Gen 6 Landorus-Therian (OU) [QC 0/2]

[Overview]
  • As one the most versatile Ground-types of the tier, Landorus-Therian can perform multiple roles for a team due to its great offensive stats, physical bulk, and diverse movepool
  • Landorus-Therian's high Attack coupled with Intimidate allows it to check a variety of physical Pokemon in the tier such as Excadrill, Talonflame, Mega Lopunny, Mega Charizard X, and Jirachi.
  • Its diverse movepool allows it to function as either a defensive pivot, revenge killer, sweeper, or suicide lead
  • With access to Stealth Rocks and U-Turn, Landorus-T can utilize its physical bulk and useful immunities to pivot in, set up entry hazards, and switch out to generate momentum
  • Coverage options like Stone Edge and Knock Off allow Landorus-T to hit a majority of the tier very hard along with its STAB Earthquakes, making for a very good revenge killer
  • Furthermore, this coverage can also be complemented with moves like Swords Dance and Rock Polish turning Landorus-T into a sweeper
  • Unique options like Explosion and Imprison can be used as a suicide lead to get up entry hazards and deny the opponent momentum
  • While Landorus-T has many traits in its favor, it is often held back by a lack of recovery, making it susceptible to being worn down over time
  • Its low Special Defense and weakness to Water- and Ice-types can also be a hindrance as it can allow powerful threats like Manaphy, Keldeo, Weavile, and Kyurem in while Landorus-T is laying entry hazards or setting up, often forcing it to switch out
  • As a Stealth Rock user, Landorus-T faces competition from the likes of Excadrill, which is additionally able to spin off opposing hazards, as well as Pokemon like Clefable and Gliscor which both have access to recovery moves
  • As a Defensive bulky-Ground-type, Landorus-T faces competition from Pokemon like Hippowdon, Gastrodon, Gliscor, and Quagsire which all have recovery options. Garchomp while lacking recovery, boasts a better defensive typing and can further punish physical attackers with Rough Skin damage
  • As a Ground-type sweeper Landorus-T faces competition from Excadrill, which boasts a better sweeping ability with Sand Rush, and Gliscor, which can fire full power Facades and has Roost as recovery.

[Set]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Stealth Rocks
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: U-Turn
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers / Yache Berry
ability: Intimidate
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP/ 240 Def / 8 SpD / 8 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
  • Landorus-T can capitalize on its bulk and immunities to switch into Pokemon like Excadrill and set up Stealth Rocks to pressure and wear down the opponent
  • Earthquake is a strong, spammable STAB that Landorus-T can use to force out the likes of Excadrill, Heatran, Mega Charizard X, and Tyranitar
  • U-Turn allows Landorus-T to gain momentum as a result of forcing the aforementioned Pokemon out.
  • Due to Landorus-T's flexible speed tier, the defensive variant can be used for slower U-Turns that can be used to bring powerful wall breakers or trappers into battle safely.
  • Stone Edge allows Landorus-T to OHKO Flying-Types such as Mega Pinsir and Talonflame, while severely chipping Pokemon like Tornadus-Therian

Set Details
=========
  • 252 HP EVs and 8 EVs in Special Defense allow Landorus-T to survive Mega Manectric's HP Ice from full
  • 8 Speed EVs allow Landorus-Therian to out speed Jolly Azumarill
  • Rocky Helmet is used to punish physical attackers such as Mega Lopunny, Mega Medicham, Talonflame, Mega Pinsir and opposing Landorus-Therian
  • It can also be used to deter hazard removal from the likes of Rapid Spin users like Excadrill
  • Leftovers can be used for greater longevity at the cost of reducing chip damage to the opponent
  • Yache Berry can also be run to survive Ice-Type attacks from Pokemon such as Mega Medicham, Mega Metagross, and Weavile, severely chip them in return
  • 88 Speed EVs can also be run to outrun Adamant base 70 Speed Pokemon such as Bisharp

Usage Tips
=========
  • When using Landorus-Therian it is advised to set up Stealth Rocks as soon as possible to pressure the opponent
  • This can be done by coming in on Pokemon that fear being OHKO'd by Earthquake such as Excadrill, as well as Pokemon that cannot do much damage back to Landorus-Therian at -1 Attack.
  • U-Turn should be used to capitalize on Landorus-Therian's ability to force switches and gain momentum
  • It can also be used to bring powerful, wall breaking teammates into battle safely
  • During mid game, Landorus-Therian can be used as a pivot to chip Pokemon such as Fake Out Mega Lopunny, Fake Out Mega Medicham, or Rapid Spin Excadrill
  • It can also be used to punish U-Turn users like Mega Scizor, Jirachi, or opposing Landorus-Therian
  • When using non-Leftover variants of defensive Landorus-Therian, it is imperative to preserve as much health on it as possible, otherwise it stops being a check
  • Therefore it is vital to prevent extraneous chip from passive damage like Stealth Rocks or Status conditions

Team Options
=========
  • Pokemon that can switch into Water- and Ice-Type attacks such as Rotom-W, Slowbro, Starmie, and Volcanion all pair well with Landorus-T
  • They also appreciate Landorus-T's ability to switch into Electric-Type attacks.
  • Pokemon weak to Fighting-type attacks such as Ferrothorn and Heatran also pair well with Landorus-T. Ferrothorn in particular can form a hazard stacking core with it.
  • Powerful wallbreakers such as Mega Medicham, Mega Alakazam, Keldeo, Kyurem-B, Thundurus and Hydreigon appreciate Landorus-T using its slow U-Turn to bring them into battle safely.
  • Electric-Types like Rotom-W, Magnezone, and Mega Manectric can form a VoltTurn core to preserve momentum over a match. These Electric-types also appreciate Landorus-T's ability to switch into Ground-type attacks
  • Pokemon like Clefable, Serperior, Latios, and Latias appreciate Landorus-T removing Steel-types such as Heatran, Ferrothorn, Jirachi, and Excadrill
  • Clefable is able to switch into Pokemon with Ice-type coverage such as Weavile, Mega Medicham, and Mega Lopunny, threatening them out with Moonblast
  • Serperior, Latios, and Latias can switch into Water-type attacks for Landorus-T and can threaten Water-Types out with their STAB moves

[Set]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: U-Turn
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Knock Off / Explosion
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
  • Earthquake is a strong, spammable STAB move that can threaten OHKOs on fast threats such as Mega Diancie, Mega Manectric, Mega Alakazam, and +1 Mega Charizard X.
  • U-Turn is used to gain offensive momentum and capitalize on Choice Scarf Landorus-T's ability to force switches
  • Stone Edge is used mainly to threaten Flying-Types such as Tornadus-T, Thundurus, Talonflame, Mega Pinsir, and Mega Charizard Y
  • Knock Off can be used in a similar sense to Earthquake where it can be spammed to remove items from would be switch ins such as Skarmory, Ferrothorn, Tangrowth, and Slowbro
  • It also gives Landorus-T a safer option to hit Pokemon such as Gengar, Rotom-Wash, Tornadus-T, and opposing Landorus-T
  • Explosion can be used a last resort to severely chip or OHKO Pokemon that Landorus-T would otherwise be unable to OHKO with Earthquake.
  • It also serves a secondary function to also preserve momentum, and can be used to prevent Hazard removal

Set Details
=========
  • Max Attack and Max Speed investment with a Jolly Nature is used to ensure Landorus-T can outspeed the entire unboosted metagame while maintaining the ability to OHKO fast threats such as +1 Adamant Mega Charizard X, Mega Alakazam, and Mega Manectric
  • Its Speed tier allows it to quickly U-Turn versus most Pokemon in the tier that lack priority consequently chipping them down without receiving damage in return

Usage Tips
=========
  • Choice Scarf Landorus-T is one of the best speed control options in the tier due to its ability to function as a fast revenge killer and late cleaner.
  • Choice Scarf allows Landorus-T to check a vastly larger amount of threats that would previously outspeed and OHKO it, such as Mega Alakazam, Mega Manectric, Thundurus, Mega Metagross, Mega Diancie, Latios, Mega Pinsir, and Mega Charizard-Y.
  • Due to Choice Scarf Landorus-T threatening OHKOs versus many of the aforementioned Pokemon, it can force the opponent to switch out versus it, which can be taken advantage of by using U-Turn to preserve momentum
  • Early game Landorus-T can be used to force switches and chip the opponent down with its strong U-Turns and Knock Offs
  • Once the opposing team's Ground immune Pokemon have been removed, Landorus-T can clean with its STAB Earthquakes
  • Due to the decreased bulk of this Landorus-T variant, is often best to get it in safely via a double switch or slow Volt Switch to prevent any unnecessary damage.
  • Be wary of priority moves as they can chip down or KO Landorus-T if it is weakened
  • Also be aware that locking into certain moves on Landorus-T may make it set up fodder for an opposing sweeper

Team Options
=========
  • Volt Switch users such as Rotom-W, Magnezone, and Mega Manectric can form a VoltTurn core with Landorus-T, keeping offensive momentum while severely chipping teams down over time for Landorus-T to eventually clean
  • Magnezone in particular is a great partner due to it being able to trap and KO the Steel-types that Choice Scarf Landorus-T usually lures in
  • These Pokemon also appreciate Landorus-T's ability to safely switch into opposing Ground-types
  • Powerful wallbreakers like Mega Alakazam, Mega Medicham, Kyurem-B, Keldeo, Volcanion, Thundurus, and Hydreigon appreciate Landorus-T's ability to force switches and bring these wallbreakers into battle safely
  • Furthermore, wallbreakers can severely chip the opposing team down enough for Choice Scarf Landorus-T to clean late game
  • Since this set lacks Stealth Rocks, hazard setters like Heatran and Ferrothorn would work well with Landorus-T as most of its checks are Grounded and can be chipped over time. Heatran and Ferrothorn also appreciate Landorus-T's ability to switch into Fighting-type moves
  • Fairy types like Clefable who are weak to fast Steel- and Poison-Types appreciate Choice Scarf Landorus-T's ability to outspeed threats like Mega Metagross, Jirachi, Excadrill, and Gengar severely chipping or even OHKOing them

[Set]
name: HO Lead
move 1: Stealth Rocks
move 2: Imprison
move 3: Rock Tomb / Earthquake
move 4: Explosion
item: Focus Sash / Yache Berry
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
  • Stealth Rocks are used to pressure the opponent and force switches
  • Imprison prevents slower Stealth Rock users like Heatran, Clefable, Excadrill, defensive Garchomp, and Defensive Landorus-T from getting entry hazards up
  • Earthquake is a spammable move that can be used to severely chip down the opponent for other teammates
  • Rock Tomb is used to be able to hit Flying types or other Levitating Pokemon such as Tornadus-T and Zapdos, it can also slow down incoming Hazard removers such as Starmie, Latios, and Latias
  • Explosion can be used in conjunction with Rock Tomb to eliminate most Hazard removers and preserve momentum at the same time, allowing Landorus-T's Stealth Rocks to remain on the field

Set Details
=========
  • Max Speed investment with a Jolly Nature is used to ensure Landorus-T can outspeed most of the common Stealth Rock setters allowing Imprison to be used more effectively
  • Max Attack investment is used to ensure Landorus-T can hit as hard as possible with its STAB Earthquakes and Explosion
  • Yache Berry can be used to survive Fake Out and Ice Punch from Mega Lopunny and Mega Medicham, allowing Landorus-T to set up Stealth Rocks versus them

Usage Tips
=========
  • With this Landorus-T variant it should be vital to get Stealth Rocks up as soon as possible while preventing opposing hazard removal by using Explosion in the following turns
  • If Landorus-T is facing a slow opposing Pokemon that may possible have its own Stealth Rocks, such as Clefable, Heatran, Excadrill, Defensive Garchomp, or Defensive Landorus-T, then it may be best to use Imprison first, to prevent the opponent from getting Stealth Rocks up
  • Versus slower opponents, Landorus-T can often set up Stealth Rocks and then use Explosion on the following turn
  • Versus faster opponents like Tornadus-T or Timid Zapdos, it may be best to use Rock Tomb to slow them down, then use Stealth Rocks and Explosion before they KO Landorus-T
  • Be wary of faster leads with access to Taunt such as Azelf, Tornadus-T, Serperior, or Aerodactyl as they can prevent Landorus-T from using Stealth Rocks or Imprison
  • On non-Yache sets, Pokemon such as Mega Lopunny and Mega Medicham can prevent Landorus-T from setting up Stealth Rocks 2HKOing it with Fake Out into Ice Punch

Team Options
=========
  • This Landorus-T variant can pair well with Pokemon that can deter or take advantage of hazard removal, such as Bisharp, which can take advantage of Defog, and Gengar, which can be used to spinblock
  • Sweepers such as Volcarona also pair well with Landorus-T as they appreciate its Stealth Rocks weakening would be checks such as Talonflame, Volcanion, Dragonite, Tornadus-T, and Heatran
  • On similar note, Serperior appreciates Landorus-T's Stealth Rocks chipping down Weavile and opposing Volcarona. In return, Serperior can take on bulky Water types that may be annoying for Landorus-T, and can use Taunt to prevent the opponent from Defogging hazards, or setting up their own.
  • Pokemon like Manaphy take advantage of the Water- and Ice-types that Landorus-T draws in, and can use the opportunity to set up a Tail Glow versus them
[Set]
name: Dual Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Rock Polish
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Earth Plate / Lum Berry
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
  • Swords Dance allows Landorus-T to boost its Attack even further, allowing it to punch holes through bulkier teams
  • Rock Polish is used to boost Landorus-T's Speed allowing it to threaten faster, offense oriented teams
  • Earthquake is used to hit most grounded opponents, while Stone Edge is used to hit Pokemon that resist or are immune to Earthquake such as Tornadus-T, Zapdos, Thundurus, Rotom-Wash, Talonflame, Skarmory, Gliscor, and opposing Landorus-T

Set Details
=========
  • Maximum Attack investment with an Adamant Nature and Earth Plate ensures Landorus-T can hit as hard as possible with its STAB Earthquakes, allowing it to guaranteed OHKO Clefable, Gastrodon, Mega Scizor, and Amoonguss at +2.
  • Maximum Speed investment allows Landorus-T to naturally outspeed Taunt users like Heatran and Gliscor.
  • It also allows Landorus-T to outspeed all viable Choice Scarf users after a Rock Polish
  • Lum Berry can be used to avoid status such as Burn and Toxic while Landorus-T is setting up. It can also allow Landorus-T to set up on more passive Pokemon that rely on status to neuter their opponent such as Amoonguss and Chansey.

