Pokémon Sword and Shield Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

Pokemon Sword and Shield

Latios - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

7

★ Tier List / Doubles Tier List / Movesets / Rental Teams
☆ Competitive Battle Guide

Pokemon - Latios Movesets and Counters.png
This is a strategy guide for using Latios in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Latios, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Latios - Related Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Latios Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SWSH - Latios Best BuildBuild for Ranked Battle

List of Contents

Basic Information for Latios

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Latios ImageLatios
 Pokemon Sword and Shield - Dragon Type Pokemon Sword and Shield - Psychic Type
Abilities
Levitate Gives immunity to Ground type moves.

Latios Weaknesses and Resistances

Type
Takes 4x damage
-
Takes 2x damage
Pokemon Ice Image Pokemon Bug Image Pokemon Ghost Image Pokemon Dragon Image Pokemon Dark Image Pokemon Fairy Image
Takes 0.5x damage
Pokemon Fire Image Pokemon Water Image Pokemon Grass Image Pokemon Electric Image Pokemon Fighting Image Pokemon Psychic Image
Takes 1/4x damage
-
Takes 0x damage
Pokemon Ground Image

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP Attack Defense Sp. Atk Sp. Def Speed
80 90 80 130 110 110

Best Nature for Latios

Best Natures
Timid
(+Spd, -Atk)

Singles Movesets for Latios

Choice Specs Sweeper Moveset & Best Build

Choice Specs Sweeper Latios.png

Nature Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread Sp.Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values HP 155 / Def 101 / Sp.Atk 182 / Sp.Def 130 / Spd 178
Ability Levitate
Held Item Choice Specs
Moveset ・Draco Meteor
・Psyshock
・Mystical Fire
・Trick

A combination of high special attack and speed, as well as great natural bulk, make Latios a threatening Choice Specs sweeper in the metagame. While it faces competition from faster Dragon-types, such as Dragapult, the sheer power behind its moves is enough to warrant it a spot in many teams!

About Latios' Moves

Draco Meteor is Latios' strongest move, punching holes in teams and outright KOing Pokemon that don't resist it or are not immune to Dragon-type moves. Psyshock is its secondary STAB move, and allows it to threaten Special Walls by hitting their weaker defensive stat.

It's remaining two moves are for coverage. Thunderbolt hits bulky waters hard, as well as specially defensive Flying-type Pokemon such as Corviknight. Surf, on the other hand, hits Fire-types and Ground-types hard.

About Latios' EV Spread

We're using a straightforward EV spread with full investment in Speed and Special Attack. It's remaining EVs are placed in Special Defense to further boost its naturally high special defense stat.

About Latios' Ability

Levitate is Latios' only ability. While it doesn't provide any offensive utility, it does allow Latios to switch into Ground-type moves and Spikes and Toxic Spikes without taking any damage.

About Latios' Held Item

We're giving Latios Choice Specs for this build. This item boosts the power of Latios' special moves by 50% but it can only use the initial move it used on its turn.

Other Viable Moves

Psychic A stronger alternative to Psyshock but doesn't target the Defense stat.
Aura Sphere A priority move that allows Latios to have coverage against Rock and Steel-type Pokemon.
Shadow Ball Another strong coverage move against Ghost and Psychic-type Pokemon.
Air Slash A strong coverage Flying-type move.
Surf Again, another strong coverage move against Ground, Fire, and Rock-type Pokemon.

Stored Power Sweeper Moveset & Best Build

Stored Power Sweeper Latios.png

Nature Timid(+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread Sp.Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values HP 155 / Def 100 / Sp.Atk 182 / Sp.Def 131 / Spd 178
Ability Levitate
Held Item Life Orb
Moveset ・Calm Mind
・Stored Power
・Dragon Pulse
・Recover

Access to Calm Mind and Stored Power allow Latios to function as a threatening setup sweeper that can easily sweep entire teams if given the chance!

About Latios's Moves

Calm Mind boosts Latios' special attack and special defense by one stage. This works in conjunction with Stored Power, which gets a +20 increase in base power for every positive boost Latios gets.

Dragon Pulse is its secondary STAB move, and while relatively weak, can hit hard if enough Calm Mind boosts is accumulated. It's last move is Recover, which increases Latios' survivability and staying power.

About Latios's EV Spread

We're using a straightforward EV spread with full investment in Speed and Special Attack. It's remaining EVs are placed in Special Defense to further boost its naturally high special defense stat.

About Latios's Ability

Levitate is Latios' only ability. While it doesn't provide any offensive utility, it does allow Latios to switch into Ground-type moves and Spikes and Toxic Spikes without taking any damage.

About Latios's Held Item

We're giving Latios Life Orb for this build. This boosts the power of all its attacks by 30% at the cost of some residual damage.

Other Viable Moves

Thunderbolt Thunderbolt can replace Dragon Pulse so that Latios can hit Bulky Water-types better and is a great neutral move in general.
Safeguard Can be used instead of Recover to prevent Latios from getting worn down by Burns or Poison.
Reflect An alternative to Recover that allows Latios to patch up its weaker defense stat for five turns, increasing its overall bulk.

Weakness Policy Moveset & Best Build

Nature Modest(+Sp. Atk, -Atk)
EV Spread HP 232 / Def 124 / Sp.Atk 36 / Sp.Def 4 / Spd 108
Final Stat Values HP 185 / Def 116 / Sp.Atk 170 / Sp.Def 131 / Spd 144
Ability Levitate
Held Item Weakness Policy
Moveset ・Psychic
・Mystical Fire
・Air Slash
・Draco Meteor

This Latios build is more of a tankier take on the Eon Pokemon. Tank supper effective moves using Weakness Policy and try and revenge sweep the rest of your opponent's team.

How to Use Latios Effectively

A Hard-Hitting Special Sweeper

Latios sets itself apart from other special sweepers by having the special attack stat to back up its attacks. While Dragapult and Starmie are faster, they have relatively low special attack stats that can leave them walled by defensive Pokemon.

Latios, on the other hand, has an excellent special attack stat and utility moves like Psyshock that allow it to target a special wall's weaker defensive stat. This makes the Eon Pokemon an overall more reliable special sweeper than its competition.

How to Build a Team with Latios

Latios is a versatile Pokemon that is easy to fit in many teams in both the Singles and Doubles format.

A Hyper Offense Setup Sweeper

Latios is an excellent choice for a setup sweeper in Offensive teams. Unlike other sweepers, Latios doesn't necessarily need to set up with Calm Mind to hit hard thanks to its naturally high special attack stat.

That said, Latios is one of the strongest setup sweepers in the game thanks to Stored Power and its high speed. If left unchecked, it can easily sweep entire teams!

Check out our article below to learn more about Hyper Offense teams.
How to Build an Offensive Team | Best Hyper Offense Team

Counters for Latios

Latios
Weakness Pokemon Ice Image Pokemon Bug Image Pokemon Ghost Image Pokemon Dragon Image Pokemon Dark Image Pokemon Fairy Image

Wall it with Pokemon that Resists its STAB

For all its immediate power, Latios is easily walled by Fairy-type Pokemon as it lacks any coverage move that can hit them reliably hard. This means that even non-defensive Pokemon can wall Choice Specs variants if they're locked in a Dragon-type move.

Steel-type Pokemon are another good choice to send out to counter a rampaging Latios as the Eon Pokemon lacks a reliable coverage move that can hit them for super effective damage.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Grimmsnarl ImageGrimmsnarl Ranking: ★★★★★
・Immune to Latios' Dragon and Psychic STAB
・Can KO Latios with Spirit Break, which also has a chance to lower its Special Attack
Moveset & Best Build for Grimmsnarl
Pokemon SWSH - Scizor ImageScizor Ranking: ★★★★★
・Resists Latios' Dragon and Psychic STAB
・Can easily knock out Latios with Choice Band boosted U-Turn
Moveset & Best Build for Scizor
Pokemon SWSH - Clefable ImageClefable Ranking: ★★★★★
・Immune to Latios' Dragon-type STAB
・Takes little damage from Psychock thanks to its great mixed bulk
・Its Unware ability ignores Calm Mid and Stored Power boosts
Moveset & Best Build for Clefable

Use Fast Pokemon

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Cinderace ImageCinderace Ranking: ★★★★★
・Cinderace is a strong attacking Pokemon that has high speed
Cinderace - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Pokemon SWSH - Dragapult ImageDragapult Ranking: ★★★★
・A faster Dragon-type Pokemon that can OTK Latios
Dragapult - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Pokemon SWSH - Naganadel ImageNaganadel Ranking: ★★★★
・A faster Dragon-type Pokemon that can OTK Latios
Naganadel - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Related Links

Pokemon Sword and Shield - Best Builds for Ranked Battle

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Tier ListTier List Pokemon SWSH - Best BuildsBest Builds Pokemon Sword and Shield - Ranked Battle Series 10 Contenders.pngSeries 10 List of Contenders
Pokemon SWSH - Doubles Tier ListDoubles Tier List Pokemon SWSH - Competitive Team BuildingTeam Building Pokemon SWSH - Rental TeamsRental Teams

Best Builds for The Crown Tundra Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for The Crown Tundra Pokemon
Pokemon SWSH - Galarian Articuno Best BuildsGalarian Articuno Pokemon SWSH - Galarian Zapdos Best BuildsGalarian Zapdos Pokemon SWSH - Galarian Moltres Best BuildsGalarian Moltres
Pokemon SWSH - Raikou Best BuildsRaikou Pokemon SWSH - Entei Best BuildsEntei Pokemon SWSH - Suicune Best BuildsSuicune
Pokemon SWSH - Articuno Best BuildsArticuno Pokemon SWSH - Zapdos Best BuildsZapdos Pokemon SWSH - Moltres Best BuildsMoltres
Pokemon SWSH - Tornadus Best BuildsTornadus Pokemon SWSH - Thundurus Best BuildsThundurus Pokemon SWSH - Landorus Best BuildsLandorus
Pokemon SWSH - Tapu Koko Best BuildsTapu Koko Pokemon SWSH - Tapu Lele Best BuildsTapu Lele Pokemon SWSH - Tapu Bulu Best BuildsTapu Bulu
Pokemon SWSH - Tapu Fini Best BuildsTapu Fini Pokemon SWSH - Regieleki Best BuildsRegieleki Pokemon SWSH - Regidrago Best BuildsRegidrago
Pokemon SWSH - Latios Best BuildsLatios Pokemon SWSH - Latias Best BuildsLatias Pokemon SWSH - Heatran Best BuildsHeatran
Pokemon SWSH - Cresselia Best BuildsCresselia Pokemon SWSH - Glastrier Best BuildsGlastrier Pokemon SWSH - Spectrier Best BuildsSpectrier
Pokemon SWSH - Nidoking Best BuildsNidoking Pokemon SWSH - Swampert Best BuildsSwampert Pokemon SWSH - Dragonite Best BuildsDragonite
Pokemon SWSH - Salamence Best BuildsSalamence Pokemon SWSH - Garchomp Best BuildsGarchomp Pokemon SWSH - Metagross Best BuildsMetagross
Pokemon SWSH - Galarian Slowking Best BuildsGalarian Slowking Pokemon SWSH - Nihilego Best BuildsNihilego Pokemon SWSH - Naganadel Best BuildsNaganadel
Pokemon SWSH - Pheromosa Best BuildsPheromosa Pokemon SWSH - Buzzwole Best BuildsBuzzwole Pokemon SWSH - Celesteela Best BuildsCelesteela
Pokemon SWSH - Kartana Best BuildsKartana Pokemon SWSH - Stakataka Best BuildsStakataka Pokemon SWSH - Blaziken Best BuildsBlaziken
Pokemon SWSH - Kyogre Best BuildsKyogre Pokemon SWSH - Yveltal Best BuildsYveltal Pokemon SWSH - Xerneas Best BuildsXerneas
Pokemon SWSH - Necrozma (Dusk Mane) Best BuildsNecrozma (Dusk Mane) Pokemon SWSH - Calyrex (Shadow Rider) Best BuildsCalyrex (Shadow Rider) Pokemon SWSH - Mewtwo Best BuildsMewtwo
Pokemon SWSH - Calyrex (Ice Rider) Best BuildsCalyrex (Ice Rider) Pokemon SWSH - Dialga Best BuildsDialga Pokemon SWSH - Lugia Best BuildsLugia
Pokemon SWSH - Black Kyurem Best BuildsBlack Kyurem Pokemon SWSH - Zekrom Best BuildsZekrom Pokemon SWSH - Ho-Oh Best BuildsHo-Oh
Pokemon SWSH - Rayquaza Best BuildsRayquaza Pokemon SWSH - Zygarde Best BuildsZygarde Pokemon SWSH - Reshiram Best BuildsReshiram
Pokemon SWSH - White Kyurem Best BuildsWhite Kyurem Pokemon SWSH - Groudon Best BuildsGroudon Pokemon SWSH - Regirock Best BuildsRegirock
Pokemon SWSH - Palkia Best BuildsPalkia Pokemon SWSH - Regigigas Best BuildsRegigigas Pokemon SWSH - Registeel Best BuildsRegisteel
Pokemon SWSH - Regice Best BuildsRegice Pokemon SWSH - Giratina Best BuildsGiratina Pokemon SWSH - Solgaleo Best BuildsSolgaleo
Pokemon SWSH - Lunala Best BuildsLunala Pokemon SWSH - Kyurem Best BuildsKyurem Pokemon SWSH - Necrozma Best BuildsNecrozma
Pokemon SWSH - Uxie Best BuildsUxie Pokemon SWSH - Mesprit Best BuildsMesprit Pokemon SWSH - Azelf Best BuildsAzelf
Pokemon SWSH - Calyrex Best BuildsCalyrex

Comment

See more comments (7 Comments)

Author

Pokémon Sword and Shield Walkthrough Team
This article was created by Game8's elite team of writers and gamers.
    Leave feedback(Login required)

    Walkthrough Menu

    Latest News

    Events

    Online Competitions

    The Crown Tundra

    Crown Tundra Story Guides

    Crown Tundra Pokemon Lists

    Crown Tundra New Features

    Crown Tundra Maps

    Crown Tundra New Items

    Crown Tundra Updated Guides

    Crown Tundra Tips & Tricks

    How to Get Crown Tundra Pokemon

    Obtainable via the Story
    Non-Story Pokemon

    The Isle of Armor

    New Features

    Tips & Tricks

    Game Information

    Maps

    Isle of Armor

    Hot Articles

    Message Boards

    Story Walkthrough

    Main Story

    Trainer Battles

    Post Game Content

    Advice for Finishing the Story

    Pokedex

    Pokemon in Sword and Shield

    List of Pokemon by Type

    How to Get Rare Pokemon

    Wild Area

    Guide to the Wild Area

    Wild Area Maps and Obtainable Pokemon

    Items

    Moves

    Abilities

    Competitive Play

    Training & Breeding Your Pokemon

    Tier Lists for Ranked Battle

    Competitive Team Building

    Movesets & Best Builds for Ranked Battle

    The Crown Tundra
    The Isle of Armor Pokemon
    New Pokemon
    Returning Pokemon

    Best Teams for Ranked Battle

    Beginner's Tips & Guides

    Pokemon Guides & Strategy

    New to Pokemon Sword and Shield

    Trade & Battle Pokemon Online

    Miscellaneous

    New Features

    Japanese Pokemon Sword and Shield Walkthrough

    Other Pokemon Wikis

    Rankings

    Popular Articles
    Message Board
    • We could not find the message board you were looking for.

    Gaming News

    Stellar Blade Holiday Update Makes It Feel Naughtier or Nicer

    Stellar Blade Holiday Update Makes It Feel Naughtier or N...

    Popular Games

    Recommended Games

    All rights reserved

    ©2019 Pokémon. ©1995-2019 Nintendo/Creatures Inc. /GAME FREAK inc.

    The copyrights of videos of games used in our content and other intellectual property rights belong to the provider of the game.
    The contents we provide on this site were created personally by members of the Game8 editorial department.
    We refuse the right to reuse or repost content taken without our permission such as data or images to other sites.