[OVERVIEW]
While Tyranitar seems dwarfed both in stature and impact by the Pokemon with massive stats that dominate the Uber tier, it holds several traits that give it a valuable role in the tier. Its sand disrupts the weather dynamic of DPP Ubers that is entirely dominated by rain and sun. This and its STAB moves that pressure many common leads let Tyranitar successfully function as an anti-lead that limits suicide leads like Deoxys-S, Deoxys-A, and Froslass to a single layer of entry hazards. Its impact extends beyond the lead slot, as it can reset the weather mid-game to make the weather setters and the Pokemon they enable easier to handle. It may also use Pursuit to weaken threats like Latias, Latios, Giratina-O, and Blissey. Tyranitar can even pump up the power of its Pursuit with Choice Band, and in the process, it gains the power to smash through stall teams. However, Tyranitar is slow, is affected by every form of hazard, and lacks recovery, so it does not last long in games. Additionally, many Pokemon, such as Darkrai and Mewtwo, carry coverage moves like Focus Blast and Aura Sphere, respectively, that pressure Steel-types, and these moves are also effective against Tyranitar. Finally, though Tyranitar is effective at denying Kyogre and Groudon their respective weather, it dislikes staying in against them and can give them entry to establish the weather advantage.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Earthquake threatens the Steel-types that Fire Blast does not, especially Heatran and Jirachi. Thunder Wave spreads paralysis on faster leads like Rayquaza and Tentacruel so that Tyranitar can mess with them itself; it also supports teammates like Dialga that would be outsped by them. Other niche options on the lead sets include Rock-type attacks to outright remove lead Ho-Oh and Counter to completely eliminate Groudon leads. The utility lead may employ Passho Berry to let Tyranitar swallow an attack from lead Kyogre, which can be used on teams that really need Stealth Rock or early damage dealt to it. Choice Scarf improves Tyranitar's ability to remove Latias and Latios by not forcing it to take one of their attacks, but this variant is easily outsped by faster and frailer foes like Darkrai, Shaymin-S, and Mewtwo and does not let Tyranitar consistently establish sand against lead Kyogre, so it cannot be used in the lead slot. ChestoRest Tyranitar has enough longevity to set up sand and check the Lati twins more times in a game.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Kyogre**: Unless Tyranitar has led off against Kyogre, Kyogre's rain cuts off Tyranitar's Special Defense boost from sand and powers up its super effective STAB moves that threaten to OHKO Tyranitar. Kyogre can also use Tyranitar to spread paralysis or set up with Calm Mind.
**Groudon**: While Groudon is a far less common lead than Kyogre, this means that it can use its immense physical bulk to switch into Tyranitar, gain the weather advantage, and pressure it with STAB Earthquake. Like Kyogre, Groudon may spread paralysis and set up with Swords Dance, but it can also set up Stealth Rock that digs into Tyranitar and its teammates.
**Fighting-type Coverage**: Many foes, like Darkrai, Mewtwo, and Deoxys-A, carry Fighting-type coverage moves in Focus Blast, Aura Sphere, and Superpower, respectively, that destroy Tyranitar.
**Jirachi**: Jirachi outspeeds Tyranitar and commonly carries Iron Head, which threatens super effective damage to Tyranitar.
**Rayquaza**: Rayquaza's Air Lock lets it ignore sand, meaning that Focus Sash variants cannot be removed by it in a single turn.
**Ground-types**: The likes of Garchomp and Gliscor threaten huge damage on Tyranitar with their STAB Earthquake and can use Tyranitar's sand against it by activating their Sand Veil ability.
**Water-types**: Many other Water-types, including Palkia, Kabutops, and Manaphy, partner well with the aforementioned Kyogre and threaten Tyranitar with their Water-type STAB moves. One thing to note is that if Palkia is known to be holding a Choice item and is locked into a non-Water-type attack, then Tyranitar can use Pursuit to weaken it, which can help its own Water- and Dragon-types that get checked by it.
**Entry Hazards**: Because it is affected by Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes and has no form of reliable recovery, Tyranitar is among the most hazard-weak Pokemon in the tier. The passive damage caused by hazards pushes Tyranitar into range of many of the Pokemon it is meant to trade hits with, ensuring that it won't be able to take on foes like Giratina-O.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/seldanna.471586/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/inspirited.127823/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lasen.273339/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
While Tyranitar seems dwarfed both in stature and impact by the Pokemon with massive stats that dominate the Uber tier, it holds several traits that give it a valuable role in the tier. Its sand disrupts the weather dynamic of DPP Ubers that is entirely dominated by rain and sun. This and its STAB moves that pressure many common leads let Tyranitar successfully function as an anti-lead that limits suicide leads like Deoxys-S, Deoxys-A, and Froslass to a single layer of entry hazards. Its impact extends beyond the lead slot, as it can reset the weather mid-game to make the weather setters and the Pokemon they enable easier to handle. It may also use Pursuit to weaken threats like Latias, Latios, Giratina-O, and Blissey. Tyranitar can even pump up the power of its Pursuit with Choice Band, and in the process, it gains the power to smash through stall teams. However, Tyranitar is slow, is affected by every form of hazard, and lacks recovery, so it does not last long in games. Additionally, many Pokemon, such as Darkrai and Mewtwo, carry coverage moves like Focus Blast and Aura Sphere, respectively, that pressure Steel-types, and these moves are also effective against Tyranitar. Finally, though Tyranitar is effective at denying Kyogre and Groudon their respective weather, it dislikes staying in against them and can give them entry to establish the weather advantage.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Earthquake threatens the Steel-types that Fire Blast does not, especially Heatran and Jirachi. Thunder Wave spreads paralysis on faster leads like Rayquaza and Tentacruel so that Tyranitar can mess with them itself; it also supports teammates like Dialga that would be outsped by them. Other niche options on the lead sets include Rock-type attacks to outright remove lead Ho-Oh and Counter to completely eliminate Groudon leads. The utility lead may employ Passho Berry to let Tyranitar swallow an attack from lead Kyogre, which can be used on teams that really need Stealth Rock or early damage dealt to it. Choice Scarf improves Tyranitar's ability to remove Latias and Latios by not forcing it to take one of their attacks, but this variant is easily outsped by faster and frailer foes like Darkrai, Shaymin-S, and Mewtwo and does not let Tyranitar consistently establish sand against lead Kyogre, so it cannot be used in the lead slot. ChestoRest Tyranitar has enough longevity to set up sand and check the Lati twins more times in a game.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Kyogre**: Unless Tyranitar has led off against Kyogre, Kyogre's rain cuts off Tyranitar's Special Defense boost from sand and powers up its super effective STAB moves that threaten to OHKO Tyranitar. Kyogre can also use Tyranitar to spread paralysis or set up with Calm Mind.
**Groudon**: While Groudon is a far less common lead than Kyogre, this means that it can use its immense physical bulk to switch into Tyranitar, gain the weather advantage, and pressure it with STAB Earthquake. Like Kyogre, Groudon may spread paralysis and set up with Swords Dance, but it can also set up Stealth Rock that digs into Tyranitar and its teammates.
**Fighting-type Coverage**: Many foes, like Darkrai, Mewtwo, and Deoxys-A, carry Fighting-type coverage moves in Focus Blast, Aura Sphere, and Superpower, respectively, that destroy Tyranitar.
**Jirachi**: Jirachi outspeeds Tyranitar and commonly carries Iron Head, which threatens super effective damage to Tyranitar.
**Rayquaza**: Rayquaza's Air Lock lets it ignore sand, meaning that Focus Sash variants cannot be removed by it in a single turn.
**Ground-types**: The likes of Garchomp and Gliscor threaten huge damage on Tyranitar with their STAB Earthquake and can use Tyranitar's sand against it by activating their Sand Veil ability.
**Water-types**: Many other Water-types, including Palkia, Kabutops, and Manaphy, partner well with the aforementioned Kyogre and threaten Tyranitar with their Water-type STAB moves. One thing to note is that if Palkia is known to be holding a Choice item and is locked into a non-Water-type attack, then Tyranitar can use Pursuit to weaken it, which can help its own Water- and Dragon-types that get checked by it.
**Entry Hazards**: Because it is affected by Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes and has no form of reliable recovery, Tyranitar is among the most hazard-weak Pokemon in the tier. The passive damage caused by hazards pushes Tyranitar into range of many of the Pokemon it is meant to trade hits with, ensuring that it won't be able to take on foes like Giratina-O.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/seldanna.471586/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/inspirited.127823/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lasen.273339/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Last edited:
