power
uh-oh, the game in trouble
[SET]
name: Earth Plate
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Gravity / Smack Down
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Swords Dance
item: Earth Plate
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Landorus-T is a great Stealth Rock user that can pressure common Defog users such as Mantine and Mega Scizor with its Earth Plate set. Earthquake is a Ground-type STAB move and hits neutral Pokemon hard with a boost from Earth Plate. Gravity and Smack Down ground Pokemon like Celesteela, Skarmory, Mantine, and Zapdos so Landorus-T can hit them with Earthquake. Gravity is more consistent, as opposing teams with multiple Ground immunities cannot pivot around, but Smack Down is useful for preventing Mega Charizard Y from switching in scot-free and dealing chip damage to other threats on the switch, such as Tornadus-T, Zapdos, and Thundurus. Hidden Power Ice is used to 2HKO opposing Landorus-T, which otherwise wall the set. In contrast, Swords Dance pressures bulkier builds better and also helps damage Landorus-T after a Gravity. Additional options include Substitute, Knock Off, U-turn. Substitute lets Landorus-T dodge status moves from Pokemon such as Toxic Skarmory and Leech Seed Celesteela. Knock Off cripples Tangrowth for teammates such as Ash-Greninja and Magearna and ensures Unaware Clefable cannot beat Landorus-T. Finally, U-turn allows Earth Plate Landorus-T to function as an excellent pivot as well as gain momentum on incoming Defog users such as speedy Mew, which otherwise consistently use Defog on Landorus-T.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly nature allows Landorus-T to outspeed Adamant Zygarde and Adamant Landorus-T while also Speed tying with opposing Jolly Landorus-T. A Jolly nature is still preferred to not lower defensive stats, despite the inclusion of Hidden Power Ice, as Landorus-T does not miss out on any important 2HKOs. Earth Plate is the preferred item to consistently increase the damage output of Earthquake. Groundium Z is an alternate option that gives Landorus-T a one-time nuke, easily OHKOing common Pokemon such as Garchomp and Keldeo, although it loses the ability to consistently pressure Unaware Clefable without Earth Plate. Groundium Z should be used with Gravity to ensure the opponent cannot switch to an immunity.
Usage Tips
========
Landorus-T is best used to break holes in the opposing team early-game. Because Earth Plate Landorus-T hits so hard and can 2HKO most Defog users and Mega Sableye, you should be able to keep Stealth Rock on the field against bulkier teams. Gravity should be used on a predicted switch into Celesteela, for example, so Landorus-T doesn't have to get hit by Leech Seed. Tectonic Rage should be used on extremely bulky Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur or a weakened Defog user such as Mega Scizor that can stomach Earthquakes from Landorus-T. Tectonic Rage is also not weakened by Grassy Terrain, so use this to surprise opponents who believe Grassy Terrain protects their Pokemon. Bluffing is another important aspect to using Landorus-T well—Pokemon such as Tangrowth that deal with Earth Plate Landorus-T rarely come in fearing Supersonic Skystrike.
Team Options
========
Landorus-T is one of the easiest Pokemon in the tier to fit on teams and tends to be a team option for other Pokemon rather than requiring specific partners. This offensive Landorus-T set pairs better with Pokemon that require a Z-Move. Shift Gear Magearna is particularly notable, as it appreciates Landorus-T's ability to weaken entire teams before cleaning up. A core of Magearna and Landorus-T keeps the opponent constantly guessing which Pokemon on your team carries the Z-Crystal. Landorus-T's suboptimal Speed means that fast cleaners such as Greninja and Tapu Koko are appreciated to help deal with offense. Ash-Greninja's ability to set up Spikes and pressure common checks like Tangrowth makes it especially notable. Bulky pivots like Mega Scizor and Assault Vest Magearna pressure bulky Grass-types and fast Water-types for Landorus-T. Landorus-T appreciates Spikes and Toxic Spikes support, as Spikes limits the longevity of Tangrowth and Tapu Bulu and affect levitating Pokemon when Gravity is in effect. Good hazard stacking partners are Greninja, Ash-Greninja, Toxapex, and Ferrothorn.
name: Earth Plate
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Gravity / Smack Down
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Swords Dance
item: Earth Plate
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Landorus-T is a great Stealth Rock user that can pressure common Defog users such as Mantine and Mega Scizor with its Earth Plate set. Earthquake is a Ground-type STAB move and hits neutral Pokemon hard with a boost from Earth Plate. Gravity and Smack Down ground Pokemon like Celesteela, Skarmory, Mantine, and Zapdos so Landorus-T can hit them with Earthquake. Gravity is more consistent, as opposing teams with multiple Ground immunities cannot pivot around, but Smack Down is useful for preventing Mega Charizard Y from switching in scot-free and dealing chip damage to other threats on the switch, such as Tornadus-T, Zapdos, and Thundurus. Hidden Power Ice is used to 2HKO opposing Landorus-T, which otherwise wall the set. In contrast, Swords Dance pressures bulkier builds better and also helps damage Landorus-T after a Gravity. Additional options include Substitute, Knock Off, U-turn. Substitute lets Landorus-T dodge status moves from Pokemon such as Toxic Skarmory and Leech Seed Celesteela. Knock Off cripples Tangrowth for teammates such as Ash-Greninja and Magearna and ensures Unaware Clefable cannot beat Landorus-T. Finally, U-turn allows Earth Plate Landorus-T to function as an excellent pivot as well as gain momentum on incoming Defog users such as speedy Mew, which otherwise consistently use Defog on Landorus-T.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly nature allows Landorus-T to outspeed Adamant Zygarde and Adamant Landorus-T while also Speed tying with opposing Jolly Landorus-T. A Jolly nature is still preferred to not lower defensive stats, despite the inclusion of Hidden Power Ice, as Landorus-T does not miss out on any important 2HKOs. Earth Plate is the preferred item to consistently increase the damage output of Earthquake. Groundium Z is an alternate option that gives Landorus-T a one-time nuke, easily OHKOing common Pokemon such as Garchomp and Keldeo, although it loses the ability to consistently pressure Unaware Clefable without Earth Plate. Groundium Z should be used with Gravity to ensure the opponent cannot switch to an immunity.
Usage Tips
========
Landorus-T is best used to break holes in the opposing team early-game. Because Earth Plate Landorus-T hits so hard and can 2HKO most Defog users and Mega Sableye, you should be able to keep Stealth Rock on the field against bulkier teams. Gravity should be used on a predicted switch into Celesteela, for example, so Landorus-T doesn't have to get hit by Leech Seed. Tectonic Rage should be used on extremely bulky Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur or a weakened Defog user such as Mega Scizor that can stomach Earthquakes from Landorus-T. Tectonic Rage is also not weakened by Grassy Terrain, so use this to surprise opponents who believe Grassy Terrain protects their Pokemon. Bluffing is another important aspect to using Landorus-T well—Pokemon such as Tangrowth that deal with Earth Plate Landorus-T rarely come in fearing Supersonic Skystrike.
Team Options
========
Landorus-T is one of the easiest Pokemon in the tier to fit on teams and tends to be a team option for other Pokemon rather than requiring specific partners. This offensive Landorus-T set pairs better with Pokemon that require a Z-Move. Shift Gear Magearna is particularly notable, as it appreciates Landorus-T's ability to weaken entire teams before cleaning up. A core of Magearna and Landorus-T keeps the opponent constantly guessing which Pokemon on your team carries the Z-Crystal. Landorus-T's suboptimal Speed means that fast cleaners such as Greninja and Tapu Koko are appreciated to help deal with offense. Ash-Greninja's ability to set up Spikes and pressure common checks like Tangrowth makes it especially notable. Bulky pivots like Mega Scizor and Assault Vest Magearna pressure bulky Grass-types and fast Water-types for Landorus-T. Landorus-T appreciates Spikes and Toxic Spikes support, as Spikes limits the longevity of Tangrowth and Tapu Bulu and affect levitating Pokemon when Gravity is in effect. Good hazard stacking partners are Greninja, Ash-Greninja, Toxapex, and Ferrothorn.
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