[OVERVIEW]
* Tyranitar's typing grants it useful resistances to Normal-, Flying-, Dark-, and Ghost-type moves, as well as an immunity to Psychic-type attacks.
* It has access to support moves such as Stealth Rock, Toxic, and Thunder Wave.
* Its Rock / Dark typing allows it to hit nearly the entire metagame for at least neutral damage.
* It has access to Pursuit, allowing it to trap Ghost- and Psychic-types that do not carry Fighting-type coverage moves.
* Sand Stream boosts Tyranitar's Special Defense by one stage while sandstorm is active, and it allows Tyranitar to form an effective offensive core with Sand Rush Excadrill.
* A decent Attack stat allows Tyranitar to run offensive sets such as Choice Band.
* It is hindered by a lack of reliable recovery outside of Rest.
* Tyranitar possesses a weakness to Ground- and Fairy-types, two common offensive types in the tier.
* A 4x weakness to Fighting-type attacks allows many Ghost- and Psychic-types to hit it for major damage with a coverage move.
[SET]
name: Entry Hazard Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Rock Slide / Foul Play
move 4: Toxic / Thunder Wave
item: Chople Berry / Shuca Berry
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Stealth Rock is able to wear down switch-ins and frees up teammates, notably Primal Groudon, to run more offensive sets.
* Pursuit allows Tyranitar to trap Mega Gengar and Lunala without Focus Blast.
* Rock Slide provides coverage to hit Flying-types such as Yveltal and Ho-Oh.
* Alternatively, Foul Play dissuades Mega Salamence, Primal Groudon, and Swords Dance Arceus formes from setting up on Tyranitar.
* Toxic hits support Arceus formes and Primal Groudon on the switch, putting them on a timer.
* Thunder Wave can paralyze setup sweepers and faster threats such as Mega Salamence and Xerneas.
* Rest is an option that gives Tyranitar a form of reliable recovery, but it is generally not worth missing out on coverage or status utility. It is most viable on stall or where Tyranitar is not used as the Stealth Rock setter.
Set Details
========
* Maximum HP and Special Defense investment gives Tyranitar as much special bulk as possible to continuously take hits from the likes of Yveltal and Mega Gengar.
* A Careful nature is used to maximize special bulk.
* Shuca Berry halves the damage from Ground-type moves and allows Tyranitar to set Stealth Rock or status Ground-types that can threaten it such as Primal Groudon, Arceus-Ground, and both Landorus formes.
* Alternatively, Chople Berry makes it easier to take a Focus Blast from Yveltal or Mega Gengar.
* Leftovers is an option to provide a form of passive recovery and extend Tyranitar's longevity.
Usage Tips
========
* Tyranitar should be switched in on uninvested or resisted special attacks, such as those from the likes of Yveltal, Mega Gengar, or Arceus-Dragon, and proceed to set Stealth Rock or inflict status.
* It can also switch in on resisted physical hits such as Mega Salamence's Double Edge, although Tyranitar will generally only be able to switch in once.
* If carrying Shuca Berry, Tyranitar can take a Precipice Blades from Primal Groudon and status it or set up Stealth Rock.
* If used alongside Excadrill, Tyranitar can be sacked if it has already gotten up Stealth Rock to provide a temporary Speed boost for Excadrill to wallbreak or attempt a sweep.
* Tyranitar is able to take a hit from unboosted super effective special attacks such as Dialga's Flash Cannon or Arceus-Water's Judgment, meaning that if needed Tyranitar can stay in on them to set entry hazards or inflict status.
* If carrying Foul Play, use it on a predicted setup move, such as Swords Dance or Dragon Dance.
Team Options
========
* Excadrill receives a Speed boost from the sand that Tyranitar provides with its ability, which can help Excadrill sweep late-game.
* Mega Salamence is able to switch into Ground- and Fighting-type attacks directed at Tyranitar.
* Xerneas appreciates Tyranitar's ability to lure and trap its answers, such as Primal Groudon and Bronzong.
* Tyranitar carrying Stealth Rock allows Primal Groudon to run a more offensive set, making it a good partner to take advantage of Tyranitar's utility.
* Primal Groudon, Ho-Oh, and Solgaleo are able to take on Xerneas, which uses Tyranitar as setup fodder.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Pursuit
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Crunch / Earthquake
move 4: Low Kick / Superpower
item: Choice Band
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Pursuit allows Tyranitar to trap Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Mega Gengar and Lunala.
* Stone Edge helps achieve at least neutral coverage on most of the tier, notably hitting Flying-types such as Ho-Oh, Yveltal, and Mega Salamence.
* Crunch provides a strong secondary Dark-type STAB move that achieves great coverage with Stone Edge.
* Earthquake is mainly used to hit Primal Groudon for decent damage, 2HKOing most variants.
* Low Kick provides a reliable way to hit Dialga, Extreme Killer Arceus, and Ferrothorn.
* Alternatively, Superpower can be used to hit Ferrothorn harder, but the resulting Attack and Defense drops make Low Kick a better option a majority of the time.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Attack and Speed investment allows Tyranitar to hit as hard and fast as possible.
* A Jolly nature allows Tyranitar to outspeed most support Pokemon and slower attackers such as Primal Groudon, some Xerneas variants, and defensive Yveltal.
* A Choice Band boosts Tyranitar's attack to threatening levels.
Usage Tips
========
* Not being invested in HP or Defense, Tyranitar can't tank hits as easily.
* It can be brought in on Yveltal or Mega Gengar lacking Focus Blast.
* It is able to Pursuit trap Lunala locked into a move other than Focus Blast, so bring it in after sacking a teammate or on a predicted non-Fighting-type coverage move.
* Tyranitar can be used to surprise Primal Groudon on the switch in with Stone Edge or Earthquake.
* It can be used to emergency check Mega Salamence lacking Earthquake.
* Switch it in on a predicted Defog from Giratina-O and use Crunch or Pursuit to remove or heavily damage it, making it easier to keep up entry hazards.
Team Options
========
* Mega Salamence and Giratina-O are able to take on the Ground- and Fighting-types that threaten Tyranitar.
* Excadrill appreciates the Sandstorm support Tyranitar provides.
* Entry hazard setters, such as Primal Groudon, Bronzong, and Toxapex appreciate Tyranitar's ability to trap Giratina-O; the former two also appreciate its ability to deal with Yveltal.
* Pivots such as Landorus-T, Pheromosa, and Yveltal can get Tyranitar in safely on a foe it is able to trap.
* Tyranitar cannot really touch most support Arceus formes, so partners to take those on, such as Xerneas, Celesteela, and Ho-Oh, are appreciated.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Ice Punch can be used to nail Salamence harder, and it also hits Zygarde-C, but it doesn't have much further use.
* Fire Blast can hit Steel-types such as Scizor and Ferrothorn that tend to switch into Tyranitar.
* Payback is able to OHKO most Deoxys-S variants, limiting it to one layer of hazards.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Ground-types, such as Primal Groudon, Arceus-Ground, and Zygarde-C can all easily beat Tyranitar one-on-one, while Dugtrio is able to trap it; however, Primal Groudon and Dugtrio have to be wary of switching into a Choice Band-boosted attack.
**Fighting-types**: Mega Lucario, Pheromosa, Buzzwole, and Arceus-Fighting can all OHKO Tyranitar with their respective STAB moves, and Mega Lucario can set up on Tyranitar's support set if it lacks Thunder Wave or Foul Play, though it needs to be wary of switching directly into Choice Band Tyranitar, as Earthquake or Low Kick will OHKO it.
**Support Arceus formes**: Support Arceus formes wall Tyranitar if it does not carry Toxic, and they can use Defog on or status it.
**Primal Kyogre**: Both defensive and offensive Primal Kyogre variants can take a hit from Tyranitar and KO it in return with a rain-boosted STAB move.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types, such as Xerneas, Klefki, and Arceus-Fairy, can switch in on Tyranitar's STAB attacks and threaten it out. However, Klefki needs to be wary of taking a Earthquake or Superpower on the switch, and Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy despise Toxic.
* Tyranitar's typing grants it useful resistances to Normal-, Flying-, Dark-, and Ghost-type moves, as well as an immunity to Psychic-type attacks.
* It has access to support moves such as Stealth Rock, Toxic, and Thunder Wave.
* Its Rock / Dark typing allows it to hit nearly the entire metagame for at least neutral damage.
* It has access to Pursuit, allowing it to trap Ghost- and Psychic-types that do not carry Fighting-type coverage moves.
* Sand Stream boosts Tyranitar's Special Defense by one stage while sandstorm is active, and it allows Tyranitar to form an effective offensive core with Sand Rush Excadrill.
* A decent Attack stat allows Tyranitar to run offensive sets such as Choice Band.
* It is hindered by a lack of reliable recovery outside of Rest.
* Tyranitar possesses a weakness to Ground- and Fairy-types, two common offensive types in the tier.
* A 4x weakness to Fighting-type attacks allows many Ghost- and Psychic-types to hit it for major damage with a coverage move.
[SET]
name: Entry Hazard Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Rock Slide / Foul Play
move 4: Toxic / Thunder Wave
item: Chople Berry / Shuca Berry
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Stealth Rock is able to wear down switch-ins and frees up teammates, notably Primal Groudon, to run more offensive sets.
* Pursuit allows Tyranitar to trap Mega Gengar and Lunala without Focus Blast.
* Rock Slide provides coverage to hit Flying-types such as Yveltal and Ho-Oh.
* Alternatively, Foul Play dissuades Mega Salamence, Primal Groudon, and Swords Dance Arceus formes from setting up on Tyranitar.
* Toxic hits support Arceus formes and Primal Groudon on the switch, putting them on a timer.
* Thunder Wave can paralyze setup sweepers and faster threats such as Mega Salamence and Xerneas.
* Rest is an option that gives Tyranitar a form of reliable recovery, but it is generally not worth missing out on coverage or status utility. It is most viable on stall or where Tyranitar is not used as the Stealth Rock setter.
Set Details
========
* Maximum HP and Special Defense investment gives Tyranitar as much special bulk as possible to continuously take hits from the likes of Yveltal and Mega Gengar.
* A Careful nature is used to maximize special bulk.
* Shuca Berry halves the damage from Ground-type moves and allows Tyranitar to set Stealth Rock or status Ground-types that can threaten it such as Primal Groudon, Arceus-Ground, and both Landorus formes.
* Alternatively, Chople Berry makes it easier to take a Focus Blast from Yveltal or Mega Gengar.
* Leftovers is an option to provide a form of passive recovery and extend Tyranitar's longevity.
Usage Tips
========
* Tyranitar should be switched in on uninvested or resisted special attacks, such as those from the likes of Yveltal, Mega Gengar, or Arceus-Dragon, and proceed to set Stealth Rock or inflict status.
* It can also switch in on resisted physical hits such as Mega Salamence's Double Edge, although Tyranitar will generally only be able to switch in once.
* If carrying Shuca Berry, Tyranitar can take a Precipice Blades from Primal Groudon and status it or set up Stealth Rock.
* If used alongside Excadrill, Tyranitar can be sacked if it has already gotten up Stealth Rock to provide a temporary Speed boost for Excadrill to wallbreak or attempt a sweep.
* Tyranitar is able to take a hit from unboosted super effective special attacks such as Dialga's Flash Cannon or Arceus-Water's Judgment, meaning that if needed Tyranitar can stay in on them to set entry hazards or inflict status.
* If carrying Foul Play, use it on a predicted setup move, such as Swords Dance or Dragon Dance.
Team Options
========
* Excadrill receives a Speed boost from the sand that Tyranitar provides with its ability, which can help Excadrill sweep late-game.
* Mega Salamence is able to switch into Ground- and Fighting-type attacks directed at Tyranitar.
* Xerneas appreciates Tyranitar's ability to lure and trap its answers, such as Primal Groudon and Bronzong.
* Tyranitar carrying Stealth Rock allows Primal Groudon to run a more offensive set, making it a good partner to take advantage of Tyranitar's utility.
* Primal Groudon, Ho-Oh, and Solgaleo are able to take on Xerneas, which uses Tyranitar as setup fodder.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Pursuit
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Crunch / Earthquake
move 4: Low Kick / Superpower
item: Choice Band
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Pursuit allows Tyranitar to trap Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Mega Gengar and Lunala.
* Stone Edge helps achieve at least neutral coverage on most of the tier, notably hitting Flying-types such as Ho-Oh, Yveltal, and Mega Salamence.
* Crunch provides a strong secondary Dark-type STAB move that achieves great coverage with Stone Edge.
* Earthquake is mainly used to hit Primal Groudon for decent damage, 2HKOing most variants.
* Low Kick provides a reliable way to hit Dialga, Extreme Killer Arceus, and Ferrothorn.
* Alternatively, Superpower can be used to hit Ferrothorn harder, but the resulting Attack and Defense drops make Low Kick a better option a majority of the time.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Attack and Speed investment allows Tyranitar to hit as hard and fast as possible.
* A Jolly nature allows Tyranitar to outspeed most support Pokemon and slower attackers such as Primal Groudon, some Xerneas variants, and defensive Yveltal.
* A Choice Band boosts Tyranitar's attack to threatening levels.
Usage Tips
========
* Not being invested in HP or Defense, Tyranitar can't tank hits as easily.
* It can be brought in on Yveltal or Mega Gengar lacking Focus Blast.
* It is able to Pursuit trap Lunala locked into a move other than Focus Blast, so bring it in after sacking a teammate or on a predicted non-Fighting-type coverage move.
* Tyranitar can be used to surprise Primal Groudon on the switch in with Stone Edge or Earthquake.
* It can be used to emergency check Mega Salamence lacking Earthquake.
* Switch it in on a predicted Defog from Giratina-O and use Crunch or Pursuit to remove or heavily damage it, making it easier to keep up entry hazards.
Team Options
========
* Mega Salamence and Giratina-O are able to take on the Ground- and Fighting-types that threaten Tyranitar.
* Excadrill appreciates the Sandstorm support Tyranitar provides.
* Entry hazard setters, such as Primal Groudon, Bronzong, and Toxapex appreciate Tyranitar's ability to trap Giratina-O; the former two also appreciate its ability to deal with Yveltal.
* Pivots such as Landorus-T, Pheromosa, and Yveltal can get Tyranitar in safely on a foe it is able to trap.
* Tyranitar cannot really touch most support Arceus formes, so partners to take those on, such as Xerneas, Celesteela, and Ho-Oh, are appreciated.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Ice Punch can be used to nail Salamence harder, and it also hits Zygarde-C, but it doesn't have much further use.
* Fire Blast can hit Steel-types such as Scizor and Ferrothorn that tend to switch into Tyranitar.
* Payback is able to OHKO most Deoxys-S variants, limiting it to one layer of hazards.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Ground-types, such as Primal Groudon, Arceus-Ground, and Zygarde-C can all easily beat Tyranitar one-on-one, while Dugtrio is able to trap it; however, Primal Groudon and Dugtrio have to be wary of switching into a Choice Band-boosted attack.
**Fighting-types**: Mega Lucario, Pheromosa, Buzzwole, and Arceus-Fighting can all OHKO Tyranitar with their respective STAB moves, and Mega Lucario can set up on Tyranitar's support set if it lacks Thunder Wave or Foul Play, though it needs to be wary of switching directly into Choice Band Tyranitar, as Earthquake or Low Kick will OHKO it.
**Support Arceus formes**: Support Arceus formes wall Tyranitar if it does not carry Toxic, and they can use Defog on or status it.
**Primal Kyogre**: Both defensive and offensive Primal Kyogre variants can take a hit from Tyranitar and KO it in return with a rain-boosted STAB move.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types, such as Xerneas, Klefki, and Arceus-Fairy, can switch in on Tyranitar's STAB attacks and threaten it out. However, Klefki needs to be wary of taking a Earthquake or Superpower on the switch, and Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy despise Toxic.
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