QC - Chloe / PurpleGatorade / Catalystic
GP - x / x
Arceus-Dark is one of the best Arceus formes in Anything Goes due to its great pure Dark typing. This grants it an immunity to Psychic-type attacks from Ultra Necrozma and Deoxys-A, and Dark-type STAB to also effectively check common threats with Judgment such as Necrozma-DM, Ultra Necrozma, (AC) and Mega Gengar. Arceus-Dark also beats Shadow Tag users like Mega Gengar and Gothitelle, which makes it an excellent support Arceus forme on balance teams. However, the prevalence of Fairy-types like Arceus-Fairy and Xerneas harms its viability to some extent. Offensive threats like Marshadow can also outspeed and do heavy damage to or OHKO Arceus-Dark with their STAB moves.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Judgment
move 3: Recover
move 4: Refresh / Will-O-Wisp
item: Dread Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind allows Arceus-Dark to pressure the opposing team offensively. Judgment is Arceus-Dark's STAB move, hitting all types and helping it to threaten Mega Gengar, Necrozma-DM, Ultra Necrozma and Giratina. Recover is a necessary move, (AC) as it ensures longevity. Refresh removes every status condition, allowing Arceus-Dark to set up on most Arceus formes lacking Perish Song or Roar and other specially defensive walls that rely on wearing it down with Toxic. Will-O-Wisp can be used over Refresh so that Arceus-Dark can set up on physical attackers like Extreme Killer, Necrozma-DM, Zygarde, Mega Rayquaza, and Ultra Necrozma and cripple them for the rest of the match.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed with a Timid nature allows Arceus-Dark to outspeed Mega Rayquaza, support Arceus, Yveltal and Speed tie with other Timid and Jolly nature Arceus formes. Maximum HP adds to Arceus-Dark's amazing natural bulk. Dread Plate is needed to use Arceus-Dark and make its Judgment Dark-type.
Usage Tips
========
Fairy-types like Xerneas, Magearna, Clefable, and Arceus-Fairy wall Calm Mind Arceus-Dark, so it is necessary to make sure that they are weakened enough before attempting a Calm Mind sweep. Physical attackers like Marshadow and Mega Mewtwo X force Arceus-Dark to switch out, so it is best to not set up Calm Mind until these threats are removed. Refresh and Recover allow Arceus-Dark to set up on most support Arceus formes and defensive walls like Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Zygarde-C lacking Haze or Dragon Tail, (AC) and Necrozma-DM without worrying about getting worn down by Toxic or other status moves. Arceus-Dark can also set up on special attackers like Yveltal, Overheat support Primal Groudon, and Lunala. If running Refresh, Arceus-Dark also acts as a status absorber for the team.
Team Options
========
Mega Gengar is an excellent teammate for Arceus-Dark, as it can trap and remove Arceus-Fairy, Xerneas, and specially defensive walls like Chansey, which can otherwise threaten Arceus-Dark. Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM can weaken or possibly KO Arceus-Fairy, Xerneas, Tyranitar and Magearna, (AC) which helps Arceus-Dark to sweep the rest of the team. Arceus-Fairy is a solid switch-in to Marshadow and Mega Mewtwo X, (AC) which threaten and force Arceus-Dark to switch out. Zygarde-C spreads status easily and provides a reliable switch-in to physical attackers that threaten Arceus-Dark. Whirlpool + Perish Song Arceus formes like Arceus-Poison can remove specially defensive Walls and allow Arceus-Dark to sweep. Necrozma-DM is the most reliable check to Fairy-types, as it gets reliable recovery and a 100-Base Power STAB move in Sunsteel Strike that does heavy damage to every Fairy-type.
[SET]
name: Defensive Wall
move 1: Judgment
move 2: Recover
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
move 4: Defog / Stealth Rock / Ice Beam
item: Dread Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Timid / Bold
evs: 240 HP / 180 Def / 88 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Judgment is Arceus-Dark's main STAB move. It has solid neutral coverage and hits Ultra Necrozma, Necrozma-DM, Arceus-Ghost, and Mega Gengar for super effective damage and prevents them from setting up. Recover restores Arceus-Dark's HP, allowing it to check the Pokemon it is supposed to check. Will-O-Wisp is the main status move used on Arceus-Dark, as it reduces the target's Attack, letting it check physical attackers more easily. Toxic can be used over Will-O-Wisp to punish switch-ins like Primal Groudon and Arceus-Fairy. Defog is used to clear off entry hazards. Stealth Rock can be used over Defog if the the team already has sufficient entry hazard control or lacks a Stealth Rock user. Alternatively, Ice Beam allows Arceus-Dark to beat Zygarde and Yveltal more consistently.
Set Details
========
240 HP and 180 Defense EVs give Arceus-Dark the bulk it needs to check physical attackers more effectively. 88 Speed EVs allows Arceus-Dark to outspeed Modest Yveltal. A Timid Nature with 88 Speed EVs outspeeds Timid Yveltal with a matching Speed nature. (eh, not rly happy about awkwardness here but ya repetition) An alternative EV spread of 248 HP / 40 Def / 216 Spe with a Timid nature can be used to outspeed Mega Rayquaza. Dread Plate is necessary to use Arceus-Dark and makes Judgment Dark-type.
Usage Tips
========
Arceus-Dark is a solid switch-in to Lunala, Arceus-Ghost, support Necrozma-DM, (AC) and Ultra Necrozma. If running Ice Beam or Toxic, Arceus-Dark with Ice Beam or Toxic can be used as a switch-in to Yveltal and Zygarde. Arceus-Dark is the most viable anti-Shadow (AH) Tag support Arceus forme, (AC) as it does super effective damage to both Mega Gengar and Gothitelle. Toxic is used to cripple incoming Fairy-type switch-ins to avoidprevent them from coming in freely. Will-O-Wisp should be used liberally against teams with Marshadow, as allowing Marshadow to setup set up or force Arceus-Dark out can be incredibly detrimental. Recover should be used to keep Arceus-Dark at high health. Arceus-Dark hates getting hit by Toxic, (AC) so it is necessary to keep it away from Toxic users. Arceus-Dark can freely set up Stealth Rock or Defog away entry hazards against support Arceus formes, except Arceus-Fairy, (AC) and other passive Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Skarmory, defensive Zygarde-Complete, (AC) and support Necormza-DM Necrozma-DM.
Team Options
========
Necrozma-DM is one of the best teammate teammates for support Arceus-Dark, (AC) as it is a solid check to Fairy-types like Xerneas, Arceus-Fairy, (AC) and Clefable. Defensive Ho-Oh is also an pairs excellently teammate for with Arceus-Dark, (AC) as it is a reliable switch-in to Fairy-types and Marshadow lacking Rock Tomb. Arceus-Poison is another great teammate for Arceus-Dark, (AC) as it is a very good check to both Fairy-types and Marshadow. Arceus-Dark can benefit from Primal Groudon's amazing bulk, typing, (AC) and ability to spread status very effectively. Mega Gengar is another very good teammate, (AC) as it removes most of the things threats that bother Arceus-Dark and as well as other statused and weakend Pokemon.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Whirlpool + Perish Song Arceus-Dark is very effective set, (AC) as it can trap a lot of Pokemon thanks to it's its amazing typing. Perish Song also breaks Baton Pass chains if played properly. However, this set is not very effective against offensive teams. Sludge Bomb can be run on the Calm Mind set over Refresh to beat Arceus-Fairy and Xerneas much more easily; (SC) however, it is usually not worth to forgo Refresh for Sludge Bomb. Iron Defense is another option on both sets, (AC) but Will-O-Wisp is usually preferred over it because Will-O-Wisp to permanently shuts shutdown physical attackers permanently. Roar may be run as the fourth move on Arceus-Dark, but Perish Song is usually superior, (AC) as it avoidsstops an opposing last Pokemon from sweeping.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types like Arceus-Fairy and Xerneas can deal heavy damage or outright KO Arceus-Dark with their STAB moves. Other Fairy-types like Clefable and Magearna hard wall Arceus-Dark, (AC) as they cant can't be worn down by Toxic and can handle multiple don't care about its Calm Mind boosts due to Unaware and Heart Swap, respectively.
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**Dark-types**: Arceus-Dark lacking Perish Song is a set up setup fodder for opposing Calm Mind Arceus-Dark. Tyranitar takes very minimal damage from Arceus-Dark's Judgment and it also gets rid of status by using Rest. Arceus-Dark without Toxic or Ice Beam struggles against Taunt Yveltal.
**Marshadow**: Marshadow can do very high damage to Arceus-Dark and forces Arceus-Dark it to switch out every time it comes in.
**Specially Defensive (RH) Walls **: Arceus-Dark cannot beat Blissey or Chansey if running a support set, (AC) and Calm Mind + Refresh sets only beats beat them if they lack Confide.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh can switch into Arceus-Dark's Judgment and attempt to wear it down with Toxic. Arceus-Dark, in return, cannot do much damage to it because of Ho-Oh's amazing Special defenses Defense, Regenerator, and access to reliable recovery.
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