Tyranitar

Rock

Tyranitar is one of the most essential Pokemon on Rock teams due to its vast array of utility options. Its excellent bulk allows it to survive most neutral hits, which can at times allow it to check Pokemon such as Tapu Koko and Xurkitree. Its ability Sand Stream can grant all Rock-types increased Special Defense for five turns, aiding not only Tyranitar but also its teammates. Its varied physical movepool including Fire Punch and Earthquake does well at complementing its amazing Attack stat, making it a much more formidable wallbreaker. Tyranitar can additionally perform the role of a bulky pivot with an Assault Vest. Moreover, its decent Special Attack and strong special moves like Fire Blast and Ice Beam allow it to beat threats like Skarmory, Ferrothorn, Gliscor, and Landorus-T. Access to Pursuit allows it to trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Latios and Gengar, and with a Choice Band, it can trap and remove frail Pokemon like Greninja and Nihilego. However, Tyranitar's poor Speed stat usually means that it'll be forced to take damage first against most offensive threats. Its typing grants it an excessive number of weaknesses to common attacking types like Ground and Fairy, as well as a 4x weakness to Fighting. Additionally, it doesn't cover for any of Rock's natural weaknesses. Sand Stream can allow threats such as Sand Rush Excadrill to gain significantly more momentum.

Dark

Tyranitar is the premier Stealth Rock setter for Dark-type teams due to its great natural bulk and proficiency as a lead with tons of useful utility and coverage moves such as Toxic, Thunder Wave, and Fire Blast, and its Mega Evolution is a potent setup sweeper with access to great coverage options, allowing it to take on threatening types such as Steel and Ground. Due to Tyranitar's phenomenal natural bulk along with the sandstorm it summons with Sand Stream boosting its Special Defense, it can act as a defensive pivot and blanket check to many special attackers such as Latios and Nihilego. Tyranitar's part Rock typing also gives it a resistance to Fire-type attacks, allowing it to take on Pokemon such as Victini. Mega Tyranitar's natural bulk also allows it to more readily set up with Dragon Dance against weaker Pokemon such as Klefki and Alolan Muk. Tyranitar's decent offensive stats even when left uninvested prevent it from being passive when using defensive sets, allowing it to still threaten hazard removers such as Zapdos, Mantine, and Armaldo. Tyranitar's wide movepool allows it to function as either a Stealth Rock setter or a Dragon Dance sweeper with access to fantastic coverage moves such as Ice Punch for Ground-types and Fire Punch for Steel-types. However, Mega Tyranitar's mediocre Speed stat leaves it susceptible to common revenge killers like Mega Lopunny and Choice Scarf Excadrill, even at +1. Due to Tyranitar's rather poor defensive typing, it is left weak to many common offensive types and stacks the Fighting weakness, giving Mega Tyranitar trouble setting up against a wide variety of Pokemon such as Terrakion and Tapu Bulu. Since Tyranitar does not have a solid form of recovery, chip damage from entry hazards and status conditions such as being poisoned and burned affect Tyranitar's longevity. Dragon Dance Mega Tyranitar also does not appreciate status conditions, as they all negatively affect its ability to sweep late-game