Anything Goes

Analysis written by lotiasite.
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Arceus-Dark

Overview

Arceus-Dark is one of the best Calm Mind users in the metagame thanks to its ability to sustain itself with Recover while stacking boosts. It also sports a high Speed stat and good bulk, which allow it to wall a large portion of the metagame with a few stat boosts and use Recover reliably. Arceus-Dark has a solid Dark typing, which allows it to check many common threats such as Lunala, Mega Gengar, Yveltal, Deoxys-A, and Arceus-Ghost. It also gives it great mono-attacking coverage, only having one common resistance in Fairy. Arceus-Dark's support set lets it status many foes, potentially crippling them for other Pokemon, such as Xerneas, to set up reliably. However, Arceus-Dark dislikes facing Fighting-types like Marshadow and Fairy-types such as Magearna, Xerneas, and Arceus-Fairy; Magearna in particular can easily use Heart Swap against it to steal Arceus-Dark's boosts.

Calm Mind

Set Comments

Moves

Calm Mind boosts both Arceus-Dark's Special Attack and Special Defense, allowing it to hit harder with Judgment and take special hits better. With a few boosts, Judgment becomes extremely powerful, capable of OHKOing or 2HKOing even the most bulky Pokemon such as Lugia and support Arceus formes. Judgment hits most foes for unresisted damage, giving it good mono-attacking coverage. Recover is mandatory for Arceus-Dark to stay healthy, which it needs to be able to keep boosting up, and, coupled with Iron Defense and Calm Mind, lets Arceus-Dark become a bulky attacker that can survive even the strongest attacks and heal off. Refresh lets Arceus-Dark remove status such as Toxic and paralysis, which can cripple it. This lets it set up more, especially against bulkier Pokemon such as support Arceus formes. Alternatively, Iron Defense lets Arceus-Dark boost its Defense stat by two stages, which can be helpful versus many physical wallbreakers such as Ho-Oh, Mega Rayquaza, and Primal Groudon, but it doesn't let Arceus-Dark win against Marshadow one-on-one. Another option is Sludge Bomb, which hits Fairy-type Pokemon such as Xerneas and Clefable for super effective damage, removing one of Arceus-Dark's biggest worries. However, it usually isn't enough for Arceus-Dark to beat Xerneas without a lot of boosts.

Set Details

252 Speed EVs along with a Timid nature allow Arceus-Dark to Speed tie with other Arceus formes as well as outspeed anything slower. 252 HP EVs maximize Arceus-Dark's HP stat, making it more bulky.

Usage Tips

If Arceus-Dark is using Iron Defense, use it to wall opposing physical attackers such as Ho-Oh, Mega Rayquaza, and Primal Groudon before they can attack, then proceed to set up with Calm Mind. Arceus-Dark also has to be wary of status when running Iron Defense or Sludge Bomb over Refresh, as Toxic damage can quickly rack up and paralysis makes it more suspectible to revenge killing; as such, avoid status where possible. Do not set up with Arceus-Dark until most Fairy-types are removed, as they can easily put a stop to it. Switch in Arceus-Dark against Pokemon it can beat such as Lunala and Yveltal and use them to set up Calm Mind boosts while walling them. Arceus-Dark can also become setup fodder for Pokemon such as Xerneas and Mega Lucario, so double switch when necessary.

Team Options

Checks to Fairy-type Pokemon such as Mega Gengar, Arceus-Steel, and Ho-Oh can be used to take them out, letting Arceus-Dark set up. Arceus-Dark can also take out many threats such as Yveltal, removing checks for Pokemon like Arceus-Ghost and allowing them to sweep. Primal Groudon can remove Magearna very reliably while also checking other Fairy-types such as Xerneas. Arceus-Dark can also deal with Primal Groudon's checks, such as Yveltal and Lugia. Defog support from Pokemon such as Arceus-Water is appreciated, as it lets Arceus-Dark conserve Recover PP and take less damage. Arceus-Water also checks Ho-Oh, which can be an annoying Pokemon for Arceus-Dark to face. Ho-Oh is able to tank Arceus-Dark's attacks due to its high Special Defense and use Whirlwind, Toxic, Sacred Fire, or Brave Bird to cripple it further.

Support

Set Comments

Moves

Toxic can deal huge indirect damage if it racks up and can be used to cripple bulky Pokemon such as Zygarde-C, Primal Groudon, and support Arceus formes. Toxic can also force switches, letting Arceus-Dark poison the entire opposing team. Recover is Arceus-Dark's only form of recovery and can be used to Toxic stall foes as well as heal off any damage it has taken. Judgment deals lots of damage with a Dread Plate and is Arceus-Dark's only attack. Defog is used to rid the field of entry hazards, which can help support teammates that dislike switching into them, such as Ho-Oh and Lugia.

Set Details

252 HP EVs let Arceus-Dark become more bulky and get the most out of Recover. 16 Speed EVs allow Arceus-Dark to outspeed maximum Speed neutral-natured base 90 Speed Pokemon such as Ho-Oh and Primal Kyogre. The rest is put into Defense alongside a Bold nature to allow Arceus-Dark to take hits from physical attackers better.

Usage Tips

Arceus-Dark can be useful in spreading status conditions among entire teams, as it is decently fast and bulky. With Toxic, it can cripple many bulky Pokemon and setup Pokemon. Send in Arceus-Dark against Pokemon that don't damage it much, such as Arceus-Ghost. This way, it can freely remove entry hazards and Recover off damage along with getting off chip damage afterwards. This Arceus-Dark set is mainly used to support teammates by removing hazards and crippling foes, making it easier for other Pokemon to set up. Avoid letting Arceus-Dark get statused, especially by Toxic, as it can easily be worn down and thus knocked out. Switch in Arceus-Dark against attacks it can easily soak up, such as Moongeist Beam and Psystrike, or on a predicted Stealth Rock or Spikes, which it can then Defog away. Arceus-Dark can also force switches against these Pokemon, letting Arceus-Dark poison or weaken incoming foes.

Team Options

Pokemon that appreciate entry hazard removal, such as Ho-Oh and Lugia, can be paired with Arceus-Dark to take advantage of Defog. Ho-Oh in particular is a great partner for this Pokemon, as it can take care of Xerneas and Magearna. Many setup sweepers such as Extreme Killer Arceus appreciate Arceus-Dark crippling foes with Toxic, whittling down walls to make it easier to sweep. Arceus-Dark also struggles against Fairy-type Pokemon, most notably Xerneas, and can become complete setup fodder for it. Fairy-type Pokemon checks such as Primal Groudon and Mega Gengar should then be used to take care of Fairy-types, in which Arceus-Dark can continue to support. Mega Rayquaza is also a good teammate for Arceus-Dark, as it can check Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre, which can both soak up hits and deal huge damage to Arceus-Dark.

Strategy Comments

Other Options

Roar is an option on the support set that can phaze set-up Pokemon or get a more favorable matchup for Arceus-Dark. A Perish trapper set with Whirlpool and Perish Song can also be used to take out specific threats; however, other than its surprise factor, it is mostly overshadowed by Gothitelle as a trapper. Will-O-Wisp can sometimes be used instead of Toxic on the support set, as it cripples opposing physical Pokemon like Mega Rayquaza, reducing their damage output and letting Arceus-Dark heal off the damage easily. The burn can also render some Pokemon useless, letting others set up on them; however, it leaves Arceus-Dark extremely weak to Ho-Oh. You can also invest more Speed EVs to allow Arceus-Dark to outspeed different Pokemon: 88 EVs allow Arceus-Dark to outspeed maximum Speed neutral-natured Xerneas and Yveltal, 96 or 216 EVs with a Timid nature allow Arceus-Dark to outspeed Adamant or Jolly Mega Rayquaza, respectively, and 252 EVs with a Timid nature enable Arceus-Dark to Speed tie with other Arceus formes.

Checks and Counters

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