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Latios, the more offensive twin of Latias, is an excellent wallbreaker thanks to its beautiful Special Attack stat. Latios also has an excellent Speed stat, outpacing Pokemon such as non-Choice Scarf Garchomp, Mega Charizard X, and Zapdos. Levitate helps Latios against Choice item Pokemon that carry Ground-type moves and allows Latios to switch into Pokemon such as Garchomp and Landorus-T. Latios has a huge offensive movepool that includes Surf, Thunderbolt, Shadow Ball, and Hidden Power Fire to check various threats. While holding Choice Specs, Latios becomes a force to be reckoned with, hitting many Pokemon very hard with Draco Meteor. Even though Latios's Dragon / Psychic typing provides it with a handful of resistances, it also gives Latios weaknesses to types such as Bug, Dark, Dragon, Fairy, Ghost, and Ice. Its STAB moves are also resisted by common threats such as Aegislash, Mega Mawile, and Heatran. Latios's physical bulk isn't too great either, as it's left vulnerable to many physical attackers, such as Mega Kangaskhan, Talonflame, and Tyranitar.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psyshock / Psychic
move 3: Surf
move 4: Trick / Thunderbolt
item: Choice Specs
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Draco Meteor hits many Pokemon that don't resist it very hard; when boosted by Choice Specs, it OHKOes Pokemon such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, physically defensive Zapdos, and defensive variants of Rotom-W. Psyshock is used against Fighting- and Poison-types such as Conkeldurr, Breloom, Mega Venusaur, and Mega Gengar. Additionally, Psyshock targets Defense rather than Special Defense, which makes it useful against Chansey, Assault Vest Conkeldurr, Sylveon, and specially defensive variants of Zapdos and Thundurus. Psychic is an alternative over Psyshock for more power in order to KO Mega Venusaur. However, it's not as useful as Psyshock is at checking Chansey. Surf hits Pokemon such as Heatran, Tyranitar, and Hippowdon for more damage. Trick allows Latios to shut down defensive Pokemon such as Chansey, Cresselia, Ferrothorn, Suicune, and Porygon2, especially helping against Swagger + Foul Play users such as Klefki and Thundurus on a predicted switch. Thunderbolt can be used over Trick to hit Water-types such as Gyarados, Azumarill, and Suicune.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs are needed to increase Latios's damage output. Maximum Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow Latios to outspeed any unboosted Pokemon under base 110 Speed such as Garchomp and Landorus-T. The remaining 4 EVs are put into Defense so that no EVs are wasted. Choice Specs, coupled with Latios's enormous Special Attack, allows it to deal a large amount of damage with any of its attacks.
Usage Tips
========
Latios is the kind of Pokemon to hit very hard and then faint afterwards to a stronger threat. Latios usually works great as a lead regardless of the opponent's team, as it can deal a lot of damage regardless with Draco Meteor or one of its coverage moves. If there are no Fairy-, Ice-, or Steel-types on the opponent's team, Latios makes for an even better lead. It can be used mid-game as well in case you feel wary of the opponent leading with a Choice Scarf user. Always utilize Trick against defensive Pokemon such as Cresselia, Porygon2, Ferrothorn, Zapdos, and Chansey to cripple them and let you switch into a more reasonable counter Latios also needs to be aware of Mega Evolutions, as you must scout for them before going for Trick. Despite avoiding most Ground-type moves thanks to Levitate, Latios should be careful around Excadrill because of its Mold Breaker Earthquake. Latios also needs to be wary of potential Choice Scarf users such as Garchomp, Landorus-T, Togekiss, and Hydreigon because they're able to outspeed and threaten it, so it's wise to anticipate them and switch out if you're planning on preserving Latios for later in the game. Latios should be careful of locking itself into a coverage move if the opponent has something that can punish Latios doing so, such as Mega Salamence or Garchomp.
Team Options
========
Scizor is the best partner for Latios, as they have great synergy. Scizor is able to get rid of pestering Fairy-types such as Sylveon, Mega Gardevoir, and Clefable while resisting Dragon-type moves from the likes of Garchomp, Dragonite, and Salamence. In return, Latios can switch into Fire-type attacks for Scizor. Fairy-types such as Mega Mawile and Azumarill are also great partners to Latios due to their immunity to Dragon-type moves and resistances to Dark- and Ice-type moves, which allow them to switch in freely on predicted attacks and eliminate troublesome Dark-types such as Tyranitar and Weavile. In return, Latios can switch into a predicted Ground-type attack for Mega Mawile and threaten out Hippowdon, and can threaten out Mega Venusaur or switch into an Electric- and Grass-type move for Azumarill. Blaziken can eliminate Steel-types such as Aegislash, Heatran, and Ferrothorn and Baton Pass Speed boosts to Latios, which will have extra Speed while hitting hard with Choice Specs. The Speed boost helps Latios outspeed Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Garchomp and Landorus-T, along with Mega Gengar and Mega Lopunny. Specially defensive Talonflame deserves a special mention because it reliably defeats Aegislash. Double-Edge Mega Kangaskhan can be of use against powerful threats such as Azumarill, Mega Gardevoir, and Chansey and can help against Steel-types as well with Earthquake. In return, Latios can get rid of Fighting-types such as Breloom and Conkeldurr and use Trick to cripple checks to Mega Kangaskhan such as Rocky Helmet Cresselia and Eviolite Porygon2.
Water-types such as Suicune and Gyarados are also great partners for Latios. Suicune can switch into Ice-type attacks from the likes of Mamoswine and Weavile for Latios and potentially burn the two threats with Scald. Gyarados can deal passive damage to physical attackers with Rocky Helmet and provide speed control support to Latios with Thunder Wave. Ferrothorn appreciates the removal of Fighting- and Fire-types such as Breloom, Conkeldurr, Mega Lopunny, Mega Charizard X, and Mega Charizard Y while being able to set up Stealth Rock and potentially paralyze threats with Thunder Wave before it goes down so that Latios can come in for free. Electric-types such as Thundurus, Zapdos, and Rotom-W are able to check Mega Salamence and Talonflame for Latios, giving it the freedom to run Trick over Thunderbolt. Thundurus deserves a special mention because it can give Latios speed control with Prankster Thunder Wave. Latios appreciates Stealth Rock support from the likes of Hippowdon, Landorus-T, and Tyranitar, as it allows Latios to KO Azumarill with Thunderbolt. Hippowdon can freely switch into a predicted Thunder Wave for Latios, and Landorus-T has access to Intimidate to soften physical attacks dealt to it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hidden Power Fire allows Latios to hit Steel-types such as Scizor and Ferrothorn. Ice Beam is another good coverage move to get rid of Thundurus, Gliscor, and Landorus-T. Memento, which gives a huge drop to the opposing foe's Attack and Special Attack, can be used as a last resort, allowing a teammate to switch in safely and and set up while taking minimal damage. Latios can utilize both Reflect and Light Screen as a way to support offensive Pokemon on its team. They should be used along with Memento, and Latios should hold a Light Clay to prolong the dual screens' duration. Thunder Wave cripples fast Pokemon and gives Latios's teammates opportunities to freely set up. Focus Sash can be used along with Thunder Wave because it acts as a blanket buffer against faster Pokemon that Latios might be unable to beat on its own. Calm Mind can be used to let Latios become a setup sweeper; however, Latios is much better off utilizing Trick and all of its other offensive moves. Shadow Ball allows Latios to hit Aegislash, Mega Gardevoir, and Mega Metagross.
Thunder can be used instead of Thunderbolt for more power and is much more useful on rain teams but unfortunately lacks reasonable accuracy. Energy Ball helps Latios deal with Ground-types such as Mega Swampert and Gastrodon. Choice Scarf can be used to let Latios outspeed other Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Garchomp and Landorus-T, as well as Mega Gengar, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Manectric. However, Latios loses out on the extra damage it can deal with Choice Specs. Life Orb can be used for a little extra power and prevents Latios from being locked into a move. Unfortunately, Latios loses health after each successful attack, and Choice Specs is far better for damage output. Latiosite can allow Latios to Mega Evolve; however, Mega Latios is outclassed by Mega Latias due to its inferior bulk, and other items further Latios's usefulness more. Finally, physical Latios is outclassed by Mega Salamence and Dragonite as a Dragon Dance user.
Maximum Special Attack and Speed can be used as part of a lead set with Latios, consisting of dual screens, Memento, and Draco Meteor. This can allow for one of its teammates to set up easier.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types are immune to Latios's Dragon-type STAB moves. Mega Mawile and Azumarill can OHKO Latios with STAB Play Rough, while Sylveon and Mega Gardevoir can simply use Pixilate-boosted Hyper Voice to KO it. Mega Mawile deserves a special mention because it also resists Latios's STAB Psychic-type moves and thus can use Latios as setup fodder for Swords Dance. Whimsicott can paralyze Latios with Stun Spore and proceed to KO it with Moonblast. Mega Altaria can use Latios as Dragon Dance setup fodder or get rid of it with Pixilate-boosted Return or Hyper Voice. Klefki's Substitute blocks Trick, and its high Special Defense and resistances to Latios's STAB moves means that it can wall Latios without problems, as long as it doesn't switch into Trick.
**Revenge Killers**: Choice Band Talonflame, Choice Scarf Garchomp, Mamoswine, and Mega Blaziken with Knock Off can easily revenge kill Latios without many problems. Protean Greninja outspeeds Latios and KOes it with STAB Ice Beam. Mega Kangaskhan can hit Latios with a Fake Out and proceed to KO it with Sucker Punch. Choice Scarf Hydreigon can get rid of Latios with STAB Draco Meteor or Dark Pulse, not to mention that it can switch into Latios's Psychic-type moves with no fear because Latios will be locked into them due to Choice Specs.
**Chansey**: Because of Chansey's excellent special bulk, Latios won't do much damage to it even with Psyshock. Chansey can either stall Latios with Toxic and continue to recover health with Soft-Boiled or cripple it with Thunder Wave and wear it down with Seismic Toss. However, Chansey needs to be wary of Trick.
**Steel-types**: Aegislash easily resists Latios's STAB attacks and can either KO it back with Shadow Ball or use it as setup fodder for Swords Dance. Heatran isn't too bothered by most of Latios's attacks, but it needs to be wary of Surf.
**Ghost-types**: Mega Sableye can stall out Latios with Calm Mind, as it's not KOed by Choice Specs-boosted Draco Meteor. Mega Gengar has a very high chance to KO Latios with Shadow Ball; however, it needs to be wary of uncommon Choice Scarf variants of Latios.
**Tyranitar**: Tyranitar is immune to Latios's Psychic-type STAB moves and gains a Special Defense boost from sand. Latios also takes residual damage due to the sandstorm and can be KOed by Tyranitar's Crunch.
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