QC Checks: Nayrz / Sweep / WreckDra
GP Checks: Rhythms / Yonko7
American-ceus
[OVERVIEW]
A mono-Fighting typing gives Fighting Arceus the ability to check relevant threats such as Extreme Killer Arceus, Darkrai, Rock Arceus, Tyranitar, and Dialga. Fighting Arceus also has the raw stats and an excellent movepool that is available to all Arceus formes. Thanks to being rarely utilized, Fighting Arceus can function as a lure and easily surprise opponents. Fighting isn't a very good type offensively, due to relevant Ghost-types such as Ghost Arceus, Giratina-O, and Mega Sableye being immune to Fighting Arceus's Judgment. Defensively, Fighting Arceus's typing isn't stellar either, as it is weak to Ho-Oh's, Xerneas's, and Mega Salamence's STAB attacks while offering no useful resistances. Fighting Arceus also tends to preform poorly against defensive teams, and it is vulnerable to all status and entry hazards. Fighting Arceus is almost always a waste of an Arceus forme; reconsider using this Pokemon as it has little to no niche.
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Judgment
move 2: Recover
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Ice Beam / Stone Edge
item: Fist Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Timid
evs: 160 HP / 252 SpA / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Judgment is Fighting Arceus's specialty, allowing it to rip apart Extreme Killer Arceus, Darkrai, Dialga, Dark Arceus, Tyranitar, Mega Kangaskhan, and Rock Arceus, while also dealing significant damage to Primal Groudon, Klefki, and Ferrothorn. Recover prevents Fighting Arceus from being worn down after repeated switch-ins, allowing it to function beyond a one time check. Thunder Wave cripples common switch-ins to Fighting Arceus such as Ghost Arceus, Latias, Latios, Mega Gengar, and Mewtwo, and prevents it from being setup bait for Geomancy Xerneas. Ice Beam is used to blow away potential Mega Salamence switch-ins or Mega Salamence that set up; it also destroys Rayquaza and hits Pokemon such as Giratina-O, Latias, and Latios. Stone Edge destroys Ho-Oh and still provides a means of hitting airborne or Levitating targets that are immune to or resist Fighting Arceus's STAB attack. Toxic can be used instead of Thunder Wave in order to better punish Ghost Arceus while still retaining methods of punishing Latios and Latias switch-ins; however, it worsens the matchup against Mega Gengar and Xerneas to some degree.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs maximize the probability that Fighting Arceus will OHKO Extreme Killer Arceus, and they also ensure that Ice Beam OHKOes Mega Salamence. In general, the Special Attack EVs also help offset how poorly Fighting Arceus preforms against defensive teams. 96 Speed EVs with a Timid nature ensure that Fighting Arceus is faster than Mega Kangaskhan, which is also fast enough to move before Rayquaza variants, and Latios and Latias that aren't maximum Speed. This investment is also enough to outspeed Mega Salamence before Mega Evolution so that Fighting Arceus can knock it out with Ice Beam. The remaining 160 EVs are allocated to HP so that Fighting Arceus better takes +2 Extreme Speed from Extreme Killer Arceus in addition to attacks from Darkrai and Dialga. A Fist Plate is required to use Fighting Arceus, and it boosts the power of Judgment. A spread of 44 Def / 252 SpA / 212 Spe with a Modest nature allows Fighting Arceus to OHKO bulky Extreme Killer Arceus while still retaining enough Speed to outrun Mega Kangaskhan at the cost of the ability to switch into special attacks as well. Another spread of 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe with a Timid nature is an option to outspeed Mega Lucario, Mega Diancie, and Speed tie with opposing Arceus formes at the cost of not being able to check Extreme Killer Arceus and other special attackers with as much leniency.
Usage Tips
========
Fighting Arceus's go-to move to prevent big threats from getting free switch-ins is Thunder Wave. Paralysis cripples any threat that is faster than Fighting Arceus, barring Ground Arceus and the rare Electric Arceus. Ground-types don't really switch into Fighting Arceus's Judgment well, as it deals significant damage even to specially defensive Primal Groudon. Although Fighting Arceus is a solid check to Tyrantiar, beware of Thunder Wave if you're switching it in, as paralysis eliminates the Speed advantage Fighting Arceus has over many threats. If Fighting Arceus is to serve as a counter to Extreme Killer Arceus, it must be at or near full health. This means that it is important to keep Fighting Arceus at high HP as long as an opposing Extreme Killer Arceus is alive. Fighting Arceus has enough bulk to tank any of Darkrai's moves at +2, although bad luck with sleep turns can give Darkrai enough time to KO Fighting Arceus before it can wake up, so using another Pokemon as sleep fodder to Dark Void, then switching in Fighting Arceus is usually a safer method of checking Darkrai. Although it is far from indestructible, Fighting Arceus is capable of liberally switching into powerful threats such as Dialga, Kyurem-W, and even predicted Earthquakes or Extreme Speeds from Rayquaza, although Dragon Ascent makes doing so risky. Do not risk keeping Fighting Arceus in against a previously Mega Evolved Salamence if your team has a safe switch-in for it, as several spreads are faster than Fighting Arceus.
Team Options
========
Primal Groudon covers Fighting Arceus's weakness to Fairy-types, Ho-Oh, and Primal Kyogre. Xerneas benefits from Fighting Arceus's ability to check Steel-types, Mega Kangaskhan, and Extreme Killer Arceus, and, in return, Xerneas can check Latios and Latias. Primal Kyogre appreciates Fighting Arceus's ability to check Pokemon such as Dialga and Ferrothorn, while Primal Kyogre can tackle Ho-Oh and Ghost-types. Mega Salamence greatly benefits from Fighting Arceus's ability to check Rock Arceus. Fighting Arceus can check Dark Arceus for Latios and Latias, and, in return, they can provide Defog support for Fighting Arceus. Ho-Oh provides a switch-in for Fairy-type moves aimed at Fighting Arceus, and Fighting Arceus can check Rock Arceus for Ho-Oh in return. Yveltal also appreciates Fighting Arceus's ability to check Rock Arceus, although it does stack a weakness to Fairy-types. Ferrothorn can be used in order to provide Fighting Arceus with a Fairy-type switch-in and a Primal Kyogre switch-in, and it offers an immunity to Toxic aimed at Fighting Arceus. Aegislash can provide a switch-in for Fairy-types and also provide a Toxic immunity. Tyranitar can be used to check Pokemon that threaten Fighting Arceus, such as Ho-Oh, Yveltal, Latios, and Latias, and, in return, Fighting Arceus checks Dialga. Rayquaza benefits from Fighting Arceus's ability to check Rock Arceus and Tyranitar; two common switch-ins to Dragon Ascent. Zekrom can threaten Ho-Oh, Lugia, and Primal Kyogre, all of which are common and powerful checks to Fighting Arceus. Mega Scizor, Mega Metagross, and Mega Lucario can all be used as offensive partners that check Fairy-types that threaten Fighting Arceus.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Calm Mind set can be utilized in an effort to make Fighting Arceus more useful against defensive teams; however, the nature of Fighting-type Judgment makes other Calm Mind Arceus formes a better choice in this role. Sludge Bomb can be used to pound away at Fairy-type switches and spread poison; however, hitting Mega Salamence or Ho-Oh with Fighting Arceus's coverage move is usually more relevant and potent. Will-O-Wisp can be used to cripple physical attackers, although some common switch-ins to Fighting Arceus, such as Ho-Oh and Fairy Arceus, are immune or don't mind a burn much. A Defog support set is an option; however, this limits Fighting Arceus to either status or a coverage move further increasing the number of threats that can easily switch into it. Roar can be used to phaze away Pokemon that attempt to setup on Fighting Arceus, while Magic Coat can reflect status and entry hazards, although it is hard to find room for either of these moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Xerneas, Fairy Arceus, Mega Diancie, and Clefable all resist Fighting Arceus's Judgment and can retaliate with strong super effective Fairy-type attacks.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost Arceus, Giratina-O, Mega Gengar, Mega Sableye, and Aegislash are all immune to Fighting Arceus's Judgment and can threaten it with status. Mega Gengar in particular outspeeds Fighting Arceus and can trap it with Shadow Tag.
**Flying-Types**: Ho-Oh, Mega Salamence, Lugia, Yveltal, Shaymin-S, and Flying Arceus have a type advantage against Fighting Arceus, allowing them to threaten it with powerful Flying-type moves. However, Ho-Oh fears Stone Edge, Mega Salamence, Shaymin-S, and Yveltal fear Ice Beam, and Lugia fears Toxic.
**Primal Kyogre**: Primal Kyogre has the sheer special bulk to tank Fighting Arceus's Judgment and can retaliate with powerful rain-boosted Water-type attacks.
**Psychic-Types**: Psychic-types such as Latios, Latias, Mewtwo, and Psychic Arceus resist Fighting Arceus's Judgment and can deal significant damage in return with their Psychic-type attacks.
**Blissey**: Although Blissey takes 2x super effective damage from Fighting Arceus's Judgment, its special bulk is extensive enough to where it can still stall out Fighting Arceus with Toxic.
**Paralysis**: Fighting Arceus relies greatly on its Speed advantage to check threats, and, if Fighting Arceus is paralyzed, it is less effective at making use of the effects of Thunder Wave itself.
**Toxic**: Toxic poison causes Fighting Arceus to have to recover more often, prevents it from staying in for long periods of time, and deals enough residual damage to make it more difficult to check intended threats.
GP Checks: Rhythms / Yonko7
American-ceus
[OVERVIEW]
A mono-Fighting typing gives Fighting Arceus the ability to check relevant threats such as Extreme Killer Arceus, Darkrai, Rock Arceus, Tyranitar, and Dialga. Fighting Arceus also has the raw stats and an excellent movepool that is available to all Arceus formes. Thanks to being rarely utilized, Fighting Arceus can function as a lure and easily surprise opponents. Fighting isn't a very good type offensively, due to relevant Ghost-types such as Ghost Arceus, Giratina-O, and Mega Sableye being immune to Fighting Arceus's Judgment. Defensively, Fighting Arceus's typing isn't stellar either, as it is weak to Ho-Oh's, Xerneas's, and Mega Salamence's STAB attacks while offering no useful resistances. Fighting Arceus also tends to preform poorly against defensive teams, and it is vulnerable to all status and entry hazards. Fighting Arceus is almost always a waste of an Arceus forme; reconsider using this Pokemon as it has little to no niche.
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Judgment
move 2: Recover
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Ice Beam / Stone Edge
item: Fist Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Timid
evs: 160 HP / 252 SpA / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Judgment is Fighting Arceus's specialty, allowing it to rip apart Extreme Killer Arceus, Darkrai, Dialga, Dark Arceus, Tyranitar, Mega Kangaskhan, and Rock Arceus, while also dealing significant damage to Primal Groudon, Klefki, and Ferrothorn. Recover prevents Fighting Arceus from being worn down after repeated switch-ins, allowing it to function beyond a one time check. Thunder Wave cripples common switch-ins to Fighting Arceus such as Ghost Arceus, Latias, Latios, Mega Gengar, and Mewtwo, and prevents it from being setup bait for Geomancy Xerneas. Ice Beam is used to blow away potential Mega Salamence switch-ins or Mega Salamence that set up; it also destroys Rayquaza and hits Pokemon such as Giratina-O, Latias, and Latios. Stone Edge destroys Ho-Oh and still provides a means of hitting airborne or Levitating targets that are immune to or resist Fighting Arceus's STAB attack. Toxic can be used instead of Thunder Wave in order to better punish Ghost Arceus while still retaining methods of punishing Latios and Latias switch-ins; however, it worsens the matchup against Mega Gengar and Xerneas to some degree.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs maximize the probability that Fighting Arceus will OHKO Extreme Killer Arceus, and they also ensure that Ice Beam OHKOes Mega Salamence. In general, the Special Attack EVs also help offset how poorly Fighting Arceus preforms against defensive teams. 96 Speed EVs with a Timid nature ensure that Fighting Arceus is faster than Mega Kangaskhan, which is also fast enough to move before Rayquaza variants, and Latios and Latias that aren't maximum Speed. This investment is also enough to outspeed Mega Salamence before Mega Evolution so that Fighting Arceus can knock it out with Ice Beam. The remaining 160 EVs are allocated to HP so that Fighting Arceus better takes +2 Extreme Speed from Extreme Killer Arceus in addition to attacks from Darkrai and Dialga. A Fist Plate is required to use Fighting Arceus, and it boosts the power of Judgment. A spread of 44 Def / 252 SpA / 212 Spe with a Modest nature allows Fighting Arceus to OHKO bulky Extreme Killer Arceus while still retaining enough Speed to outrun Mega Kangaskhan at the cost of the ability to switch into special attacks as well. Another spread of 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe with a Timid nature is an option to outspeed Mega Lucario, Mega Diancie, and Speed tie with opposing Arceus formes at the cost of not being able to check Extreme Killer Arceus and other special attackers with as much leniency.
Usage Tips
========
Fighting Arceus's go-to move to prevent big threats from getting free switch-ins is Thunder Wave. Paralysis cripples any threat that is faster than Fighting Arceus, barring Ground Arceus and the rare Electric Arceus. Ground-types don't really switch into Fighting Arceus's Judgment well, as it deals significant damage even to specially defensive Primal Groudon. Although Fighting Arceus is a solid check to Tyrantiar, beware of Thunder Wave if you're switching it in, as paralysis eliminates the Speed advantage Fighting Arceus has over many threats. If Fighting Arceus is to serve as a counter to Extreme Killer Arceus, it must be at or near full health. This means that it is important to keep Fighting Arceus at high HP as long as an opposing Extreme Killer Arceus is alive. Fighting Arceus has enough bulk to tank any of Darkrai's moves at +2, although bad luck with sleep turns can give Darkrai enough time to KO Fighting Arceus before it can wake up, so using another Pokemon as sleep fodder to Dark Void, then switching in Fighting Arceus is usually a safer method of checking Darkrai. Although it is far from indestructible, Fighting Arceus is capable of liberally switching into powerful threats such as Dialga, Kyurem-W, and even predicted Earthquakes or Extreme Speeds from Rayquaza, although Dragon Ascent makes doing so risky. Do not risk keeping Fighting Arceus in against a previously Mega Evolved Salamence if your team has a safe switch-in for it, as several spreads are faster than Fighting Arceus.
Team Options
========
Primal Groudon covers Fighting Arceus's weakness to Fairy-types, Ho-Oh, and Primal Kyogre. Xerneas benefits from Fighting Arceus's ability to check Steel-types, Mega Kangaskhan, and Extreme Killer Arceus, and, in return, Xerneas can check Latios and Latias. Primal Kyogre appreciates Fighting Arceus's ability to check Pokemon such as Dialga and Ferrothorn, while Primal Kyogre can tackle Ho-Oh and Ghost-types. Mega Salamence greatly benefits from Fighting Arceus's ability to check Rock Arceus. Fighting Arceus can check Dark Arceus for Latios and Latias, and, in return, they can provide Defog support for Fighting Arceus. Ho-Oh provides a switch-in for Fairy-type moves aimed at Fighting Arceus, and Fighting Arceus can check Rock Arceus for Ho-Oh in return. Yveltal also appreciates Fighting Arceus's ability to check Rock Arceus, although it does stack a weakness to Fairy-types. Ferrothorn can be used in order to provide Fighting Arceus with a Fairy-type switch-in and a Primal Kyogre switch-in, and it offers an immunity to Toxic aimed at Fighting Arceus. Aegislash can provide a switch-in for Fairy-types and also provide a Toxic immunity. Tyranitar can be used to check Pokemon that threaten Fighting Arceus, such as Ho-Oh, Yveltal, Latios, and Latias, and, in return, Fighting Arceus checks Dialga. Rayquaza benefits from Fighting Arceus's ability to check Rock Arceus and Tyranitar; two common switch-ins to Dragon Ascent. Zekrom can threaten Ho-Oh, Lugia, and Primal Kyogre, all of which are common and powerful checks to Fighting Arceus. Mega Scizor, Mega Metagross, and Mega Lucario can all be used as offensive partners that check Fairy-types that threaten Fighting Arceus.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Calm Mind set can be utilized in an effort to make Fighting Arceus more useful against defensive teams; however, the nature of Fighting-type Judgment makes other Calm Mind Arceus formes a better choice in this role. Sludge Bomb can be used to pound away at Fairy-type switches and spread poison; however, hitting Mega Salamence or Ho-Oh with Fighting Arceus's coverage move is usually more relevant and potent. Will-O-Wisp can be used to cripple physical attackers, although some common switch-ins to Fighting Arceus, such as Ho-Oh and Fairy Arceus, are immune or don't mind a burn much. A Defog support set is an option; however, this limits Fighting Arceus to either status or a coverage move further increasing the number of threats that can easily switch into it. Roar can be used to phaze away Pokemon that attempt to setup on Fighting Arceus, while Magic Coat can reflect status and entry hazards, although it is hard to find room for either of these moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Xerneas, Fairy Arceus, Mega Diancie, and Clefable all resist Fighting Arceus's Judgment and can retaliate with strong super effective Fairy-type attacks.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost Arceus, Giratina-O, Mega Gengar, Mega Sableye, and Aegislash are all immune to Fighting Arceus's Judgment and can threaten it with status. Mega Gengar in particular outspeeds Fighting Arceus and can trap it with Shadow Tag.
**Flying-Types**: Ho-Oh, Mega Salamence, Lugia, Yveltal, Shaymin-S, and Flying Arceus have a type advantage against Fighting Arceus, allowing them to threaten it with powerful Flying-type moves. However, Ho-Oh fears Stone Edge, Mega Salamence, Shaymin-S, and Yveltal fear Ice Beam, and Lugia fears Toxic.
**Primal Kyogre**: Primal Kyogre has the sheer special bulk to tank Fighting Arceus's Judgment and can retaliate with powerful rain-boosted Water-type attacks.
**Psychic-Types**: Psychic-types such as Latios, Latias, Mewtwo, and Psychic Arceus resist Fighting Arceus's Judgment and can deal significant damage in return with their Psychic-type attacks.
**Blissey**: Although Blissey takes 2x super effective damage from Fighting Arceus's Judgment, its special bulk is extensive enough to where it can still stall out Fighting Arceus with Toxic.
**Paralysis**: Fighting Arceus relies greatly on its Speed advantage to check threats, and, if Fighting Arceus is paralyzed, it is less effective at making use of the effects of Thunder Wave itself.
**Toxic**: Toxic poison causes Fighting Arceus to have to recover more often, prevents it from staying in for long periods of time, and deals enough residual damage to make it more difficult to check intended threats.
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