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i am cool
07-04-2009, 09:38 AM
Latios:

http://arkeis.com/images/pokemonfactory/latios.png

Summary:

Most Used Latios Set:

Latios’ most used set is the Calm Mind set; this is because it is capable of destroying and annihilating the opponent using abnormally powerful attacks.


Usual Counters:

Latias and Latios share similar counters. Like Latias, Latios' power comes from its held Item (Soul Dew); so if you can get rid of that, Latios' capabilities will be greatly hindered.

Deoxys-D with Knock Off is probably the best counter. It can Knock Off Latios' held Item, and then throw Seismic Toss / Night Shade, while having enough defenses to take Latios' attacks.

Trick is another way to get rid of Soul Dew, while simultaneously giving Latios a hindering Item. Deoxys-D is another great choice for this.

Blissey is the biggest nemesis for Special Latios, especially if it has Toxic. Blissey can hit Latios with Thunder Wave, since a Paralyzed Latios is easily beaten. Remember that some Latios carry Refresh because of this.

Metagross needs to be wary of Thunder and Hidden Power Fire, but it resists Latios' other attacks; while being able to get an OHKO with Meteor Mash.

Anything with Pursuit is also capable of OHKOing Latios, though, they need to be wary of switching-in. Tyranitar is probably the best one, since it has a reasonable Special Defense stat, and can either use Crunch or Pursuit. The aforementioned Metagross, along with Deoxys-A, are also options.

Deoxys-A makes a great revenge killer for Latios, being faster and able to target the weaker Physical Defense for an OHKO with Ice Punch or Pursuit.

The Physical Latios is much harder to handle, since Hidden Power Fire will stop Steel-types from walling it; and Physical Latios is capable of hitting all potential counters for Super Effective damage, but is more fragile than the standard Latios. Empoleon is about the only Pokémon that can safely take it on, but it isn't hugely viable in the Uber environment. Groudon's good Defense stat allows it to wall Physical Latios to an extent. If Giratina can avoid a Dragon Dance boosted Outrage, it can also use Will-o-wisp to hinder Latios considerably.

Types of Teams Latios Is Used On:

Latios is usually found on offensive teams. Due to Latios’ strong offensive moves and amazing offensive stats, it presents offensive teams with more raw power.

In Depth:

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_latios.gifCalm Mind sweeper@ Soul Dew
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 6 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)

- Dragon Pulse
- Grass Knot / Thunder / Refresh / Safeguard / Psycho Shift
- Calm Mind
- Recover

A pretty standard Calm Mind set for Latios. After a Calm Mind, Dragon Pulse will be doing heavy amounts of damage, and Latios' Special Defense will become quite respectible.

Dragon Pulse is the STAB move. After one Calm Mind, it will score an OHKO on Rayquaza, Garchomp, and opposing Latios; while dealing severe damage to other Pokémon. Grass Knot complements Dragon Pulse quite nicely, but leaves you open to Lugia, Ho-oh, and Metagross. If any of these are a worry for you, you can go for Thunder instead. Thunder can score an OHKO on Metagross after a Calm Mind, and deals severe damage to the two birds, but you lose out on the Super Effective hit on Groudon.

If you're happy with just Dragon Pulse, you can use a non-offensive move instead. They are all aimed at preventing Blissey from shutting Latios down with Thunder Wave. Refresh eliminates the problem; Psycho Shift passes it away, while Safeguard prevents the problem completely. However, you should be aware that Latias is better at running a set with only one offensive move. Recover is there to keep Latios alive. Latios’ Special Defence may be lower than Latias', but it's decent enough to take some Special hits; and Latios is fast enough to Recover easily.

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_latios.gifPseudo Choice@ Soul Dew
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 6 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)

- Draco Meteor
- Thunder
- Grass Knot
- Hidden Power Fire

This Latios doesn't waste time powering up with Calm Mind. Instead, it goes for a heavy attack immediately. With Draco Meteor, it is capable of OHKOing Mewtwo and doing extreme damage to anything that doesn't resist it, making this Latios an ideal lead in the Uber environment.

Thunder and Grass Knot work together to hit a large amount of Pokémon in the Uber environment. Hidden Power Fire takes the role of dealing with the Steel-types that can get in the way. Forretress, Skarmory, Scizor, and Metagross are the main ones (though, many of them are hit just as hard by Thunder).

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_latios.gifDragon Dancer@ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature: Lonely (+Atk, -Def)

- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw / Outrage
- Shadow Claw
- Hidden Power Fire

Dragon Dance is a move Latios has that Latias doesn't. Usually, Rayquaza is a superior Dragon Dancer, but using Latios has the surprise factor, especially since Latios has a higher Speed stat than Rayquaza. This set can also surprise Latios' biggest nemesis, Blissey. However, be aware that Latios is much more open to Special Attacks with the lack of Soul Dew.

After Dragon Dancing, Dragon Claw or Outrage will be your main attacks. You don't get locked into using Dragon Claw like you do with Outrage, but there's a significant loss in power. A Dragon Dance boosted Outrage from Latios is capable of OHKOing Rayquaza, Latias, Garchomp, and opposing Latios; while getting a guaranteed 2HKO on Giratina. Shadow Claw is there to hit the abundant Psychic-types that are found in the Uber environment, though, nearly all are hit harder by Outrage. Hidden Power Fire is there to take out Forretress and Skarmory.

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_latios.gifMixed Latios@ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Atk / 44 Spas / 212 Spe
Nature: Lonely (+Atk, -Def)

- Dragon Dance
- Draco Meteor
- Outrage
- Earthquake

This set may look very similar to the Mixed Salamence set that is so common in today’s OU metagame; but Latios can run a Mix set very nicely in the Uber environment. This is because it has a Base 130 Special Attack stat, and a not too shabby Base 90 Atk stat, which can be further boosted with a few Dragon Dances.

The two top counters to Latios are Blissey and Tyranitar. After one Dragon Dance, an Outrage can OHKO both of them. Earthquake is there for coverage, and will severely dent Metagross. Draco Meteor hits with great impact to anything that doesn’t resist it.

Here's some damage calculations:

+1 Earthquake vs. Max Hp / 0 Def Tyranitar: 82-98%
+1 Outrage vs. Max HP/ 252 Def Blissey: 99-100%
+1 Earthquake vs. Max HP/ 0 Def Metagross: 80-94%

Other Options:

Roar is a possible move to combine with Calm Mind, but Latias is much better at using that strategy.
If you have Aromatherapy support, you could try using Toxic and Heal Block to destroy opposing Blissey.
Latios can use Trick to send an unfavorable Item onto the likes of Blissey; but Latios generally doesn't like being without Soul Dew unless it's using Physical attacks.

Opinion:

While Latias is geared towards Defense, Latios is geared more towards offense. It has a very good offensive movepool as well as sharing Latias' unique Item (Soul Dew). It also has a strong Special Attack stat, allowing it to tear enemies apart in the Uber environment. Combine this with a good typing and access to Calm Mind, and you'll have a very powerful sweeper.

However, Latios can't take hits that Latias would be able to. Having less defense than Latias and being weak to Ice hurt its Defensive capabilities greatly; and a weakness to Bug, Ghost, and Dark doesn’t help it either.

Despite this, Latios is not to be underestimated. It has enough power to decimate many threats in the Uber environment.

Latiosmaster
08-14-2009, 08:49 PM
Yay good job IAC!!
The Mixed Latios isn't bolded right? Anyways Love it <3