[OVERVIEW]
* Mega Latias has a niche as a check to Primal Groudon that has access to both Defog and Healing Wish, allowing it to provide powerful support to bulky offense teams. Healing Wish in particular can grant offensive threats a second chance to sweep, which sets Mega Latias apart from its competitors such as Mega Salamence, Giratina-O, and Arceus-Ground.
* Solid mixed bulk and the immunities and resistances granted by its typing and ability mean it can switch into both physical and special sets of Primal Groudon and use Defog to remove Stealth Rock or whittle down Primal Groudon with Toxic and attacks.
* Though using Mega Latias means that other powerful Mega Evolutions cannot be used on its team, it allows greater freedom in choosing the role of the team's Arceus forme, as Mega Latias utilizes Defog and checks Primal Groudon, a role that support Arceus formes typically perform.
* However, it is heavily threatened by many strong offensive threats such as Necrozma-DM, Yveltal, and Xerneas, often granting them a free turn to switch in and set up or fire off powerful attacks.
* Due to its reliance on Toxic for damage, Mega Latias also poses no threat to many support Pokemon that are immune to Toxic and not weak to its attacking moves such as Ferrothorn and Celesteela, giving them free turns to support their team.
* Mega Latias is unable to effectively keep Stealth Rock off the field against common Stealth Rock setters such as Necrozma-DM and Arceus-Fairy, and it struggles against Primal Groudon carrying Toxic or Dragon-type coverage.
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Defog
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Healing Wish / Recover
move 4: Draco Meteor / Grass Knot
item: Latiasite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 4 SpD / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Defog is mandatory, allowing Mega Latias to support its team by removing entry hazards. It is especially effective on Mega Latias, as it checks Primal Groudon, the most common Stealth Rock user in the tier, though it must be wary of Toxic.
* Toxic is Mega Latias's best method of dealing damage, crippling bulky support Pokemon such as Arceus-Ground and putting offensive Pokemon on a timer.
* Healing Wish allows Mega Latias to restore an ally to full health once it is no longer required, working well with sweepers such as Double Dance Primal Groudon, which can wear down or KO its own checks before being restored to full health to sweep. This combination is especially effective because many sweepers can set up on the Pokemon that Mega Latias invites in.
* Alternatively, Recover can be used to allow Mega Latias to stay healthy throughout the match and continue to use Defog. However, this requires giving up Healing Wish, which makes Mega Latias outclassed by Giratina-O and Mega Salamence.
* An attacking move is required to immediately damage the threats Mega Latias is supposed to check, since Mega Latias would be too passive otherwise.
* Draco Meteor is Mega Latias's strongest move against neutral targets and allows it to heavily damage or OHKO Dragon-types such as Mega Salamence and Zygarde-C. However, the Special Attack drop means that Mega Latias will be unable to deal consistent damage and may be forced to switch out.
* Grass Knot allows Mega Latias to stand up to offensive Primal Kyogre and maximum HP Arceus-Ground, having a good chance to 2HKO both after Stealth Rock damage, but leaves Mega Latias unable to threaten Dragon-types.
Set Details
========
* The given EVs and nature allow Mega Latias to outspeed all Pokemon up to and including fully invested base 100 Speed Pokemon. Most importantly, this allows Mega Latias to use Defog or Healing Wish before Yveltal can use Taunt or KO it and ensures it outspeeds Primal Groudon, Primal Kyogre, Rayquaza, Kyurem-W, and Palkia.
* 252 HP EVs maximize Mega Latias's bulk, especially due to its comparatively lower HP stat.
* 4 Special Defense EVs ensure that an uninvested Ice Beam from Primal Kyogre will never 2HKO Mega Latias from full health without a critical hit.
* The rest of the EVs are placed in Defense to better tank powerful physical attacks like +2 Stone Edge from Primal Groudon.
* A slower EV spread of 252 HP / 156 Def / 4 SpD / 96 Spe with a Timid nature can be used to increase physical bulk while still outspeeding base 90 Speed Pokemon such as Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre.
* An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 116 Def / 4 SpD / 136 Spe with a Timid Nature allows Mega Latias to outspeed base 95 Speed Pokemon like Rayquaza and Kyurem-W.
* A fully defensive EV spread of 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD with a Bold nature or 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD with a Calm nature can be used to maximize bulk. However, this requires Mega Latias to give up its valuable Speed tier, meaning it may not be able to use Defog or Healing Wish against threats it would otherwise outspeed such as Yveltal and can leave it outsped by many threats it needs to be faster than to check such as Swords Dance Primal Groudon.
Usage Tips
========
* Switch Mega Latias into the Pokemon it checks, such as Primal Groudon, and remove any entry hazards with Defog.
* Mega Evolve as soon as possible, as it grants Latias greater bulk and power.
* Use Healing Wish when the benefits of restoring a teammate to full health outweigh the benefits of keeping Mega Latias in play. Examples include restoring a weakened sweeper to full health if the opponent's team no longer has any checks to it and restoring a teammate such as Magearna in order to prevent a sweep from an opposing Pokemon such as Geomancy Xerneas.
* If running Healing Wish over Recover, be mindful of Mega Latias's limited health pool. If Mega Latias has too little health remaining to effectively check anything, it may be worth conserving for the sole purpose of Healing Wish.
* If running Recover, use it throughout the match to stay healthy enough to check what it needs to check. However, be careful about being too predictable with using Recover, as it may allow the opponent to switch in checks without fear of taking damage from an attack or Toxic.
* If Mega Latias can cripple or heavily damage the opposing Pokemon, or if using Defog or Recover is unnecessary or gives up too much momentum, use Toxic or an attacking move in order to wear down the opposing team and catch potential switch-ins such as Xerneas and Yveltal.
* Switch Mega Latias out if it finds itself facing one of the many Pokemon that threaten it out, and using Healing Wish is undesirable.
* If the opposing Stealth Rock setter is a Pokemon that Mega Latias cannot effectively use Defog against, such Necrozma-DM or Arceus-Fairy, it is often a better idea to allow Stealth Rock to remain on your side of the field and attempt to set Stealth Rock on the opposing side of the field with your own Stealth Rock setter. Otherwise, switching Mega Latias in to use Defog will simply result in the opposing Stealth Rock user switching back in to set up Stealth Rock again or your team taking a large amount of unnecessary damage from entry hazards and attacks.
* Against threats on offensive teams such as Swords Dance Primal Groudon, Mega Latias may be forced to choose between sacrificing itself to clear entry hazards or taking down the opposing Pokemon while being left too low on health to be able to use Defog afterwards. Evaluate whether the entry hazards or the opposing Pokemon poses a greater threat to your team, and act accordingly.
Team Options
========
* Offensive Pokemon that can take full advantage of Healing Wish heavily benefit from Mega Latias's support. Examples include Double Dance Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM, both of which can set up on many typical switch-ins to Mega Latias.
* Mega Latias requires teammates that can check Fairy-types, which include Steel-types such as Necrozma-DM and Ferrothorn. In return, Mega Latias offers a switch-in to Ground- and Fire-type attacks and Defog support.
* Fire-types such as Ho-Oh and Primal Groudon also check Fairy-types and threaten out Steel-types, which Mega Latias cannot touch. Ho-Oh heavily appreciates Mega Latias keeping Stealth Rock off the field, and Mega Latias can switch into Ground-type moves for Primal Groudon.
* Checks to Dark-types are also required. Options include Fairy-types such as Magearna and Xerneas, which value Mega Latias's ability to check Primal Groudon and remove entry hazards.
* Several Arceus formes that perform poorly as Defoggers or checks to Primal Groudon, such as Arceus-Fairy, Arceus-Rock, and Arceus-Electric, can be run, as Mega Latias can do these duties in their place.
* A switch-in to Ghost-types, such as Yveltal or Arceus-Dark, is necessary. Additionally, as Marshadow can bypass many conventional Ghost-type checks due to its strong Fighting-type attacks, Pokemon that resist Fighting such as Xerneas and Toxapex can be used to check Marshadow. In return, Mega Latias removes Stealth Rock and checks Primal Groudon.
* Pursuit support from the likes of Marshadow, Tyranitar, and Alolan Muk can aid Mega Latias against Shadow Tag users and Ghost-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Mega Latias has a large range of support moves, but choosing to run any of them over its standard moveset requires giving up a valuable moveslot, greatly diminishing Mega Latias's effectiveness at checking the threats it is supposed to check or giving up its niche of having both Defog and Healing Wish.
* Running both Recover and Healing Wish by giving up Toxic is a possibility, but this is counterproductive because Recover is a move that attempts to give Mega Latias longevity, while Healing Wish fits best on teams that do not care about staying power.
* Refresh allows Mega Latias to easily take on Primal Groudon and Arceus-Ground that carry Toxic and generally act as a status absorber.
* Role Play can be run to escape trappers by copying their Shadow Tag, allowing Mega Latias to switch out. However, Mega Gengar can use Taunt or KO Mega Latias on the turn it uses the move, meaning that in practice, its use is limited to escaping only Gothitelle.
* Roar is an option to rack up entry hazard damage and force out setup sweepers to remove their boosts; however, this is only a short-term solution, as they can easily come in afterwards and threaten to set up again.
* Reflect and Light Screen can help Mega Latias and its teammates take powerful physical or special attacks better and aid sweepers in setting up, but they can be removed through Defog and only last for 5 turns because Mega Latias cannot hold Light Clay.
* Tailwind can allow slower, powerful attackers such as Primal Kyogre to outspeed their offensive checks and clean weakened teams, but it practically only lasts for two turns.
* Thunder Wave is an alternative status move that can cripple faster threats but does not affect Ground-types, which Mega Latias is supposed to check.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Necrozma-DM, Ferrothorn, and Mega Scizor are immune to Toxic and take little damage from Mega Latias's attacks. In return, they can threaten to sweep with boosting moves, fire off powerful attacks, support their team through status moves, or set up entry hazards, which Mega Latias cannot remove due to it being unable to threaten them out. However, Steel-types may find themselves setup fodder for one of Mega Latias's teammates should Mega Latias choose to use Healing Wish.
**Dark-types**: Yveltal can threaten to OHKO Mega Latias with Dark-type STAB moves or maintain momentum with U-turn while still dealing considerable chip damage should Mega Latias choose to stay in. Arceus-Dark can set up Calm Mind on Mega Latias while shrugging off Toxic with Refresh or simply smack it with its super effective Judgment or Toxic. Mega Sableye can recover off any direct damage Mega Latias deals, bounces back Toxic so that Mega Latias cannot freely throw around status, and threatens Mega Latias with Toxic or Foul Play. Alolan Muk and Tyranitar take little damage from Mega Latias's direct attacks and can heavily damage Mega Latias as it attempts to switch out with Pursuit. Tyranitar can also set up Stealth Rock, which Mega Latias cannot safely clear away, but it must be wary of Toxic, which can quickly wear it down if it is not carrying Rest.
**Fairy-types**: Xerneas, Arceus-Fairy, Mega Diancie, and Magearna can heavily damage or KO Mega Latias with their super effective STAB moves. Additionally, Xerneas can threaten to set up Geomancy or use a free turn to use Aromatherapy, Arceus-Fairy and Mega Diancie can set up Stealth Rock in front of Mega Latias, and Magearna can support its team through Heal Bell or maintain momentum through Volt Switch. Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy must be wary of switching into a potential Toxic, however. Additionally, Fairy-types may find themselves setup fodder for one of Mega Latias's teammates should Mega Latias choose to use Healing Wish.
**Ghost-types**: Marshadow can easily OHKO Mega Latias with its Ghost-type STAB moves, use Pursuit if Mega Latias attempts to switch out, or set up Bulk Up on a forced switch. Similarly, Arceus-Ghost can force out Mega Latias with its super effective STAB moves and set up Swords Dance. Lunala and Necrozma-DW threaten to OHKO Mega Latias with Moongeist Beam or use Mega Latias as setup fodder. None appreciate switching into Toxic, however, as it quickly wears them down and breaks Lunala's Shadow Shield.
**Shadow Tag**: Mega Gengar and Gothitelle are both able to trap Mega Latias with Shadow Tag. Although it has to be wary of a potential Draco Meteor, Mega Gengar can pick off Mega Latias with a super effective Shadow Ball or Hex. Gothitelle takes little damage from any of Mega Latias's attacks, can remove poison with Rest, and proceeds to PP stall Mega Latias's attacks so that Taunt forces it to use Struggle or so another threat can set up. Mega Latias can, however, use Healing Wish to disrupt a trapping attempt by allowing a powerful offensive teammate to come in and threaten to set up unexpectedly.
**Chansey and Blissey**: Chansey and Blissey can easily switch into any common move Mega Latias carries due to their immense special bulk and Natural Cure. They can then proceed to spread Toxic, support their team with Wish or Heal Bell, or set Stealth Rock,(AC) which Mega Latias cannot effectively remove. However, Chansey and Blissey may find themselves setup fodder for one of Mega Latias's teammates if it chooses to use Healing Wish to bring them in.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh does not appreciate being hit with Toxic, but it can take any other move Mega Latias carries due to its high special bulk and retaliate with a Toxic of its own or fire off a powerful Brave Bird.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Although Mega Latias shrugs off Hidden Power Ice, Primal Groudon can surprise Mega Latias by running Dragon Tail, Dragon Claw, or Dragon Pulse, making Mega Latias a much less reliable switch-in. Though Mega Latias resists Psychic, Psychic-types such as Deoxys-A and Mega Mewtwo Y typically carry Ice Beam, which 2HKOes Mega Latias. Mega Latias is often unable to OHKO in return due to Deoxys-A's Focus Sash and Mega Mewtwo Y's special bulk.
**Ice-types**: Mega Latias is unable to use Defog against Cloyster's hazards due to the threat of getting OHKOed by Icicle Spear. Kyurem-W can also threaten to OHKO Mega Latias with its super effective STAB moves.
**Dragon-types**: Although Mega Latias can threaten to OHKO or deal heavy damage to many Dragon-types if running Draco Meteor, faster Dragon-types such as Nagadanel and Choice Scarf users can OHKO Mega Latias before it can retaliate. Additionally, Dialga can tank Mega Latias's Draco Meteor thanks to its Steel typing and OHKO with its own.
**Status**: Toxic is commonly carried by Stealth Rock Primal Groudon. Toxic damage quickly wears Mega Latias down if not carrying Recover or Refresh, and if it does run either move, Toxic forces it to play predictably and heal itself. Paralysis from Thunder Wave and Glare means that Mega Latias is outsped by many threats it needs to be faster than to check, such as Swords Dance Primal Groudon, and makes it less reliable due to the chance of getting paralyzed.
**Primal Kyogre**: If Mega Latias is not carrying Grass Knot, Primal Kyogre can easily take Draco Meteor due to its high special bulk. Specially offensive sets 2HKO Mega Latias with Ice Beam, while defensive sets cure Toxic with Rest and threaten Mega Latias with either Ice Beam or Toxic. Physically offensive Kyogre sets struggle to deal with Mega Latias, however, as Ice Beam does not 2HKO.
o deal with Mega Latias, however, as Ice Beam does not 2HKO.
