[SET]
name: Choice Scarf (Psychic)
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Defog
move 4: Healing Wish
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
A decent defensive typing, above-average speed tier, access to great utility moves in Defog, Healing Wish, and Trick, and good offensive and defensive stats makes Latias a premier Choice Scarf user and revenge killer on Psychic-type teams. Despite the downside of the Special Attack drop, forcing Latias to switch out more often than not, Draco Meteor acts as Latias's strongest STAB move, allowing it to revenge kill major threats to Psychic-type teams such as Mega Sharpedo and Blacephalon while also aiding greatly in the Dragon-type matchup. Psychic acts as Latias's secondary STAB option, preventing it from being completely shut down by Fairy-types, while also dealing with common Poison- and Fighting-types such as Nidoking, Toxapex, and Terrakion. Defog removes troublesome entry hazards such as Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes, easing pressure off of other offensive teammates like Tapu Lele and Victini. Healing Wish sets Latias apart from Latios, and it especially benefits strong wallbreakers such as Choice Band Victini and Choice Specs Tapu Lele, giving them a second round of breaking through opposing teams. Maximum Speed EVs along with a Timid nature and Choice Scarf allow Latias to outspeed key threats such as +1 Mega Sharpedo, Choice Scarf Blacephalon, and Mega Lopunny. Levitate is Latias' only ability, providing immunity against Ground-type attacks, Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Sticky Web.
Latias appreciates teammates like Mega Gallade and Victini, as they help deal with troublesome Steel-types and special walls such as Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Blissey, and Mantine. Mega Gallade also helps in the Dark matchup, dealing with key threats like Hydreigon and Tyranitar, while Victini helps against Bug-types such as Scizor and Volcarona. Latias in return can revenge kill threats to them such as Mega Lopunny, Tapu Koko and Blacephalon and also provide Healing Wish support. Victini also appreciates Latias playing the role of Choice Scarf user, which allows Victini to utilize other sets such as Heavy-Duty Boots, Z-Celebrate, and Choice Band. Latias also benefits from teammates like Tapu Lele and Mega Gardevoir that deal with opposing Dragon-types and are capable of switching into Dragon-type moves due to their Fairy typing. They also help greatly in the Dark matchup, OHKOing threats like Hydreigon and Urshifu-S. Slowbro provides a good defensive pivot that sponges physical attacks from Landorus-T, Excadrill, and Garchomp directed at Latias, and it can safely bring Latias into the game thanks to Teleport. Slowbro also provides an Ice resistance against opposing Pokemon such as Cloyster and Galarian Darmanitan. Steel-type teammates like Metagross and Jirachi resist common Dragon-, Ice-, and Fairy-type moves directed at Latias while also providing Stealth Rock support, which allows Latias to secure crucial OHKOs, against Pokemon such as Terrakion, Blacephalon, and Mega Sharpedo. Furthermore, Jirachi can cripple offensive and defensive threats to Latias such as Greninja and Mantine with Thunder Wave and Toxic, respectively. Magic Guard + Focus Sash Alakazam and Colbur Berry Celebi can help deal with common threats like Bisharp, Mega Scizor, and Mega Sharpedo that Latias struggles against.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Latias may opt to run Trick to cripple defensive checks such as Galarian Corsola, Mantine, and Celesteela. However, Latias's other moves prove to be more beneficial in most cases. Latias may also run Thunder Wave to cripple faster threats that it fails to revenge kill reliably like Spectrier, Mega Aerodactyl, and Volcarona, allowing other teammates like Victini to deal with them without much trouble. Soul Dew is an item option to gain some power and not be Choice-locked, but using it means Latias can no longer reliably revenge kill threats like Choice Scarf Blacephalon, +1 Mega Sharpedo, and Porygon-Z after Z-Conversion.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Dark-type Pokemon can freely switch in on Latias locked into Psychic, and specially defensive Tyranitar and Bisharp also take very little damage from Draco Meteor. The former threatens to cripple Latias with Thunder Wave or Toxic, while the latter can set up with Swords Dance or OHKO Latias with Knock Off.
**Pursuit**: Latias falls prey to common Pursuit trappers such as Scizor, Drapion, and Alolan Muk. It is almost always forced to switch out against these threats, especially if it is locked into Draco Meteor, and Pursuit can OHKO or severly weaken it as a result.
**Steel-types**: Steel-type Pokemon like Celesteela, Ferrothorn, and Heatran resist both of Latias's STAB options, allowing them to freely switch in against it. However, they should be wary of Trick sets that can easily render them useless. On the other hand, Steel-types like Mega Scizor and Aegislash outright use Latias as setup bait.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types like Clefable and Azumarill are immune to Draco Meteor and in return threaten to KO Latios with their super effective Fairy-type STAB moves. Certain Fairy-types like Tapu Lele and Klefki resist Psychic as well; the former threatens to OHKO with Moonblast, while the latter can cripple Latias with Thunder Wave.
**Status**: Toxic puts Latias on a timer, forcing it to switch out often to prevent excessive damage while Thunder Wave negates Latias's role as a Choice Scarf user and makes it easily revenge killed by threats like Dragonite and Hydreigon.
**Walls**: Specially defensive walls like Blissey, specially defensive Mandibuzz, and Mantine switch in against Latias with ease. However, they need to watch out for sets that utilize Trick, as it easily shuts them down completely.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Maple, 473171]]
- Psychic analysis by [[Maple, 473171]]
- Quality checked by: [[Mateeus, 321991], [Harpp, 320110]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429] ]
name: Choice Scarf (Psychic)
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Defog
move 4: Healing Wish
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
A decent defensive typing, above-average speed tier, access to great utility moves in Defog, Healing Wish, and Trick, and good offensive and defensive stats makes Latias a premier Choice Scarf user and revenge killer on Psychic-type teams. Despite the downside of the Special Attack drop, forcing Latias to switch out more often than not, Draco Meteor acts as Latias's strongest STAB move, allowing it to revenge kill major threats to Psychic-type teams such as Mega Sharpedo and Blacephalon while also aiding greatly in the Dragon-type matchup. Psychic acts as Latias's secondary STAB option, preventing it from being completely shut down by Fairy-types, while also dealing with common Poison- and Fighting-types such as Nidoking, Toxapex, and Terrakion. Defog removes troublesome entry hazards such as Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes, easing pressure off of other offensive teammates like Tapu Lele and Victini. Healing Wish sets Latias apart from Latios, and it especially benefits strong wallbreakers such as Choice Band Victini and Choice Specs Tapu Lele, giving them a second round of breaking through opposing teams. Maximum Speed EVs along with a Timid nature and Choice Scarf allow Latias to outspeed key threats such as +1 Mega Sharpedo, Choice Scarf Blacephalon, and Mega Lopunny. Levitate is Latias' only ability, providing immunity against Ground-type attacks, Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Sticky Web.
Latias appreciates teammates like Mega Gallade and Victini, as they help deal with troublesome Steel-types and special walls such as Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Blissey, and Mantine. Mega Gallade also helps in the Dark matchup, dealing with key threats like Hydreigon and Tyranitar, while Victini helps against Bug-types such as Scizor and Volcarona. Latias in return can revenge kill threats to them such as Mega Lopunny, Tapu Koko and Blacephalon and also provide Healing Wish support. Victini also appreciates Latias playing the role of Choice Scarf user, which allows Victini to utilize other sets such as Heavy-Duty Boots, Z-Celebrate, and Choice Band. Latias also benefits from teammates like Tapu Lele and Mega Gardevoir that deal with opposing Dragon-types and are capable of switching into Dragon-type moves due to their Fairy typing. They also help greatly in the Dark matchup, OHKOing threats like Hydreigon and Urshifu-S. Slowbro provides a good defensive pivot that sponges physical attacks from Landorus-T, Excadrill, and Garchomp directed at Latias, and it can safely bring Latias into the game thanks to Teleport. Slowbro also provides an Ice resistance against opposing Pokemon such as Cloyster and Galarian Darmanitan. Steel-type teammates like Metagross and Jirachi resist common Dragon-, Ice-, and Fairy-type moves directed at Latias while also providing Stealth Rock support, which allows Latias to secure crucial OHKOs, against Pokemon such as Terrakion, Blacephalon, and Mega Sharpedo. Furthermore, Jirachi can cripple offensive and defensive threats to Latias such as Greninja and Mantine with Thunder Wave and Toxic, respectively. Magic Guard + Focus Sash Alakazam and Colbur Berry Celebi can help deal with common threats like Bisharp, Mega Scizor, and Mega Sharpedo that Latias struggles against.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Latias may opt to run Trick to cripple defensive checks such as Galarian Corsola, Mantine, and Celesteela. However, Latias's other moves prove to be more beneficial in most cases. Latias may also run Thunder Wave to cripple faster threats that it fails to revenge kill reliably like Spectrier, Mega Aerodactyl, and Volcarona, allowing other teammates like Victini to deal with them without much trouble. Soul Dew is an item option to gain some power and not be Choice-locked, but using it means Latias can no longer reliably revenge kill threats like Choice Scarf Blacephalon, +1 Mega Sharpedo, and Porygon-Z after Z-Conversion.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Dark-type Pokemon can freely switch in on Latias locked into Psychic, and specially defensive Tyranitar and Bisharp also take very little damage from Draco Meteor. The former threatens to cripple Latias with Thunder Wave or Toxic, while the latter can set up with Swords Dance or OHKO Latias with Knock Off.
**Pursuit**: Latias falls prey to common Pursuit trappers such as Scizor, Drapion, and Alolan Muk. It is almost always forced to switch out against these threats, especially if it is locked into Draco Meteor, and Pursuit can OHKO or severly weaken it as a result.
**Steel-types**: Steel-type Pokemon like Celesteela, Ferrothorn, and Heatran resist both of Latias's STAB options, allowing them to freely switch in against it. However, they should be wary of Trick sets that can easily render them useless. On the other hand, Steel-types like Mega Scizor and Aegislash outright use Latias as setup bait.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types like Clefable and Azumarill are immune to Draco Meteor and in return threaten to KO Latios with their super effective Fairy-type STAB moves. Certain Fairy-types like Tapu Lele and Klefki resist Psychic as well; the former threatens to OHKO with Moonblast, while the latter can cripple Latias with Thunder Wave.
**Status**: Toxic puts Latias on a timer, forcing it to switch out often to prevent excessive damage while Thunder Wave negates Latias's role as a Choice Scarf user and makes it easily revenge killed by threats like Dragonite and Hydreigon.
**Walls**: Specially defensive walls like Blissey, specially defensive Mandibuzz, and Mantine switch in against Latias with ease. However, they need to watch out for sets that utilize Trick, as it easily shuts them down completely.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Maple, 473171]]
- Psychic analysis by [[Maple, 473171]]
- Quality checked by: [[Mateeus, 321991], [Harpp, 320110]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429] ]
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