Landorus Movesets and Best Builds

This is a guide to movesets and best builds for using Landorus in competitive play for the games Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV). Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, Tera Type, and Held Items to use with Landorus, as well as its strengths and weakness.

Landorus (Incarnate Forme) - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Moveset for Ranked Battle	Tera Raid Build

Landorus Base Stats, Type, Ability and Weakness

Base Stats

Landorus Base Stats

Landorus Level 50 Stats

Best Nature for Landorus

Best Natures
Modest （+Sp. Atk, -Atk）	Jolly （+Spe, -Sp. Atk）

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Landorus (Incarnate Forme)

Build Name	Recommendation
Choice Scarf	★★★★★

Choice Scarf Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Adamant (+Atk, -Sp. Atk)
EV Spread	68 HP / 196 Atk / 4 Def / 4 Sp. Def / 236 Spe
Final Stat Values	173 HP / 209 Atk / 111 Def / 101 Sp. Def / 141 Spe
Ability	Intimidate
Tera Type
Held Item	Choice Scarf
Moveset	・ Earthquake ・ Stone Edge ・ Tera Blast ・ U-turn

Summary

Outspeeds Ogerpon with Choice Scarf. Intimidate lowers the Attack of the opponent. Has good STAB and coverage options in its movepool.

Ability and Held Item

Ability	Held Item
Intimidate	Choice Scarf

Intimidate is Landorus-Therian's only ability that reduces the Attack stat of the opposing Pokemon.

Choice Scarf is the item used for this builds to help Landorus outspeed and pressure opposing Ogerpons. Note that it does not outspeed Terastallized Teal Mask Ogerpon

Moves Breakdown

Earthquake	Stone Edge
Tera Blast	U-turn

Earthquake is Landorus' main Ground-type STAB attack. With a 100 BP and Accuracy, there's no better physical Ground attack than Earthquake.

Stone Edge is a 100 BP Rock-type attack that is used as Landorus' main coverage move. The main downside to this attack is that it only has an 80% accuracy.

Tera Blast is Landorus' best Flying-type option, but it requires you to commit your Tera for the game.

U-Turn is used to get Landorus' out of bad matchups while also doing a decent amount of chip damage.

Best Tera Type: Flying

Flying Tera Type Matchup
Weak to:
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Resists:	(0.5x)
Immune to:	(0x)

Flying is the best Tera Type for this build as it can give Landorus access to a Flying-type Move in Tera Blast, This also reduces its x4 weakness to ice to x2.

Alternatively, it could use a Stellar Tera Type to boost the damage of its amazing Ground + Rock offensive combination, but it would still prefer a Flying Tera in most situations for the consistent Flying Tera Blast.

Best Flying Type Pokemon for Ranked Battle

EV Spread and Nature

This build has an EV spread that focuses mainly on Attack and Speed to help Landorus pressure for quick knock outs. The rest of the EVs are spread into HP, Defense, and Special Defense to help round out its bulk.

An Adamant nature is ideal to further increase Landorus' damage output. We do not use Jolly since Landorus already gets a Speed boost from holding a Choice Scarf.

Other Viable Moves

Rock Slide	A more accurate Rock-type attack at the cost of less damage. It can also cause the opponent to flinch.
Rock Tomb	Another Rock-type attack option that reduces the speed of the opposing Pokemon. Useful against other Choice Scarf users.

Key Damage Calculations

Damage Dealt by Landorus (Incarnate Forme)
80 HP｜84 Def Defensive EV Investment: 4 Def Item: Hearthflame Mask	Tera Flying Tera Blast 244-288 (157.4 - 185.8%) Guaranteed OHKO
87 HP｜95 Def Defensive EV Investment: 212 HP | 236 Def Item: Leftovers	Earthquake 150-176 (79.3 - 93.1%) Guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
91 HP｜95 Def Defensive EV Investment: 244 HP | 4 Def Item: Rocky Helmet	Stone Edge 68-81 (34.5 - 41.1%) Guaranteed 2HKO after Multiscale

Game8's Competitive Damage Calculator

Doubles Movesets for Landorus (Therian Forme)

Build Name	Recommendation
Sheer Force Attacker	★★★★★
Tera Flying Landorus	★★★★
Physically Offensive	★★★★

Sheer Force Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Modest (+Sp.Atk, -Atk)
EV Spread	HP 4 / Sp.Atk 252 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	HP 165 / Def 110 / Sp.Atk 183 / Sp.Def 100 / Spe 153
Ability	Sheer Force
Tera Type
Held Item	Life Orb
Moveset	・ Sandsear Storm ・ Earth Power ・ Sludge Bomb ・ Protect

Summary

Sheer Force removes Life Orb's recoil damage while retaining the damage boost. Sandsear Storm has a 30% chance to inflict a burn. Sludge Bomb and Poison Tera-type allows it to take on Fairy-types.

Ability and Held Item

Ability	Held Item
Sheer Force	Life Orb

Sheer Force increases the damage of Landorus' moves that have secondary effects by 30%, but also prevents the secondary effects from triggering.

Life Orb is the preferred held item that increases the damage of Landorus' moves by an additional 30%. Thanks to Sheer Force, the recoil damage is ignored while retaining the damage boost.

Moves Breakdown

Sandsear Storm	Earth Power
Sludge Bomb	Protect

Sandsear Storm is a Landorus' most powerful move and is further boosted by Sheer Force, though it loses the chance to burn a target.

Earth Power is a weaker but more reliable Ground-type STAB that has 100% accuracy.

Sludge Bomb is Landorus' main coverage move and receives STAB once Landorus terastallizes into a Poison-type.

Protect allows Landorus to scout the opposing team's moves.

Best Tera Type: Poison

Poison Tera Type Matchup
Weak to:
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Resists:	(0.5x)

Poison Tera Type removes Landorus' weakness to Ice and Water-type moves, while also giving it STAB on Sludge Bomb.

Best Poison Tera Type Pokemon

EV Spread and Nature

Full 252 EV investment on Sp.Atk and Spe allows Landorus to hit hard and as fast as possible with its Special Attacks, with the remaining 4 HP EVs rounding off its bulk.

Modest is the preferred Nature for this build to increase its Special Attack.

Other Viable Moves

Focus Blast	Can replace Sandsear Storm or Earth Power that gives Landorus coverage against Dark, Ice, Normal, and Steel-type Pokemon.
Sludge Wave	A stronger alternative to Sludge Bomb that hits all Pokemon in Doubles and is best used if Landorus' partner Pokemon is a Steel-type.

Key Damage Calculations

Damage Dealt by Landorus (Incarnate Forme)
125 HP｜89 Sp. Def Defensive EV Investment: 188 HP, 4 Def Item: Leftovers	Earth Power 322 ~ 382 (138.7 ~ 164.6%) Guaranteed OHKO
100 HP｜85 Sp. Def Defensive EV Investment: 124 HP, 132 Sp. Def Item: Safety Goggles	Earth Power 260 ~ 307 (136.1 ~ 160.7%) Guaranteed OHKO
100 HP｜70 Sp. Def Defensive EV Investment: 164HP, 52 Sp. Def Item: Miracle Seed	Sludge Bomb 218 ~ 257 (111.2 ~ 131.1%) Guaranteed OHKO

Game8's Competitive Damage Calculator

Tera Flying Landorus Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Adamant (+Atk, -Sp. Atk)
EV Spread	252 Atk / 44 Sp. Def / 212 Spe
Final Stat Values	164 HP / 216 Atk / 110 Def / 106 Sp. Def / 138 Spe
Ability	Intimidate
Tera Type
Held Item	Choice Scarf
Moveset	・ Tera Blast ・ Rock Slide ・ Stomping Tantrum ・ U-turn

Summary

Excellent all around stats and typing. Strong Ability in Intimidate, and consistently strong movepool. Gets even stronger with Terastallization.

Ability and Held Item

Ability	Held Item
Intimidate	Choice Scarf

Landorus (Therian Forme) has Intimidate as its Ability. This Ability is especially useful for lowering the offensive potential of opposing physical attackers, giving Landorus more physical bulk.

Moves Breakdown

Tera Blast	Rock Slide
Stomping Tantrum	U-turn

Tera Blast is Landorus' primary Flying STAB move, which is useful for dealing damage to Flying-weak Pokemon like Amoonguss, Rillaboom and Urshifu.

Rock Slide can be used to fish for flinches.

Stomping Tantrum is good Ground-type coverage, which can deal damage to Electric-types and other Ground-weak Pokemon.

U-Turn allows Landorus to pivot out of the active slot for another chance to Intimidate later on in a match.

Best Tera Type: Flying

Steel Tera Type Matchup
Weak to:
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Resists:	(0.5x)
Immune to:	(0x)

Flying is the best Tera Type for this build as it can give Landorus a powerful Flying-type Tera Blast, as well as reducing its x4 Ice weakness to x2.

Best Flying Type Pokemon for Ranked Battle

EV Spread and Nature

This build focuses on fast offense, so a full 252 are put into Attack. 212 Speed EVs are given so that it can outspeed Jolly Chien-Pao with Choice Scarf. 44 Special Defense EVs round out its bulk.

Other Viable Moves

Earthquake	Earthquake is a reliable spread Ground-type attack. Consider this move if your team has plenty of Ground resistances.

Key Damage Calculations

236-280 (114 - 135.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Damage Dealt by Landorus (Incarnate Forme)
114 HP｜70 Def Defensive EV Investment: 236 HP, 156 Def Item: Sitrus Berry	Tera Blast 216 ~ 256 (98.6 ~ 116.8%) 93.8% Chance to KO
100 HP｜90 Def Defensive EV Investment: 252 HP, 4 Def Item: Assault Vest	Tera Blast 236 ~ 280 (114 ~ 135.2%) Guaranteed OHKO
100 HP｜120 Def Defensive EV Investment: 188 HP, 4 Def Item: Assault Vest	Stomping Tantrum 156 ~ 187 (78.3 ~ 93.9%) Guaranteed 2-Hit KO

Game8's Competitive Damage Calculator

Physically Offensive Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Adamant (+Atk, -Sp. Atk)
EV Spread	252 Atk / 44 Sp. Def / 212 Spe
Final Stat Values	164 HP / 216 Atk / 110 Def / 106 Sp. Def / 138 Spe
Ability	Intimidate
Tera Type
Held Item	Choice Scarf
Moveset	・ Earthquake ・ Rock Slide ・ Stomping Tantrum ・ U-turn

Summary

Excellent all around stats and typing. Strong Ability in Intimidate, and consistently strong movepool. Gets even stronger with Terastallization.

Ability and Held Item

Ability	Held Item
Intimidate	Choice Scarf

Landorus (Therian Forme) has Intimidate as its Ability. This Ability is especially useful for lowering the offensive potential of opposing physical attackers, giving Landorus more physical bulk.

Moves Breakdown

Earthquake	Rock Slide
Stomping Tantrum	U-turn

Earthquake is Landorus' primary STAB move, which will be its most used move.

Rock Slide can hit Steel-types like Corviknight who are immune to Earth Power.

Stomping Tantrum is good Ground-type coverage, which can deal damage to Electric-types and other Ground-weak Pokemon.

U-Turn allows Landorus to pivot out of the active slot for another chance to Intimidate later on in a match.

Best Tera Type: Steel

Steel Tera Type Matchup
Weak to:
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Resists:	(0.5x)
Immune to:	(0x)

Steel is the best Tera Type for this build as it can give Landorus plenty of resistances. Additionally, Tera Steel will allow Landorus to take two Tera Normal Choice Band Sword of Ruin Extreme Speeds from Dragonite.

