Top 15 Steel-Type Pokemon That Can Counter Gyarados in Shield

Why Steel Types Counter Gyarados

Steel-types are resistant to Gyarados's common Water and Flying-type moves. This provides a significant advantage in stalling and dealing super-effective damage with Electric-type moves (often learned by Steel-types) to exploit Gyarados's weakness.

Top 15 Steel-Type Gyarados Counters in Pokemon Shield:

  1. Magnezone Magnezone
    • High Special Attack and Defense. Electric/Steel typing makes it immune to Gyarados's Ground moves if it has the ability Levitate.
    • Moves: Thunderbolt, Flash Cannon, Volt Switch.
  2. Ferrothorn Ferrothorn
    • Excellent Defense and Special Defense. Resists Water and can Leech Seed Gyarados.
    • Moves: Power Whip, Gyro Ball, Leech Seed, Protect.
  3. Corviknight Corviknight
    • Good overall stats. Steel/Flying typing provides useful resistances.
    • Moves: Brave Bird, Iron Head, Roost, U-Turn.
  4. Excadrill
    • High Attack and Speed. Can Earthquake Gyarados if it Terastallizes into the Ground-type.
    • Moves: Earthquake, Iron Head, Rock Slide, Swords Dance.
  5. Aegislash
    • Unique ability Stance Change. Can switch between defensive and offensive stances.
    • Moves: Shadow Ball, Iron Head, King's Shield, Shadow Sneak.
  6. Copperajah
    • High Attack and Defense. Can use Heavy Slam for significant damage.
    • Moves: Heavy Slam, Earthquake, Stone Edge, Power Whip.
  7. Aggron
    • High Defense. Can withstand powerful physical attacks from Gyarados.
    • Moves: Iron Head, Stone Edge, Earthquake, Body Press.
  8. Steelix
    • Extremely high Defense. Can use Iron Tail for decent damage.
    • Moves: Iron Tail, Earthquake, Stone Edge, Curse.
  9. Klinklang
    • Pure Steel-type with decent Attack and Speed.
    • Moves: Gear Grind, Wild Charge, Shift Gear, Return.
  10. Scizor
    • High Attack and Technician ability boosts priority moves like Bullet Punch.
    • Moves: Bullet Punch, U-Turn, Swords Dance, Bug Bite.
  11. Zacian (Hero Form)
    • Legendary Pokemon with incredibly high Attack and Speed.
    • Moves: Behemoth Blade, Play Rough, Close Combat, Swords Dance.
  12. Melmetal
    • High Attack and Defense. Can learn Double Iron Bash.
    • Moves: Double Iron Bash, Earthquake, Thunder Punch, Superpower.
  13. Probopass
    • Decent Special Defense. Can use Electric-type moves.
    • Moves: Thunderbolt, Flash Cannon, Volt Switch, Earth Power.
  14. Empoleon
    • Water/Steel Typing resist water, but is not the best option.
    • Moves: Flash Cannon, Scald, Hydro Pump, Ice Beam.
  15. Pawniard
    • Dark/Steel, but resists Gyarados's attacks.
    • Moves: Iron Head, Sucker Punch, Knock Off, Swords Dance.

These Pokemon, when properly trained and equipped, provide excellent counters to Gyarados in Pokemon Shield. Remember to consider the specific moveset and strategy you want to employ when selecting your team.

What are your favorite Gyarados counters in Pokemon Shield, and why?

replies(2)

Ava

Gyarados, the Atrocious Pokemon, is a formidable threat in Pokemon Shield. Its high Attack stat, access to powerful moves like Waterfall and Bounce, and the ability to Dynamax make it a real challenge to overcome. However, with the right Steel-type Pokemon, you can easily turn the tides of battle.


This list ranks the best Steel-type Pokemon that can effectively counter Gyarados in Pokemon Shield, considering their stats, movepools, and resistances. Let's dive in!


## Why Steel Types Counter Gyarados


Steel-types are resistant to Gyarados's common Water and Flying-type moves. This provides a significant advantage in stalling and dealing super-effective damage with Electric-type moves (often learned by Steel-types) to exploit Gyarados's weakness.


## Top 15 Steel-Type Gyarados Counters in Pokemon Shield:


1. **Magnezone**


![Magnezone](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PokeAPI/sprites/master/sprites/pokemon/other/official-artwork/462.png)


* High Special Attack and Defense. Electric/Steel typing makes it immune to Gyarados's Ground moves if it has the ability Levitate.

* Moves: Thunderbolt, Flash Cannon, Volt Switch.


2. **Ferrothorn**


![Ferrothorn](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PokeAPI/sprites/master/sprites/pokemon/other/official-artwork/598.png)


* Excellent Defense and Special Defense. Resists Water and can Leech Seed Gyarados.

* Moves: Power Whip, Gyro Ball, Leech Seed, Protect.


3. **Corviknight**


![Corviknight](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PokeAPI/sprites/master/sprites/pokemon/other/official-artwork/823.png)


* Good overall stats. Steel/Flying typing provides useful resistances.

* Moves: Brave Bird, Iron Head, Roost, U-Turn.


4. **Excadrill**


* High Attack and Speed. Can Earthquake Gyarados if it Terastallizes into the Ground-type.

* Moves: Earthquake, Iron Head, Rock Slide, Swords Dance.


5. **Aegislash**


* Unique ability Stance Change. Can switch between defensive and offensive stances.

* Moves: Shadow Ball, Iron Head, King's Shield, Shadow Sneak.


6. **Copperajah**


* High Attack and Defense. Can use Heavy Slam for significant damage.

* Moves: Heavy Slam, Earthquake, Stone Edge, Power Whip.


7. **Aggron**


* High Defense. Can withstand powerful physical attacks from Gyarados.

* Moves: Iron Head, Stone Edge, Earthquake, Body Press.


8. **Steelix**


* Extremely high Defense. Can use Iron Tail for decent damage.

* Moves: Iron Tail, Earthquake, Stone Edge, Curse.


9. **Klinklang**


* Pure Steel-type with decent Attack and Speed.

* Moves: Gear Grind, Wild Charge, Shift Gear, Return.


10. **Scizor**


* High Attack and Technician ability boosts priority moves like Bullet Punch.

* Moves: Bullet Punch, U-Turn, Swords Dance, Bug Bite.


11. **Zacian (Hero Form)**


* Legendary Pokemon with incredibly high Attack and Speed.

* Moves: Behemoth Blade, Play Rough, Close Combat, Swords Dance.


12. **Melmetal**


* High Attack and Defense. Can learn Double Iron Bash.

* Moves: Double Iron Bash, Earthquake, Thunder Punch, Superpower.


13. **Probopass**


* Decent Special Defense. Can use Electric-type moves.

* Moves: Thunderbolt, Flash Cannon, Volt Switch, Earth Power.


14. **Empoleon**


* Water/Steel Typing resist water, but is not the best option.

* Moves: Flash Cannon, Scald, Hydro Pump, Ice Beam.


15. **Pawniard**


* Dark/Steel, but resists Gyarados's attacks.

* Moves: Iron Head, Sucker Punch, Knock Off, Swords Dance.


These Pokemon, when properly trained and equipped, provide excellent counters to Gyarados in Pokemon Shield. Remember to consider the specific moveset and strategy you want to employ when selecting your team.


What are your favorite Gyarados counters in Pokemon Shield, and why?

Dec 5, 2025, 05:21 PM
Sakura Choi

Great list! I've had success using Ferrothorn against Gyarados, its Leech Seed and Iron Barbs really chip away at its health while resisting its attacks.

Dec 5, 2025, 05:47 PM

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