DoW
formally Death on Wings
[OVERVIEW]
name: Flying-type check
move 1: Judgment
move 2: Recover
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Stealth Rock / Roar / Perish Song
item: Stone Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
name: Offensive
move 1: Judgment
move 2: Recover
move 3: Calm Mind / Ice Beam
move 4: Fire Blast / Ice Beam
item: Stone Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Bulky Primal Groudon sets easily counter Arceus-Rock, while offensive sets are able to check the pokemon. Note that Bulky sets are only able to switch in on Arceus' Judgment a limited number of times before they are no longer able to check other big threats. Zygarde and physically offensive Arceus-Ground easily defeat non-Ice Beam Arceus-Rock, but dislike Will-O-Wisp unless running Rest or Refresh. Calm Mind Arceus-Ground similarly threatens Arceus-Rock to a large degree. Special support Arceus-Ground sets fail to KO +1 Arceus-Rock if it runs Calm Mind, and can dislike Toxic, but will otherwise Recover off Ice Beam and threaten to KO Arceus-Rock while Defogging Stealth Rock.
**Steel-types**: Necrozma Dusk-Mane and Arceus-Steel are both able to counter most Arceus-Rock, with physical sets disliking Will-O-Wisp but Calm Mind sets threatening to use it as setup fodder. Ferrothorn and Celesteela lose to Fire Blast, but otherwise counter Arceus-Rock. Other Steels such as Magearna are able to counter Arceus-Rock easily. However, many of these pokemon would prefer not to switch in on a Will-O-Wisp, due to the chip damage as well as reduced physical attack in the cases of physical sets. Dialga happily sets Stealth Rock on Arceus-Rock while threatening Flash Cannon.
**Primal Kyogre**: Primal Kyogre counters Arceus-Rock, with only an extremely small chance of both failing to OHKO and being 2HKO'd by a Calm Mind-boosted variant. However, unless it runs Rest, it can only switch in a limited number of times.
**Support Arceus formes**: Support Arceus formes are, in general, able to take any punches Arceus-Rock can throw at them, Defog away its rocks, and wear it down with Toxic or super effective moves in return. Calm Mind Arceus-Rock may be able to set up on some variants, but most will be able to stop it with either Toxic or Phazing. Arceus-Rock variants carrying Toxic can threaten them back, but will still be worn down by them.
**Specially Defensive pokemon**: Arceus-Rock is completely walled by pokemon such as Blissey. Mega Sableye is able to hard counter Arceus-Rock not running Calm Mind, unless it invests very significantly in Special Attack. Rarer Pokemon such as Clefable or Toxapex are similarly beat Arceus-Rock, with the exception of Toxic Arceus-Rock beating Clefable.
**Gothitelle**: Gothitelle is able to trap Arceus-Rock, and defeat it with Confide followed by pp-stalling Judgment. This is extremely effective against support set unless it has Roar, and while offensive sets have more counterplay thanks to Calm Mind or Ice Beam Freezes, Gothitelle will still revenge kill it at +0 a majority of the time.
**Status conditions**: Arceus-Rock struggles to check pokemon like Mega Rayquaza unless it is on very high HP. As such, Toxic is able to prevent it from doing its job very effectively, at worst forcing the pokemon to recover when it would rather be threatening switch-ins with Judgment of Will-O-Wisp. Similarly, Paralysis is able to prevent Arceus-Rock from using Recover when its health is too low to counter threats, or from using moves like Will-O-Wisp or Judgment against such threats. Pokemon that are able to threaten Arceus with status include some Mega Rayquaza variants, notably scarf sets that run toxic, as well as Ho-Oh that run Toxic or occasionally THunder Wave. Similarly, Toxic Spikes users such as Toxapex are able to threaten Arceus-Rock.
**Fighting-types**: Marshadow, as well as less common Fighting-types such as Mega Mewtwo X, all easily come in on Judgment and KO Arceus-Rock. However, they don't enjoy switching in on Will-O-Wisp.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[DoW, 193182]]
- Quality checked by: [[lotiasite, 302985], [, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
- Arceus-Rock's typing, supported by good stats, allows it to switch in on most Mega Rayquaza sets' Dragon Ascent and V-Create, including Scarf, Banded, and Dragon Dance sets not carrying Earthquake. This allows it to act as an offensive check to the pokemon.
- It can also counter a number of other threats, notably Flying-types including Yveltal and Ho-oh, thanks to its solid typing and good stats.
- Using only Judgment, its neutral coverage isn't awful, and so Arceus-Rock is able to limit the number of times many counters can switch into it.
- Its movepool gives it advantages over Tyranitar, the only other relevant Rock-type, including reliable recovery and status moves like Will-O-Wisp.
- Arceus-Rock's movepool also has a number of good offensive options, including Fire Blast and Ice Beam, as well as Calm Mind. However, as a Calm Mind user, it is often outclassed by other options such as Arceus-Fairy, Arceus-Ground, and Necrozma-Ultra.
- Arceus-Rock's typing gives it a number of weaknesses, meaning a large number of common Pokemon including bulky Necrozma Dusk Mane sets and Marshadow counter it.
- It also isn't a perfect answer to the pokemon it counters, as many Mega Rayquaza sets can win with Earthquake, while Ho-oh and Yveltal can put it on a timer with Toxic.
- Arceus-Rock faces competition from Tyranitar, which is able to answer Mega Rayquaza while also being the premier pursuit trapper in the tier. However, the pokemon lacks many things Arceus-Rock has, including access to Recover or Will-O-Wisp.
- Arceus-Rock also gives away momentum rather easily, as a large number of pokemon are able to come in easily on it if Arceus doesn't carry options to threaten them, and doesn't set rocks to force them to defog. Such pokemon include Zygarde-Complete, many opposing Arceus formes, and most Steel-types that don't fear Will-O-Wisp.
name: Flying-type check
move 1: Judgment
move 2: Recover
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Stealth Rock / Roar / Perish Song
item: Stone Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Judgment allows Arceus-Rock to beat both Yveltal and Ho-oh, always OHKOing Ho-oh and taking down offensive Yveltal after Stealth Rock. It also 2HKOs Mega Rayquaza after Stealth Rock or a single Dragon Ascent special defense drop.
- Judgment also allows Arceus-Rock to deal damage to a number of pokemon as they switch in, including Primal Groudon and various support Arceus formes.
- Recover allows Arceus to remain at high health throughout the game, keeping it able to check those pokemon it needs to check.
- Will-O-Wisp allows Arceus to beat Mega Rayquaza more consistently, as well as crippling a number of pokemon that would otherwise happily switch into it such as Necrozma Dusk-Mane, Zygarde, and Marshadow.
- Stealth Rock allows Arceus to take advantage of the switches it often causes, either helping against the pokemon it needs to check, or allowing a free switch as the opponent removes them again. However, note that many teams use support Arceus formes carrying Toxic as their defoggers, and these will beat Arceus-Rock.
- Toxic can be run instead of Will-O-Wisp to hit switch-ins such as Primal Groudon and support Arceus formes with on the switch-in.
- Arceus-Rock can also use Roar or Perish Song in the final slot. Both do similar jobs in phazing opposing pokemon, and allowing Arceus-Rock to stop Vivillon, but Roar helps against Gothitelle whereas Perish Song can be more useful as the opponent switches to a setup sweeper, and is more helpful against Perish Song.
Set Details
========
- Max Speed investment is used because Arceus-Rock needs to outspeed Mega Rayquaza, and appreciates speed tying other Arceus.
- Max HP investment is used to help Arceus-Rock take hits from various threats, and keep checking pokemon throughout the game.
- The combination of Stone Plate and Multitype gives Arceus its Rock typing, and gives Judgment its typing and a slight boost in power.
- An alternative EV spread of 148 HP / 144 SpA / 216 Spe is possible to run. This gives Arceus-Rock more speed than Jolly Mega Rayquaza and enough Special Attack to defeat Mega Sableye, with the remainder invested in HP. However, the loss of bulk is extremely noticable, for example giving Scarf Yveltal a 1 in 3 chance of 2HKOing after Stealth Rock, and Life Orb Rayquaza a 16% chance to 2HKO with burned Earthquake after Stealth Rock and healthy Dragon Ascent damage.
- Some of the HP EVs can be shifted to Defense instead, giving Arceus-Rock a greater physical bulk. However, this comes at a price of greater lost Special bulk, meaning this is generally not a good idea.
Usage Tips
========
- Because of the number of pokemon that can force Arceus-Rock out, and the danger posed by the pokemon it checks, it is worth keeping healthy with Recover rather than taking risks early-game.
- Make sure to switch Arceus-Rock in to flying-types liberally, as that's what the pokemon is there for. For example, losing Arceus-Rock in exchange for the opponent's Mega Rayquazashould always be considered a good exchange. The only exception to this would be scouting for Toxic on an opposing Ho-oh or Yveltal.
- Through Judgment and Will-O-Wisp, Arceus-Rock does well against a number of these pokemon if it simply continues letting them switch in on it throughout the game. As such, don't feel the need to double switch to a counter for every pokemon you predict will come in against it, especially when it might be possible to burn a pokemon like Zygarde or Marshadow.
- Be cautious of opposing Toxic users such as support Arceus formes or Necrozma Dusk Mane, as this status can make it much more difficult for Arceus to wear down counters.
- Don't let Arceus-Rock become setup fodder - however predictable, it's generally a much better option to switch to a counter against pokemon such as Xerneas, Calm Mind Necrozma, or Rock Polish Primal Groudon than trying to stay in and set up Rocks or Toxic.
- Beware of giving away momentum when using Arceus. Sometimes an incoming support arceus forme can safely ignore damage from a single Judgement and then threaten Arceus-Rock out. In these situations, a move such as Stealth Rock which the opponent would have to then Defog allows you to switch out from Arceus-Rock much more safely, giving the opponent less of an opportunity to damage your switch-in.
- Note that many Mega Rayquaza carry a move that can deal with Arceus-Rock, such as Earthquake, Surf, or Choice Banded Outrage, which will make the decision of whether to switch to Arceus-Rock a 50/50. However, it is generally safe to make this switch if the opponent does not know the forme of your Arceus. As such, avoid revealing the forme where possible, to make beating Rayquaza easier.
Team Options
========
- Arceus-Rock does a good job at beating a number of key pokemon, especially Mega Rayquaza. As such, it is a solid fit on balanced and bulky offense teams already weak to these threats, and it is often better to include Arceus-Rock with other pokemon rather than attempting to build a team around it.
- This set works well on balanced teams that appreciate threats being worn down - these teams also often appreciate a switch-in to Mega Rayquaza, which Arceus-Rock provides.
- Offensive pokemon that pair well with Arceus-Rock are those that appreciate common counters being worn down. For example, Xerneas appreciates Arceus-Rock wearing down pokemon such as Primal Groudon, while being able to threaten pokemon like Marshadow and Zygarde.
- Similarly, Primal Groudon pairs well, as it appreciates an answer to Ho-Oh and Yveltal, and answers threats to Arceus-Rock including many Steel-types such as Ferrothorn. Running Stealth Rock on Arceus also allows for Primal Groudon to run a more offensive set.
- There are a number of pokemon that pair well with Arceus-Rock due to dealing well with offensive threats to Arceus-Rock while appreciating the pokemon that Arceus-Rock threatens. These include Arceus-Ground, Zygarde, and Yveltal, all of which switch into a number of pokemon that threaten Arceus-Rock such as Primal Groudon and Necrozma Dusk-Mane, while Yveltal also threatens Marshadow. Similarly, Giratina is able to answer many of the pokemon Arceus-Rock dislikes.
- Celesteela is an excellent teammate for Arceus-Rock, largely because with accurate prediction, the combination of these two pokemon is able to always defeat Mega Rayquaza. Celesteela is also able to answer support Arceus that come in on Arceus-Rock, which also appreciates the slight HP boosts from Leech seed. Moreover, Arceus-Rock handles Ho-oh and Yveltal, both of which can be troublesome for Celesteela.
- Trappers including Gothitelle and Mega Gengar are good partners for Arceus-Rock, as they are able to trap many of the common answers such as Support Arceus formes, and stallier Pokemon such as Chansey and Celesteela, allowing Arceus-Rock to do a better job of wearing down threats like Primal Groudon, and removing defoggers.
- Due to Arceus-Rock's dislike to toxic, partners that can absorb status such as Arceus-Poison, Steel-types, or pokemon with Rest such as Giratina or Zygarde-C can not only support Arcues-Rock but also appreciate coming in for free on the move.
name: Offensive
move 1: Judgment
move 2: Recover
move 3: Calm Mind / Ice Beam
move 4: Fire Blast / Ice Beam
item: Stone Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Judgment makes use of a strong STAB Rock move, with relatively good neutral coverage on its own.
- Recover allows Arceus to recover HP throughout the game, allowing it to come in multiple times and set up more effectively.
- Calm Mind allows Arceus to function as an effective setup sweeper, allowing it to clean against weakened or unprepared teams with the help of coverage.
- Fire Blast hits most pokemon that Rock-type Judgment does not hit, such as Necrozma Dusk-Mane, Celesteela, and Ferrothorn.
- Ice Beam is further coverage, hitting ground-types such as Arceus-Ground and Zygarde, and allows Arceus to lure in and KO Zygarde. It also gives particularly good coverage alongside Fire Blast.
- Refresh is an option over coverage to prevent the Calm Mind set from being broken by pokemon carrying Toxic, and turns such pokemon to setup fodder.
Set Details
========
- Arceus still wants to function as a Mega Rayquaza check, and so high speed is required. This is also helps set up against special attackers, such as many support Arceus formes.
- EVs are invested into HP to help Arceus set up easily, as well as taking hits from pokemon that it checks before trying to set up.
- These HP EVs also assist it in checking Mega Rayquaza, for example allowing it to always live a Life Orb Earthquake.
- If Calm Mind is not carried, these EVs should be placed in Special Attack, to make Arceus-Rock as imposing as possible.
- If Calm Mind is run, a spread investing in SpA is also possible. However, it should be noted that such a set will be significantly easier to KO.
Usage Tips
========
- Calm Mind Arceus-Rock works well as a late-game cleaner, when its checks have been weakened enough for it to set up and sweep the remaining pokemon.
- Offensive Arceus-Rock sets are relatively easy to check, thanks to the wide variety of viable pokemon naturally capable of this. As such, it often makes sense not to reveal Arceus-Rock's forme if possible, as this will make the opponent more willing for checks such as Necrozma Dusk Mane to be weakened.
- Alternatively, in many situations it instead makes more sense for Arceus-Rock to weaken checks to other pokemon on the team. This is often the case where the opponent has a large number of checks to Arceus-Rock, or Arceus-Rock is required to check an opposing threat such as Mega Rayquaza. It is also often true of non-Calm Mind variants.
- Be aware that the opponent will often predict a support set rather than the offensive set, and therefore may not expect coverage moves like Fire Blast or Ice Beam. Be sure not to reveal these coverage moves when there is still a possibility they could be used to lure a key threat, such as Ice Beam for Zygarde.
Team Options
========
- This set appreciates other threats on the team that are able to wear down potential checks. Examples include Xerneas, which can wear down common counters such as Primal Groudon.
- Pokemon that pair well defensively with Arceus-Rock make good teammates, including Arceus-Ground, Zygarde, Giratina formes, and Yveltal, all of which answer a number of threats to Arceus-Rock such as Steel-types, Primal Groudon, opposing Zygarde, and Marshadow to some degree. Other pokemon that can help against these threats include Celesteela, Primal Groudon, and Ho-Oh. It is worth choosing your coverage options based on which threats these teammates handle well, and what your team struggles with.
- Wallbreakers like Banded Mega Rayquaza are able to open holes in bulkier teams, giving Arceus-Rock more opportunities to damage the opposing team.
- Similarly, Gothitelle and Mega Gengar are able to open holes in teams' defensive cores, and remove pokemon such as Toxic Arceus formes, allowing Arceus-Rock to perform its job better.
- If your team brings a trapper, a ground-type such as Arceus-Ground will pair well, as it will remove threats to Arceus-Rock including Necrozma-DM and Primal Groudon, while also being able to come in as Tyranitar switches in on the trapper.
- Offensive Arceus-Rock appreciates both Spikes and Toxic Spikes, as they help it pick up key KOs such as a 3/4 chance to 2HKO offensive Necrozma-DM with Fire Blast after Stealth Rock and one layer of Spikes. Arceus-Rock is able to assist Spikes teams in turn, by threatening Flying-type pokemon that are unharmed by Spikes. A good teammate that can provide Spikes support is Ferrothorn, which is able to switch in against Primal Kyogre.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- As with many Arceus formes, Defog is viable on Arceus-Rock's support set. However, the pokemon loses to most common Stealth Rock setters, and so is generally outclassed as a defogger.
- Flamethrower is an option over Fire Blast on an offensive set, but the loss of power is very noticeable, for example missing out on a 2HKO against Celesteela after Stealth Rock.
- Support moves such as Thunder Wave or Magic Coat are occasionally worthwhile, but generally less useful than options like Toxic or Roar, as well as being more passive.
- Calm Mind sets may consider running Roar in order to use other Calm Mind Arceus formes as settup fodder then force them out. However, this strategy is of limited use compared to other Moveslot options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Bulky Primal Groudon sets easily counter Arceus-Rock, while offensive sets are able to check the pokemon. Note that Bulky sets are only able to switch in on Arceus' Judgment a limited number of times before they are no longer able to check other big threats. Zygarde and physically offensive Arceus-Ground easily defeat non-Ice Beam Arceus-Rock, but dislike Will-O-Wisp unless running Rest or Refresh. Calm Mind Arceus-Ground similarly threatens Arceus-Rock to a large degree. Special support Arceus-Ground sets fail to KO +1 Arceus-Rock if it runs Calm Mind, and can dislike Toxic, but will otherwise Recover off Ice Beam and threaten to KO Arceus-Rock while Defogging Stealth Rock.
**Steel-types**: Necrozma Dusk-Mane and Arceus-Steel are both able to counter most Arceus-Rock, with physical sets disliking Will-O-Wisp but Calm Mind sets threatening to use it as setup fodder. Ferrothorn and Celesteela lose to Fire Blast, but otherwise counter Arceus-Rock. Other Steels such as Magearna are able to counter Arceus-Rock easily. However, many of these pokemon would prefer not to switch in on a Will-O-Wisp, due to the chip damage as well as reduced physical attack in the cases of physical sets. Dialga happily sets Stealth Rock on Arceus-Rock while threatening Flash Cannon.
**Primal Kyogre**: Primal Kyogre counters Arceus-Rock, with only an extremely small chance of both failing to OHKO and being 2HKO'd by a Calm Mind-boosted variant. However, unless it runs Rest, it can only switch in a limited number of times.
**Support Arceus formes**: Support Arceus formes are, in general, able to take any punches Arceus-Rock can throw at them, Defog away its rocks, and wear it down with Toxic or super effective moves in return. Calm Mind Arceus-Rock may be able to set up on some variants, but most will be able to stop it with either Toxic or Phazing. Arceus-Rock variants carrying Toxic can threaten them back, but will still be worn down by them.
**Specially Defensive pokemon**: Arceus-Rock is completely walled by pokemon such as Blissey. Mega Sableye is able to hard counter Arceus-Rock not running Calm Mind, unless it invests very significantly in Special Attack. Rarer Pokemon such as Clefable or Toxapex are similarly beat Arceus-Rock, with the exception of Toxic Arceus-Rock beating Clefable.
**Gothitelle**: Gothitelle is able to trap Arceus-Rock, and defeat it with Confide followed by pp-stalling Judgment. This is extremely effective against support set unless it has Roar, and while offensive sets have more counterplay thanks to Calm Mind or Ice Beam Freezes, Gothitelle will still revenge kill it at +0 a majority of the time.
**Status conditions**: Arceus-Rock struggles to check pokemon like Mega Rayquaza unless it is on very high HP. As such, Toxic is able to prevent it from doing its job very effectively, at worst forcing the pokemon to recover when it would rather be threatening switch-ins with Judgment of Will-O-Wisp. Similarly, Paralysis is able to prevent Arceus-Rock from using Recover when its health is too low to counter threats, or from using moves like Will-O-Wisp or Judgment against such threats. Pokemon that are able to threaten Arceus with status include some Mega Rayquaza variants, notably scarf sets that run toxic, as well as Ho-Oh that run Toxic or occasionally THunder Wave. Similarly, Toxic Spikes users such as Toxapex are able to threaten Arceus-Rock.
**Fighting-types**: Marshadow, as well as less common Fighting-types such as Mega Mewtwo X, all easily come in on Judgment and KO Arceus-Rock. However, they don't enjoy switching in on Will-O-Wisp.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[DoW, 193182]]
- Quality checked by: [[lotiasite, 302985], [, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
Last edited: