Gyarados [QC: 1/2]

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[OVERVIEW]

* Gyarados is one of the strongest options for a setup sweeper in VGC '17; providing a good centrepiece for teams.
* High and well distributed base stats, in addition to Intimidate, mean it can almost always find the time to set up.
* Intimidate makes Gyarados a team player, neutering common physical attackers such as Arcanine and Garchomp.
* Is no one-trick-pony, as Gyarados' support movepool contains just enough useful tools to keep the foe guessing.
* Other Water-types are capable of supporting their allies; for example, Misty Surge Tapu Fini and Drizzle Pelipper.
* Electric being such a great attacking type makes it common, which is bad news given Gyarados' 4x weakness.

[SET]
name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Ice Fang / Earthquake / Bounce
move 4: Protect
item: Waterium Z / Flyinium Z
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

* Dragon Dance compliments Gyarados's naturally high attack and middling Speed stat to severely threaten foes.
* Waterfall is Gyarados's most reliable STAB attack, and its chance to flinch synergises with potential Speed boosts.
* Bounce helps against Grass-types, though should only be used with Flyinium Z, as its charge turn is troublesome.
* Ice Fang covers against Dragon- and Grass-types which resist Water and, like with Waterfall, has a flinch chance.
* Earthquake can alternatively both cover threatening Electric-types, and provide a spread attack to sweep with.
* Flamethrower can optionally be used in the third slot to OHKO Kartana, who otherwise largely walls this set.
* Protect shields Gyarados while an ally KOs a threat, prevents double targets, and stalls Tailwind and Trick Room.

Set Details
========

* Waterium Z permits the use of Hydro Vortex, which OHKOes bulky Arcanine at -1 and almost everything at +1.
* Flyinium Z and Bounce together grant a strong Flying-type attack; notably hitting Grass-types that resist Water.
* Intimidate is the best ability; aiding Gyarados' teammates and helping itself setup by reducing the foe's attack.
* Jolly is the better nature; allowing Gyarados to outrun important threats such as Aerodactyl and Tapu Koko at +1.
* 252 Atk / 252 Spe works for a Pokemon aiming to deal as much damage and outspeed as many foes as possible.
* A spread of 52 HP / 196 Atk / 76 Def / 4 SpD / 180 Spe can be used if you'd prefer Gyarados were a little bulkier.
* It lives -1 Arcanine's Wild Charge plus outruns and KOs Choice Scarf Xurkitree with Earthquake post Dragon Dance.

Usage Tips
========

* Gyarados often works best mid-late game when threats have been KOed and it can sweep past weakened foes.
* Another advantage to this is that tech Electric moves such as Thunderbolt Porygon2 will already be scouted.
* That's not to say Gyarados is a poor lead, as early Intimidate can be valuable, but don't try to sweep too early.
* That said, avoid the lead position when Braviary or Milotic are spotted at team preview, to avoid boosting them.
* When switching Gyarados into attacks, weigh Intimidate's value with not letting Gyarados take too much damage.
* When bringing Fake Out or redirector partners, plan battles around bringing them out the same time as Gyarados.

Team Options
========

* Lightning Rod users such as Alolan Marowak and Togedemaru redirect severely threatening Electric-type moves.
* Togedemaru also joins Alolan Persian in providing Fake Out support, which creates opportunities to Dragon Dance.
* Redirection such as from Follow Me Clefable, works similar to Fake Out in its ability to help Gyarados set up safely.
* Sky Drop Aerodactyl can also neuter a threat for a turn, though the target cannot be struck the following turn.
* If using Earthquake, ungrounded teammates like Aerodactyl also have natural synergy by not needing to Protect.
* Poison-types such as Alolan Muk and Nihilego check Grass-types, whose resistance to Waterfall is problematic.
* Electric-types such as Tapu Koko and Magnezone are useful offensively to power through opposing Water-types.
* Porygon2 threatens Grass- and Water-types with Ice Beam and Thunderbolt respectively, and reverses Trick Room

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

* Taunt can be useful to prevent Tailwind and Trick Room from mitigating the Speed advantage from Dragon Dance.
* Roar serves an alternative to Taunt with its ability to force setup sweepers and Trick Room setters off the field.
* Sitrus Berry helps Gyarados set up and stay on the field, but doesn't directly increase Gyarados' damage output.
* Figy Berry serves a similar purpose, though should be used with bulkier EV spreads to improve activation chance.
* Groundium Z can be used in combination with Earthquake to transform it into a Wide Guard-circumventing attack.
* Life Orb grants a consistent power boosts to all Gyarados' attacks, but the health cost makes poor use of its bulk.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Electric-types**: Gyarados's 4x weakness to Electric creates issues against even non-STAB users of this attack type. Pokemon such as Tapu Koko and Alolan Raichu are naturally the most problematic, though caution should equally be given to Pokemon such as Tapu Lele and Porygon2 who also frequently make use of Thunderbolt.

**Freeze-Dry**: Alolan Ninetales and Choice Scarf Vanilluxe outspeed Gyarados, and their access to the 4x super effective Freeze-Dry means they can often OHKO it, despite Gyarados' naturally high Special Defense.

**Gastrodon**: Storm Drain redirects Waterfall and Hydro Vortex, shielding Gastrodon and its partner from damage, and boosting the former's Special Attack by one stage, thereby inhibiting Gyarados' ability to pressure the opponent.

**Intimidate and Burns**: While many Intimidate and Will-O-Wisp users, such as Arcanine, are threatened by Gyarados, these remain effective at neutering Gyarados' offense. Salamence is safe provided Ice Fang is unavailable.

**Tailwind and Trick Room**: Gyarados' investment in Speed, as well as Dragon Dance's Speed boosts, are foiled by the use of speed control such as Tailwind and Trick Room, from users such as Drifblim and Porygon2 respectively.
 
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