[OVERVIEW]
* Arceus-Flying has a small niche in the Ubers metagame as a stallbreaker capable of breaking through certain defensively-oriented teams with Calm Mind.
* Flying is a decent typing offensively, which comes with no immunities, allowing Arceus-Flying to viably pull off a mono-attacking set, something a number of other Calm Mind Arceus formes are unable to do.
* Arceus-Flying is the only Arceus forme with an immunity to Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Sticky Web.
* Unfortunately, Arceus-Flying faces a lot of competition with Mega Salamence for a teamslot, as the latter has a better defensive typing which grants it more resistances.
* Additionally, Arceus-Flying's weakness to Stealth Rock can be crippling at times.
* There is significant opportunity cost that comes with using Arceus-Flying, as it means that a more useful Arceus forme can't be utilized.
* Arceus-Flying is a poor choice for a moveslot overall; reconsider using this Pokemon, as it brings little to no utility to most teams and there is almost always a better option.
[SET]
name: Stallbreaker
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Recover
move 3: Judgment
move 4: Refresh / Substitute
item: Sky Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Modest
evs: 92 HP / 40 Def / 252 SpA / 124 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Calm Mind boosts Arceus-Flying's Special Attack and Special Defense, transforming it into a sweeper capable of breaking through bulkier teams.
* Recover is necessary to give Arceus-Flying some longevity and allow it to recover from damage it takes throughout the match.
* Judgment receives a STAB and Sky Plate boost and is the mono-attacking move of choice because of its lack of immunities.
* Refresh allows Arceus-Flying to fulfill its role as a stallbreaker by giving it the ability to recover from status.
* Alternatively, Substitute can be used over Refresh to allow Arceus-Flying to avoid status completely, as well as take advantage of the switches that Arceus-Flying forces.
Set Details
========
* 124 Speed EVs are used so Arceus-Flying can outpace maximum base 90 Speed Pokemon, such as Primal Groudon, Primal Kyogre, Ho-Oh, Dialga, and Zekrom.
* 252 Special Attack EVs and a Modest nature maximize Arceus-Flying's wallbreaking capabilities and allow it to break through bulkier teams after a few Calm Mind boosts.
* 92 EVs are invested into HP in order to prevent Blissey from breaking Arceus-Flying's Substitute with Seismic Toss.
* The remaining 40 EVs are placed into Defense to further increase Arceus-Flying's physical bulk.
Usage Tips
========
* Arceus-Flying's primary niche in the Ubers metagame lies in its ability to stallbreak, as it can easily set up Calm Mind against more defensively-oriented teams and break through them with a boosted Judgment without having to worry about status.
* Arceus-Flying does, however, need to be wary of some Pokemon on stall teams that are able to beat Arceus-Flying, such as Unaware Clefable.
* If running Refresh, Arceus-Flying can be used as a status absorber, as it can simply recover from any status it may be inflicted with.
* Substitute should be used against status users or on a predicted switch in order to give Arceus-Flying a free turn to set up a Calm Mind or simply fire off an attack.
* When facing more offensively-oriented teams, Arceus-Flying should mostly be utilized as a late-game sweeper that is able to clean once its checks and counters have been eliminated.
Team Options
========
* Excadrill makes for an excellent Arceus-Flying partner, as it can break through the Rock-, Steel-, and Electric-types that Arceus-Flying struggles to break through. Excadrill can also use Rapid Spin to clear Stealth Rock and set up Stealth Rock itself.
* Primal Groudon is also able to check Rock-, Steel-, and Electric-types for Arceus-Flying, as well as set up Stealth Rock. It's also the best Pokemon in the tier and is mandatory on all competitive teams.
* Giratina-O is able to provide anti-hazard support for Arceus-Flying with Defog, and provides an additional Ground-type immunity.
* Mega Lucario is able to beat the Rock- and Steel-types that threaten Arceus-Flying as well as OHKO Unaware Clefable. In return, Mega Lucario appreciates Arceus-Flying's Ground-type immunity.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* A Swords Dance set with Flyinium Z and Fly can be run to give Arceus-Flying the ability to attempt a late-game sweep.
* Earth Power can be used over Refresh or Substitute in order hit Primal Groudon and bulky Steel-types harder than Judgment does, but it's generally inferior to Refresh and Substitute because it takes away from Arceus-Flying's main niche as a stallbreaker.
* Thunder can also be run over Refresh or Substitute, as it hits Ho-Oh and Primal Kyogre for better damage, but it suffers from the same problem that Earth Power does.
* Focus Blast allows Arceus-Flying to break through Tyranitar, Arceus-Rock, Ferrothorn, Excadrill, and Magearna; however, many of these Pokemon are hit harder or just as hard by Earth Power, which is able to do more damage to Primal Groudon than Focus Blast.
* Fire Blast is also an option in order to give Arceus-Flying fewer problems dealing with bulky Steel-types, such as Aegislash, Ferrothorn, Magearna, Celesteela, Solgaleo, Skarmory, and Mega Scizor.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-types*: Tyranitar and Arceus-Rock are fairly reliable switch-ins to Arceus-Flying, as they resist Judgment and can hit back with their super effective Rock-type STAB moves. However, both have to be wary of the occasional Focus Blast or Earth Power.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Aegislash, Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Magearna, Solgaleo, and Excadrill have no problems walling mono-attacking Arceus-Flying. However, some of them can be beaten if Arceus-Flying is carrying a coverage move.
**Electric-types**: Although they are uncommon in Ubers, Electric-types such as Zekrom and Arceus-Electric can easily take care of Arceus-Flying with their strong Electric-type STAB moves.
**Ice-types**: Kyurem-W and Arceus-Ice can hit Arceus-Flying super effectively with their STAB Ice-type moves; however, both of them have difficulty taking Arceus-Flying down after a few Calm Mind boosts.
**Clefable and Blissey**: Being a stallbreaker, Arceus-Flying is able to beat every Pokemon on most stall teams without any help from teammates. However, Clefable and Blissey are two Pokemon on stall which are able to deal with Arceus-Flying. Clefable is able to ignore any Calm Mind boosts that Arceus-Flying has accumulated thanks to Unaware, and Blissey occasionally runs Snatch, allowing it to survive a Judgment from Arceus-Flying and steal its stat boosts.
* Arceus-Flying has a small niche in the Ubers metagame as a stallbreaker capable of breaking through certain defensively-oriented teams with Calm Mind.
* Flying is a decent typing offensively, which comes with no immunities, allowing Arceus-Flying to viably pull off a mono-attacking set, something a number of other Calm Mind Arceus formes are unable to do.
* Arceus-Flying is the only Arceus forme with an immunity to Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Sticky Web.
* Unfortunately, Arceus-Flying faces a lot of competition with Mega Salamence for a teamslot, as the latter has a better defensive typing which grants it more resistances.
* Additionally, Arceus-Flying's weakness to Stealth Rock can be crippling at times.
* There is significant opportunity cost that comes with using Arceus-Flying, as it means that a more useful Arceus forme can't be utilized.
* Arceus-Flying is a poor choice for a moveslot overall; reconsider using this Pokemon, as it brings little to no utility to most teams and there is almost always a better option.
[SET]
name: Stallbreaker
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Recover
move 3: Judgment
move 4: Refresh / Substitute
item: Sky Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Modest
evs: 92 HP / 40 Def / 252 SpA / 124 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Calm Mind boosts Arceus-Flying's Special Attack and Special Defense, transforming it into a sweeper capable of breaking through bulkier teams.
* Recover is necessary to give Arceus-Flying some longevity and allow it to recover from damage it takes throughout the match.
* Judgment receives a STAB and Sky Plate boost and is the mono-attacking move of choice because of its lack of immunities.
* Refresh allows Arceus-Flying to fulfill its role as a stallbreaker by giving it the ability to recover from status.
* Alternatively, Substitute can be used over Refresh to allow Arceus-Flying to avoid status completely, as well as take advantage of the switches that Arceus-Flying forces.
Set Details
========
* 124 Speed EVs are used so Arceus-Flying can outpace maximum base 90 Speed Pokemon, such as Primal Groudon, Primal Kyogre, Ho-Oh, Dialga, and Zekrom.
* 252 Special Attack EVs and a Modest nature maximize Arceus-Flying's wallbreaking capabilities and allow it to break through bulkier teams after a few Calm Mind boosts.
* 92 EVs are invested into HP in order to prevent Blissey from breaking Arceus-Flying's Substitute with Seismic Toss.
* The remaining 40 EVs are placed into Defense to further increase Arceus-Flying's physical bulk.
Usage Tips
========
* Arceus-Flying's primary niche in the Ubers metagame lies in its ability to stallbreak, as it can easily set up Calm Mind against more defensively-oriented teams and break through them with a boosted Judgment without having to worry about status.
* Arceus-Flying does, however, need to be wary of some Pokemon on stall teams that are able to beat Arceus-Flying, such as Unaware Clefable.
* If running Refresh, Arceus-Flying can be used as a status absorber, as it can simply recover from any status it may be inflicted with.
* Substitute should be used against status users or on a predicted switch in order to give Arceus-Flying a free turn to set up a Calm Mind or simply fire off an attack.
* When facing more offensively-oriented teams, Arceus-Flying should mostly be utilized as a late-game sweeper that is able to clean once its checks and counters have been eliminated.
Team Options
========
* Excadrill makes for an excellent Arceus-Flying partner, as it can break through the Rock-, Steel-, and Electric-types that Arceus-Flying struggles to break through. Excadrill can also use Rapid Spin to clear Stealth Rock and set up Stealth Rock itself.
* Primal Groudon is also able to check Rock-, Steel-, and Electric-types for Arceus-Flying, as well as set up Stealth Rock. It's also the best Pokemon in the tier and is mandatory on all competitive teams.
* Giratina-O is able to provide anti-hazard support for Arceus-Flying with Defog, and provides an additional Ground-type immunity.
* Mega Lucario is able to beat the Rock- and Steel-types that threaten Arceus-Flying as well as OHKO Unaware Clefable. In return, Mega Lucario appreciates Arceus-Flying's Ground-type immunity.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* A Swords Dance set with Flyinium Z and Fly can be run to give Arceus-Flying the ability to attempt a late-game sweep.
* Earth Power can be used over Refresh or Substitute in order hit Primal Groudon and bulky Steel-types harder than Judgment does, but it's generally inferior to Refresh and Substitute because it takes away from Arceus-Flying's main niche as a stallbreaker.
* Thunder can also be run over Refresh or Substitute, as it hits Ho-Oh and Primal Kyogre for better damage, but it suffers from the same problem that Earth Power does.
* Focus Blast allows Arceus-Flying to break through Tyranitar, Arceus-Rock, Ferrothorn, Excadrill, and Magearna; however, many of these Pokemon are hit harder or just as hard by Earth Power, which is able to do more damage to Primal Groudon than Focus Blast.
* Fire Blast is also an option in order to give Arceus-Flying fewer problems dealing with bulky Steel-types, such as Aegislash, Ferrothorn, Magearna, Celesteela, Solgaleo, Skarmory, and Mega Scizor.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-types*: Tyranitar and Arceus-Rock are fairly reliable switch-ins to Arceus-Flying, as they resist Judgment and can hit back with their super effective Rock-type STAB moves. However, both have to be wary of the occasional Focus Blast or Earth Power.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Aegislash, Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Magearna, Solgaleo, and Excadrill have no problems walling mono-attacking Arceus-Flying. However, some of them can be beaten if Arceus-Flying is carrying a coverage move.
**Electric-types**: Although they are uncommon in Ubers, Electric-types such as Zekrom and Arceus-Electric can easily take care of Arceus-Flying with their strong Electric-type STAB moves.
**Ice-types**: Kyurem-W and Arceus-Ice can hit Arceus-Flying super effectively with their STAB Ice-type moves; however, both of them have difficulty taking Arceus-Flying down after a few Calm Mind boosts.
**Clefable and Blissey**: Being a stallbreaker, Arceus-Flying is able to beat every Pokemon on most stall teams without any help from teammates. However, Clefable and Blissey are two Pokemon on stall which are able to deal with Arceus-Flying. Clefable is able to ignore any Calm Mind boosts that Arceus-Flying has accumulated thanks to Unaware, and Blissey occasionally runs Snatch, allowing it to survive a Judgment from Arceus-Flying and steal its stat boosts.
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