Landorus is one of the most valuable Legendary Pokémon you can raid in Pokémon GO and if you are asking whether the grind is worth it, the answer is yes, especially for its Therian Forme. Therian Landorus is the best Ground-type Pokémon in the game, excluding Primal/Mega Pokémon and Shadow Pokémon. It is better than Groudon, Garchomp and more. That is a meaningful statement in a game where Ground-type attackers have been competing at the top of the meta for years.
Landorus in Pokémon GO Two Formes, One Decision
Landorus appears in Pokémon GO in two forms that play differently in the meta. Understanding the distinction is the first thing to get right before building your raid team.
Incarnate Forme (Standard)
Type: Ground / Flying | Max CP: 4,057 | Best Moveset: Mud Shot / Earth Power | Tier: A+ (Ground attacker)
Landorus (Incarnate Forme)’s maximum Combat Power stat is 4,057 CP, and its recommended Pokémon GO moveset is Mud Shot / Earth Power. These moves are boosted by Sunny weather, with 13.82 DPS and 279.2 TDO. Landorus (Incarnate Forme) ranks as an A+ Ground attacker.
The Incarnate Forme is a solid Ground attacker but not the forme most competitive trainers are chasing. It ranks comfortably in the A+ tier but sits behind its Therian counterpart for the Ground attacker role. Its balanced stat spread and the accessible Earth Power moveset make it a reliable addition for trainers building out their Ground-type roster.
Therian Forme (Superior)
Type: Ground / Flying | Max CP: 4,434 | Best Moveset: Mud Shot / Sandsear Storm | Tier: S (Ground attacker, #5 overall excluding Primals/Megas/Shadows)
Landorus (Therian Forme)’s maximum Combat Power stat is 4,434 CP, and its recommended Pokémon GO moveset is Mud Shot / Sandsear Storm, with 16.46 DPS and 327.4 TDO. Landorus (Therian Forme) ranks #5 as a Ground attacker with that moveset.
Therian is the one to prioritize. The 377-CP difference between formes is significant, and its best Ground-type moveset is Mud Shot / Sandsear Storm. These moves are boosted by Sunny weather. Sandsear Storm is the signature Charged Attack that makes Therian so powerful it deals heavy damage and is the move you want on any Therian Landorus you are keeping for your raiding team.
To switch between formes, you need a Reveal Glass obtainable from the in-game shop or event rewards. Once used, it permanently changes the forme.
For Pokémon GO players who also enjoy diving deep into Pokemon game mechanics across the main series, our Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen hidden item guide at PlayXArena covers equally useful resource optimization across the older generation games that many GO players return to between raid windows.
Landorus Weaknesses in Pokémon GO
Landorus (both formes) shares the Ground / Flying typing, which creates a specific and exploitable weakness profile:
Double Weakness Ice-type (×2 damage): Therian Landorus has a double weakness to Ice-type attacks. This is by far the most important damage multiplier to build around. Ice-type moves deal 256% damage to Ground/Flying Pokémon this is why your counters list should be dominated by Ice-types.
Standard Weakness Water-type (×1.6 damage): Therian Landorus has a standard weakness to Water-type attacks. Water is your backup category when your Ice-type squad is depleted or if you are raiding in cloudy/rainy weather that boosts Water moves.
Resistances: Landorus resists Electric and Poison, and is immune to Ground-type moves. Do not bring Ground-type attackers they will deal zero damage.
Weather interactions: Landorus is boosted (harder to beat) during Sunny and Windy weather. It is easiest to raid during Snow weather (boosts your Ice-type counters) or Rain weather (boosts your Water-type counters).
Best Counters for Therian Landorus Raids
The best counters to 5-star Pokémon GO Therian Landorus raids are White Kyurem, Black Kyurem, or Primal Kyogre with their best movesets. Here is the complete tiered counter list:
S-Tier Counters (Fastest Win)
White Kyurem — Ice Fang + Ice Burn The overall best counter. White Kyurem’s extraordinary Attack stat combined with Ice Fang’s fast energy generation and Ice Burn’s devastating Charged Attack output makes it the top pick for trainers who have it.
Black Kyurem — Dragon Tail + Freeze Shock Tied with White Kyurem at the top of the Ice-type counter rankings. Dragon Tail charges Freeze Shock quickly and the Ice-type Charged Attack exploits the double weakness for maximum damage.
Primal Kyogre — Waterfall + Origin Pulse The top Water-type counter, and the best option if your Ice-type lineup is thin. Primal Kyogre’s sheer power makes it viable even without the double weakness multiplier.
A-Tier Counters (Highly Recommended)
Shadow Mamoswine with Mud Slap and Avalanche A longtime staple of Ice-type raiding. Shadow Mamoswine’s damage output is substantial even without the raw power of the legendary counters.
Shadow Weavile with Ice Shard and Avalanche Fast, fragile, and devastating. Weavile’s speed makes it excellent for damage races where keeping it alive is secondary.
Mega Glalie with Frost Breath and Avalanche A strong Mega option that boosts all Ice-type moves for your party while dealing solid damage itself. Use Mega Glalie if you want to amplify your entire team’s Ice-type damage output.
Mega Swampert Water Gun + Hydro Cannon The best Mega Pokémon you can choose is Mega Swampert. They will target Landorus weakness to Water-types as well as yield extra Candy after the Raid. If you care about farming Landorus candy efficiently alongside dealing damage, Mega Swampert is the smart pick.
Shadow Articuno with Frost Breath and Blizzard Classic legendary counter that still performs at an excellent level in modern raid metas.
Mega Abomasnow with Powder Snow and Blizzard More accessible than Mega Glalie for most trainers, and still delivers meaningful Ice-type damage amplification.
B-Tier Counters (Viable with Full Team)
Greninja — Water Shuriken + Hydro Cannon Fast Water attacker, excellent DPS
Feraligatr — Water Gun + Hydro Cannon Reliable Water option
Glaceon — Frost Breath + Avalanche Accessible Ice-type for mid-game rosters
Walrein — Frost Breath + Icicle Spear Bulkier Ice option that survives longer
Landorus Movesets in Pokémon GO
Therian Forme
Fast Attacks:
- Mud Shot (Recommended) — Mud Shot will charge up any of Lando-T’s charged moves super fast. Never TM this away.
- Extrasensory — Extrasensory is a horrible move. Avoid.
Charged Attacks:
- Sandsear Storm – (Best Signature) The Ground-type signature move that defines Therian Landorus in the meta. Hits hard and arrives with every raid-caught Therian.
- Earthquake — Earthquake is Lando-T’s strongest move and is devastating, complemented by its high ATK stat. The best second move option.
- Bulldoze — Weaker than Earthquake but still meaningful.
- Stone Edge — Rock-type coverage that will OHKO your Ice counters. You want Ground-type STAB, not Stone Edge, on your offensive Landorus.
Best PvE Moveset: Mud Shot + Sandsear Storm
Best PvP Moveset: Mud Shot + Sandsear Storm / Earthquake
Incarnate Forme
Best Moveset: Mud Shot + Earth Power 13.82 DPS and 279.2 TDO. Boosted by Sunny weather.
CP Values and 100% IV Reference
Therian Forme
- Raid catch CP (no boost): 2,116–2,241
- Raid catch CP (Sunny/Windy weather boost): 2,645–2,801
- 100% IV (hundo) CP: 2,241 (standard) / 2,801 (weather boosted)
- The 100% IV Therian Forme Landorus will have a CP of 2,241 in normal weather conditions and 2,801 in boosted conditions.
- Max CP at Level 50: 4,434
Incarnate Forme
- Raid catch CP range: 1,965–2,050
- Weather boosted catch CP: 2,456–2,563
- A Landorus obtained from Raids can be encountered from 1,965 CP to 2,050 CP, or if weather boosted, in the 2,456 CP to 2,563 CP range.
- Max CP at Level 50: 4,057
- Base catch rate: 1.67% (curved Great throw: 4.21%; with Razz Berry: 6.25%)
Shiny Landorus in Pokémon GO
Both Incarnate and Therian Forme Landorus can be Shiny in Pokémon GO.
Shiny Incarnate Forme: Subtle color shift orange to a slightly different shade. Not as dramatic as some shiny Legendaries.
Shiny Therian Forme: It becomes a lighter, more yellowy orange in the body, and the tail becomes darker, and the pinky accents become a true orange. More visually distinct than the Incarnate shiny.
Shiny odds: The standard Legendary shiny rate in Pokémon GO raids is approximately 1 in 20 (5%). Shiny Legendary rate is 1 in 20. Every raid attempt is an independent roll at this rate there is no shiny guarantee from consecutive attempts.
Shiny-locking reminder: Shiny Landorus is only catchable in its Therian Forme or Incarnate Forme depending on which is active in raids at the time. You cannot obtain a shiny Landorus outside of a raid event window.
How Many Trainers to Beat Landorus Raids?
Defeat Landorus with two trainers, four if lacking top counters and max CP.
In practical terms: experienced trainers with Level 40+ White Kyurem, Black Kyurem, or Shadow Mamoswine lineups can duo Therian Landorus without difficulty. With good Ice-type counters and Party Power, trainers can beat this Landorus Raid in a team of two. Lower-level trainers or those relying on B-tier counters should aim for groups of four or more.
Party Power (the shared HP bar mechanic introduced in 2023) meaningfully extends your team’s survivability against Landorus’s hardest-hitting moves. If raiding in a small group, coordinate party activation around the raid boss’s Sandsear Storm windows.
Is Landorus Therian Worth Powering Up?
Yes, unambiguously. Therian Landorus is the best Ground-type Pokémon in the game, excluding Primal/Mega Pokémon and Shadow Pokémon. S-tier placement in ground attacker rankings means it stays competitive as new Legendaries enter the game. Power up at least two or three Therian Landorus with Mud Shot and Sandsear Storm whenever it returns to raids. Level 40 is the standard investment threshold Level 50 XL candy investment is worthwhile for high-difficulty content players but not essential for most raid use cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type is Landorus in Pokémon GO?
Landorus is a Ground / Flying-type Pokémon in both its Incarnate and Therian Formes.
What is the best counter for Landorus Pokémon GO?
White Kyurem with Ice Fang and Ice Burn is the top counter. Black Kyurem and Shadow Mamoswine are close alternatives. All exploit the double weakness to Ice-type attacks.
Is shiny Landorus available in Pokémon GO?
Yes. Both the Incarnate and Therian Formes have shiny variants available during raid events.
What is the best moveset for Therian Landorus?
Mud Shot as the fast move and Sandsear Storm as the charged move. This combination achieves 16.46 DPS and 327.4 TDO.
How do I change Landorus from Incarnate to Therian Forme?
Use a Reveal Glass item, obtainable from the in-game shop or event rewards. The forme change is permanent until you use another Reveal Glass.
What weather boosts Landorus?
Landorus is boosted during Sunny and Windy weather. Raid it during Snow (boosts Ice counters) or Rain (boosts Water counters) for the best odds.
