Gyarados is a centralizing threat in DPP OU due to its potent mix of power and defensive prowess. Gyarados is perhaps the best sweeper in the tier with its access to Dragon Dance, making it a staple of the hyper offensive playstyle. Gyarados's Water / Flying typing, bulk, and Intimidate give it chances to set up, while its superior coverage and strength allow it to potentially muscle through walls. Gyarados also provides critical resistances to offensive teams, as Gyarados is an excellent check to prominent Pokemon such as Lucario, Swampert, Heatran, Scizor, and both Tyranitar and opposing Gyarados lacking Stone Edge. This bulk and Intimidate also make Gyarados a fantastic wall, as with full defensive investment and Roar, it can continually phaze offensive threats. Especially without Stealth Rock up, defensive Gyarados is one of the best answers to opposing offense, as the same prowess that makes it easy to set up Dragon Dance also makes it difficult to overwhelm. Additionally, Gyarados is a great Choice Band user, as it hits hard immediately and is an excellent lure. With Payback, Gyarados can potentially OHKO many of its prominent Dark-weak checks on the switch after Stealth Rock, such as defensive Latias, Rotom-A, and Celebi. Gyarados's Waterfall has a prominent flinch chance, meaning walls that do not resist Water such as Skarmory and defensive Zapdos are often one flinch away from Gyarados breaking them.

Gyarados has two crippling flaws: losing 25% of its HP to Stealth Rock and its huge Electric weakness. Offensive Gyarados's power is such that running dedicated anti-Stealth Rock leads such as Azelf and Aerodactyl or leading Gyarados itself are often worth it, just to not have to deal with Stealth Rock. For defensive variants, dedicated Rapid Spin support is mandatory, as defensive Gyarados lacks reliable recovery and struggles to wall foes with Stealth Rock up. Offensive Gyarados struggles to deal with bulky defensive Pokemon that resist Water and can phaze, status, or KO it, such as Latias, Suicune, opposing defensive Gyarados, Quagsire, and Milotic. Gyarados also must pick and choose its coverage moves; it needs dedicated options such as Taunt or Stone Edge to deal with walls such as Skarmory and Zapdos reliably, while it despises Breloom and Latias should it lack Ice Fang, Outrage, or Bounce. Gyarados's huge weakness to Electric is another big issue, as most Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Rotom-A, Latias, and Flygon can revenge kill it should it lack a Wacan Berry due to its average Speed. However, this item choice leaves it open to status, as without a Lum Berry or Substitute, Gyarados can be crippled by defensive Jirachi, Celebi, and Breloom. Similarly, without Leftovers, Gyarados is worn down quickly, as it is vulnerable to sand and already struggles with residual damage. Choice Band Gyarados is less effective once its surprise is revealed, as all its attacks have reliable switch-ins and rely heavily on prediction.