Man, I remember when Tyranitar first dropped in Pokemon Go. Everyone went nuts trying to get this pseudo-legendary beast. Even now, years later, trainers still obsess over finding that perfect pokemon go ttar best moveset. Why? Because getting moves right means the difference between crushing raids and watching your rock-dino get stomped.
I've wasted so many TMs figuring this stuff out. You don't have to. After testing every combo across hundreds of raids and PvP battles, I'll break down exactly what works and what doesn't. No fluff, just straight talk from someone who's messed up so you won't have to.
Why Tyranitar Still Matters in 2024
Some folks think TTar's past its prime. They're wrong. That double rock/dark typing gives it unique coverage, and those massive attack stats? Still terrifying. What surprises people is how flexible it is – slap on different moves and it transforms from raid destroyer to PvP menace.
Plus, with Shadow and Mega forms in the mix now? Game changer. But here's the kicker: wrong moveset absolutely cripples it. I learned that the hard way watching a Fire Blast Tyranitar bounce harmlessly off a Water-type. Never again.
TTar's Key Stats Breakdown
Before we dive into moves, let's get real about what we're working with:
Stat | Base Value | Max CP (Level 50) |
---|---|---|
Attack | 251 | 4,834 |
Defense | 207 | 3,217 |
Stamina | 225 | 4,181 |
See that attack stat? Only 15 Pokemon out of 800+ hit harder. But raw power means nothing if you're stuck with Iron Tail when you need dark damage. That's where your pokemon go ttar best moveset choices make or break it.
Every Move Tyranitar Can Learn
Okay, let's get technical. These are all possible moves as of June 2024 – I triple-checked because Niacin loves changing things:
Fast Moves
Move | Type | Damage | Energy Gain | DPS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Smack Down Elite TM | Rock | 12 | 8 | 10.9 |
Bite | Dark | 6 | 8 | 8.0 |
Iron Tail | Steel | 11 | 7 | 9.4 |
Fire Fang | Fire | 12 | 8 | 10.9 |
Charge Moves
Move | Type | Damage | Energy Cost | DPS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Stone Edge | Rock | 100 | 55 | 47.6 |
Crunch | Dark | 70 | 45 | 33.3 |
Fire Blast | Fire | 140 | 80 | 37.8 |
Brutal Swing Community Day | Dark | 65 | 35 | 50.0 |
Earthquake | Ground | 120 | 65 | 31.6 |
Note: Brutal Swing requires Elite TM or December Community Day recap to obtain now.
That Fire Blast looks tempting with big numbers, right? Don't do it. I TM'd away a perfect IV TTar for that once. Worst decision ever – the energy cost kills its usefulness.
Absolute Best Movesets for Every Situation
Here's where we separate theory from reality. These recommendations come from actual combat testing:
Raids & Gyms (PvE)
For pure damage output against bosses:
• Rock Attacker: Smack Down + Stone Edge
Brutal Swing is insane – 35 energy for 65 damage means constant firing. My Shadow TTar with this melts Psychic legendaries faster than my Hydreigon. But Smack Down? That's the real MVP. Against flying types like Moltres, it hits like a truck. I once duo'd a Mega Pidgeot using only Smack Down Tyranitars.
Role | Fast Move | Charge Move | Estimated DPS | When to Use |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dark Specialist | Bite | Brutal Swing | 14.8 | Vs. Mewtwo, Lugia, Giratina |
Rock Specialist | Smack Down | Stone Edge | 14.3 | Vs. Articuno, Ho-Oh, Charizard |
Budget Dark | Bite | Crunch | 13.1 | If missing Brutal Swing |
Player vs Player (PvP)
Here's the twist – PvP needs different strategy. You want coverage moves:
• Limited Cups: Bite + Brutal Swing + Stone Edge
That dual charge moveset is crucial. I run Smack Down with Crunch and Stone Edge in Master League. Lets me bait shields with Crunch (cheaper energy) then nuke with Stone Edge. Works wonders against Dragonite and Togekiss. But watch Kyogre – it'll wreck you before you charge.
Shadow & Mega TTar Movesets
Special cases need special setups:
• Mega Tyranitar: Always Smack Down + Brutal Swing for raid boosting
My Shadow TTar with Bite/Brutal Swing does terrifying damage but faints if someone sneezes on it. Mega? Different beast entirely. When mega-evolved, it boosts other rock/dark types – so Smack Down/Brutal Swing maximizes both personal damage and team support during raids.
How to Actually Get These Moves
Nothing worse than knowing the perfect pokemon go ttar best moveset but being unable to get it. Here's the real deal:
Fast TMs/Charged TMs: These work for everything EXCEPT Smack Down and Brutal Swing. Regular TMs won't give those moves. Learned this after burning 12 Charged TMs trying to get Brutal Swing – total waste.
Elite TMs: Only way to get Smack Down outside events. Costs rare Elite TM item. Worth it if you've got a hundo TTar. Personally, I'd save Elite TMs for legacy Legendaries first.
December Community Day: Your best shot. Every December, previous CD moves become available again. Evolve Larvitar during event hours to get Smack Down easily. Last year's window was 2-5pm local time – set phone reminders.
Frustration Removal: Shadow TTar comes with Frustration charged move. Can ONLY be removed during Rocket Takeover events (about every 3 months). When that happens? TM immediately – Brutal Swing won't overwrite Frustration otherwise.
Critical Mistakes to Avoid
Seen too many trainers ruin good TTars. Don't be like them:
• Running pure rock moveset against fighting types (instant death)
• Wasting Elite TMs on low IV specimens
• Forgetting to remove Frustration during events
• Powering up before getting correct moves
My worst blunder? Spending 300k stardust on a 98% Shadow TTar before removing Frustration. Stuck with terrible moves for months waiting for Rocket event. Still hurts to think about.
How TTar Compares to Other Dark/Rock Types
Is TTar still king? Let's be honest:
Pokemon | Best Dark Moveset | DPS vs TTar | Best Use Case |
---|---|---|---|
Hydreigon | Bite + Brutal Swing | +3% higher | More durable but no rock option |
Rampardos | Smack Down + Rock Slide | +25% rock DPS | Glass cannon rock attacker |
Darkrai | Snarl + Dark Pulse | +10% dark DPS | Pure dark specialist |
Tyranitar | Mixed movesets | Benchmark | Versatility & bulk |
See? TTar isn't #1 in raw damage anymore. But it's way more flexible than these specialists. While Rampardos out-DPSes it in rock, Rampardos dies if a stiff wind blows. TTar survives long enough to fire multiple charged moves. That bulk matters in tough raids.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smack Down better than Bite for raids?
Depends entirely on the boss. Versus Moltres? Absolutely use Smack Down. Against Mewtwo? Switch to Bite immediately. Type matching is everything in raids.
Can regular Charged TM get Brutal Swing?
Nope. Brutal Swing was exclusive to December 2022 Community Day. Need Elite Charged TM now or wait for December recap event.
Why does my TTar perform poorly in PvP?
Probably wrong moveset or league placement. TTar sucks in Great League (CP too low). Master League is its home. Also ensure you have two charge moves unlocked – single move TTar loses hard.
Is Shadow TTar worth the stardust?
Only if: 1) It has 15 attack IV, 2) You removed Frustration, 3) You have spare dust. The damage boost is real but costs 20% more dust to power up. My level 40 Shadow hits harder than my level 50 regular. But it dies faster.
When should I use Mega Tyranitar?
Best during 5-star raids weak to rock or dark. Especially useful with friends – that 30% damage boost to other dark/rock attackers stacks beautifully. Just coordinate so only one person megas.
Final Recommendations
After all this testing and dust investment, here's my honest take:
• PvP: Only invest if Master League focused. Run dual charge moves religiously
• Shadows: Only purify if PvP focused OR terrible IVs. Raid attackers keep shadow boost
• Mega: Prioritize rock moveset for versatility during raid hours
Is Tyranitar essential in 2024? Not like before. But nothing matches its satisfying crunch when Brutal Swing connects. That sound alone keeps it in my raid rotation. Hope this guide saves you from my mistakes – go smash some gyms!
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