[OVERVIEW]
* Arceus-Bug can pose some threat to certain Psychic- and Dark-types in Ubers, such as Mewtwo that lack Fire Blast and Arceus-Dark.
* However, Arceus-Bug has an atrocious defensive typing that gives it a Stealth Rock weakness and weaknesses to common Rock-, Fire-, and Flying-type moves.
* Arceus-Bug's resistances to Fighting-, Ground-, and Grass-type moves are rendered mostly useless by the fact that the Pokemon that carry them almost invariably run moves that beat Arceus-Bug.
* Arceus-Bug's offensive typing also leaves a lot to be desired, as Bug-type moves are resisted by a plethora of viable Pokemon in Ubers such as Ho-Oh, Xerneas, Primal Groudon, Giratina-O, Mega Salamence, and Dialga.
* Arceus-Bug is forced to rely on a Swords Dance set with the weak X-Scissor as its STAB move due to how easily Ho-Oh shuts down specially offensive sets, leaving Arceus-Bug quite lacking in power.
* This means that Arceus-Bug is a worthless Arceus forme that is completely outclassed by other Swords Dance Arceus formes that have greater overall power and offer far more to a team, such as Arceus, Arceus-Ground, and Arceus-Ghost.
* Do not use Arceus-Bug on a serious team.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: X-Scissor
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Earthquake
item: Insect Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Swords Dance boosts Arceus-Bug's Attack stat to somewhat threatening levels.
* X-Scissor is the only viable physical STAB move that Arceus-Bug has access to. It OHKOes Mewtwo after Stealth Rock damage without a boost and OHKOes Arceus-Dark after a Swords Dance boost.
* Stone Edge OHKOes Ho-Oh and heavily damages Flying-types that are not neutral to Rock-type moves, such as Yveltal and Mega Salamence.
* Earthquake is Arceus-Bug's best way of hitting Primal Groudon, as well as Steel-types, such as Aegislash, Magearna, and Mega Lucario, that resist Arceus-Bug's other moves.
Set Details
========
* Maximum investment in Attack maximizes Arceus-Bug's offensive presence.
* Maximum investment in Speed and a Jolly nature ensure that Arceus-Bug Speed ties with other maximum Speed Arceus formes.
Usage Tips
========
* Arceus-Bug should be preserved for the late-game, as it is often deadweight in the early and middle phases of a match due to its lack of power and the fact that it is very easy to check.
* Typically, Arceus-Bug should only be switched in after a teammate has fainted. Its weakness to all entry hazards and susceptibility to being removed by super effective coverage moves after switching in preclude it from coming into play in almost any other situation.
* However, Arceus-Bug can switch into Arceus-Dark and Mega Lucario rather easily and force them out, potentially paving the way for it to sweep.
Team Options
========
* Arceus-Bug appreciates Defog support, as it despises Stealth Rock being on the field. Giratina-O is the best choice for this role.
* Primal Groudon can remove Steel-types that would otherwise wall Arceus-Bug and set up Stealth Rock to gradually damage the opposing team.
* Zygarde-C, Giratina-O, and Mega Salamence can check Primal Groudon for Arceus-Bug.
* Magearna can check Mega Salamence and Xerneas, removing them from play or wearing them down so Arceus-Bug can sweep.
* Pursuit trappers, such as Tyranitar and Alolan Muk, can eliminate Ghost-types for Arceus-Bug. Choice Scarf Lunala is also an option, being capable of outspeeding and removing most Ghost-types from play with Moongeist Beam.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Recover increases Arceus-Bug's durability but comes at the cost of a coverage move, leaving Arceus-Bug walled by even more Pokemon.
* Extreme Speed allows Arceus-Bug to pick off weakened Pokemon, as well as Deoxys-A, outside of Psychic Terrain. However, Extreme Speed is extremely weak, even when boosted, and leaves Arceus-Bug unable to hit a large chunk of the tier super effectively.
* Calm Mind Arceus-Bug is a subpar option, as it is completely walled by Ho-Oh and is even weaker than the Swords Dance set.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ghost-types**: Arceus-Ghost resists X-Scissor and takes pitiful damage from Arceus-Bug's coverage moves, rendering Arceus-Bug total setup bait. Giratina-O is even more difficult for Arceus-Bug to deal with, as it is immune to Earthquake and can phaze Arceus-Bug with Dragon Tail. Mega Gengar outspeeds Arceus-Bug and can either remove it with Destiny Bond or revenge kill it if it is weakened. Even if its Shadow Shield has been broken by switching into Stealth Rock, Choice Scarf Lunala is rarely OHKOed by a boosted X-Scissor and can 2HKO Arceus-Bug with Moongeist Beam after Stealth Rock damage.
**Fairy-types**: Xerneas resists X-Scissor and does not care about Arceus-Bug's coverage moves. It can easily set up on Arceus-Bug and OHKO it with a boosted Moonblast. Unaware Clefable walls Arceus-Bug, as it ignores Arceus-Bug's Swords Dance boosts and is never 2HKOed by any of its attacks.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Bulky Pokemon, such as Arceus-Water, Arceus-Dragon, Mega Sableye, and defensive Primal Kyogre, can easily stomach Arceus-Bug's attacks and cripple it with Toxic or Will-O-Wisp. Other physical walls, such as Zygarde-C and Buzzwole, also wall Arceus-Bug to no end and can slowly wear it down.
**Primal Groudon**: Primal Groudon is somewhat problematic for Arceus-Bug, as it can tear through Arceus-Bug with a Rock-type coverage move or STAB Fire-type move if Arceus-Bug has taken Stealth Rock damage. However, Primal Groudon can be worn down by repeated switch-ins into Earthquake due to its lack of recovery, and specially defensive Primal Groudon is vulnerable to being severely weakened if it is forced to switch into an Arceus-Bug that has not taken any damage.
**Mega Salamence**: Mega Salamence can neutralize Arceus-Bug before Mega Evolving with Intimidate and either set up on it or OHKO it with Double-Edge. However, Mega Salamence has trouble switching in if it has already Mega Evolved, as Arceus-Bug can do heavy damage with Stone Edge.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types that can shake off Arceus-Bug's coverage moves, such as Skarmory, Mega Scizor, Celesteela, and Shuca Berry Dialga, wall Arceus-Bug and can either outstall it or deal heavy damage to it with their own coverage moves. Some Steel-types that are weak to Earthquake can still disrupt Arceus-Bug. For example, Klefki can paralyze Arceus-Bug with Thunder Wave, rendering it unusable.
**Landorus-T**: Landorus-T disrupts Arceus-Bug with Intimidate, resists X-Scissor, is immune to Earthquake, and can take a Stone Edge. It can then OHKO Arceus-Bug with Supersonic Skystrike.
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