* Mega Latias has a niche as a check to Primal Groudon that has access to both Defog and Healing Wish, allowing it to provide powerful support to bulky offense teams. Healing Wish in particular can grant offensive threats a second chance to sweep, which sets Mega Latias apart from its competitors such as Mega Salamence, Giratina-O, and Arceus-Ground.
* Solid mixed bulk and the immunities and resistances granted by its typing and ability mean it can switch into both physical and special sets of Primal Groudon and use Defog to remove Stealth Rock or whittle down Primal Groudon with Toxic and attacks.
* Though using Mega Latias means that other powerful Mega Evolutions cannot be used on its team, it allows greater freedom in choosing the role of the team's Arceus forme, as Mega Latias utilizes Defog and checks Primal Groudon, a role that support Arceus formes typically perform.
* However, it is heavily threatened by many strong offensive threats such as Necrozma-DM, Yveltal, and Xerneas, often granting them a free turn to switch in and set up or fire off powerful attacks.
* Due to its reliance on Toxic for damage, Mega Latias also poses no threat to many support Pokemon that are immune to Toxic and not weak to its attacking moves such as Ferrothorn and Celesteela, giving them free turns to support their team.
* Mega Latias is unable to effectively keep Stealth Rock off the field against common Stealth Rock setters such as Necrozma-DM and Arceus-Fairy, and it struggles against Primal Groudon carrying Toxic or Dragon-type coverage.
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Defog
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Healing Wish / Recover
move 4: Draco Meteor / Grass Knot
item: Latiasite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 4 SpD / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Defog is mandatory, allowing Mega Latias to support its team by removing entry hazards. It is especially effective on Mega Latias, as it checks Primal Groudon, the most common Stealth Rock user in the tier, though it must be wary of Toxic.
* Toxic is Mega Latias's best method of dealing damage, crippling bulky support Pokemon such as Arceus-Ground and putting offensive Pokemon on a timer.
* Healing Wish allows Mega Latias to restore an ally to full health once it is no longer required, working well with sweepers such as Double Dance Primal Groudon, which can wear down or KO its own checks before being restored to full health to sweep. This combination is especially effective because many sweepers can set up on the Pokemon that Mega Latias invites in.
* Alternatively, Recover can be used to allow Mega Latias to stay healthy throughout the match and continue to use Defog. However, this requires giving up Healing Wish, which makes Mega Latias outclassed by Giratina-O and Mega Salamence.
* An attacking move is required to immediately damage the threats Mega Latias is supposed to check, since Mega Latias would be too passive otherwise.
* Draco Meteor is Mega Latias's strongest move against neutral targets and allows it to heavily damage or OHKO Dragon-types such as Mega Salamence and Zygarde-C. However, the Special Attack drop means that Mega Latias will be unable to deal consistent damage and may be forced to switch out.
* Grass Knot allows Mega Latias to stand up to offensive Primal Kyogre and maximum HP Arceus-Ground, having a good chance to 2HKO both after Stealth Rock damage, but leaves Mega Latias unable to threaten Dragon-types.
Set Details
========
* The given EVs and nature allow Mega Latias to outspeed all Pokemon up to and including fully invested base 100 Speed Pokemon. Most importantly, this allows Mega Latias to use Defog or Healing Wish before Yveltal can use Taunt or KO it and ensures it outspeeds Primal Groudon, Primal Kyogre, Rayquaza, Kyurem-W, and Palkia.
* 252 HP EVs maximize Mega Latias's bulk, especially due to its comparatively lower HP stat.
* 4 Special Defense EVs ensure that an uninvested Ice Beam from Primal Kyogre will never 2HKO Mega Latias from full health without a critical hit.
* The rest of the EVs are placed in Defense to better tank powerful physical attacks like +2 Stone Edge from Primal Groudon.
* A slower EV spread of 252 HP / 156 Def / 4 SpD / 96 Spe with a Timid nature can be used to increase physical bulk while still outspeeding base 90 Speed Pokemon such as Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre.
* An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 116 Def / 4 SpD / 136 Spe with a Timid Nature allows Mega Latias to outspeed base 95 Speed Pokemon like Rayquaza and Kyurem-W.
* A fully defensive EV spread of 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD with a Bold nature or 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD with a Calm nature can be used to maximize bulk. However, this requires Mega Latias to give up its valuable Speed tier, meaning it may not be able to use Defog or Healing Wish against threats it would otherwise outspeed such as Yveltal and can leave it outsped by many threats it needs to be faster than to check such as Swords Dance Primal Groudon.
Usage Tips
========
* Switch Mega Latias into the Pokemon it checks, such as Primal Groudon, and remove any entry hazards with Defog.
* Mega Evolve as soon as possible, as it grants Latias greater bulk and power.
* Use Healing Wish when the benefits of restoring a teammate to full health outweigh the benefits of keeping Mega Latias in play. Examples include restoring a weakened sweeper to full health if the opponent's team no longer has any checks to it and restoring a teammate such as Magearna in order to prevent a sweep from an opposing Pokemon such as Geomancy Xerneas.
* If running Healing Wish over Recover, be mindful of Mega Latias's limited health pool. If Mega Latias has too little health remaining to effectively check anything, it may be worth conserving for the sole purpose of Healing Wish.
* If running Recover, use it throughout the match to stay healthy enough to check what it needs to check. However, be careful about being too predictable with using Recover, as it may allow the opponent to switch in checks without fear of taking damage from an attack or Toxic.
* If Mega Latias can cripple or heavily damage the opposing Pokemon, or if using Defog or Recover is unnecessary or gives up too much momentum, use Toxic or an attacking move in order to wear down the opposing team and catch potential switch-ins such as Xerneas and Yveltal.
* Switch Mega Latias out if it finds itself facing one of the many Pokemon that threaten it out, and using Healing Wish is undesirable.
* If the opposing Stealth Rock setter is a Pokemon that Mega Latias cannot effectively use Defog against, such Necrozma-DM or Arceus-Fairy, it is often a better idea to allow Stealth Rock to remain on your side of the field and attempt to set Stealth Rock on the opposing side of the field with your own Stealth Rock setter. Otherwise, switching Mega Latias in to use Defog will simply result in the opposing Stealth Rock user switching back in to set up Stealth Rock again or your team taking a large amount of unnecessary damage from entry hazards and attacks.
* Against threats on offensive teams such as Swords Dance Primal Groudon, Mega Latias may be forced to choose between sacrificing itself to clear entry hazards or taking down the opposing Pokemon while being left too low on health to be able to use Defog afterwards. Evaluate whether the entry hazards or the opposing Pokemon poses a greater threat to your team, and act accordingly.
Team Options
========
* Offensive Pokemon that can take full advantage of Healing Wish heavily benefit from Mega Latias's support. Examples include Double Dance Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM, both of which can set up on many typical switch-ins to Mega Latias.
* Mega Latias requires teammates that can check Fairy-types, which include Steel-types such as Necrozma-DM and Ferrothorn. In return, Mega Latias offers a switch-in to Ground- and Fire-type attacks and Defog support.
* Fire-types such as Ho-Oh and Primal Groudon also check Fairy-types and threaten out Steel-types, which Mega Latias cannot touch. Ho-Oh heavily appreciates Mega Latias keeping Stealth Rock off the field, and Mega Latias can switch into Ground-type moves for Primal Groudon.
* Checks to Dark-types are also required. Options include Fairy-types such as Magearna and Xerneas, which value Mega Latias's ability to check Primal Groudon and remove entry hazards.
* Several Arceus formes that perform poorly as Defoggers or checks to Primal Groudon, such as Arceus-Fairy, Arceus-Rock, and Arceus-Electric, can be run, as Mega Latias can do these duties in their place.
* A switch-in to Ghost-types, such as Yveltal or Arceus-Dark, is necessary. Additionally, as Marshadow can bypass many conventional Ghost-type checks due to its strong Fighting-type attacks, Pokemon that resist Fighting such as Xerneas and Toxapex can be used to check Marshadow. In return, Mega Latias removes Stealth Rock and checks Primal Groudon.
* Pursuit support from the likes of Marshadow, Tyranitar, and Alolan Muk can aid Mega Latias against Shadow Tag users and Ghost-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Mega Latias has a large range of support moves, but choosing to run any of them over its standard moveset requires giving up a valuable moveslot, greatly diminishing Mega Latias's effectiveness at checking the threats it is supposed to check or giving up its niche of having both Defog and Healing Wish.
* Running both Recover and Healing Wish by giving up Toxic is a possibility, but this is counterproductive because Recover is a move that attempts to give Mega Latias longevity, while Healing Wish fits best on teams that do not care about staying power.
* Refresh allows Mega Latias to easily take on Primal Groudon and Arceus-Ground that carry Toxic and generally act as a status absorber.
* Role Play can be run to escape trappers by copying their Shadow Tag, allowing Mega Latias to switch out. However, Mega Gengar can use Taunt or KO Mega Latias on the turn it uses the move, meaning that in practice, its use is limited to escaping only Gothitelle.
* Roar is an option to rack up entry hazard damage and force out setup sweepers to remove their boosts; however, this is only a short-term solution, as they can easily come in afterwards and threaten to set up again.
* Reflect and Light Screen can help Mega Latias and its teammates take powerful physical or special attacks better and aid sweepers in setting up, but they can be removed through Defog and only last for 5 turns because Mega Latias cannot hold Light Clay.
* Tailwind can allow slower, powerful attackers such as Primal Kyogre to outspeed their offensive checks and clean weakened teams, but it practically only lasts for two turns.
* Thunder Wave is an alternative status move that can cripple faster threats but does not affect Ground-types, which Mega Latias is supposed to check.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Necrozma-DM, Ferrothorn, and Mega Scizor are immune to Toxic and take little damage from Mega Latias's attacks. In return, they can threaten to sweep with boosting moves, fire off powerful attacks, support their team through status moves, or set up entry hazards, which Mega Latias cannot remove due to it being unable to threaten them out. However, Steel-types may find themselves setup fodder for one of Mega Latias's teammates should Mega Latias choose to use Healing Wish.
**Dark-types**: Yveltal can threaten to OHKO Mega Latias with Dark-type STAB moves or maintain momentum with U-turn while still dealing considerable chip damage should Mega Latias choose to stay in. Arceus-Dark can set up Calm Mind on Mega Latias while shrugging off Toxic with Refresh or simply smack it with its super effective Judgment or Toxic. Mega Sableye can recover off any direct damage Mega Latias deals, bounces back Toxic so that Mega Latias cannot freely throw around status, and threatens Mega Latias with Toxic or Foul Play. Alolan Muk and Tyranitar take little damage from Mega Latias's direct attacks and can heavily damage Mega Latias as it attempts to switch out with Pursuit. Tyranitar can also set up Stealth Rock, which Mega Latias cannot safely clear away, but it must be wary of Toxic, which can quickly wear it down if it is not carrying Rest.
**Fairy-types**: Xerneas, Arceus-Fairy, Mega Diancie, and Magearna can heavily damage or KO Mega Latias with their super effective STAB moves. Additionally, Xerneas can threaten to set up Geomancy or use a free turn to use Aromatherapy, Arceus-Fairy and Mega Diancie can set up Stealth Rock in front of Mega Latias, and Magearna can support its team through Heal Bell or maintain momentum through Volt Switch. Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy must be wary of switching into a potential Toxic, however. Additionally, Fairy-types may find themselves setup fodder for one of Mega Latias's teammates should Mega Latias choose to use Healing Wish.
