Landorus in depth
A deity made of earth and wind
Landorus's design is based on a deity linked to agriculture and fertility. Its humanoid body, ornaments and the cloud it rides bring it closer to the image of a wind spirit, while its tail and earthy colour link it to cultivated land. The Japanese name, ランドロス, and the English name Landorus combine “land” with Aeolus, the name of a figure associated with winds in Greek mythology. The idea fits its Pokédex entries: it does not cause crops to grow by chance, but transforms the energy of wind and lightning into nutrients for the soil.
From the cloud trio to the harvest beast
Landorus debuted in Generation V alongside Tornadus and Thundurus. In the first games, it was only shown in its humanoid form. The sequels to Pokémon Black and Pokémon White added Therian Forme, with its feline appearance, and the Reveal Glass made it possible to switch between the two. This change was not merely visual: it turned the trio into a group with two clearly differentiated representations, one more spiritual and the other more animalistic.
Therian Forme also reinforced the comparison with Groudon, although their concepts are not the same. Groudon represents the expansion of the land; Landorus focuses on making that land fertile. That is why its entries talk about abundant crops and nourishing the soil, not continents or massive cataclysms.
What it looks for in a team
Incarnate Forme makes better use of its two high offensive stats. With 125 Attack, 115 Special Attack and 101 Speed, it can attack physically, specially or mix both approaches to make it harder for the opponent to predict its spread. Earth Power, Focus Blast and Stone Edge cover a broad part of the offensive game; Earthquake is preferable when physical power is wanted without relying on secondary effects.
Sand Force requires an active sandstorm and rewards the use of Ground- and Rock-type moves. Sheer Force is more self-sufficient: it improves attacks with secondary effects and removes those effects. That Ability makes certain coverage moves especially appealing, but it does not solve its defensive problems. The quadruple weakness to Ice means keeping an eye on any opponent that can attack from that angle, and its 80 Special Defence punishes careless switch-ins.
A Legendary Pokémon with no breeding or evolution
The absence of evolution fits its role in the world: it is not an intermediate stage, but a complete entity from the moment it appears. It also cannot reproduce, so every specimen comes from a direct acquisition. Its catch rate of 3 reinforces the feeling of an exceptional encounter.
In a normal playthrough, it stands out when it is time to take advantage of its type coverage and its Ground-, Rock-, Fighting- and Psychic-type moves. In competitive battles, its value lies in forcing the opponent to respect several possible sets. If it comes in against a target that cannot threaten it with Water or Ice, it can set Stealth Rock, attack immediately with Earth Power or Earthquake, or switch out with U-turn before a counterattack appears.