Best Steel Type Pokemon for Ranked Battle

EV Spread and Nature

This build focuses on fast offense, so a full 252 are put into Attack. 212 Speed EVs are given so that it can outspeed Jolly Chien-Pao with Choice Scarf. 44 Special Defense EVs round out its bulk.

Other Viable Moves

Swords Dance	Swords Dance can heavily punish opponents for playing passively. It can also punish switches, and set up moves, especially if Landorus is quicker.

Key Damage Calculations

Damage Dealt by Landorus (Incarnate Forme)
100 HP｜120 Def Defensive EV Investment: 188 HP, 4 Def Item: Assault Vest	Stomping Tantrum 156 ~ 187 (78.3 ~ 93.9%) Guaranteed 2-Hit KO
100 HP｜120 Def Defensive EV Investment: 188 HP, 4 Def Item: Assault Vest	Tera Type: Earthquake 203 ~ 244 (102 ~ 122.6%) Guaranteed OHKO
100 HP｜95 Def Defensive EV Investment: 4 HP Item: Choice Specs	Earthquake 190 ~ 226 (116.5 ~ 138.6%) Guaranteed OHKO

Game8's Competitive Damage Calculator

How to Use Landorus Effectively

Use Landorus (Incarnate Forme) as a Special Attacker

Landorus (Incarnate Forme) has a powerful kit, with Sheer Force and Life Orb boosting its moves' damage potential. With access to Nasty Plot, it is sure to sweep through unprepared teams.

Use Landorus (Therian Forme) as a Physical Attacker

Landorus (Therian Forme) has a massive Attack stat, and it should definitely be utilized in any team that runs it. Its STAB Ground-moves offer huge damage output. While it lacks a decent Flying-type Attack, Tera Blast can be run if it needs it.

How to Build a Team with Landorus

When building a team around either Landorus, it is good to have switch-ins as well as ways to enable it to go offensive. Incarnate and Therian Formes have vastly different stat distributions, so teammates that can support them are good to have.

Sample Singles Team with Landorus (Incarnate Forme)

Special Attacker	Special Attacker	Physical Attacker
Landorus (Incarnate Forme)	Gholdengo	Palafin

Landorus (Incarnate Forme) can lead off a match and immediately set up Nasty Plot if it is safe. This can position it for a sweep. Gholdengo and Palafin are both strong Pokemon in their own right, but also provide defensive switches for Landorus should it go up against a bad matchup.

Sample Doubles Team with Landorus (Therian Forme)

Physical Attacker	Special Attacker
Landorus (Therian Forme)	Chi-Yu
Special Attacker	Physical Attacker
Iron Bundle	Iron Hands

Choice Scarf Chi-Yu can protect Landorus from Special Attacks with fast Snarls. Iron Hands can switch into an Ice-type move when Landorus can't take it, and threaten the likes of Iron Bundle with Fake Out and Drain Punch. Iron Bundle is a strong Pokemon at the back of your team, due to its high Speed and reliable damage output with Freeze-Dry.

Counters for Landorus (Incarnate Forme)

Use Ice-Types

Ice-types heavily threaten Landorus, especially fast and tanky ones. Snow provides a Defense boost to Ice-types this generation, which Landorus (Therian Forme) does not appreciate.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Chien-Pao	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can outspeed both Landorus Formes. ・Can reduce Landorus's Defense stats with Sword of Ruin, and attack with a powerful Ice Move. ▶️Chien-Pao Best Movesets
Iron Bundle	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Good matchup against both Landorus Formes, outspeeding both and threatening both with super-effective Freeze-Dry. ・Can hit both Landorus Formes with super-effective Ice-type attacks. ▶️Iron Bundle Best Movesets
Abomasnow	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Enjoys a Defense boost in Snow, and can easily shrug off Landorus' Ground-type attacks. ・Can increase the accuracy of Blizzard for itself and its teammates. ▶️Abomasnow Best Movesets

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