Approvals: SOMALIA, Ace Emerald
[Overview]
<p>The metagame has changed a lot since early BW, but Lanturn still holds its own in UU. Thanks to a unique Water/Electric typing and an ability in Volt Absorb, Lanturn holds key resistances in Fire, Ice, Flying, Water, and Electric type moves, allowing it to check several. Combine that with a large 125 base HP, and Lanturn is capable of checking several special threats in the metagame, such as Suicune, Raikou, Rotom-F, Rotom-H, Empoleon, Zapdos, and Chandelure. It also has key moves in its movepool, such as Thunder Wave and Heal Bell, that are always handy for a team to have. As a result, Lanturn can prove to be a very useful pokemon.</p>
<p>However, the fish has some flaws. It is a little slow, but Lanturn's speed is not that bad, as it can still outrun most walls with investment. However, its low 58/76 defenses weigh down that high HP, which can limit its ability to take hits. Also, it lacks decent offensive presence without investment, and as a result, can easily be set up on. Its weaknesses to Grass and Ground-type moves, both of which are quite common in UU, really weigh it down. Its lack of recovery outside of Volt Absorb is the final nail in the coffin. As a result, Lanturn tends to be overlooked in favor of other specially bulky pokemon, such as Snorlax and Bronzong. However, despite these shortcomings, Lanturn's attributes can be useful to a UU team looking for its key traits.</p>
[SET]
name: Special Tank
move 1: Scald
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Heal Bell / Toxic
move 4: Thunder Wave / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Calm
evs: 204 HP / 96 Def / 208 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is Lanturn's most effective set. With its beefy HP and key resistances to Fire, Water, Flying, and Ice type moves, as well as an immunity to Electric types, it can check several special threats in the UU metagame, such as Suicune, Raikou, Rotom-F, Rotom-H, Empoleon, Togekiss, Zapdos, and Chandelure. Lanturn also has a good support movepool, allowing it to help out its teammates. Scald is a Water STAB that has a 30% chance to burn the opponent, which can cripple physically offensive threats (bar Guts Heracross) and prevent them from breaking through Lanturn. Volt Switch is a secondary STAB, and with Lanturn's lesser speed, can allow a teammate to come in safely. Heal Bell revitalizes the team, which can breath life back into a sweeper. With all of the bulky Pokemon in the metagame, it can prove to be a very useful move. Thunder Wave helps out slower offensive teammates, like Rhyperior or Scrafty, but is more notable for slowing down the opponent's momentum, which gives you a huge advantage. Toxic can also be used to wear down bulky Pokemon like Suicune and Blastoise.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The following spread ensures that Lanturn will not be 2HKOed by Life Orb Zapdos' Hidden Power Grass. EVs can be invested into Special Attack to increase Lanturn's offense, but it will still be relatively weak, and that detracts a lot from its bulk. In terms of additional moves, Protect causes Mienshao to crash from using Hi Jump Kick.</p>
<p>Lanturn appreciates teammates that can cover its weaknesses. Togekiss synergizes well with Lanturn, taking the Grass and Ground-type moves that threaten Lanturn, whereas Lanturn can take the Electric and Ice-type moves that threaten Togekiss. Roserade sports a 4x resistance to Grass-type moves, and can lay down Spikes, both of which Lanturn appreciates. In return, Lanturn can redirect Ice-type moves for Roserade. Lanturn tends to be able to paralyze many top special threats, so offensive Pokemon that would appreciate them being paralyzed are good teammates: Rhyperior, Scrafty, Honchkrow, Nidoking, Nidoqueen, Snorlax, and Swampert are good examples of Pokemon that appreciate the paralysis support. Most of them do not like untimely status conditions, especially burns, making Lanturn more useful to them with its Heal Bell support. Lanturn also tends to lure in a lot of Pokemon that Heracross can set up on using Moxie or Swords Dance, such as Abomasnow, Amoonguss, Clefable, Roserade, Shaymin, Snorlax, and Umbreon, making Heracross a good teammate.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Thunderbolt / Scald
item: Choice Specs
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 104 SpD / 152 Spe
[Set Comments]
<p>Despite a meager base 76 Special Attack, Choice Specs Lanturn is very unexpected, and can dish out quite a bit of damage. While Lanturn will have to detract from some of its bulk, it can still check threats like Suicune and Raikou, and hit them hard with the appropriate move. Hydro Pump is Lanturn's strongest STAB, and helps accommodate for Lanturn's lack of stopping power. Volt Switch is a secondary STAB that allows a teammate to come in, while keeping momentum on its side. Ice Beam has good coverage with Lanturn's Water and Electric STABs, hitting Grass and Dragon-types harder than anything else on this set. The final move is a filler, but it can still prove to be of use. Thunderbolt hits much harder than Volt Switch, and can be used to hit Suicune and Milotic harder. However, Scald is a 100% accurate Water STAB and can be used to bluff a defensive set, and although the unusually high damage output might give the opponent suspicions, the ability to burn the opponent can make Lanturn harder to wear down from the physical side.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>152 Speed EVs allows Lanturn to outpace three key threats: Blastoise, Togekiss, and Gligar; outspeeding Togekiss in particular allows Lanturn to not get flinched to death. Additional moves can be used in the fourth slot. Surf can be used in place of Scald, forgoing the burn chance for more power, but the ability to bluff a defensive set is better than some more power. Discharge can be used in place of Thunderbolt; a 20% higher paralysis chance versus 15 more base power is based on preference. Blizzard can be used in place of Ice Beam if Lanturn is on a hail team; however, keep in mind that the residual damage from hail will hurt Lanturn's bulk.</p>
<p>While Lanturn hits hard with Choice Specs, it lacks stopping power, and appreciates some offensive support. Roserade and the Nidos have good synergy with Lanturn, offensive and defensively, and can lay down entry hazards to wear down the opponent further. Heracross and Mienshao can dispose of Snorlax and Umbreon, who would otherwise wall Lanturn. Togekiss has good synergy with Lanturn, being able to handle Grass-types for it, and can lure in Zapdos and Raikou for Lanturn to switch in on.</p>
[SET]
name: Rain Dance
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Thunder / Heal Bell
move 4: Hydro Pump / Surf
item: Damp Rock
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SAtk / 104 SpD / 152 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Thanks to an ability in Volt Absorb, as well as a good offensive movepool to use in rain, Lanturn can prove to be a useful rain setter. Though 76 base Special Attack looks meager in such a bulky metagame, Lanturn's STABs make up for it. Volt Switch is not particularly strong, but it allows Lanturn to switch into a teammate safely. Thunder is a powerful STAB that Lanturn can abuse in the rain with 100% accuracy. However, Heal Bell is a very rare and useful move in UU that can be used to clear rain sweepers from debilitating status conditions. Rain abusers like Kabutops and Kingdra would greatly appreciate that utility. The final move is a Water STAB; Hydro Pump hits absurdly hard off of STAB and rain. Surf is much weaker, but more accurate.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs maximize Special attack, and the 152 Speed EVs allow Lanturn to outspeed defensive Togekiss so it can avoid getting flinched to death by Air Slash. The rest of the EVs are invested into HP to give Lanturn some additional bulk. Ice Beam can be used some place on this set, but the only Grass- type Lanturn is hitting hard is Roserade. In order rain teams to succeed, Abomasnow removal needs to be available; teammates like Heracross and Mienshao can dispose of Abomasnow. After Abomasnow is removed, the rain abusing can begin. Rain abusers like Kingdra, Ludicolo, and Tornadus are good teammates for Lanturn. Speaking of Tornadus, it is a very good teammate for Lanturn. It can set up priority Rain Dance, courtesy of Prankster. It also has U-turn to lure in Electric-types and bring them into Lanturn for Volt Absorb. Tornadus also has access to a very powerful STAB Hurricane, which is boosted up to 100% accuracy in rain, and with a 30% confusion chance, is hard to pass up. Nidoking and Nidoqueen like a 100% accurate Thunder to abuse, and have decent synergy with Lanturn. Secondary rain setters, like Bronzong, Xatu, and Sableye are good teammates to take pressure off of Lanturn, because having only one manual rain setter for a rain team is just a huge liability.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Lanturn has a moderate-sized movepool, so some other options are out there. Blizzard can be used on the Special tank set instead of Ice Beam if Lanturn is being used on a hail team, but Lanturn really does not like the hail negating its Leftovers recovery. Lanturn is not a bad RestTalk user, and can repeatedly check Raikou and Zapdos throughout the match. It will suffer from a really bad case of four-moveslot syndrome though. Substitute + Charge Beam is not as good as it was in DPP; despite having a large HP stat that only requires 52 HP EVs to create 101 HP substitutes, Lanturn is not strong enough at +1 to sweep, and it lacks a lot of the speed it needs to sweep. Discharge can be used for the 30% paralysis chance on the Special Tank set, though on the Rain Dance set, it is completely outclassed by Thunder, which also has a 30% paralysis chance, yet higher power. Do not even try to use Agility on Lanturn to sweep, as it lacks the power to do so. Finally, Aqua Ring and ParaFusion are gimmicky strategies, but on occasion, can pull in results.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Lanturn's low defenses, lack of recovery outside of Volt Absorb, and two common weaknesses bring up a small list of crippling counters. Abomasnow is the biggest pain in the neck to Lanturn; it can replace rain with permanent hail, is neutral to Ice Beam, resists its Water and Electric STABs, and can use Giga Drain or Wood Hammer on it for heavy damage. Of course, burns and paralysis are not fun, but Abomasnow can manage. Lanturn walls itself because of its ability in Volt Absorb, especially if it carries Heal Bell. Grass-types that are not Abomasnow, like Roserade and Shaymin, need to watch for Ice Beam, but they can destroy Lanturn as well with their STABs. Lanturn walls itself because of its ability in Volt Absorb. Snorlax and Umbreon can take Lanturn's attacks like they are nothing, though the former needs to watch for Scald. Grounds like Swampert and Nidoking need to watch out for Hydro Pump or Scald, but can deal super effective damage to Lanturn with STAB, and can preventing it from using Volt Switch for easy momentum. Krookodile in particular can use Lanturn to start a Moxie sweep. Choice Band and Swords Dance Heracross can take special hits and do not mind being Poisoned or Burned, courtesy of Guts. Strong attackers, like Mienshao and Choice Specs Chandelure, can exploit Chandelure's low base Defense and Special Defense stats to muscle through it. Last, but not least, Toxic Spikes wear Lanturn down little by little, limiting its playing time a lot.</p>
*Metagame has changed much since BW, but Lanturn can hold its own in UU
*Unique Water/Electric typing gives it key resistances to Fire, Ice, Flying, and Water type moves, and it holds Volt Absorb, allowing it to be a decent check to several special attackers in the metagame
*Base 125 base HP allows it to absorb hits relatively well
*Access to key support moves such as Thunder Wave and Heal Bell in a bulky metagame is very useful
*Crappy 58/67 defenses undermine its colossal HP stat
*Grass and Ground-type moves are common, and can ram through it
*Slow, though its speed is not as bad as you would think
*Lacks decent offensive presence, which can make it setup fodder
*Key immunities and beefy HP allows it to check special threats like Suicune, Raikou, Rotom-F, Rotom-H, Empoleon, Togekiss, Zapdos and Chandelure
*Scald has burn chance that prevents physical threats from breaking through Lanturn, bar Guts Heracross
*Volt Switch can bring in a teammate unharmed
*Heal Bell to revitalize teammates. Not many pokemon have access to either Heal Bell/Aromatherapy, and the ability to clear its teammates of status is too hard to pass up.
*However, Toxic can be used to wear down some of the threats Lanturn checks, like Suicune and Raikou
*Thunder Wave for slowing down opponents. With so many slow offensive Pokemon in the tier, such as Rhyperior and Scrafty, the teammates will appreciate Lanturn's support. With Lanturn's great special bulk, it is capable of slowing down all of those threats it checks, putting momentum in your favor
*Spread prevents Lanturn from being 2HKOd by LO Zapdos' HP Grass
*Lanturn will still be relatively weak with SpA EVs
*Protect allows Mienshao to crash from Hi-Jump Kick
*Togekiss synergizes well with Lanturn, taking Grass and Ground-type moves, whereas Lanturn takes BoltBeam
*Roserade can take Grass type moves, and can lay down Spikes, which Lanturn appreciates. Also, Lanturn takes Ice-type moves for Roserade
*The ability to paralyze top threats is definitely something offensive teams, slow ones in particular, would want. Good offensive teammates include Scrafty, Rhyperior, Honchkrow, , Nidoking, Snorlax, and Swampert
*Heracross is a good teammate with Lanturn, as the fish lures in a lot of Pokemon Heracross can start up a sweep on with Moxie or Swords Dance, such as Abomasnow, Amoonguss, Clefable, Roserade, Shaymin, Snorlax, and Umbreon.
*Specs Lanturn is quite unexpected, and can dish out damage, despite base 76 SpA
*Hydro Pump is strong STAB that will surprise the opponent
*Volt Switch is secondary STAB that allows a teammate to come in
*Ice Beam has good coverage with water and electric
*Thunderbolt offers a stronger electric STAB than vswitch, whereas Scald is a 100% accurate water STAB that has a cool burn chance, allowing it to bluff a defensive set.
*152 Speed EVs outrun defensive Togekiss and Gligar
*Surf can be used in place of Scald, but the ability to bluff a defensive set is better than some more power.
*Discharge can be used in place of Thunderbolt; 20% higher paralysis chance versus 15 more BP
*Roserade and Nidoking/queen have good synergy with Lanturn, and can lay down hazards to wear opponent further
*Heracross and Mienshao can kill Snorlax and Umbreon, who would otherwise wall Lanturn
*Blizzard over Ice Beam if Lanturn is being used in hail, though the residual damage from hail will hurt Lanturn's bulk
*Togekiss has good synergy with Lanturn, and can lure in Zapdos and Raikou
*Volt Absorb, good movepool for rain
*Volt Switch allows a teammate to come in somewhat safely
*STAB Thunder with 100% accuracy hits hard
*Heal Bell is a rare and awesome move that clears rain sweepers of debilitating status conditions. Rain teammates like Kabutops and Kingdra would greatly appreciate Lanturn's ability to fit it into its moveset
*Hydro Pump is absurdly strong in rain, Surf is weaker but more accurate
*152 Speed EVs allow Lanturn to speedcreep on Defensive Togekiss
*Ice Beam only 2HKOs Roserade, of all Grass types.
*Abomasnow removal from pokemon like Heracross and Mienshao is appreciated
*Rain abusers like Kingdra and Ludicolo are appreciated
*Tornadus can set up Rain Dance and has the added bonus of possessing Prankster as its ability; U-Turn allowing it to divert Electric-type moves to Lanturn and get a free health boost. Its STAB Hurricane is also very powerful, is boosted to 100% in rain, and can confuse the opponent, making it hard to pass up.
*Nidoking and Nidoqueen like a 100% accurate Thunder to abuse, and have good synergy with Lanturn
*Secondary rain setters to remove pressure from Lanturn is appreciated; Bronzong, Xatu, Sableye, etc.
*Blizzard can be used if Lanturn is being used in hail, especially over Ice Beam, though the residual damage is not very friendly to Lanturn, negating Leftovers
*Lanturn is not a bad ResTalk user, as it can repeatedly check special threats throughout the game, especially Zapdos and Raikou
*SubCharge is not as good as it was in DPP; despite a larger HP stat reducing the need for several HP EVs, Lanturn is not very strong after +1 to sweep, and it lacks the speed to do so.
*Don't even use Agility; it lacks enough power to sweep
*Discharge can be used instead of Thunderbolt for 30% paralysis chance; however, on the rain set, it is completely outclassed by Thunder, which has the same paralysis chance, but much more power.
*Abomasnow is neutral to Ice Beam, resists Lanturn's STABs, can remove rain, and cain KO with Grass STABs.
*Virizion, Roserade and Shaymin all possess the bulk to live an Ice Beam and destroy Lanturn with their Grass-type attacks.
*Lanturn can wall Lanturn due to its ability, though Toxic is annoying.
*Snorlax and Umbreon take Lanturn's attacks like they are nothing, though the former needs to watch for Scald
*Grounds like Swampert and Nidoking need to watch for Scald or Hydro Pump, but can also hammer Lanturn, and prevent it from using Volt Switch to gain momentum
*Krookodile can use Lanturn to start a Moxie sweep
*Choice Band and Swords Dance Heracross can take special hits and do not mind being burned, couretesy of Guts
*Strong attackers, like Choice Specs Chandelure and Mienshao, can take advantage of the poor defense stat to muscle past Lanturn
*Toxic Spikes wear Lanturn down little by little
*Unique Water/Electric typing gives it key resistances to Fire, Ice, Flying, and Water type moves, and it holds Volt Absorb, allowing it to be a decent check to several special attackers in the metagame
*Base 125 base HP allows it to absorb hits relatively well
*Access to key support moves such as Thunder Wave and Heal Bell in a bulky metagame is very useful
*Crappy 58/67 defenses undermine its colossal HP stat
*Grass and Ground-type moves are common, and can ram through it
*Slow, though its speed is not as bad as you would think
*Lacks decent offensive presence, which can make it setup fodder
*Key immunities and beefy HP allows it to check special threats like Suicune, Raikou, Rotom-F, Rotom-H, Empoleon, Togekiss, Zapdos and Chandelure
*Scald has burn chance that prevents physical threats from breaking through Lanturn, bar Guts Heracross
*Volt Switch can bring in a teammate unharmed
*Heal Bell to revitalize teammates. Not many pokemon have access to either Heal Bell/Aromatherapy, and the ability to clear its teammates of status is too hard to pass up.
*However, Toxic can be used to wear down some of the threats Lanturn checks, like Suicune and Raikou
*Thunder Wave for slowing down opponents. With so many slow offensive Pokemon in the tier, such as Rhyperior and Scrafty, the teammates will appreciate Lanturn's support. With Lanturn's great special bulk, it is capable of slowing down all of those threats it checks, putting momentum in your favor
*Spread prevents Lanturn from being 2HKOd by LO Zapdos' HP Grass
*Lanturn will still be relatively weak with SpA EVs
*Protect allows Mienshao to crash from Hi-Jump Kick
*Togekiss synergizes well with Lanturn, taking Grass and Ground-type moves, whereas Lanturn takes BoltBeam
*Roserade can take Grass type moves, and can lay down Spikes, which Lanturn appreciates. Also, Lanturn takes Ice-type moves for Roserade
*The ability to paralyze top threats is definitely something offensive teams, slow ones in particular, would want. Good offensive teammates include Scrafty, Rhyperior, Honchkrow, , Nidoking, Snorlax, and Swampert
*Heracross is a good teammate with Lanturn, as the fish lures in a lot of Pokemon Heracross can start up a sweep on with Moxie or Swords Dance, such as Abomasnow, Amoonguss, Clefable, Roserade, Shaymin, Snorlax, and Umbreon.
*Specs Lanturn is quite unexpected, and can dish out damage, despite base 76 SpA
*Hydro Pump is strong STAB that will surprise the opponent
*Volt Switch is secondary STAB that allows a teammate to come in
*Ice Beam has good coverage with water and electric
*Thunderbolt offers a stronger electric STAB than vswitch, whereas Scald is a 100% accurate water STAB that has a cool burn chance, allowing it to bluff a defensive set.
*152 Speed EVs outrun defensive Togekiss and Gligar
*Surf can be used in place of Scald, but the ability to bluff a defensive set is better than some more power.
*Discharge can be used in place of Thunderbolt; 20% higher paralysis chance versus 15 more BP
*Roserade and Nidoking/queen have good synergy with Lanturn, and can lay down hazards to wear opponent further
*Heracross and Mienshao can kill Snorlax and Umbreon, who would otherwise wall Lanturn
*Blizzard over Ice Beam if Lanturn is being used in hail, though the residual damage from hail will hurt Lanturn's bulk
*Togekiss has good synergy with Lanturn, and can lure in Zapdos and Raikou
*Volt Absorb, good movepool for rain
*Volt Switch allows a teammate to come in somewhat safely
*STAB Thunder with 100% accuracy hits hard
*Heal Bell is a rare and awesome move that clears rain sweepers of debilitating status conditions. Rain teammates like Kabutops and Kingdra would greatly appreciate Lanturn's ability to fit it into its moveset
*Hydro Pump is absurdly strong in rain, Surf is weaker but more accurate
*152 Speed EVs allow Lanturn to speedcreep on Defensive Togekiss
*Ice Beam only 2HKOs Roserade, of all Grass types.
*Abomasnow removal from pokemon like Heracross and Mienshao is appreciated
*Rain abusers like Kingdra and Ludicolo are appreciated
*Tornadus can set up Rain Dance and has the added bonus of possessing Prankster as its ability; U-Turn allowing it to divert Electric-type moves to Lanturn and get a free health boost. Its STAB Hurricane is also very powerful, is boosted to 100% in rain, and can confuse the opponent, making it hard to pass up.
*Nidoking and Nidoqueen like a 100% accurate Thunder to abuse, and have good synergy with Lanturn
*Secondary rain setters to remove pressure from Lanturn is appreciated; Bronzong, Xatu, Sableye, etc.
*Blizzard can be used if Lanturn is being used in hail, especially over Ice Beam, though the residual damage is not very friendly to Lanturn, negating Leftovers
*Lanturn is not a bad ResTalk user, as it can repeatedly check special threats throughout the game, especially Zapdos and Raikou
*SubCharge is not as good as it was in DPP; despite a larger HP stat reducing the need for several HP EVs, Lanturn is not very strong after +1 to sweep, and it lacks the speed to do so.
*Don't even use Agility; it lacks enough power to sweep
*Discharge can be used instead of Thunderbolt for 30% paralysis chance; however, on the rain set, it is completely outclassed by Thunder, which has the same paralysis chance, but much more power.
*Abomasnow is neutral to Ice Beam, resists Lanturn's STABs, can remove rain, and cain KO with Grass STABs.
*Virizion, Roserade and Shaymin all possess the bulk to live an Ice Beam and destroy Lanturn with their Grass-type attacks.
*Lanturn can wall Lanturn due to its ability, though Toxic is annoying.
*Snorlax and Umbreon take Lanturn's attacks like they are nothing, though the former needs to watch for Scald
*Grounds like Swampert and Nidoking need to watch for Scald or Hydro Pump, but can also hammer Lanturn, and prevent it from using Volt Switch to gain momentum
*Krookodile can use Lanturn to start a Moxie sweep
*Choice Band and Swords Dance Heracross can take special hits and do not mind being burned, couretesy of Guts
*Strong attackers, like Choice Specs Chandelure and Mienshao, can take advantage of the poor defense stat to muscle past Lanturn
*Toxic Spikes wear Lanturn down little by little
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