Understanding the Abundance Pokémon: Landorus
Landorus, a Legendary Pokémon from the Unova region, is a powerful and versatile addition to any trainer’s roster in Pokémon Go. As a dual Ground and Flying-type and a member of the Forces of Nature trio alongside Tornadus and Thundurus, Landorus is especially valuable in high-level battles such as raids and the Master League. Trainers looking to add this formidable Pokémon to their collection can refer to the Pokemon Go Capturing Landorus guide, which outlines effective strategies for encountering and catching Landorus during its appearances in five-star raids.
Its unique typing gives it key resistances and offensive advantages, making it a strong counter against Electric, Fire, Rock, Steel, and Poison-type opponents, and particularly effective in raids against popular bosses like Heatran, Reshiram, and Zekrom. With the right approach to capturing and powering up Landorus, it can become a critical asset in both PvE and PvP formats.
In Pokémon Go, Landorus is available in two distinct forms: Incarnate Forme and Therian Forme. The Incarnate Forme features a more humanoid, cloud-riding appearance and offers well-rounded stats that make it a solid performer across a variety of situations. The Therian Forme, introduced later, resembles a more beast-like creature and leans more heavily into offensive capabilities with a higher Attack stat. This makes it particularly valuable in fast-paced raid scenarios and competitive PvP battles where aggressive strategies are needed. Each form has access to different moves and stat distributions, encouraging trainers to understand and utilize both forms depending on the context of the battle.
Landorus possesses a wide movepool that enhances its combat versatility. Fast moves such as Mud Shot allow it to generate energy efficiently, while charged moves like Earth Power, Rock Slide, and Stone Edge provide high damage and excellent type coverage. Its Ground-type attacks are highly effective against Electric, Fire, Poison, Rock, and Steel-types, while its Flying typing provides protection from Ground-type moves and gives it an edge against Bug and Fighting-type opponents. This blend of offensive pressure and defensive coverage makes Landorus adaptable and difficult to counter when used strategically.
For trainers who have successfully captured Landorus and want to maximize its potential, investing in powering it up, unlocking a second charged move, and fine-tuning its moveset can pay off significantly. Landorus excels in many different roles, from a high-damage raid attacker to a durable and unpredictable force in PvP. Whether using the Incarnate or Therian Forme, or incorporating both into different teams, Landorus remains a top-tier Legendary that rewards careful planning and tactical deployment, making it a key figure in any trainer’s battle lineup.
Methods for Encountering and Obtaining Landorus
As a Legendary Pokémon, Landorus is not commonly found in the wild and cannot be encountered through typical exploration in Pokémon Go. The primary method to capture Landorus is by participating in 5-Star Raid Battles, which are time-limited events that feature Legendary Pokémon as raid bosses. These raid appearances are often announced in advance by Niantic and are typically tied to themed in-game events, special seasons, or region-based rotations.
Staying updated on upcoming raid schedules is essential for trainers who wish to add Landorus to their collection. For example, Incarnate Forme Landorus first appeared in raids from March 31st through April 21st, 2020, and later returned during the Shared Skies season. Therian Forme, on the other hand, was last seen in raids in January 2024 and is scheduled to make another appearance in late February 2025 as part of the Road to Unova event. These limited windows make planning and preparation critical for those aiming to catch this powerful Legendary.
In addition to raids, another potential opportunity to obtain Landorus is through the Go Battle League, Pokémon Go’s ranked PvP format. Trainers who reach rank 20 in certain seasons become eligible for encounters with Legendary Pokémon as part of their end-of-set rewards. While the selection of available Legendaries rotates regularly, Incarnate Forme Landorus has previously been featured as one of these rare rewards, such as during the June 2024 Go Battle League season.
This method provides an alternative path for trainers who may have missed Landorus during its raid window or prefer battling over raiding. However, due to the rotating nature of reward Pokémon, there’s no guarantee that Landorus will always be included, so trainers are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity when it does arise.
Trading is also a viable method to obtain Landorus, particularly for those who have missed its availability in raids or the Go Battle League. As a Legendary Pokémon, Landorus falls under the category of rare trades, which come with a high Stardust cost. The cost of trading Landorus depends on two main factors: whether the receiving trainer has Landorus registered in their Pokédex and the level of friendship between the two trainers. If both trainers are Best Friends and the recipient has already registered Landorus, the trade will only cost 800 Stardust.
However, if Landorus is unregistered and the trainers are still Best Friends, the cost jumps significantly to 40,000 Stardust. Raising your friendship level with your trading partner through daily interactions such as sending gifts and participating in raids together can drastically reduce the cost and increase the likelihood of a successful trade. Considering the rarity and strength of Landorus, coordinating a trade during its non-raid periods can be a smart move for dedicated trainers seeking to complete their Legendary lineup.
Exploiting Landorus’ Weaknesses in Battle
To successfully defeat and catch Landorus in raids, understanding its elemental weaknesses is essential for building an effective battle team. As a dual Ground and Flying-type Pokémon, Landorus has a double weakness to Ice-type attacks, making Ice Pokémon the most effective counters in any raid battle against it. It also has a secondary vulnerability to Water-type moves, offering an additional strategic option if Ice-types are unavailable or underpowered in a trainer’s roster.
On the defensive side, Landorus resists several common attack types, including Ground, Poison, Fighting, Electric, and Bug, which means using Pokémon of these types will significantly reduce your chances of success due to the minimal damage output. Avoid these types when selecting your raid lineup to maximize battle efficiency.
When building a raid team, prioritizing powerful Ice-type Pokémon is the key to dealing the highest damage and quickly weakening Landorus. Several non-Mega Ice-type Pokémon are strong and accessible options. Galarian Darmanitan stands out with its high Attack stat and access to Ice Fang and Avalanche, making it one of the top choices for this battle.
Kyurem and Baxcalibur offer both bulk and strength, while Mamoswine, with its Ice and Ground dual typing, is a classic raid counter with moves like Powder Snow and Avalanche. Cetitan, though newer, provides great synergy with its Ice-typed moves and solid stats. If your Ice roster is limited, Water-type Pokémon can serve as effective alternatives. Swampert with Hydro Cannon, Milotic with Surf, Greninja with Hydro Pump, Primarina with Surf, and Primal Kyogre with Origin Pulse all deliver consistent Water-type damage while maintaining good survivability in battle.
Mega Evolutions can dramatically enhance the strength of your team by boosting the attack stats of similar-typed allies while also contributing heavy damage themselves. Mega Glalie and Mega Abomasnow are outstanding choices for boosting Ice-type damage across the team, while Mega Swampert, Mega Gyarados, Mega Slowbro, and Mega Blastoise can provide strong support and damage in a Water-based lineup.
Using Megas strategically not only improves your team’s performance but also assists other trainers in the raid by increasing their effectiveness if they are using Pokémon of the same type. With proper counters and a solid raid strategy, defeating Landorus is manageable even with a relatively small group of trainers—typically around three players at Level 40 with optimized teams. Taking the time to coordinate types, deploy Megas, and exploit Landorus’s weaknesses will significantly increase your chances of victory and ensure a smoother capture encounter once the battle is over.
Mastering the Movesets of Landorus
Both the Incarnate and Therian Formes of Landorus possess distinct movepools that influence how they perform in battles, and understanding the optimal combinations of Fast and Charged Moves is key to maximizing their potential in both raids and PvP. Each form brings unique strengths to different gameplay scenarios, and tailoring their movesets accordingly can make a significant difference in battle outcomes.
For Incarnate Forme Landorus, the best Fast Move is Mud Shot, a Ground-type move that offers high energy generation. This makes it ideal for quickly accessing Charged Moves and maintaining pressure on opponents. As for Charged Moves, Earth Power is the most effective option due to its solid base damage, reliable energy cost, and synergy with the Ground typing of Landorus, benefiting from the Same Type Attack Bonus (STAB). Earth Power is particularly useful in raids against Electric, Fire, and Steel-types and in PvP where its speed and damage output are critical.
A strong secondary Charged Move for coverage is Outrage, a Dragon-type move that helps Landorus handle threats that resist Ground-type attacks, such as Dragon-types. Additional move options include Rock Throw as a Fast Move, though it lacks the energy efficiency of Mud Shot, and other Charged Moves like Focus Blast and Rock Slide, which can be situationally useful but generally less optimal than Earth Power and Outrage.
Therian Forme Landorus also excels with Mud Shot as its primary Fast Move, taking full advantage of its energy gain and STAB to access its Charged Moves quickly. Its signature move, Sandsear Storm, is a top-tier Ground-type Charged Move exclusive to Therian Forme and not always readily available. Trainers who caught Landorus outside of its special event windows may need to use an Elite Charged TM to unlock this move. Sandsear Storm is particularly valuable in PvP because, in addition to delivering solid Ground-type damage, it also lowers the opposing Pokémon’s Attack stat, creating strategic advantages in prolonged battles.
If Sandsear Storm is not available, Earthquake is a reliable Ground-type alternative that deals heavy damage, though it comes at the cost of requiring more energy. Other Charged Moves in the Therian Forme’s arsenal include Bulldoze, Stone Edge, and Superpower. Bulldoze is less desirable due to its lower power and lack of added effects, but Stone Edge offers great Rock-type coverage, especially against Flying-types, and Superpower can deal with Steel and Normal-type threats. In PvP, a well-rounded moveset such as Mud Shot paired with Sandsear Storm and Stone Edge provides excellent coverage and flexibility, allowing Therian Forme Landorus to serve as both a hard hitter and a strategic debuffer.
Choosing the right moveset for each form of Landorus depends heavily on the intended use—raids or PvP—and whether exclusive moves like Sandsear Storm are available. Investing in a second Charged Move unlock further versatility and allows Landorus to handle a wider range of opponents, ensuring that it remains a reliable and adaptable force in any team composition.
Shiny Landorus: A Coveted Catch
Yes, both the Incarnate and Therian Formes of Landorus are available in their Shiny variants in Pokémon Go, offering trainers an exciting visual reward for their efforts during raid battles and special events. Shiny Incarnate Forme Landorus was first released in March 2021, featuring a noticeably brighter, more orange-toned skin compared to its standard reddish-brown coloration.
Following that, Shiny Therian Forme Landorus made its debut in April 2022, showcasing a similar vibrant yellow-orange hue that sets it apart from its usual earthy tones. These Shiny versions not only serve as prestigious trophies for collectors but are also functionally identical to their regular counterparts in terms of stats and moves, allowing them to be used just as effectively in raids and PvP battles.
The odds of encountering a Shiny Legendary Pokémon like Landorus in raids are relatively low, typically around 1 in 20, which means persistence and participating in multiple raids during its active period greatly increase the chances of finding one. Players aiming for a Shiny Landorus should prioritize joining as many raids as possible while the event or raid rotation lasts, particularly during special raid hours when spawn rates and local activity are high.
Once a Shiny Landorus appears, capturing it becomes significantly easier than regular encounters—any Shiny Legendary found in a raid is guaranteed to be caught as long as the player hits it with a Premier Ball. This makes Shiny raids some of the most rewarding and stress-free catching experiences in the game, as the risk of escape is eliminated.
To make the most out of a Shiny encounter, especially one involving a Legendary like Landorus, it’s a good idea to use a Pinap Berry instead of a Golden Razz Berry. While the latter helps with capture rate, it’s unnecessary during Shiny encounters since the catch is guaranteed upon a successful hit. Pinap Berries, on the other hand, double the amount of Candy received, which is particularly valuable for Legendary Pokémon, where Candy is usually scarce and highly sought after for powering up or unlocking second Charged Moves.
Gathering extra Candy during a Shiny catch helps ensure that the Shiny Landorus isn’t just a visual prize but can also be trained and used effectively in battle. Whether aiming to complete your Shiny collection, enhance your battle team, or simply enjoy the thrill of rare encounters, the opportunity to catch a Shiny Landorus adds an exciting layer to its already valuable presence in Pokémon Go.
Tips for Catching Landorus After a Raid
After successfully defeating Landorus in a raid, the next challenge is capturing it with the limited number of Premier Balls awarded based on your performance and that of your teammates. Catching a Legendary Pokémon like Landorus can be tricky, but employing the right strategies will dramatically increase your odds. One of the most important aspects of catching Landorus is observing its behavior—specifically its charge attack animation.
