qc: torkool / misaka mikoto / kevinelf
gp: lotiasite / talkingtree
Water
========
Gyarados is one of the strongest Pokemon on Water, breaking huge defensive threats such as Mega Venusaur and Ferrothorn with a boosted Supersonic Skystrike. It has access to two good abilities, Moxie and Intimidate. The former improves Gyarados's sweeping potential after it gets a KO, while the latter allows it to set up more easily on physical attackers. Gyarados's decent bulk in conjunction with Intimidate gives it almost no problem setting up, as it can take most weaker neutral attacks easily. However, Moxie is generally more useful because Gyarados has a much easier time snowballing teams without having to Dragon Dance multiple times to get vital KOes. Gyarados has access to Taunt, which means it can set up on phazers such as Skarmory or walls looking to cripple it with status such as Gastrodon. Gyarados's typing gives it a good number of useful resistances to types such as Fighting and an immunity to Ground-type moves. It notably takes only neutral damage from Grass-type attacks but has a crippling weakness to Electric-type attacks. It is also immune to Toxic Spikes and Spikes. Gyarados can outpace the majority of unboosted Pokemon, notably Tapu Koko and Mega Lopunny, at +1. However, Gyarados's Speed stat leaves much to be desired, as before setup it is very susceptible to attacks from faster Pokemon such as Kyurem-B; even at +1, it is still easily revenge killed by faster Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Victini. Gyarados also has a hard time setting up in certain matchups and gets outright walled by Pokemon such as Rotom-W; other factors, such as its weakness to Stealth Rock, can also make setting up difficult. Bounce takes a turn to charge, which makes it useless against Pokemon such as Baneful Bunker Toxapex and Protect Ferrothorn after Flyinium Z has been used.
[SET]
name: Dragon Dance Sweeper
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Bounce
move 3: Waterfall
move 4: Taunt / Substitute
item: Flyinium Z
ability: Moxie / Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
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
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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.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Water
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Earthquake allows Gyarados to hit Pokemon such as Toxapex and Jirachi. Mega Gyarados running Dragon Dance, Crunch, Waterfall, and Earthquake can power through types like Psychic, and Mold Breaker is great for Pokemon such as Rotom-W. However, the lack of Flyinium Z prevents it from checking a huge threat to Water teams in Mega Venusaur.
Checks and Counters
===================
Water
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**Electric-types**: Most Electric-types can outspeed Gyarados, and Surge Surfer Alolan Raichu can outpace even a +2 Gyarados and revenge kill it. Bulkier Electric-types such as Rotom-W can switch in on any of Gyarados's attacks and have a good chance to OHKO it with Volt Switch.
**Phazers and Haze Users**: Pokemon like Toxapex and Skarmory eat up Gyarados's attacks and can prevent it from sweeping with Haze or a phazing move such as Whirlwind. Even though Taunt can prevent this, Skarmory's Brave Bird in conjunction with Rocky Helmet chip damage makes it very hard for Gyarados to sweep and Toxapex's Scald can burn Gyarados, neutralizing it.
**Physical Walls**: Physical walls, most notably Toxapex, really annoy Gyarados, as Baneful Bunker makes it very hard to sweep. Substitute sets lose
**Revenge Killers**: Fast Choice Scarf users such as Victini and Terrakion can outpace even a +1 Gyarados and revenge kill it.
**Status**: Toxic poison breaks Gyarados down quickly, while paralysis prevents a sweep. Burns turn Gyarados into a liability, as it becomes free setup bait for the opposition.
**Stealth Rock**: Stealth Rock wears down Gyarados so that it can be revenge killed much more easily. Stealth Rock also makes it much harder for Gyarados to set up, especially when it has to take an attack.
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