Tyranitar Movesets and Best Builds

Tyranitar Movesets in Other Games
SV	SWSH

This is a guide to movesets and best builds for using Tyranitar in competitive play for the games Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV). Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, Tera Type, and Held Items to use with Tyranitar, as well as its strengths and weaknesses.

Tyranitar - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Moveset for Ranked Battle	Tera Raid Build

Tyranitar Base Stats, Type, Ability and Weakness

Paldea #318		Type
Tyranitar
		Abilities
		Sand Stream Unnerve (Hidden)
Weak to:	(4x)
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Resists:	(0.5x)
Immune to:	(0x)

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Tyranitar

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Tyranitar

Assault Vest Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Adamant (+Atk, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Atk 252 / Sp. Def 4
Final Stat Values	HP 207 / Atk 204 / Def 130 / Sp.Def 121 / Spe 81
Ability	Sand Stream
Tera Type
Held Item	Assault Vest
Moveset	・ Stone Edge ・ Knock Off ・ Earthquake ・ Low Kick

Summary

Now has access to its powerful STAB Knock Off again. Can Terastallize to get rid of its crippling Fighting-type weakness. Sand Stream gives Tyranitar a 50% Special Defense boost, which is further increased by its Assault Vest.

Ability and Held Item

Ability	Held Item
Sand Stream	Assault Vest

Sand Stream is Tyranitar's best Ability, causing a Sandstorm to appear once it switches in and lasts for 5 turns. This also causes Rock-types to get a 50% Special Defense boost for as long as the weather condition lasts.

Assault Vest further increases Tyranitar's Special Defense stat when combined with the boost from the Sandstorm.

Moves Breakdown

Stone Edge is Tyranitar's strongest Rock-type STAB attack, but it only has an accuracy of 80%.

Knock Off is its best Dark-type STAB move because it deals a good amount of damage while also removing the opponent's item.

Earthquake is its main coverage move that hits opposing Rock-types, as well as Steel, Poison, and Fire-types for super effective damage.

Low Kick is the last move chosen because it gives Tyranitar the widest offensive coverage out of its remaining moves.

Best Tera Type: Flying

Flying Tera Type Matchup
Weak to:
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Resists:	(0.5x)
Immune to:	(0x)

Flying Tera is the best Tera Type for this build because it removes all of Tyranitar's major weaknesses. Do note that once Tyranitar Terastallizes to Flying, it will lose its Sp. Def boost and it will start taking residual damage from Sandstorm.

Best Flying Type Pokemon for Ranked Battle

EV Spread and Nature

A full 252 EVs are put into Tyranitar's HP and Atk to maximize its bulk while also making it hit as hard as possible. The extra 4 EVs are placed in its Sp. Def to help round out its bulk, especially after the Sp. Def boosts from Sandstorm and Assault Vest.

An Adamant nature is preferred to help it deal as much damage as possible.

Other Viable Moves

Key Damage Calculations

Damage Dealt by Tyranitar
87 HP｜95 Def No Defensive EV Investment (Modest) Item: Choice Specs	Knock Off 194-230 (119.7 - 141.9%) Guaranteed OHKO
80 HP｜84 Def No Defensive EV Investment (Jolly) Item: Hearthflame Mask	Stone Edge 222-264 (143.2 - 170.3%) Guaranteed OHKO
91 HP｜106 Def Defensive EV Investment: 252 HP (Modest) Item: Assault Vest	Earthquake 248-292 (125.2 - 147.4%) Guaranteed OHKO
113 HP｜120 Def Defensive EV Investment: 252 HP (Modest) Item: Assault Vest	Low Kick 132-156 (62.2 - 73.5%) Guaranteed 2HKO
Damage Received by Tyranitar
133 Sp. Atk Offensive EV Investment: 252 Sp. Atk (Modest) Item: Choice Specs	Make It Rain 152-182 (73.4 - 87.9%) Guaranteed 2HKO
135 Sp. Atk Offensive EV Investment: 252 Sp. Atk (Modest) Item: Assault Vest	Earth Power 78-92 (37.6 - 44.4%) Guaranteed 3HKO
135 Sp. Atk Offensive EV Investment: 252 Sp. Atk (Timid) Item: Booster Energy	Moonblast 74-90 (35.7 - 43.4%) Guaranteed 3HKO

These calculations take into account that a Sandstorm is active, giving Tyranitar a Sp. Def boost.

Game8's Competitive Damage Calculator

Loaded Dice Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Adamant (+Atk, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	HP 172 / Atk 108 / Def 4 / Sp.Def 4 Spe 220
Final Stat Values	HP 197 / Atk 184 / Def 131 / Sp.Def 121 / Spe 109
Ability	Sand Stream
Tera Type
Held Item	Loaded Dice
Moveset	・ Dragon Dance ・ Rock Blast ・ Earthquake ・ Tera Blast

Summary

Tyranitar's great natural bulk and access to the Sand Stream Ability make it a great lead for both dedicated Sand and balanced teams. This build is meant to surprise its usual checks by outspeeding them after a Dragon Dance.

Can outspeed slower leads after a Dragon Dance. Loaded Dice ensures Rock Blast hits a minumum of four times. Sand Stream gives Tyranitar a 50% Special Defense boost.

Ability and Held Item

Ability	Held Item
Sand Stream	Loaded Dice

Sand Stream is Tyranitar's best Ability, causing a Sandstorm to appear once it switches in and lasts for 5 turns. This also causes Rock-types to get a 50% Special Defense boost for as long as the weather condition lasts.

Loaded Dice ensures that multi-hit moves like Rock Blast always hits a minimum of four times.

Moves Breakdown

Dragon Dance increases Tyranitar's Attack and Speed stat by one stage, and with the given EVs, allows it to outspeed slower leads and setup sweepers like Great Tusk and Annihilape.

Rock Blast is its main offensive and utility move and, thanks to Loaded Dice, always hits at least 4 times at minimum. It's a great move to use against Pokemon with Sturdy as well as those holding Focus Sash.

Earthquake is its main coverage move and has great neutral coverage with Rock Blast, hitting opposing Rock-types, as well as Steel, Poison, and Fire-types for super effective damage.

Its last move is Tera Blast which becomes a base 80 BP physical Flying-type move once Tyranitar terastallizes into a Flying-type.

Best Tera Type: Flying

Flying Tera Type Matchup
Weak to:
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Resists:	(0.5x)
Immune to:	(0x)

Tyranitar's weakness to Fighting, Steel, and Ground-types means that it's easily revenge killed once the opponent figures out its moveset.

Terastallizing into a Flying-type can surprise its usual checks, and gives Tyranitar a STAB move to use against Fighting-types.

Keep in mind that Sand Stream will damage Tyranitar once it Terastallizes and it will lose its 50% Special Defense boost. It's best to Terastallize Tyranitar after Sand Stream ends after 5 turns.

Best Flying Type Pokemon for Ranked Battle

EV Spread and Nature

This is a modified bulky EV spread with a focus on Speed. 172 HP EVs and 184 Atk EVs give it natural bulk and as much Attack as possible to deal damage, while 220 Speed allows it to outspeed its usual checks and counters after one Dragon Dance.

The remaining 8 EVs are split between Defense and Special Defense to round off its bulk.

Other Viable Moves

Dragon Dance Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Jolly (+Spe, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	HP 207 / Atk 186 / Def 130 / Sp.Def 121 / Spe 89
Ability	Sand Stream
Tera Type
Held Item	Life Orb
Moveset	・ Dragon Dance ・ Stone Edge ・ Crunch ・ Fire Punch

With the right team support, Tyrantiar can function as a surprisingly powerful Dragon Dance sweeper with Life Orb further boosting the power of its attacks. This build requires Rock Tera typing to ensure it still gets the Special Defense boost from Sandstorm.

Stone Edge is Tyranitar's strongest STAB move and also has an increased critical hit ratio that allows it to threaten Fire, Ice, and Flying-type Pokemon.

Crunch is its secondary STAB and, with a Dragon Dance boost, can easily KO minimum Defense Gholdengo while 2HKOing tankier variants.

Fire Punch is its last move and allows it to take on Steel-types such as Tinkaton and Kingambit who are resistant to its main STAB moves.

Other Viable Moves

Doubles Movesets for Tyranitar

Doubles Utility Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Adamant (+Atk, -Sp. Atk)
EV Spread	252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Sp. Def
Final Stat Values	207 HP / 204 Atk / 130 Def / 121 Sp. Def / 81 Spe
Ability	Sand Stream
Tera Type
Held Item	Clear Amulet
Moveset	・ Crunch ・ Rock Slide ・ Dragon Dance ・ Protect

Tyranitar can set up a sweep after a successful Dragon Dance. It can be content simply clicking Rock Slide every turn after a single Dragon Dance, with Crunch as another STAB option that is useful against Dark-weak Pokemon such as Armarouge and Indeedee-F.

Tyranitar can be slotted into teams to improve their Psy Spam matchup as it resists Armarouge's Armor Cannon, and is immune to Expanding Force.

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Tyranitar Effectively

A Versatile Pokemon that Can Fill Many Roles

Tyranitar is a Pokemon that can fill different roles depending on your team's composition. While it's famous as a lead Sandstorm setter with Stealth Rock, it can also function as a straightforward attacker thanks to its great Attack stat and access to Dragon Dance.

Great Special Bulk with Sandstorm

Tyranitar Sand Stream Ability creates a Sandstorm once it switches in, which also boosts its Special Defense by 50%. This gives it some surprising bulk, allowing it to comfortably switch into Special Attackers even if they have super-effective moves.

This also makes Tyranitar a great partner for other Rock-types, particularly Garganacl and Glimmora.

How to Build a Team with Tyranitar

Tyranitar's sheer versatility makes it easy to fit into almost any team composition, though it shines in dedicated Sand teams or alongside Pokemon that can take advantage of Sandstorm.

SampleSingles Team

Offensive Lead	Physical Attacker	Special Attacker
Ogerpon (Hearthflame Mask)	Tyranitar	Flutter Mane

Open up with offensive leads like Hearthflame Ogerpon to deal with Tyranitar's bad matchups. Bring a fast Pokemon like Flutter Mane in the back to sweep any remaining Pokemon left in the endgame.

Sample Doubles Team

Physical Attacker	Fast Offense
Tyranitar	Lycanroc (Midday Form)
Physical Attacker	Defensive Pivot
Garchomp	Garganacl

Tyranitar is able to set Sand for Lycanroc, who can spam Rock Slide, Endure and Endeavor, or Close Combat against Fighting-weak Pokemon.

Garchomp is this team's physical attacker, with its Sand Veil Ability giving it an evasion boost during Sandstorm and more opportunities to safely setup with Swords Dance. Garganacl once again fills the role of a Defensive pivot, appreciating the Special Defense boost from Sandstorm.

Counters for Tyranitar

Overpower it with Physical Super Effective Moves

Tyranitar's Special Defense boost from Sandstorm leaves it vulnerable to physical attacks. While it also has a great defense stat, its weakness to common attacking types means it's also easy to wear down by repeated super-effective attacks.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Urshifu Rapid-Strike Style	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Non-Assault Vest sets cannot Protect against Urshifu's attacks. ・Resist Tyranitar's STAB attacks and Tera Water can easily tank a Flying Tera Blast. ▶️ Rapid-Strike Urshifu Best Movesets
Ogerpon (Cornerstone Mask)	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Is immune to Sandstorm damage and cannot be OHKO'd thanks to sturdy. ・Both STABs cover Tyranitar's normal and Tera typings. ・Terastallizing increases Ogerpon's Defense. ▶️ Cornerstone Ogerpon Best Movesets
Kommo-o	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Forces Tyranitar to Terastallize or else it will take a lot of damage from Drain Punch. ・Can Terastallize to resist a Flying Tera Blast. ▶️ Kommo-o Best Movesets

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