[OVERVIEW]
Landorus-T's many positive attributes have contributed to it being a dominant force in nearly all doubles metagames. It has great defensive typing being immune to common Ground and Electric-type attacks. This typing also gives it a powerful STAB Earthquake that has great coverage with Rock Slide. Its ability Intimidate is one of the most useful defensive abilities in doubles and pairs nicely with U-turn. Physical Landorus-T sets can be fit onto almost any team causing it to have extremely high usage. However, this high usage causes most teams to have multiple ways to check it through bulky Water-types and Ice-type attackers.
Below are some sample sets. These sets are likely to be standard, but they will be expanded upon and updated as the metagame progresses.
[SET]
name: Choice Attacker
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: U-Turn
move 4: Superpower / Stone Edge
item: Choice Scarf / Choice Band
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant / Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* A Choice Scarf lets Landorus-T outspeed most threats in the metagame, while a Choice Band makes it extremely powerful.
* Earthquake and Rock Slide have great coverage while also providing spread damage. Rock Slide's secondary effect is also very powerful in doubles as it can commonly prevent at least one opponent from attacking.
* U-Turn can be used to pivot out of bad positions while also providing chip damage. U-Turn often allows Intimidate to activate several times throughout a game.
* The last moveslot is rarely used, but Superpower hits Kangaskhan for super-effective damage and provides a powerful single target option for Heatran. Stone Edge can be used to hit Charizard while avoiding Wide Guard. Explosion is rather risky but can't be used to get huge damage on both of your opponent's pokemon.
* Adamant is traditionally used on Choice Scarf Landorus-T, but Jolly can help outspeed Modest Choice Scarf Tapu Lele and Pheromosa. Jolly should be used with a Choice Band to outspeed Modest Hydreigon and Tapu Lele.
[SET]
name: Versatile Attacker
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: U-Turn / Knock Off
move 4: Knock Off / Stone Edge / Protect
item: Assault Vest / Groundium Z / Life Orb
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* These Landorus-T sets give up the speed or power of Choice items for the ability to switch moves.
* Earthquake and Rock Slide should be used on all physical Landorus-T due to their good coverage and spread damage.
* U-Turn provides momentum while Knock Off gets rid of opponents' items. Stone Edge can be used as a powerful single target Rock-type attack.
* Assault Vest boosts Landorus-T's mediocre Special Defense to check threats such as Mega Charizard Y and Tapu Koko better. U-Turn and either Knock Off or Stone Edge are used with it.
* Groundium Z makes Earthquake into an extremely powerful single target Ground-type attack move. This OHKO's Tapu Lele, Aegislash, and Sylveon which no other Landorus-T set can do. It also has high chance to OHKO most Heatran through Protect. Life Orb can be used to increase Landorus-T's offensive presence. Both of these items should use Protect in the fourth moveslot.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Earth Power
move 2: Hidden Power [Ice]
move 3: Sludge Bomb / Stone Edge
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Intimidate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Special Landorus-T is a much less common set than physical ones because of its much higher Attacks Stat. However, special sets are still usable since they are a great check to opposing Landorus-T while opposing Intimidaters are not an issue for it.
* Earth Power is Landorus-T's best special STAB attack. While not the most powerful attack, it hits prominent pokemon such as Aegislash, Heatran, Tapu Koko, and Tyranitar for super-effective damage. Unlike Earthquake it avoids the power reduction from Grassy Terrain.
* Hidden Power Ice lets Landorus-T comfortably check opposing Landorus-T and also OHKOs Mega Salamence.
* Sludge Bomb kills Tapu Bulu which is a great check to all other Landorus-T sets. If this is unnecessary for your team Stone Edge provides another option against Charizard.
* Life Orb is the best item for this set as it is rather weak but Expert Belt and Assault vest are other options if Life Orb is necessary on another team slot.
* This set is not as splashable as others and should be mostly used on teams desperate for a check to opposing Landorus-T.
