Landorus Returns to Pokémon GO for a Limited Time: April 2023
After a year away, the powerful legendary Pokémon Landorus will be back in Tier 5 raids for one week only from April 11th to the 17th. For trainers still searching for this Ground/Flying-type beast, this marks your best chance to add it to your roster before it vanishes once again.
As an experienced Pokémon GO trainer and content creator, I want to cover everything you need to know about Landorus. Read on for the full scouting report before its latest raid debut, including:
- Raid history and likelihood of appearances
- Why it’s a top-tier raid attacker
- Catch and flee rates
- PVP impact and movesets
- Predictions for future releases
Let’s dig in!
Landorus Raid Appearances: The Data
Landorus has historically headlined Tier 5 raids for brief periods of time coinciding with the arrival of new in-game seasons.
Here is the data on its past availability windows:
| Raid Appearance Period | Duration |
|---|---|
| April 2021 | 2 weeks |
| May 2021 | 1 week |
| April 2022 | 1 week |
Based on this pattern, an April 2023 run aligning with the kickoff of the next Pokémon GO season makes a lot of sense.
My prediction is a >90% chance of Landorus returning for 6-7 days starting Tuesday, April 11th into the following Monday. As a powerful legendary, Niantic knows trainers will raid relentlessly during its short appearance.
Why Landorus is a Premier Raid Attacker
In addition to its limited availability driving demand, Landorus stands on its own merits as one of the top counter options for current and upcoming raid bosses.
Landorus boasts well-rounded, elite stats:
- Attack: 261
- Defense: 182
- Stamina: 205
- Max CP: 4,057
This includes a stellar attack score which provides outstanding raid DPS.
It also has access to a strong trio of charge moves:
- Earth Power (Ground)
- Rock Slide (Rock)
- Superpower (Fighting)
This versatile mix of typings hits everything from Mega Venusaur to Tapu Koko for super effective damage.
Among legendary Pokémon, Landorus’ attack trails only Rayquaza. Here’s how they compare head-to-head:
| Stat | Landorus | Rayquaza |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | 261 | 284 |
| Defense | 182 | 170 |
| Stamina | 205 | 191 |
| Max CP | 4,057 | 4,115 |
While Rayquaza edges it out as the #1 non-Mega raid attacker in terms of DPS, Landorus makes up ground with its durability.
Taming the Beast: Catch Rates and Raid Tips
Now, let’s move on to catch rates and raid mechanics. As a Tier 5 boss, Landorus is highly difficult to capture.
It has a mere 2% base catch rate, meaning just 1 in 50 poke balls will find its mark. And each failed catch attempt also carries a 5% chance for Landorus to flee altogether.
To maximize catch odds, use these advanced throwing strategies:
- Curveball – Multiplies catch rate by 1.7x
- Golden Razz Berries – Multiplies catch rate by 2.5x
- Platinum Ground Medal – Multiplies catch rate by 1.3x
By compounding all these bonuses, you can improve your Landorus catch chances dramatically. However, it likely will still require a sizable number of premier balls. I usually plan on 15+ attempts.
Patience and persistence are key!
PVP Importance: Dominating Ultra League
In addition to its PVE fame, Landorus also shines brightly in the GO Battle League (GBL) Ultra League meta. It currently ranks as the #2 Pokemon by overall score thanks to outstanding coverage and play against the field.
Landorus boasts winning head-to-head marks against prominent meta threats like Talonflame, Walrein, and Trevenant. Common losers against it include Swampert, obstagoon, and Venusaur.
Its ideal moveset for PVP is the fast move Mud Shot plus Earth Power and Rock Slide as charge moves. This combination pressures steels and grounds Landorus squarely as one of the top Ultra League monsters.
The Outlook for Future Landorus Availability
Looking ahead, it’s safe to expect similar boom-and-bust availability for Landorus in 2024 and beyond. Given its popularity among raiders and PVP trainers, Niantic will continue using limited-time releases to drive engagement and keep it relevant.
While this manufactured FOMO (fear of missing out) does produce fatigue among some trainers, the reality is that repeated droughts make its raids frenzied every time. I predict 3-4 separate windows of availability spanning 1-2 weeks each over the next year.
The next chance looks like the Season 12 kickoff in early April 2023. After that, we could see it reprise its role during next year’s Go Fest or possibly a special Raid Day event.
Regardless, don’t sleep on the upcoming April raiding opportunity. It represents your only shot for months to defeat, catch, and build this legendary Pokémon!
Let me know if you have any other Landorus or raiding questions. Time to start prepping those max revives!
