Pok�mon of the Week

Latios, The Eon Pok�mon. A highly intelligent Pok�mon. By folding back its wings in flight, it can overtake jet planes. It understands human speech and is highly intelligent. It is a tender Pok�mon that dislikes fighting. It has a docile temperament and dislikes fighting. Even in hiding, it can detect the locations of others and sense their emotions since it has telepathy. It has the ability to make its foe see an image of what it has seen or imagines in its head.

Latios and Latias can be considered to have been the forerunners the massive flood of Dragon type legendaries that Gamefreak started throwing at us. Latios is the more offensively oriented of the two, having a very good base 130 Special Attack and having a good speed tier as well, sitting comfortably at base 110. It has a great offensive typing and an enormous movepool, allowing it to cover any type of threat. This combination between its excellent stats and its widespread movepool has kept it in Overused, and it is unlikely it will ever fall into lower tiers (unless some perfect counter is made for it).

Levitate: Gives the user immunity to ground type moves as well as any type of Spikes, this is a good ability as it gives Latios an immunity to the ever common Earthquake as well as providing it an escape from the residual damage of Spikes.

-Draco Meteor
-Psyshock
-Surf
-Trick / Hidden Power [Fire]
Item Attached: Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)

This set is one of the more common ones seen on Latios, as it can be used to either hit like a nuclear warhead or to be an excellent revenge killer with no common Scarf Pokemon outspeeding it. Draco Meteor is catastrophic to every that isn't Steel type or a very fat pink blob, and it decimates most everything with a STAB boost behind it. Psyshock is for covering some Pokemon for Super Effective STAB, but it also hits Specially Defensive walls like Blissey and Chansey for much higher damage than they would take otherwise. Surf helps to deal with Tyranitar and Steel types not named Ferrothorn, and gets a boost if you are running a Rain team. The last slot depends on whether you want extra coverage or want to cripple an opponent. Trick gives your opponent either Choice Specs or Scarf, effectively crippling walls and other Pokemon stuck on a relatively useless move, and also steals away Eviolite from Chansey, making one of Latios' most common counters much easier to deal with, while HP Fire helps to deal with Ferrothorn and Scizor better as nothing else Latios has scratches Ferrothorn, while the extra damage against Scizor can help.

-Draco Meteor
-Psyshock
-Surf / Hidden Power [Fire]
-Roost
Item Attached: Life Orb / Expert Belt
Ability: Levitate
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)

This is the other particularly common set that you will see on Latios, which gives you more options than the Choice sets do, but has different weaknesses as well. Draco Meteor is the same soul-crushing STAB move that it is on the other sets, and Psyshock serves the same purpose as well. The choice between Surf and HP Fire is which Steels you want to hit and how hard, as HP Fire is useful for more of the common Steels, while Surf hits harder neutrally. Roost is there to give Latios a means of recovery, helping it to be able to be more of an offensive presence in a battle. The option for the items is whether or not you want more power with recoil, or a bit less power and the ability to pretend you have a choice set, as Expert Belt has no factors to imply that you have a non-Choice item, thus sometimes lulling your opponent into making switch ins they otherwise wouldn't.

-Reflect
-Light Screen
-Dragon Pulse
-Memento / Thunder Wave
Item Attached: Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)

This set takes off in an entirely different direction from most of Latios' sets, as instead of utilizing its offensive prowess it uses its high speed to quickly set up Reflect and Light Screen, thus reducing damage. This helps enormously with more frail Pokemon that try to set up stat boosts, as they can survive much longer than they could otherwise. Reflect boosts Defense enormously, while Light Screen boosts Special Defense, and combined with Light Clay allows the team to be protected for quite a while. Dragon Pulse allows Latios to still be able to attack for decent amounts of damage. The last slot is used to cripple the opponent to allow some other Pokemon to switch in on them and fire off boosting attacks, as Memento creates a great situation for the Pokemon coming in, as between the attack drops and the dual screens, the opponent's Pokemon doesn't have much of a chance of doing any damage to your Pokemon. Memento is also useful for when you know Latios is about to be KO'd anyhow and you like going out with a bang. Thunder Wave on the other hand allows you to cripple multiple opponents though not as severely, but still can allow for times to get boosts in.

