GP: CryoGyro
[OVERVIEW]
Psychic
========
* With a great Speed tier, movepool, Ground immunity, and Special Attack stat, Latios is one of the best options for a Defogger and wallbreaker on Psychic teams.
* Latios's fantastic Speed allows it to outspeed many threats such as Landorus, Mega Charizard Y, and Galvantula.
* It has a wide offensive movepool with coverage moves such as Surf, which allows it to beat many of its checks, as well as an extremely strong STAB move in Draco Meteor.
* Latios also has access to reliable recovery in Roost as well as other utility moves like Defog and Tailwind, which makes it an even more threatening wallbreaker and able to support its teammates.
* Latios's useful ability in Levitate brings a much-needed Ground immunity to Psychic teams.
* Its Dragon typing gives it resistances to Fire-, Water-, and Electric-type attacks, making it a great check to Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y, Keldeo, and Alolan Raichu.
* However, Latios has an average Defense stat, which makes it vulnerable to priority moves like Extreme Speed and Sucker Punch.
* Latios can also be easily revenge killed by faster Pokemon like Mega Alakazam and Tapu Koko as well as Pursuit trappers such as Mega Aerodactyl and Alolan Muk.
[SET]
name: Offensive (Psychic)
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Defog
move 4: Roost / Surf
item: Soul Dew / Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Draco Meteor is Latios's strongest STAB move and allows it to hit Pokemon that don't resist it, such as Slowbro and Mega Sableye, extremely hard.
* Psyshock is a secondary STAB move that lets Latios hit Fighting- and Poison-types, such as Keldeo and Toxapex, as well as specially defensive Pokemon like Zapdos. Psyshock also gives Latios a way to hit Fairy-types, notably always OHKOing Azumarill after Z-Belly Drum.
* Defog is used to remove entry hazards, especially Stealth Rock and Sticky Web.
* Roost gives Latios reliable recovery, helping it increase its longevity.
* Alternatively, Surf can be used to 2HKO Heatran and hit Ground-types like Hippowdon, Gliscor, and Excadrill.
* Hidden Power Fire is an option over Roost or Surf to lure in and KO Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor in addition to hitting Bisharp and Doublade. However, this leaves Latios walled by Heatran.
* A coverage option can be run over Defog if that utility isn't needed.
Set Details
========
* Maximum investments are made in Special Attack and Speed to let Latios hit as hard and fast as possible.
* Soul Dew is the item of choice because it boosts the damage of Psyshock and Draco Meteor without any recoil.
* Life Orb should be used if Surf is run in order to boost the damage of all moves.
* Life Orb can also be used on sets with only Psyshock and Draco Meteor for a higher damage output, such as being able to 2HKO Zapdos with Psyshock.
* 29 IVs in HP should be used if Life Orb is run to minimize recoil damage.
* Levitate allows Latios to serve as one of the only offensive switch-ins to Ground-type attacks on Psychic teams.
Usage Tips
========
* Latios should be used to wallbreak as early as possible so that its teammates or Latios itself can clean up later on.
* Bring it in as much as possible early-game through slow pivot moves or switching into moves it can resist such as those from Mega Charizard Y.
* Latios can be played more offensively, such as being brought in through double switches, to break down teams more easily, allowing its teammates to clean up later.
* While using Draco Meteor, be wary of the Special Attack drop, as Latios is practically forced to switch out the next turn. This can be taken advantage of by Pursuit trappers like Mega Aerodactyl or setup sweepers like Mega Scizor and Bisharp.
* Latios can also be used to revenge kill slower threats, such as Mega Pinsir and Dragonite, thanks to its high Speed.
* Psyshock should be used whenever possible to avoid Draco Meteor's Special Attack drop. It can be spammed late-game when the opposing team is weakened and there isn't a need to use Draco Meteor.
* Use Roost liberally after Latios switches into a move to keep it healthy to check threats such as Z-Belly Drum Azumarill and Mega Charizard Y.
* Preserve Latios's health if it isn't running Roost so that it can use Defog more reliably.
* Thanks to its Ground immunity, Latios is the best Sticky Web remover. Therefore, keep it healthy in the Rock- and Bug-type matchups.
* Be careful of Bisharp while using Defog, as it gets an Attack boost due to Defiant and can then easily run through Psychic teams.
Team Options
========
* Slowbro can switch into and cripple many physically attacking Pokemon, such as Mamoswine and Azumarill, with Thunder Wave or Scald. Colbur Berry Slowbro can also check threats like Mega Sharpedo and Mega Gyarados.
* Mega Slowbro is a great switch-in to Knock Off and physical attackers that threaten Latios. It is also a great check to Steel-types due to its access to Flamethrower. In return, Mega Slowbro appreciates Latios's ability to weaken the opposing team, allowing Mega Slowbro to clean up with Calm Mind more easily.
* Jirachi can switch into and check Fairy-types, such as Magearna and Clefable, and set Stealth Rock, allowing Latios to wallbreak more easily. Jirachi can also support Latios with Wish, cripple checks like Mantine with Toxic, and bring Latios in safely with a slow U-turn.
* Latios appreciates Mew's stallbreaking capabilities, which can remove the opposing team's checks to Latios such as Chansey. Mew with Mewnium Z can additionally break down the opponent's team alongside Latios.
* Deoxys-S can stack entry hazards like Stealth Rock and Spikes, tremendously increasing Latios's offensive presence.
* Choice Scarf Victini can check Steel- and Bug-types that can threaten Latios, such as Ferrothorn, Volcarona, and Choice Scarf Heracross. Victini appreciates Latios's wallbreaking capabilities, as they allow Victini to clean up more easily. Choice Band Victini forms a great wallbreaking core with Latios because they can beat each other's checks; Victini can beat Pokemon like Chansey and Alolan Muk, while Latios can break Pokemon like Swampert, Garchomp, and Rotom-W.
* Thanks to its great ability in Trace, Mega Alakazam can check weather sweepers like Excadrill and Kingdra that can otherwise outspeed and KO Latios in their respective weather. Latios can also weaken the opposing team, allowing Mega Alakazam to clean up more easily.
* Meloetta is a great partner to Latios, as it can wallbreak alongside Latios while acting as a fantastic check to Ghost-types thanks to its Normal typing.
* Choice Scarf Gardevoir is a great check to Dark-types. It can also cripple walls like Chansey with Trick and restore Latios's health with Healing Wish.
* Gothitelle's ability to trap Pokemon is appreciated by Latios, as it can trap and remove checks to Latioslike Chansey and Heatran.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psychic
--------
* Choice Specs and Choice Scarf can be run on Latios; Choice Specs lets it break through checks like Mantine and Tapu Fini, while Choice Scarf lets it act as a revenge killer. However, Latios doesn't like being locked into one move.
* Latios can use other coverage options like Thunderbolt and Ice Beam; Thunderbolt hits Mantine and Tapu Fini, and Ice Beam hits Pokemon like Gliscor and Cradily.
* Calm Mind instead of Defog allows Latios to break past checks like Chansey, but the Defog support it provides for Psychic-types is invaluable.
* Tailwind can be run on more offensive teams to support teammates like Choice Band Victini and Choice Specs Meloetta.
Checks and Counters
===================
Psychic
--------
**Chansey**: Chansey can always switch into any move from Latios and proceed to set Stealth Rock, inflict it with status, and KO it with Seismic Toss.
**Alolan Muk**: Assault Vest Alolan Muk can switch into any attack from Latios and KO it with Knock Off. It also prevents Latios from switching out due to Pursuit.
**Dark-types**: Tyranitar can easily switch into Latios, cripple it with Thunder Wave, and take it out with Stone Edge. Faster Dark-types like Greninja and Choice Scarf Hydreigon can outspeed and KO Latios, and Bisharp can revenge kill Latios with Sucker Punch.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types are immune to Draco Meteor, and bulky Fairy-types like Clefable, Tapu Fini, and Magearna can easily switch into Psyshock. Faster Fairy-types, such as Choice Scarf Togekiss and Tapu Koko, can revenge kill Latios.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Pokemon like Tapu Fini, Jirachi, and Celesteela can easily switch into Latios; Tapu Fini can KO it with Moonblast, Jirachi can cripple it with Thunder Wave, and Celesteela can whittle it down with Protect + Leech Seed.
**Steel-types**: Heatran can easily switch into Latios that lack Surf. Ferrothorn can beat Latios without Hidden Power Fire one-on-one with Leech Seed + Protect. Setup sweepers like Bisharp, Mega Scizor, and Doublade can use Latios as setup bait if it isn't running Surf or Hidden Power Fire.
**Pursuit**: Pokemon with Pursuit like Weavile and Mega Aerodactyl can trap and KO or severely weaken Latios.
**Revenge Killers**: Faster Pokemon such as Mega Alakazam and Starmie can easily outspeed and KO Latios. Priority users such as Dragonite and Mamoswine can revenge kill Latios with Extreme Speed and Ice Shard, respectively. However, Dragonite requires prior damage to do so.
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