Latias is one of several legendaries in the Hoenn games : Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald
Latias is a dual type Pokemon with the typing Dragon/Psychic
Latias has no known evolutions, like most/all legendary Pokemon.
Latias is highly sensitive to the emotions of people. If she senses any hostility, she ruffles the feathers all over her body and cries shrilly to intimidate the foe. Latias is highly intelligent and capable of understanding human speech. She is covered with a glass-like down. It enfolds her body with its down and refracts light to alter its appearance. Latias can telepathically communicate with people.
Latias has one ability, Levitate, which makes it immune to Ground Type moves, and Spikes. In a scenario against, say, a Forretress, you can avoid Spikes, and it's normal one attacking move, Earthquake.
~Suggested Movesets~
Let's start with my personal favorite moveset~
Help Yourself@Leftovers/Soul Dew [If battling Ubers]
~Calm Mind~
~Recover~
~Dragon Pulse~
Psyshock~
^
This is my personal favourite set for Latias, amongst many others. It well puts together Latias' abilities. First, let's start with why I chose the item I chose. Leftovers are there as to heal you whilst you're setting up, and to keep your HP nice and balanced while you're battling. The gradual healing of Leftovers helps keep Latias in play, without it, she could lose a lot faster than wished. During Uber battling, Soul Dew is a must have for a held item choice, Soul Dew's 50% boost turns Latias' normal sweeping, into amazing sweeping. The boost onto Special Attack and Special Defense make Latias start out a powerful opponent. If played out correctly, and you set up Latias, then you've practically already won. Now to move onto the moveset, itself. Calm Mind is a must have move for any Latias set. With Calm Mind, Latias can quickly increase her Special Attack and Special Defense stats, giving way to a powerful sweeper. Recover coexists with the held item, Leftovers. Recover is there to raise Latias' HP if in peril; this move is extremely helpful while setting up your Calm Minds, so you could, per say, get in two Calm Minds, then a Recover, and so on. Dragon Pulse is one of Latias' two offensive moves in this set. Dragon Pulse is already a powerful move, whilst not lowering any stats, giving way to a strong hit with STAB included. STAB Dragon Pulse plus one or two Calm Minds will be an extremely formidable move to be put against, and will put your opponent to a test of strength. Psyshock is another STAB move for Latias, and her last move of this set. Psyshock is slightly less powerful than Dragon Pulse is, but helps cover some Not Very Effective [NFE] hits that Dragon Pulse wouldn't. Psyshock will also help get rid of a few Ghosts, and Fighting Types. STAB gives Latias a nice typing advantage against many Pokemon.
Secondary Set Up@Leftovers/Soul Dew [If battling Ubers]
~Dragon Claw/Psychic~
~Calm Mind~
~Recover~
~Thunderbolt/Ice Beam/Surf~
^
This set is much like the one listed above. The item aspect of it is exactly the same. Leftovers are there to gradually boost HP, and to keep Latias safe while Calm Minding. Dragon Claw is a substitute move for Dragon Pulse. Dragon Claw works, but is not, in many cases, as good as Dragon Pulse. Though, Dragon Claw is still an option for Latias, due to STAB. Psychic is debatable against Dragon Claw. Dragon Claw holds more coverage than Psychic, though, Psychic has more power than Dragon Claw has to offer. Psychic also gives STAB, so either works. Calm Mind is, once again, there to boost Latias into a powerful sweeper, that can take a few hits. Calm Mind will boost Special Attack and Special Defense, and can be used up to six times. Recover will help Latias by a lot, while in battle. Recover, and Leftovers, will keep Latias nice and safe while setting up, and will keep her protected through combat, as well. Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, and Surf could all be argued over. Each one gives Latias some different coverage, though, for this set, Surf would probably be preferred. Thunderbolt and Ice Beam give Latias good strength, though, not the coverage that might be wanted for Latias.
The Wish Passer@Leftovers
~Dragon Claw~
~Wish~
~Protect/Safeguard/Refresh~
~Thunder Wave/Toxic~
^
This set is a perfect Wish Pass set. Latias already offers high Special Defense, and can always be a supporter for other team members. This Latias will keep herself safe and protected, whilst helping her teammates, and can also give and take a hit. Dragon Claw is there for STAB, and is an efficient move to have against opponents, due to the coverage that it provides. Wish is there for a Wish Pass play. Wish Pass will help heal your teammates HP, and offer a safe switch if you can determine damage well. Protect, Safeguard, and Refresh could all be debated against one another. Protect is simply another way to keep Latias safe, though, she doesn't need it. Latias could survive just about as long with Protect, as she could without. Safeguard will help your team, and not just Latias alone, which could be helpful, and I would say would be the preferred move over the others. Refresh can keep Latias safe from status problems, such as Poison, Paralysis, and Burn. This can be extremely helpful during battle. If Latias were to get struck by a Toxic, she might have trouble carrying on. Lastly, Thunder Wave and Toxic. Thunder Wave will slow your opponents down, which could help Latias a bit, but won't contribute much. Toxic, on the other hand, is another good way to deal damage to your opponents, and they won't be able to simply stay in forever. Though, the only drawback to Toxic is Steel Types. Toxic won't by effecting Steel Types anytime soon, so Pokemon such as Scizor and Escavalier, are real threats. Thunder Wave can, and will, slow your opponent down, but, you must play your moves very well as to not sacrifice Latias.
Basic Helper@Leftovers
~Reflect~
~Light Screen~
~Wish~
~Dragon Claw~
^
This is really a basic helper set. Latias will get the chance to up her teammates' defenses, and will certainly be put to good use. However, this set does not, under any circumstances, live up to Latias' full potential. Reflect, and Light Screen, will simply help Latias' teammates with some valour. Wish will be there so Latias can Wish Pass, granting her fellow Pokemon some more HP, or a safe switch if predicted well. Dragon Claw is simply there to fight back, if necessary, with STAB helping the move a little.
Psych Up/Helping Hand@Soul Dew [Ubers]
~Psych up/Helping Hand~
~Psychic/Dragon Claw~
~Recover~
~Thunderbolt/Surf/Ice Beam~
^
This is basically, and really for the most part, a basic/standard 2 vs. 2 helper that Psychs Up and [or] gives her teammates a, 'Helping Hand' during the match. Psychic and Dragon Claw are there for protection, as well as Thunderbolt/Surf/Ice Beam. This Latias will protect, and deal some damage, though, not living up to her fullest prowess. This set isn't the greatest option for Latias, especially not in the Uber Tier, though, this set needs Soul Dew to keep it steady.
The Finale@Choice Band
~Earthquake~
~Shadow Ball~
~Thunderbolt~
~Hidden Power [Bug or Rock]~
^
This Latias is antique, to say the most. Though not the best set, the surprise factor is immense. You could probably manage at least one surprise One Hit Knock Out/Knock Out with this set. This is an extremely out of average set, and will definitely trick the opponent at least once. The Speed factor will also almost give Latias a full on first attack, though, not guaranteed, of course. With the out of average sense of this set, Latias' Special Attack is well used, and managed, as a revenge killer. The main point of this set is the surprise factor, and the revenge killing. As long as this set is utilized correctly, you could definitely get some nice game-turning Knock Outs. If not utilized properly, this set will fall apart and break in an instant, cue the, 'antique', phrase for it.
Latias' EV's and Nature will almost always be one of these three :
252 Defense, 204 Speed, 54 Special Defense; Bold Nature [+Def, -Atk]
12 HP, 252 Defense, 204 Speed, 42 Special Attack//Special Defense; Bold Nature [+Def, -Atk]
4 HP, 176 Defense, 252 Speed, 176 Special Defense; Timid Nature [+Spd, -Atk]
Latias' usage will almost always be the same usage in the metagame. She normally remains a Calm Minder, or a Helper. Though, like the last set I showed you, she can be a rather contradictory, and surprise attack Pokemon. Keep your eyes alert, that can happen. My preference for Latias will always be as a Calm Minder, and probably the same for most, though, it's not guaranteed. As a Calm Minder [especially in Uber battles, with the usage of Soul Dew], you can utilize Latias' power to her utmost extent, creating a major obstacle, that many won't want to have to get around. Latias' sets are ones that must be used properly, or else she may crash and burn depending on the situation you've got her in.
