Paste: https://pokepast.es/f23033bb233c1ac6
So,
The recent metagame has seen an uprising shift in the usage of Landorus-T, Urshifu-Rapid strike, Incineroar, Rillaboom and Celesteela, all of which Tyranitar really struggles against. Sand teams used to be really dominant in the earlier series but due to the introduction of these aforementioned pokemon, they become really hard to use. If you really want to stick to Tyranitar, (I hope you do because I spent quite a while compiling this team), I'll explain my thoughts and decisions behind your current team and how I've modified it.
To begin with, your Tyranitar set is fine but just keep in mind that 120 defense is essentially equal to 116 defense EVs. The way EVs work with level 50s (I'm assuming you played a lot of doubles OU or just OU), is that:
total EVs = 8x + 4
When you are EVing your pokemon, make sure that the EVs you give them are in the form 8x + 4. e.g. 4, 12, 20, ... 244, 252
However, there are some things I would like to note about Tyranitar:
a) It is insanely bulky especially if dynamaxed - one of the main reasons why I would use Tyranitar is because it has such a good match up against offensive Spectrier:
252 SpA Life Orb Spectrier Helping Hand Max Quake vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Dynamax Tyranitar in Sand: 177-211 (42.7 - 50.9%) -- 3.1% chance to 2HKO.
However, on the flip side, keep in mind that a handful of Spectrier are support and will most likely Will-o-wisp you. You'll have to judge accordingly but in open sheet tournaments, you should be fine.
b) It wants to outspeed common Incineroars.
I normally run 28 speed EVs on my Incineroar to outspeed other Incineroar and I have always gone first in terms of fake out turn 1. I suggest you invest 20 or 28 EVs into Tyranitar's speed so that you can launch a rock slide or max rockfall before Incineroar parting shots.
c) It loses to Landorus-T
This is one of the biggest reasons why people don't like using Tyranitar. Landorus-T is extremely common nowadays and Tyranitar doesn't really stand a chance even with ice beam. You'll see that the rest of the team is designed to mitigate Landorus-T's effectiveness.
In VGC, one of the main things that players hate is RNG. Bright Powder Garchomp is slightly gimmicky in my opinion and it isn't very reliable. However, I haven't personally tested Bright Powder Garchomp before so I don't know whether or not it is worth it. If you eventually think that a 28% chance to miss isn't good enough, feel free to switch to lum berry because it improves your Coalossal match up (Dragapult Will-o-wisp). Scale shot is definitely something else that is very interesting. However, it actually doesn't really do that much to be honest except hitting a few dragon types hard (you won't be hitting any of the top 14 most popular pokemon efficiently). Additionally, the defense drop probably puts you into Landorus KO range etc. I'm not saying that Garchomp can beat Landorus, but it can at least waste two turns of its max compared to one turn if you use scale shot. You can EV it to live certain things but I have included Garchomp in the final team for Coalossal match up and also because you seem to really like Garchomp.
I'm not including Gastrodon in the final team because:
a) To be honest, I would run a yawn/recover/scald/earth power set, ice beam doesn't actually help that much against grass types because they OHKO you first unless you are rindo berry which even still, you won't OHKO Rillaboom with ice beam.
b) although storm drain is really good, the only thing that you're probably doing to help Tyranitar is redirecting Kingdra's max geysers. Rain teams aren't popular enough to justify using Gastrodon and Urshifu-Rapid would click close combat not surging strikes.
c) This a bit less important but you already have a ground type in Garchomp
I also did not put Cinderace in the final team because:
a) It exacerbates your Landorus weakness
b) It exacerbates your Intimidate cycling weakness
However, if you are willing to give up Garchomp, Cinderace can replace Garchomp's slot because both of them are used to annihilate steel types. Also, keep in mind that Cinderace gets Giga Impact and Bounce and High Jump kick.
Now it's time to explain my thought process in rebuilding the Tyranitar team:
Tyranitar:
As aforementioned, Tyranitar is weak to Landorus-T, Urshifu-Rapid strike, Incineroar, Rillaboom and Celesteela
If I was running a sand team, the first thing I would want is something which can abuse the sand. Surprisingly, Dracozolt does a decent job at this and it is quite underrated.
