Rock/Dark gives Tyranitar strong STAB coverage, and its stat spread wastes nothing on the offensive side. It relies on priority moves or Scarf to keep up. A competitive force since Gen 2. Psychic moves can't touch it, which offsets the 6 weaknesses somewhat.
Nothing fancy in Tyranitar's spread. It leans physical with Attack out front. And you'll get 3 Attack EVs per KO for it. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.
Its body can’t be harmed by any sort of attack, so it is very eager to make challenges against enemies.
Extremely strong, it can change the landscape. It has an insolent nature that makes it not care about others.
Tyranitar Weakness
FragileTyranitar is weak to Fighting, Water, Grass, Ground, Bug, and Steel-type moves. Watch out for Fighting attacks, those deal 4x damage. On the flip side, it's immune to Psychic-type moves entirely. It resists 6 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely. Tyranitar's overall bulk (100/110/100) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
The three-stage chain from Larvitar through Pupitar ends here at Tyranitar. Want more? Breed for Larvitar eggs. Plenty of partners available via one egg group. The evolution from Larvitar pushed Tyranitar to 600 total stats. Attack saw the largest single gain at +70.
How to Evolve
Breed with Tyranitar to get Larvitar eggs using 63 partners from the Monster egg group. Notable egg moves include Ancient Power, Assurance, Curse and 7 more.
Tyranitar runs a standard physical attacker set. Jolly nature with max Attack and Speed EVs shapes the build, while Lum Berry brings one-time status cleanse. Sand Stream supports the kit from the background.
Best Build
Best Tyranitar Moveset
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
Recommended Teammates
The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 12 types means almost nothing walls Tyranitar cleanly, with Stone Edge and Dark Pulse anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
Can't catch Tyranitar directly. Start with Larvitar at decent rates from the locations below, then evolve at level 55. The 3-stage chain from Larvitar to Tyranitar is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Tyranitar in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Larvitar is your first catch on the way to Tyranitar. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 15-45 across 16 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch LarvitarEASYMt. Silver - Upper mountainsideHeartGoldGrassLv.15-30UncommonEarlyCaveEASYMt. Silver - Upper mountainsideSoulSilverGrassLv.15-30UncommonEarlyCaveCHALLENGINGMt. Silver - 1FHeartGoldGrassLv.15-20RareEarlyCaveCHALLENGINGMt. Silver - 1FSoulSilverGrassLv.15-20RareEarlyCaveCHALLENGINGMt. Silver - 1F Central ChamberHeartGoldGrassLv.15-20RareEarlyCaveCHALLENGINGMt. Silver - 1F Central ChamberSoulSilverGrassLv.15-20RareEarlyCaveCHALLENGINGMt. Silver - 1F Upper ChamberSoulSilverGrassLv.15-20RareEarlyCaveCHALLENGINGMt. Silver - 1F Upper ChamberHeartGoldGrassLv.15-20RareEarlyCaveCHALLENGINGMt. Silver - 2FSoulSilverGrassLv.15-20RareEarlyCaveCHALLENGINGMt. Silver - 2FHeartGoldGrassLv.15-20RareEarlyCaveCHALLENGINGMt. Silver - 3FSoulSilverGrassLv.15-20RareEarlyCaveCHALLENGINGMt. Silver - 3FHeartGoldGrassLv.15-20RareEarlyCaveCHALLENGINGMt. Silver - Lower mountainsideHeartGoldGrassLv.15-20RareEarlyCaveCHALLENGINGMt. Silver - Lower mountainsideSoulSilverGrassLv.15-20RareEarlyCave
Step 2Catch or Evolve PupitarCHALLENGINGMt. Silver - 1F Central ChamberSoulSilverGrassLv.45RareLateCaveCHALLENGINGMt. Silver - 1F Central ChamberHeartGoldGrassLv.45RareLateCaveor evolve from Larvitar (Step 1)
Step 3Tyranitar ✓
Tyranitar already has 600 BST going for it, and Sand Stream pushes the competitive value even higher. A-Tier wallbreaker on our tier list.
Tyranitar's biggest threats include Machamp (Fighting), Gyarados (Water), and Exeggutor (Grass), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Machamp is the most dangerous since Fighting moves deal 4x damage. Ground, Bug, and Steel-type attackers are also a problem. With 6 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter. Tyranitar has enough bulk to absorb a hit, but don't push the matchup. Pivot to a teammate that resists.
Tyranitar gets Sand Stream and Unnerve. But Sand Stream is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that. On wall sets, Sand Stream pairs with Tyranitar's base 110 Defense to absorb physical hits on the switch.
Tyranitar is a physical attacker with base 134 Attack. Tanky enough to absorb a few hits, too. But the speed tells the real story — at base 61 Speed, it won't be moving first often. Fits the wallbreaker role.
Tyranitar appears in 18 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.
Available since Gold & Silver, Tyranitar appears in 18 games spanning 8 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained a Mega form in Generation 7.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A