This movement causes the colored catch circle to disappear temporarily, making it risky to throw during that time. The best approach is to wait until Landorus finishes its attack. A helpful visual cue is when its tail touches the ground and is just about to lift again—this moment marks the end of its animation and the ideal time to release your throw.
When preparing to throw a Premier Ball, hold your finger down on the ball to activate the colored targeting circle. The circle fluctuates in size, and your goal is to release the ball when the circle is at its smallest manageable size. Smaller circles result in higher throw ratings—namely “Great” or “Excellent” throws—which increase the likelihood of a successful catch.
However, aiming for smaller circles also requires more precision, especially with Landorus’ tendency to move and attack frequently. A proven tactic is to set the circle size, release the ball during the attack animation, and time your throw to land just as the animation ends and the circle reappears. This method ensures the throw registers as a hit and not as a wasted ball during the animation.
Using a curveball is one of the most effective ways to improve your catch rate. Curveballs add a hidden bonus to your throw’s success chance and can be achieved by spinning the Premier Ball in a circular motion before releasing it. Combine this with an “Excellent” throw and your chances rise significantly. To further boost your odds, use a Golden Razz Berry before each attempt. This item maximizes the base catch rate for Legendary Pokémon and stacks with the bonuses from curveballs and accurate throws. If Landorus breaks out of the ball, you’ll need to reset both the circle size and your timing. This can be frustrating, but persistence and careful observation pay off.
Some trainers find success by simply waiting for Landorus to attack and taking advantage of the natural timing when the circle is small, without manually adjusting the circle size beforehand. This approach can be effective if you’re comfortable with quick reactions and have good timing. Ultimately, patience is key when attempting to catch Landorus. Take your time, wait for the right moment, and throw carefully. Even with a limited number of Premier Balls, a strategic approach gives you a strong chance of securing this powerful Legendary Pokémon for your collection.
Taking Snapshots of Landorus
For certain Special Research tasks in Pokémon Go, you may be required to take snapshots of specific Pokémon, including Landorus. This type of task is often part of timed events or storyline quests where taking a snapshot is one of several steps needed to progress. Once you have successfully caught Landorus through a raid, obtained it as a reward from the Go Battle League, or traded for it with another player, completing the snapshot requirement is a simple process. To begin, open the in-game Menu and tap on the Items option. Scroll down your item list until you find the Camera icon, which is the tool used to take AR snapshots of your Pokémon.
After selecting the Camera, the game will prompt you to choose a Pokémon from your collection. Locate Landorus in your storage, select it, and the game will launch the AR camera mode. This feature places Landorus into the real-world environment as viewed through your phone’s camera, allowing you to position and frame the Pokémon as you see fit.
Once you’re satisfied with the placement, simply take the photo by tapping the capture button. The game will automatically save the snapshot to your device’s photo gallery, and more importantly, it will recognize that you’ve completed the required task. A notification will appear confirming that the task is finished, and you’ll receive the corresponding reward, which may be items, XP, or even Pokémon encounters depending on the research chain.
Taking snapshots not only helps you fulfill quest requirements but also adds a fun, interactive layer to the game by blending Pokémon with your real-world surroundings. In some cases, snapshots can trigger surprise encounters with photobomb Pokémon, particularly during themed events, though this is less common with Legendary Pokémon like Landorus. Regardless, ensuring you know how to complete snapshot tasks quickly and correctly can save time and help you stay on track with special research progress.
By following these guidelines throughout your Landorus journey—from finding and battling it in raids, using optimized strategies to catch it, to completing follow-up tasks like snapshots—you’ll be well-prepared to make the most of this powerful Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon Go. Keeping track of ongoing raid events, Go Battle League reward rotations, and Special Research storylines will help maximize your chances of encountering and adding Landorus to your collection. As one of the central members of the Forces of Nature trio, Landorus is not only a strategic asset in both PvP and raid settings but also a valuable addition for collectors and completionists aiming to round out their Legendary lineup.
