Monotype Bulky Offense Dragon (M-Latias)

[Havens]

Bulky Offense Dragon (Mega Latias)​

Team

Latias-Mega @ Latiasite
Ability: Levitate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 140 HP / 252 Def / 116 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Substitute/Refresh
- Recover
- Stored Power

Kyurem-Black @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Iron Head
- Fusion Bolt
- Outrage
- Ice Beam

Hydreigon @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dark Pulse
- Earth Power
- Fire Blast/Flamethrower
- Roost

Garchomp @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 92 Spe
Lax Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Fire Blast
- Dragon Tail

Latios @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Trick/Ice Beam
- Defog
- Psyshock
- Draco Meteor

Dragonite @ Protective Pads
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Fire Punch
- Superpower/Earthquake
- Extreme Speed
- Outrage

Description

It's a very neat Dragon team centered around Mega Latias. While it seems average on paper, there are some neat tricks and spreads that help to break down many threats that Dragon should normally lose.

Latias: The main centerpoint of the entire team, Latias' amazing bulk overall makes it currently Dragons' best defensive mon. 116 Speed outspeeds the likes of Buzzwole, Mamoswine, Adamant Excadrill, Tapu Bulu, Mega Heracross, and more. Max Def Bold nature coupled with 140 HP allows it to tank Physical hits very nicely; For example, this set allows Latias to live Ice Punch/Return from Mega Lopunny, LO Iron Head from Adamant Excadrill, and Scarf Terrakion Stone Edge solidly, even with prior Stealth Rock damage. Couple the great defenses with Calm Mind and Substitute, and this thing becomes a flying fortress. Recover is self explanitory to heal off damage, Stored Power to abuse the Calm Mind Boosts and in some cases, acts as a bulky sweeper. Refresh can be swapped over Substitute to be utilized as a status Cleric, taking away status from Prankster mons or those naturally faster, such as Klefki, Cobalion, Whimsicott, Sableye before Mega Evolution, and more. Overall, the best mon on this team, as well as the best answer to Normal and Water teams.

Kyurem-B: Pretty Standard Kyurem set. It's all the moves you expect, added with a Choice Scarf to deal with the likes of Mega Diancie, Mimikyu, Mega Gallade, Mega Gardevoir, and a bunch of other faster threats minus Deoxys-S hazard setup.

Hydreigon: Overall, this teams best answer to Steel. LO + Fire Blast/Earth Power/Dark Pulse makes any hit that lands OHKO or 2OHKO everything Steel has to offer. Roost is there to extend Hydreigons' longevity and puts a thorn in anyone's side. Fire Blast can be substituted for Flamethrower if you're worried about accuracy.

Garchomp: Classic TankChomp. Reliably sets up Stealth Rock for Sash/Sturdy users; Rough Skin plus Helmet damage chunks most Physical attackers; Earthquake for STAB, Fire Blast for Coverage, Dragon Tail to faze out Setup Sweepers. It is and should be a staple on nearly every Dragon team.

Latios: Standard Latios with a Scarf. Ice beam and Trick can be used interchangeably, for Ice Beam creates better offensive pressure when facing the likes of Mega Altaria, Landorus, Zapdos, Hippowdon, and others, While Trick can be applied to switch items on Celesteela, Chansey, Porygon2, Toxapex, and others to make Wallbreaking/Stallbreaking much easier for you.

Dragonite: Standard Dragonite, but coupled with a cool toy in Protective Pads. Since Protective Pads shield Dragonite's Physical Moves from making contact, it is very simple to click Outrage on TankChomp without suffering damage. This is applied to all Helmet users and contact ability users alike, such as Ferrothorn, Garchomp, Skarmory, Defensive Staraptor, Mandibuzz, and even shields itself from stat changing/status contact users like Goodra, Volcarona, Static Zapdos, while damaging them with little to no risk involved. Superpower and Earthquake are interchangeable, though I'd prefer Superpower to have a better chance with this team in the Dragon vs. Dark Matchup.

Again, a very solid team on paper with some neat tricks involved. It may not be the most "optimal sets" according to what the "standards" of a "normal" Dragon team are today, however, that doesn't mean that the meta can't develop, or at least make the attempt to.

 

[smub]

Hi, this is a pretty cool Dragon team, but I have a few specific suggestions:

Choice Band > Protective Pads on Dragonite: While it does seem like a neat idea, Dragonite just doesn't have enough power backing it without a Choice Band. The Pokemon you mentioned in its description being Skarmory, Staraptor, and Mandibuzz are all able to beat non-Banded Dragonite either way, with Mandibuzz and Staraptor being able to switch in and avoid a 2HKO if Stealth Rock isn't up, and Skarmory just effortlessly being able to switch in:

252+ Atk Dragonite Fire Punch vs. 224 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 106-126 (32.4 - 38.5%) -- 2.5% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

252+ Atk Dragonite Outrage vs. 248 HP / 244+ Def Mandibuzz: 154-183 (36.4 - 43.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

-1 252+ Atk Dragonite Outrage vs. 240 HP / 252+ Def Staraptor: 133-157 (35.8 - 42.3%) -- 91.5% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

So yeah, Protective Pads does a lot worse in certain matchups than helps, not being able to score some important 2HKOes. It could be somewhat decent for bluffing a Choice item, but otherwise it usually isn't worth it.

Roost > Recover on Mega Latias: It sounds cooler and has a better animation imo :)