[OVERVIEW]
Landorus-T is a versatile threat in the Battle Spot Singles metagame capable of functioning as glue for many teams. Its Intimidate ability and huge Attack stat allow it to function as an effective pivot with a Choice Scarf, while its decent bulk allows it to fill a more defensive role as a Stealth Rock setter or Assault Vest tank. Landorus-T's typing also gives it useful immunities in Ground and Electric, which help it switch into numerous threats and take advantage of Intimidate. Said typing can be easily exploited due to its huge Ice weakness, though, and Landorus-T's average Speed leaves it easily revenge killed when without a Choice Scarf. Landorus-T also competes with Garchomp as an offensive Ground-type, though Landorus-T's typing often makes it the preferred choice in the current metagame.
[SET]
name: Assault Vest
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Rock Tomb
move 4: Knock Off
item: Assault Vest
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant
evs: 212 HP / 44 Atk / 4 Def / 220 SpD / 28 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Earthquake is Landorus-T's strongest STAB move, granting great power and neutral coverage.
* U-turn allows Landorus-T to maintain momentum after switching into attacks by safely bringing its teammate in.
* Rock Tomb hits Flying-types that Landorus-T can't touch otherwise and provides useful speed control that can allow Landorus-T to beat otherwise faster foes.
* Knock Off provides useful utility in removing the foe's item, which takes advantage of the switches Landorus-T often forces.
Set Details
========
* Assault Vest allows Landorus-T to function as a tank, giving it special bulk to complement the Intimidate support it provides.
* An Adamant nature is used over bulk-improving natures because the boost in Attack is more significant than a boost in any other stat, even without heavy Attack investment.
* The EV spread minimizes the chance of being 2HKOed by Tapu Lele's Psychic under Psychic Terrain, while the Speed allows Landorus-T to outspeed Nihilego after Rock Tomb. The remaining EVs are placed in Attack to give Earthquake more power and ensure Earthquake will 2HKO Garchomp.
Usage Tips
========
* This Landorus-T is meant to switch in on and tank attacks from special attackers and is generally used as glue on teams that need something that can pivot into numerous threats.
* While the Assault Vest lets Landorus-T check Electric-types running Hidden Power Ice more effectively, avoid taking such a hit if there are other safe options because this wears Landorus-T down very quickly.
* Landorus-T lacks any form of passive recovery, so be careful about switching it in often if you need it to check a specific threat.
* Leading with Landorus-T is acceptable if it isn't needed to check any particular threat, since this can allow it to bluff a Choice Scarf set and force a switch.
Team Options
========
* Steel-types such as Mega Metagross, Aegislash, and Ferrothorn can handle Ice-type moves that threaten Landorus-T while benefiting from Landorus-T's Ground immunity and Fighting resistance.
* Bulky Water-types such as Tapu Fini and Primarina can handle Ice- and Water-type moves aimed at Landorus-T, while Landorus-T checks most Electric-types for them.
* Landorus-T pairs well with Electric-types such as Tapu Koko because they form a VoltTurn core, with Landorus-T switching into Ground-type moves that threaten them while having a teammate that can handle Water-types as well as Celesteela and Skarmory.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Rock Slide / Stone Edge / Rock Tomb
move 4: Knock Off / Superpower
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Earthquake is Landorus-T's primary STAB move, granting great power and neutral coverage that it can use to clean late-game.
* U-turn allows Landorus-T to maintain momentum after switching in and escape bad matchups.
* Rock Slide allows Landorus-T to hit Flying-types that otherwise can switch safely into it and fish for flinches as a last resort.
* Stone Edge is more powerful than Rock Slide, which is useful for getting an OHKO on offensive Thundurus variants and hitting Zapdos harder, but its accuracy makes it a less reliable sweeping option.
* Rock Tomb is a more accurate alternative to Rock Slide, but the power difference makes it less reliable as a cleaning tool late-game. However, the Speed drop can be useful for preventing the likes of Salamence and Mega Charizard X from setting up safely.