**Ghost-types**: Marshadow can easily OHKO Mega Latias with its Ghost-type STAB moves, use Pursuit if Mega Latias attempts to switch out, or set up Bulk Up on a forced switch. Similarly, Arceus-Ghost can force out Mega Latias with its super effective STAB moves and set up Swords Dance. Lunala and Necrozma-DW threaten to OHKO Mega Latias with Moongeist Beam or use Mega Latias as setup fodder. None appreciate switching into Toxic, however, as it quickly wears them down and breaks Lunala's Shadow Shield.
**Shadow Tag**: Mega Gengar and Gothitelle are both able to trap Mega Latias with Shadow Tag. Although it has to be wary of a potential Draco Meteor, Mega Gengar can pick off Mega Latias with a super effective Shadow Ball or Hex. Gothitelle takes little damage from any of Mega Latias's attacks, can remove poison with Rest, and proceeds to PP stall Mega Latias's attacks so that Taunt forces it to use Struggle or so another threat can set up. Mega Latias can, however, use Healing Wish to disrupt a trapping attempt by allowing a powerful offensive teammate to come in and threaten to set up unexpectedly.
**Chansey and Blissey**: Chansey and Blissey can easily switch into any common move Mega Latias carries due to their immense special bulk and Natural Cure. They can then proceed to spread Toxic, support their team with Wish or Heal Bell, or set Stealth Rock,(AC) which Mega Latias cannot effectively remove. However, Chansey and Blissey may find themselves setup fodder for one of Mega Latias's teammates if it chooses to use Healing Wish to bring them in.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh does not appreciate being hit with Toxic, but it can take any other move Mega Latias carries due to its high special bulk and retaliate with a Toxic of its own or fire off a powerful Brave Bird.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Although Mega Latias shrugs off Hidden Power Ice, Primal Groudon can surprise Mega Latias by running Dragon Tail, Dragon Claw, or Dragon Pulse, making Mega Latias a much less reliable switch-in. Though Mega Latias resists Psychic, Psychic-types such as Deoxys-A and Mega Mewtwo Y typically carry Ice Beam, which 2HKOes Mega Latias. Mega Latias is often unable to OHKO in return due to Deoxys-A's Focus Sash and Mega Mewtwo Y's special bulk.
**Ice-types**: Mega Latias is unable to use Defog against Cloyster's hazards due to the threat of getting OHKOed by Icicle Spear. Kyurem-W can also threaten to OHKO Mega Latias with its super effective STAB moves.
**Dragon-types**: Although Mega Latias can threaten to OHKO or deal heavy damage to many Dragon-types if running Draco Meteor, faster Dragon-types such as Nagadanel and Choice Scarf users can OHKO Mega Latias before it can retaliate. Additionally, Dialga can tank Mega Latias's Draco Meteor thanks to its Steel typing and OHKO with its own.
**Status**: Toxic is commonly carried by Stealth Rock Primal Groudon. Toxic damage quickly wears Mega Latias down if not carrying Recover or Refresh, and if it does run either move, Toxic forces it to play predictably and heal itself. Paralysis from Thunder Wave and Glare means that Mega Latias is outsped by many threats it needs to be faster than to check, such as Swords Dance Primal Groudon, and makes it less reliable due to the chance of getting paralyzed.
**Primal Kyogre**: If Mega Latias is not carrying Grass Knot, Primal Kyogre can easily take Draco Meteor due to its high special bulk. Specially offensive sets 2HKO Mega Latias with Ice Beam, while defensive sets cure Toxic with Rest and threaten Mega Latias with either Ice Beam or Toxic. Physically offensive Kyogre sets struggle to deal with Mega Latias, however, as Ice Beam does not 2HKO.
o deal with Mega Latias, however, as Ice Beam does not 2HKO.
Last edited: