[SET]
name: Protean Wallbreaker
move 1: Flash Cannon
move 2: Grass Knot / Freeze-Dry
move 3: Secret Sword / Aura Sphere / Searing Shot / Earth Power
move 4: Moonblast / Bug Buzz / Gastro Acid
item: Soul Dew
ability: Protean
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk
in-battle alt: Mega
[SET COMMENTS]
Protean Mega Latios uses its ludicrously high Soul Dew-boosted Special Attack and four coverage moves to dismantle opposing Wonder Guard cores, along with slower non-Wonder Guard Pokemon. Flash Cannon targets and OHKOes both Xerneas and physically defensive Mega Audino, as well as making Mega Latios resistant to all -ate Speed attacks via Protean, making it more difficult to revenge kill. Grass Knot targets Primal Kyogre and Mega Swampert while OHKOing Primal Groudon, but it doesn't always OHKO specially defensive variants of Primal Kyogre. An alternative is Freeze-Dry, as it also hits Giratina and Gyarados for super effective damage at the cost of only 2HKOing Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre. It also hits the rare Ice-weak Wonder Guards like Zapdos and Landourus, but usually this doesn't matter due to how infrequently they are used. Secret Sword OHKOs Wonder Guard Blissey and Chansey, but only 2HKOes physically defensive Arceus and Slaking. Aura Sphere can be used to OHKO Arceus and Slaking, but it doesn't break through Chansey on only 2HKOes Blissey. Searing Shot threatens Mega Scizor as well as the occasional Registeel and Mega Steelix, and Earth Power threatens all Primal Groudon variants as well as Wonder Guard Mega Manectric, Skuntank, and Drapion. Moonblast OHKOes both Mega Sableye and Giratina. Bug Buzz OHKOes Mega Mewtwo Y, most Cresselia, and Deoxys-S, stopping them from safely passing a Substitute to a teammate using Baton Pass. Lastly, Gastro Acid can negate the opposing Pokemon's Wonder Guard but is often a momentum drain.
Mega Latios fits best on bulky offense and balance teams, where Choice item Mold Breaker userss like Mega Rayquaza, Primal Groudon, and Mega Mewtwo Y help Mega Latios against opposing Wonder Guard cores it can't break through on its own, threatening them for huge damage. Furthermore, Mega Latios can consistently force opposing Wonder Guard users in, gaining momentum for these wallbreakers. Additionally, Huge Power and Shadow Tag Mega Mewtwo X pair well with Mega Latios as their coverage can break through opposing Wonder Guard users that Mega Latios can't. Mega Gyarados heavily threatens Prankster Giratina and Ho-Oh, Pokemon that can switch in on Mega Latios. Aromatherapy is also appreciated, as paralysis often hampers Mega Latios's offensive presence, and it dislikes taking chip damage from burn and poison. Mega Latios performs particularly well with a slow Substitute + Baton Pass teammate like Wonder Guard Xerneas, Skuntank, Mega Swampert, or Mega Sableye, as it will safely threaten opposing teams while being more difficult to revenge kill.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mega Latios can opt to run an EV spread of 160 HP / 252 SpA / 96 Spe in order to survive more hits from special Shadow Tag users, like Mega Mewtwo Y, while still outspeeding Adamant Primal Groudon. However, Mega Latios then does not outspeed Jolly Primal Groudon and is more easily threatened by Mold Breaker Mega Diancie and opposing Mega Latios. Timid could be run to outspeed opposing Mega Latios and Mega Diancie at the cost of worse KO rolls on Primal Kyogre, Cressellia, and Giratina with super effective attacks. Flash Cannon could be forgone for another coverage move, but this would only be viable with a Shadow Tag Pokemon that can hit Xerneas due to Leftovers's ubiquity on it. Thunderbolt hits Ho-Oh well while still hitting Primal Kyogre and Mega Gyarados, but it could let Primal Groudon come in for free. Dark Pulse hits Dusclops while hitting Giratina and Cresselia. Sludge Bomb could be used over Flash Cannon for its poison chance, but it leaves Mega Latios easily revenge killed by -ate Speed users.
Checks and Counters
=============
**Shadow Tag**: Due to Mega Latios getting outsped by many common Shadow Tag Pokemon and being unable to fit Shed Shell, it can be easily trapped and taken out by common Shadow Tag users like Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Rayquaza after Stealth Rock, and Silk Scarf Regigigas or Slaking.
**Magic Guard Ho-Oh**: While rare, Magic Guard Ho-Oh can wall most Protean Mega Latios with its good typing and phenomenal special bulk, annoying it with status spreading in Psycho Shift. However, Ho-Oh is usually easily threatened by a physical Mold Breaker, Huge Power Pursuit user, or physical Shadow Tag user.
**Mega Gyarados with Sucker Punch**: Sucker Punch variants of Mega Gyarados can catch Mega Latios in coinflip scenarios, threatening to either OHKO it with Sucker Punch or Pursuit.
**Fast Mold Breaker Users**: Mold Breaker users like Mega Gengar, Mega Rayquaza, Mega Mewtwo Y, and Arceus can outspeed Mega Latios and either put it to sleep or OHKO it while still threatening damage on the rest of its team.
**-Ate Speed users**: -Ate Speed users like Refrigerate Abomasnow and Kyurem-B, Pixilate Mega Diancie, and Aerilate Mega Rayquaza can force out Mega Latios with their powerful Extreme Speeds, and they even carry a super effective Pursuit sometimes. However, if Mega Latios has changed its type to Steel, -ate Speed users won't be able to revenge kill it from full health.
**Giratina**: Giratina can wall Mega Latios sets that lack both Freeze-Dry and Moonblast due to its typing and stellar bulk. If Mega Latios runs one of those moves, it must sill be wary of things like Curse, Destiny Bond, and Glare which can either KO it immediately or make it more susceptible to being KOed later.
**Item Removal**: Getting rid of the source of Mega Latios's power via Knock Off or Trick makes it much less effective
[CREDITS]
- Witten by: [[NToTheN, 569731]]
-Quality checked by: [[Mbouchon, 515077] , [BahamutLagoon, 506113]]
-Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429]]
name: Protean Wallbreaker
move 1: Flash Cannon
move 2: Grass Knot / Freeze-Dry
move 3: Secret Sword / Aura Sphere / Searing Shot / Earth Power
move 4: Moonblast / Bug Buzz / Gastro Acid
item: Soul Dew
ability: Protean
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk
in-battle alt: Mega
[SET COMMENTS]
Protean Mega Latios uses its ludicrously high Soul Dew-boosted Special Attack and four coverage moves to dismantle opposing Wonder Guard cores, along with slower non-Wonder Guard Pokemon. Flash Cannon targets and OHKOes both Xerneas and physically defensive Mega Audino, as well as making Mega Latios resistant to all -ate Speed attacks via Protean, making it more difficult to revenge kill. Grass Knot targets Primal Kyogre and Mega Swampert while OHKOing Primal Groudon, but it doesn't always OHKO specially defensive variants of Primal Kyogre. An alternative is Freeze-Dry, as it also hits Giratina and Gyarados for super effective damage at the cost of only 2HKOing Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre. It also hits the rare Ice-weak Wonder Guards like Zapdos and Landourus, but usually this doesn't matter due to how infrequently they are used. Secret Sword OHKOs Wonder Guard Blissey and Chansey, but only 2HKOes physically defensive Arceus and Slaking. Aura Sphere can be used to OHKO Arceus and Slaking, but it doesn't break through Chansey on only 2HKOes Blissey. Searing Shot threatens Mega Scizor as well as the occasional Registeel and Mega Steelix, and Earth Power threatens all Primal Groudon variants as well as Wonder Guard Mega Manectric, Skuntank, and Drapion. Moonblast OHKOes both Mega Sableye and Giratina. Bug Buzz OHKOes Mega Mewtwo Y, most Cresselia, and Deoxys-S, stopping them from safely passing a Substitute to a teammate using Baton Pass. Lastly, Gastro Acid can negate the opposing Pokemon's Wonder Guard but is often a momentum drain.
Mega Latios fits best on bulky offense and balance teams, where Choice item Mold Breaker userss like Mega Rayquaza, Primal Groudon, and Mega Mewtwo Y help Mega Latios against opposing Wonder Guard cores it can't break through on its own, threatening them for huge damage. Furthermore, Mega Latios can consistently force opposing Wonder Guard users in, gaining momentum for these wallbreakers. Additionally, Huge Power and Shadow Tag Mega Mewtwo X pair well with Mega Latios as their coverage can break through opposing Wonder Guard users that Mega Latios can't. Mega Gyarados heavily threatens Prankster Giratina and Ho-Oh, Pokemon that can switch in on Mega Latios. Aromatherapy is also appreciated, as paralysis often hampers Mega Latios's offensive presence, and it dislikes taking chip damage from burn and poison. Mega Latios performs particularly well with a slow Substitute + Baton Pass teammate like Wonder Guard Xerneas, Skuntank, Mega Swampert, or Mega Sableye, as it will safely threaten opposing teams while being more difficult to revenge kill.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mega Latios can opt to run an EV spread of 160 HP / 252 SpA / 96 Spe in order to survive more hits from special Shadow Tag users, like Mega Mewtwo Y, while still outspeeding Adamant Primal Groudon. However, Mega Latios then does not outspeed Jolly Primal Groudon and is more easily threatened by Mold Breaker Mega Diancie and opposing Mega Latios. Timid could be run to outspeed opposing Mega Latios and Mega Diancie at the cost of worse KO rolls on Primal Kyogre, Cressellia, and Giratina with super effective attacks. Flash Cannon could be forgone for another coverage move, but this would only be viable with a Shadow Tag Pokemon that can hit Xerneas due to Leftovers's ubiquity on it. Thunderbolt hits Ho-Oh well while still hitting Primal Kyogre and Mega Gyarados, but it could let Primal Groudon come in for free. Dark Pulse hits Dusclops while hitting Giratina and Cresselia. Sludge Bomb could be used over Flash Cannon for its poison chance, but it leaves Mega Latios easily revenge killed by -ate Speed users.
Checks and Counters
=============
**Shadow Tag**: Due to Mega Latios getting outsped by many common Shadow Tag Pokemon and being unable to fit Shed Shell, it can be easily trapped and taken out by common Shadow Tag users like Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Rayquaza after Stealth Rock, and Silk Scarf Regigigas or Slaking.
**Magic Guard Ho-Oh**: While rare, Magic Guard Ho-Oh can wall most Protean Mega Latios with its good typing and phenomenal special bulk, annoying it with status spreading in Psycho Shift. However, Ho-Oh is usually easily threatened by a physical Mold Breaker, Huge Power Pursuit user, or physical Shadow Tag user.
**Mega Gyarados with Sucker Punch**: Sucker Punch variants of Mega Gyarados can catch Mega Latios in coinflip scenarios, threatening to either OHKO it with Sucker Punch or Pursuit.
**Fast Mold Breaker Users**: Mold Breaker users like Mega Gengar, Mega Rayquaza, Mega Mewtwo Y, and Arceus can outspeed Mega Latios and either put it to sleep or OHKO it while still threatening damage on the rest of its team.
**-Ate Speed users**: -Ate Speed users like Refrigerate Abomasnow and Kyurem-B, Pixilate Mega Diancie, and Aerilate Mega Rayquaza can force out Mega Latios with their powerful Extreme Speeds, and they even carry a super effective Pursuit sometimes. However, if Mega Latios has changed its type to Steel, -ate Speed users won't be able to revenge kill it from full health.
**Giratina**: Giratina can wall Mega Latios sets that lack both Freeze-Dry and Moonblast due to its typing and stellar bulk. If Mega Latios runs one of those moves, it must sill be wary of things like Curse, Destiny Bond, and Glare which can either KO it immediately or make it more susceptible to being KOed later.
**Item Removal**: Getting rid of the source of Mega Latios's power via Knock Off or Trick makes it much less effective
[CREDITS]
- Witten by: [[NToTheN, 569731]]
-Quality checked by: [[Mbouchon, 515077] , [BahamutLagoon, 506113]]
-Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429]]
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