PK Gaming agreed to let me take it over
QC: PK Gaming, Iconic, Bloo
GP: Zystral, NatGeo
[Overview]
<p>Generation V brought a lot of new offensively-oriented Pokemon into the game. In that bunch of Pokemon is Archeops. Archeops is gifted with a sky-high 140 Attack stat, and a well above average base 112 Special Attack. Couple that with a fast 110 base Speed, and you have one potent sweeper on your hands. Though Archeops was granted a gift from the heavens with those base stats, he was also cursed with an awful ability in Defeatist. This ability makes Archeops lose 50% of its attacking power if his HP goes to 50% or below; not to mention he has crippling weaknesses to almost all types of priority and Stealth Rock. There are plenty of ways to work around those weaknesses, though. Archeops can run sets from a physical sweeper to a special sweeper and even a mixed sweeper. If used correctly, Archeops can be a force to be reckoned with this generation.</p>
[SET]
name: Acrobatics
move 1: Acrobatics
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Hone Claws
item: Flying Gem
nature: Naive / Naughty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
ivs: 30 Atk / 30 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is probably Archeops's most used set, and for a good reason. With a base 140 Attack, which unboosted reaches416 using a Naughty nature and max Attack EVs, nothing is going to want to take even a neutral hit from this guy, let alone a super effective hit. With a boosted attack in Acrobatics thanks to Flying Gem, Archeops is capable of 2HKOing even Ferrothorn, which is very impressive Stone Edge and Earthquake grant Archeops the infamous EdgeQuake combination, granting Archeops nearly perfect coverage, hitting the entire metagame for neutral damage, barring Bronzong, Breloom, and Virizion. The fourth moveslot is filled with Hidden Power Ice, as with its base 112 Special Attack stat, Archeops has a 100% chance of 2HKOing Gliscor. Naive is the preferred nature over Naughty because it allows you to speed tie with Pokemon like Latios and Gengar who share your 110 base Speed. If you go for a Naughty nature, you will have no chance of speed tying Latios or other base 110 Speed Pokemon, such as Gengar. The given EVs are essential to max out Archeops's Speed and Attack stats. This set gives Archeops a lot of raw power and is capable of ripping through many unprepared teams.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Since Archeops is weak to Stealth Rock, you absolutely need a Rapid Spinner on your team if you want to use Archeops to its maximum potential and avoid activation of Defeatist. Donphan is a very good teammate to Archeops because he can Rapid Spin Stealth Rock away, and covers the Rock-type weakness. If Archeops happens to drop below 50% health, you can just pass a Wish and Archeops will gain some, if not all of his HP back. Jirachi is a great Pokemon to pass Wish as it can resists Bullet Punch, one of Archeops's biggest weaknesses. Hidden Power Ice isn't going to do a lot of damage to Skarmory, so Magnezone is also a very good teammate for Archeops, trapping Skarmory with Magnet Pull and proceeding to KO him with Thunderbolt. Other Special Attackers such as Starmie, Reuniclus, and Heatran are also good partners to break through physical walls. This set works similarly to how Gliscor's Toxic Orb + Fling set operates except you don't have to waste a turn to Fling your item away to get the boost. You really have to be careful and make sure you don't take a lot of hits so your health doesn't drop below 50% and activate Defeatist.</p>
[SET]
name: Physical Sweeper
move 1: Stone Edge
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Hone Claws
item: Leftovers / Expert Belt
nature: Naive / Naughty
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set works similarly to the Acrobatics set. Stone Edge is in the first slot because it is Archeops's main STAB move hitting many Pokemon Earthquake can't hit super effectively. Earthquake is in the second slot to hit Steel-, Poison-, and Fire-type Pokemon super effectively. The third slot on this set is dedicated to Hidden Power Ice to get past Gliscor who would otherwise wall this set into oblivion. Thanks to its base 140 Attack and base 110 Speed stats, Archeops can be a good user of Hone Claws, meriting the final moveslot, boosting Archeops's accuracy and Attack by one stage. The item choice is a tricky one; leftovers can keep you above the 50% health line more easily, while Expert Belt can give you an extra boost in super effective attacks</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Rapid Spin support should always be considered when building your team around Archeops due to his Stealth Rock weakness, Rapid Spin support is almost essential if you want to use him to his full potential. Donphan is a very good teammate to Archeops because he can Rapid Spin Stealth Rock away and covers the Rock-type weakness. Wish support is also very beneficial to Archeops from the likes of Jirachi, who resists Bullet Punch. Magnezone is also a very good teammate for Archeops, taking out Skarmory, who otherwise takes Archeops nicely. Any priority moves can beat this set pretty easily. Archeops is weak to Bullet Punch and Aqua Jet, both putting Archeops below 50% health, so watch out for those. Special Attackers are key to letting Archeops sweep because they can break through physical walls with ease, allowing Archeops to sweep. A Naive nature should be used if you are using your fourth slot for Hone Claws.</p>
[OTHER OPTIONS]
<p>Life Orb could be considered on both sets, but it can get you below 50% health very quickly. If Stealth Rock is on the field, you will only get 3 attacks in before you are below 50%, not accounting for any hits taken. Sitrus Berry could be considered as an option on the Physical Attacker set because once Archeops gets below 50% health, the Berry will activate and hopefully bring Archeops's HP above 50%. This can be risky, though, because odds are that if you are near 50%, the opposing Pokemon on the field will be able to KO you. A Naughty nature can also be considered on the first set if tying the base 110 Speed tier isn't very important to you and you want the extra power that a Naughty nature brings. You should use Naughty over Adamant if you are using Hidden Power Ice because an Adamant nature hinders your Special Attack. Crunch can be considered on both sets if you want to hit Ghost-types super effectively. Dragon Claw can also be considered to give you a reliable move to use against various Dragon-types such as Latios, Latias, and Haxorus, many of whom are outsped by Archeops.</p>
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
<p>The biggest problem that Archeops faces is priority. He is weak to Bullet Punch and Aqua Jet, and the main carriers of those moves are Scizor and Azumarill, who will both OHKO him with a Choice Band. Archeops is also weak to physically defensive Pokemon such as Skarmory and Bronzong. Archeops has virtually no way of breaking through these walls, so they will have to be dealt with by other means before attempting to use Archeops. Excadrill is also a check to Archeops, as it can easily oustpeed in the sand, and OHKO him with Rock Slide. Thundurus can also beat Archeops relatively easily, outspeeding and OHKOing Archeops with Thunderbolt. Archeops has a weakness to Stealth Rock, which combined with his ability, Defeatist, allows Archeops to switch in only two times if Stealth Rock is on the field before his ability is activated, making Archeops very frail indeed.</p>
