[OVERVIEW]
Arceus is a supreme threat that boasts great unpredictability and flexibility thanks to its well-rounded stats and deep movepool. STAB Extreme Speed makes Arceus a dominant setup sweeper that overwhelms offensive Pokemon like Eternatus, ignores speed control from Sticky Web and Trick Room hyper offense strategies, and circumvents revenge killers like Koraidon and Choice Scarf Kyogre. Despite its amazing role as a Swords Dance sweeper, Arceus's neutral typing and solid bulk enable it to run Bulk Up over Swords Dance, and Arceus's massive stats make it highly enabled by defensive Terastallization, surprising and overwhelming would-be checks like Ho-Oh and Koraidon by gaining immunities to burn and Fighting-type moves. Even defensive sets work on Arceus, and it manages to distinguish itself from its other support-focused formes thanks to its item flexibility and neutral typing. Unfortunately, Arceus's typing provides no resistances, limiting its opportunities to set up and making it more reliant on Terastallization. Additionally, Arceus comes with the major opportunity cost of not using any other Arceus forme, including highly relevant ones like Arceus-Ground, Arceus-Fairy, and Arceus-Water that can better check threats like Zacian-C, Koraidon, and Necrozma-DM. Arceus is not unstoppable, as it is unfortunately prone to being stonewalled by Unaware users like Skeledirge and Dondozo, but it generally remains undaunted because of the difficulty of fitting its most reliable answers onto good teams. Instead, Arceus must stay wary of popular offensive checks like Zacian-C threatening to revenge kill it.
[SET]
Swords Dance (Arceus) @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Silk Scarf / Leftovers / Life Orb
Ability: Multitype
Tera Type: Fire / Ghost / Normal
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Extreme Speed
- Shadow Claw
- Taunt / Recover / Earthquake / Double-Edge
[SET COMMENTS]
Shadow Claw covers Ghost-types like Lunala and Giratina-O as well as Necrozma-DM, giving Arceus nearly perfect coverage with Extreme Speed. Taunt shuts down walls like defensive Arceus-Fairy and Arceus-Water, denying them recovery and safeguarding Arceus from potential status. However, the extra longevity from Recover can let Arceus exploit Pokemon unable to 2HKO it, including Landorus-T and Ribombee. For a more aggressive approach, Earthquake patches up one of the few gaps in Arceus's coverage against Kingambit and uncommon Rock-types like Tyranitar and Garganacl. Double-Edge is another more offensive option, helping Arceus overwhelm physically bulky Pokemon like Calyrex-I. The given Speed EVs grant Arceus just enough Speed to outrun -1 Zacian-C with help from Sticky Web, +1 defensive Necrozma-DM, and positive-natured base 95 Speed Pokemon like Rayquaza. Heavy-Duty Boots makes Arceus less prone to disruption from entry hazards, particularly Toxic Spikes when it's running Recover and Sticky Web when it's in a mirror matchup. However, the damage boost from Silk Scarf gives Arceus's +2 Extreme Speed enough power to OHKO Choice Scarf Kyogre and a chance to KO Koraidon after Stealth Rock. If entry hazards aren't a concern and Arceus is in need of more longevity, then Leftovers becomes preferable to Heavy-Duty Boots. Arceus can also opt to throw longevity out the window by running a Life Orb and leaning into its role as an offensive threat, as the extra power boost provides the offensive benefits of Silk Scarf while improving the damage of Arceus's coverage moves. Tera Fire thwarts burns from Ho-Oh, Arceus formes, Giratina-O, and Skeledirge, and Arceus appreciates the resistances provided by Tera Fire against revenge killers like Zacian-C. Tera Ghost powers up Shadow Claw enough to potentially OHKO Lunala through its intact Shadow Shield with a Life Orb boost, and its similarly useful against other Ghost-types. The Fighting and Normal immunities from Tera Ghost can flip Arceus's position against revenge killers like Koraidon and opposing Extreme Killer Arceus. For a more offensive strategy, Arceus can run Tera Normal to make its Normal-type STAB moves hit even harder, more reliably KOing Koraidon with +2 Extreme Speed.
Extreme Killer Arceus's overwhelming power as a sweeper makes it a good fit for most offensive teams, including all of bulky offense, offense, and hyper offense. Offensive-leaning teams appreciate being able to fall back on Arceus's STAB Extreme Speed to pick off opposing setup sweepers, and its ability to force Terastallization from foes as a mid-game wallbreaker can open up its offensive teammates to sweep late-game. Other physical attackers like Koraidon and Zacian-C pair well with Arceus, tearing open holes in teams during the early-game so Arceus can sweep in the late-game. Koraidon is a challenge for Arceus to deal with unless it has a Swords Dance boost or Koraidon has been significantly weakened, so checks to it like Kyogre, Landorus-T, and Ho-Oh can help in this troublesome matchup. Similarly, Arceus appreciates offensive checks to Koraidon like Flutter Mane, Zacian-C, and Ditto.
[SET]
Bulk Up (Arceus) @ Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multitype
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 204 Atk / 56 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bulk Up
- Extreme Speed
- Shadow Claw
- Taunt / Recover
[SET COMMENTS]
Arceus uses the defensive boosts from Bulk Up to more comfortably set up and sweep against physical attackers like Necrozma-DM, Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground, and Rayquaza. The nearly perfect coverage of Extreme Speed and Shadow Claw enable Arceus to hit most of the metagame for neutral damage. Taunt inhibits status spreaders and walls like Ho-Oh, Giratina-O, and Terapagos. Alternatively, Recover grants Arceus increased longevity in tandem with its Defense boosts, and it enables Arceus to accumulate multiple boosts to sweep more comfortably. 56 Speed EVs make Arceus just fast enough to get the jump on Jolly Rayquaza and offensive Ho-Oh. Arceus enjoys the additional longevity provided by Leftovers, but Heavy-Duty Boots ensure that Arceus isn't thwarted by entry hazards, notably Toxic Spikes. Tera Fire's burn immunity is key for Arceus against spreaders like Ho-Oh, Skeledirge, and support Arceus formes.
Offense and bulky offense teams can rely on Arceus as a bulky wincon that doubles as a revenge killer against weakened threats like Koraidon, Kyogre, and Eternatus. Zacian-C, Kyogre, and Ho-Oh can check Koraidon, a common and major threat to Arceus, so they make great partners for Arceus. Arceus risks being revenge killed by Zacian-C, which resists Extreme Speed, so Arceus should be supported by strong checks to Zacian-C, such as Necrozma-DM. Koraidon itself pairs well with Arceus, as its ability to wallbreak grants Arceus opportunities to sweep late-game. Other physically offensive threats like Calyrex-Ice, Kingambit, and Necrozma-DM can similarly soften up teams to enable Arceus.
[SET]
Defensive (Arceus) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multitype
Tera Type: Water / Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish / Bold Nature
- Foul Play
- Will-O-Wisp
- Iron Defense / Dragon Tail
- Recover
[SET COMMENTS]
Arceus's neutral typing, well-rounded bulk, and access to reliable recovery make it a solid wall, and it distinguishes itself from other support Arceus formes like Arceus-Fairy and Arceus-Water by packing only one weakness to a type that physical attackers like Arceus-Ground tend not to carry as coverage. Foul Play tends to deal good damage against the physical attackers Arceus is tasked with checking, and it hits major Dark-weak physical attackers like Calyrex-I super effectively. Will-O-Wisp neutralizes other physical attackers like Zacian-C, deterring potential switch-ins. Iron Defense helps Arceus wall physical setup sweepers like Necrozma-DM that may try to overwhelm Arceus with stat boosts, especially if they utilize Terastallization to avoid burns, resist Foul Play, or become immune to its phazing move. Dragon Tail alternatively lets Arceus act as a phazer, and it isn't shut down by Taunt users like opposing Arceus. Arceus's ability to hold Heavy-Duty Boots to negate damage from entry hazards further differentiates it from other support Arceus formes, and it can use Terastallization to copy more of their defensive qualities. Tera Water gives Arceus the good defensive typing of Arceus-Water for stronger matchups against Steel- and Ice-types like Kingambit and Kyurem-B. Alternatively, Tera Fairy is handy for flipping Arceus's Fighting weakness into a resistance, improving its matchup against the most dominant physical attacker: Koraidon. Although Tera Fairy provides a good neutral defensive typing, it does worsen Arceus's defensive matchups against Steel-types like Necrozma-DM and Kingambit.
Balance and stall teams appreciate Arceus's ability to act as a wall with a solid neutral typing, and Arceus differentiates itself from other Normal-type walls like Terapagos and Blissey on defensive teams with its great physical bulk and access to Will-O-Wisp. Arceus has a problematic matchup against Koraidon, one of the most major threats in the tier, so it relies on teammates like Dondozo and Skeledirge that can reliably cover for it. Revenge killers like Zacian-C and Ditto can also give Koraidon users second thoughts about using Arceus as setup fodder. Arceus must rely on status absorbers like Eternatus and Gliscor because of its vulnerability to being worn down by Toxic and burn.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Arceus can run 16 Speed EVs on its sets to outspeed fully invested neutral-natured base 90 Pokemon like Ho-Oh and Kyogre as well as fully invested Jolly Necrozma-DM at minimum. Offensive setup Arceus sets can opt for a Lum Berry for a one-time cure to burns and other status, and it opens up Arceus to run moves besides Taunt.
Checks and Counters
====
**Offensive Normal-resistant and -immune Foes**: Zacian-C has an easier time revenge killing Arceus thanks to resisting Extreme Speed. Kingambit also resists Shadow Claw, but it's vulnerable to Earthquake from offensive sets and neutered by Will-O-Wisp from defensive variants. Ghost-types like Arceus-Ghost, Lunala, and Flutter Mane can safely finish off weakened Arceus thanks to their immunity to Extreme Speed.
**Bulky Normal-resistant and -immune Foes**: Giratina-O can hinder Arceus with Will-O-Wisp and phaze it, but it's hindered by its lack of recovery, vulnerability to Taunt, and weakness to Shadow Claw. Skarmory and Corviknight both comfortably wall offensive Arceus variants, and the former has access to phazing.
**Fighting-types**: If Arceus hasn't boosted with Swords Dance, a healthy Koraidon can tank Extreme Speed and threaten to OHKO Arceus.
**Unaware Users**: Skeledirge, Dondozo, and the uncommon Clodsire all wall Arceus in spite of any boosts it acquires, though Arceus can hinder all of these passive Pokemon with Taunt and wear them down.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Arceus is a supreme threat that boasts great unpredictability and flexibility thanks to its well-rounded stats and deep movepool. STAB Extreme Speed makes Arceus a dominant setup sweeper that overwhelms offensive Pokemon like Eternatus, ignores speed control from Sticky Web and Trick Room hyper offense strategies, and circumvents revenge killers like Koraidon and Choice Scarf Kyogre. Despite its amazing role as a Swords Dance sweeper, Arceus's neutral typing and solid bulk enable it to run Bulk Up over Swords Dance, and Arceus's massive stats make it highly enabled by defensive Terastallization, surprising and overwhelming would-be checks like Ho-Oh and Koraidon by gaining immunities to burn and Fighting-type moves. Even defensive sets work on Arceus, and it manages to distinguish itself from its other support-focused formes thanks to its item flexibility and neutral typing. Unfortunately, Arceus's typing provides no resistances, limiting its opportunities to set up and making it more reliant on Terastallization. Additionally, Arceus comes with the major opportunity cost of not using any other Arceus forme, including highly relevant ones like Arceus-Ground, Arceus-Fairy, and Arceus-Water that can better check threats like Zacian-C, Koraidon, and Necrozma-DM. Arceus is not unstoppable, as it is unfortunately prone to being stonewalled by Unaware users like Skeledirge and Dondozo, but it generally remains undaunted because of the difficulty of fitting its most reliable answers onto good teams. Instead, Arceus must stay wary of popular offensive checks like Zacian-C threatening to revenge kill it.
[SET]
Swords Dance (Arceus) @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Silk Scarf / Leftovers / Life Orb
Ability: Multitype
Tera Type: Fire / Ghost / Normal
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Extreme Speed
- Shadow Claw
- Taunt / Recover / Earthquake / Double-Edge
[SET COMMENTS]
Shadow Claw covers Ghost-types like Lunala and Giratina-O as well as Necrozma-DM, giving Arceus nearly perfect coverage with Extreme Speed. Taunt shuts down walls like defensive Arceus-Fairy and Arceus-Water, denying them recovery and safeguarding Arceus from potential status. However, the extra longevity from Recover can let Arceus exploit Pokemon unable to 2HKO it, including Landorus-T and Ribombee. For a more aggressive approach, Earthquake patches up one of the few gaps in Arceus's coverage against Kingambit and uncommon Rock-types like Tyranitar and Garganacl. Double-Edge is another more offensive option, helping Arceus overwhelm physically bulky Pokemon like Calyrex-I. The given Speed EVs grant Arceus just enough Speed to outrun -1 Zacian-C with help from Sticky Web, +1 defensive Necrozma-DM, and positive-natured base 95 Speed Pokemon like Rayquaza. Heavy-Duty Boots makes Arceus less prone to disruption from entry hazards, particularly Toxic Spikes when it's running Recover and Sticky Web when it's in a mirror matchup. However, the damage boost from Silk Scarf gives Arceus's +2 Extreme Speed enough power to OHKO Choice Scarf Kyogre and a chance to KO Koraidon after Stealth Rock. If entry hazards aren't a concern and Arceus is in need of more longevity, then Leftovers becomes preferable to Heavy-Duty Boots. Arceus can also opt to throw longevity out the window by running a Life Orb and leaning into its role as an offensive threat, as the extra power boost provides the offensive benefits of Silk Scarf while improving the damage of Arceus's coverage moves. Tera Fire thwarts burns from Ho-Oh, Arceus formes, Giratina-O, and Skeledirge, and Arceus appreciates the resistances provided by Tera Fire against revenge killers like Zacian-C. Tera Ghost powers up Shadow Claw enough to potentially OHKO Lunala through its intact Shadow Shield with a Life Orb boost, and its similarly useful against other Ghost-types. The Fighting and Normal immunities from Tera Ghost can flip Arceus's position against revenge killers like Koraidon and opposing Extreme Killer Arceus. For a more offensive strategy, Arceus can run Tera Normal to make its Normal-type STAB moves hit even harder, more reliably KOing Koraidon with +2 Extreme Speed.
Extreme Killer Arceus's overwhelming power as a sweeper makes it a good fit for most offensive teams, including all of bulky offense, offense, and hyper offense. Offensive-leaning teams appreciate being able to fall back on Arceus's STAB Extreme Speed to pick off opposing setup sweepers, and its ability to force Terastallization from foes as a mid-game wallbreaker can open up its offensive teammates to sweep late-game. Other physical attackers like Koraidon and Zacian-C pair well with Arceus, tearing open holes in teams during the early-game so Arceus can sweep in the late-game. Koraidon is a challenge for Arceus to deal with unless it has a Swords Dance boost or Koraidon has been significantly weakened, so checks to it like Kyogre, Landorus-T, and Ho-Oh can help in this troublesome matchup. Similarly, Arceus appreciates offensive checks to Koraidon like Flutter Mane, Zacian-C, and Ditto.
[SET]
Bulk Up (Arceus) @ Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multitype
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 204 Atk / 56 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bulk Up
- Extreme Speed
- Shadow Claw
- Taunt / Recover
[SET COMMENTS]
Arceus uses the defensive boosts from Bulk Up to more comfortably set up and sweep against physical attackers like Necrozma-DM, Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground, and Rayquaza. The nearly perfect coverage of Extreme Speed and Shadow Claw enable Arceus to hit most of the metagame for neutral damage. Taunt inhibits status spreaders and walls like Ho-Oh, Giratina-O, and Terapagos. Alternatively, Recover grants Arceus increased longevity in tandem with its Defense boosts, and it enables Arceus to accumulate multiple boosts to sweep more comfortably. 56 Speed EVs make Arceus just fast enough to get the jump on Jolly Rayquaza and offensive Ho-Oh. Arceus enjoys the additional longevity provided by Leftovers, but Heavy-Duty Boots ensure that Arceus isn't thwarted by entry hazards, notably Toxic Spikes. Tera Fire's burn immunity is key for Arceus against spreaders like Ho-Oh, Skeledirge, and support Arceus formes.
Offense and bulky offense teams can rely on Arceus as a bulky wincon that doubles as a revenge killer against weakened threats like Koraidon, Kyogre, and Eternatus. Zacian-C, Kyogre, and Ho-Oh can check Koraidon, a common and major threat to Arceus, so they make great partners for Arceus. Arceus risks being revenge killed by Zacian-C, which resists Extreme Speed, so Arceus should be supported by strong checks to Zacian-C, such as Necrozma-DM. Koraidon itself pairs well with Arceus, as its ability to wallbreak grants Arceus opportunities to sweep late-game. Other physically offensive threats like Calyrex-Ice, Kingambit, and Necrozma-DM can similarly soften up teams to enable Arceus.
[SET]
Defensive (Arceus) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multitype
Tera Type: Water / Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish / Bold Nature
- Foul Play
- Will-O-Wisp
- Iron Defense / Dragon Tail
- Recover
[SET COMMENTS]
Arceus's neutral typing, well-rounded bulk, and access to reliable recovery make it a solid wall, and it distinguishes itself from other support Arceus formes like Arceus-Fairy and Arceus-Water by packing only one weakness to a type that physical attackers like Arceus-Ground tend not to carry as coverage. Foul Play tends to deal good damage against the physical attackers Arceus is tasked with checking, and it hits major Dark-weak physical attackers like Calyrex-I super effectively. Will-O-Wisp neutralizes other physical attackers like Zacian-C, deterring potential switch-ins. Iron Defense helps Arceus wall physical setup sweepers like Necrozma-DM that may try to overwhelm Arceus with stat boosts, especially if they utilize Terastallization to avoid burns, resist Foul Play, or become immune to its phazing move. Dragon Tail alternatively lets Arceus act as a phazer, and it isn't shut down by Taunt users like opposing Arceus. Arceus's ability to hold Heavy-Duty Boots to negate damage from entry hazards further differentiates it from other support Arceus formes, and it can use Terastallization to copy more of their defensive qualities. Tera Water gives Arceus the good defensive typing of Arceus-Water for stronger matchups against Steel- and Ice-types like Kingambit and Kyurem-B. Alternatively, Tera Fairy is handy for flipping Arceus's Fighting weakness into a resistance, improving its matchup against the most dominant physical attacker: Koraidon. Although Tera Fairy provides a good neutral defensive typing, it does worsen Arceus's defensive matchups against Steel-types like Necrozma-DM and Kingambit.
Balance and stall teams appreciate Arceus's ability to act as a wall with a solid neutral typing, and Arceus differentiates itself from other Normal-type walls like Terapagos and Blissey on defensive teams with its great physical bulk and access to Will-O-Wisp. Arceus has a problematic matchup against Koraidon, one of the most major threats in the tier, so it relies on teammates like Dondozo and Skeledirge that can reliably cover for it. Revenge killers like Zacian-C and Ditto can also give Koraidon users second thoughts about using Arceus as setup fodder. Arceus must rely on status absorbers like Eternatus and Gliscor because of its vulnerability to being worn down by Toxic and burn.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Arceus can run 16 Speed EVs on its sets to outspeed fully invested neutral-natured base 90 Pokemon like Ho-Oh and Kyogre as well as fully invested Jolly Necrozma-DM at minimum. Offensive setup Arceus sets can opt for a Lum Berry for a one-time cure to burns and other status, and it opens up Arceus to run moves besides Taunt.
Checks and Counters
====
**Offensive Normal-resistant and -immune Foes**: Zacian-C has an easier time revenge killing Arceus thanks to resisting Extreme Speed. Kingambit also resists Shadow Claw, but it's vulnerable to Earthquake from offensive sets and neutered by Will-O-Wisp from defensive variants. Ghost-types like Arceus-Ghost, Lunala, and Flutter Mane can safely finish off weakened Arceus thanks to their immunity to Extreme Speed.
**Bulky Normal-resistant and -immune Foes**: Giratina-O can hinder Arceus with Will-O-Wisp and phaze it, but it's hindered by its lack of recovery, vulnerability to Taunt, and weakness to Shadow Claw. Skarmory and Corviknight both comfortably wall offensive Arceus variants, and the former has access to phazing.
**Fighting-types**: If Arceus hasn't boosted with Swords Dance, a healthy Koraidon can tank Extreme Speed and threaten to OHKO Arceus.
**Unaware Users**: Skeledirge, Dondozo, and the uncommon Clodsire all wall Arceus in spite of any boosts it acquires, though Arceus can hinder all of these passive Pokemon with Taunt and wear them down.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Last edited:
