...and Scarf Tyranitar isn't even a guaranteed method of dealing with Latias. You're still 2HKOed by Specs Surf, or Meteor with any sort of entry hazard, all you've done is turn it into a 50/50 shot, the predictive version of a speed tie. Scarftar's Pursuit isn't strong enough to OHKO if they don't switch, though you'll still take out a big chunk of HP, and your Crunch is weaksauce if they do switch in a resistor. Frankly, I'm surprised Lucario usage continues to slowly DROP, seeing as how its initial big rise came from being able to take advantage of Choice Banded Pursuits.
As far as mentioning "omgsteels" as a counter, they all eat it pretty hard to boosted Surf anyway, which is Latias' most common alpha strike what with also trying to keep Tyranitar away (weak to Water). Bulky (max HP) Scizor gets 2HKOed and defensive Jirachi can't threaten Latias offensively. Metagross is the only real threat besides T-Tar, possibly Snorlax.
This is exactly like what I've said in the past about Garchomp. However, Manaphy is a little more bulky on the special side and, though it goes 50/50 with Salamence (or the rare Flygon, max Speed Zapdos), it does have resistance to the priority move by far both the strongest and most common, Scizor's Bullet Punch. It even continues to improve as many Lucario are teching to Bullet Punch to outwit ScarfTar popping up everywhere.
Where Manaphy falls short is that it isn't the same offensive threat. It's not even that it has an inferior type combination, as Water/Ice/Grass-Electric is arguably better than what Garchomp gets. (Where hard counters do exist for Manaphy, neither of those pokémon are OU and Manaphy also hits super-effective on a much wider range of targets.) Though often deemed as "unnecessary," even the threat of an unboosted Outrage being able to OHKO where DClaw cannot (or 2HKO where DClaw 3HKOs) makes it that much more difficult to switch in against Garchomp. Manaphy? If it predicts Latias and guesses Ice Beam, Latias takes a hurting but it doesn't die. Azelf won't die to Surf and Starmie won't die to Energy Ball from Manaphy the way they would a Garchomp Outrage. It's that sense in which Manaphy is the lesser threat overall. It also helps that Garchomp plays physical, whereas Manaphy has trouble with the catch-all Special wall if it doesn't have rain.
Manaphy is a pretty killer support pokémon for the real offensive threats, though. Nobody provides rain for Kingdra or Kabutops the way Manaphy can, nigh-unkillable with one-turn full healing with status removal and the infamous "bulky water" typing.
ARD, Quagsire only works against the mono-attacking sets. It sure isn't threatening offensively, so it'll still lose to Ice Beam if they lack the Grass attack. You're better off with Vaporeon no matter what. Manaphy's real threats are Ludicolo and Abomasnow, guys. :/ Abomasnow can even ruin rain setups, though you have to build around it a little more.
Almost every scrub has no idea how to deal with Breloom at all. :/ Wonderful pokémon!
