QC: Gunner Rohan / Joshz / Trickster
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Ground Arceus is a very good Pokemon in Anything Goes, as its ability to set up and sweep using either attacking stat makes it unpredictable. While other Arceus formes are used more often in support roles, Ground Arceus is the most effective Arceus forme to use against the ever-present Primal Groudon, giving it a niche in a support role as well, further adding to its viability. Unfortunately, it loses to most of the common Water-types, such as Kyogre, Primal Kyogre, and Water Arceus. It also loses to some common walls, such as Skarmory and Ho-Oh, once it reveals whether if it is a physical attacker or special attacker. However, its resistance to Stealth Rock makes it an effective Defog user, and it functions as a decent Klefki check due to its immunity to Thunder Wave, giving it a firm niche in Anything Goes.
[SET]
name: Physical Sweeper
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Extreme Speed
item: Earth Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance boosts Ground Arceus's Attack to monstrous levels. Earthquake is mandatory as a very strong STAB move that is boosted further by Earth Plate. Stone Edge completes the classic EdgeQuake coverage and hits Flying-types such as Ho-Oh, Lugia, and Yveltal, which Earthquake fails to hit. Extreme Speed nabs KOs on weakened Pokemon and hits Xerneas and Choice Scarf Kyogre before they can KO Ground Arceus. Recover is an option that allows Ground Arceus to check Primal Groudon more easily and set up on a wider range of attacks.
Set Details
========
Ground Arceus runs a very simple EV spread with maximum Attack investment for grabbing more KOs and maximum Speed investment to outspeed as much as possible. A Jolly nature is used to Speed tie with opposing Arceus formes and outspeed Mega Rayquaza and Mega Diancie. Adamant is another option that gives it a notable power increase, including almost guaranteeing the OHKO on physically defensive Yveltal after Stealth Rock damage with a Swords Dance boost, but generally the Speed tier that a Jolly nature lets Ground Arceus hit is much more preferred.
Usage Tips
========
Ground Arceus can be used to set up and break down threats for teammates to clean up later; alternatively, it can be used as a late-game cleaner once its checks and counters have been removed. An effective way to use it is to play mind games with your opponent by bluffing the special or support set and then revealing the physical set and hopefully nabbing a KO or two. Good targets to set up on include Primal Groudon, Aegislash, Poison Arceus, and Steel Arceus; just watch out for burns from Lava Plume or Will-O-Wisp. Ground Arceus can be brought in to revenge kill weakened foes with Extreme Speed before attempting to actually sweep. It should be run on offensive teams that can wear down or defeat its checks and counters.
Team Options
========
Xerneas and Ground Arceus form a fantastic duo with amazing offensive synergy, each demolishing the other's checks. Ground Arceus can eliminate Steel Arceus, Poison Arceus, Primal Groudon, Aegislash, and Ho-Oh, while Xerneas can defeat Skarmory, Yveltal, and Giratina. Xerneas does need Ingrain and Aromatherapy to effectively handle Skarmory, though. Fairy Arceus can easily dispatch annoying Pokemon such as Yveltal and Giratina and appreciates Ground Arceus eliminating Steel-types. Zekrom handles Lugia, Yveltal, Skarmory, and both formes of Kyogre for Ground Arceus. Mega Diancie stops Darkrai from putting Ground Arceus to sleep and can defeat Skarmory with Hidden Power Fire. Good checks to Kyogre such as Palkia and Primal Groudon are necessary on teams with Ground Arceus. Mega Gengar can trap and eliminate Skarmory and Darkrai if it has Focus Blast.
[SET]
name: Special Sweeper
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Judgment
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Recover
item: Earth Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Timid
evs: 72 HP / 180 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind boosts Ground Arceus's Special Attack and Special Defense in order to attempt a sweep. Judgment is generally Ground Arceus's go-to attacking move. Ice Beam is for Flying-type Pokemon such as Yveltal, Mega Rayquaza, and Lugia, which are immune to Judgment, as well as hitting Levitate users such as Giratina-O and Gengar. Recover is used to allow Ground Arceus to heal off damage accrued during setup and check Primal Groudon and Klefki better.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature is used to Speed tie with opposing Arceus formes and outspeed Mega Rayquaza. 180 Special Attack EVs are used to OHKO Mega Rayquaza with Ice Beam at +1 Special Attack after Stealth Rock damage. 4 Special Defense EVs give Download Genesect an Attack boost instead of an Special Attack boost, forcing it to do less with Ice Beam, the move it usually carries to hit Ground-types for super effective damage. 72 HP EVs give Ground Arceus a bit of bulk.
Usage Tips
========
Ground Arceus should generally be brought in to sweep late-game, after its checks, such as Ho-Oh, Darkrai, and Lugia, have been weakened or eliminated. That being said, it can also be brought in mid-game if you need it to check or remove certain Pokemon, such as Klefki and Primal Groudon; however, make sure it is at reasonable health when you switch it out to keep it healthy for later in the match. It will almost always force out Primal Groudon, so that is an excellent opportunity to set up, and it can also set up on weaker attackers without super effective moves such as Mega Diancie.
Team Options
========
Rock Arceus is a good teammate, as Ho-Oh troubles this set. Bulky Water-types such as Primal Kyogre and Water Arceus make for good teammates as well, checking Ho-Oh and weakening or crippling Ground Arceus's other checks with status. Primal Groudon is a nifty partner, as it can check both Primal Kyogre and Xerneas individually, two threats to Ground Arceus. Mega Diancie prevents Darkrai from halting Ground Arceus's sweep while also outspeeding and KOing Ho-Oh.
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Judgment
move 2: Recover
move 3: Ice Beam / Defog
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Stealth Rock
item: Earth Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Judgment allows Ground Arceus to defeat Primal Groudon, as well as Steel-types and Poison-types, while also making it not Taunt bait. Recover gives Ground Arceus more longevity and allows it to more effectively check Klefki and Primal Groudon. Ground Arceus is an excellent Defog user due to its resistance to Stealth Rock and ability to take on most Stealth Rock users; however, if a Defog user is found elsewhere on the team, the move can be replaced with Ice Beam or Will-O-Wisp. Ice Beam is a more reliable way of handling Mega Rayquaza than Will-O-Wisp due to Lum Berry being a very common item on it, while Will-O-Wisp allows Ground Arceus to burn Pokemon such as Skarmory, Ferrothorn, Ghost Arceus, and Normal Arceus, making it a nuisance and crippling most Stealth Rock users. It can also be an effective Stealth Rock setter itself due to its ability to force switches against some top Pokemon in Anything Goes.
Set Details
========
The Speed EVs allow Ground Arceus to outspeed fully invested neutral-natured base 90 Speed Pokemon such as Primal Groudon. Running 252 HP EVs and 240 Defense EVs with a Bold nature maximizes Ground Arceus's physical bulk to better take on Mega Rayquaza, Primal Groudon, and opposing Arceus formes. 124 Speed EVs can be used to outspeed all Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre; however, any more investment severely compromises Ground Arceus's bulk.
Usage Tips
========
Ground Arceus can be brought in whenever it can safely wall something and remove entry hazards. Bring it in every time on Primal Groudon and most times on Klefki if you lack a separate check to it. An excellent way to use this set is to bring it in on a physical attacker, burn it, and then switch out to a teammate that can set up and sweep. Ground Arceus makes for a great lead due to its ability to cripple opposing leads with Will-O-Wisp or set up Stealth Rock for your team.
Team Options
========
Rock Arceus and Water-types such as Kyogre, Palkia, and Water Arceus make for good teammates, as they can handle Ho-Oh and other Flying-types that Ground Arceus may have trouble with. Defensive Pokemon such as Ho-Oh, Yveltal, and Lugia appreciate Ground Arceus's entry hazard removal, as Stealth Rock cripples all three to the point where they may be unable to check the Pokemon they must. Sweepers such as Xerneas and Normal Arceus appreciate the free switches and setup opportunities Ground Arceus provides, as well as their checks being crippled or removed.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Thunder can be used on a specially attacking set to hit Kyogre, Ho-Oh, and Primal Kyogre for decent damage; however, Ground Arceus needs to have a Calm Mind boost to be able to do decent damage to these Pokemon. Roar can be used to discourage the opponent from setting up and works really well on entry hazard-stacking teams featuring Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Scolipede. Perish Song is an option to check setup Pokemon, evasion users, and Baton Pass teams. Refresh makes Ground Arceus less weak to status and allows it to set up on bulky Arceus formes that use Will-O-Wisp or Toxic, such as Fairy Arceus and bulky Normal Arceus. Magic Coat is an option to bounce back status moves used by Pokemon such as Darkrai, Smeargle, and Klefki or entry hazards from the likes of Skarmory, Ferrothorn, opposing Arceus formes, and Primal Groudon. Overheat can be used on the physical set to lure and KO Skarmory.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Choice Scarf Kyogre can easily revenge kill any Ground Arceus set with its rain-boosted Water-type STAB attacks. Primal Kyogre can tank hits from the special set all day long and retaliate with a strong Origin Pulse. It dislikes eating Earthquake from the physical set, though. Water Arceus is bulky enough to withstand any hit and retaliate with a super effective Judgment. Palkia can hit Ground Arceus hard with STAB Hydro Pump; however, it is rare in Anything Goes and takes a lot of damage from Ground Arceus's attacks.
**Bronzong**: Bronzong takes very little damage from anything Ground Arceus does and can set up Stealth Rock and Toxic it in return.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types bulky enough to take Ground Arceus's coverage moves can be difficult to handle. If Multiscale is intact, Lugia can come in and phaze Ground Arceus easily. It does take a large chunk of damage from +2 Stone Edge and +2 Ice Beam, however, but it still survives and can switch in as Ground Arceus boosts. Skarmory hard walls the physical set, not being 2HKOed by +2 Stone Edge and being able to phaze it.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh gets a special mention, as it hard walls both the special Ground Arceus set and the support set. Its massive special bulk allows it to tank any hit from either set and either phaze it or attempt to get a burn with Sacred Fire. It must watch out for Stone Edge, however, so often the Ho-Oh user will switch it out of Ground Arceus until its set is revealed.
**Xerneas**: Xerneas can set up on the support set and beats the Calm Mind set in a one-on-one situation due to the combination of Geomancy and Power Herb boosting Xerneas faster than Calm Mind boosts Ground Arceus.
**Darkrai**: Darkrai can outspeed Ground Arceus, put it to sleep with Dark Void, and set up a Substitute or attempt to KO it with Dark Pulse.
**Status Users**: Toxic wears all Ground Arceus sets down very quickly and prevents it from doing too much damage. Burn damage is slightly more manageable for the special sweeper and support sets, but it is still annoying to play around, and it cripples the physical sweeper set.
**Giratina**: Giratina is bulky enough to tank any hit from Ground Arceus, even if it has a boost already, and proceed to burn the physical attacking set with Will-O-Wisp or phaze the special attacking set with Roar. It can also use Rest to get rid of all status or damage taken from any set.
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Ground Arceus is a very good Pokemon in Anything Goes, as its ability to set up and sweep using either attacking stat makes it unpredictable. While other Arceus formes are used more often in support roles, Ground Arceus is the most effective Arceus forme to use against the ever-present Primal Groudon, giving it a niche in a support role as well, further adding to its viability. Unfortunately, it loses to most of the common Water-types, such as Kyogre, Primal Kyogre, and Water Arceus. It also loses to some common walls, such as Skarmory and Ho-Oh, once it reveals whether if it is a physical attacker or special attacker. However, its resistance to Stealth Rock makes it an effective Defog user, and it functions as a decent Klefki check due to its immunity to Thunder Wave, giving it a firm niche in Anything Goes.
[SET]
name: Physical Sweeper
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Extreme Speed
item: Earth Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance boosts Ground Arceus's Attack to monstrous levels. Earthquake is mandatory as a very strong STAB move that is boosted further by Earth Plate. Stone Edge completes the classic EdgeQuake coverage and hits Flying-types such as Ho-Oh, Lugia, and Yveltal, which Earthquake fails to hit. Extreme Speed nabs KOs on weakened Pokemon and hits Xerneas and Choice Scarf Kyogre before they can KO Ground Arceus. Recover is an option that allows Ground Arceus to check Primal Groudon more easily and set up on a wider range of attacks.
Set Details
========
Ground Arceus runs a very simple EV spread with maximum Attack investment for grabbing more KOs and maximum Speed investment to outspeed as much as possible. A Jolly nature is used to Speed tie with opposing Arceus formes and outspeed Mega Rayquaza and Mega Diancie. Adamant is another option that gives it a notable power increase, including almost guaranteeing the OHKO on physically defensive Yveltal after Stealth Rock damage with a Swords Dance boost, but generally the Speed tier that a Jolly nature lets Ground Arceus hit is much more preferred.
Usage Tips
========
Ground Arceus can be used to set up and break down threats for teammates to clean up later; alternatively, it can be used as a late-game cleaner once its checks and counters have been removed. An effective way to use it is to play mind games with your opponent by bluffing the special or support set and then revealing the physical set and hopefully nabbing a KO or two. Good targets to set up on include Primal Groudon, Aegislash, Poison Arceus, and Steel Arceus; just watch out for burns from Lava Plume or Will-O-Wisp. Ground Arceus can be brought in to revenge kill weakened foes with Extreme Speed before attempting to actually sweep. It should be run on offensive teams that can wear down or defeat its checks and counters.
Team Options
========
Xerneas and Ground Arceus form a fantastic duo with amazing offensive synergy, each demolishing the other's checks. Ground Arceus can eliminate Steel Arceus, Poison Arceus, Primal Groudon, Aegislash, and Ho-Oh, while Xerneas can defeat Skarmory, Yveltal, and Giratina. Xerneas does need Ingrain and Aromatherapy to effectively handle Skarmory, though. Fairy Arceus can easily dispatch annoying Pokemon such as Yveltal and Giratina and appreciates Ground Arceus eliminating Steel-types. Zekrom handles Lugia, Yveltal, Skarmory, and both formes of Kyogre for Ground Arceus. Mega Diancie stops Darkrai from putting Ground Arceus to sleep and can defeat Skarmory with Hidden Power Fire. Good checks to Kyogre such as Palkia and Primal Groudon are necessary on teams with Ground Arceus. Mega Gengar can trap and eliminate Skarmory and Darkrai if it has Focus Blast.
[SET]
name: Special Sweeper
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Judgment
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Recover
item: Earth Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Timid
evs: 72 HP / 180 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind boosts Ground Arceus's Special Attack and Special Defense in order to attempt a sweep. Judgment is generally Ground Arceus's go-to attacking move. Ice Beam is for Flying-type Pokemon such as Yveltal, Mega Rayquaza, and Lugia, which are immune to Judgment, as well as hitting Levitate users such as Giratina-O and Gengar. Recover is used to allow Ground Arceus to heal off damage accrued during setup and check Primal Groudon and Klefki better.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature is used to Speed tie with opposing Arceus formes and outspeed Mega Rayquaza. 180 Special Attack EVs are used to OHKO Mega Rayquaza with Ice Beam at +1 Special Attack after Stealth Rock damage. 4 Special Defense EVs give Download Genesect an Attack boost instead of an Special Attack boost, forcing it to do less with Ice Beam, the move it usually carries to hit Ground-types for super effective damage. 72 HP EVs give Ground Arceus a bit of bulk.
Usage Tips
========
Ground Arceus should generally be brought in to sweep late-game, after its checks, such as Ho-Oh, Darkrai, and Lugia, have been weakened or eliminated. That being said, it can also be brought in mid-game if you need it to check or remove certain Pokemon, such as Klefki and Primal Groudon; however, make sure it is at reasonable health when you switch it out to keep it healthy for later in the match. It will almost always force out Primal Groudon, so that is an excellent opportunity to set up, and it can also set up on weaker attackers without super effective moves such as Mega Diancie.
Team Options
========
Rock Arceus is a good teammate, as Ho-Oh troubles this set. Bulky Water-types such as Primal Kyogre and Water Arceus make for good teammates as well, checking Ho-Oh and weakening or crippling Ground Arceus's other checks with status. Primal Groudon is a nifty partner, as it can check both Primal Kyogre and Xerneas individually, two threats to Ground Arceus. Mega Diancie prevents Darkrai from halting Ground Arceus's sweep while also outspeeding and KOing Ho-Oh.
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Judgment
move 2: Recover
move 3: Ice Beam / Defog
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Stealth Rock
item: Earth Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Judgment allows Ground Arceus to defeat Primal Groudon, as well as Steel-types and Poison-types, while also making it not Taunt bait. Recover gives Ground Arceus more longevity and allows it to more effectively check Klefki and Primal Groudon. Ground Arceus is an excellent Defog user due to its resistance to Stealth Rock and ability to take on most Stealth Rock users; however, if a Defog user is found elsewhere on the team, the move can be replaced with Ice Beam or Will-O-Wisp. Ice Beam is a more reliable way of handling Mega Rayquaza than Will-O-Wisp due to Lum Berry being a very common item on it, while Will-O-Wisp allows Ground Arceus to burn Pokemon such as Skarmory, Ferrothorn, Ghost Arceus, and Normal Arceus, making it a nuisance and crippling most Stealth Rock users. It can also be an effective Stealth Rock setter itself due to its ability to force switches against some top Pokemon in Anything Goes.
Set Details
========
The Speed EVs allow Ground Arceus to outspeed fully invested neutral-natured base 90 Speed Pokemon such as Primal Groudon. Running 252 HP EVs and 240 Defense EVs with a Bold nature maximizes Ground Arceus's physical bulk to better take on Mega Rayquaza, Primal Groudon, and opposing Arceus formes. 124 Speed EVs can be used to outspeed all Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre; however, any more investment severely compromises Ground Arceus's bulk.
Usage Tips
========
Ground Arceus can be brought in whenever it can safely wall something and remove entry hazards. Bring it in every time on Primal Groudon and most times on Klefki if you lack a separate check to it. An excellent way to use this set is to bring it in on a physical attacker, burn it, and then switch out to a teammate that can set up and sweep. Ground Arceus makes for a great lead due to its ability to cripple opposing leads with Will-O-Wisp or set up Stealth Rock for your team.
Team Options
========
Rock Arceus and Water-types such as Kyogre, Palkia, and Water Arceus make for good teammates, as they can handle Ho-Oh and other Flying-types that Ground Arceus may have trouble with. Defensive Pokemon such as Ho-Oh, Yveltal, and Lugia appreciate Ground Arceus's entry hazard removal, as Stealth Rock cripples all three to the point where they may be unable to check the Pokemon they must. Sweepers such as Xerneas and Normal Arceus appreciate the free switches and setup opportunities Ground Arceus provides, as well as their checks being crippled or removed.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Thunder can be used on a specially attacking set to hit Kyogre, Ho-Oh, and Primal Kyogre for decent damage; however, Ground Arceus needs to have a Calm Mind boost to be able to do decent damage to these Pokemon. Roar can be used to discourage the opponent from setting up and works really well on entry hazard-stacking teams featuring Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Scolipede. Perish Song is an option to check setup Pokemon, evasion users, and Baton Pass teams. Refresh makes Ground Arceus less weak to status and allows it to set up on bulky Arceus formes that use Will-O-Wisp or Toxic, such as Fairy Arceus and bulky Normal Arceus. Magic Coat is an option to bounce back status moves used by Pokemon such as Darkrai, Smeargle, and Klefki or entry hazards from the likes of Skarmory, Ferrothorn, opposing Arceus formes, and Primal Groudon. Overheat can be used on the physical set to lure and KO Skarmory.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Choice Scarf Kyogre can easily revenge kill any Ground Arceus set with its rain-boosted Water-type STAB attacks. Primal Kyogre can tank hits from the special set all day long and retaliate with a strong Origin Pulse. It dislikes eating Earthquake from the physical set, though. Water Arceus is bulky enough to withstand any hit and retaliate with a super effective Judgment. Palkia can hit Ground Arceus hard with STAB Hydro Pump; however, it is rare in Anything Goes and takes a lot of damage from Ground Arceus's attacks.
**Bronzong**: Bronzong takes very little damage from anything Ground Arceus does and can set up Stealth Rock and Toxic it in return.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types bulky enough to take Ground Arceus's coverage moves can be difficult to handle. If Multiscale is intact, Lugia can come in and phaze Ground Arceus easily. It does take a large chunk of damage from +2 Stone Edge and +2 Ice Beam, however, but it still survives and can switch in as Ground Arceus boosts. Skarmory hard walls the physical set, not being 2HKOed by +2 Stone Edge and being able to phaze it.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh gets a special mention, as it hard walls both the special Ground Arceus set and the support set. Its massive special bulk allows it to tank any hit from either set and either phaze it or attempt to get a burn with Sacred Fire. It must watch out for Stone Edge, however, so often the Ho-Oh user will switch it out of Ground Arceus until its set is revealed.
**Xerneas**: Xerneas can set up on the support set and beats the Calm Mind set in a one-on-one situation due to the combination of Geomancy and Power Herb boosting Xerneas faster than Calm Mind boosts Ground Arceus.
**Darkrai**: Darkrai can outspeed Ground Arceus, put it to sleep with Dark Void, and set up a Substitute or attempt to KO it with Dark Pulse.
**Status Users**: Toxic wears all Ground Arceus sets down very quickly and prevents it from doing too much damage. Burn damage is slightly more manageable for the special sweeper and support sets, but it is still annoying to play around, and it cripples the physical sweeper set.
**Giratina**: Giratina is bulky enough to tank any hit from Ground Arceus, even if it has a boost already, and proceed to burn the physical attacking set with Will-O-Wisp or phaze the special attacking set with Roar. It can also use Rest to get rid of all status or damage taken from any set.
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