Gyarados' great typing, ease of setting up with Dragon Dance, and versatility makes it one of the most used Pokemon in the competitive battling scene. Read on to find out the best build, the best moveset, basic information, stats and recommended partners for Gyarados in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP).

Gyarados Best Build and Moveset

Dragon Dance Gyarados

Pokemon	Ability	Item	Attacks
Gyarados	Intimidate	Sitrus Berry	・Waterfall ・Ice Fang ・Crunch ・Dragon Dance
Nature / EVs	Jolly 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Final Stats	171 HP / 177 Atk / 99 Def / 120 SpD / 146 Spe

Using Gyarados

Because Gyarados is a Water and Flying type, it has an advantage against Fire and Ground types. Use Dragon Dance, a move that boosts its Attack and Speed stats, if Gyarados has a type advantage, and sweep your opponent's active Pokemon as well as their remaining Pokemon.

Using Gyarados as an attacker after successfully setting up Dragon Dance will help you sweep through your opponent's entire team.

Gyarados has reasonable bulk, and with its Intimidate Ability, it can set up Dragon Dance against most Physical attacking Pokemon.

Equipping Gyarados with Wacan Berry gives it a little more survivability against Electric-type Moves.

Other Viable Moves

Gyarados Basic Information

Gyarados - Type

Gyarados Atrocious Pokemon
Type 1	Type 2

Gyarados Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage	-
Takes 0x damage

Gyarados Abilities

Gyarados Hidden Ability

Gyarados Base Stats

Gyarados' Strengths and Weaknesses

Easy to Set Up Thanks to Intimidate

Gyarados' Intimidate Ability reduces opposing Pokemon's Attack stats. This puts Gyarados at an advantage against Physical attacking Pokemon, letting you set up Dragon Dance reliably and giving you momentum to sweep and win the game.

Dragon Dance Boosts Gyarados' Offensive Power

Gyarados naturally learns Dragon Dance through leveling up. It is a very powerful stat boosting move that makes Gyarados very difficult to stop once it is set up.

A Great Pokemon to Use in the Battle Tower

While Gyarados is a strong Pokemon to use in battles against friends, it is also a very good Pokemon to bring to the Battle Tower. It is definitely a Pokemon worth raising either way.

Battle Tower Strategy and Recommended Pokemon

Counter with Electric Pokemon

Electric-type moves are 4x effective on Gyarados, so this is of course a very simple way to deal with Gyarados. However, be aware that a Gyarados with very high Speed may still be able to turn the tables on an Electric-type Pokemon.

Pokemon	Description
Zapdos	Ranking：★★★★★ ・Faster than Gyarados, which is very important in this matchup. ・Can receive physical attacks and easily regain lost HP by using Roost.
Wash Rotom	Ranking：★★★★★ ・Holding Choice Scarf will boost its Speed enough for it to attack before Gyarados.
Jolteon	Ranking：★★★★ ・Extremely high Speed Electric-type attacker.

Best Natures for Gyarados

What are Natures?

Best Partners for Gyarados

Pokemon	Ability	Item	Attacks
Scizor	Technician	Lum Berry	・Bullet Punch ・U-Turn ・Swords Dance ・Roost
Nature / EVs	Adamant 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Final Stats	177 HP / 200 Atk / 120 Def / 101 SpD / 85 Spe

Gyarados' Intimidate Ability reduces opposing Pokemon's Attack stats, giving a Scizor on your team the chance to switch in and set up a Swords Dance. Scizor's Fire weakness is also covered by Gyarados', as it is able to threaten knock outs on opposing Fire Pokemon.

Pokemon	Ability	Item	Attacks
Raichu	Lightning Rod	Focus Sash	・Thunderbolt ・Nuzzle ・Grass Knot ・Volt Switch
Nature / EVs	Timid 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Final Stats	136 HP / 99 Atk / 75 Def / 142 SpA / 100 SpD / 178 Spe

Raichu can switch into Electric-type moves to protect Gyarados and pivot out with Volt Switch. It can paralyze opposing Pokemon that are faster than Gyarados with its Nuzzle attack. Grass Knot can damage opposing Gastrodon or Swampert that Gyarados can't touch. Raichu can also take care of opposing Starmie.

Pokemon BDSP Related Guides

Tier List and Movesets for Competitive Battle

Strategies for Individual Pokemon

Competitive Pokemon Builds
Gyarados	Breloom	Gliscor
Scizor	Suicune	Latios
Garchomp	Gengar	Azumarill
Hippowdon	Mamoswine	Latias
Heatran	Blaziken	Wash Rotom
Metagross	Tyranitar	Dragonite
Togekiss	Cloyster	Salamence
Cresselia