HIS THOUSAND ARMS ARE SENT FORTH LIKE THE BRANCHES OF HIS MEADOW PLATE
[OVERVIEW]
Thanks to its unique typing, Grass Arceus is one of the few Pokemon viable in Ubers that can counter Ground Arceus and check Primal Kyogre, which can be useful for some offensive teams. Importantly, it receives STAB on Grass Knot, which allows it to deal significant damage to Primal Kyogre, several common support Arceus formes, and Primal Groudon. While Grass Arceus's defensive typing is relatively mediocre, granting it weaknesses to common Flying- and Fire-type attacks, it can use this to its advantage by luring in threatening Pokemon, such as Ho-Oh and Mega Salamence, and striking them with the appropriate coverage move. However, Grass Arceus brings little utility to a team outside of functioning as a situational lure or check to specific Pokemon, and it is only really useful a few times a match due to its highly offensive nature and inability to sweep. Grass Arceus also brings with it significant opportunity cost, as a team's Arceus slot is often better used on a different forme.
[SET]
name: Offensive Utility
move 1: Grass Knot
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Ice Beam / Fire Blast
move 4: Recover
item: Meadow Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Grass Knot is Grass Arceus's best STAB move. It OHKOes Swords Dance Ground Arceus after Stealth Rock damage, 2HKOes all Primal Kyogre variants, and almost always 2HKOes specially defensive Primal Groudon after Stealth Rock damage. It also has a high chance of OHKOing certain support Arceus formes, such as Water Arceus and Rock Arceus, after Stealth Rock damage. Stone Edge hits Ho-Oh, OHKOing 248 HP variants after Stealth Rock or if it has taken a small amount of prior damage. Ice Beam OHKOes Mega Salamence, heavily damages Yveltal, and is Grass Arceus's best way of hitting Latias, Latios, and Giratina-O. Fire Blast can be chosen over Ice Beam to hit Steel-types on the switch, which would otherwise wall Grass Arceus. However, this leaves Grass Arceus helpless against Mega Salamence, which is not recommended. Fire Blast also cannot be overly relied on to deal with Klekfi; while it does good damage, it does not OHKO, rendering Grass Arceus suspectible to being statused. Recover is mandatory, as it allows Grass Arceus to regain health on the switches it forces against threats such as Ground Arceus, Rock Arceus, Primal Kyogre, and the uncommon regular Groudon, letting it check these Pokemon throughout a match.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Special Attack and Speed maximizes Grass Arceus's offensive presence. A Timid nature allows Grass Arceus to Speed tie with Ground Arceus. No Attack investment is required, as Stone Edge hits Ho-Oh for excellent damage as is.
Usage Tips
========
Pivot Grass Arceus in on Pokemon it forces out, such as Mega Diancie, Ground Arceus, and Water Arceus. Depending on Grass Arceus's health, it can then either use whichever move hits the predicted switch-in for optimal damage or Recover so that it can come in later. Do not switch Grass Arceus in too recklessly. Against Pokemon such as Primal Groudon, which commonly carry a Fire-type move that can destroy Grass Arceus, determining an opposing moveset can assist in choosing whether to switch Grass Arceus in or not. For the most part, Grass Arceus should avoid status, especially paralysis. However, if running Fire Blast, its susceptibility to paralysis can make Grass Arceus able to deal with Klekfi should this be necessary; bear in mind, however, that Fire Blast is not an OHKO on Klefki, meaning Grass Arceus will be forced out by the threat of Thunder Wave or Toxic.
Team Options
========
Primal Groudon is an extremely useful teammate for Grass Arceus. Grass Arceus checks Ground Arceus for Primal Groudon; in return, Primal Groudon can set up Stealth Rock, which wears down Grass Arceus's switch-ins and allows it to more effectively damage foes. If not running Fire Blast on Grass Arceus, it is recommended that Primal Groudon carries a Fire-type move so that it can effectively deal with the Steel-types that bother Grass Arceus. Sweepers that appreciate Grass Arceus's ability to remove Ho-Oh, such as Xerneas, also pair well with Grass Arceus. Grass Arceus appreciates Defog support, as it tends to be worn down by entry hazards. Latios, Latias, and Giratina-O are thus good teammates, as they can provide all of Defog support, a check to Primal Groudon, and, in the case of Latios and Latias, an extra Primal Kyogre check. However, Excadrill is also a viable option, as it appreciates Grass Arceus's ability to deal with Ground-types, Primal Kyogre, and Giratina-O; in return, Excadrill deals with the Steel-types that wall Grass Arceus and removes entry hazards from play with Rapid Spin. Pursuit users, such as Tyranitar and Aegislash, can trap Latios, Latias, and, in particular, Mega Gengar, which is otherwise very threatening to Grass Arceus. As Grass Arceus is a good check to Rock Arceus, Pokemon that appreciate its removal, such as Ho-Oh and Mega Salamence, also make for excellent partners; Ho-Oh can beat Steel-types, while Mega Salamence can take advantage of Grass Arceus's luring abilities to sweep late-game.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Calm Mind and Defog sets are usable, but they are either better utilized by a different Arceus forme or require far too much team assistance to function adequately. Will-O-Wisp can be used over Ice Beam to burn Mega Salamence and Klefki on the switch in, but its usefulness is otherwise very situational. Similarly, Grass Arceus can capitalize on its ability to deter Ground-types from switching in and use Thunder Wave, which can cripple Mega Gengar that attempt to switch in.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Blissey and Chansey**: Grass Arceus is hopelessly walled by both Blissey and Chansey, which can either inflict paralysis on Grass Arceus or freely set up on it.
**Lugia**: Even if Multiscale is broken by Stealth Rock, Lugia takes very little damage from any of Grass Arceus's attacks. It can then proceed to poison Grass Arceus or phaze it out.
**Steel-types**: If Grass Arceus is not running Fire Blast, Steel-types, such as Bronzong, Aegislash, Klefki, Dialga, Skarmory, and Dialga, wall Grass Arceus and force it out, allowing them to set up.
**Primal Groudon with a Fire-type Move**: No Primal Groudon appreciates switching into Grass Knot, but all Primal Groudon that carry a Fire-type move can either heavily damage or outright KO Grass Arceus.
**Mega Gengar**: While it is 2HKOed by Ice Beam after Stealth Rock damage, Mega Gengar can switch in on anything else Grass Arceus runs. It easily traps Grass Arceus, outspeeds it, and almost always OHKOes it with Sludge Wave after Stealth Rock damage. However, Mega Gengar does not appreciate being paralyzed by the uncommon Thunder Wave.
**Latios and Latias**: Latios and Latias take some damage from Ice Beam, but they can force out Grass Arceus with the threat of a powerful Draco Meteor.
**Mega Salamence**: If Grass Arceus chooses to forgo Ice Beam, Mega Salamence switches in on any of Grass Arceus's other moves and uses it as setup bait. Mega Salamence that do not carry Refresh can be surprised by the uncommon Will-O-Wisp, however.
**Niche Arceus Formes**: While very uncommon, Fire Arceus and Poison Arceus are never 2HKOed by any of Grass Arceus's moves, allowing them to easily switch in and either 2HKO Grass Arceus with their STAB moves or use it as setup bait. Steel Arceus also walls any Grass Arceus that lack Fire Blast.
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