Landorus-T's many positive attributes have contributed to it being a dominant force in nearly all doubles metagames. It has great defensive typing being immune to common Ground and Electric-type attacks. This typing also gives it a powerful STAB Earthquake that has great coverage with Rock Slide. Its ability Intimidate is one of the most useful defensive abilities in doubles and pairs nicely with U-turn. Physical Landorus-T sets can be fit onto almost any team causing it to have extremely high usage. However, this high usage causes most teams to have multiple ways to check it through bulky Water-types and Ice-type attackers.
Below are some sample sets. These sets are likely to be standard, but they will be expanded upon and updated as the metagame progresses.
[SET]
name: Choice Attacker
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: U-Turn
move 4: Superpower / Stone Edge
item: Choice Scarf / Choice Band
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant / Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* A Choice Scarf lets Landorus-T outspeed most threats in the metagame, while a Choice Band makes it extremely powerful.
* Earthquake and Rock Slide have great coverage while also providing spread damage. Rock Slide's secondary effect is also very powerful in doubles as it can commonly prevent at least one opponent from attacking.
* U-Turn can be used to pivot out of bad positions while also providing chip damage. U-Turn often allows Intimidate to activate several times throughout a game.
* The last moveslot is rarely used, but Superpower hits Kangaskhan for super-effective damage and provides a powerful single target option for Heatran. Stone Edge can be used to hit Charizard while avoiding Wide Guard. Explosion is rather risky but can't be used to get huge damage on both of your opponent's pokemon.
* Adamant is traditionally used on Choice Scarf Landorus-T, but Jolly can help outspeed Modest Choice Scarf Tapu Lele and Pheromosa. Jolly should be used with a Choice Band to outspeed Modest Hydreigon and Tapu Lele.
[SET]
name: Versatile Attacker
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: U-Turn / Knock Off
move 4: Knock Off / Stone Edge / Protect
item: Assault Vest / Groundium Z / Life Orb
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* These Landorus-T sets give up the speed or power of Choice items for the ability to switch moves.
* Earthquake and Rock Slide should be used on all physical Landorus-T due to their good coverage and spread damage.
* U-Turn provides momentum while Knock Off gets rid of opponents' items. Stone Edge can be used as a powerful single target Rock-type attack.
* Assault Vest boosts Landorus-T's mediocre Special Defense to check threats such as Mega Charizard Y and Tapu Koko better. U-Turn and either Knock Off or Stone Edge are used with it.
* Groundium Z makes Earthquake into an extremely powerful single target Ground-type attack move. This OHKO's Tapu Lele, Aegislash, and Sylveon which no other Landorus-T set can do. It also has high chance to OHKO most Heatran through Protect. Life Orb can be used to increase Landorus-T's offensive presence. Both of these items should use Protect in the fourth moveslot.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Earth Power
move 2: Hidden Power [Ice]
move 3: Sludge Bomb / Stone Edge
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Intimidate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Special Landorus-T is a much less common set than physical ones because of its much higher Attacks Stat. However, special sets are still usable since they are a great check to opposing Landorus-T while opposing Intimidaters are not an issue for it.
* Earth Power is Landorus-T's best special STAB attack. While not the most powerful attack, it hits prominent pokemon such as Aegislash, Heatran, Tapu Koko, and Tyranitar for super-effective damage. Unlike Earthquake it avoids the power reduction from Grassy Terrain.
* Hidden Power Ice lets Landorus-T comfortably check opposing Landorus-T and also OHKOs Mega Salamence.
* Sludge Bomb kills Tapu Bulu which is a great check to all other Landorus-T sets. If this is unnecessary for your team Stone Edge provides another option against Charizard.
* Life Orb is the best item for this set as it is rather weak but Expert Belt and Assault vest are other options if Life Orb is necessary on another team slot.
* This set is not as splashable as others and should be mostly used on teams desperate for a check to opposing Landorus-T.
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