So, you’re looking at the clouds and wondering why a grumpy-looking genie is staring back at you. If you’ve played any competitive Pokémon in the last decade, you know exactly who these guys are. Landorus, Thundurus, and Tornadus—the Forces of Nature. Or, as the VGC community lovingly (and sometimes spitefully) calls them: the genies.
Honestly, it’s rare to see a trio stay this relevant for this long. Usually, Power Creep comes for everyone. It’s like a law of nature. But these three? They’ve basically built a permanent home at the top of the usage charts. Whether it’s Landorus-Therian scaring every physical attacker into a corner or Tornadus setting up a Tailwind that makes your head spin, they just won't go away.
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The Big Guy: Why Landorus-T Is Still the King
If we’re being real, Landorus is the favorite child. Specifically, the "Therian" form. You know the one—the tiger-looking beast that shows up on 50% of teams. Why? Because Intimidate is arguably the best ability in the game. Period.
Dropping the opponent's Attack just by switching in is huge. It buys you turns. It saves lives. But it’s not just the ability. Landorus-Therian has a Ground/Flying typing that is, frankly, kind of disgusting. It’s immune to Ground and Electric, two of the most common offensive types.
But here’s what people mess up: they think Landorus is just a defensive tank. It’s not. With a base Attack of 145, this thing hits like a freight train. You've probably seen the Choice Scarf sets where it just clicks Earthquake or U-turn and leaves. But in 2026, the meta has shifted a bit. With more "Wide Guard" users running around, people are starting to experiment with Special Attacking Landorus-Incarnate again. Sheer Force combined with Life Orb? That's a lot of damage. It basically turns Earth Power into a nuclear strike.
The Winds of Change: Tornadus and the Tailwind Problem
Tornadus is a weird one. For the longest time, it was the "worst" of the three. Pure Flying type? Boring. But then came the Prankster ability.
Suddenly, Tornadus wasn't just a bird; it was a priority machine. Being able to set up a Tailwind before anyone else can even breathe is a game-changer. In VGC (Double Battles), speed is everything. If you move first, you win. It’s almost that simple.
- Tailwind: Priority speed boost for the whole team.
- Bleakwind Storm: Its signature move. It hits both opponents and has a chance to drop their speed. It’s nasty.
- Rain Dance / Sunny Day: Prankster weather setting is a nightmare for teams that rely on specific conditions.
I’ve seen games won on turn one just because a Tornadus set the weather and outsped a "Quark Drive" or "Protosynthesis" threat. It’s that disruption that makes it so annoying to play against. It doesn't need to knock you out; it just needs to make sure its friends do.
Thundurus: The Forgotten Middle Child?
Poor Thundurus. It’s caught in the middle. It has the same Prankster ability as Tornadus, but it doesn't get Tailwind. Instead, it gets Thunder Wave.
Paralyzing an opponent with priority is cool, sure. But in a world where "Covert Cloak" and "Electric Terrain" are everywhere, it’s less reliable. Thundurus-Therian (the blue dragon-looking one) has a massive Special Attack stat, though. We're talking base 145. If you put it on a Rain team and start clicking perfectly accurate Thunders, things get scary fast.
The thing is, Thundurus is a "glass cannon." It’s fast and hits hard, but if it doesn't get the KO, it’s probably going down. It lacks the raw utility of Tornadus and the sheer bulk/intimidation of Landorus. Still, don't sleep on it. An Eerie Impulse from a Prankster Thundurus can neuter a Special Attacker faster than you can say "Volt Switch."
How to Actually Catch Them (No, It’s Not Just Luck)
If you're playing Pokémon Legends: Arceus, catching these three is a literal nightmare. They fly around in specific weather conditions and throw hurricanes at you. It’s basically a bullet-hell minigame.
- Tornadus: Head to the Alabaster Icelands during a blizzard. He’s hanging out in the Bonechill Wastelands.
- Thundurus: You need a thunderstorm in the Cobalt Coastlands. Look near the giant stone pillars in the water (Sand's Reach).
- Landorus: Ramanas Island in the Obsidian Fieldlands. This one is actually the easiest since you don't need a specific storm, but he still moves like he’s on caffeine.
In Pokémon GO, they usually cycle through 5-star raids. The "Therian" forms are almost always more desirable for Master League and Raids, so save your Remote Raid Passes for those. Landorus-T is a top-tier Ground attacker, and Thundurus-T is a solid Electric pick if you don't have a high-IV Xurkitree or Zekrom.
The Enamorus Factor: The Fourth Genie
We can't talk about the trio without mentioning the sister that showed up late to the party. Enamorus. Added in the Hisui region, she changed the "Forces of Nature" into a quartet.
She’s Fairy/Flying, which is an amazing offensive typing. But honestly? She hasn’t quite dethroned the original three in the competitive scene. Her "Contrary" ability is a gimmick that relies on moves like Superpower to boost stats, but it's hard to set up. Most people still prefer the reliability of Landorus or the utility of Tornadus.
Winning with the Genies: Actionable Strategy
If you want to start using these in your own games—whether it’s on the ladder in Scarlet & Violet or just for fun—keep these things in mind:
- Respect the Speed Tiers: Tornadus and Thundurus-Incarnate both sit at base 111 Speed. That’s a very specific bracket. You need to know if you're outspeeding threats like Garchomp or getting outpaced by things like Flutter Mane.
- The Reveal Glass: This is the key item. Without it, you’re stuck in the Incarnate (genie) forms. In most games, you get this by showing the genies to a specific NPC (like the one in Porto Marinada in SV).
- Tera Types Matter: Landorus loves Tera Water or Tera Steel to flip its weaknesses to Ice and Water. Tornadus often goes Tera Ghost just to avoid being "Fake Out"ed on turn one, ensuring that Tailwind goes up.
The "Forces of Nature" aren't going anywhere. They are the backbone of the Pokémon meta for a reason. They offer a mix of power, utility, and frustration that few other Legendaries can match.
To maximize your success with this trio, your first step should be heading to the Pokémon Home app or your current save file to check which forms you currently have. If you're missing the Reveal Glass, prioritize unlocking the auction house in Porto Marinada (if playing Scarlet/Violet) or visiting Cogita in Legends: Arceus to ensure you can swap between the high-utility Incarnate forms and the raw power of the Therian forms.