[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Stone Edge / Defog
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Regenerator
nature: Jolly
evs: 248 HP / 136 Def / 124 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Landorus-T is one of the best Choice Scarf users in the tier due to its combination of bulk, power, coverage, and access to U-turn. Earthquake OHKOes many premier attackers, such as Tapu Koko, Terrakion, and Cinderace. It also forces out common defensive Pokemon like Heatran, Jirachi, and Blissey. U-turn takes advantage of the switches Landorus-T forces, allowing it to safely bring in a teammate like Tapu Koko. Knock Off offers useful utility in removing items from switch-ins, such as Corviknight and Ferrothorn, and is its best option against Dhelmise. Stone Edge keeps Talonflame, Zapdos, and unboosted Volcarona in check, but do note that Zapdos survives a hit from full health and can threaten an OHKO in return. Because of Stone Edge's limited use otherwise, Defog can be utilized instead as an emergency entry hazard removal option, and it takes advantage of Landorus-T's positive matchup against Heatran, one of the best Stealth Rock setters. Regenerator keeps Landorus-T healthy throughout a game to repeatedly pivot into threats like Tapu Koko and Talonflame, fulfilling its role as an offensive pivot. The given Speed investment in conjunction with a Choice Scarf allows Landorus-T to outspeed Barraskewda; the remaining EVs are put into HP and Defense to maximize bulk, which notably allows Landorus-T to survive a Stone Edge from Terrakion.
Landorus-T fits on balance teams in need of a check to dangerous attackers like Tapu Koko, Terrakion, and Talonflame. It pairs well with defensive Pokemon like Corviknight, Jirachi, and Blissey, as they can invite the aforementioned wallbreakers in and then pivot into Landorus-T. At the same time, Landorus-T complements special attackers greatly by threatening special walls such as Heatran, Jirachi, and Blissey, further forming a VoltTurn core with the likes of Tapu Koko, Azelf, and Genesect. Zapdos forms a particularly stellar offensive core with Landorus-T, as it can come in on Corviknight, Tapu Fini, and Kommo-o, among other foes that attempt to check Landorus-T; in return, Landorus-T outspeeds and checks revenge killers like Terrakion. Landorus-T is also weak to common Water- and Ice-type attacks from the likes of Genesect, Zapdos, and Swampert, so teammates like Tapu Fini and Desolate Land Heatran are essential to help cover them. Additionally, Blissey can switch into Zapdos and chip it via Seismic Toss, greatly helping Landorus-T in revenge killing Zapdos. Entry hazards from setters like Heatran let Landorus-T win the pivoting battle long-term.
[SET]
name: Aerilate Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Explosion
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Swords Dance / Body Slam
item: Focus Sash / Life Orb
ability: Aerilate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Landorus-T is a stellar Stealth Rock lead given its good matchup against Magic Bounce users like Kommo-o and Blissey, as well as its extremely strong Explosion. With a boost and STAB from Aerilate, Explosion can OHKO most foes that do not resist it, such as Tapu Fini, and severely dent resistant Pokemon like Corviknight and Zapdos. In addition, it provides teammates a free switch in while denying any Defog or Rapid Spin attempts, mainly by Corviknight. Earthquake hits Steel-types and Electric-types like Heatran, Tapu Koko, and Jirachi that resist Explosion. Swords Dance boosts Explosion damage to monstrous levels, notably giving a chance to OHKO Corviknight. Alternatively, Body Slam allows Landorus-T to threaten foes with paralysis before using Explosion, which is useful against more offensive teams. Focus Sash is preferred to give Landorus-T an extra turn to work with and guarantee it can set up Stealth Rock. Life Orb is suboptimal for a dedicated lead, but it instead provides extra wallbreaking power for Corviknight and Zapdos. A Jolly Nature is used to outspeed the likes of Genesect and Tapu Lele with a neutral nature.
Landorus-T finds its home on hyper offense teams, where dangerous sweepers like Tinted Lens Genesect and Bulk Up Cinderace can take full advantage of a free switch in, as well as Stealth Rock support. Cinderace, alongside other Fire-types like Volcarona, is especially useful to immediately force out a Corviknight that took Landorus-T's Explosion, denying it any chance to use using Defog or Roost. Consequently, strong physical attackers like Terrakion, Zarude, and Garchomp fit well with the pairing, as they greatly benefit from Corviknight being weakened. Focus Sash variants do not require much support, as their main goal is to set up Stealth Rock and use Explosion, but Life Orb variants, being less of suicide leads, appreciate Desolate Land users like Volcarona to take on Water-types like Swampert and Barraskewda. Life Orb Landorus-T especially enjoys teammates like Terrakion and Garchomp, as they burden walls like Corviknight and Tapu Fini to check both them and Landorus-T; this pressure on the walls lessens the need for Landorus-T to heavily chip them but sacrifice itself via Explosion.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Regenerator Landorus-T can run a specially defensive Assault Vest set to serve as a defensive pivot instead, switching into strong special attackers like Tapu Koko better, though this set cannot actually revenge kill these attackers; furthermore, it struggles with both Desolate Land and Primordial Sea users such as Cinderace, Volcanion, and Inteleon, which is unideal for a slow Regenerator user. Another option is to run maximum Defense investment and Rocky Helmet to serve as a defensive Stealth Rock setter, but this set is still 2HKOed by the likes of Pixilate Tapu Koko and Cinderace, limiting its use as a physical wall. Choice Scarf sets can utilize Aerilate, Body Slam, and Explosion to threaten foes with both paralysis and heavy chip damage, as well as providing better coverage to hit foes like Kommo-o. Wandering Spirit is also a niche option to be an emergency check to dangerous sweepers like Unburden Kommo-o and Triage Tapu Bulu, as well as denying recovery from Regenerator users like Jirachi. However, Landorus-T generally favors Regenerator so it can repeatedly check offensive threats. Lastly, Galvanize can be used over Aerilate on suicide lead sets, as Body Slam can 2HKO Tapu Fini and Corviknight, allowing Landorus-T to eliminate opposing Defog users without having to sacrifice itself.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: Flying-types like Corviknight and Zapdos are resilient to almost any move Landorus-T uses, and they can use a slow U-turn or a Volt Switch as it switches out, respectively, to bring in a teammate safely. Corviknight can also run Wandering Spirit to deny Landorus-T recovering health from Regenerator. Additionally, Zapdos, while weak to Stone Edge, threatens to OHKO Landorus-T with Weather Ball. Nevertheless, Landorus-T can punish both Pokemon via Knock Off.
**Water- and Ice-type Coverage**: Landorus-T is heavily damaged by any Water- or Ice-type attacks, such as ones by Barraskewda, Zapdos, Genesect, and Swampert, though Choice Scarf sets can pick these Pokemon off if they are sufficiently weakened.
**Grassy Surge**: Grassy Surge users, namely Dhelmise and Zarude, threaten to 2HKO Landorus-T with Grassy Glide, and their Grassy Terrain halves the damage of Earthquake, Landorus-T's main attacking move. However, these Pokemon have to be aware of Knock Off and U-turn, respectively.
**Strong Neutral Wallbreakers**: As Landorus-T cannot OHKO wallbreakers that are not weak to Ground, it is often forced to trade damage against the likes of Swords Dance Kommo-o, Swords Dance Garchomp, and Zygarde-10%. While Landorus-T threatens a 2HKO on them, it will take heavy damage in the process, which outpaces Regenerator healing and wears it down quickly.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[avyrie, 476520]]
- Quality checked by: [[Osake, 524664], [UT, 523866]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Stone Edge / Defog
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Regenerator
nature: Jolly
evs: 248 HP / 136 Def / 124 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Landorus-T is one of the best Choice Scarf users in the tier due to its combination of bulk, power, coverage, and access to U-turn. Earthquake OHKOes many premier attackers, such as Tapu Koko, Terrakion, and Cinderace. It also forces out common defensive Pokemon like Heatran, Jirachi, and Blissey. U-turn takes advantage of the switches Landorus-T forces, allowing it to safely bring in a teammate like Tapu Koko. Knock Off offers useful utility in removing items from switch-ins, such as Corviknight and Ferrothorn, and is its best option against Dhelmise. Stone Edge keeps Talonflame, Zapdos, and unboosted Volcarona in check, but do note that Zapdos survives a hit from full health and can threaten an OHKO in return. Because of Stone Edge's limited use otherwise, Defog can be utilized instead as an emergency entry hazard removal option, and it takes advantage of Landorus-T's positive matchup against Heatran, one of the best Stealth Rock setters. Regenerator keeps Landorus-T healthy throughout a game to repeatedly pivot into threats like Tapu Koko and Talonflame, fulfilling its role as an offensive pivot. The given Speed investment in conjunction with a Choice Scarf allows Landorus-T to outspeed Barraskewda; the remaining EVs are put into HP and Defense to maximize bulk, which notably allows Landorus-T to survive a Stone Edge from Terrakion.
Landorus-T fits on balance teams in need of a check to dangerous attackers like Tapu Koko, Terrakion, and Talonflame. It pairs well with defensive Pokemon like Corviknight, Jirachi, and Blissey, as they can invite the aforementioned wallbreakers in and then pivot into Landorus-T. At the same time, Landorus-T complements special attackers greatly by threatening special walls such as Heatran, Jirachi, and Blissey, further forming a VoltTurn core with the likes of Tapu Koko, Azelf, and Genesect. Zapdos forms a particularly stellar offensive core with Landorus-T, as it can come in on Corviknight, Tapu Fini, and Kommo-o, among other foes that attempt to check Landorus-T; in return, Landorus-T outspeeds and checks revenge killers like Terrakion. Landorus-T is also weak to common Water- and Ice-type attacks from the likes of Genesect, Zapdos, and Swampert, so teammates like Tapu Fini and Desolate Land Heatran are essential to help cover them. Additionally, Blissey can switch into Zapdos and chip it via Seismic Toss, greatly helping Landorus-T in revenge killing Zapdos. Entry hazards from setters like Heatran let Landorus-T win the pivoting battle long-term.
[SET]
name: Aerilate Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Explosion
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Swords Dance / Body Slam
item: Focus Sash / Life Orb
ability: Aerilate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Landorus-T is a stellar Stealth Rock lead given its good matchup against Magic Bounce users like Kommo-o and Blissey, as well as its extremely strong Explosion. With a boost and STAB from Aerilate, Explosion can OHKO most foes that do not resist it, such as Tapu Fini, and severely dent resistant Pokemon like Corviknight and Zapdos. In addition, it provides teammates a free switch in while denying any Defog or Rapid Spin attempts, mainly by Corviknight. Earthquake hits Steel-types and Electric-types like Heatran, Tapu Koko, and Jirachi that resist Explosion. Swords Dance boosts Explosion damage to monstrous levels, notably giving a chance to OHKO Corviknight. Alternatively, Body Slam allows Landorus-T to threaten foes with paralysis before using Explosion, which is useful against more offensive teams. Focus Sash is preferred to give Landorus-T an extra turn to work with and guarantee it can set up Stealth Rock. Life Orb is suboptimal for a dedicated lead, but it instead provides extra wallbreaking power for Corviknight and Zapdos. A Jolly Nature is used to outspeed the likes of Genesect and Tapu Lele with a neutral nature.
Landorus-T finds its home on hyper offense teams, where dangerous sweepers like Tinted Lens Genesect and Bulk Up Cinderace can take full advantage of a free switch in, as well as Stealth Rock support. Cinderace, alongside other Fire-types like Volcarona, is especially useful to immediately force out a Corviknight that took Landorus-T's Explosion, denying it any chance to use using Defog or Roost. Consequently, strong physical attackers like Terrakion, Zarude, and Garchomp fit well with the pairing, as they greatly benefit from Corviknight being weakened. Focus Sash variants do not require much support, as their main goal is to set up Stealth Rock and use Explosion, but Life Orb variants, being less of suicide leads, appreciate Desolate Land users like Volcarona to take on Water-types like Swampert and Barraskewda. Life Orb Landorus-T especially enjoys teammates like Terrakion and Garchomp, as they burden walls like Corviknight and Tapu Fini to check both them and Landorus-T; this pressure on the walls lessens the need for Landorus-T to heavily chip them but sacrifice itself via Explosion.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Regenerator Landorus-T can run a specially defensive Assault Vest set to serve as a defensive pivot instead, switching into strong special attackers like Tapu Koko better, though this set cannot actually revenge kill these attackers; furthermore, it struggles with both Desolate Land and Primordial Sea users such as Cinderace, Volcanion, and Inteleon, which is unideal for a slow Regenerator user. Another option is to run maximum Defense investment and Rocky Helmet to serve as a defensive Stealth Rock setter, but this set is still 2HKOed by the likes of Pixilate Tapu Koko and Cinderace, limiting its use as a physical wall. Choice Scarf sets can utilize Aerilate, Body Slam, and Explosion to threaten foes with both paralysis and heavy chip damage, as well as providing better coverage to hit foes like Kommo-o. Wandering Spirit is also a niche option to be an emergency check to dangerous sweepers like Unburden Kommo-o and Triage Tapu Bulu, as well as denying recovery from Regenerator users like Jirachi. However, Landorus-T generally favors Regenerator so it can repeatedly check offensive threats. Lastly, Galvanize can be used over Aerilate on suicide lead sets, as Body Slam can 2HKO Tapu Fini and Corviknight, allowing Landorus-T to eliminate opposing Defog users without having to sacrifice itself.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: Flying-types like Corviknight and Zapdos are resilient to almost any move Landorus-T uses, and they can use a slow U-turn or a Volt Switch as it switches out, respectively, to bring in a teammate safely. Corviknight can also run Wandering Spirit to deny Landorus-T recovering health from Regenerator. Additionally, Zapdos, while weak to Stone Edge, threatens to OHKO Landorus-T with Weather Ball. Nevertheless, Landorus-T can punish both Pokemon via Knock Off.
**Water- and Ice-type Coverage**: Landorus-T is heavily damaged by any Water- or Ice-type attacks, such as ones by Barraskewda, Zapdos, Genesect, and Swampert, though Choice Scarf sets can pick these Pokemon off if they are sufficiently weakened.
**Grassy Surge**: Grassy Surge users, namely Dhelmise and Zarude, threaten to 2HKO Landorus-T with Grassy Glide, and their Grassy Terrain halves the damage of Earthquake, Landorus-T's main attacking move. However, these Pokemon have to be aware of Knock Off and U-turn, respectively.
**Strong Neutral Wallbreakers**: As Landorus-T cannot OHKO wallbreakers that are not weak to Ground, it is often forced to trade damage against the likes of Swords Dance Kommo-o, Swords Dance Garchomp, and Zygarde-10%. While Landorus-T threatens a 2HKO on them, it will take heavy damage in the process, which outpaces Regenerator healing and wears it down quickly.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[avyrie, 476520]]
- Quality checked by: [[Osake, 524664], [UT, 523866]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited:
