[overview]
**Draft order**: Late round 2 onwards
**Price range**: 15-16 points
**Overview**: Landorus-T might have lost the title as "Ground type of the generation" to Great Tusk; however, its set versatility, access to Intimidate, and ability to pivot with U-turn still make it a very useful pick. You will usually end up seeing a defensive set that takes advantage of Intimidate while still delivering strong hits with its gargantuan base 145 Attack or respectable 105 Special Attack, if you want to lure in other physical walls. With a respectable base 91 Speed, Landorus-T is also a strong Choice Scarf user, and its pool of utility moves can support other offensive sets. Draft this Pokemon if you want glue for your team.
Common Roles
========
**Defensive utility**: Its defensive typing, in conjunction with Intimidate, will make it a tough wall to break—even for neutrally attacking physical attackers—despite a lack of reliable healing. Its already high base Attack allows you to invest more EVs defensively, which allows it to stay on the field for a longer time.
**Offensive utility**: When EVs are invested in offensive stats as opposed to defensive stats, Landorus-T can still use moves like Stealth Rock, Taunt, and U-turn, serving as a good offensive utility pick while dishing out stronger hits.
**Revenge killer**: A base 91 Speed means that Landorus-T is outspeeding the entire unboosted metagame, barring Deoxys-S and Regieleki, when using a Choice Scarf and Jolly nature. This combined with a stellar Attack stat makes Landorus-T a very viable revenge killer, as it doesn't have the widest pool of coverage moves but still has enough to get the job done.
**Setup sweeper**: With access to Swords Dance and Bulk Up, Landorus-T can use either to clean up a weakened team. A special set with Nasty Plot or Calm Mind is also possible, with Intimidate, effectively weakening foes' physical attacks while Calm Mind can weaken foes' special attacks. However, by using Nasty Plot or Calm Mind, you lose the surprise factor that special sets like to have. Neither should be first choice for Landorus-T; however, a special set can still serve its purpose well.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Earthquake, Earth Power, Scorching Sands
**Setup moves**: Swords Dance, Bulk Up, Calm Mind, Nasty Plot, Substitute
**Utility moves**: Stealth Rock, U-turn, Taunt, Brick Break
**Coverage**: Rock Tomb, Rock Slide, Stone Edge, Crunch, Hammer Arm, Outrage, Tera Blast, Grass Knot, Focus Blast, Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave, Psychic
Niche Moves
========
**Gravity and Smack Down**: These are two useful moves that remove an opponent's Ground immunity but are used on slightly different occasions. Gravity works better against teams with multiple Ground immunities, while Smack Down is better against teams with just one. If you value having a Ground immunity on your side, be wary about using Gravity.
**Fly**: Fly + Power Herb is an option if the opposing team has a naturally decently bulky Grass-, Bug-, or Fighting-type Pokemon that would be hard to KO if not for catching it off guard with Fly, but sacrificing an item slot for something that can potentially be scouted is something that has to be considered as well.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: As Landorus-T is one of the rare Pokemon that is immune to Spikes and Toxic Spikes, but not especially vulnerable to Stealth Rock, if you expect to be pivoting in and out with Landorus-T a lot, Leftovers will likely be a better choice instead of Heavy-Duty Boots if you do not have another item in mind. It's useful on tank, offensive utility, and setup sweeper sets.
**Choice Scarf**: As previously mentioned, Landorus-T is a good revenge killer, so Choice Scarf is the best option for revenge killing sets.
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky Helmet is a fantastic option for getting some chip damage off on the -1 attacks that will be coming after Intimidate.
**Resistance Berry**: Not necessarily useful against Ice-types, Yache Berry is a good item for the Ice-type coverage moves that will assuredly be coming Landorus-T's way. It won't allow Landorus-T to live long, as the moves will still hit as hard as a 2x super effective move, but it might give Landorus-T the turn required to gain an advantage. With Water-type being much less common than Ice-type coverage moves, the other resistance Berry Landorus-T can effectively use is a Passho Berry, which is still good for surprising offensive Water-type Pokemon that threaten to OHKO Landorus-T.
Niche Items
========
**Sitrus Berry**: It's good for recovering some health and is better for high-tempo games where Leftovers will not have time to get the value that a Sitrus Berry would.
**Heavy-Duty Boots** If Landorus-T's use starts and ends with using Stealth Rock and U-turn in a matchup, Heavy-Duty Boots is a viable option, allowing it to repeatedly switch in without having to worry about Stealth Rock damage. Alternatively, if you plan on using a Tera type like Flying and Terastallizing immediately, Heavy-Duty Boots will negate that extra damage Landorus-T takes when shedding the Ground-type.
**Choice Band**: While being locked into Earthquake is rarely ideal, even most Ground resistances will not want to take an Earthquake from a Choice Band Landorus-T. Landorus-T's coverage will generally be able to assist in covering the Pokemon Earthquake does not hit, but Landorus-T's physical movepool is limited, so this set will often be doling out more a powerful U-turn.
**Assault Vest**: Landorus-T can use an Assault Vest to switch more easily into special attackers while taking advantage of Intimidate against physical attackers. Assault Vest is particularly vulnerable to chip damage with no means of recovery, but it might make the difference against teams that have a lot of special attackers.
**Power Herb**: It should only be used with a Fly set. An important thing to remember is that since this item is a one-time use, Fly will still be usable, but it will be much easier to take advantage of, so use it wisely.
Tera
========
Landorus-T is a very obvious choice for a Tera Captain, finally gaining access to a reliable Flying-type coverage move for offensive sets or shedding its Ice weakness on defensive sets. The Tera type a defensive set will probably choose, Tera Water, resists both of Landorus-T's weaknesses, but it is also good because of its general good defensive typing, which Landorus-T enjoys keeping. Tera Ghost and Fairy are both decent defensive options as well, and Landorus-T can utilize both of those types well. Tera Blast Flying + Earthquake makes for a very difficult Pokemon to switch into, and even outside of Tera Flying, Landorus-T can gain much needed coverage with whichever Tera type + Tera Blast you decide to go. Landorus-T does like to keep its Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Ground and Electric immunities, however, so be certain to time its Tera wisely.
Draft Strategy
========
Landorus-T checks off so many of the parameters that one looks for in a draft team that you can pretty much draft anything alongside it. Having an immunity to Ground and Electric, two very common coverage types, Landorus-T appreciates being able to switch in on those types of moves and U-turn out of unfavorable matchups into something that can handle its weak points.
**Bulky Water-type**: Bulky Water-types are already fantastic in Draft, so the two covering each other's weaknesses is just the cherry on top. Pick one up and use them as pivots into your more offensive Pokemon.
**Wincons**: Unfortunately, without reliable speed control, Landorus-T will not realistically be winning any games by itself. Be sure to draft a Pokemon like Sneasler or Greninja that appreciates being pivoted into while Landorus-T softens up the team for those Pokemon.
**Special attackers**: Landorus-T loves to lure in physical walls only to pivot out into a strong special attacker that can begin punching holes into teams. In addition to Chi-Yu and Greninja, a fantastic teammate would be Gholdengo, as it appreciates a Ground immunity, while Landorus-T appreciates the Ice resistance and entry hazard removal blocking that Gholdengo provides.
**Spikes/Toxic Spikes setters**: Landorus-T will almost always be your Stealth Rock user due to its relatively limited movepool, and with Intimidate and U-turn, it will cause a lot of pivoting on both sides of the field. You can punish all of that pivoting with hazard users like Overqwil, Toxapex, and Tentacruel, which all appreciate the Ground immunity Landorus-T gives your team.
**Speed control/priority move users**: Landorus-T struggles with picking off faster Pokemon if it is not holding a Choice Scarf, so be sure to draft a Pokemon like Scizor or Azumarill that can accomplish this with their powerful priority moves.
Checks and Counters
========
**Water-types**: Most bulky Water-types can shrug off a defensive Landorus-T's Earthquake while threatening it out with a STAB move, while offensive Water-types like Greninja and Manaphy are able to outspeed and OHKO with their STAB moves.
**Ice-types or Ice-type moves**: Landorus-T will often fall victim to getting chunked by Ice-type coverage, as Pokemon such as Great Tusk, Clefable, and Iron Treads, which would otherwise be relatively safe switch-ins for Landorus-T, can include it in their movesets.
**Ground immunities**: Sometimes taking two turns to hit the foe with Gravity + Earthquake is not a practical solution to dealing with Ground immunities, and with no Flying-type coverage, Landorus-T will rely on the painfully inaccurate Rock-type coverage moves Landorus-T has to hit Ground immunities. For instance, Pokemon like Gliscor and Galarian Zapdos would appreciate the free turn you give them by setting Gravity up and then are still able to easily tank Earthquake.
**Strong special attackers**: Strong special attackers, such as Enamorus or Darkrai, can take advantage of Landorus-T's middling special bulk to force it out, even with substantial investment in HP and Special Defense.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/henguinie.313217/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dartrix-joker.356084/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jcmshadow.551115/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
**Draft order**: Late round 2 onwards
**Price range**: 15-16 points
**Overview**: Landorus-T might have lost the title as "Ground type of the generation" to Great Tusk; however, its set versatility, access to Intimidate, and ability to pivot with U-turn still make it a very useful pick. You will usually end up seeing a defensive set that takes advantage of Intimidate while still delivering strong hits with its gargantuan base 145 Attack or respectable 105 Special Attack, if you want to lure in other physical walls. With a respectable base 91 Speed, Landorus-T is also a strong Choice Scarf user, and its pool of utility moves can support other offensive sets. Draft this Pokemon if you want glue for your team.
Common Roles
========
**Defensive utility**: Its defensive typing, in conjunction with Intimidate, will make it a tough wall to break—even for neutrally attacking physical attackers—despite a lack of reliable healing. Its already high base Attack allows you to invest more EVs defensively, which allows it to stay on the field for a longer time.
**Offensive utility**: When EVs are invested in offensive stats as opposed to defensive stats, Landorus-T can still use moves like Stealth Rock, Taunt, and U-turn, serving as a good offensive utility pick while dishing out stronger hits.
**Revenge killer**: A base 91 Speed means that Landorus-T is outspeeding the entire unboosted metagame, barring Deoxys-S and Regieleki, when using a Choice Scarf and Jolly nature. This combined with a stellar Attack stat makes Landorus-T a very viable revenge killer, as it doesn't have the widest pool of coverage moves but still has enough to get the job done.
**Setup sweeper**: With access to Swords Dance and Bulk Up, Landorus-T can use either to clean up a weakened team. A special set with Nasty Plot or Calm Mind is also possible, with Intimidate, effectively weakening foes' physical attacks while Calm Mind can weaken foes' special attacks. However, by using Nasty Plot or Calm Mind, you lose the surprise factor that special sets like to have. Neither should be first choice for Landorus-T; however, a special set can still serve its purpose well.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Earthquake, Earth Power, Scorching Sands
**Setup moves**: Swords Dance, Bulk Up, Calm Mind, Nasty Plot, Substitute
**Utility moves**: Stealth Rock, U-turn, Taunt, Brick Break
**Coverage**: Rock Tomb, Rock Slide, Stone Edge, Crunch, Hammer Arm, Outrage, Tera Blast, Grass Knot, Focus Blast, Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave, Psychic
Niche Moves
========
**Gravity and Smack Down**: These are two useful moves that remove an opponent's Ground immunity but are used on slightly different occasions. Gravity works better against teams with multiple Ground immunities, while Smack Down is better against teams with just one. If you value having a Ground immunity on your side, be wary about using Gravity.
**Fly**: Fly + Power Herb is an option if the opposing team has a naturally decently bulky Grass-, Bug-, or Fighting-type Pokemon that would be hard to KO if not for catching it off guard with Fly, but sacrificing an item slot for something that can potentially be scouted is something that has to be considered as well.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: As Landorus-T is one of the rare Pokemon that is immune to Spikes and Toxic Spikes, but not especially vulnerable to Stealth Rock, if you expect to be pivoting in and out with Landorus-T a lot, Leftovers will likely be a better choice instead of Heavy-Duty Boots if you do not have another item in mind. It's useful on tank, offensive utility, and setup sweeper sets.
**Choice Scarf**: As previously mentioned, Landorus-T is a good revenge killer, so Choice Scarf is the best option for revenge killing sets.
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky Helmet is a fantastic option for getting some chip damage off on the -1 attacks that will be coming after Intimidate.
**Resistance Berry**: Not necessarily useful against Ice-types, Yache Berry is a good item for the Ice-type coverage moves that will assuredly be coming Landorus-T's way. It won't allow Landorus-T to live long, as the moves will still hit as hard as a 2x super effective move, but it might give Landorus-T the turn required to gain an advantage. With Water-type being much less common than Ice-type coverage moves, the other resistance Berry Landorus-T can effectively use is a Passho Berry, which is still good for surprising offensive Water-type Pokemon that threaten to OHKO Landorus-T.
Niche Items
========
**Sitrus Berry**: It's good for recovering some health and is better for high-tempo games where Leftovers will not have time to get the value that a Sitrus Berry would.
**Heavy-Duty Boots** If Landorus-T's use starts and ends with using Stealth Rock and U-turn in a matchup, Heavy-Duty Boots is a viable option, allowing it to repeatedly switch in without having to worry about Stealth Rock damage. Alternatively, if you plan on using a Tera type like Flying and Terastallizing immediately, Heavy-Duty Boots will negate that extra damage Landorus-T takes when shedding the Ground-type.
