[OVERVIEW]
Arceus's even distribution of stats reflects its ability to perform a variety of roles. However, the comparative mediocrity of a base stat of 120 in the Balanced Hackmons metagame makes Arceus a jack of all trades and a master of none. It neither hits as hard nor takes hits as well as Pokemon with more extreme stat spreads. That being said, Arceus has several distinct characteristics that set it apart from its competitors. For one, though it isn't great defensively, Arceus's Normal typing gives it access to two of the most powerful STAB moves in the metagame, Facade and Boomburst, both of which it can use equally well thanks to its well-rounded attacking stats. In addition, Arceus possesses the inherent advantage of taking reduced damage from Knock Off and being invulnerable to Trick when it holds a Plate. Finally, because any Arceus sprite can be used on the Pokemon Showdown! teambuilder regardless of whether or not Arceus is using Multitype and/or holding a plate of the given type, a variety of colorful sprites can be used to beguile the opponent. Overall, Arceus ekes out a niche as a solid attacker in Balanced Hackmons, though it does lack the flair of faster and stronger offensive Pokemon like the Mega Mewtwo formes and Mega Rayquaza.
[SET]
name: Physical Poison Heal
move 1: Facade
move 2: Icicle Crash / Knock Off / Thousand Arrows
move 3: Spore / Leech Seed / King's Shield
move 4: Shift Gear / Roost
item: Toxic Orb
ability: Poison Heal
nature: Jolly
evs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
When Arceus's Toxic Orb has been activated, Facade is boosted to a Base Power of 140 and can serve as an extremely reliable STAB move for this set. Running Facade also helps against Imposter Chansey because the ability doesn't copy poison and thus doesn't carry over the power boost, leaving the user with a STAB move of only 70 Base Power. With regards to coverage moves, Arceus's excellent Speed tier makes Icicle Crash, using which it can outspeed and OHKO Mega Rayquaza, an extremely viable option. Icicle Crash also does more damage than other coverage options like Knock Off to Griseous Orb-holding or itemless Giratina, though it doesn't do a terrific amount of damage regardless. Though it is less effective against Giratina after it first connects and removes Giratina's item, Knock Off hits the Rock- and Steel-types that resist Facade for neutral damage and removes crucial items like Imposter Chansey's Eviolite. Similarly, Thousand Arrows has a bit of utility due to its ability to hit Pokemon with the same Rock and Steel defensive typings for large amounts of damage. Spore is especially useful on this Arceus set because though the move can be blocked by Grass-types and Safety Goggles, a poisoned Arceus has no fear of having Spore bounced back by Magic Bounce. Leech Seed helps extend Arceus's longevity; the draining effect also helps beat Imposter Chansey because an opposing Chansey will have a higher HP stat than Arceus and thus gain less HP back from Leech Seed recovery; the move also provides a reliable means of knocking out Sturdy Shedinja. King's Shield provides an opportunity for guaranteed Toxic Orb activation (though the player should watch out for opposing status moves) as well as an added line of defense against -ate ability users. Shift Gear allows Arceus to punch holes in opposing teams and outpace fast attackers like Mega Gengar and the Mega Mewtwo formes as a result of the Speed boost. Alternatively, Roost is an extra form of recovery that significantly extends Arceus's lifespan but removes all sweeping potential from the set.
Set Details
========
The 216 EVs in Speed and the Jolly nature enable Arceus to outspeed notable offensive threats such as Mega Rayquaza (which it can OHKO with Icicle Crash), Mega Diancie, Regigigas, and Slaking. 252 EVs in Attack ensure that Facade and any coverage moves do as much damage as possible; these EVs are especially important given Arceus's relatively low attacking stats. The remaining 40 EVs go into HP to increase Arceus's chances of surviving powerful attacks. Toxic Orb ensures that Arceus, if switched in safely, will be poisoned and thus be able to make full use of both its ability and its primary STAB move.
Usage Tips
========
It is important to switch Arceus in by means of an allied Pokemon's fainting or the use of a slow pivot with U-turn, Baton Pass, or Volt Switch so that one does not even run the risk of encountering a stray status move or Knock Off before Toxic Orb is activated and Poison Heal can begin to take effect. In addition, while Arceus is relatively bulky, with the given stat spread it lacks the defenses required to take hits from some of Balanced Hackmons's elite attackers, making switching in by means of a pivot or sacrifice all the more important.
Team Options
========
Giratina and other Ghost-types are excellent teammates for Arceus because they are immune to Fighting, Arceus's sole weakness. Giratina is especially useful because it can switch into a variety of Mega Mewtwo X sets very reliably, which is one of the main Pokemon that run sets that frequently threaten Arceus. If Arceus does not run Leech Seed or Spiky Shield, a Mold Breaker teammate like Mega Gengar, Mega Gyarados, or even Giratina is necessary to eliminate Sturdy Shedinja. (Even if Spiky Shield is used, this is a useful provision because Spiky Shield is not the most reliable way of checking Shedinja.) Lastly, wallbreakers such as Mega Mewtwo X (which can also eliminate Rock- and Steel-types) are essential to take out Prankster and especially Unaware Pokemon that may threaten a potential sweep by Shift Gear Arceus.
[SET]
name: Quiver Dance
move 1: Boomburst
move 2: Judgment
move 3: Quiver Dance
move 4: King's Shield / Secret Sword / Leech Seed
item: Spooky Plate / Earth Plate
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Timid
evs: 132 HP / 252 SpA / 124 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
While many prominent defensive Pokemon like Giratina, Registeel, and Aegislash resist or are immune to Boomburst, it does huge chunks of damage to the offensive Pokemon that populate the metagame. Judgment takes advantage of the fact that Arceus cannot have its Plates Knocked Off and serves as reliable coverage that Imposter users cannot access. Quiver Dance is an excellent move for special Arceus sets, as it not only boosts Special Attack but also boosts Arceus's already excellent Speed to the point that Arceus outspeeds the entire Balanced Hackmons metagame. King's Shield can be used to protect against -ate ability users' Fake Out or Extreme Speed and force them to incur a two-stage Attack drop. It also allows Arceus to scout for Fighting-type coverage moves from faster attackers. Alternatively, Secret Sword provides additional coverage that hits Mega Tyranitar, the only relevant Pokemon that resists Ghost / Normal coverage, extremely hard, though it is less useful on Earth Plate Judgment sets, while also hitting powerful walls such as Chansey (which it notably hits on its weaker Defense stat) and Registeel for super effective damage. Lastly, Leech Seed is an option that serves as an additional anti-Imposter Chansey (due to Chansey's high HP stat) and anti-Sturdy Shedinja measure.
Set Details
========
Spooky Plate gives Arceus a Ghost-type Judgment that hits Giratina and Aegislash hard while providing excellent neutral coverage with the Normal-type Boomburst. This is generally the optimal Plate. However, Earth Plate gives Arceus a Ground-type Judgment, which can hit bulky Steel-types such as Registeel super effectively but leaves Arceus walled by virtually any variant of the exceptionally common Giratina. The 124 Speed EVs, together with the Timid nature, enable Arceus to outspeed Deoxys-S (and thus the entirety of Balanced Hackmons) after a single use of Quiver Dance, though fewer Speed EVs and perhaps even a Modest nature can be used if outspeeding only certain slower Pokemon is one's priority. 252 Special Attack EVs boost Arceus's mediocre Special Attack as much as possible to give it the best possible chance of sweeping.
Usage Tips
========
Arceus's unique stat distribution makes setting up a sweep somewhat difficult. It's best to eliminate opposing -ate ability users before attempting to set up with Quiver Dance, as even after setting up, Arceus is extremely vulnerable to the combination of Fake Out and Extreme Speed that they commonly employ. Arceus also lacks the attacking prowess to simply power through its counters by boosting, so Pokemon that easily counter the set (Mega Tyranitar for the Spooky Plate set without Secret Sword, Giratina for the Earth Plate set) should also be taken out beforehand. Also, because Arceus is likely running an offensive EV spread, it lacks the bulk to take hits from strong attackers and should probably be brought in via a teammate's fainting or the use of a slow pivot. Finally, the aforementioned trick that involves changing Arceus's sprite is especially useful for this set, which can bluff a variety of types using the combination of Judgment and a Plate and thus confuse the opponent.
Team Options
========
Giratina (thanks to its immunity to the Fighting-type attacks that threaten Arceus and its ability to check Mega Mewtwo X) and wallbreakers like the Mega Mewtwo formes (which can eliminate Prankster or Unaware users that aim to prevent a sweep as well as other defensive Pokemon that resist Arceus's attacks) are excellent teammates for Arceus. If Arceus does not run Leech Seed, a Mold Breaker user, perhaps even Giratina itself, will also be necessary to ensure that Sturdy Shedinja does not pose a great threat to one's team. Finally, because this set is somewhat vulnerable to -ate ability users' Fake Out + Extreme Speed, a common counter to them like Fur Coat Chansey can be of use.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Arceus is occasionally used in defensive roles, most notably as a physically defensive Soundproof Pokemon that can function well against offense (by defeating -ate ability users that run Boomburst) and stall (by using Perish Song in conjunction with a trapping move). However, other Pokemon with superior bulk or defensive typings, such as Mega Slowbro, are generally more useful in this role. Multitype can be used to change Arceus's type; the combination of Multitype and a Spooky Plate is often used to emulate Mega Gengar strategies, while a Stone Plate is occasionally seen on sand-based teams to gain the Special Defense boost provided by the weather. Note once again that the player does not necessarily have to equip on Pokemon Showdown the sprite that matches Arceus's actual type; it is advantageous to try to trick the opponent by using a different sprite. Neither Multitype strategy is very effective because they require the effective sacrifice of both an item and ability to function. Dark Void can replace Spore because it is not blocked by Safety Goggles or Grass-types, but its unreliable accuracy can result in a defeat.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Massively Bulky Pokemon**: Pokemon such as the omnipresent Giratina and the somewhat-less-so Mega Slowbro counter the physical Arceus set. Even Arceus's super effective moves like Knock Off do negligible damage to these Pokemon, especially if the foe is running Griseous Orb or Slowbronite, respectively. The Poison Heal variant of Giratina is especially effective at countering Arceus because its recovery prevents it from losing to a physical set with the combination of Icicle Crash and Leech Seed. In addition to Giratina and Mega Slowbro, many Magic Bounce users and the occasional Flash Fire Aegislash can force out the Poison Heal set through the use of ability-changing moves such as Entrainment or phazing ones such as Whirlwind. Meanwhile, Fur Coat Chansey can shrug off any hit from any variant of the Judgment set and only fears Leech Seed.
**Mega Mewtwo X**: Mega Mewtwo X outspeeds Arceus before it gets the chance to set up a Shift Gear or Quiver Dance and can easily OHKO with either super effective Fighting-type STAB moves or simply incredibly powerful attacks like V-create. It only fears King's Shield, which is somewhat uncommon on Arceus anyway.
**Mega Mewtwo Y**: Mega Mewtwo Y, much like its X counterpart, checks Arceus, primarily because one of the common Protean Mega Mewtwo Y sets, which runs Spooky Plate, often also runs Secret Sword for perfect neutral coverage and can knock out Arceus fairly easily.
Arceus's even distribution of stats reflects its ability to perform a variety of roles. However, the comparative mediocrity of a base stat of 120 in the Balanced Hackmons metagame makes Arceus a jack of all trades and a master of none. It neither hits as hard nor takes hits as well as Pokemon with more extreme stat spreads. That being said, Arceus has several distinct characteristics that set it apart from its competitors. For one, though it isn't great defensively, Arceus's Normal typing gives it access to two of the most powerful STAB moves in the metagame, Facade and Boomburst, both of which it can use equally well thanks to its well-rounded attacking stats. In addition, Arceus possesses the inherent advantage of taking reduced damage from Knock Off and being invulnerable to Trick when it holds a Plate. Finally, because any Arceus sprite can be used on the Pokemon Showdown! teambuilder regardless of whether or not Arceus is using Multitype and/or holding a plate of the given type, a variety of colorful sprites can be used to beguile the opponent. Overall, Arceus ekes out a niche as a solid attacker in Balanced Hackmons, though it does lack the flair of faster and stronger offensive Pokemon like the Mega Mewtwo formes and Mega Rayquaza.
[SET]
name: Physical Poison Heal
move 1: Facade
move 2: Icicle Crash / Knock Off / Thousand Arrows
move 3: Spore / Leech Seed / King's Shield
move 4: Shift Gear / Roost
item: Toxic Orb
ability: Poison Heal
nature: Jolly
evs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
When Arceus's Toxic Orb has been activated, Facade is boosted to a Base Power of 140 and can serve as an extremely reliable STAB move for this set. Running Facade also helps against Imposter Chansey because the ability doesn't copy poison and thus doesn't carry over the power boost, leaving the user with a STAB move of only 70 Base Power. With regards to coverage moves, Arceus's excellent Speed tier makes Icicle Crash, using which it can outspeed and OHKO Mega Rayquaza, an extremely viable option. Icicle Crash also does more damage than other coverage options like Knock Off to Griseous Orb-holding or itemless Giratina, though it doesn't do a terrific amount of damage regardless. Though it is less effective against Giratina after it first connects and removes Giratina's item, Knock Off hits the Rock- and Steel-types that resist Facade for neutral damage and removes crucial items like Imposter Chansey's Eviolite. Similarly, Thousand Arrows has a bit of utility due to its ability to hit Pokemon with the same Rock and Steel defensive typings for large amounts of damage. Spore is especially useful on this Arceus set because though the move can be blocked by Grass-types and Safety Goggles, a poisoned Arceus has no fear of having Spore bounced back by Magic Bounce. Leech Seed helps extend Arceus's longevity; the draining effect also helps beat Imposter Chansey because an opposing Chansey will have a higher HP stat than Arceus and thus gain less HP back from Leech Seed recovery; the move also provides a reliable means of knocking out Sturdy Shedinja. King's Shield provides an opportunity for guaranteed Toxic Orb activation (though the player should watch out for opposing status moves) as well as an added line of defense against -ate ability users. Shift Gear allows Arceus to punch holes in opposing teams and outpace fast attackers like Mega Gengar and the Mega Mewtwo formes as a result of the Speed boost. Alternatively, Roost is an extra form of recovery that significantly extends Arceus's lifespan but removes all sweeping potential from the set.
Set Details
========
The 216 EVs in Speed and the Jolly nature enable Arceus to outspeed notable offensive threats such as Mega Rayquaza (which it can OHKO with Icicle Crash), Mega Diancie, Regigigas, and Slaking. 252 EVs in Attack ensure that Facade and any coverage moves do as much damage as possible; these EVs are especially important given Arceus's relatively low attacking stats. The remaining 40 EVs go into HP to increase Arceus's chances of surviving powerful attacks. Toxic Orb ensures that Arceus, if switched in safely, will be poisoned and thus be able to make full use of both its ability and its primary STAB move.
Usage Tips
========
It is important to switch Arceus in by means of an allied Pokemon's fainting or the use of a slow pivot with U-turn, Baton Pass, or Volt Switch so that one does not even run the risk of encountering a stray status move or Knock Off before Toxic Orb is activated and Poison Heal can begin to take effect. In addition, while Arceus is relatively bulky, with the given stat spread it lacks the defenses required to take hits from some of Balanced Hackmons's elite attackers, making switching in by means of a pivot or sacrifice all the more important.
Team Options
========
Giratina and other Ghost-types are excellent teammates for Arceus because they are immune to Fighting, Arceus's sole weakness. Giratina is especially useful because it can switch into a variety of Mega Mewtwo X sets very reliably, which is one of the main Pokemon that run sets that frequently threaten Arceus. If Arceus does not run Leech Seed or Spiky Shield, a Mold Breaker teammate like Mega Gengar, Mega Gyarados, or even Giratina is necessary to eliminate Sturdy Shedinja. (Even if Spiky Shield is used, this is a useful provision because Spiky Shield is not the most reliable way of checking Shedinja.) Lastly, wallbreakers such as Mega Mewtwo X (which can also eliminate Rock- and Steel-types) are essential to take out Prankster and especially Unaware Pokemon that may threaten a potential sweep by Shift Gear Arceus.
[SET]
name: Quiver Dance
move 1: Boomburst
move 2: Judgment
move 3: Quiver Dance
move 4: King's Shield / Secret Sword / Leech Seed
item: Spooky Plate / Earth Plate
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Timid
evs: 132 HP / 252 SpA / 124 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
While many prominent defensive Pokemon like Giratina, Registeel, and Aegislash resist or are immune to Boomburst, it does huge chunks of damage to the offensive Pokemon that populate the metagame. Judgment takes advantage of the fact that Arceus cannot have its Plates Knocked Off and serves as reliable coverage that Imposter users cannot access. Quiver Dance is an excellent move for special Arceus sets, as it not only boosts Special Attack but also boosts Arceus's already excellent Speed to the point that Arceus outspeeds the entire Balanced Hackmons metagame. King's Shield can be used to protect against -ate ability users' Fake Out or Extreme Speed and force them to incur a two-stage Attack drop. It also allows Arceus to scout for Fighting-type coverage moves from faster attackers. Alternatively, Secret Sword provides additional coverage that hits Mega Tyranitar, the only relevant Pokemon that resists Ghost / Normal coverage, extremely hard, though it is less useful on Earth Plate Judgment sets, while also hitting powerful walls such as Chansey (which it notably hits on its weaker Defense stat) and Registeel for super effective damage. Lastly, Leech Seed is an option that serves as an additional anti-Imposter Chansey (due to Chansey's high HP stat) and anti-Sturdy Shedinja measure.
Set Details
========
Spooky Plate gives Arceus a Ghost-type Judgment that hits Giratina and Aegislash hard while providing excellent neutral coverage with the Normal-type Boomburst. This is generally the optimal Plate. However, Earth Plate gives Arceus a Ground-type Judgment, which can hit bulky Steel-types such as Registeel super effectively but leaves Arceus walled by virtually any variant of the exceptionally common Giratina. The 124 Speed EVs, together with the Timid nature, enable Arceus to outspeed Deoxys-S (and thus the entirety of Balanced Hackmons) after a single use of Quiver Dance, though fewer Speed EVs and perhaps even a Modest nature can be used if outspeeding only certain slower Pokemon is one's priority. 252 Special Attack EVs boost Arceus's mediocre Special Attack as much as possible to give it the best possible chance of sweeping.
Usage Tips
========
Arceus's unique stat distribution makes setting up a sweep somewhat difficult. It's best to eliminate opposing -ate ability users before attempting to set up with Quiver Dance, as even after setting up, Arceus is extremely vulnerable to the combination of Fake Out and Extreme Speed that they commonly employ. Arceus also lacks the attacking prowess to simply power through its counters by boosting, so Pokemon that easily counter the set (Mega Tyranitar for the Spooky Plate set without Secret Sword, Giratina for the Earth Plate set) should also be taken out beforehand. Also, because Arceus is likely running an offensive EV spread, it lacks the bulk to take hits from strong attackers and should probably be brought in via a teammate's fainting or the use of a slow pivot. Finally, the aforementioned trick that involves changing Arceus's sprite is especially useful for this set, which can bluff a variety of types using the combination of Judgment and a Plate and thus confuse the opponent.
Team Options
========
Giratina (thanks to its immunity to the Fighting-type attacks that threaten Arceus and its ability to check Mega Mewtwo X) and wallbreakers like the Mega Mewtwo formes (which can eliminate Prankster or Unaware users that aim to prevent a sweep as well as other defensive Pokemon that resist Arceus's attacks) are excellent teammates for Arceus. If Arceus does not run Leech Seed, a Mold Breaker user, perhaps even Giratina itself, will also be necessary to ensure that Sturdy Shedinja does not pose a great threat to one's team. Finally, because this set is somewhat vulnerable to -ate ability users' Fake Out + Extreme Speed, a common counter to them like Fur Coat Chansey can be of use.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Arceus is occasionally used in defensive roles, most notably as a physically defensive Soundproof Pokemon that can function well against offense (by defeating -ate ability users that run Boomburst) and stall (by using Perish Song in conjunction with a trapping move). However, other Pokemon with superior bulk or defensive typings, such as Mega Slowbro, are generally more useful in this role. Multitype can be used to change Arceus's type; the combination of Multitype and a Spooky Plate is often used to emulate Mega Gengar strategies, while a Stone Plate is occasionally seen on sand-based teams to gain the Special Defense boost provided by the weather. Note once again that the player does not necessarily have to equip on Pokemon Showdown the sprite that matches Arceus's actual type; it is advantageous to try to trick the opponent by using a different sprite. Neither Multitype strategy is very effective because they require the effective sacrifice of both an item and ability to function. Dark Void can replace Spore because it is not blocked by Safety Goggles or Grass-types, but its unreliable accuracy can result in a defeat.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Massively Bulky Pokemon**: Pokemon such as the omnipresent Giratina and the somewhat-less-so Mega Slowbro counter the physical Arceus set. Even Arceus's super effective moves like Knock Off do negligible damage to these Pokemon, especially if the foe is running Griseous Orb or Slowbronite, respectively. The Poison Heal variant of Giratina is especially effective at countering Arceus because its recovery prevents it from losing to a physical set with the combination of Icicle Crash and Leech Seed. In addition to Giratina and Mega Slowbro, many Magic Bounce users and the occasional Flash Fire Aegislash can force out the Poison Heal set through the use of ability-changing moves such as Entrainment or phazing ones such as Whirlwind. Meanwhile, Fur Coat Chansey can shrug off any hit from any variant of the Judgment set and only fears Leech Seed.
**Mega Mewtwo X**: Mega Mewtwo X outspeeds Arceus before it gets the chance to set up a Shift Gear or Quiver Dance and can easily OHKO with either super effective Fighting-type STAB moves or simply incredibly powerful attacks like V-create. It only fears King's Shield, which is somewhat uncommon on Arceus anyway.
**Mega Mewtwo Y**: Mega Mewtwo Y, much like its X counterpart, checks Arceus, primarily because one of the common Protean Mega Mewtwo Y sets, which runs Spooky Plate, often also runs Secret Sword for perfect neutral coverage and can knock out Arceus fairly easily.
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