Feraligatr or Gyarados (Non-Mega)?

Question

So, having definitively decided on using Aegislash in my 6v6 Competetive team, (thanks stakatakacool and Mega Flygon), I am now in doubt as to whether I should use Feraligatr or Gyarados. I have both, but since I already have Mega Alakazam, I can't use Gyaradosite, leaving me with a Sheer Force Life Orb 'Gatr and Intimidate Lefties Gyarados. Please leave reasons for which I should use, and also post movesets. Thanks!

Feraligatr @Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
Evs: 252Atk 252Spe 4HP
Nature: Jolly
Dragon Dance
Waterfall
Ice Punch
Crunch

Gyarados @Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
Evs: 252Atk 252Spe 4SpDef
Nature: Adamant
Dragon Dance
Waterfall
Crunch
Earthquake

Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

Despite having Sheer Force, Feraligatr has a few problems that will hinder it a physical sweeper.

• Feraligatr has a relatively low speed stat of 78, meaning even with a boost, Choice Scarf users, Unburden Hawlucha, and really fast Pokémon can outspeed it.
• Feraligatr also has mediocre defenses: 85 HP, 100 Def, 83 SpD. This means that faster Pokémon can easily revenge kill it, especially if they bear special moves.
• Feraligatr is pure water type. This basically means it only has one STAB and all coverage options won't do as much damage as one would hope.

You could argue that Gyarados also has a low speed stat(81), but is still better before a couple reasons.

• Gyarados' low speed isn't as much of a problem as it is for Feraligatr. Thanks to Intimidate and higher HP, Gyarados isn't as frail.
• Gyarados also has a better typing, both offensively and defensively. With the addition of Flying Type, Gyarados' coverage is improved a lot. While Bounce, one of its only physical flying type options, takes two turns, this can be fixed with Flynium-Z or Power Herb. As for defensively, Gyarados gains an important immunity to Ground and is no longer weak to grass. It is 4x week to electric, but a strong electric move would probably kill Feraligatr anyway.
• As for Smogon tiers, Gyarados is BL, which means it is too good for UU but not good enough for OU. Feraligatr is an RU. I am aware this is not Showdown!, but their tier placings are still necessary.

We can assume that Gyarados is the superior water type sweeper. Other good Dragon Dance sweepers include Dragonite, Tyranitar, and Zygarde. The Gyarados set you provided is okay, but I would replace Leftovers with Flynium-Z, as I suggested above. Also, Gyarados isn't very fast, so it prefers the speed boost it gets from Jolly.

Hope I helped. :)

Comments

Probably not Flyium Z, he has Ghostium Z Already. Also, isn't Bounce an event move? I'm not sure if he even has event Gyrados (VGC). (correct me if I'm wrong). He will probably not have Bounce Gyrados and will lack Flying STAB. Tbh, I'd use both in Battle Spot, *Brafnig* (Feraligator) is my boi, and isn't bad in Battle Spot, but Gyrados is a bit better (a lot if you have bounce). But I don't, and so doesn't most of Battle Spot, so I can see both as Viable options. If he has Bounce, use Gyrados+Power Herb. If not, it could go either way.

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Yeah I honestly thought Feraligatr was okay. But its Smogon tier speaks for itself. And I forgot Bounce was an event-only move. Sorry about that. Gyarados is still good even without Bounce. And if not, Dragonite would be a good alternative. I appreciate the comment. :)

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Gyarados can learn bounce from a move tutor in USM.

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I don't have the event Gyarados, sorry.

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Oh great! Like sumwun said, you can get Bounce via Move Tutor

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Looks like i've gotta train my 2 Gyrados! (I WILL STILL USE Brafnig! Until the end of time :P)

Answer 2

It depends on what you're going for I personally prefer Feraligatr because sheer Force is op but Gyarados with intimidate has the ability to set up on physical Pokemon or get a free dragon dance by them switching out it is an opinion based to but personally if I had to choose one Feraligatr probably be best because its ability makes it hit a little bit harder and doesn't have to switch or get one shot against electric hope I helped