strategy. The double weakness to Electric is the central issue of Gyarados, making Zapdos or Latios that run Thunderbolt a significant threat. These threats are what often force Gyarados to run Wacan Berry. Gyarados can also struggle offensively against any Pokemon that resists Water, since it will commonly run Waterfall as its only damaging move. However, Gyarados can sometimes run other coverage moves over one of Taunt or Thunder Wave to mitigate this. The defensive and offensive issues mentioned above are often remedied by the same type of partner: a Dragon-type. Latios and Garchomp both provide safe pivots into Electric-type moves, as well as being able to hit opposing Dragon-types that would resist Gyarados's Water-type attacks. Gyarados also works well with Steel-types on its own team, as it matches up well against the Fire- and Ground-types that threaten them.

Gyarados can be an alternative Dragon Dance sweeper to Tyranitar, boasting better matchups against Metagross and Water-types like Swampert as well as Intimidate. However, it hits noticeably weaker than Tyranitar and is reliant on support from Marowak's Lightning Rod to keep it safe from Thunderbolt from Raikou, Zapdos, and Gengar and requires multiple Dragon Dance boosts to deal serious damage. It should be noted that this is difficult to pull off consistently due to the tier's fast pace. Earthquake is powerful spread damage, but takes a few Dragon Dance boosts to become truly scary. It OHKOes Raikou at +1 Attack and Tyranitar and Metagross at +2. Hidden Power Flying gives Gyarados a strong STAB attack, KOing Gengar and Sceptile at +1 and Starmie at +2 Attack. Hidden Power Rock is an option to hit Zapdos, but it will only OHKO at +2 Attack. Gyarados requires an Adamant nature to always OHKO 252 HP Metagross with a +2 Earthquake, though a Jolly nature will allow it to outspeed the rarely-seen Aerodactyl after a single Dragon Dance boost. Lum Berry temporarily keeps Gyarados safe from any Thunder Wave or Will-O-Wisp it might draw in to halt its attempts to sweep. Lightning Rod Marowak is an absolute requirement for Gyarados, as most teams will have either an Electric-type like Raikou and Zapdos or Electric coverage like Thunderbolt on Gengar. Metagross, Steelix, and Thunderbolt-less Gengar can really only pressure Gyarados with Explosion, so pairing it with Gengar or multiple Protect users to block incoming Explosion will be helpful. Redirection support from Mr. Mime and Magmar will also go a long way in supporting its Dragon Dance sweep. Snorlax appreciates Gyarados's Intimidate and helps it out by checking Raikou and Zapdos thanks to its superb special bulk.