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Arceus
[Overview]
<p>With Arceus' ability giving it the ability to become any type, it gains the power of STAB on Dragon type attacks. With base 120 stats, a respectable movepool, and Dragon STAB + other attacks, Arceus is easily able to use both specially and physically offensive sets.
[Set]
Name: Swords Dance
Move 1: Swords Dance
Move 2: Outrage
Move 3: Earthquake
Move 4: Extremespeed
Item: Draco Plate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature: Adamant
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With the prevalence of Dragon-types in Ubers, a Physical Dragon Arceus can be used effectively. The moves chosen for this set provide nearly perfect coverage, with extremespeed useful for finishing off Pokemon that are almost dead. The item choice, unfortunately, prevents Arceus from getting STAB on Extremespeed and the extra damage from Silk Scarf, but Extremespeed isn't meant to be the primary method of dealing damage on this set.</p>
<p>After a Swords Dance, there is little that can switch in on this Arceus set - a STAB Outrage off of 744 attack will even put a major dent in the pokemon that resist it, while OHKO'ing or 2HKOing everything else. Earthquake, when combined with Outrage, allows Arceus to hit the steels that can switch in on its STAB. Steels such as Nattorei, Forretress, and Skarmory are not as threatened by Earthquake, however, which makes it easier for them to deal with the God of Pokemon. Extremespeed, without STAB and Silk Scarf, does not have the ability to rip unprepared teams apart just by putting Stealth Rock into play, but it still does a respectable amount of damage after a Swords Dance.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Like most Arceus sets that focus on sweeping over defense, longevity is an issue, especially with a large number of Dragon and Ice attacks being present in Ubers. Because of Arceus' access to a priority attack in the form of Extremespeed, the Speed EVs can be shifted into HP to prevent it from dying quickly. If the extra damage from an Adamant Nature isn't an issue, and outspeeding Latios and Latias is a bigger concern, Jolly can be used to move faster than both. A Jolly Arceus, due to the boost from Nature, can run fewer speed EVs - with 176 Speed EVs, Arceus hits 352 speed, which is more than enough to outrun the Lati twins. With the re-allocation of those speed EVs, Arceus can run 80 HP EVs for some added bulk, putting it at 401 HP.</p>
<p>because of a much weaker Eextremespeed, a Swords Dance Boost may not guarantee that Dragon Arceus is able to OHKO the Scarfed Dragons prevalent in Ubers. Groudon, due to its defense, can check Scarfers such as Garchomp and Zekrom. Other ways to deal with Physical Scarfers include Impish Giratina, who is 2HKO'd by Outrage.</p>
<p>Fast Physical attacking Dragons are not the only problem. Special attackers such as Palkia and Dialga can do just as much damage. To check those threats, pokemon such as Kyogre and Ferrothorn can use their defense and/or typing to absorb Draco Meteors and Spacial Rends.</p>
[Set]
Name: Calm Mind
Move 1: Calm Mind
Move 2: Judgment
Move 3: Recover
Move 4: Earth Power
Item: Draco Plate
Evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This Arceus uses its STAB and movepool for excellent coverage. While Calm Mind only provides a +1 boost to SpA, the special set has the ability to tank hits better than its physical counterpart.</p>
<p>Calm Mind allows Arceus to boost its high SpA/SpD to even higher levels, making it a fearsome sweeper and special tank. After one or two turns of setup, Arceus can plow through teams with relative ease. Judgment serves as Arceus' STAB attack, hitting everything for either neutral or super-effective damage. With its high Base Power, STAB, and boost from the Draco Plate, Judgment easily deals with Dragon types and Pokemon without SpD investment. Recover, when combined with Calm Mind, allows Arceus to live indefinitely against the special attackers prevalent in the Uber tier. Against pokemon who otherwise cannot do anything in return, such as entry hazard users, Recover serves as a way to heal off any damage that Arceus may have incurred while setting up. Earth Power completes Arceus' coverage, allowing it to easily deal with the steel types that resist Judgment.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Like the Physical set, the Speed EVs can be shifted into HP to give Arceus a little more bulk. Because of Calm Mind, special attacks are not as big a problem for this Arceus set, but physical attacks are.</p>
<p>Because of Skarmory's ability to wall this set, Flamethrower is an option over Earth Power. That does, however, allow a Heatran to come in with impunity.</p>
<p>Due to the power Dragon Arceus holds, it can sweep teams by itself with little effort. However, it can not deal with Physical attackers very easily. Groudon, Ferrothorn, and to a lesser extent, Giratina, all have the ability to tank Outrage's damage. The opposing Pokemon can then be phazed or burned.</p>
[Set]
Name: SubCM
Move 1: Substitute
Move 2: Calm Mind
Move 3: Judgment
Move 4: Recover
Item: Draco Plate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
<p>With the prevalence of status from Pokemon like Blissey, this set seeks to deal with that problem.</p>
<p>The addition of Refresh prevents Toxic, regular poison, and Paralysis from hindering Arceus' ability to sweep. While the Burn status has no direct effect on Arceus' ability to sweep, it does mean that Arceus' lifespan is limited. Substitute serves to prevent Arceus from being statused again, and has the added benefit of helping Arceus deal with the things that threaten it, such as other Dragons. Chansey and Blissey, who generally cannot deal with a CM Arceus without status, are completely walled due to Substitute and Refresh. Judgment serves as Arceus' STAB, and can be boosted to higher levels through Calm Mind. After a few boosts, very little will be able to safely deal with Arceus, should it be behind a sub.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Because of Arceus' movepool and Bulk, the mono-attacking Refresh set can be used to deal with defensive pokemon such as Blissey, as they are are unable to status it. However, Lugia and Giratina can still phaze Arceus out. Lugia, due to its typing and bulk, has an easier time phazing Dragon Arceus - Giratina is 2HKOd by an unboosted Dragon-type Judgment, while Lugia can take more punishment before using Dragon Tail.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Because of Arceus' movepool and bulk, the mono-attacking Refresh set can also employ a physical version, using Outrage and Swords Dance over Judgment and Calm Mind.</p>
<p>On its offensive sets, Arceus may have above average speed and power, but it can still be manhandled easily by Scarfed Dragons with strong physical attacks, regardless of the set. Weakening the physical sweepers with Burn is strongly recommended, as the resulting attack drop can help keep Arceus alive in the face of an Outrage. Fast or Bulky pokemon such as Mewtwo, Giratina, or Ho-oh can easily inflict Burn.</p>
<p>Groudon's ability to summon permanent Sun can also be a useful partner for Arceus. Steels such as Nattorei can deal with it fairly easily if it lacks a Fire Move, making it worth considering.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Skarmory, Blissey, Nattorei, and Forretress can deal with either or both of Dragon Arceus' offensive sets. For the Steel types that aren't bothered by Earthquake or Earth Power, a fire type attack such as Flamethrower is worth considering. Blissey is able to switch in against the non-Refresh Special set with impunity, allowing the pink blob to slowly kill it with Toxic. Scarfed Dragons are not able to switch in on Arceus' Judgment or Outrage, but their ability to outrun Arceus makes it easy for them to revenge-kill the offensive sets.</p>
[Overview]
<p>With Arceus' ability giving it the ability to become any type, it gains the power of STAB on Dragon type attacks. With base 120 stats, a respectable movepool, and Dragon STAB + other attacks, Arceus is easily able to use both specially and physically offensive sets.
[Set]
Name: Swords Dance
Move 1: Swords Dance
Move 2: Outrage
Move 3: Earthquake
Move 4: Extremespeed
Item: Draco Plate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature: Adamant
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With the prevalence of Dragon-types in Ubers, a Physical Dragon Arceus can be used effectively. The moves chosen for this set provide nearly perfect coverage, with extremespeed useful for finishing off Pokemon that are almost dead. The item choice, unfortunately, prevents Arceus from getting STAB on Extremespeed and the extra damage from Silk Scarf, but Extremespeed isn't meant to be the primary method of dealing damage on this set.</p>
<p>After a Swords Dance, there is little that can switch in on this Arceus set - a STAB Outrage off of 744 attack will even put a major dent in the pokemon that resist it, while OHKO'ing or 2HKOing everything else. Earthquake, when combined with Outrage, allows Arceus to hit the steels that can switch in on its STAB. Steels such as Nattorei, Forretress, and Skarmory are not as threatened by Earthquake, however, which makes it easier for them to deal with the God of Pokemon. Extremespeed, without STAB and Silk Scarf, does not have the ability to rip unprepared teams apart just by putting Stealth Rock into play, but it still does a respectable amount of damage after a Swords Dance.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Like most Arceus sets that focus on sweeping over defense, longevity is an issue, especially with a large number of Dragon and Ice attacks being present in Ubers. Because of Arceus' access to a priority attack in the form of Extremespeed, the Speed EVs can be shifted into HP to prevent it from dying quickly. If the extra damage from an Adamant Nature isn't an issue, and outspeeding Latios and Latias is a bigger concern, Jolly can be used to move faster than both. A Jolly Arceus, due to the boost from Nature, can run fewer speed EVs - with 176 Speed EVs, Arceus hits 352 speed, which is more than enough to outrun the Lati twins. With the re-allocation of those speed EVs, Arceus can run 80 HP EVs for some added bulk, putting it at 401 HP.</p>
<p>because of a much weaker Eextremespeed, a Swords Dance Boost may not guarantee that Dragon Arceus is able to OHKO the Scarfed Dragons prevalent in Ubers. Groudon, due to its defense, can check Scarfers such as Garchomp and Zekrom. Other ways to deal with Physical Scarfers include Impish Giratina, who is 2HKO'd by Outrage.</p>
<p>Fast Physical attacking Dragons are not the only problem. Special attackers such as Palkia and Dialga can do just as much damage. To check those threats, pokemon such as Kyogre and Ferrothorn can use their defense and/or typing to absorb Draco Meteors and Spacial Rends.</p>
[Set]
Name: Calm Mind
Move 1: Calm Mind
Move 2: Judgment
Move 3: Recover
Move 4: Earth Power
Item: Draco Plate
Evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This Arceus uses its STAB and movepool for excellent coverage. While Calm Mind only provides a +1 boost to SpA, the special set has the ability to tank hits better than its physical counterpart.</p>
<p>Calm Mind allows Arceus to boost its high SpA/SpD to even higher levels, making it a fearsome sweeper and special tank. After one or two turns of setup, Arceus can plow through teams with relative ease. Judgment serves as Arceus' STAB attack, hitting everything for either neutral or super-effective damage. With its high Base Power, STAB, and boost from the Draco Plate, Judgment easily deals with Dragon types and Pokemon without SpD investment. Recover, when combined with Calm Mind, allows Arceus to live indefinitely against the special attackers prevalent in the Uber tier. Against pokemon who otherwise cannot do anything in return, such as entry hazard users, Recover serves as a way to heal off any damage that Arceus may have incurred while setting up. Earth Power completes Arceus' coverage, allowing it to easily deal with the steel types that resist Judgment.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Like the Physical set, the Speed EVs can be shifted into HP to give Arceus a little more bulk. Because of Calm Mind, special attacks are not as big a problem for this Arceus set, but physical attacks are.</p>
<p>Because of Skarmory's ability to wall this set, Flamethrower is an option over Earth Power. That does, however, allow a Heatran to come in with impunity.</p>
<p>Due to the power Dragon Arceus holds, it can sweep teams by itself with little effort. However, it can not deal with Physical attackers very easily. Groudon, Ferrothorn, and to a lesser extent, Giratina, all have the ability to tank Outrage's damage. The opposing Pokemon can then be phazed or burned.</p>
[Set]
Name: SubCM
Move 1: Substitute
Move 2: Calm Mind
Move 3: Judgment
Move 4: Recover
Item: Draco Plate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
<p>With the prevalence of status from Pokemon like Blissey, this set seeks to deal with that problem.</p>
<p>The addition of Refresh prevents Toxic, regular poison, and Paralysis from hindering Arceus' ability to sweep. While the Burn status has no direct effect on Arceus' ability to sweep, it does mean that Arceus' lifespan is limited. Substitute serves to prevent Arceus from being statused again, and has the added benefit of helping Arceus deal with the things that threaten it, such as other Dragons. Chansey and Blissey, who generally cannot deal with a CM Arceus without status, are completely walled due to Substitute and Refresh. Judgment serves as Arceus' STAB, and can be boosted to higher levels through Calm Mind. After a few boosts, very little will be able to safely deal with Arceus, should it be behind a sub.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Because of Arceus' movepool and Bulk, the mono-attacking Refresh set can be used to deal with defensive pokemon such as Blissey, as they are are unable to status it. However, Lugia and Giratina can still phaze Arceus out. Lugia, due to its typing and bulk, has an easier time phazing Dragon Arceus - Giratina is 2HKOd by an unboosted Dragon-type Judgment, while Lugia can take more punishment before using Dragon Tail.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Because of Arceus' movepool and bulk, the mono-attacking Refresh set can also employ a physical version, using Outrage and Swords Dance over Judgment and Calm Mind.</p>
<p>On its offensive sets, Arceus may have above average speed and power, but it can still be manhandled easily by Scarfed Dragons with strong physical attacks, regardless of the set. Weakening the physical sweepers with Burn is strongly recommended, as the resulting attack drop can help keep Arceus alive in the face of an Outrage. Fast or Bulky pokemon such as Mewtwo, Giratina, or Ho-oh can easily inflict Burn.</p>
<p>Groudon's ability to summon permanent Sun can also be a useful partner for Arceus. Steels such as Nattorei can deal with it fairly easily if it lacks a Fire Move, making it worth considering.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Skarmory, Blissey, Nattorei, and Forretress can deal with either or both of Dragon Arceus' offensive sets. For the Steel types that aren't bothered by Earthquake or Earth Power, a fire type attack such as Flamethrower is worth considering. Blissey is able to switch in against the non-Refresh Special set with impunity, allowing the pink blob to slowly kill it with Toxic. Scarfed Dragons are not able to switch in on Arceus' Judgment or Outrage, but their ability to outrun Arceus makes it easy for them to revenge-kill the offensive sets.</p>