* Knock Off is often not a good move to lock into, but it provides great utility against an anticipated switch.
* Superpower hits Ferrothorn and bulky Normal-types such as Mega Kangaskhan and Snorlax.
Set Details
========
* Choice Scarf allows Landorus-T to function as a revenge killer and maintain momentum against faster teams.
* An Adamant nature is used to give Landorus-T as much power as possible so that it can more reliably clean late-game. However, Landorus-T sits at a crowded Speed tier, so it can run Jolly to creep above the likes of Modest Volcarona, Naive Pheromosa, and Adamant Mega Charizard X.
* The EV spread maximizes Landorus-T's power while making it as fast as possible in order to effectively utilize its Choice Scarf.
Usage Tips
========
* Leading with Landorus-T is often safe due to its high Speed and Intimidate ability, making it easier to escape bad matchups with U-turn.
* Saving Landorus-T is also a viable plan against teams that lack many Ground-resistant Pokemon, since it can more easily find opportunities to clean up with Earthquake.
* As a revenge killer, Landorus-T should often come in after a teammate is KOed to shift momentum back in your favor, even if it means using U-turn to switch back out.
* Landorus-T has no entirely safe move to lock into, so be careful when choosing a move other than U-turn. Superpower in particular is risky because the Attack drops can quickly turn Landorus-T into setup bait. If the opposing team has a large number of Ground-resistant Pokemon, it may be better to not bring Landorus-T at all.
* While Landorus-T has a huge Attack stat, avoid bringing it when against bulkier teams because bulkier Pokemon can more effectively punish locking Landorus-T into the wrong move.
Team Options
========
* Landorus-T fits well on teams that struggle with the many Electric-types in the metagame as well as other fast threats such as Mega Gengar and Mega Lucario.
* While Landorus-T boasts huge Attack, it has trouble breaking through physical walls due to its inability to boost or switch moves, so wallbreakers like Tapu Lele and Mega Charizard Y are effective teammates.
* Steel-types such as Mega Metagross and Aegislash can handle Ice-type moves that threaten Landorus-T, while Landorus-T can switch into Ground-type moves that trouble them.
* Water-types such as Tapu Fini and Mega Gyarados benefit from having a teammate to handle Electric-types and are able to switch into Ice-type moves that trouble Landorus-T.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Stealth Rock / Knock Off
move 4: Knock Off / Rock Tomb
item: Rocky Helmet
ability: Intimidate
nature: Impish
evs: 236 HP / 244 Def / 28 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Team Options
========
* Earthquake is Landorus-T's strongest STAB move, providing great neutral coverage and consistent power.
* U-turn allows Landorus-T to pivot out after setting Stealth Rock up, which is important because Landorus-T's lack of coverage and power can make it a liability against some foes.
* Stealth Rock provides useful support for offensive teammates by breaking Focus Sash and punishing threats like Volcarona and Charizard.
* Knock Off provides utility by removing the foe's item, which takes advantage of switches and gives Landorus-T a way to disrupt foes even in a disadvantageous matchup.
* Rock Tomb provides speed control and hits Flying-types directly, which can shift momentum in Landorus-T's favor and prevents Landorus-T from relying on Stealth Rock to threaten Volcarona and Mega Charizard Y.
Set Details
========
* Rocky Helmet is the preferred item because it lets Landorus-T punish physical attackers further, chipping away at them and making Landorus-T more potent upon switching into a contact move.
* An Impish nature is preferred to make Landorus-T as physically bulky as possible so that it can set Stealth Rock up and disrupt the opponent for as long as possible.
* The EV spread maximizes Landorus-T's bulk while ensuring it can outspeed everything up to Nihilego after a Rock Tomb. The Speed also allows Landorus-T to outspeed neutral Tyranitar.
Usage Tips
========
* Landorus-T's primary goal is usually to set Stealth Rock up as soon as possible, and its physical bulk allows it to at least use Stealth Rock against most physical attackers. Setting Stealth Rock up can sometimes give the foe a free turn, though, so avoid doing so if the opposing team isn't hindered much by the entry hazard's presence.
* Avoid switching Landorus-T into many attacks unless it's absolutely necessary. Its lack of recovery means it must be played very carefully so that it can still check physical attackers later in the game.
* While setting Stealth Rock up early is important, saving Landorus-T for later in the game is acceptable if its ability to switch into physical attackers is more valuable.
* This Landorus-T lacks the same offensive presence that other sets have, so don't let it stay in too long against teams that can take advantage of it and set up. This also makes it a poor choice against defensive teams because it lacks the power to break through them.
Team Options
========
* Defensive Landorus-T lacks offensive presence despite its high base Attack, so it should be paired with more offensive teammates such as Tapu Koko and Volcarona, which can take advantage of the Stealth Rock support it provides.
* Powerful sweepers such as Mega Charizard X and Mega Blaziken greatly benefit from Stealth Rock support helping them break through teams more easily and avoid being shut down by unexpected Focus Sash users.
* Landorus-T appreciates teammates that can handle Ice- and Water-type moves, so Steel-types and Water-types pair well with it. Pokemon such as Tapu Fini and Aegislash also appreciate Landorus-T's immunity to Electric- and Ground-type moves, respectively.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* A pinch Berry like Figy Berry is an option on specially defensive sets to give Landorus-T more longevity and allow it to check special attackers while being able to run Stealth Rock, unlike Assault Vest sets.
* Swords Dance with a Z-Crystal such as Groundium Z or Flyinium Z allows Landorus-T to function more as a wallbreaker with its huge Attack.
* Flyinium Z with Fly gives Landorus-T a powerful Flying-type STAB attack with which to surprise bulky Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur, while Groundium Z gives it a more powerful Ground-type STAB move that isn't weakened by Grassy Terrain.
* Rock Polish pairs well with a Z-Crystal or Life Orb and allows Landorus-T to function as a late-game cleaner, outspeeding most Choice Scarf users that would threaten it otherwise.
* Gravity allows Landorus-T to beat Celesteela and provides some support for teammates with less accurate moves such as Hypnosis Mega Gengar.
* Smack Down allows Landorus-T to beat Celesteela just like Gravity does without making your own team vulnerable to Ground-type moves.
* Fissure can be used on Assault Vest sets and defensive sets as a last resort against foes that Landorus-T can't beat otherwise.
* Focus Sash allows Landorus-T to function as a suicide lead with Stealth Rock and Explosion, which has the benefit of safely getting Stealth Rock up against unexpected Z-Moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: While many of them don't resist Earthquake, Landorus-T has no way to break through bulky Water-types such as Tapu Fini and Gyarados unless it runs Swords Dance. Assault Vest variants have a better time against special Water-types, though they still have an unfavorable matchup against most bulky ones.
**Flying-types**: Landorus-T often carries Rock Tomb or Rock Slide, but bulkier Flying-types such as Celesteela, Gliscor, Skarmory, and opposing Landorus-T don't mind a Rock Tomb and can stall it out or force it to switch out. Other Flying-types such as Salamence and Gyarados can also punish Choice Scarf variants and set up on Landorus-T if it locks into Earthquake.
**Ice-type Moves**: Ice-type moves are very common on a wide range of threats, and Landorus-T struggles to take many Ice-type attacks even with an Assault Vest. Mamoswine, Porygon2, Greninja, Zapdos, and Thundurus-T are all common users of Ice-type moves that have generally favorable matchups against Landorus-T, though the special attackers should be wary of Assault Vest variants because they can often take at least one Ice-type move.
**Physical Walls**: Landorus-T has trouble breaking through most physical walls, including Celesteela, Cresselia, Hippowdon, Ferrothorn, and Mega Venusaur, while they can heal off most of the damage it deals. However, most of them have trouble taking a Swords Dance-boosted Tectonic Rage or Supersonic Skystrike, so they must be wary of any Z-Moves, even though these sets are uncommon.
Landorus-T is a versatile threat in the Battle Spot Singles metagame capable of functioning as glue for many teams. Its Intimidate ability and huge Attack stat allow it to function as an effective pivot with a Choice Scarf, while its decent bulk allows it to fill a more defensive role as a Stealth Rock setter or Assault Vest tank. Landorus-T's typing also gives it useful immunities in Ground and Electric, which help it switch into numerous threats and take advantage of Intimidate. Said typing can be easily exploited due to its huge Ice weakness, though, and Landorus-T's average Speed leaves it easily revenge killed when without a Choice Scarf. Landorus-T also competes with Garchomp as an offensive Ground-type, though Landorus-T's typing often makes it the preferred choice in the current metagame.
[SET]
name: Assault Vest
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Rock Tomb
move 4: Knock Off
item: Assault Vest
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant
evs: 212 HP / 44 Atk / 4 Def / 220 SpD / 28 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Earthquake is Landorus-T's strongest STAB move, granting great power and neutral coverage.
* U-turn allows Landorus-T to maintain momentum after switching into attacks by safely bringing its teammate in.
* Rock Tomb hits Flying-types that Landorus-T can't touch otherwise and provides useful speed control that can allow Landorus-T to beat otherwise faster foes.
* Knock Off provides useful utility in removing the foe's item, which takes advantage of the switches Landorus-T often forces.
Set Details
========
* Assault Vest allows Landorus-T to function as a tank, giving it special bulk to complement the Intimidate support it provides.
* An Adamant nature is used over bulk-improving natures because the boost in Attack is more significant than a boost in any other stat, even without heavy Attack investment.
* The EV spread minimizes the chance of being 2HKOed by Tapu Lele's Psychic under Psychic Terrain, while the Speed allows Landorus-T to outspeed Nihilego after Rock Tomb. The remaining EVs are placed in Attack to give Earthquake more power and ensure Earthquake will 2HKO Garchomp.
Usage Tips
========
* This Landorus-T is meant to switch in on and tank attacks from special attackers and is generally used as glue on teams that need something that can pivot into numerous threats.
* While the Assault Vest lets Landorus-T check Electric-types running Hidden Power Ice more effectively, avoid taking such a hit if there are other safe options because this wears Landorus-T down very quickly.
* Landorus-T lacks any form of passive recovery, so be careful about switching it in often if you need it to check a specific threat.
* Leading with Landorus-T is acceptable if it isn't needed to check any particular threat, since this can allow it to bluff a Choice Scarf set and force a switch.
Team Options
========
* Steel-types such as Mega Metagross, Aegislash, and Ferrothorn can handle Ice-type moves that threaten Landorus-T while benefiting from Landorus-T's Ground immunity and Fighting resistance.
* Bulky Water-types such as Tapu Fini and Primarina can handle Ice- and Water-type moves aimed at Landorus-T, while Landorus-T checks most Electric-types for them.
* Landorus-T pairs well with Electric-types such as Tapu Koko because they form a VoltTurn core, with Landorus-T switching into Ground-type moves that threaten them while having a teammate that can handle Water-types as well as Celesteela and Skarmory.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Rock Slide / Stone Edge / Rock Tomb
move 4: Knock Off / Superpower
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Earthquake is Landorus-T's primary STAB move, granting great power and neutral coverage that it can use to clean late-game.
* U-turn allows Landorus-T to maintain momentum after switching in and escape bad matchups.
* Rock Slide allows Landorus-T to hit Flying-types that otherwise can switch safely into it and fish for flinches as a last resort.
* Stone Edge is more powerful than Rock Slide, which is useful for getting an OHKO on offensive Thundurus variants and hitting Zapdos harder, but its accuracy makes it a less reliable sweeping option.
* Rock Tomb is a more accurate alternative to Rock Slide, but the power difference makes it less reliable as a cleaning tool late-game. However, the Speed drop can be useful for preventing the likes of Salamence and Mega Charizard X from setting up safely.
* Knock Off is often not a good move to lock into, but it provides great utility against an anticipated switch.
* Superpower hits Ferrothorn and bulky Normal-types such as Mega Kangaskhan and Snorlax.
Set Details
========
* Choice Scarf allows Landorus-T to function as a revenge killer and maintain momentum against faster teams.
* An Adamant nature is used to give Landorus-T as much power as possible so that it can more reliably clean late-game. However, Landorus-T sits at a crowded Speed tier, so it can run Jolly to creep above the likes of Modest Volcarona, Naive Pheromosa, and Adamant Mega Charizard X.
* The EV spread maximizes Landorus-T's power while making it as fast as possible in order to effectively utilize its Choice Scarf.
Usage Tips
========
* Leading with Landorus-T is often safe due to its high Speed and Intimidate ability, making it easier to escape bad matchups with U-turn.
* Saving Landorus-T is also a viable plan against teams that lack many Ground-resistant Pokemon, since it can more easily find opportunities to clean up with Earthquake.
* As a revenge killer, Landorus-T should often come in after a teammate is KOed to shift momentum back in your favor, even if it means using U-turn to switch back out.
* Landorus-T has no entirely safe move to lock into, so be careful when choosing a move other than U-turn. Superpower in particular is risky because the Attack drops can quickly turn Landorus-T into setup bait. If the opposing team has a large number of Ground-resistant Pokemon, it may be better to not bring Landorus-T at all.
* While Landorus-T has a huge Attack stat, avoid bringing it when against bulkier teams because bulkier Pokemon can more effectively punish locking Landorus-T into the wrong move.
Team Options
========
* Landorus-T fits well on teams that struggle with the many Electric-types in the metagame as well as other fast threats such as Mega Gengar and Mega Lucario.
* While Landorus-T boasts huge Attack, it has trouble breaking through physical walls due to its inability to boost or switch moves, so wallbreakers like Tapu Lele and Mega Charizard Y are effective teammates.
* Steel-types such as Mega Metagross and Aegislash can handle Ice-type moves that threaten Landorus-T, while Landorus-T can switch into Ground-type moves that trouble them.
* Water-types such as Tapu Fini and Mega Gyarados benefit from having a teammate to handle Electric-types and are able to switch into Ice-type moves that trouble Landorus-T.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Stealth Rock / Knock Off
move 4: Knock Off / Rock Tomb
item: Rocky Helmet
ability: Intimidate
nature: Impish
evs: 236 HP / 244 Def / 28 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Team Options
========
* Earthquake is Landorus-T's strongest STAB move, providing great neutral coverage and consistent power.
* U-turn allows Landorus-T to pivot out after setting Stealth Rock up, which is important because Landorus-T's lack of coverage and power can make it a liability against some foes.
* Stealth Rock provides useful support for offensive teammates by breaking Focus Sash and punishing threats like Volcarona and Charizard.
* Knock Off provides utility by removing the foe's item, which takes advantage of switches and gives Landorus-T a way to disrupt foes even in a disadvantageous matchup.
* Rock Tomb provides speed control and hits Flying-types directly, which can shift momentum in Landorus-T's favor and prevents Landorus-T from relying on Stealth Rock to threaten Volcarona and Mega Charizard Y.
Set Details
========
* Rocky Helmet is the preferred item because it lets Landorus-T punish physical attackers further, chipping away at them and making Landorus-T more potent upon switching into a contact move.
* An Impish nature is preferred to make Landorus-T as physically bulky as possible so that it can set Stealth Rock up and disrupt the opponent for as long as possible.
* The EV spread maximizes Landorus-T's bulk while ensuring it can outspeed everything up to Nihilego after a Rock Tomb. The Speed also allows Landorus-T to outspeed neutral Tyranitar.
Usage Tips
========
* Landorus-T's primary goal is usually to set Stealth Rock up as soon as possible, and its physical bulk allows it to at least use Stealth Rock against most physical attackers. Setting Stealth Rock up can sometimes give the foe a free turn, though, so avoid doing so if the opposing team isn't hindered much by the entry hazard's presence.
* Avoid switching Landorus-T into many attacks unless it's absolutely necessary. Its lack of recovery means it must be played very carefully so that it can still check physical attackers later in the game.
* While setting Stealth Rock up early is important, saving Landorus-T for later in the game is acceptable if its ability to switch into physical attackers is more valuable.
* This Landorus-T lacks the same offensive presence that other sets have, so don't let it stay in too long against teams that can take advantage of it and set up. This also makes it a poor choice against defensive teams because it lacks the power to break through them.
Team Options
========
* Defensive Landorus-T lacks offensive presence despite its high base Attack, so it should be paired with more offensive teammates such as Tapu Koko and Volcarona, which can take advantage of the Stealth Rock support it provides.
* Powerful sweepers such as Mega Charizard X and Mega Blaziken greatly benefit from Stealth Rock support helping them break through teams more easily and avoid being shut down by unexpected Focus Sash users.
* Landorus-T appreciates teammates that can handle Ice- and Water-type moves, so Steel-types and Water-types pair well with it. Pokemon such as Tapu Fini and Aegislash also appreciate Landorus-T's immunity to Electric- and Ground-type moves, respectively.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* A pinch Berry like Figy Berry is an option on specially defensive sets to give Landorus-T more longevity and allow it to check special attackers while being able to run Stealth Rock, unlike Assault Vest sets.
* Swords Dance with a Z-Crystal such as Groundium Z or Flyinium Z allows Landorus-T to function more as a wallbreaker with its huge Attack.
* Flyinium Z with Fly gives Landorus-T a powerful Flying-type STAB attack with which to surprise bulky Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur, while Groundium Z gives it a more powerful Ground-type STAB move that isn't weakened by Grassy Terrain.
* Rock Polish pairs well with a Z-Crystal or Life Orb and allows Landorus-T to function as a late-game cleaner, outspeeding most Choice Scarf users that would threaten it otherwise.
* Gravity allows Landorus-T to beat Celesteela and provides some support for teammates with less accurate moves such as Hypnosis Mega Gengar.
* Smack Down allows Landorus-T to beat Celesteela just like Gravity does without making your own team vulnerable to Ground-type moves.
* Fissure can be used on Assault Vest sets and defensive sets as a last resort against foes that Landorus-T can't beat otherwise.
* Focus Sash allows Landorus-T to function as a suicide lead with Stealth Rock and Explosion, which has the benefit of safely getting Stealth Rock up against unexpected Z-Moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: While many of them don't resist Earthquake, Landorus-T has no way to break through bulky Water-types such as Tapu Fini and Gyarados unless it runs Swords Dance. Assault Vest variants have a better time against special Water-types, though they still have an unfavorable matchup against most bulky ones.
**Flying-types**: Landorus-T often carries Rock Tomb or Rock Slide, but bulkier Flying-types such as Celesteela, Gliscor, Skarmory, and opposing Landorus-T don't mind a Rock Tomb and can stall it out or force it to switch out. Other Flying-types such as Salamence and Gyarados can also punish Choice Scarf variants and set up on Landorus-T if it locks into Earthquake.
**Ice-type Moves**: Ice-type moves are very common on a wide range of threats, and Landorus-T struggles to take many Ice-type attacks even with an Assault Vest. Mamoswine, Porygon2, Greninja, Zapdos, and Thundurus-T are all common users of Ice-type moves that have generally favorable matchups against Landorus-T, though the special attackers should be wary of Assault Vest variants because they can often take at least one Ice-type move.
**Physical Walls**: Landorus-T has trouble breaking through most physical walls, including Celesteela, Cresselia, Hippowdon, Ferrothorn, and Mega Venusaur, while they can heal off most of the damage it deals. However, most of them have trouble taking a Swords Dance-boosted Tectonic Rage or Supersonic Skystrike, so they must be wary of any Z-Moves, even though these sets are uncommon.
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