-Calm Mind
-Dragon Pulse
-Psyshock / Roost
-Surf
Item Attached: Leftovers / Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)

This is another of Latios' more obscure sets, as t is generally outclassed by its bulkier counterpart Latias, though its higher offenses make it more viable as a sweeper. Calm Mind boosts both Special Attack and Special Defense, allowing Latios to both hit harder and take Special Attacks better. Dragon Pulse is strong STAB that comes without the negative effects of Draco Meteor (which basically wastes your boosts, or forces you to switch out on any other set). Psyshock is an option as it is also strong STAB and hits Blissey and Chansey (which may not be need if you get enough boosts in), while Roost allows for better recovery, especially if you run Life Orb. Surf is a necessity as you have no other way to hit Steel types (though HP Fire can be considered). The option between Leftovers and Life Orb is the same as with any Pokemon, whether or not you want to stick around longer or hit harder.

-Dragon Dance
-Outrage / Dragon Claw / Dragon Pulse
-Earthquake / Thunder / Grass Knot
-Zen Headbutt / Psyshock / Surf / Hidden Power [Fire]
Item Attached: Life Orb / Soul Dew
Ability: Levitate
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spe or 252 SAtk / 4SDef / 252 Spe or 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk) or Jolly Nature (+Spe, -SAtk) or Naive Nature (+Spe, -SDef)

Yes, this is probably the most convuluted set you've ever seen (at least until we get around to doing Lucario). This set, albeit rather gimmicky, has seen use, especially with the Special Attack oriented one which sees use in the Uber tier (and thus the option for Soul Dew as an item). Dragon Dance can be used to boost both Attack and Speed, and whether you take advantage of the Attack boosts is up to you, as you can run either a full physical set, a mixed set, or a purely special set and just use DD for the speed boosts. The first slot is for STAB, whether you want it to be Outrage (which locks you into the move and causes the confusion but has immense power), Dragon Claw (also hits physically but with less force and no side effects) or Dragon Pulse (which hits for Special damage). The second slot is basically a physical / special split as well, with Earthquake doing neutral physical damage to many Pokemon, while Thunder hits powerfully under rain, and Grass Knot hits bulky Waters and Grounds. The last slot is for coverage, either physical or special. Zen Headbutt hits physically and gets STAB, while Psyshock allows Special sets to break through Special walls, and Surf or HP Fire hit different Steel types for different amounts of damage. Life Orb allows you to hit powerfully though with recoil, and is what you should use if you run this sort of set in OU, while Soul Dew is definitely the better item, but can only be used in Ubers. The option between EVs and Natures depends on what set you run (252 Atk and Jolly for Physical, 252 SAtk / 4 SDef and Timid for Special, and 4 Atk / 252 SAtk and Naive for mixed). Phew.

Energy Ball, Fly, Hidden Power, Ice Beam, Icy Wind, Luster Purge, Magic Coat, Protect, Psychic, Psycho Shift, Roar, Shadow Ball, Shadow Claw, Substitute, Thunderbolt, Waterfall
Energy Ball can be used over Grass Knot to hit things like Gastrodon (or in Ubers Kyogre), though it is weaker generally and most other coverage moves hit hard enough already (I'm also very surprised after that last set there are any other options left, but I digress).
Fly can be used for interesting physically coverage if you want it.
Hidden Powers can fill in for coverage against certain threats to your team, though most other moves hit harder.
Ice Beam hits Grass types for good damage (as your Dragon moves should be hitting Dragons harder anyhow).
Icy Wind can be used to slow down opposing threats, and it also can be used in Doubles to hit both opponents for good damage while still lowering their speed.
Luster Purge can be used to weaken opponent's with a high chance to lower their Special Defense, though is not as strong as either Psyshock or Psychic.
Magic Coat can be used to reflect back status moves or hazards coming your way (could be used on the Dual Screens set).
Protect can be used (mainly in Doubles / Triples) to help predict what your opponent will do next or have them make an overprediction.
Psychic can be used over Psyshock on any set, but Latios will then have to be much more wary of Specially Defensive walls.
Psycho Shift can be used to use your opponent's status against them as you can pass that status back to them (or use a Toxic / Flame Orb to inflict yourself with status and then pass it).
Roar can be used to phaze out an opponent that may be setting up, though the lower defenses of Latios and the negative priority of Roar may mean Latios will not survive the task.
Shadow Ball can be used as neutral special coverage, although most moves fill this purpose better as they get STAB.
Shadow Claw fills the same purpose as Shadow Ball, just on the Physical side.
Substitute can be used on the Calm Mind set to help prevent Latios from being inflicted with status, and to serve a similar function to the SubCM set of Latias.
Thunderbolt can be used over Thunder for strong neutral coverage that doesn't require rain.
Waterfall can be used on the Dragon Dance set for physical coverage that hits Steel types well under rain, although Earthquake is better in general.

Latios basically fills the same role in this type of play as he does in others, as a fast Special Attacker. Latios� real assets in this area are Surf, Protect, and Icy Wind. With his great Special Attack stat, Latios can hit multiple Pokemon with a single attack and if not resisted, Latios can do major damage to many in a single blow. Dragon Pulse is also useful here. Normally in Triple Battles, a Pokemon on the far left cannot attack a Pokemon on the far right, but Dragon Pulse can avoid this and attack that Pokemon anyways. The same frailties to Latios apply here too, as it still has relatively low defenses and is itself vulnerable to Icy Wind, although the immunity to Earthquake is very handy.

Anything that can eliminate Steel types is useful, especially Specially Defensive Jirachi which otherwise walls Latios pretty well. Generally strong physical Fire, Ground, or Fighting types can be of great use to Latios, taking care of most of its checks and counters.

The two best counters to Latios are Specially Defensive Jirachi and Tyranitar. Jirachi can take anything from Latios (besides a DD Earthquake) and either set up on it, paralyze it, or just flat out KO it and heal off the damage. Tyranitar on the other hand means horrible news for Latios as it can Pursuit trap Latios at any time it pleases, and if it is Choice Band will OHKO Latios on the switch out, and Latios can't do much in return. Specially Defensive Heatran does well against Latios' without Surf (or in the Sun), while Ferrothorn trumps Latios' without HP Fire (or in Rain). Chansey and Blissey are the banes of Specially oriented Latios' existence, as they can survive everything besides Psyshock with minimal damage, and cripple it in return with Thunder Wave or Toxic. Scizor with Bullet Punch can often revenge kill Latios, or Pursuit it (on some sets). Most Specially Defensive walls such as Celebi and Gastrodon can take whatever Latios throws at them pretty well, but do have to watch out for coverage moves and can't do too much in return. Faster Pokemon like Choice Scarf users, Starmie, or Weavile and Mamoswine with Ice Shard can also revenge kill Latios, or just flat out KO it whenever they please.

Locations in Games

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Roaming Hoenn (Ruby)
Southern Island (Sapphire)
Roaming Hoenn or Southern Island (Emerald)

FireRed/LeafGreen:
Trade from Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald

Colosseum/XD:
Trade from Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Transer from Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald
Trade from HeartGold/SoulSilver

HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Pewter City (HeartGold)
Roaming Kanto (SoulSilver)

Black/White:
Transfer from Generation IV
Trade from Black 2

Black 2/White 2:
Latios (Black 2)
Transfer from Generation IV/Trade with Black 2 (White 2)