Usage Tips
=========
  • It is best to set up with Landorus-T versus physical attackers that cannot touch it back. This includes Pokemon such as Excadrill, and opposing Landorus-T.
  • Landorus-T can also set up on Choice locked Pokemon such as Keldeo locked into Secret Sword, Magnezone locked into Hidden Power or Thunderbolt, or opposing Landorus-T locked into Earthquake
  • Swords Dance can be used early game to punch holes in other teams in order for itself or another team member to clean up late-game
  • Rock Polish is effective versus many offensive builds, allowing Landorus-T to eliminate many sweepers such as Volcarona, Talonflame, Mega Charizard X, Mega Pinsir, and Thundurus with its Ground- and Rock-type coverage
  • If Landorus-T is aiming to clean late-game, it is best to remove strong priority users such as Weavile, Azumarill, Crawdaunt, and Bisharp since they can severely chip or OHKO Landorus-T, preventing it from sweeping.
  • It is also important to chip down or eliminate Pokemon that can usually survive hits from +2 Landorus-T, such as Rotom-Wash, Tangrowth, and Skarmory
  • Be cautious of Knock Off users such as Clefable and Tornadus-T as they can remove the Earth Plate from Landorus-T which can prevent it from 2HKOing Pokemon like Quagsire, as well as preventing many OHKOs of other Pokemon at +2.
  • Similarly, having Lum Berry Knocked Off makes Landorus-T susceptible to status, which can hinder its sweeping ability
  • While Landorus-T's typing grants it immunity to Thunder Wave, it can still be paralyzed from Glare users such as Serperior

Team Options
=========
  • Fast cleaners like Mega Alakazam, Mega Lopunny, Weavile, Volcarona, Mega Charizard X, and Choice Scarf Jirachi appreciate Landorus-T's ability to weaken and remove bulky Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Clefable, Hippowdon, Slowbro, and Garchomp
  • Magnezone also pairs well with Landorus-T to remove bulky Steel-Types like Skarmory, which can phase Landorus-T out with Whirlwind.
  • Pokemon that can get chip or get rid of Rotom-Wash and Tangrowth, such as Kyurem-B, Mega Medicham, Keldeo, and Gengar pair well with Landorus-T, allowing it to sweep late game. In return, Landorus-T can remove Slowbro and Tyranitar at +2.
  • If not running Lum Berry, having a Status absorber like Clefable could work well with Landorus-T, as it can remove the Steel-types that pressure Clefable, allowing a Calm Mind variant to sweep late game.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
=========

Other Options
=========
  • Rock Slide may be used as a more accurate alternative to Stone Edge
  • Smackdown or Gravity may be used on Landorus-T to better deal with non-Grounded Pokemon such as Skarmory, Rotom-Wash, and Zapdos, however it is very situational

Checks and Counters
=========
**Skarmory**: Skarmory can easily switch into non-Gravity/Smackdown Landorus-T variants and can either phase it out, or use the opportunity to set up its own entry hazards.

**Ice-type coverage**: Pokemon such as Weavile, Mega Lopunny, Mega Medicham, and Zapdos can all severely chip or threaten to OHKO Landorus-T upon entry. Weavile in particular is also able to eliminate Choice Scarf Landorus-T with the use of Ice Shard

**Water-types**: Rotom-W, Slowbro, Gastrodon, Volcanion, and many other Water-type Pokemon can easily stay in Landorus-T and force it out with the fear of being burnt or KO'd

**Grass-types**: Tangrowth, Serperior, Ferrothorn, Amoonguss, and Mega Venusaur can deal with non Swords Dance variants of Landorus-T and are able to punish it with either their powerful STABS, Rocky Helmet chip, or Status.

**Bulky Ground-types**: Pokemon such as Garchomp, Hippowdon, Gliscor, and opposing Landorus-T all come in on Defensive Landorus-T and can also set up Stealth Rocks alongside it. Garchomp and Hippowdon are a nuisance for setup variants of Landorus-T due to their ability to phase it out

**Fast Special Attackers**: Landorus-T's lower special bulk makes it susceptible to being revenge killed by threats that outspeed the defensive variant such as Keldeo, Latios, Hydreigon, Thundurus, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Manectric, and Mega Alakazam

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Anvil Head, 440741]]
- Quality checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
 
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