[OVERVIEW]
Latias stands at the top of UU as one of the most metagame defining threats in the tier, as its good offensive stats and movepool make it very difficult to switch into. Latias also has a fantastic defensive typing, which, alongside its respectable bulk and access to reliable recovery, lets it check a plethora of threats like Nidoqueen, Volcanion, and Thundurus-T. Calm Mind amplifies Latias's offensive capabilities greatly, allowing it to break through checks like Chansey and Celesteela more easily. Latias also has access to an arsenal of utility options such as Trick, Healing Wish, and Defog, letting it provide a more supportive role if required. Despite these qualities, Latias is easily forced out by faster offensive threats such as Zeraora and Choice Scarf Krookodile, as well as common priority users like Mamoswine, Bisharp, and Scizor. Latias struggles to break past specially defensive walls such as Chansey, Jirachi, and Slowking without the assistance of a Calm Mind boost or crippling them with Trick. Chansey and Slowking can also use Teleport to bring in one of the aforementioned offensive threats to force Latias out, the latter also having Regenerator to continuously do so. Latias's STAB combination is walled by Steel-types, so it struggles to fit reliable recovery over Mystical Fire on Calm Mind sets, which limits its longevity to wallbreak and prevents it from taking advantage of its defensive utility to check Pokemon like Nidoqueen and Keldeo reliably. While Latias's typing provides a lot of resistances, it also shares multiple weaknesses, notably preventing Latias from safely switching into Victini without being worn down by U-turn.
[SET]
name: 3 Attacks + Roost
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Mystical Fire
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Latias's STAB combination alongside Mystical Fire provides it with near-perfect coverage to break through all of its defensive checks. Defog is an option over Mystical Fire, but it's very difficult to fit in, as it will leave Latias walled by Steel-types like Jirachi and Roost Scizor. Soul Dew can be considered if opting to only run its STAB moves in order to still increase its damage output without whittling itself down from Life Orb recoil; however, Life Orb is generally preferred for the greater damage output, which allows it to OHKO Amoonguss after Stealth Rock and 2HKO offensive variants of Jirachi. Latias should take advantage of its typing to check threats like Keldeo and special Victini, which also gives Latias multiple opportunities to heal itself with Roost.
This Latias set fits best on offense and balance teams that appreciate the utility it provides both offensively and defensively. Latias struggles with specially defensive walls like Chansey, Celesteela, and Slowking, so partners like Zeraora, Terrakion, and Mamoswine can help break past them. Zeraora can also bring Latias in against Pokemon like Amoonguss and Kommo-o to find opportunities to wallbreak. Mew and Skarmory can provide Spikes support to help wear down Assault Vest Tangrowth and Jirachi into 2HKO range of Mystical Fire. Skarmory can also help check Bisharp, Krookodile, and Mamoswine. Amoonguss and Volcanion can help check Azumarill for Latias, as it is a foe capable of stomaching a Psyshock and OHKOing Latias back. Amoonguss also helps deal with Zeraora and Tapu Bulu, with offensive variants of Tapu Bulu being a foe Latias can struggle to switch into, while Volcanion can help check Steel-types like Scizor and Jirachi. Keldeo and Latias can wear down their shared checks in Azumarill and Primarina. Keldeo can also overwhelm Chansey and Assault Vest Tangrowth by virtue of Secret Sword. Calm Mind variants of Keldeo can also set up on and beat Slowking lacking Psyshock, which allows Latias to spam its attacks more easily. Keldeo can also check common revenge killers to Latias like Bisharp, Scizor, and Mamoswine. Tapu Bulu can break through all of Latias's defensive checks and help check Zeraora. Latias can help remove Amoonguss and Tangrowth for Tapu Bulu in return. Offensive Swords Dance Scizor can OHKO Celesteela with Superpower for Latias as well as offensively pressuring foes like Slowking, Tangrowth, and Chansey that give Latias troubles.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Psyshock / Roost
move 4: Mystical Fire / Roost
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
After a Calm Mind boost, Latias is strong enough to 2HKO specially defensive walls like Chansey and Celesteela after Stealth Rock and improve its ability to KO bulkier offensive threats such as Tapu Bulu and Primarina. Roost is an option that allows Latias to take advantage of its defensive capabilities to check foes like Nihilego and Keldeo better, both of which give it ample opportunities to set up with Calm Mind or use Roost. Depending on the team, it can be replaced for either Psyshock or Mystical Fire; however, both have major downsides. The lack of Psyshock leaves Latias unable to break Chansey and Azumarill, while dropping Mystical Fire leaves it walled by Steel-types like Jirachi. Soul Dew can be considered, if not using Mystical Fire, to prevent Latias from being worn down by Life Orb recoil while still boosting the power of its STAB moves; however, you will miss out on the ability to 2HKO Chansey and OHKO Amoonguss with Psyshock, resulting in the latter putting you to sleep with Spore. Grassy Seed alongside the combination of Psyshock or Stored Power + Mystical Fire can be used, when paired with Tapu Bulu, to give Latias the necessary Defense boost to prevent foes such as Bisharp, Mamoswine, and Zeraora from being able to revenge kill it. Maximum HP investment should be used on Stored Power variants to give it multiple opportunities to set up Calm Mind boosts. However, Grassy Seed variants of Latias still have to be wary of Darkest Lariat users such as Tapu Bulu and Krookodile. Stored Power sets also have a poor matchup against bulkier foes like Chansey and are prone to being Toxic stalled, though Rest can help compensate for this.
Calm Mind Latias fits best on offensive and balance teams, the former especially being the case if it isn't utilizing Roost. Due to how quickly it gets worn down without Roost, dual screens setters like Grimmsnarl can help alleviate this. Alolan Ninetales can set up Aurora Veil and provide more opportunities for Latias to set up via Encore and Hypnosis support; however, it comes at the cost of being worn down by hail. Latias values being brought in safely due to its lack of longevity, so pivots like Rotom-W and Zeraora pair well with it. Rotom-W can bring Latias in against foes such as Kyurem and Kommo-o to wallbreak. It can also cripple Tapu Bulu with Will-O-Wisp, making it easier for Latias to set up against it, as well as checking Mamoswine and crippling other Latias revenge killers like Bisharp and Scizor. Scizor is another pivot that pairs well with Latias, as it can remove many of Latias's checks like Celesteela, Hatterene, and Slowking. Bulkier variants of Scizor can also check non-Blaze Kick Zeraora. In return, Latias can check Fire-types like Victini and Volcanion for Scizor. Wallbreakers like Azumarill, Conkeldurr, and Terrakion can help remove specially defensive walls like Chansey and Celesteela, as they usually force Latias to trade a lot of its health or be crippled by Toxic. Stealth Rock support from Jirachi, Mew, and Rhyperior is very helpful to bring foes like Celesteela into 2HKO range of Mystical Fire. Mew can also use Knock Off to remove Celesteela's Leftovers and Tangrowth's Assault Vest, making it easier for Latias to muscle through them. Jirachi can provide Healing Wish or Wish support to make up for the difficulty Latias has in fitting Roost.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Mystical Fire
move 4: Trick / Healing Wish
item: Choice Specs
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Specs provides Latias with the immediate power to threaten bulkier offensive threats like Tapu Bulu, Mamoswine, and Jirachi while still offering utility through Trick or Healing Wish. Trick allows Latias to cripple specially defensive walls like Chansey and Jirachi, as well as shutting down certain setup sweepers like Galarian Slowbro and Reuniclus. Healing Wish is appreciated on more offensive teams that value the safety of another life to play a bit more recklessly with a wallbreaker or sweeper. Thunderbolt is an option in the last slot because it does significantly more damage to Celesteela and guarantees the OHKO on Azumarill after Stealth Rock damage. It also lets it break through Hatterene a lot more easily. Sleep Talk can be used to take advantage of Spore and Sleep Powder from Amoonguss and Tangrowth, respectively; however, you'll have to be careful of taking a potential Knock Off from the latter.
Choice Specs Latias, despite its high wallbreaking potential, struggles to muscle through specially defensive walls like Celesteela and Chansey reliably without using Trick to cripple them. Wallbreakers like Crawdaunt, Scizor, and Diggersby make great teammates for this reason, the latter two also being able to bring Latias in with their pivot moves. Defensive partners like Celesteela, Amoonguss, and Tangrowth can help take the pressure off Latias potentially letting a foe in for free after being Choice locked. Iron Defense Skarmory is another defensive partner that can help check Scizor and Bisharp, two dangerous foes Latias can let set up for free if locked into one of its STAB options. Skarmory can also provide Spikes support to wear down foes like Jirachi into range of Latias's attacks. Mew is another Spikes user that can also provide Knock Off support to remove Heavy-Duty Boots from Slowking, making it easier for it to be worn down by entry hazards when trying to check Latias. Jirachi can provide Stealth Rock support to wear down Celesteela and bring it into 2HKO range of Mystical Fire. It can also provide Wish support to offset Latias's lack of recovery, as well as bringing Latias in safely against foes such as Keldeo and Rotom-H to wallbreak. Other pivots like Victini, Keldeo, and Zeraora can bring Latias in safely, as it struggles to consistently switch into threats like opposing Keldeo with the inability to fit recovery. Nidoqueen can provide Stealth Rock support, check Zeraora, and pressure Pokemon like Hatterene and Celesteela for Latias.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psychic can be used on the 3 attacks set to OHKO Amoonguss and hit Azumarill harder; however, this leaves it unable to dent Chansey or pressure Suicune and Calm Mind Primarina as reliably. Choice Scarf is an option to revenge kill Pokemon like Dragon Dance Gyarados and Salamence; however, the lack of immediate power makes it easy for Pokemon like Tapu Bulu to take advantage of it. Thunderbolt is needed coverage on this Latias set to revenge kill Gyarados and Belly Drum Azumarill more reliably, which makes it difficult to fit Mystical Fire, leaving it walled by Steel-types as a result. Colbur Berry helps prevent threats like Krookodile, Bisharp, and non-Play Rough Zeraora from revenge killing Latias, which is more useful on Calm Mind sets that can OHKO them after a boost. Leftovers is an option that grants Latias with passive recovery, which can be useful on Calm Mind sets lacking the ability to fit Roost. Aura Sphere can be considered over Mystical Fire on Grassy Seed sets, as it allows Latias to hit Dark-types super effectively; however, you lose out on the ability to OHKO Scizor. Flame Orb can be considered to ensure Latias can't be inflicted with poison, making it extremely difficult for stall and balance teams to beat it. This should be used alongside Psycho Shift to cripple foes like Krookodile and Tapu Bulu; however, this set is extremely niche, as it greatly cuts into Latias's longevity and forces you to use Roost more often than wanted. It also leaves Latias walled by Dark-types, particularly Incineroar, and with an atrocious offensive matchup versus them. A dual screens set has some viability because of its naturally high Speed stat and access to Healing Wish. However, Latias has no other means of keeping its screens up reliably compared to something like Grimmsnarl with Taunt or Alolan Ninetales with Hypnosis.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Chansey is one of the best Latias checks that can shrug off most of its attacks and recover with Soft-Boiled. Chansey can also cripple Latias with Toxic and Thunder Wave. Slowking and Assault Vest Tangrowth have the natural bulk to take one hit even from a Calm Mind-boosted Latias, have Regenerator to switch in multiple times, and can cripple Latias with Thunder Wave and Knock Off, respectively.
**Steel-types**: Latias struggles to break through Celesteela, Jirachi, and Stakataka. Jirachi can also carry a Choice Scarf and revenge kill Latias with Iron Head or U-turn. However, the former two do have to be wary of taking a boosted Mystical Fire. Scizor can set up on Choice Specs Latias and pick off Calm Mind variants that lack reliable recovery.
**Fairy-types**: Hatterene is a solid response to Latias, as it resists both of its STAB moves, but it can be overwhelmed by Mystical Fire and entry hazards. Tapu Bulu and Azumarill have the natural bulk to take a hit from Latias and retaliate back with a Megahorn and Play Rough, respectively. Diancie is a more niche Fairy-type that can check Latias; however, it can easily be worn down by Latias's Psychic-type STAB moves. It also gets overwhelmed by Calm Mind sets if it doesn't run Toxic.
**Dark-types**: Bisharp threatens to OHKO Latias with Sucker Punch, and Choice Scarf Krookodile can revenge kill Latias with Knock Off or Darkest Lariat. Grimmsnarl is immune to both of Latias's STAB moves and is unfazed by Mystical Fire, with Spirit Break even lowering Latias's Special Attack by one stage.
**Revenge Killers**: Zeraora, Thundurus, and Zygarde-10% naturally outspeed and can revenge kill a weakened Latias. Strong priority moves can also revenge kill Latias such as Bullet Punch from Scizor, Ice Shard from Mamoswine, and First Impression from Durant. Mimikyu can revenge kill Latias with Shadow Claw thanks to Disguise absorbing one hit from Latias.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Twilight, 344575]]
- Quality checked by: [[avarice, 346653], [Estarossa, 461329], [Lilburr, 481709]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Milak, 262594], [Eyan, 226777]]
Latias stands at the top of UU as one of the most metagame defining threats in the tier, as its good offensive stats and movepool make it very difficult to switch into. Latias also has a fantastic defensive typing, which, alongside its respectable bulk and access to reliable recovery, lets it check a plethora of threats like Nidoqueen, Volcanion, and Thundurus-T. Calm Mind amplifies Latias's offensive capabilities greatly, allowing it to break through checks like Chansey and Celesteela more easily. Latias also has access to an arsenal of utility options such as Trick, Healing Wish, and Defog, letting it provide a more supportive role if required. Despite these qualities, Latias is easily forced out by faster offensive threats such as Zeraora and Choice Scarf Krookodile, as well as common priority users like Mamoswine, Bisharp, and Scizor. Latias struggles to break past specially defensive walls such as Chansey, Jirachi, and Slowking without the assistance of a Calm Mind boost or crippling them with Trick. Chansey and Slowking can also use Teleport to bring in one of the aforementioned offensive threats to force Latias out, the latter also having Regenerator to continuously do so. Latias's STAB combination is walled by Steel-types, so it struggles to fit reliable recovery over Mystical Fire on Calm Mind sets, which limits its longevity to wallbreak and prevents it from taking advantage of its defensive utility to check Pokemon like Nidoqueen and Keldeo reliably. While Latias's typing provides a lot of resistances, it also shares multiple weaknesses, notably preventing Latias from safely switching into Victini without being worn down by U-turn.
[SET]
name: 3 Attacks + Roost
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Mystical Fire
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Latias's STAB combination alongside Mystical Fire provides it with near-perfect coverage to break through all of its defensive checks. Defog is an option over Mystical Fire, but it's very difficult to fit in, as it will leave Latias walled by Steel-types like Jirachi and Roost Scizor. Soul Dew can be considered if opting to only run its STAB moves in order to still increase its damage output without whittling itself down from Life Orb recoil; however, Life Orb is generally preferred for the greater damage output, which allows it to OHKO Amoonguss after Stealth Rock and 2HKO offensive variants of Jirachi. Latias should take advantage of its typing to check threats like Keldeo and special Victini, which also gives Latias multiple opportunities to heal itself with Roost.
This Latias set fits best on offense and balance teams that appreciate the utility it provides both offensively and defensively. Latias struggles with specially defensive walls like Chansey, Celesteela, and Slowking, so partners like Zeraora, Terrakion, and Mamoswine can help break past them. Zeraora can also bring Latias in against Pokemon like Amoonguss and Kommo-o to find opportunities to wallbreak. Mew and Skarmory can provide Spikes support to help wear down Assault Vest Tangrowth and Jirachi into 2HKO range of Mystical Fire. Skarmory can also help check Bisharp, Krookodile, and Mamoswine. Amoonguss and Volcanion can help check Azumarill for Latias, as it is a foe capable of stomaching a Psyshock and OHKOing Latias back. Amoonguss also helps deal with Zeraora and Tapu Bulu, with offensive variants of Tapu Bulu being a foe Latias can struggle to switch into, while Volcanion can help check Steel-types like Scizor and Jirachi. Keldeo and Latias can wear down their shared checks in Azumarill and Primarina. Keldeo can also overwhelm Chansey and Assault Vest Tangrowth by virtue of Secret Sword. Calm Mind variants of Keldeo can also set up on and beat Slowking lacking Psyshock, which allows Latias to spam its attacks more easily. Keldeo can also check common revenge killers to Latias like Bisharp, Scizor, and Mamoswine. Tapu Bulu can break through all of Latias's defensive checks and help check Zeraora. Latias can help remove Amoonguss and Tangrowth for Tapu Bulu in return. Offensive Swords Dance Scizor can OHKO Celesteela with Superpower for Latias as well as offensively pressuring foes like Slowking, Tangrowth, and Chansey that give Latias troubles.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Psyshock / Roost
move 4: Mystical Fire / Roost
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
After a Calm Mind boost, Latias is strong enough to 2HKO specially defensive walls like Chansey and Celesteela after Stealth Rock and improve its ability to KO bulkier offensive threats such as Tapu Bulu and Primarina. Roost is an option that allows Latias to take advantage of its defensive capabilities to check foes like Nihilego and Keldeo better, both of which give it ample opportunities to set up with Calm Mind or use Roost. Depending on the team, it can be replaced for either Psyshock or Mystical Fire; however, both have major downsides. The lack of Psyshock leaves Latias unable to break Chansey and Azumarill, while dropping Mystical Fire leaves it walled by Steel-types like Jirachi. Soul Dew can be considered, if not using Mystical Fire, to prevent Latias from being worn down by Life Orb recoil while still boosting the power of its STAB moves; however, you will miss out on the ability to 2HKO Chansey and OHKO Amoonguss with Psyshock, resulting in the latter putting you to sleep with Spore. Grassy Seed alongside the combination of Psyshock or Stored Power + Mystical Fire can be used, when paired with Tapu Bulu, to give Latias the necessary Defense boost to prevent foes such as Bisharp, Mamoswine, and Zeraora from being able to revenge kill it. Maximum HP investment should be used on Stored Power variants to give it multiple opportunities to set up Calm Mind boosts. However, Grassy Seed variants of Latias still have to be wary of Darkest Lariat users such as Tapu Bulu and Krookodile. Stored Power sets also have a poor matchup against bulkier foes like Chansey and are prone to being Toxic stalled, though Rest can help compensate for this.
Calm Mind Latias fits best on offensive and balance teams, the former especially being the case if it isn't utilizing Roost. Due to how quickly it gets worn down without Roost, dual screens setters like Grimmsnarl can help alleviate this. Alolan Ninetales can set up Aurora Veil and provide more opportunities for Latias to set up via Encore and Hypnosis support; however, it comes at the cost of being worn down by hail. Latias values being brought in safely due to its lack of longevity, so pivots like Rotom-W and Zeraora pair well with it. Rotom-W can bring Latias in against foes such as Kyurem and Kommo-o to wallbreak. It can also cripple Tapu Bulu with Will-O-Wisp, making it easier for Latias to set up against it, as well as checking Mamoswine and crippling other Latias revenge killers like Bisharp and Scizor. Scizor is another pivot that pairs well with Latias, as it can remove many of Latias's checks like Celesteela, Hatterene, and Slowking. Bulkier variants of Scizor can also check non-Blaze Kick Zeraora. In return, Latias can check Fire-types like Victini and Volcanion for Scizor. Wallbreakers like Azumarill, Conkeldurr, and Terrakion can help remove specially defensive walls like Chansey and Celesteela, as they usually force Latias to trade a lot of its health or be crippled by Toxic. Stealth Rock support from Jirachi, Mew, and Rhyperior is very helpful to bring foes like Celesteela into 2HKO range of Mystical Fire. Mew can also use Knock Off to remove Celesteela's Leftovers and Tangrowth's Assault Vest, making it easier for Latias to muscle through them. Jirachi can provide Healing Wish or Wish support to make up for the difficulty Latias has in fitting Roost.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Mystical Fire
move 4: Trick / Healing Wish
item: Choice Specs
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Specs provides Latias with the immediate power to threaten bulkier offensive threats like Tapu Bulu, Mamoswine, and Jirachi while still offering utility through Trick or Healing Wish. Trick allows Latias to cripple specially defensive walls like Chansey and Jirachi, as well as shutting down certain setup sweepers like Galarian Slowbro and Reuniclus. Healing Wish is appreciated on more offensive teams that value the safety of another life to play a bit more recklessly with a wallbreaker or sweeper. Thunderbolt is an option in the last slot because it does significantly more damage to Celesteela and guarantees the OHKO on Azumarill after Stealth Rock damage. It also lets it break through Hatterene a lot more easily. Sleep Talk can be used to take advantage of Spore and Sleep Powder from Amoonguss and Tangrowth, respectively; however, you'll have to be careful of taking a potential Knock Off from the latter.
Choice Specs Latias, despite its high wallbreaking potential, struggles to muscle through specially defensive walls like Celesteela and Chansey reliably without using Trick to cripple them. Wallbreakers like Crawdaunt, Scizor, and Diggersby make great teammates for this reason, the latter two also being able to bring Latias in with their pivot moves. Defensive partners like Celesteela, Amoonguss, and Tangrowth can help take the pressure off Latias potentially letting a foe in for free after being Choice locked. Iron Defense Skarmory is another defensive partner that can help check Scizor and Bisharp, two dangerous foes Latias can let set up for free if locked into one of its STAB options. Skarmory can also provide Spikes support to wear down foes like Jirachi into range of Latias's attacks. Mew is another Spikes user that can also provide Knock Off support to remove Heavy-Duty Boots from Slowking, making it easier for it to be worn down by entry hazards when trying to check Latias. Jirachi can provide Stealth Rock support to wear down Celesteela and bring it into 2HKO range of Mystical Fire. It can also provide Wish support to offset Latias's lack of recovery, as well as bringing Latias in safely against foes such as Keldeo and Rotom-H to wallbreak. Other pivots like Victini, Keldeo, and Zeraora can bring Latias in safely, as it struggles to consistently switch into threats like opposing Keldeo with the inability to fit recovery. Nidoqueen can provide Stealth Rock support, check Zeraora, and pressure Pokemon like Hatterene and Celesteela for Latias.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psychic can be used on the 3 attacks set to OHKO Amoonguss and hit Azumarill harder; however, this leaves it unable to dent Chansey or pressure Suicune and Calm Mind Primarina as reliably. Choice Scarf is an option to revenge kill Pokemon like Dragon Dance Gyarados and Salamence; however, the lack of immediate power makes it easy for Pokemon like Tapu Bulu to take advantage of it. Thunderbolt is needed coverage on this Latias set to revenge kill Gyarados and Belly Drum Azumarill more reliably, which makes it difficult to fit Mystical Fire, leaving it walled by Steel-types as a result. Colbur Berry helps prevent threats like Krookodile, Bisharp, and non-Play Rough Zeraora from revenge killing Latias, which is more useful on Calm Mind sets that can OHKO them after a boost. Leftovers is an option that grants Latias with passive recovery, which can be useful on Calm Mind sets lacking the ability to fit Roost. Aura Sphere can be considered over Mystical Fire on Grassy Seed sets, as it allows Latias to hit Dark-types super effectively; however, you lose out on the ability to OHKO Scizor. Flame Orb can be considered to ensure Latias can't be inflicted with poison, making it extremely difficult for stall and balance teams to beat it. This should be used alongside Psycho Shift to cripple foes like Krookodile and Tapu Bulu; however, this set is extremely niche, as it greatly cuts into Latias's longevity and forces you to use Roost more often than wanted. It also leaves Latias walled by Dark-types, particularly Incineroar, and with an atrocious offensive matchup versus them. A dual screens set has some viability because of its naturally high Speed stat and access to Healing Wish. However, Latias has no other means of keeping its screens up reliably compared to something like Grimmsnarl with Taunt or Alolan Ninetales with Hypnosis.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Chansey is one of the best Latias checks that can shrug off most of its attacks and recover with Soft-Boiled. Chansey can also cripple Latias with Toxic and Thunder Wave. Slowking and Assault Vest Tangrowth have the natural bulk to take one hit even from a Calm Mind-boosted Latias, have Regenerator to switch in multiple times, and can cripple Latias with Thunder Wave and Knock Off, respectively.
**Steel-types**: Latias struggles to break through Celesteela, Jirachi, and Stakataka. Jirachi can also carry a Choice Scarf and revenge kill Latias with Iron Head or U-turn. However, the former two do have to be wary of taking a boosted Mystical Fire. Scizor can set up on Choice Specs Latias and pick off Calm Mind variants that lack reliable recovery.
**Fairy-types**: Hatterene is a solid response to Latias, as it resists both of its STAB moves, but it can be overwhelmed by Mystical Fire and entry hazards. Tapu Bulu and Azumarill have the natural bulk to take a hit from Latias and retaliate back with a Megahorn and Play Rough, respectively. Diancie is a more niche Fairy-type that can check Latias; however, it can easily be worn down by Latias's Psychic-type STAB moves. It also gets overwhelmed by Calm Mind sets if it doesn't run Toxic.
**Dark-types**: Bisharp threatens to OHKO Latias with Sucker Punch, and Choice Scarf Krookodile can revenge kill Latias with Knock Off or Darkest Lariat. Grimmsnarl is immune to both of Latias's STAB moves and is unfazed by Mystical Fire, with Spirit Break even lowering Latias's Special Attack by one stage.
**Revenge Killers**: Zeraora, Thundurus, and Zygarde-10% naturally outspeed and can revenge kill a weakened Latias. Strong priority moves can also revenge kill Latias such as Bullet Punch from Scizor, Ice Shard from Mamoswine, and First Impression from Durant. Mimikyu can revenge kill Latias with Shadow Claw thanks to Disguise absorbing one hit from Latias.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Twilight, 344575]]
- Quality checked by: [[avarice, 346653], [Estarossa, 461329], [Lilburr, 481709]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Milak, 262594], [Eyan, 226777]]
Last edited:
