OVERVIEW
Type: Normal
Ability: Multitype
Known to many as the ‘God of Pokemon’, Arceus certainly has a lot to live up to. However, it easily fulfils these expectations. In the Anything Goes metagame, Arceus is feared as one of the metagame’s best late-game cleaners and also a powerful revenge killer thanks to its access to a great STAB move in the form of +2 priority Extreme Speed. Arceus also has an exceptional array of coverage moves, allowing it to muscle through many potential checks and counters.
While Arceus’s famed Extreme Killer set is widely feared, Arceus’s huge suppotmovepool and great bulk allow it to run a decent Support set. Despite seeing huge competition in the form of other Arceus forms with better typing, Arceus has only one uncommon weakness and can hold Leftovers. Running the Support set also has very little opportunity cost, as the lack of Species Clause allows you to run both Extreme Killer and Support on the same team.
However, while Arceus is an excellent Pokemon, it isn’t perfect. Arceus’s average base 120 Attack and the low base power of its main STAB render it incapable of breaking past bulkier Pokemon. While its Normal typing means Arceus only has one rare weakness, it also has no resistances, meaning it is unable to offer much defensive synergy to a team. However, despite these setbacks, Arceus is an extremely dangerous and influential Pokemon that can utterly decimate unprepared teams, or stop powerful threats in their tracks.
SET
name: Extreme Killer
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Extreme Speed
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Lum Berry / Life Orb
ability: Multitype
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
SET COMMENTS
Moves
========
Swords Dance allows Arceus to quickly double its Attack, boosting the power of all its physical moves. Extreme Speed is Arceus’s most important move. While it only has 80 base power, it receives STAB and has +2 priority, allowing Arceus to sweep teams after a Swords Dance boost and also pick off opposing weakened Pokemon. Earthquake is almost compulsory coverage - it does massive damage to the prominent Primal Groudon, as well as hitting Rock and Steel types that resist Extreme Speed. There are many options for the last move slot, but the most prominent option is Stone Edge, which can heavily damage and OHKO bulky Yveltal and Ho-Oh, respectively. Other options include Refresh, which heals Arceus of status without having to use a Lum Berry; Shadow Claw, which hits Ghost-types; and Shadow Force, for a stronger hit on Ghost-types which is unfortunately easier to play around. Carrying a support move like Defog in the last slot also allows Extreme Killer Arceus to provide more support for its team, making it more helpful mid-game.
Set Details
========
A Lum Berry is the preferred item, as it allows Arceus to absorb status like Darkrai’s Dark Void once. These moves tend to be very common in Anything Goes. However, should you find you are lacking in power, carrying a Life Orb is also an option, as it allows Arceus to knock out Pokemon it previously could not, like bulky Yveltal with a +2 Stone Edge. However, Lum Berry is preferred overall for longevity and reliability. The nature and EVs are dictated by what Arceus needs to outspeed. To outspeed positive base 90s, 124 Speed EVs and an Adamant nature is enough. To outspeed other threats, a Jolly nature must be used. 160 Speed EVs outspeeds Terrakion; 176 Spe EVs will outspeed the host of positive base 110s such as Mega Diancie; and 252 Speed EVs guarantees a speed tie against other Arceus. Once Speed has been invested, maximise Attack for the greatest possible sweeping and revenge killing potential, then invest the rest into HP to increase Arceus’s overall bulk.
Usage Tips
========
While it may seem tempting to save Arceus for a late game sweep, a STAB Extreme Speed carries incredible utility in revenge killing many opposing Pokemon. If you carry Defog, use the threat of Extreme Speed to find opportunities to use them. Similarly, if Smeargle has started to set up, do not hesitate to use Perish Song.
Never, NEVER, overestimate the power of Extreme Speed and don’t be reluctant to calculate the damage, as if it does not knock out the opposing Pokemon, there’s a good chance you just unnecessarily lost Arceus.
Make sure that Arceus’s checks and counters have been knocked out or heavily worn down before attempting to set up Swords Dance and sweep. Also, don’t reveal your coverage moves too quickly, as it dictates what Pokemon on the opposing team wall Arceus. Don’t set up on heavy hitters like the Primal forms and Mega Rayquaza, but instead on Pokemon that cannot hit Arceus hard or will simply try to status it, using up its Lum Berry.
Team Options
========
Primal Groudon is an excellent partner for Extreme Killer Arceus. It absorbs Will-O-Wisp and Scald, and sets up Stealth Rock to weaken Arceus’s checks and counters. It can also throw out Lava Plume and Toxic to weaken the opposing team. Arceus may need help breaking through Lugia and Ghost-types, making offensive Dark-types like Darkrai and Yveltal good options, as well as offensive Ghost-types like Arceus-Ghost and Mega Gengar. Xerneas appreciates opposing Giratina forms and Yveltal coming out, and can set up Geomancy on them, ending the game. Although Healing Wish users are a little more niche, they are incredibly helpful to give Arceus a second chance to take down the opposing team. Carrying multiple Extreme Killer Arceus on your team with a variety of coverage moves is also helpful, as they can break down each other’s checks and counters in preparation for one to sweep.
SET
name: Support
move 1: Recover
move 2: Will-O-Wisp / Reflect?
move 3: Defog / Stealth Rock
move 4: Roar / Perish Song
item: Leftovers
ability: Multitype
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
SET COMMENTS
Moves
========
Recover is an essential move on this set, as it instantly restores 50% of Arceus’s health, giving it longevity and allowing it to stop opposing Pokemon repeatedly. Will-O-Wisp is needed in the next slot, as it cripples most physical attackers. Reflect is another option against Fire-types such as Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh. It also provides support to Arceus’s teammates. However, it is not permanent. The third slot is dedicated to hazard control. Arceus makes for a durable and reliable Defog user, which is incredibly important if you carry Stealth Rock-weak Pokemon such as Ho-Oh and Yveltal. Stealth Rock is another excellent option, and also benefits from the switches Arceus forces thanks to the threat of a potential Extreme Speed. The final slot is meant to shut down sweepers and Baton Pass chains. Roar is a good choice that takes just one turn to force out an attacker, and also racks up hazard damage, wearing down the opposing team. Unfortunately, Roar is completely useless if the opposing Pokemon is the last non-fainted Pokemon on their team. Roar also fails in the face of Ingrain Smeargle and Xerneas. Perish Song is another option that completely shuts down Baton Pass chains. Also, if the opposing Pokemon is the last non-fainted one, Perish Song puts it on a timer of three turns, which can be helpful in clutch end-game situations. However, it takes longer to force out a setup sweeper with Perish Song than with Roar. Don’t agree with this statement as sometimes they just switch out regardless. Other choices include Toxic, which is able to rack up residual damage faster than Will-O-Wisp; and Iron Defense, which allows Arceus to outlast almost any physical attacker. Carrying a single attack such as Ice Beam, Judgment or Return is also an option, as it prevents Arceus from being total Taunt bait and allows it to take down Pokemon such as E-Killer faster. A somewhat gimmicky but occasionally helpful option is Magic Coat, which reflects status moves like Stealth Rock, Dark Void and Toxic.
Set Details
========
Leftovers is the main item choice, as Arceus appreciates all the recovery it can get, enabling it to take less damage by the end of the turn. Leftovers is also exclusive to Support Arceus, as the other Arceus forms must hold Plates, meaning that the ability to hold Leftovers is one unique to Arceus and is one of its main advantages over other formes. The Speed EVs allow Arceus to outspeed neutral-natured max invested base 90 Speed Pokemon, the most prominent of which are Adamant Groudon and Modest Kyogre. Maximum investment is placed into HP for overall bulk, while the remaining EVs go into Defense to take physical hits better along with a Bold nature. If you would prefer Arceus to take special hits better, you can move the Defense EVs into Special Defense while changing the Bold nature to a Calm nature. You can also run other amounts of Speed investment, such as 96 Speed EVs to outspeed max invested neutral-natured base 100 Speed Pokemon; 124 Speed EVs to outspeed max invested positive-natured base 90 Speed Pokemon; and 212 Speed EVs to outspeed max invested positive-natured base 100 Speed Pokemon. However, be aware that heavily investing in Speed will take away your bulk drastically.
Usage Tips
========
Arceus has excellent overall bulk, but that doesn’t mean it should be recklessly switched into powerful attacks. Make sure that you come in against physical attackers safely, so you can successfully fire off a Will-O-Wisp. If a Baton Pass chain begins or an opposing sweeper starts to set up, do not hesitate to use Roar or Perish Song as soon as possible.
Often, when the opponent first sees Arceus, they will assume it is Extreme Killer, the most widespread set. Take advantage of this, and use Defog and Stealth Rock on predicted switches. Support Arceus appreciates that few will Taunt when they think Arceus will use Extreme Speed. However, when you reveal yourself to be Support, avoid Taunters; and when you reveal yourself to not be holding a Lum Berry, avoid status users like Darkrai.
Team Options
========
Arceus is an excellent part of a defensive backbone for a team. However, it struggles against some common offensive threats, especially special ones. Darkrai can easily overwhelm Support Arceus thanks to its access to Dark Void and reasonably powerful attacks. As such, it is generally important to run a reliable Darkrai answer like Arceus-Fairy, or a Sleep Talk user like Ho-Oh or Choice Scarf Xerneas. If an opposing Geomancy Xerneas is carrying the extremely rare Ingrain, it can avoid being forced out by Roar and can set up in Arceus’s face. A Xerneas check like Ho-Oh is therefore helpful. Support Arceus is also 100% shut down by Taunt, the most common users of which are Mewtwo and Yveltal. Geomancy Xerneas can set up on both these Pokemon once it is given a free switch-in, while curing Toxic inflicted on Arceus with Aromatherapy, which is highly important as Support Arceus absolutely loathes being put on a timer. Defensive Xerneas can also offer this defensive synergy and Aromatherapy support.
STRATEGY COMMENTS
Other Options
=============
Extreme Killer Arceus is capable of running Choice Band. This allows Arceus to cripple its usual answers such as Lugia and also powers up Extreme Speed if Arceus needs to revenge kill something (however, bear in mind that Trick is still the main purpose of the set). However, Swords Dance still offers more sweeping potential and is also less reliant on prediction, as Choice Band often requires double switching to make sure Arceus's target comes in. Extreme Killer also has the potential to run Fire Blast and Overheat, which hit would-be counters such as Ferrothorn and Skarmory very hard. Another option is to run Perish Song, which gives Extreme Killer Arceus mid-game utility in shutting down Baton Pass chains as well as putting threatening sweepers on a timer. Due to Arceus's various other viable forms which can perform many roles better, it has little viable options left.
Checks and Counters
===================
Defensive Yveltal: Yveltal easily lives any attack apart from a boosted Life Orb Stone Edge. However, if Arceus is not carrying Stone Edge, its most powerful attack is Extreme Speed. This forces it to take Rocky Helmet damage, which allows Yveltal to knock it out with Foul Play at +2. Arceus is also unable to KO Yveltal with a non-Life Orb Stone Edge unless Stealth Rock is up on the opposing side.
Taunt users: While defensive Yveltal is extremely troublesome for Extreme Killer Arceus to deal with, offensive Yveltal is a massive threat to Support Arceus thanks to its access to Taunt, which totally and completely shuts it down. Mewtwo also often carries Taunt, allowing it to muscle past through Support Arceus easily with its powerful Psystrikes.
Ghost-types: Arceus-Ghost Speed ties with Jolly Arceus, and can cripple non-Lum Berry variants with Will-O-Wisp. It also survives a +2 Shadow Claw. Giratina-O is immune to Extreme Speed and Earthquake, and with defensive investment can live a +2 Shadow Claw, while Giratina has more raw bulk. They can both Will-O-Wisp or Dragon Tail to cripple or force out Arceus. Mega Gengar forces Arceus to stay in, and can outspeed it to either do massive damage with Focus Blast or Destiny Bond on Arceus’s Earthquake. Sableye isn’t very bulky, but has access to Prankster Will-O-Wisp as well as Foul Play.
Steel-types not weak to Earthquake: Skarmory, Ferrothorn and Scizor are either immune to or neutral to Earthquake, allowing them to easily take it at +2. Skarmory can easily phaze out Arceus with Whirlwind, removing its Swords Dance boosts, while taking little damage from any of Arceus’s attacks. Ferrothorn doesn’t easily take +2 Earthquakes, but can try to outstall Arceus with Leech Seed, Protect and Iron Barbs damage. Arceus can also set up Swords Dance on its Protects. Mega Scizor takes +2 Earthquake relatively easily and can Superpower back for massive damage. However, all should be wary of Fire Blast or Overheat.
Lugia: If Multiscale is intact, Lugia can easily outstall Extreme Killer Arceus with a combination of Toxic and Roost. However, if Multiscale is broken, Arceus can do massive damage or even KO Lugia with Stone Edge. Lugia can also phase Arceus with Whirlwind.
Analysis bybaconbagon- September 7th, 2015
p.s. with some (competitive related) edits made my spin da pig
