[OVERVIEW]
Latios is the most threatening and dominant Pokemon in BDSP OU. Latios's monstrous Special Attack stat, high Speed, solid all-around bulk with a great offensive typing, and plethora of coverage and utility options let it pick and choose its checks, making it the premier wallbreaker in the tier. The lack of convenient, durable Steel- and Fairy-types makes Latios's attacks extremely hard to punish, with most of the few Pokemon that switch into its STAB attacks such as Heatran and Jirachi getting demolished by its coverage options. However, all of Latios's individual sets have their minor problems, with the Choice Specs set being quite prediction reliant, the Calm Mind set lacking immediate power and coverage options, and the 3 Attacks + Roost set being quickly worn down by Life Orb recoil.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Surf
move 4: Dragon Pulse / Sleep Talk
item: Choice Specs
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Specs is Latios's most common set, and for good reason. Its powerful STAB Draco Meteor dents even resistant Pokemon such as Heatran. Psychic nails the Fairy-types that switch into Draco Meteor such as Clefable and Togekiss, and it's a strong attack without drawbacks. Surf is Latios's best coverage option, dissuading Heatran from switching in on its STAB attacks and breaking through Scizor after minor chip damage. Dragon Pulse lacking Draco Meteor's drawbacks makes it useful against frailer targets that do not require Draco Meteor's sheer power to break through, and locking into a Dragon-type move is oftentimes much more favorable than Psychic. Sleep Talk, on the other hand, allows Latios to switch into Breloom's Spore and force it out, letting Latios check it in the short term.
Choice Specs Latios fits on offensive teams that don't mind its decreased longevity and greatly appreciate its wallbreaking. Although it has great bulk for an offensive Pokemon, Choice Specs Latios still lacks longevity, so pivots such as Scizor, Rotom-W, and Gliscor work extremely well with it. Stealth Rock from Garchomp, Heatran, and Jirachi can put would-be checks such as Scizor in range of Latios's attacks, and it also wears down more short-term countermeasures like Heatran and Jirachi. Other Dragon-types like Garchomp and Dragonite are phenomenal partners, working with Latios to wear down their shared checks. Infernape, in particular, is an astounding offensive partner, as it gets Latios in safely with U-turn on Pokemon like Slowbro and Gliscor while forcing out Scizor and Blissey. Lastly, Magnezone helps remove pesky Steel-types, namely Scizor, allowing Latios to punch holes much more consistently.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Calm Mind
move 4: Roost
item: Soul Dew
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Calm Mind Latios becomes a terrifying wallbreaker after a boost, muscling through would-be checks such as Blissey lacking Calm Mind while cleaning slower teams. Draco Meteor hits even resistant targets hard after a boost, but it removes Calm Mind's Special Attack boosts, so Dragon Pulse is an option too. Psychic deals with the Fairy-types that pivot into its Dragon-type STAB move, notably scoring a 2HKO on Unaware Clefable, which walls this set unless it switches into Psychic. Roost lets Latios soft check the likes of Breloom and Rotom-W over the course of the match, as well as making sure it can wallbreak and attempt to sweep multiple times.
Calm Mind Latios works best on bulky offense teams that can wear down Steel-types such as Heatran, Jirachi, and Scizor so it can cleave through the opposition. Spikes support from Roserade and Skarmory can wear down Heatran and Jirachi extremely quickly, as well as chip Scizor constantly so Latios can eventually overwhelm it. Heatran can potentially burn Scizor with Flame Body, which is extremely helpful in wearing it down. Magnezone is also an exceptional partner, as it can trap and remove the aforementioned Scizor, which might also remove Spikes with Defog. Other Dragon-types like Garchomp and Dragonite appreciate Steel- and Fairy-types being worn down or KOed. Garchomp, and the aforementioned Heatran, also can set Stealth Rock, forming a potent entry hazard-stacking core with a Spiker.
[SET]
name: 3 Attacks + Roost
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Earthquake / Surf
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Naive / Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
3 Attacks + Roost Latios fits coverage to nail checks such as Jirachi and Heatran while still possessing the longevity due to Roost to check the likes of Breloom and Rotom-W throughout the game. Draco Meteor and Psychic hits the entire tier at least neutrally barring Steel-types. Earthquake threatens an immediate OHKO on specially defensive Heatran and a 2HKO on Jirachi after minor chip damage, such as if it switches into Draco Meteor. Surf, on the other hand, lets Latios potentially break through chipped Scizor while still dealing with Heatran, albeit less effectively. Roost lets it heal off Life Orb recoil and consistently pressure the opposing team throughout the match. A Naive nature should only be used with Earthquake to not lower its damage against the aforementioned Heatran and Jirachi.
3 Attacks + Roost Latios fits especially well on DragMag and offensive teams, luring in and weakening or outright removing Heatran or Jirachi, which allows its other Dragon-type partners to click their Dragon-type STAB moves more often. It also lets teammates such as Weavile, offensive Scizor, and Togekiss wallbreak much more consistently. Magnezone, as always, is a great partner, removing the one Steel-type Latios is unable to break past consistently in Scizor, letting it use its STAB moves more often. Lastly, pivots such as Infernape, Gliscor, and Rotom-W help get it in safely, as it is prone to getting worn down quickly.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Choice Scarf set makes Latios a solid revenge killer; however, it doesn't stand out in this role and is very easily walled. Defog is an option on Choice item sets for emergency entry hazard removal, but dropping a coverage option for this is extremely suboptimal. Lastly, other coverage options such as Energy Ball, Ice Beam, and Thunderbolt can be used to nail Pokemon like Gastrodon, Gliscor, and Empoleon, respectively.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Specially defensive Scizor hard walls Latios, as it needs a lot of prior chip damage and good play for even the Choice Specs set to overwhelm. The likes of Heatran, Jirachi, and Empoleon can pivot in on its Choice-locked STAB attacks somewhat consistently, although they can easily get worn down and fear its coverage options.
**Blissey**: Calm Mind Blissey hard counters all Latios variants with ease, pivoting into it and healing off all the damage dealt. However, Blissey lacking Calm Mind can struggle against Calm Mind variants of Latios, as it relies on multiple full paralyses from Thunder Wave to beat it.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Azumarill, Clefable, and Togekiss can all pivot into a Choice-locked Dragon-STAB attack and force Latios out, although they are unable to deal with its other moves.
**Revenge Killers**: Faster Pokemon such as Weavile, Alakazam, and Choice Scarf Garchomp all easily revenge kill Latios, but they are unable to switch into it. Furthermore, if Latios has been worn down, strong priority moves such as Choice Band Dragonite's Extreme Speed can also pick it off.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[adem, 529732]]
- Quality checked by: [[lalaya, 279858], [dex, 277988]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [dex, 277988]]
Latios is the most threatening and dominant Pokemon in BDSP OU. Latios's monstrous Special Attack stat, high Speed, solid all-around bulk with a great offensive typing, and plethora of coverage and utility options let it pick and choose its checks, making it the premier wallbreaker in the tier. The lack of convenient, durable Steel- and Fairy-types makes Latios's attacks extremely hard to punish, with most of the few Pokemon that switch into its STAB attacks such as Heatran and Jirachi getting demolished by its coverage options. However, all of Latios's individual sets have their minor problems, with the Choice Specs set being quite prediction reliant, the Calm Mind set lacking immediate power and coverage options, and the 3 Attacks + Roost set being quickly worn down by Life Orb recoil.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Surf
move 4: Dragon Pulse / Sleep Talk
item: Choice Specs
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Specs is Latios's most common set, and for good reason. Its powerful STAB Draco Meteor dents even resistant Pokemon such as Heatran. Psychic nails the Fairy-types that switch into Draco Meteor such as Clefable and Togekiss, and it's a strong attack without drawbacks. Surf is Latios's best coverage option, dissuading Heatran from switching in on its STAB attacks and breaking through Scizor after minor chip damage. Dragon Pulse lacking Draco Meteor's drawbacks makes it useful against frailer targets that do not require Draco Meteor's sheer power to break through, and locking into a Dragon-type move is oftentimes much more favorable than Psychic. Sleep Talk, on the other hand, allows Latios to switch into Breloom's Spore and force it out, letting Latios check it in the short term.
Choice Specs Latios fits on offensive teams that don't mind its decreased longevity and greatly appreciate its wallbreaking. Although it has great bulk for an offensive Pokemon, Choice Specs Latios still lacks longevity, so pivots such as Scizor, Rotom-W, and Gliscor work extremely well with it. Stealth Rock from Garchomp, Heatran, and Jirachi can put would-be checks such as Scizor in range of Latios's attacks, and it also wears down more short-term countermeasures like Heatran and Jirachi. Other Dragon-types like Garchomp and Dragonite are phenomenal partners, working with Latios to wear down their shared checks. Infernape, in particular, is an astounding offensive partner, as it gets Latios in safely with U-turn on Pokemon like Slowbro and Gliscor while forcing out Scizor and Blissey. Lastly, Magnezone helps remove pesky Steel-types, namely Scizor, allowing Latios to punch holes much more consistently.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Calm Mind
move 4: Roost
item: Soul Dew
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Calm Mind Latios becomes a terrifying wallbreaker after a boost, muscling through would-be checks such as Blissey lacking Calm Mind while cleaning slower teams. Draco Meteor hits even resistant targets hard after a boost, but it removes Calm Mind's Special Attack boosts, so Dragon Pulse is an option too. Psychic deals with the Fairy-types that pivot into its Dragon-type STAB move, notably scoring a 2HKO on Unaware Clefable, which walls this set unless it switches into Psychic. Roost lets Latios soft check the likes of Breloom and Rotom-W over the course of the match, as well as making sure it can wallbreak and attempt to sweep multiple times.
Calm Mind Latios works best on bulky offense teams that can wear down Steel-types such as Heatran, Jirachi, and Scizor so it can cleave through the opposition. Spikes support from Roserade and Skarmory can wear down Heatran and Jirachi extremely quickly, as well as chip Scizor constantly so Latios can eventually overwhelm it. Heatran can potentially burn Scizor with Flame Body, which is extremely helpful in wearing it down. Magnezone is also an exceptional partner, as it can trap and remove the aforementioned Scizor, which might also remove Spikes with Defog. Other Dragon-types like Garchomp and Dragonite appreciate Steel- and Fairy-types being worn down or KOed. Garchomp, and the aforementioned Heatran, also can set Stealth Rock, forming a potent entry hazard-stacking core with a Spiker.
[SET]
name: 3 Attacks + Roost
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Earthquake / Surf
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Naive / Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
3 Attacks + Roost Latios fits coverage to nail checks such as Jirachi and Heatran while still possessing the longevity due to Roost to check the likes of Breloom and Rotom-W throughout the game. Draco Meteor and Psychic hits the entire tier at least neutrally barring Steel-types. Earthquake threatens an immediate OHKO on specially defensive Heatran and a 2HKO on Jirachi after minor chip damage, such as if it switches into Draco Meteor. Surf, on the other hand, lets Latios potentially break through chipped Scizor while still dealing with Heatran, albeit less effectively. Roost lets it heal off Life Orb recoil and consistently pressure the opposing team throughout the match. A Naive nature should only be used with Earthquake to not lower its damage against the aforementioned Heatran and Jirachi.
3 Attacks + Roost Latios fits especially well on DragMag and offensive teams, luring in and weakening or outright removing Heatran or Jirachi, which allows its other Dragon-type partners to click their Dragon-type STAB moves more often. It also lets teammates such as Weavile, offensive Scizor, and Togekiss wallbreak much more consistently. Magnezone, as always, is a great partner, removing the one Steel-type Latios is unable to break past consistently in Scizor, letting it use its STAB moves more often. Lastly, pivots such as Infernape, Gliscor, and Rotom-W help get it in safely, as it is prone to getting worn down quickly.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Choice Scarf set makes Latios a solid revenge killer; however, it doesn't stand out in this role and is very easily walled. Defog is an option on Choice item sets for emergency entry hazard removal, but dropping a coverage option for this is extremely suboptimal. Lastly, other coverage options such as Energy Ball, Ice Beam, and Thunderbolt can be used to nail Pokemon like Gastrodon, Gliscor, and Empoleon, respectively.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Specially defensive Scizor hard walls Latios, as it needs a lot of prior chip damage and good play for even the Choice Specs set to overwhelm. The likes of Heatran, Jirachi, and Empoleon can pivot in on its Choice-locked STAB attacks somewhat consistently, although they can easily get worn down and fear its coverage options.
**Blissey**: Calm Mind Blissey hard counters all Latios variants with ease, pivoting into it and healing off all the damage dealt. However, Blissey lacking Calm Mind can struggle against Calm Mind variants of Latios, as it relies on multiple full paralyses from Thunder Wave to beat it.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Azumarill, Clefable, and Togekiss can all pivot into a Choice-locked Dragon-STAB attack and force Latios out, although they are unable to deal with its other moves.
**Revenge Killers**: Faster Pokemon such as Weavile, Alakazam, and Choice Scarf Garchomp all easily revenge kill Latios, but they are unable to switch into it. Furthermore, if Latios has been worn down, strong priority moves such as Choice Band Dragonite's Extreme Speed can also pick it off.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[adem, 529732]]
- Quality checked by: [[lalaya, 279858], [dex, 277988]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [dex, 277988]]
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