Games - Tyranitar

Home > Listing Index > Games > Tyranitar

	Games - Tyranitar

Tyranitar (バンギラス Bangiras in Japan, Despotar in Germany and Tyranocif in France) is a fictional character from the Pokémon series of games. It is a Stage 2 Rock- and Dark-type Pokémon that evolves from Pupitar, although it is of a different type (Pupitar is Rock- and Ground-type), and is listed as #248 in the National Pokédex.

"Tyranitar" comes from the Greek "τυραννος" (tyrannos), and by extension the English "tyrant" and (perhaps primarily) the genus "Tyrannosaurus". It is unknown if the -tar in Tyranitar's name, or either of its earlier stages, stands for anything other than a resemblance to the name "Tyrannosaur", although the word "tar" may refer to the fact that it is a Dark-type (or the black, sticky substance, tar), or from monitor lizard, which it and its first evolution slightly resemble. Tyranitar's design, (the Saurian appearance, small head, long neck, dorsal fins, and even its "Hyper Beam" attack) appear to be derived from Godzilla.

Biology

Tyranitar is very eager to challenge other Pokémon to battle, as its hide is very strong, able to repel many attacks. It does not care for the welfare of other Pokémon due to its insolent nature, and will destroy landscapes and habitats with its mountain-collapsing tail-swings and punches.

It creates nests in the rubble of the mountains that it destroys. Its Larvitar offspring will eat the rubble and burrow into the earth, where they live underground to evolve into Pupitar.

In the video games

In the video game series, Tyranitar is only available by evolving Pupitar at level 55.

Statistically, Tyranitar is one of the more powerful Pokémon in the series, coupled with an extended range of attacks suitable for battle.

The introduction of Pokémon abilities in the 3rd generation of Pokémon games lead to Tyranitar obtaining the unique Sandstream ability; Sandstream causes a sandstorm to occur whenever Tyranitar enters play in a battle. Sandstream is a nice move because it cancels out leftovers althogether, ruining a few tanks and stallers. Sandstorms damage Pokémon that aren't Rock-, Ground- or Steel-type or who do not have an ability that evades sandstorms. This ability is used strategically in a team that uses only Pokémon of the aforementioned groups, who are all immune to sandstorms. The downside of Sandstream is that the sandstorm continues after Tyranitar is removed from play, and can damage teammates which aren't immune to sandstorms.

To obtain it in Gold, Silver, Crystal, FireRed and LeafGreen, the player must evolve a Tyranitar from a Pupitar, which in turn must be evovled from Larvitar. In Pokémon Colosseum, a Shadow Tyranitar can be Snagged in Realgam Tower Colosseum from the head of Cipher. Despite not being a Legendary, it is very difficult to capture. Therefore, it is highly reccommended that the player uses the Master Ball on it. It is the strongest Shadow Pokémon in the game, at Lv. 55.

In the animé

In Pokémon: Master Quest, Tyranitar is the mother of Ash's Larvitar. After Ash and friends discover why Larvitar is distrustful of humans (abduction by a gang of Pokémon poachers as well as physical harm to its mother, Tyranitar), they rectify this situation once on Mt. Silver.

Tyranitar is currently happily reunited with Larvitar, and resides in Mt. Silver.

Later, in the Pokémon movie Pokémon 4Ever, the main villain (Iron Masked Marauder) uses a Shadow Tyranitar to help him catch Celebi. The Pokémon comes in very handy, both for battling Brock's Onix and for destroying the Pokémon hunter's camp to make him tell Iron Mask where Celebi is.

In other properties

In the card game

Tyranitar has appeared in the following Pokémon Trading Card Game
sets:

Neo Discovery (Dark-type)
Neo Destiny (Ground/Fighting-type, as Dark Tyranitar)
Neo Destiny (Dark-type and Basic, as Shining Tyranitar)
Expedition (Dark-type)
Aquapolis (Dark-type)
EX Team Rocket Returns (Dark/Ground dual-type, as Dark Tyranitar)
EX Team Rocket Returns (Dark-type, as Dark Tyranitar)
EX Unseen Forces (Dark-type, as Tyranitar ex)
EX Delta Species (Steel/Fire dual-type)

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Tyranitar ]