I would run (yours is fine too, just keep in mind the EVs):
Tyranitar @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Sand Stream
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 236 HP / 244 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 20 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Protect
- Rock Slide
- Lash Out
- Superpower
Dracozolt:
Aside from intimidate cycling between Incineroar and Landorus, Dracozolt does really well with Tyranitar despite not having really tried it personally:
252+ Atk Life Orb Dracozolt Bolt Beak (170 BP) vs. 4 HP / 4 Def Dynamax Celesteela: 335-398 (96.8 - 115%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Life Orb Dracozolt Bolt Beak (170 BP) vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Urshifu-Rapid-Strike: 351-413 (199.4 - 234.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
I understand why Excadrill doesn't really work too well as I have tried it before and Dracovish kind of dies to Rillaboom and can be stopped relatively quickly. As a result, that only left Dracozolt and it has worked in James Baek's Ho-oh Sand team in series 8 so it could definitely also work in this series. Dracozolt has the option to both dynamax and not dynamax and you can lead e.g. Dracozolt + Incineroar and switch Incineroar into Tyranitar and pick up a quick KO etc.
Dracozolt @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Rush
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Protect
- Bolt Beak
- Outrage
- Rock Slide
It is up to you whether you choose dragon claw or outrage (Dragon claw is probably better imo) and rock slide is for interesting endgame scenarios where you can take the oppressive 30% flinch chance to your advantage.
Urshifu-Rapid
After finalizing the core of Tyranitar + Dracozolt, you may notice that there is a glaring weakness to Landorus and Incineroar. This is the exact reason why Urshifu-Rapid became popular. The set is very self-explanatory:
Urshifu-Rapid-Strike-Gmax @ Focus Sash
Ability: Unseen Fist
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Detect
- Surging Strikes
- Close Combat
- Aqua Jet
It also helps against Glastrier, Stakataka and Coalossal.
Celesteela:
Most teams like to carry a bulky steel type and I realized that the current core didn't have one so Celesteela was my go-to pokemon. It walls Landorus, Rillaboom, can beat Urshifus when dynamaxed and is overall a really good alternate max option/mode. Its weaknesses, electric and fire are covered by Dracozolt, Urshifu and Tyranitar as well which is really nice. Assault Vest is the standard set:
Celesteela @ Assault Vest
Ability: Beast Boost
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 36 HP / 4 Def / 180 SpA / 36 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flash Cannon
- Air Slash
- Meteor Beam
- Flamethrower
Garchomp is already covered but here is the build:
Garchomp @ Lum Berry
Ability: Sand Veil
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Protect
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
I was hesitating between earthquake and stomping tantrum but judging by the fact that Urshifu, Dracozolt and Tyranitar can all protect, I decided to choose Earthquake because of its raw strength.
Finally, I wanted to round the edges to this team by including Incineroar. Incineroar mainly covers for sun match up, taunting trick room setters, a great lead option and you can wear down opposing Rillaboom/Landorus with intimidate as well.
Incineroar @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 236 HP / 4 Atk / 116 Def / 140 SpD / 12 Spe
Careful Nature
- Fake Out
- Flare Blitz
- Parting Shot
- Taunt
The main thing I would say about the team is that you can choose Cinderace over Garchomp because it also does help against opposing Celesteela match ups but you would have to use White Herb Cinderace as Life Orb should definitely go to Dracozolt.
In the comment section, Togekiss + Garchomp is definitely very interesting as another mode and I definitely agree. You can try Safety Goggles Togekiss with a protect/yawn/follow me/dazzling gleam set over Incineroar.
I would say that Thundurus isn't as strong as it used to be because of offensive Dynamax Regieleki, trick room setters, Glastrier, Raichu, Celesteela, offensive and support Spectrier and Thundurus paired alongside Coalossal, Metagross, etc. Most people are using support Thundurus now although you could also potentially consider using Thundurus but I think Urshifu is sufficient as well as Celesteela.
Hope I helped!
