Latias Movesets and Best Builds

This is a guide to movesets and best builds for using Latias 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 Latias, as well as its strengths and weaknesses.

Latias - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Moveset for Ranked Battle

Latias Base Stats, Type, Ability and Weakness

Nat. Dex #380		Type
Latias
		Abilities
		Levitate
Weak to:
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Resists:	(0.5x)

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Latias

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Latias

Bulky Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Modest (+Sp. Atk, -Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Sp. Atk 252 / Sp. Def 4
Final Stat Values	HP 187 / Def 110 / Sp. Atk 178 / Sp. Def 151 / Spe 130
Ability	Levitate
Tera Type
Held Item	Assault Vest
Moveset	・ Draco Meteor ・ Mist Ball ・ Ice Beam ・ Thunderbolt

Summary

Naturally good defensive stats, especially its Sp. Def. One of the few Levitate users that can abuse Terastallization. Has access to the amazing Bolt Beam combination.

Ability and Held Item

Ability	Held Item
Levitate	Assault Vest

Latias' only ability is Levitate. This is amazing with Terastallization because it can become a Steel-type and be immune to its Ground weakness

The item chosen for this build is an Assault Vest. This further increases Latias' amazing Sp. Def, making it even more difficult for special attackers to knock it out.

Moves Breakdown

Draco Meteor is its strongest Dragon-type STAB move that should only used to get massive damage off on opponents that don't resist it or aren't immune to it.

Mist Ball has gotten buffed to have 95 BP, making it its strongest Psychic-type STAB move.

Ice Beam and Thunderbolt are its main coverage moves due to their amazing offensive coverage. When combined with its STAB moves, the only Pokemon that can resist all four attacks is the Magnezone line.

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 because it is the best defensive type in the game, and Latias normally resists Fire and Fighting while Levitate makes it immune to Ground.
Best Steel (Tera) Type Pokemon for Ranked Battle

EV Spread and Nature

A full 252 EVs are placed in Latias' HP and Sp. Atk to make it as bulky as possible while still being able to hit hard. The extra 4 EVs are put into its Sp. Def to make it even more specially bulky.

A Modest nature is preferred to help maximize its damage output.

Other Viable Moves

Key Damage Calculations

Damage Dealt by Latias
125 HP｜89 Sp. Def Defensive EV Investment: 4 HP (Timid) Item: Choice Scarf	Draco Meteor 240 ~ 284 (119.4 ~ 141.2%) Guaranteed OHKO
55 HP｜55 Def Defensive EV Investment: 4 HP (Timid) Item: Booster Energy	Psyshock 108 ~ 127 (83 ~ 97.6%) Guaranteed 2HKO
91 HP｜100 Sp. Def Defensive EV Investment: 252 HP (Adamant) Ability: Multiscale Item: Choice Band	Ice Beam 102 ~ 120 (51.5 ~ 60.6%) Guaranteed 2HKO If No Multiscale: Ice Beam 204 ~ 240 (103 ~ 121.2%) Guaranteed OHKO
100 HP｜60 Sp. Def Defensive EV Investment: 4 HP (Jolly) Item: Punching Glove	Thunderbolt 152 ~ 180 (86.3 ~ 102.2%) 18.8% Chance to OHKO Has 100 Def, making this better than Psyshock
Damage Received by Latias
137 Sp. Atk Offensive EV Investment: 252 Sp. Atk (Timid) Item: Choice Scarf	Draco Meteor 122 ~ 146 (65.2 ~ 78%) Guaranteed 2HKO
135 Sp. Atk Offensive EV Investment: 252 Sp. Atk (Timid) Item: Booster Energy	Moonblast 90 ~ 108 (48.1 ~ 57.7%) 89.1% Chance to 2HKO
135 Sp. Atk Offensive EV Investment: 252 Sp. Atk (Modest) Item: Assault Vest	Blood Moon 72 ~ 85 (38.5 ~ 45.4%) Guaranteed 3HKO

Game8's Competitive Damage Calculator

Calm Mind Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Def 252 / Sp. Atk 4
Final Stat Values	HP 187 / Def 156 / Sp. Atk 131 / Sp. Def 150 / Spe 130
Ability	Levitate
Tera Type
Held Item	Leftovers
Moveset	・ Stored Power ・ Alluring Voice ・ Recover ・ Calm Mind

Summary

Becomes difficult to KO with this EV spread. One of the few Levitate users that can abuse Terastallization. Has multiple ways to recover its HP.

Ability and Held Item

Ability	Held Item
Levitate	Leftovers

Latias' only ability is Levitate. This is amazing with Terastallization because it can become an Electric-type, making it have zero weaknesses.

The item chosen for this build are Leftovers. This gives Latias a way to passively recover HP, so it doesn't need to constantly click Recover.

Moves Breakdown

Stored Power becomes its strongest Psychic-type STAB move after two Calm Mind boosts.

Alluring Voice is its main coverage move to help it deal with Dark-types that are immune to Stored Power.

Recover heals Latias for half of its max HP, making it even more difficult to remove from battle once it's set up.

Calm Mind is the key move on this build since it boosts Stored Power's damage, as well as Latias' Sp. Atk and Sp. Def stats that don't have any EV investment.

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 because it is the best defensive type in the game, and Latias normally resists Fire and Fighting while Levitate makes it immune to Ground.
Best Steel (Tera) Type Pokemon for Ranked Battle

EV Spread and Nature

A full 252 EVs are placed in its HP and Defense to make it as physically bulky as possible. The extra 4 EVs are put into its Sp. Atk to slightly boost its damage output.

A Bold nature is preferred to help minimize the damage Latias' takes from physical attacks.

Other Viable Moves

Doubles Movesets for Latias

Bulky Support Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Calm (+Sp. Def, -Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Def 4 / Sp. Atk 12 / Sp. Def 76 / Spe 164
Final Stat Values	HP 187 / Def 111 / Sp. Atk 132 / Sp. Def 176 / Spe 151
Ability	Levitate
Tera Type
Held Item	Rocky Helmet
Moveset	・ Mist Ball ・ Ice Beam ・ Tailwind ・ Recover

Summary

Naturally good defensive stats, especially its Sp. Def. Positive matchup against Landorus-I. Consistent bulky support Pokemon.

Ability and Held Item

Ability	Held Item
Levitate	Rocky Helmet

Latias' only ability is Levitate. This is amazing with Terastallization because it can become a Poison-type and be immune to its Ground weakness

The item chosen for this build is an Rocky Helmet. This improves Latias's matchup against physical attackers, being able to deal incremental damage on contact.

Moves Breakdown

Mist Ball has gotten buffed to have 95 BP, making it its strongest Psychic-type STAB move.

Ice Beam is great for Ice-weak Pokemon such as Dragons and Landorus-I.

Tailwind can allow your team to gain a Speed advantage when necessary.

Recover can give Latias added longevity in a match.

Best Tera Type: Poison

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

Poison is the best Tera Type for this build because gives Latias a resistance to Fairy. Latias's Levitate Ability gives it an important immunity to its other weakness, Ground.
Best Poison (Tera) Type Pokemon for Ranked Battle

EV Spread and Nature

A full 252 HP EVs are given, as well as 4 Defense EVs and 76 EVs so that Latias can withstand most hits, and set up Tailwind or Recover.

164 Speed EVs are given to Latias so that it can always outspeed base 98 Speed Pokemon and slower. These include Landorus-I, and Porygon-Z.

12 Special Attack EVs guarantee a knock out on Landorus Incarnate and Therian.

A Calm Nature is preferred for this build, giving Latias Special Bulk.

Other Viable Moves

Key Damage Calculations

Damage Dealt by Latias
89 HP｜80 Sp. Def No Defensive EV Investment Ability: Sheer Force Item: Life Orb	Ice Beam 180 ~ 216 (109.7 ~ 131.7%) Guaranteed OHKO
89 HP｜80 Sp. Def No Defensive EV Investment Tera Type: Ability: Sheer Force Item: Life Orb	Mist Ball 144 ~ 170 (87.8 ~ 103.6%) 25% Chance OHKO
Damage Received by Latias
Offensive EV Investment: 252 Sp. Atk Tera Type: Item: Choice Specs	Moonblast 228 ~ 272 (121.9 ~ 145.4%) Guaranteed OHKO
Offensive EV Investment: 252 Sp. Atk Tera Type: Item: Choice Specs	Moonblast 57 ~ 68 (30.4 ~ 36.3%) Tera Type: 54.1% Chance to 3HKO

Game8's Competitive Damage Calculator

How to Use Latias Effectively

Use as a Defensive Pivot Against Pokemon it Resists

Latias has an equal amount of weaknesses and resistances. Make sure to pivot around with allies that resist Latias' weaknesses so that you don't have to rely on Terastallization to keep it alive.

How to Build a Team with Latias

Latias is best teamed with allies that complement its typing by covering for its weaknesses while also having Latias cover for their weaknesses.

Sample Singles Team

Offensive Lead	Special Attacker	Special Attacker
Urshifu Single-Strike Style	Latias	Gholdengo

Urshifu acts as a solid lead to counter Latias and Gholdengo's Ghost and Dark weaknesses. It also can use Swords Dance to punish more passive leads on the opponent's side.

Once the Dark and Ghost-types are dealt with, Latias and Gholdengo provide a strong defensive duo with Latias covering for Gholdengo's Ground and Fire weaknesses and Gholdengo covering Latias' Bug, Ice, Dragon, and Fairy weaknesses.

Sample Doubles Team

Physical Attacker	Support / Special Attacker
Kingambit	Latias
Special Attacker	Physical Attacker
Landorus (Incarnate Forme)	Ogerpon (Wellspring Mask)

With Pokemon like Ogerpon and Latias on the team, opponents may be tempted to lead with Incineroar. This is good for Kingambit, who can benefit off Defiant boosts. It can also set up Swords Dance against opposing leads that do not exert much offensive pressure.

Ogerpon Wellspring Mask can offer redirection and allow for Kingambit or Landorus to set up Swords Dance and Substitute, while Latias provides Tailwind support for its three physically offensive teammates.

Counters for Latias

Use Strong Physical Attackers

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Dragonite	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Multiscale guarantees it to survive a single hit. ・Choice Band + Outrage is a guaranteed OHKO unless Latias Terastallizes to resist it. ▶️ Dragonite Best Movesets
Urshifu Single-Strike Style	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Max speed Urshifu outspeeds Latias unless it has Speed investment. ・Wicked Blow is an OHKO and +2 Attack OHKOs on a neutral hit. ・Commonly runs a Focus Sash to survive a single hit. ▶️ Urshifu Single Strike Best Movesets
Chien-Pao	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Icicle Crash is an OHKO unless Latias Terastallizes. ・Can also threaten a quick KO with Sucker Punch. ▶️ Chien-Pao Best Movesets

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