Thugly Duckling
I play TCG now
QC: Nayrz, Fireburn
GP:
.makeawishfoundation
________________
[OVERVIEW]
* Secondary Flying type allows it to check opposing Ground-types, most notably Primal Groudon.
* Abuses the potent Sheer Force + Life Orb combination, which negates Life Orb recoil and boosts Landorus's attacks immensely.
* Has great coverage options to compliment its ability, as well as access to Stealth Rock to further bolster its field presence.
*Compared to other offensive Pokemon it is just not as fast, lessening its overall utility as an attacker.
* Has a 4x weakness to Ice and poor 89 / 90 / 80 bulk, which makes it vulnerable to revenge killing.
* Landorus is greatly overshadowed by its Therian forme, which sports the ability Intimidate that allows it to soft check physical threats that regular Landorus cannot.
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Earth Power
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Stealth Rock
move 4: Hidden Power Ice
item: Life Orb
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Rash / Naive
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Earth Power receives a boost from Sheer Force, while importantly threatening Steel-types and also capable of 2HKOeing support Arceus when running a Rash Nature.
* Rock Slide is boosted by Sheer Force and is Landorus's best coverage option against Flying-types such as Ho-Oh, Lugia, and Yveltal.
* Stealth Rock offers utility, and can be set easily considering how often Landorus forces switches.
* Hidden Power Ice targets Mega Salamence and Rayquaza to prevent Landorus from becoming set up fodder.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment peaks Landorus's offensive potential to make the most of the Sheer Force + Life Orb combination.
* Rash nature is preferred because it gives Landorus a solid 91% chance to 2HKO 252 HP / 0 SpD support Arceus without any prior damage.
* Naive nature has its merits in allowing Landorus to outspeed up to positive natured 100 base Speed Pokemon, but the drop in power is noticeable.
Usage Tips
========
* Switch in opportunities are scarce because of Landorus's frailty, so make use of its immunities to Ground and Electric-type moves as well as double switching to get it into battle.
* Assessing trade-offs is important when using Landorus because although it may not be able to OHKO a foe that is threatening Landorus and its team, damaging it enough to benefit a teammate may be worth sacrificing Landorus to said foe.
* Predict if necessary because the opponent can switch in safely a Pokemon that is faster than Landorus using an immunity or resistance, and force Landorus out.
* In the same respect, two-punch support Arceus expecting Stealth Rock with Earth Power to remove the opponent's mode of hazard removal to allow Landorus and possibly a teammate to set hazards without concern of them being removed.
* If carrying Hidden Power Ice, use it sparingly because Life Orb recoil can erode Landorus's HP and prevent it from tanking certain moves it may need to, such as Primal Groudon's Stone Edge.
Team Options
========
* The reason to use regular Landorus over Landorus-Therian as a Stealth Rock setter on hazard-based offense is to KO support Arceus-formes on the switch with Earth Power and preventing Defog without resorting to Explosion; because of this, physical checks to subsidize the forme differences, such as Giratina-O, Primal Groudon, and Arceus-Water are good teammates.
* Dark-types such as Arceus-Dark and Yveltal handle Giratina-O, which walls Landorus.
* Mega Gengar can trap threats to Landorus such as Lugia, support Arceus, and Blissey.
* Additional Ground-types such as Rock Polish Primal Groudon share many checks with Landorus, and checks Primal Kyogre as well
* Staple-offensive Pokemon such as Geomancy Xerneas, Extreme Killer Arceus, and Mega Salamence all benefit from Landorus's wallbreaking prowess.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Focus Blast OHKOes Extreme Killer Arceus and Shuca Dialga, and has a chance to OHKO Ferrothorn with little prior damage.
* Explosion is a great choice if using Landorus on hazard-heavy teams in order to prevent Defog against a foe that cannot be OHKOed by one of its coverage moves.
* Knock Off can be used to annoy balanced teams by removing items, and also OHKOes Lunala after its Shadow Shield has been broken.
* Superpower can let Landorus muscle through Blissey, but physical Fighting-type coverage is suboptimal in Ubers.
* U-turn can gain momentum and lets Landorus function as a pivot, but this is better done by Landorus-Therian.
* Landorus has access to two boosting moves in Rock Polish and Calm Mind which can possibly allow Landorus to clean weakened offensive teams or break down defensive teams, respectively.
* Grass Knot heavily damages Primal Kyogre, Arceus-Ground and Arceus-Water, but nonetheless it can only 2HKO these threats which Earth Power already does.
* Gravity, although gimmicky, is a sure way to let Landorus damage Flying-types and Giratina-O with its Ground-type moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Giratina-O**: Giratina-O is immune to Landorus's Ground STAB and cannot be 2HKOed by any of its coverage moves. Additionally, Giratina-O can retaliate with powerful attacks or get free turns on Landorus to use Defog.
**Lugia**: Lugia is very bulky; meanwhile, Landorus does not have any coverage options strong enough to power through it. Knock Off can annoy Lugia, though.
**Chansey & Blissey**: These two Pokemon have such high mixed bulk that they can switch into Landorus consistently and heal off any damage dealt. They are bothered by Knock Off, though, and Landorus is capable of carrying moves that deal with them.
**Skarmory**: Skarmory's typing alone grants an advantage over Landorus, and can set Spikes or use Defog against Landorus. It must be wary of Focus Blast, though.
**Primal Kyogre**: Primal Kyogre can tank any of Landorus's attacks and OHKO it with Ice Beam or Origin Pulse. Primal Kyogre must be careful switching in, though, as with hazard support Landorus can 2HKO even max HP variants with Earth Power.
**Arceus formes**: All formes and variants of Arceus pose a threat to Landorus with their combination of bulk, power, and possibly typing. For instance, Extreme Killer can set up Swords Dance against Landorus, and support Arceus often carry Ice Beam which OHKOes Landorus. However, Support Arceus formes must beware of switching into Earth Power, as it stands a good chance to 2HKO even without prior damage.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types are immune Earth Power and can snag opportunities to switch-in because of it. Yveltal can deal heavy damage to Landorus with its STAB attacks or use Roost to recover from Landorus's attacks. Arceus-Flying can set up Calm Mind on Landorus and use Recover to heal itself.
**Revenge killers**: Faster attackers such as Deoxys-Attack and Choice Scarf users prey upon Landorus's below average speed and can OHKO it with their coverage moves.
**Priority moves**: Priority moves from the likes of Arceus and Rayquaza can pick off a weakened Landorus with ExtremeSpeed before it can make a move.
GP:
.makeawishfoundation
________________
[OVERVIEW]
* Secondary Flying type allows it to check opposing Ground-types, most notably Primal Groudon.
* Abuses the potent Sheer Force + Life Orb combination, which negates Life Orb recoil and boosts Landorus's attacks immensely.
* Has great coverage options to compliment its ability, as well as access to Stealth Rock to further bolster its field presence.
*Compared to other offensive Pokemon it is just not as fast, lessening its overall utility as an attacker.
* Has a 4x weakness to Ice and poor 89 / 90 / 80 bulk, which makes it vulnerable to revenge killing.
* Landorus is greatly overshadowed by its Therian forme, which sports the ability Intimidate that allows it to soft check physical threats that regular Landorus cannot.
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Earth Power
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Stealth Rock
move 4: Hidden Power Ice
item: Life Orb
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Rash / Naive
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Earth Power receives a boost from Sheer Force, while importantly threatening Steel-types and also capable of 2HKOeing support Arceus when running a Rash Nature.
* Rock Slide is boosted by Sheer Force and is Landorus's best coverage option against Flying-types such as Ho-Oh, Lugia, and Yveltal.
* Stealth Rock offers utility, and can be set easily considering how often Landorus forces switches.
* Hidden Power Ice targets Mega Salamence and Rayquaza to prevent Landorus from becoming set up fodder.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment peaks Landorus's offensive potential to make the most of the Sheer Force + Life Orb combination.
* Rash nature is preferred because it gives Landorus a solid 91% chance to 2HKO 252 HP / 0 SpD support Arceus without any prior damage.
* Naive nature has its merits in allowing Landorus to outspeed up to positive natured 100 base Speed Pokemon, but the drop in power is noticeable.
Usage Tips
========
* Switch in opportunities are scarce because of Landorus's frailty, so make use of its immunities to Ground and Electric-type moves as well as double switching to get it into battle.
* Assessing trade-offs is important when using Landorus because although it may not be able to OHKO a foe that is threatening Landorus and its team, damaging it enough to benefit a teammate may be worth sacrificing Landorus to said foe.
* Predict if necessary because the opponent can switch in safely a Pokemon that is faster than Landorus using an immunity or resistance, and force Landorus out.
* In the same respect, two-punch support Arceus expecting Stealth Rock with Earth Power to remove the opponent's mode of hazard removal to allow Landorus and possibly a teammate to set hazards without concern of them being removed.
* If carrying Hidden Power Ice, use it sparingly because Life Orb recoil can erode Landorus's HP and prevent it from tanking certain moves it may need to, such as Primal Groudon's Stone Edge.
Team Options
========
* The reason to use regular Landorus over Landorus-Therian as a Stealth Rock setter on hazard-based offense is to KO support Arceus-formes on the switch with Earth Power and preventing Defog without resorting to Explosion; because of this, physical checks to subsidize the forme differences, such as Giratina-O, Primal Groudon, and Arceus-Water are good teammates.
* Dark-types such as Arceus-Dark and Yveltal handle Giratina-O, which walls Landorus.
* Mega Gengar can trap threats to Landorus such as Lugia, support Arceus, and Blissey.
* Additional Ground-types such as Rock Polish Primal Groudon share many checks with Landorus, and checks Primal Kyogre as well
* Staple-offensive Pokemon such as Geomancy Xerneas, Extreme Killer Arceus, and Mega Salamence all benefit from Landorus's wallbreaking prowess.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Focus Blast OHKOes Extreme Killer Arceus and Shuca Dialga, and has a chance to OHKO Ferrothorn with little prior damage.
* Explosion is a great choice if using Landorus on hazard-heavy teams in order to prevent Defog against a foe that cannot be OHKOed by one of its coverage moves.
* Knock Off can be used to annoy balanced teams by removing items, and also OHKOes Lunala after its Shadow Shield has been broken.
* Superpower can let Landorus muscle through Blissey, but physical Fighting-type coverage is suboptimal in Ubers.
* U-turn can gain momentum and lets Landorus function as a pivot, but this is better done by Landorus-Therian.
* Landorus has access to two boosting moves in Rock Polish and Calm Mind which can possibly allow Landorus to clean weakened offensive teams or break down defensive teams, respectively.
* Grass Knot heavily damages Primal Kyogre, Arceus-Ground and Arceus-Water, but nonetheless it can only 2HKO these threats which Earth Power already does.
* Gravity, although gimmicky, is a sure way to let Landorus damage Flying-types and Giratina-O with its Ground-type moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Giratina-O**: Giratina-O is immune to Landorus's Ground STAB and cannot be 2HKOed by any of its coverage moves. Additionally, Giratina-O can retaliate with powerful attacks or get free turns on Landorus to use Defog.
**Lugia**: Lugia is very bulky; meanwhile, Landorus does not have any coverage options strong enough to power through it. Knock Off can annoy Lugia, though.
**Chansey & Blissey**: These two Pokemon have such high mixed bulk that they can switch into Landorus consistently and heal off any damage dealt. They are bothered by Knock Off, though, and Landorus is capable of carrying moves that deal with them.
**Skarmory**: Skarmory's typing alone grants an advantage over Landorus, and can set Spikes or use Defog against Landorus. It must be wary of Focus Blast, though.
**Primal Kyogre**: Primal Kyogre can tank any of Landorus's attacks and OHKO it with Ice Beam or Origin Pulse. Primal Kyogre must be careful switching in, though, as with hazard support Landorus can 2HKO even max HP variants with Earth Power.
**Arceus formes**: All formes and variants of Arceus pose a threat to Landorus with their combination of bulk, power, and possibly typing. For instance, Extreme Killer can set up Swords Dance against Landorus, and support Arceus often carry Ice Beam which OHKOes Landorus. However, Support Arceus formes must beware of switching into Earth Power, as it stands a good chance to 2HKO even without prior damage.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types are immune Earth Power and can snag opportunities to switch-in because of it. Yveltal can deal heavy damage to Landorus with its STAB attacks or use Roost to recover from Landorus's attacks. Arceus-Flying can set up Calm Mind on Landorus and use Recover to heal itself.
**Revenge killers**: Faster attackers such as Deoxys-Attack and Choice Scarf users prey upon Landorus's below average speed and can OHKO it with their coverage moves.
**Priority moves**: Priority moves from the likes of Arceus and Rayquaza can pick off a weakened Landorus with ExtremeSpeed before it can make a move.
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