QC: p2 / Zamrock / Subject 18
GP: The Dutch Pumberjack / frenzyplant
[OVERVIEW]
Latios's great Speed tier and offensive stats make it a premier check to several threats in the OU metagame such as Keldeo, Mega Medicham, and Mega Charizard X and Y. Moreover, its excellent offensive typing, high-powered STAB attacks, and vast range of coverage options make Latios a formidable offensive threat in its own right, able to threaten defensive staples like Toxapex, Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Amoonguss, and Zapdos. Latios also sports numerous type resistances and has access to recovery, enabling it to act as a solid pivot into Water-, Grass-, Electric-, and Fire-type attacks from the likes of Serperior, Thundurus, Heatran, and Mega Charizard Y. Access to Defog makes Latios one of the few offensive entry hazard removers in OU, one of its main niches in a tier where hazard removers are largely passive and often pressured by setters like Ferrothorn, offensive Landorus-T, and Heatran. Despite its strengths, though, Latios is threatened by common Fairy-types in the tier such as Tapu Lele, Mega Mawile, and Magearna and walled by Steel-types like Celesteela, Heatran, and Ferrothorn should Latios lack the appropriate coverage. Latios is also troubled by faster offensive threats such as Greninja, Tapu Koko, Weavile, Tornadus-T, and Alakazam and is highly vulnerable to Pursuit trappers like Tyranitar and Alolan Muk.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Thunderbolt
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Specs
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
========
Maximum Special Attack investment with Choice Specs maximizes Latios's wallbreaking power. A Timid nature with maximum Speed investment allows Latios to outrun Keldeo, Garchomp, and Mega Charizard X and Y and Speed tie with Gengar and opposing Latios. Levitate grants Latios an immunity to Ground-type moves, allowing it to pivot into attacks like Earthquake from Landorus-T or Earth Power from Heatran.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Specs Latios is an excellent wallbreaker that can easily weaken walls with its raw power and create openings for teammates to exploit; as such, Choice Specs Latios works best when played aggressively. Find opportunities to bring it in through pivots, through double switches, or by taking advantage of its many resistances to fire off strong attacks early on. While Choice Specs Latios deals great damage, it is best to use prediction when choosing an attack to avoid losing momentum. Be aware that its lack of recovery makes Choice Specs Latios a less consistent switch-in to Pokemon Latios normally checks like Keldeo and Zapdos. Additionally, Choice Specs Latios is more susceptible to getting worn down through passive means like status and entry hazards such as a Scald burn from Toxapex, a Toxic from Chansey, and other common status-inducing moves on stall, balance, and other bulky playstyles that Choice Specs Latios is typically used against. As Choice Specs locks Latios into one move, it is liable to being taken advantage of by opposing setup sweepers and Pursuit trappers.
Team Options
========
Pokemon with good cleaning capabilities like Ash-Greninja, Tapu Koko, Mega Pinsir, and Mega Mawile appreciate Choice Specs Latios's wallbreaking abilities and can take advantage of openings to clean weakened teams. Likewise, Choice Scarf users like Keldeo, Garchomp, and Nihilego make good partners, as they can pick off weakened Pokemon and potentially clean. Bulky pivots such as Landorus-T, Rotom-W, and Assault Vest Magearna can use U-turn or Volt Switch to safely bring in Latios. Other pivots like Magnezone, Jirachi, and Assault Vest Tornadus-T can serve as secondary checks to Water-, Electric-, and Grass-type attacks so Latios isn't worn down too quickly. Tapu Lele, Tapu Koko, Keldeo, and Manaphy can work with Latios to weakened shared checks and overwhelm special walls like Chansey, Celesteela, and Assault Vest Magearna and Tangrowth.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psyshock / Psychic
move 3: Trick
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Defog
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Draco Meteor provides Latios with a strong STAB attack to revenge kill fast threats like Greninja, Choice Scarf Garchomp, and +1 Mega Charizard X. Psyshock gives Latios a secondary STAB attack to deal decent damage to special walls like Chansey and Tornadus-T and reliably revenge kill Volcarona, as Psyshock 2HKOes Volcarona while Volcarona cannot OHKO Latios. Psychic can be used over Psyshock to deal consistent damage to Pokemon like Keldeo, Toxapex, and Mega Venusaur without dropping Latios's Special Attack. Trick is useful for crippling defensive Pokemon in situations where Choice Scarf is expendable—for example, against a stall team where the Speed boost might not be required, in situations where Latios does not need to revenge kill a sweeper or keep a fast threat in check, or in situations where Choice Scarf hinders Latios by preventing it from switching moves. Hidden Power Fire allows Latios to hit Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Mega Scizor for substantial damage. Defog may be used to ensure that Latios can remove entry hazards if needed and is useful for supporting hazard-weak sweepers like Volcarona, Gyarados, and Mega Pinsir. Recover is an option to keep Latios healthy over time and prevent it from getting whittled down, letting it better check Pokemon like Keldeo. Memento is viable on offensively inclined teams to provide setup opportunities for teammates, letting Latios cripple a foe and safely bring in a sweeper. Thunder Wave is a niche option that can be utilized as an emergency check to threats Latios cannot reliably KO, such as Shift Gear Magearna and Autotomize Celesteela, to make them more manageable for teammates.
Set Details
========
A Timid nature with the given EV spread maximizes Latios's Speed and damage output. Maximum Speed investment is important to outrun Choice Scarf Garchomp, Keldeo, Terrakion, and Landorus-T and Pokemon faster than base 110 Speed like Greninja, Serperior, Tapu Koko, Dugtrio, and Mega Alakazam. It also enables Latios to outspeed +1 Mega Charizard X, Zygarde, and Volcarona and Speed tie with Choice Scarf Gengar.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Latios's primary role is to keep fast foes in check; use it to revenge kill speedy threats and opposing sweepers. Latios's Speed tier makes it a stellar user of Choice Scarf, as the ability to outrun and threaten other Choice Scarf users like Keldeo, Garchomp, and Landorus-T is very useful. Choice Scarf Latios excels against offensive teams thanks to its high Speed and natural power. Trick is a great tool against bulkier teams for which Latios might not require the Speed boost, so find opportunities to Trick Choice Scarf onto a defensive Pokemon like Chansey, Celesteela, or Tapu Fini; Trick is also useful for stopping some setup sweepers like Calm Mind Suicune. Choice Scarf Latios is highly prone to being taken advantage of by setup Pokemon, especially if it is locked into a -2 Draco Meteor or a utility move. In the same vein, Pursuit trappers can take advantage of a Choice-locked Latios by trapping it.
Team Options
========
Strong wallbreakers like Mega Medicham, Mega Heracross, Choice Specs Keldeo, and Tapu Lele synergize well with Choice Scarf Latios, as they can break down bulky Pokemon that this Latios set typically struggles against such as Heatran, Magearna, and Chansey, while Latios can dispatch fast, offensive Pokemon that threaten them in return. Pivots like Landorus-T, Rotom-W, Mega Scizor, and Magnezone can provide free opportunities to switch in Latios; Magnezone in particular is a great teammate, as it can pivot into Fairy-type attacks and trap Steel-types for Latios, allowing it to more freely fire Draco Meteors. Entry hazards can whittle down opposing Pokemon and help Latios to more easily secure KOs or clean late-game, making Spikes setters like Ferrothorn and Greninja good teammates. Boosting sweepers such as Double Dance Landorus-T, Dragon Dance Zygarde, and Volcarona greatly benefit from Latios's ability to provide setup opportunities via Memento and Trick.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Defog / Recover
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Draco Meteor is Latios's primary STAB attack and dents anything not resistant or immune to it. Psychic is Latios's best tool against Keldeo, Toxapex, Amoonguss, Mega Venusaur, Mega Heracross, and physically defensive Clefable. Psyshock may be used to hit Chansey and other specially defensive Pokemon harder. Hidden Power Fire surprises common Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor and hits them for heavy damage. Defog allows Latios to support its team by removing entry hazards—this is particularly useful for Spikes removal, as Latios both is immune to Spikes and threatens common setters like Ferrothorn and Skarmory. Recover may be used instead to increase Latios's longevity, allowing it to repeatedly sponge hits from Pokemon like Keldeo and Zapdos. Thunderbolt provides additional coverage to damage bulky Water-types like Tapu Fini, Suicune, and Mantine as well as Steel-types like Celesteela and Skarmory. Surf is yet another coverage option to lure in Heatran and Tyranitar and Ground-types like Landorus-T and Excadrill and take a huge chunk off their health. Earthquake is also a viable option, as it has a high chance to OHKO bulky Heatran after Stealth Rock and deals considerably greater damage than Hidden Power Fire to Assault Vest Magearna and Magnezone, OHKOing the latter after Stealth Rock.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack investment lets Latios hit as hard as possible. Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature allows Latios to outrun Keldeo, Garchomp, Manaphy, Kyurem-B, Mega Medicham, and Mega Charizard X and Y and tie with positive-nature base 110 Speed Pokemon like Gengar and opposing Latios. Levitate is Latios's only ability and provides it with an immunity to Ground-type attacks. Life Orb is the preferred item, as it boosts all of Latios's attacks and furthers its damage output, and running 29 HP IVs will minimize Life Orb recoil. Soul Dew may be used in lieu of Life Orb to boost Latios's STAB attacks and avoid recoil at the cost of a slight drop in power and no boost to its coverage attacks. If running Earthquake, Latios should run a Hasty nature in order to pick up the OHKO on Heatran and Magnezone after Stealth Rock.
Usage Tips
========
Latios is quite flexible in terms of its roles on a team, but it is best employed as an offensive supporter, using its coverage and resistances to lure in Pokemon, cover teammates, and remove entry hazards if needed. Use Latios's powerful STAB attacks to punch holes early on and make opposing Pokemon switch out. As Latios typically forces a switch into a Pokemon that resists its attacks, teammates can take advantage of this by double switching into an incoming Latios check—for example, switching to Magnezone to trap an incoming Celesteela or to a strong Ground- or Water-type on a Heatran. Avoid revealing Latios's coverage move too early, especially in situations where the foe has ample opportunity to scout; it may be better to feign lack of a certain coverage attack first to condition the opponent into keeping the lured Pokemon in later. Conversely, play Latios more aggressively against teams with few checks or little room to scout for its coverage. Against teams with Pursuit trappers, avoid unnecessarily switching Latios in. You should also be wary about using Defog if there is a Defiant user like Bisharp on the opposing team, as doing so could hand it a free Attack boost. If you decide to Defog, determine whether you have reliable counterplay should you trigger Defiant, like a Fighting-type in the back in Bisharp's case. If removing entry hazards is a high priority in a battle, decide if sacrificing Latios is worth it or if the team greatly relies upon it to check a certain threat.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that benefit from having bulky Steel-types weakened such as Mega Pinsir and Tapu Lele pair well with Latios. Keldeo is an ideal teammate, as it can threaten the majority of Latios's Steel- and Dark-type checks. Fairy-types such as Magearna, Tapu Lele, and Azumarill share great offensive synergy with Latios and can take advantage of different Dark-types that prey on it like Tyranitar, Bisharp, and Weavile. Steel-types like Heatran, Excadrill, Magnezone, and Mega Scizor are excellent partners for their ability to tank Fairy- and Dragon-type attacks for Latios, with Latios checking Ground-, Fire-, and Water-type Pokemon in return. Pokemon like Volcarona, Gyarados, and Mega Charizard X and Y greatly appreciate Latios's ability to keep entry hazards off the field.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Calm Mind set with dual STAB attacks and Recover turns Latios into a self-sustaining wallbreaker that can pressure bulky teams through setup and serve as a potential wincon. Psychium Z pairs well with this set, as a +1 Shattered Psyche allows Latios to muscle through Pokemon like Zapdos and Alomomola as well as Tapu Fini, physically defensive Skarmory, and Assault Vest Tornadus-T after Stealth Rock. Heal Block lets Latios deny recovery to opposing Pokemon and fits best on playstyles that can continually pressure bulky Pokemon such as Spikes stacking. Colbur Berry helps Latios avoid being revenge killed by Pursuit trappers in most situations, but it has limited utility compared to other items.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types are a tremendous threat to Latios, as they are immune to Draco Meteor and can threaten Latios with their STAB attacks. Tapu Lele tanks nearly all of Latios's attacks and OHKOes it with Moonblast. Magearna, Clefable, and Mega Mawile can tank any of Latios's attacks and retaliate with powerful Fairy-type attacks. Belly Drum Azumarill, Shift Gear and Trick Room Magearna, and Swords Dance Mega Mawile can use Latios as setup fodder.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types resist both of Latios's STAB attacks, meaning Latios must rely on coverage to overcome them. Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn wall Latios lacking Hidden Power Fire; Mega Scizor can also trap it with Pursuit. Heatran reliably checks non-Surf Latios and can status it or set up entry hazards. Celesteela, Bronzong, and specially defensive Jirachi can easily check Latios due to their high defenses, with Celesteela only fearing Thunderbolt from Life Orb or Choice Specs sets.
**Revenge Killers**: Offensive Pokemon faster than Latios can revenge kill it. Both Protean and Battle Bond variants of Greninja outspeed Latios and easily KO it. Tapu Koko is immune to Draco Meteor and can 2HKO Latios with Dazzling Gleam. Weavile can OHKO Latios with Knock Off and Icicle Crash and trap it with Pursuit. Assault Vest Tornadus-T can pivot into Latios' attacks, and Life Orb variants can deal heavy damage. Choice Scarf users like Garchomp and Landorus-T can also revenge kill non-Choice Scarf Latios.
**Dark-types**: Dark-types like Tyranitar, Bisharp, and Alolan Muk can cut Latios's run short with Pursuit. Bisharp can Sucker Punch Latios before it can use its coverage and set up on Choice-locked variants. Hoopa-U has enough special bulk to tank Draco Meteor and KO with Dark Pulse or Hyperspace Fury.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Specially defensive Pokemon such as Chansey, bulky Heatran, Calm Clefable, and Assault Vest Tangrowth and Magearna can consistently check Latios if it lacks certain coverage attacks. Chansey and Heatran can stomach Latios's attacks and stall out Latios with Toxic. Calm Clefable avoids the 2HKO from both Psychic and Psyshock against non-Choice Specs sets. Assault Vest Tangrowth can pivot into any of Latios's attacks and keep itself healthy with Regenerator, and Assault Vest Magearna can switch into Latios multiple times and threaten it with Fleur Cannon.
GP: The Dutch Pumberjack / frenzyplant
[OVERVIEW]
Latios's great Speed tier and offensive stats make it a premier check to several threats in the OU metagame such as Keldeo, Mega Medicham, and Mega Charizard X and Y. Moreover, its excellent offensive typing, high-powered STAB attacks, and vast range of coverage options make Latios a formidable offensive threat in its own right, able to threaten defensive staples like Toxapex, Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Amoonguss, and Zapdos. Latios also sports numerous type resistances and has access to recovery, enabling it to act as a solid pivot into Water-, Grass-, Electric-, and Fire-type attacks from the likes of Serperior, Thundurus, Heatran, and Mega Charizard Y. Access to Defog makes Latios one of the few offensive entry hazard removers in OU, one of its main niches in a tier where hazard removers are largely passive and often pressured by setters like Ferrothorn, offensive Landorus-T, and Heatran. Despite its strengths, though, Latios is threatened by common Fairy-types in the tier such as Tapu Lele, Mega Mawile, and Magearna and walled by Steel-types like Celesteela, Heatran, and Ferrothorn should Latios lack the appropriate coverage. Latios is also troubled by faster offensive threats such as Greninja, Tapu Koko, Weavile, Tornadus-T, and Alakazam and is highly vulnerable to Pursuit trappers like Tyranitar and Alolan Muk.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Thunderbolt
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Specs
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Draco Meteor boosted by Choice Specs is an incredibly powerful attack that deals considerable damage even to Pokemon that resist it. Psychic serves as a strong secondary STAB attack that crushes Toxapex, Amoonguss, and Mega Venusaur, 2HKOes Bold Clefable, and has a very high chance to 2HKO Tapu Fini and Calm Clefable. Psyshock is an alternative option that allows Latios to better pressure Chansey and 2HKO it with prior damage. Hidden Power Fire is used to lure in and remove bulky Steel-types, allowing Latios to KO Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn and weaken Assault Vest Magearna and Magnezone so as to limit their ability to further check it. Thunderbolt provides stronger coverage against bulky Water-types like Tapu Fini and Suicune and also covers some Steel-types like Celesteela and Skarmory. Surf is another coverage option that lets Latios cleanly 2HKO Heatran and Tyranitar. Shadow Ball can be used to 2HKO Tapu Lele and specially defensive Jirachi but has limited use otherwise. Trick lets Latios cripple defensive Pokemon and setup sweepers by replacing their items or locking them into one move. Sleep Talk is a viable choice over Trick that allows Latios to act as a sleep absorber and continue attacking, maintaining momentum against sleep inducers like Spore Amoonguss.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack investment with Choice Specs maximizes Latios's wallbreaking power. A Timid nature with maximum Speed investment allows Latios to outrun Keldeo, Garchomp, and Mega Charizard X and Y and Speed tie with Gengar and opposing Latios. Levitate grants Latios an immunity to Ground-type moves, allowing it to pivot into attacks like Earthquake from Landorus-T or Earth Power from Heatran.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Specs Latios is an excellent wallbreaker that can easily weaken walls with its raw power and create openings for teammates to exploit; as such, Choice Specs Latios works best when played aggressively. Find opportunities to bring it in through pivots, through double switches, or by taking advantage of its many resistances to fire off strong attacks early on. While Choice Specs Latios deals great damage, it is best to use prediction when choosing an attack to avoid losing momentum. Be aware that its lack of recovery makes Choice Specs Latios a less consistent switch-in to Pokemon Latios normally checks like Keldeo and Zapdos. Additionally, Choice Specs Latios is more susceptible to getting worn down through passive means like status and entry hazards such as a Scald burn from Toxapex, a Toxic from Chansey, and other common status-inducing moves on stall, balance, and other bulky playstyles that Choice Specs Latios is typically used against. As Choice Specs locks Latios into one move, it is liable to being taken advantage of by opposing setup sweepers and Pursuit trappers.
Team Options
========
Pokemon with good cleaning capabilities like Ash-Greninja, Tapu Koko, Mega Pinsir, and Mega Mawile appreciate Choice Specs Latios's wallbreaking abilities and can take advantage of openings to clean weakened teams. Likewise, Choice Scarf users like Keldeo, Garchomp, and Nihilego make good partners, as they can pick off weakened Pokemon and potentially clean. Bulky pivots such as Landorus-T, Rotom-W, and Assault Vest Magearna can use U-turn or Volt Switch to safely bring in Latios. Other pivots like Magnezone, Jirachi, and Assault Vest Tornadus-T can serve as secondary checks to Water-, Electric-, and Grass-type attacks so Latios isn't worn down too quickly. Tapu Lele, Tapu Koko, Keldeo, and Manaphy can work with Latios to weakened shared checks and overwhelm special walls like Chansey, Celesteela, and Assault Vest Magearna and Tangrowth.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psyshock / Psychic
move 3: Trick
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Defog
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Draco Meteor provides Latios with a strong STAB attack to revenge kill fast threats like Greninja, Choice Scarf Garchomp, and +1 Mega Charizard X. Psyshock gives Latios a secondary STAB attack to deal decent damage to special walls like Chansey and Tornadus-T and reliably revenge kill Volcarona, as Psyshock 2HKOes Volcarona while Volcarona cannot OHKO Latios. Psychic can be used over Psyshock to deal consistent damage to Pokemon like Keldeo, Toxapex, and Mega Venusaur without dropping Latios's Special Attack. Trick is useful for crippling defensive Pokemon in situations where Choice Scarf is expendable—for example, against a stall team where the Speed boost might not be required, in situations where Latios does not need to revenge kill a sweeper or keep a fast threat in check, or in situations where Choice Scarf hinders Latios by preventing it from switching moves. Hidden Power Fire allows Latios to hit Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Mega Scizor for substantial damage. Defog may be used to ensure that Latios can remove entry hazards if needed and is useful for supporting hazard-weak sweepers like Volcarona, Gyarados, and Mega Pinsir. Recover is an option to keep Latios healthy over time and prevent it from getting whittled down, letting it better check Pokemon like Keldeo. Memento is viable on offensively inclined teams to provide setup opportunities for teammates, letting Latios cripple a foe and safely bring in a sweeper. Thunder Wave is a niche option that can be utilized as an emergency check to threats Latios cannot reliably KO, such as Shift Gear Magearna and Autotomize Celesteela, to make them more manageable for teammates.
Set Details
========
A Timid nature with the given EV spread maximizes Latios's Speed and damage output. Maximum Speed investment is important to outrun Choice Scarf Garchomp, Keldeo, Terrakion, and Landorus-T and Pokemon faster than base 110 Speed like Greninja, Serperior, Tapu Koko, Dugtrio, and Mega Alakazam. It also enables Latios to outspeed +1 Mega Charizard X, Zygarde, and Volcarona and Speed tie with Choice Scarf Gengar.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Latios's primary role is to keep fast foes in check; use it to revenge kill speedy threats and opposing sweepers. Latios's Speed tier makes it a stellar user of Choice Scarf, as the ability to outrun and threaten other Choice Scarf users like Keldeo, Garchomp, and Landorus-T is very useful. Choice Scarf Latios excels against offensive teams thanks to its high Speed and natural power. Trick is a great tool against bulkier teams for which Latios might not require the Speed boost, so find opportunities to Trick Choice Scarf onto a defensive Pokemon like Chansey, Celesteela, or Tapu Fini; Trick is also useful for stopping some setup sweepers like Calm Mind Suicune. Choice Scarf Latios is highly prone to being taken advantage of by setup Pokemon, especially if it is locked into a -2 Draco Meteor or a utility move. In the same vein, Pursuit trappers can take advantage of a Choice-locked Latios by trapping it.
Team Options
========
Strong wallbreakers like Mega Medicham, Mega Heracross, Choice Specs Keldeo, and Tapu Lele synergize well with Choice Scarf Latios, as they can break down bulky Pokemon that this Latios set typically struggles against such as Heatran, Magearna, and Chansey, while Latios can dispatch fast, offensive Pokemon that threaten them in return. Pivots like Landorus-T, Rotom-W, Mega Scizor, and Magnezone can provide free opportunities to switch in Latios; Magnezone in particular is a great teammate, as it can pivot into Fairy-type attacks and trap Steel-types for Latios, allowing it to more freely fire Draco Meteors. Entry hazards can whittle down opposing Pokemon and help Latios to more easily secure KOs or clean late-game, making Spikes setters like Ferrothorn and Greninja good teammates. Boosting sweepers such as Double Dance Landorus-T, Dragon Dance Zygarde, and Volcarona greatly benefit from Latios's ability to provide setup opportunities via Memento and Trick.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Defog / Recover
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Draco Meteor is Latios's primary STAB attack and dents anything not resistant or immune to it. Psychic is Latios's best tool against Keldeo, Toxapex, Amoonguss, Mega Venusaur, Mega Heracross, and physically defensive Clefable. Psyshock may be used to hit Chansey and other specially defensive Pokemon harder. Hidden Power Fire surprises common Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor and hits them for heavy damage. Defog allows Latios to support its team by removing entry hazards—this is particularly useful for Spikes removal, as Latios both is immune to Spikes and threatens common setters like Ferrothorn and Skarmory. Recover may be used instead to increase Latios's longevity, allowing it to repeatedly sponge hits from Pokemon like Keldeo and Zapdos. Thunderbolt provides additional coverage to damage bulky Water-types like Tapu Fini, Suicune, and Mantine as well as Steel-types like Celesteela and Skarmory. Surf is yet another coverage option to lure in Heatran and Tyranitar and Ground-types like Landorus-T and Excadrill and take a huge chunk off their health. Earthquake is also a viable option, as it has a high chance to OHKO bulky Heatran after Stealth Rock and deals considerably greater damage than Hidden Power Fire to Assault Vest Magearna and Magnezone, OHKOing the latter after Stealth Rock.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack investment lets Latios hit as hard as possible. Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature allows Latios to outrun Keldeo, Garchomp, Manaphy, Kyurem-B, Mega Medicham, and Mega Charizard X and Y and tie with positive-nature base 110 Speed Pokemon like Gengar and opposing Latios. Levitate is Latios's only ability and provides it with an immunity to Ground-type attacks. Life Orb is the preferred item, as it boosts all of Latios's attacks and furthers its damage output, and running 29 HP IVs will minimize Life Orb recoil. Soul Dew may be used in lieu of Life Orb to boost Latios's STAB attacks and avoid recoil at the cost of a slight drop in power and no boost to its coverage attacks. If running Earthquake, Latios should run a Hasty nature in order to pick up the OHKO on Heatran and Magnezone after Stealth Rock.
Usage Tips
========
Latios is quite flexible in terms of its roles on a team, but it is best employed as an offensive supporter, using its coverage and resistances to lure in Pokemon, cover teammates, and remove entry hazards if needed. Use Latios's powerful STAB attacks to punch holes early on and make opposing Pokemon switch out. As Latios typically forces a switch into a Pokemon that resists its attacks, teammates can take advantage of this by double switching into an incoming Latios check—for example, switching to Magnezone to trap an incoming Celesteela or to a strong Ground- or Water-type on a Heatran. Avoid revealing Latios's coverage move too early, especially in situations where the foe has ample opportunity to scout; it may be better to feign lack of a certain coverage attack first to condition the opponent into keeping the lured Pokemon in later. Conversely, play Latios more aggressively against teams with few checks or little room to scout for its coverage. Against teams with Pursuit trappers, avoid unnecessarily switching Latios in. You should also be wary about using Defog if there is a Defiant user like Bisharp on the opposing team, as doing so could hand it a free Attack boost. If you decide to Defog, determine whether you have reliable counterplay should you trigger Defiant, like a Fighting-type in the back in Bisharp's case. If removing entry hazards is a high priority in a battle, decide if sacrificing Latios is worth it or if the team greatly relies upon it to check a certain threat.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that benefit from having bulky Steel-types weakened such as Mega Pinsir and Tapu Lele pair well with Latios. Keldeo is an ideal teammate, as it can threaten the majority of Latios's Steel- and Dark-type checks. Fairy-types such as Magearna, Tapu Lele, and Azumarill share great offensive synergy with Latios and can take advantage of different Dark-types that prey on it like Tyranitar, Bisharp, and Weavile. Steel-types like Heatran, Excadrill, Magnezone, and Mega Scizor are excellent partners for their ability to tank Fairy- and Dragon-type attacks for Latios, with Latios checking Ground-, Fire-, and Water-type Pokemon in return. Pokemon like Volcarona, Gyarados, and Mega Charizard X and Y greatly appreciate Latios's ability to keep entry hazards off the field.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Calm Mind set with dual STAB attacks and Recover turns Latios into a self-sustaining wallbreaker that can pressure bulky teams through setup and serve as a potential wincon. Psychium Z pairs well with this set, as a +1 Shattered Psyche allows Latios to muscle through Pokemon like Zapdos and Alomomola as well as Tapu Fini, physically defensive Skarmory, and Assault Vest Tornadus-T after Stealth Rock. Heal Block lets Latios deny recovery to opposing Pokemon and fits best on playstyles that can continually pressure bulky Pokemon such as Spikes stacking. Colbur Berry helps Latios avoid being revenge killed by Pursuit trappers in most situations, but it has limited utility compared to other items.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types are a tremendous threat to Latios, as they are immune to Draco Meteor and can threaten Latios with their STAB attacks. Tapu Lele tanks nearly all of Latios's attacks and OHKOes it with Moonblast. Magearna, Clefable, and Mega Mawile can tank any of Latios's attacks and retaliate with powerful Fairy-type attacks. Belly Drum Azumarill, Shift Gear and Trick Room Magearna, and Swords Dance Mega Mawile can use Latios as setup fodder.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types resist both of Latios's STAB attacks, meaning Latios must rely on coverage to overcome them. Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn wall Latios lacking Hidden Power Fire; Mega Scizor can also trap it with Pursuit. Heatran reliably checks non-Surf Latios and can status it or set up entry hazards. Celesteela, Bronzong, and specially defensive Jirachi can easily check Latios due to their high defenses, with Celesteela only fearing Thunderbolt from Life Orb or Choice Specs sets.
**Revenge Killers**: Offensive Pokemon faster than Latios can revenge kill it. Both Protean and Battle Bond variants of Greninja outspeed Latios and easily KO it. Tapu Koko is immune to Draco Meteor and can 2HKO Latios with Dazzling Gleam. Weavile can OHKO Latios with Knock Off and Icicle Crash and trap it with Pursuit. Assault Vest Tornadus-T can pivot into Latios' attacks, and Life Orb variants can deal heavy damage. Choice Scarf users like Garchomp and Landorus-T can also revenge kill non-Choice Scarf Latios.
**Dark-types**: Dark-types like Tyranitar, Bisharp, and Alolan Muk can cut Latios's run short with Pursuit. Bisharp can Sucker Punch Latios before it can use its coverage and set up on Choice-locked variants. Hoopa-U has enough special bulk to tank Draco Meteor and KO with Dark Pulse or Hyperspace Fury.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Specially defensive Pokemon such as Chansey, bulky Heatran, Calm Clefable, and Assault Vest Tangrowth and Magearna can consistently check Latios if it lacks certain coverage attacks. Chansey and Heatran can stomach Latios's attacks and stall out Latios with Toxic. Calm Clefable avoids the 2HKO from both Psychic and Psyshock against non-Choice Specs sets. Assault Vest Tangrowth can pivot into any of Latios's attacks and keep itself healthy with Regenerator, and Assault Vest Magearna can switch into Latios multiple times and threaten it with Fleur Cannon.
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