**Choice Band**: While being locked into Earthquake is rarely ideal, even most Ground resistances will not want to take an Earthquake from a Choice Band Landorus-T. Landorus-T's coverage will generally be able to assist in covering the Pokemon Earthquake does not hit, but Landorus-T's physical movepool is limited, so this set will often be doling out more a powerful U-turn.
**Assault Vest**: Landorus-T can use an Assault Vest to switch more easily into special attackers while taking advantage of Intimidate against physical attackers. Assault Vest is particularly vulnerable to chip damage with no means of recovery, but it might make the difference against teams that have a lot of special attackers.
**Power Herb**: It should only be used with a Fly set. An important thing to remember is that since this item is a one-time use, Fly will still be usable, but it will be much easier to take advantage of, so use it wisely.
Tera
========
Landorus-T is a very obvious choice for a Tera Captain, finally gaining access to a reliable Flying-type coverage move for offensive sets or shedding its Ice weakness on defensive sets. The Tera type a defensive set will probably choose, Tera Water, resists both of Landorus-T's weaknesses, but it is also good because of its general good defensive typing, which Landorus-T enjoys keeping. Tera Ghost and Fairy are both decent defensive options as well, and Landorus-T can utilize both of those types well. Tera Blast Flying + Earthquake makes for a very difficult Pokemon to switch into, and even outside of Tera Flying, Landorus-T can gain much needed coverage with whichever Tera type + Tera Blast you decide to go. Landorus-T does like to keep its Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Ground and Electric immunities, however, so be certain to time its Tera wisely.
Draft Strategy
========
Landorus-T checks off so many of the parameters that one looks for in a draft team that you can pretty much draft anything alongside it. Having an immunity to Ground and Electric, two very common coverage types, Landorus-T appreciates being able to switch in on those types of moves and U-turn out of unfavorable matchups into something that can handle its weak points.
**Bulky Water-type**: Bulky Water-types are already fantastic in Draft, so the two covering each other's weaknesses is just the cherry on top. Pick one up and use them as pivots into your more offensive Pokemon.
**Wincons**: Unfortunately, without reliable speed control, Landorus-T will not realistically be winning any games by itself. Be sure to draft a Pokemon like Sneasler or Greninja that appreciates being pivoted into while Landorus-T softens up the team for those Pokemon.
**Special attackers**: Landorus-T loves to lure in physical walls only to pivot out into a strong special attacker that can begin punching holes into teams. In addition to Chi-Yu and Greninja, a fantastic teammate would be Gholdengo, as it appreciates a Ground immunity, while Landorus-T appreciates the Ice resistance and entry hazard removal blocking that Gholdengo provides.
**Spikes/Toxic Spikes setters**: Landorus-T will almost always be your Stealth Rock user due to its relatively limited movepool, and with Intimidate and U-turn, it will cause a lot of pivoting on both sides of the field. You can punish all of that pivoting with hazard users like Overqwil, Toxapex, and Tentacruel, which all appreciate the Ground immunity Landorus-T gives your team.
**Speed control/priority move users**: Landorus-T struggles with picking off faster Pokemon if it is not holding a Choice Scarf, so be sure to draft a Pokemon like Scizor or Azumarill that can accomplish this with their powerful priority moves.
Checks and Counters
========
**Water-types**: Most bulky Water-types can shrug off a defensive Landorus-T's Earthquake while threatening it out with a STAB move, while offensive Water-types like Greninja and Manaphy are able to outspeed and OHKO with their STAB moves.
**Ice-types or Ice-type moves**: Landorus-T will often fall victim to getting chunked by Ice-type coverage, as Pokemon such as Great Tusk, Clefable, and Iron Treads, which would otherwise be relatively safe switch-ins for Landorus-T, can include it in their movesets.
**Ground immunities**: Sometimes taking two turns to hit the foe with Gravity + Earthquake is not a practical solution to dealing with Ground immunities, and with no Flying-type coverage, Landorus-T will rely on the painfully inaccurate Rock-type coverage moves Landorus-T has to hit Ground immunities. For instance, Pokemon like Gliscor and Galarian Zapdos would appreciate the free turn you give them by setting Gravity up and then are still able to easily tank Earthquake.
**Strong special attackers**: Strong special attackers, such as Enamorus or Darkrai, can take advantage of Landorus-T's middling special bulk to force it out, even with substantial investment in HP and Special Defense.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/henguinie.313217/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dartrix-joker.356084/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jcmshadow.551115/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
Last edited: