Gyarados — Abilities, Weaknesses & Best Builds
"Gyarados is a bulky attacker built around physical attacks (125 Attack). It can trade hits at a competitive speed tier, and it's commonly used because its water/flying typing only has 2 weaknesses, which makes it forgiving to switch in."
✅ Strong against
Resisted or immune to these attack types
⚠️ Watch out for
These attack types deal extra damage
How to actually play it
- 1
Gyarados can come in on resisted hits — use it as a pivot, not a sweeper.
- 2
Trade hits patiently. You don't need to win every interaction immediately.
- 3
Save it for when its teammates need a safety net.
What new players get wrong
- ✕
Forgetting which attacks Gyarados actually resists and burning a switch on a neutral hit.
- ✕
Locking into the wrong move. Always read the opponent's switch-in before clicking.
Why we rate Gyarados the way we do
- Hits hard, but you have to pick the right move
- Dual typing — more weaknesses to track
Base Stats
Total: 540Use EVs to amplify the highest two — that's usually where this Pokémon's job lives.
Mega Evolutions
Gyarados transforms mid-battle when holding the right Mega Stone. Each form has its own stats, typing and ability.
Loading moves…
| Move | Type | Cat | Pwr | Acc | PP | How |
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Where Gyarados shows up
#20
Usage ~9.05% · Win rate ~54.5%
#57
Usage ~3.61% · Win rate ~53.58%
Gyarados FAQ
- What are Gyarados's abilities in Pokémon Champions?
- Gyarados can run intimidate, moxie. The competitive default is usually intimidate — see the abilities section above for the trade-offs.
- What is Gyarados weak to in Pokémon Champions?
- Gyarados takes extra damage from electric, rock. The full weakness breakdown is in the Weaknesses section, including any 4× type matchups.
- What is the best moveset for Gyarados?
- The best moveset for Gyarados depends on whether you're running it in Singles or Doubles. The Best Moveset section above lists the standard competitive set used at the top of the Pokémon Champions ladder.
- What counters Gyarados in Pokémon Champions?
- The most reliable counters to Gyarados are Pokémon with strong electric, rock attacks that outspeed it. See the Best Counters section for specific picks.
- Is Gyarados good in the current Pokémon Champions meta?
- Gyarados's usage and win rate in M-B Singles and Doubles are shown in the Format Snapshot section. Cross-reference with the Champions Lab tier list for full context.