Is Solar Beam Good on Latios? A Deep Dive into its Viability
No, Solar Beam is generally not a good move for Latios. While it may seem tempting to utilize its high Special Attack stat, the drawbacks of Solar Beam far outweigh its potential benefits on this particular Pokémon. Its prohibitive energy cost, lack of type synergy, and limited coverage compared to its other available charged moves make it a suboptimal choice in most scenarios. Latios excels as a Dragon and Psychic-type attacker, and its moveset should be built to capitalize on these strengths. Solar Beam, a Grass-type move, simply doesn’t fit into this equation.
Latios’s Ideal Movesets and Why Solar Beam Falls Short
Latios’s most effective movesets revolve around its Dragon and Psychic-type attacks. For instance, a combination of Dragon Breath (fast move) and Dragon Claw (charged move) allows Latios to function effectively as a low-motivation gym sweeper and a potent Dragon attacker. Alternatively, Zen Headbutt (fast move) paired with Psychic (charged move) lets Latios inflict significant damage against targets weak to Psychic-type moves, such as Machamp.
Luster Purge, Latios’ signature move, is also a strong contender as a late-game nuke due to its higher power compared to Psychic. Though it has a 50% chance to lower the opponent’s Special Defense, this benefit is less consistent than simply going for raw damage.
Solar Beam, on the other hand, is a single-bar charge move with a very high energy cost. This means Latios takes a long time to charge it up and can only fire it off infrequently. Furthermore, Solar Beam doesn’t offer valuable coverage on a Dragon/Psychic-type Pokémon. Given that it does not benefit from same-type attack bonus (STAB), it’s damage output is lower than the same power moves from its own types. In most situations, you’d be better off using other moves. Therefore, while Solar Beam is a powerful move, Latios’s other options are much more strategic for maximizing its attack potential and are more versatile for raid and PVP situations.
The Alternatives and Their Advantages
The versatility of Latios’ moveset is where its true strength shines. Here’s a breakdown of why other options are superior:
- Dragon Breath + Dragon Claw: This pairing offers a consistent source of Dragon-type damage, ideal for taking down other Dragon-types or for quick, multi-bar charge move usage in gym battles.
- Zen Headbutt + Psychic: This combination allows Latios to capitalize on its Psychic typing, dealing super-effective damage against Fighting-types and other Pokémon weak to Psychic.
- Luster Purge: This move offers more power than Psychic for only slightly more energy, making it a suitable late-game finisher.
These moves make the best use of Latios’ typing and offensive strengths. Solar Beam, being a Grass-type move, simply doesn’t synergize with these types. It lacks the STAB bonus, its energy cost is high, and it doesn’t offer any unique coverage that Latios needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions that provide deeper insights into Latios’s moveset and optimal usage:
1. What are Latios’s best moves in Pokémon GO?
Latios’s best movesets are typically Dragon Breath and Dragon Claw for consistent Dragon-type damage, or Zen Headbutt and Psychic for targeting Psychic-type weaknesses. Luster Purge is also a great option for a late-game nuke.
2. Is Luster Purge better than Psychic for Latios?
Yes, Luster Purge is generally better than Psychic due to its higher damage output, though it has a small chance to lower the target’s Special Defense, making it slightly less consistent.
3. Should I use Dragon Breath or Zen Headbutt on Latios?
The choice depends on the situation. Use Dragon Breath when you need consistent Dragon-type damage or are facing Dragon-type enemies. Choose Zen Headbutt if you need to deal super-effective damage against Psychic-weak Pokémon.
4. What is the best item for Latios?
In the main series games, Life Orb is often the best item for Latios, offering a significant damage boost without locking it into a specific move. In Pokémon GO, items aren’t used, but focusing on maxing its Special Attack and Speed EVs is optimal in the main series games.
5. What is Latios’s signature move?
Latios’s signature move is Luster Purge. It has higher base power than Psychic and a chance to lower the target’s Special Defense.
6. What is the best charged move for Latias?
Outrage is the preferred charge move for Latias due to its higher damage output. Psychic also has good synergy with its Zen Headbutt fast move. Mist Ball, its signature move, is ultimately inferior to Psychic.
7. Is Latios better than Latias?
Latios is generally better for offense, while Latias is better for defense and support. Latias also has access to Heal Pulse for healing.
8. Should I purify a Shadow Latios?
Purification is not always necessary. Shadow Latios has higher attack power, but if you need a more balanced Latios, purifying it can make it more accessible for raids and other battles.
9. Is Solar Beam a good move on any Pokémon?
Yes, Solar Beam is a powerful move, but its effectiveness depends heavily on the Pokémon using it. It works best on Grass-type Pokémon with high Special Attack that can also benefit from the Drought ability or have chlorophyll. Venusaur and Liligant are good examples.
10. Is Solar Blade better than Solar Beam?
Solar Blade is slightly stronger than Solar Beam in base power, but the critical difference is that Solar Blade is a physical move, making it better for physically oriented Pokémon. Solar Beam is a special move, benefiting Pokemon with high Special Attack.
11. What is the strongest beam in Pokémon?
The strongest “beam” moves are typically variations of Hyper Beam, but many of these are signature moves. For example, Necrozma’s signature move is one of the strongest in the Psychic typing.
12. Is Hyper Beam or Solar Beam better?
Hyper Beam has a higher base power (150) compared to Solar Beam (120). However, Solar Beam requires a charge turn before attacking, and Hyper Beam forces the user to recharge the next turn. Both moves have their limitations. In Pokemon Go, Hyper Beam has 150 base power with 100% accuracy and Solar Beam does 180 base damage with 80% accuracy.
13. What are Latios’s weaknesses?
Latios, being a Dragon/Psychic type, is weak to Ice, Dark, Ghost, Bug, Fairy, and other Dragon-type moves.
14. What are some of the best counters for Latios?
Rayquaza, Dialga, and Palkia are some of the best counters for Latios. Any strong Pokemon with Ice, Dark, Dragon, or Ghost moves will prove effective against Latios.
15. Who has the strongest Hyper Beam?
Some of the best Pokémon that use Hyper Beam are Porygon-Z, Drampa, and Flutter Mane,. Xurkitree, Blacephalon, Cursola, Vikavolt, and Iron Moth are also good users of Hyper Beam.
Conclusion
In summary, while Solar Beam is a powerful move in its own right, it is not a beneficial choice for Latios. Its high energy cost, lack of STAB, and limited type coverage make it less effective than Latios’s other move options. Focus on utilizing Latios’s Dragon and Psychic-type moves to maximize its potential in battle and leave Solar Beam for other Grass-type specialists. By understanding Latios’s strengths and weaknesses, you can make the most of this legendary Pokémon and dominate in your Pokémon GO battles.