Latios

Audiosurfer

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Overview
########

At first glance, Latios's decline in usage seems baffling. It has a high base 130 Special Attack stat, access to powerful moves such as Draco Meteor, a base 110 Speed which allows it to outpace Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y and Terrakion, a Dragon typing which grants it resistances to common types such as Fire and Water, and, to top it all off, it has access to Levitate. However, with the rise of Steel- and Fairy-types, more teams have an effective answer to Latios. In addition, it has a weakness to Sucker Punch that is made more burdensome on account of the high usage of Bisharp and Mega Kangaskhan, and, while its bulk is not bad, it's not stellar either, which can make Latios easy for more powerful Pokemon to wear down. All in all, though, it is still a solid choice for those looking for a fast and powerful attacker.

Special Attacker
########
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psyshock / Psychic
move 3: Tailwind / Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Protect
ability: Levitate
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========

Draco Meteor's high power which allows it to either KO or deal heavy damage to most opposing Pokemon. However, it comes with the nasty side effect of lowering Latios's Special Attack by two stages, so it's wise not to spam it or Latios runs the risk of being forced out. If you need a good neutral attack for when you don't want to drop Latios's stats, Psyshock or Psychic is your best bet, as they're both strong secondary STAB attacks. Psyshock is listed first because it deals more damage to Amoonguss and also allows Latios to hit common Assault Vest users such as Ludicolo harder. If these benefits don't matter to you, though, use Psychic, as it has higher Base Power and deals more damage to neutral targets. For the third slot, Tailwind is listed first because it allows Latios to provide valuable support to its teammates, letting it remain useful even once its Special Attack has been dropped. However, if Scizor and Ferrothorn are an issue, Hidden Power Fire can be used to catch them off guard. If you'd like to give your Latios more longevity, Roost can be used in the third slot. Another option in the third slot is Hidden Power Ground, which can be useful to hit Heatran and, to a lesser extent, Aegislash. Finally, Protect allows Latios to avoid damage during critical turns, potentially shielding itself from being KOed.

Set Details
========

The spread is chosen to maximize Latios's power and Speed. Timid is chosen over Modest so Latios can outspeed base 100 Speed Pokemon, as well as Pokemon such as Garchomp, Terrakion, and Keldeo, which are all significant benchmarks. Life Orb is used to give Latios as much power as possible.

Usage Tips
========

Latios is a great Pokemon to bring in early-game, as you can take advantage of its high power to blast holes in your opponent's team. When using this strategy, Latios should be played in a hit-and-run style, as with recoil from Life Orb and stat drops from Draco Meteor, you'll likely not want to keep Latios in for too long at any one time. If you choose to fire off Draco Meteors, though, be sure to wait for Fairy-types, Steel-types, and other Pokemon that have no problem taking one to be out of the way so that you can put more pressure on your opponent. Another way Latios can be used in the early-game is as an offensive pivot, as its typing grants it a number of useful resistances, such as to Water- and Fire-type attacks. Tailwind or other non-attacking moves make for great ways to avoid a predicted Sucker Punch, which would likely otherwise KO Latios. If you don't need Latios's wallbreaking power in the early-game, it can be wise to save it for the late-game, as its power and Speed make it very effective at cleaning through weakened teams.

Team Options
========

Steel-types such as Heatran make for good partners to Latios because they can tank hits from both Fairy-types and opposing Dragons. Pokemon such as Mega Kangaskhan that can punch holes in the opposing team also make for good partners. Latios appreciates being paired with Fighting-types such as Hitmontop and Conkeldurr, as they have no problem dealing with Dark-types that threaten it. Fairy-types are also able to deal with Dark-type Pokemon, with the added benefit of easily handling opposing Dragons.

Teams with an abundance of slower Pokemon might appreciate having Latios as a teammate, as its high Speed lets it outspeed most of the tier. Pokemon such as Tyranitar, Mega Heracross, and Genesect all enjoy Tailwind support, so if you decide to run Tailwind Latios, these are options worth considering to take advantage of it. Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y and Terrakion appreciate having a Latios running Hidden Power Ground or Fire as a partner, as it can lure in and eliminate Heatran and Scizor, respectively. As Latios's Defense leaves it vulnerable to powerful physical attacks, Intimidate support is much appreciated. Quick Guard support from Pokemon such as Terrakion can be useful, as it protects Latios from priority moves such as Fake Out and Sucker Punch that can be very problematic. Pokemon that are generally bulky and can take powerful hits for Latios, such as Heatran or Togekiss, also make for good partners.

Other Options
########

Choice Specs is an option to take advantage of the power of Draco Meteor, as the item mitigates the effect of the stat drop, while the spammability of Draco Meteor means that the restrictions associated with Choice items aren't as problematic. If you'd like increased Speed over more power, Choice Scarf is also an option, but it's less offensively threatening then Latios's other options. Calm Mind is an option to give Latios more power and bulk at the same time, but finding a way to effectively make use of the boost can be difficult. Substitute is a nice option in the third slot to shield against status and priority, but losing 25% health to make a Substitute adds up, especially when factoring in Life Orb recoil.

Thunderbolt can be used as a way to hit bulky Water-types that Latios might otherwise be unable to break through. Helping Hand can be a way to give team support while keeping Latios from being a sitting duck after its stats are dropped. However, Tailwind is typically more useful. If you want to have a way to set your own weather beyond a weather inducer, or have a way to disrupt opposing weather, Latios has access to both Rain Dance and Sunny Day. Latios also learns both Reflect and Light Screen, which can be useful to reduce damage from physical and special attacks, respectively. Heal Pulse can be used to give back health to a weakened ally, but in general, Latios has better options for the slot. Memento can inflict severe stat drops on a foe, but to do so, you must sacrifice Latios and there's nothing stopping your opponent from simply switching out. Dragon Pulse is a STAB option if you don't want to deal with the stat drops associated with Draco Meteor, but the significant loss in power makes Latios noticeably less threatening.

Checks & Counters
########

**Offensive Typing Advantage**: Dark-types such as Tyranitar, Bisharp, and Scrafty can all maul Latios. Assault Vest Scrafty is particularly effective, as Assault Vest gives it a very high Special Defense stat. Bug-types such as Scizor, Escavalier, and Genesect can also beat Latios, although they must watch out for coverage moves. Fairy-types such as Sylveon, Gardevoir, Mega Mawile, and Azumarill are all immune to Latios's Dragon-type attacks and can KO it with their Fairy STAB moves. Steel-types such as Heatran can easily tank a hit and force Latios out, but they need to beware of coverage moves. Mega Kangaskhan has a powerful Sucker Punch to get around its lower Speed and deal heavy damage to Latios. Under Trick Room, Mega Abomasnow and Chandelure become very threatening to Latios as well.

**Speed**: Choice Scarf Genesect has no problem putting Latios out of commission with a powerful U-turn. While less common, Choice Scarf Landorus-T sometimes carries Knock Off, which can OHKO Latios 50% of the time. Mega Gengar outspeeds Latios and has a powerful Shadow Ball to deal large amounts of damage.

**Speed Control**: A Thunder Wave from Thundurus or Klefki will severely cripple Latios, as a large part of what makes it threatening is its high Speed. Pokemon such as Cresselia and Aromatisse can further remove its Speed advantage by using Trick Room to turn its Speed into a liability. Icy Wind is less common, but can also make Latios less effective.

**Utility Moves**: Follow Me Jirachi has no problem redirecting and tanking anything that Latios can throw at it, especially under rain.
 
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Electrolyte

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Overview:
- Weak to prio, especially MKang/Bisharp Sucker Punch and Aegislash's Shadow Sneak, which prevent it from going all-out offensive

Moves:
- I think this belongs here: Dragon + Psychic STAB attacks are all Latios really needs. In the third slot, TWind / HP Fire / HP Ground are the best / most common options, but you can honestly pick any support move from Latios's movepool and slap it on so it can function as an offensive support Pokemon. Perhaps this belongs in Set Details or something? idk
- Psychic's main draw is the OHKO to 252/0 Mega Venusaur 1/3 of the time (compared to never w/ Psyshock) and being more powerful in general but Psyshock hits past AVest which is fun
- p good otherwise

Set Details:
- This might be worth adding: 64 Def / 252 SpA / 192 Spe Timid outspeeds 252+ Garchomp and below (you'll miss out on ponies but w/e they probably won't stay in) and lets you survive 252 Jolly MKang's Sucker Punch more than 1/3 of the time, which is p cool in clutch situations. You'll die to LO recoil after tho. It also reduces the chances of 4 Atk Aegislash's Shadow Sneak 2HKO to about 50-50 though you will also die to LO recoil. But at least you can get a hit off!

Usage Tips:
- hit-and-run. Keeping it in for residual / chip damage is bad because it's physically frail and can get worn down very quickly.
- If using Tailwind (or any other support move), try to set it ASAP once the coast is clear & TR is confirmed negative on opp's team

Team Options:
- Intimidate helps a lot, especially vs MKang, which OHKOs Latios easily and is a very annoying threat. Lando is cool because it can spam EQ, loves Tailwind, and keeps Steels away.
- Quick Guard support for prio mindgames. Put this with the fighting-types (aka Terrak, Keldeo, Top too I guess)
- Latios attracts a lot of attention because it's physically frail but also powerful and fast, so bulky things to take its place once it has knocked something out or set up are really useful for a quick-ditch-switch. Things like Togekiss, Heatran, and TTar all have good synergy

Other Options:
- Screens, Safeguard
- Heal Pulse :o
- Memento

Checks & Counters:
- In Offensive Typing Advantage, warn of coverage (Steels HP Fire / HP Ground)
- In Speed, put Scarf Lando-T too, Knock Off OHKOs 50% of the time. Also, Mega Gengar
- In Speed control, add Icy Wind (which Latios hates) and Trick Room because TR often has Ghost- / Fairy-types


Nice work dude
 

Stratos

Banned deucer.
>not mentioning its defensive typing in overview

like seriously i hate to keep harping on this but thats latios's biggest selling point smh
 
HP Ground isn't good enough to be in the set anymore cause Heatran isn't as scary as it used to be. It can go in Set Details if you want tho.

No to Electrolytes spread because Latios HAS to outspeed the musketeers it's important af. I wouldn't even suggest a spread just outspeed them cause tying with other Latios is an important risk to take.

Tailwind also lets Latios dick with Bisharp's and Kanga's Sucker Punch.

Instead of "if you don't like recoil go with ebelt or dragon fang" say "if you don't like recoil go with Roost in the third slot" cause it can easily heal itself against common stuff like Heatran and Rotom-W and it can force switches all day. Expert belt is a no cause its STABs dont hit enough super effectively imo.

Steel and Fairy Killers (HEATRAN) in team options.
 

Audiosurfer

I'd rather be sleeping
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>not mentioning its defensive typing in overview

like seriously i hate to keep harping on this but thats latios's biggest selling point smh
already said that it's typin is nifty in the overview

edit: done with the checks now
 
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Overview:
  • get rid of useless bullets
  • It's not mauled by some Steel-types when it has HP Fire. :o Just sayin
  • A weakness to sucker punch is oddly specific for an overview, though Latios can work around it with Tailwind, but if you want it there than wutevs.
  • more exploitable Defense stat
Moves:
  • Psyshock allows Latios to target the opponent's weaker defensive stat and lets it work around Assault Vest sponges like Ludicolo.
Usage Tips:
  • Use Tailwind to dick with Sucker Punch users
Team Options:
  • Steels is used in like 3 bullets so you can condense them :)
Other Options:
  • Dragon Pulse
Checks & Counters:
  • specify ass vest scrafty

Good info terrible writing QC 1/3
 

Audiosurfer

I'd rather be sleeping
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Lolk ur smelly, my bullet points are amazing. also it will still lose to plenty of common steels if it has hp fire (tran, aegi) so i didnt add that. got the rest tho, thanks for check friend
 
Special Attacker
  • imo HP Fire should go before Tailwind as hitting steels tends to be more important than speed control that can lose to TWave and Trick Room (don't get me wrong TW is still very good)
  • Psychic is also mildly notable in that it hits MVenusaur harder (and the metagame is more physically-biased with MKang and Lando-T being used so much these days)
Other Options
  • A lot of gimmicky things in here that should probably be removed
  • Remove: Calm Mind, Rain Dance / Sunny Day, Heal Pulse, Helping Hand (mildly borderline here), Dual Screens, and Memento; Latias outclasses most of these roles and better performs CM since Latios has bad defense while Latias's is more workable. Helping Hand could still be notable as it avoids Sucker Punch in an offensive manner which is how Latios should be used, so whether to keep/remove is up to you I'd say
  • shift Dragon Pulse to Specs / Scarf where you mention a general set (something like Draco / Psyshock / HP Fire or Ground / Dragon Pulse)
Checks & Counters
  • Not sure where this would be placed, but in general priority (not Mach Punch for obvious reasons) like Talon Brave Bird, Scizor Bullet Punch, Mamo Ice Shard, Bisharp Sucker Punch, Aegislash Shadow Sneak, and so on really hurts it as Latios is very frail defensively.
Seems more or less ready to be written up imo, but I can't check this x(
 

Darkmalice

Level 3
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As per our QC discussion on HP Ground, more emphasis on it would be good too e.g. Heatran, no speed IV loss, and better against rain teams. I'd like a slash with HP Fire., though I seem to be in the minority, so I can settle for a stronger AC mention

Move Roost from AC to OO

Team Options - in general, list example teammates when you list this type or support working well with Latios
-Steel-types can also tank Ice-type attacks
-Pokemon that can punch holes in the opposing team work well... isn't that Latios' job? Why have you mentioned this? If you're going to mention this, list examples of Pokemon that can punch holes in the opposing team. Terrakion works well, being a Fighting-type to deal with darks. With Quick Guard support, mention examples - hitmontop and terrakion have alreayd been mentioned so they work well here. Also state why they work well
-When mentioning Hitmontop, also mention Intimidate support (you've mentioned intimidate for support without mentinoing any appropriate teammates)
-Togekiess as example of Fairy-type, as it can redirect
-mons bulky enough to tank hits for latios is too vague. i'm guessing you're referring to type advantage, but you've already done that before, so you can remove it


Regarding Nollan's suggestions to remove from OO, Latios' 3rd movesot isn't that important, so it does have plenty of flexibility in terms of what move it runs then, and surprise value does help. I am against to removing Nollan's options because these options can work but I agree with downplaying the viability of support moves
-keep CM. Get one up safely, and you will KO anything that doesn't resist your STABs
-regarding Latios' support moves (manual weather, Heal Pulse, Helping Hand, Screens, Memento), can mention that Latios does have a good support movepool but it's not productive with Latios' offensive nature. they are best used after latios has incurred a SpA drop from draco meteor and attacking with it becomes less appealing or in order to avoid sucker punch. Supportive sets are better done by Latias due to her better bulk (note Latias cannot learn Memento)
-no need to combine Dragon Pulse to Choice sets. it is useful for a clean-up move

Add Substitute. It's the best move for circumventing Sucker Punch whilst maintaining offensive pressure.

  • Not sure where this would be placed, but in general priority (not Mach Punch for obvious reasons) like Talon Brave Bird, Scizor Bullet Punch, Mamo Ice Shard, Bisharp Sucker Punch, Aegislash Shadow Sneak, and so on really hurts it as Latios is very frail defensively.
This falls under *speed**

The only priority moves of major note to Latios are those super-effective against it, Talonflame, and Mega Scizor's Bullet Punch. Rest don't 2HKO at worse. Add to *Speed. Mega Scizor will always 2HKO after one turn of LO recoil, Adamant LO Brave Bird can OHKO after one turn of LO recoil, guarnateed after two.
 

BPC

"Silence is the best answer to a stupid question"
Hey Audio bro, you forgot to put healing wish in other options, nice analysis! :]
 

Stratos

Banned deucer.
mention how hp fire will make u lose latios mirrors

i dont think u need to wait for sylv to leave b4 dropping draco nukes because you dont get a drop and can just switch to a steel

Otherwise this looks good

QC 2/3
 

frenzyplant

Inertia is a property of matter.
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1/2 Audiosurfer :)

add remove (comments)

Overview
########

At first glance, Latios's decline in usage seems baffling. It has a high base 130 Special Attack stat and access to powerful moves such as Draco Meteor, its base 110 Speed allows it to outpace Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y and Terrakion, its Dragon typing grants it resistances to common types such as Fire and Water, and to top it all off it has access to Levitate. However, with the rise in of Steel- and Fairy-types, more teams have an effective answer to Latios. In addition, it has a weakness to Sucker Punch, made more burdensome on account of the high usage of Bisharp and Mega Kangaskhan, and while its bulk is not bad, it's not stellar either, which can make it Latios easy for more powerful Pokemon to wear down. All in all, though, it is still a solid choice for those looking for a fast and powerful attacker.

Special Attacker
########
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psyshock / Psychic
move 3: Tailwind / Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Protect
ability: Levitate
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========

Draco Meteor's is the first choice due to its high power, which allows it to either KO or deal do heavy damage to most opposing Pokemon opponents. However, it comes with the nasty side effect of lowering Latios's Special Attack by two stages, so it's wise not to spam it or Latios runs the risk of being forced out. If you need a good neutral attack for when you don't want to drop Latios's stats, Psyshock or Psychic is are your best bet, as they're both strong secondary STAB attacks. Psyshock is listed first since it does deals more damage to Amoonguss and also allows Latios to hit common Assault Vest users such as Ludicolo harder. If these benefits don't matter to you, (comma) though, use Psychic, as it has a higher Base Power and deals more damage to on neutral targets. For the third slot, Tailwind is listed first as because it allows Latios to provide valuable support to its teammates, letting it remain useful even once its Special Attack has been dropped and provide valuable support to its teammates. However, if Scizor or and Ferrothorn are an issue, Hidden Power Fire can be used to catch them off guard. Finally, Protect allows Latios to avoid damage at during critical turns, potentially shielding itself from being KOed.

Set Details
========

The spread is chosen to maximize Latios's power and Speed. Timid is chosen over Modest so Latios can outspeed the base 100 Speed Pokemon tier, as well as Pokemon such as Garchomp, Terrakion, and Keldeo, which are all significant benchmarks. Life Orb is used to give Latios as much power as possible. If you'd like to give your Latios more longevity survivability, Roost can be used in the third slot. Another option in the third slot is Hidden Power Ground, which can be useful to hit Heatran and, to a lesser extent, Aegislash. (move to moves or oo)

Usage Tips
========

Latios is a great Pokemon to bring in early-game, as you can take advantage of its high power to blast holes in your opponent's team with its powerful attacks. When using this strategy, Latios should be played in a hit-and-run style, as with recoil from Life Orb and stat drops from Draco Meteor, you'll likely not want to keep Latios in for too long at any one time. If you choose to fire off Draco Meteors, (comma) though, be sure to wait for Fairy-types, Steel-types, and other Pokemon that have no problem taking one to be out of the way, (remove comma) so that you can put more pressure on your opponent. Another way it Latios can be used in the early-game is as an offensive pivot, as its typing grants it a number of useful resistances, such as to Water- and Fire-type attacks. Tailwind or other nonattacking moves make for great ways to avoid a predicted Sucker Punch, which would likely otherwise KO Latios. If you don't need Latios's wallbreaking power in the early game, it can be wise to save it for the late-game, as its power and Speed make it very effective at cleaning through weakened teams.

Team Options
========

Steel-types such as Heatran make for good partners to Latios because as they can tank hits from both Fairy-types and opposing Dragons. Pokemon such as Mega Kangaskhan that can punch holes in the opposing team also make for good partners. Latios could appreciates being paired with Fighting-types such as Hitmontop and Conkeldurr, (comma) as they have no problem dealing with Dark-types that threaten it. Fairy-types are also able to deal with Dark-type Pokemon, with the added benefit of easily handling opposing Dragons.

Teams with an abundance of slower Pokemon might appreciate having a Latios since its high Speed lets it outspeed most of the tier. Pokemon such as Tyranitar, Mega Heracross, and Genesect all enjoy Tailwind support, so if you decide to run Tailwind Latios, those these are options worth considering to take advantage of it. Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y and Terrakion would appreciate having a Latios running Hidden Power Ground or Fire as a partner, as it can lure in and eliminate Heatran and Scizor, respectively. As Latios's Defense still leaves it vulnerable to powerful physical attacks, Intimidate support can be is much appreciated. Quick Guard support from Pokemon such as Terrakion can be useful, (comma) as it protects Latios from priority moves such as Fake Out and Sucker Punch that can be very problematic. Pokemon who are generally bulky and can take powerful hits for Latios, such as Heatran or Togekiss, also make for good partners.

Other Options
########

Choice Specs is an option to take advantage of the power of Draco Meteor, as the item mitigates the effect of the stat drop, (comma) while the spammability of Draco Meteor means makes it so that the restrictions associated with Choice items aren't as problematic. If you'd like increased Speed over more power, Choice Scarf is also an option, but it's less offensively threatening then Latios's other options. Calm Mind is an option to give Latios more power and bulk at the same time, but finding a way to effectively make use of the boost can be difficult. Substitute is a nice option in the third slot to shield against status and priority, but losing 25% of ones health to make a substitute adds up, especially when factoring in Latios's Life Orb recoil.

Thunderbolt can be used as a way to hit bulky Water-types that Latios might otherwise be unable to break through. Helping Hand can be a way to give team support while keeping Latios from being a sitting duck after its stats are dropped. However, Tailwind is typically more useful. If you want to have a way to set your own weather beyond a weather inducer (or have a way to disrupt opposing weather), Latios has both Rain Dance and Sunny Day. Latios also learns both Reflect and Light Screen, which can be useful to reduce damage from physical and special attacks, respectively. Heal Pulse can be used to give back health to a weakened ally, but in general Latios has better options for the slot. Memento can inflict severe stat drops on an opponent, but to do so you must sacrifice Latios, and there's nothing stopping your opponent from simply switching out. Dragon Pulse is a STAB option if you don't want to deal with the stat drops associated with Draco Meteor, but the significant loss in power makes Latios noticeably less threatening.

Checks & Counters
########

**Offensive Typing Advantage**: Dark types such as Tyranitar, Bisharp, and Scrafty can all maul Latios. Assault Vest Scrafty is particularly effective, as Assault Vest gives it a very high Special Defense stat. Bug-types such as Scizor, Escavalier, and Genesect can also beat Latios, although they must watch out for coverage moves. Fairy-types such as Sylveon, Gardevoir, Mega Mawile, and Azumarill are all immune to its Latios's Dragon-type attacks and can KO it with their Fairy STAB moves. Steel-types such as Heatran can easily tank a hit and force Latios out, but they need to beware of coverage moves. Mega Kangaskhan has a powerful Sucker Punch to get around its lower Speed and do deal heavy damage to Latios. Under Trick Room, Mega Abomasnow and Chandelure become very threatening to Latios as well.

**Speed**: Choice Scarf Genesect has no problem putting Latios out of commission with a powerful U-turn. While less common, Choice Scarf Landorus-T sometimes carries Knock Off, which can OHKO Latios 50% of the time. Mega Gengar outspeeds Latios and has access to a powerful Shadow Ball to deal large amounts of damage.

**Speed Control**: A Thunder Wave from Thundurus or Klefki will severely cripple Latios, as a large part of what makes it threatening is its high Speed. Pokemon such as Cresselia and Aromatisse can further remove its Speed advantage by using Trick Room to turn its Speed into a liability. Icy Wind is less common but can also make Latios less effective.

**Utility Moves**: Follow Me Jirachi has no problem redirecting and tanking anything that Latios can throw at it, especially under rain.
 

Winry

Super Graduate-Level Napper
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Overview
########

At first glance, Latios's decline in usage seems baffling. It has a high base 130 Special Attack stat, (AC) and access to powerful moves such as Draco Meteor, its a base 110 Speed which allows it to outpace Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y and Terrakion, its a Dragon typing which grants it resistances to common types such as Fire and Water, and, (AC) to top it all off, (AC) it has access to Levitate. However, with the rise of Steel- and Fairy-types, more teams have an effective answer to Latios. In addition, it has a weakness to Sucker Punch, (RC) that is made more burdensome on account of the high usage of Bisharp and Mega Kangaskhan, and, (AC) while its bulk is not bad, it's not stellar either, which can make Latios easy for more powerful Pokemon to wear down. All in all, though, it is still a solid choice for those looking for a fast and powerful attacker.

Special Attacker
########
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psyshock / Psychic
move 3: Tailwind / Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Protect
ability: Levitate
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========

Draco Meteor's high power, (RC) which allows it to either KO or deal heavy damage to most opposing Pokemon. However, it comes with the nasty side effect of lowering Latios's Special Attack by two stages, so it's wise not to spam it or Latios runs the risk of being forced out. If you need a good neutral attack for when you don't want to drop Latios's stats, Psyshock or Psychic is your best bet, as they're both strong secondary STAB attacks. Psyshock is listed first since because it deals more damage to Amoonguss and also allows Latios to hit common Assault Vest users such as Ludicolo harder. If these benefits don't matter to you, though, use Psychic, as it has higher Base Power and deals more damage to neutral targets. For the third slot, Tailwind is listed first because it allows Latios to provide valuable support to its teammates, letting it remain useful even once its Special Attack has been dropped. However, if Scizor and Ferrothorn are an issue, Hidden Power Fire can be used to catch them off guard. If you'd like to give your Latios more longevity, Roost can be used in the third slot. Another option in the third slot is Hidden Power Ground, which can be useful to hit Heatran and, to a lesser extent, Aegislash. Finally, Protect allows Latios to avoid damage during critical turns, potentially shielding itself from being KOed.

Set Details
========

The spread is chosen to maximize Latios's power and Speed. Timid is chosen over Modest so Latios can outspeed base 100 Speed Pokemon, as well as Pokemon such as Garchomp, Terrakion, and Keldeo, which are all significant benchmarks. Life Orb is used to give Latios as much power as possible.

Usage Tips
========

Latios is a great Pokemon to bring in early-game, as you can take advantage of its high power to blast holes in your opponent's team. When using this strategy, Latios should be played in a hit-and-run style, as with recoil from Life Orb and stat drops from Draco Meteor, you'll likely not want to keep Latios in for too long at any one time. If you choose to fire off Draco Meteors, though, be sure to wait for Fairy-types, Steel-types, and other Pokemon that have no problem taking one to be out of the way so that you can put more pressure on your opponent. Another way Latios can be used in the early-game is as an offensive pivot, as its typing grants it a number of useful resistances, such as to Water- and Fire-type attacks. Tailwind or other non-attacking (add hyphen) moves make for great ways to avoid a predicted Sucker Punch, which would likely otherwise KO Latios. If you don't need Latios's wallbreaking power in the early-game, it can be wise to save it for the late-game, as its power and Speed make it very effective at cleaning through weakened teams.

Team Options
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Steel-types such as Heatran make for good partners to Latios because they can tank hits from both Fairy-types and opposing Dragons. Pokemon such as Mega Kangaskhan that can punch holes in the opposing team also make for good partners. Latios appreciates being paired with Fighting-types such as Hitmontop and Conkeldurr, as they have no problem dealing with Dark-types that threaten it. Fairy-types are also able to deal with Dark-type Pokemon, with the added benefit of easily handling opposing Dragons.

Teams with an abundance of slower Pokemon might appreciate having a Latios as a teammate, (AC) as since its high Speed lets it outspeed most of the tier. Pokemon such as Tyranitar, Mega Heracross, and Genesect all enjoy Tailwind support, so if you decide to run Tailwind Latios, these are options worth considering to take advantage of it. Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y and Terrakion appreciate having a Latios running Hidden Power Ground or Fire as a partner, as it can lure in and eliminate Heatran and Scizor, respectively. As Latios's Defense leaves it vulnerable to powerful physical attacks, Intimidate support is much appreciated. Quick Guard support from Pokemon such as Terrakion can be useful, as it protects Latios from priority moves such as Fake Out and Sucker Punch that can be very problematic. Pokemon who that are generally bulky and can take powerful hits for Latios, such as Heatran or Togekiss, also make for good partners.

Other Options
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Choice Specs is an option to take advantage of the power of Draco Meteor, as the item mitigates the effect of the stat drop, while the spammability of Draco Meteor means that the restrictions associated with Choice items aren't as problematic. If you'd like increased Speed over more power, Choice Scarf is also an option, but it's less offensively threatening then Latios's other options. Calm Mind is an option to give Latios more power and bulk at the same time, but finding a way to effectively make use of the boost can be difficult. Substitute is a nice option in the third slot to shield against status and priority, but losing 25% health to make a Substitute adds up, especially when factoring in Life Orb recoil.

Thunderbolt can be used as a way to hit bulky Water-types that Latios might otherwise be unable to break through. Helping Hand can be a way to give team support while keeping Latios from being a sitting duck after its stats are dropped. However, Tailwind is typically more useful. If you want to have a way to set your own weather beyond a weather inducer, (AC) (or have a way to disrupt opposing weather), Latios has access to both Rain Dance and Sunny Day. Latios also learns both Reflect and Light Screen, which can be useful to reduce damage from physical and special attacks, respectively. Heal Pulse can be used to give back health to a weakened ally, but in general, (AC) Latios has better options for the slot. Memento can inflict severe stat drops on a foe an opponent, but to do so, (AC) you must sacrifice Latios, (RC) and there's nothing stopping your opponent from simply switching out. Dragon Pulse is a STAB option if you don't want to deal with the stat drops associated with Draco Meteor, but the significant loss in power makes Latios noticeably less threatening.

Checks & Counters
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**Offensive Typing Advantage**: Dark-types (add hyphen) such as Tyranitar, Bisharp, and Scrafty can all maul Latios. Assault Vest Scrafty is particularly effective, as Assault Vest gives it a very high Special Defense stat. Bug-types such as Scizor, Escavalier, and Genesect can also beat Latios, although they must watch out for coverage moves. Fairy-types such as Sylveon, Gardevoir, Mega Mawile, and Azumarill are all immune to Latios's Dragon-type attacks and can KO it with their Fairy STAB moves. Steel-types such as Heatran can easily tank a hit and force Latios out, but they need to beware of coverage moves. Mega Kangaskhan has a powerful Sucker Punch to get around its lower Speed and deal heavy damage to Latios. Under Trick Room, Mega Abomasnow and Chandelure become very threatening to Latios as well.

**Speed**: Choice Scarf Genesect has no problem putting Latios out of commission with a powerful U-turn. While less common, Choice Scarf Landorus-T sometimes carries Knock Off, which can OHKO Latios 50% of the time. Mega Gengar outspeeds Latios and has a powerful Shadow Ball to deal large amounts of damage.

**Speed Control**: A Thunder Wave from Thundurus or Klefki will severely cripple Latios, as a large part of what makes it threatening is its high Speed. Pokemon such as Cresselia and Aromatisse can further remove its Speed advantage by using Trick Room to turn its Speed into a liability. Icy Wind is less common, (AC) but can also make Latios less effective.

**Utility Moves**: Follow Me Jirachi has no problem redirecting and tanking anything that Latios can throw at it, especially under rain.


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