Dark Arceus (Analysis)

[Iconic]

Status: upload meeeeeeee

[Overview]

<p>The Creator lurks in the shadows with the attachment of the Dread Plate, and lies in wait for prey to come by for Him to pounce on. The Master of the night's opaque Judgment crushes His abudant Psychic- and Ghost-type children that reside in the Uber tier. While the deity of terror is Himself scared witless by Bugs and Fighters, and cannot hope to scratch the hide of Steel-clad Pokemon, the former two are rare in Ubers, and the latter are eradicated by a swift Focus Blast. The tenebrous One is also seemingly outclassed by its ectoplasmic counterpart, Ghost Arceus; however, nothing is immune to Dark Arceus's piercing Judgment. Cower in fear before the Master of horrors!</p>

[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Judgment
move 3: Refresh / Focus Blast / Substitute
move 4: Recover
item: Dread Plate
nature: Timid
evs: 100 HP / 100 Def / 100 SpA / 100 SpD / 100 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>In a tier infested with Psychic-type Pokemon, Dark Arceus makes an excellent Calm Mind mono-attacker, as nothing is immune to its STAB Judgment, a move with solid coverage overall. With Calm Mind boosting its already stellar special stats, Refresh eliminating bothersome status, and Recover healing any damage it has sustained, Dark Arceus can be incredibly difficult to take down, especially for stall teams.</p>

<p>Not only do Dark-type Judgments hit many Ubers super effectively, but very few Pokemon commonly found in the tier resist the attack. Thanks to its great coverage, Dark Arceus can afford to eschew a secondary attack for a useful support move to help it set up. More often than not, this move should be Refresh, as it prevents Dark Arceus from being crippled by status. The Achilles' heel of most Calm Minders is status, specifically Toxic damage, and so Dark Arceus's ability to cleanse itself with Refresh greatly separates it from other Calm Mind sweepers. As previously mentioned, this specific Arceus excels at breaking stall teams. With Refresh removing poison from Toxic Spikes and Recover to heal residual damage, stall teams will struggle to defeat Dark Arceus. In addition, common stall team phazers such as Lugia and Groudon can't keep absorbing boosted Judgments. While Refresh gives Dark Arceus near-unparalleled stallbreaking abilities, there are a few other feasible options, each with their pros and cons. If one feels an auxiliary attacking move is necessary, Focus Blast is the ideal choice for nearly perfect neutral coverage alongside Judgment, although Dark Arceus will have a much harder time breaking stall and staying alive in general. However, Focus Blast allows Dark Arceus to deal with its most common counters, including Tyranitar, Lucario, and Scizor. On the other hand, Substitute can block incoming status moves while also allowing Dark Arceus to scout switch-ins, but it's generally inferior to Refresh because it leaves Dark Arceus helpless against Toxic Spikes.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Although Dark Arceus's combination of bulk and power makes it a frightening offensive threat, it still has many solid counters. Scizor is without a doubt the number one Dark Arceus counter, as it's bulky enough to withstand even boosted Judgments, and can retaliate with its super effective STAB Bug-type attacks. While Tyranitar doesn't have a super effective STAB, its excellent Special Defense, resistance to Judgment, and ability to respond with Stone Edge or Dragon Dance make it a threat to any Dark Arceus lacking Focus Blast. Although he has poor defenses, Lucario possesses a 4x resistance to Judgment and has STAB Close Combat to dispatch Dark Arceus. Despite their scarcity in Ubers, Heracross and Infernape resist Judgment and have super effective STABs to force out or KO Dark Arceus outright. While the lack of common Bug- and Fighting-type attacks means Dark Arceus can often be difficult to take down, Bug Arceus and Fighting Arceus deserve mention as counters for their Dark counterpart due to their super effective STABs, especially the latter, as it resists Dark Arceus's Judgment. Heatran can be a nuisance because it can easily absorb Judgments and prevents Dark Arceus from boosting or recovering with Taunt. With their high Special Defense, Ho-Oh and Calm Mind Kyogre can withstand Dark Arceus's Judgments and retaliate with their devastating STABs. Ho-Oh is free to exploit Dark Arceus's unboosted Defense with either Brave Bird or Sacred Fire, while Kyogre will come out on top in a Calm Mind war with Dark Arceus, assuming it has Rest. Although they'll have troubles breaking Dark Arceus after it has used a few Calm Minds, Darkrai and Dialga can switch in with near impunity, thanks to their resistance to Judgment, and can threaten Arceus with their Fighting-type attacks.</p>

<p>Without Focus Blast, Dark Arceus requires partners that are capable of eliminating the ubiquitous Steel-types found in Ubers. Giratina-O has fantastic synergy with Dark Arceus, as it resists Fighting- and Bug-type attacks, and has no problem eradicating Steels with Hidden Power Fire provided that sunlight is present. Speaking of which, a bulky Groudon can pair nicely with Dark Arceus, as it can easily deal with Scizor, Tyranitar, Lucario, and Heracross thanks to its immense physical bulk. It is also capable of setting up Stealth Rock, which Dark Arceus, like all sweepers, greatly appreciates. If one opts not to use Refresh, Forretress makes a good partner to eliminate Toxic Spikes that quickly wear Dark Arceus down; Forretress can also sponge Choice Dialga's Dragon-type attacks. Kyogre is a solid answer to Ho-Oh and Heatran, who both give Dark Arceus trouble, and Choice Scarf variants make excellent checks for any troublesome Darkrai, Heracross, and Infernape.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Other than Focus Blast and Substitute, there are very few other options for Dark Arceus to use. Flamethrower deserves mention as a secondary attack to roast any Scizor or Heracross bold enough to switch in, but it has fairly poor coverage, and it still leaves Dark Arceus walled by Heatran and Tyranitar. An entirely offensive Calm Mind set with Judgment / Focus Blast / Ice Beam hits the majority of Uber Pokemon super effectively, although it struggles with stall and does not make use of the excellent bulk Dark Arceus possesses. Any Swords Dance Dark Arceus set is discouraged due to the lack of a reliable physical STAB move; it is completely outclassed by its Ghost counterpart.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Dark Arceus is extremely difficult to take down because its weaknesses are uncommon in Ubers, coupled with the fact that Refresh and Recover greatly increase its longevity. Even Pokemon who resist Judgment like Forretress will struggle to do any meaningful damage back to Dark Arceus; its most solid counters will resist Dark and threaten it back with powerful attacks.</p>

<p>Scizor and Lucario are among Dark Arceus's top counters, thanks to their resistance to Dark and their super effective STAB attacks. Although rare, Heracross resists Judgment and its dual STAB is super effective against Dark Arceus. Infernape also resists Judgment, and can threaten with Close Combat or U-turn. Tyranitar has excellent Special Defense and resists Judgment, although its lack of super effective attacks to damage Dark Arceus can cause it to become set-up fodder unless it packs Dragon Dance. Dark Arceus's Bug and Fighting counterparts deserve mention since they have super effective STABs, and the latter resists Dark Arceus's Judgment. Heatran's Taunt can prevent Dark Arceus from healing or boosting, and it can use powerful Fire Blasts to scare Dark Arceus away. Although most Dialga will have difficulties hurting Dark Arceus after a few Calm Minds, mixed variants can threaten with Brick Break and Bulk Up versions can boost alongside it. With their excellent Special Defense and powerful attacks, Ho-Oh and Calm Mind Kyogre will almost always defeat Dark Arceus in a one-on-one situation.</p>

<p>Without Refresh, Dark Arceus's great coverage will make it hard to switch into, although it will be quickly worn down by status and is vulnerable to stall. If Dark Arceus chooses to use Focus Blast, Blissey's unmatched defenses will let it absorb any attack and get a Toxic off to effectively cripple Dark Arceus. By extension, any Dark Arceus lacking Refresh is extremely susceptible to Toxic Spikes.</p>

 

[giggity69]

I think it looks good though heracross should definitely be mentioned as a counter. Flamethrower might deserve an AC mention as it eliminates scizor, lucario, forretress, and non-scarf herracross. Dialga is also a counter to the mono attacker as well, especially those with brick break.

 

[Ice-eyes]

Specially Defensive Dialga is a good counter without Focus Blast as it can set up a couple of Bulk Ups and rip into you with boosted Outrage (iirc you need +5 for Judgment to 2HKO).

 

[Farewell]

Would it be good to mention Scarf Heracross as a counter? Dual STAB is super effective, resists Dark with decent SpD, and can outspeed him. Additionally, if Heracross is statused (i.e. it switches in on Toxic Spikes) either of his STAB Attacks will KO Darkrai due to Guts.

 

[Fireburn]

Heracross is def. a counter unless you have a Fire move. Also Infernape will give you issues due to STAB Close Combat and SE U-turn spam but it wont like coming in on repeated Judgments.

Additionally, if you don't have any other attacking moves aside from Judgment than Darkrai becomes an issue.

Oh, and Ho-Oh is most definitely a counter, as is Taunt Heatran if you lack Focus Blast. You also should watch out for CM Kyogre.

(Oh yeah and Flamethrower should be mentioned somewhere. You gain the ability to instantly kill Scizor and it makes Bug Arceus and Heracross cry, but it leaves you in a pickle vs Heatran/TTar/BU Dialga. At least put it in Optional Changes.)

Other than that...

 

[Great Sage]

Dark Arceus is probably one of the simplest Arceus. "lol Swords Dance Punishment"

QC APPROVED (2/3)

 

[Misa]

Dark Arceus is probably one of the simplest Arceus. "lol Swords Dance Punishment"

QC APPROVED (2/3)

I've always wondered, why wouldn't Swords Dance Dark Arceus work? Swords Dance would increase Punishment's BP to 120, which means that it could hurt a lot of things for super-effective damage.

(I don't see it being outclassed by Ghost arceus, especially since Dark Arceus gets stab on punishment).

 

[bojangles]

I've always wondered, why wouldn't Swords Dance Dark Arceus work? Swords Dance would increase Punishment's BP to 120, which means that it could hurt a lot of things for super-effective damage.

(I don't see it being outclassed by Ghost arceus, especially since Dark Arceus gets stab on punishment).

You shouldn't rely on a move that goes to 120 BP after Swords Dance (it actually doesn't work like that but still).

Anyway, like GS said, this is pretty straightforward.

QC APPROVED 3/3

Moving with a 1-day redirect.

 

[Iconic]

I've always wondered, why wouldn't Swords Dance Dark Arceus work? Swords Dance would increase Punishment's BP to 120, which means that it could hurt a lot of things for super-effective damage.

(I don't see it being outclassed by Ghost arceus, especially since Dark Arceus gets stab on punishment).

Punishment only takes into account the boosts from opposing Pokemon, not the user of Punishment. Therefore, even if Arceus were to Swords Dance once, the Base Power of Punishment would remain 90, not 120 (factoring in STAB). I guess the description for the move onsite is pretty misleading, but basically it means that Arceus will only have a 90 BP move most of the time. As such, it's completely outclassed by Ghost Arceus who can use Shadow Claw for a 105 BP move. Payback is a decent option for STAB, but Arceus sweepers are meant to be fast. I think Tmon was going to test Payback SD Darceus, but I haven't checked with him yet.

Thanks for the comments, and I've mentioned everything that people have said in this thread. The writeup should be done today.

 

[Iconic]

ok finished the write-up while adding everything everyone has mentioned, so feel free to comment on it to see if ive missed anything. after that, i guess the GP team can look over it to fix my many many mistakes

 

[firecape]

Here's a proofread:

Hide

[OVERVIEW]
<p>If one were to consider Arceus' best forms, it would be easy to disregard the possibility for it to become a Dark-type due to the presence of Ghost Arceus. Granted it's outclassed in the physical attacking department, Dark Arceus excels at one thing that its Ghost brethren cannot boast: mono-attacking. Because Dark-type Judgements has no immunities and great individual coverage, Dark Arceus can afford to pack an immensely useful support move in Refresh. As such, Dark Arceus becomes incredibly difficult to take down, and can easily ravage unsuspecting teams, even ones that pack the special walling behemoth Blissey. With its potent stallbreaking abilities and surprising <insert adjective that has to do with great, I'll let you decide> bulk, Dark Arceus is a powerful threat that should not be underestimated.</p>

[SET]
name: Dark Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Judgment
move 3: Refresh / Focus Blast / Substitute
move 4: Recover
item: Dread Plate
evs: 100 HP / 100 Def / 100 SpA / 100 SpD / 100 Spe
nature: Timid

[SET COMMENTS]
<p>In a tier infested with Psychic-type Pokemon, Dark Arceus makes an excellent Calm Mind mono-attacker, blessed by the fact that its STAB Judgment has no immunities as well as and has solid overall coverage as an individual type. With Calm Mind boosting its already stellar base special stats, Refresh eliminating bothersome status, and Recover healing any damage it has sustained, Dark Arceus can be incredibly difficult to take down, especially for stall teams.</p>

<p>Not only do Dark-type Judgments hit many Ubers super-effectively, but very few Pokemon commonly found in the tier resist the attack. Thanks to its great coverage, Dark Arceus can afford to eschew a secondary attack for a useful support move to help it set up. More often than not, this move should be Refresh, as it prevents Dark Arceus from being crippled by status. The Achilles heel of most Calm Minders is status, specifically Toxic damage, and so Dark Arceus' ability to cleanse itself with Refresh greatly separates itself from other Calm Mind sweepers. As previously mentioned, this specific Arceus excels at breaking stall teams. With Refresh removing poison from Toxic Spikes and Recover to heal residual damage, stall teams will struggle to defeat the shady god Dark Arceus (I was getting bored of Dark Arceus over and over, but you can keep it the way it is I guess). In addition, common stall team phazers such as Lugia and Groudon can't keep up with absorbing to many boosted Judgments before phazing Arceus away. being able to Whirlwind and Roar, respectively. While Refresh gives Dark Arceus near unparallel stallbreaking abilities, there are a few other feasible options, each with their pros and cons. If one feels an auxiliary attacking move is necessary, Focus Blast is the ideal choice for perfect neutral coverage alongside Judgment(Heracross and Toxicroak...), although Dark Arceus will have a much harder time breaking stall and staying alive in general. However, Focus Blast allows Dark Arceus to deal with its most common counters, including Tyranitar, Lucario and Scizor. On the other hand, Substitute can block incoming status moves while also allowing Dark Arceus to scout switch-ins, but it's generally inferior to Refresh because it leaves Dark Arceus helpless against Toxic Spikes.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Although Dark Arceus' combination of bulk and power makes it a frightening offensive threat, it still has many solid counters. Scizor is without a doubt the number one Dark Arceus counter, as it's bulky enough to withstand even boosted Judgments, and it can retaliate with its super-effective STAB Bug-type attacks. While Tyranitar doesn't have a super-effective STAB, its excellent Special Defense, resistance to Judgment and ability to retaliate with strong Stone Edges or stat-up with Dragon Dance make it a threat to any Dark Arceus lacking Focus Blast. Despite its poor defenses, Lucario possesses a 4x resistance to Judgment and has STAB Close Combats to dispatch of Dark Arceus. Despite their scarcity in Ubers, Heracross and Infernape resist Judgment and have super-effective STABs to force out or kill Dark Arceus outright. While the lack of common Bug- and Fighting-type attacks means Dark Arceus can often be difficult to take down, Bug Arceus and Fighting Arceus deserve mention as counters for their Dark counterpart due to their super-effective STABs, especially the latter, as it resists Dark Arceus' Judgment. Heatran can be a nuisance because it can easily absorb its Judgments and prevents Dark Arceus from boosting or recovering with Taunt. With their high Special Defense, Ho-Oh and Calm Mid Kyogre can withstand Dark Arceus' Judgments and retaliate with their devastating STABs. Ho-Oh is free to exploit Dark Arceus' unboosted Defense with either Brave Bird or Sacred Fire, while Kyogre will come out on top in a Calm Mind war with Dark Arceus assuming it has Rest. Although they'll have troubles breaking Dark Arceus after it has used a few Calm Minds, Darkrai's and Dialga's resistance to Judgment mean they can switch-in with near impunity and threaten Arceus with their Fighting-type attacks.</p>

<p>Without Focus Blast, Dark Arceus requires partners that are capable of eliminating the ubiquitous Steel-types found in Ubers. Giratina-O has fantastic synergy with Dark Arceus, resisting Fighting- and Bug-type attacks, and has no problem eradicating Steels with Hidden Power Fire granted sunlight it present. Speaking of which, a bulky Groudon can pair nicely with Dark Arceus, as it can easily deal with Scizor, Tyranitar, Lucario and Heracross thanks to its immense physical defenses. It is also capable of setting up Stealth Rock, which Dark Arceus, like all sweepers, greatly appreciates. If one opts against using Refresh, Forretress makes a good partner to eliminate Toxic Spikes that quickly wear Dark Arceus down, while also being able to sponge choiced Dialga's Dragon-type attacks. Kyogre is a solid answer to Ho-Oh and Heatran, who both give Dark Arceus trouble, and Choice Scarf variants make excellent checks for any troublesome Darkrai, Heracross or Infernape.</p>

[TEAM OPTIONS]
<p>Although Dark Arceus is fairly self-sustaining thanks to Refresh and Recover, it needs some support for optimal preformanceto allow it to optimally perform. Like all sweepers, it appreciates Stealth Rock to help wear down its common counters. Not only can Deoxys-S set up Stealth Rock, but it is also the premier Spiker in Ubers, which can help Dark Arceus muscle its way past even its most sound counters. For instance, with Stealth Rock and three layers of Spikes, even Scizor is 2HKOed by a +1 Judgment. Groudon is another excellent choice to set up Stealth Rock, as it can also deal with most of Dark Arceus' counters, namely Scizor, Tyranitar, Lucario and Heracross.</p>

<p>With Judgment as its only attack, Dark Arceus will inherently run into problems with Pokemon that resist Dark. As such, having teammates who are capable of dealing with common Steel-, Dark- and Fighting-type Pokemon in Ubers will make Dark Arceus' job easier. As previously mentioned, Groudon can support Dark Arceus by setting up Stealth Rock and defeating nearly all of Dark Arceus' physically-inclined counters. Giratina-O resists or is immune to all of Dark Arceus' weaknesses, and can dispatch Steel-types with Hidden Power Fire. Kyogre pairs very well with Dark Arceus, especially Choice Scarf versions, as it can deal with a plethora of Dark Arceus' counters, including Ho-Oh, Heatran, Infernape and Darkrai. Since Steels are the most common of the three aforementioned types, Magnezone is a decent option to trap and KO Pokemon like Scizor and Luacrio, but its utility is very situational.</p>

[OPTIONAL CHANGES]
<p>Other than Focus Blast or Substitute, there are very few other options for Dark Arceus to use. Flamethrower deserves mention as a secondary attack to roast any Scizor or Heracross bold enough to switch in, but it has fairly poor coverage, and it still leaves Dark Arceus walled by Heatran and Tyranitar. An entirely offensive Calm Mind set with Judgement / Focus Blast / Ice Beam hits the majority of Uber Pokemon super-effectively, although it struggles with stall and ignores the excellent bulk Dark Arceus possesses. Any Swords Dance Dark Arceus set is discouraged due to the lack of a reliable physical STAB, and since it is completely outclassed by its Ghost counterpart.</p>

[COUNTERS]
<p>Dark Arceus is extremely difficult to take down because of its lack of common weaknesses in Ubers, coupled with the fact that Refresh and Recover greatly increase its longevity. Even Pokemon that resist Judgment like Forretress will struggle to do any meaningful damage back to Dark Arceus, meaning its most solid counters will resist Dark and threaten it back with powerful attacks.</p>

<p>Scizor and Lucario are among Dark Arceus' top counters thanks to their resistances to Dark and their super-effective STAB attacks. Although rare, Heracross resists Judgment and its dual STAB are super-effective against Dark Arceus. Infernape also resist Judgment, and can threaten with Close Combat or U-turn. Tyranitar has excellent Special Defense and resists Judgment, although its lack of super-effective attacks to damage Dark Arceus can cause it to become set-up fodder unless it packs Dragon Dance. Dark Arceus' Bug and Fighting counterparts deserve mention since they have super-effective STABs, and the latter resists Dark Arceus' Judgement. Heatran's ability to use Taunt can prevent Dark Arceus from healing or boosting, and it can use powerful Fire Blasts to scare Dark Arceus away. Although most Dialga will have difficulties hurting Dark Arceus after a few Calm Minds, mixed variants can threaten with Brick Break and Bulk Up versions can boost alongside it. With their excellent Special Defense and powerful attacks, Ho-Oh and Calm Mind Kyogre will almost always defeat Dark Arceus in a one-on-one situation.</p>

<p>Without Refresh, Dark Arceus' great coverage will make it hard to switch into, although it is quickly worn down by status and is vulnerable to stall. If Dark Arceus chooses to use Focus Blast, Blissey's unmatched defenses will let it absorb any attack and get a Toxic off to effectively cripple it. By extension, any Refresh-less Dark Arceus lacking Refresh are extremely susceptible to Toxic Spikes.</p>

A couple of repeated errors I'll point out so you don't repeat them in the future ;) :
It's "super effective" not "super-effective"
It's "Its Ho-Oh" not "Ho-oh"
(Greatsage is gonna find you...) It's "Judgment" not "Judgement"

 

[jc104]

[OVERVIEW]
<p>If one were to consider Arceus’ best forms, it would be easy to disregard Dark due to the presence of Ghost Arceus. Granted it’s outclassed in the physical attacking department, but Dark Arceus excels at one thing that its Ghost brethren (brethren is plural unfortunately so you need to change this) cannot do boast: mono-attacking. Because Dark-type Judgment has no immunities and great coverage, with nothing being immune to it, Dark Arceus can afford to pack an immensely useful support move in Refresh. As such, Dark Arceus becomes incredibly difficult to take down, and can easily ravage unsuspecting teams, even ones that pack the special walling behemoth Blissey. With its potent stallbreaking abilities and surprising bulk, Dark Arceus is a powerful threat that should not be underestimated.</p>

[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Judgment
move 3: Refresh / Focus Blast / Substitute
move 4: Recover
item: Dread Plate
evs: 100 HP / 100 Def / 100 SpA / 100 SpD / 100 Spe
nature: Timid

[SET COMMENTS]
<p>In a tier infested with Psychic-type Pokemon, Dark Arceus makes an excellent Calm Mind mono-attacker, as nothing is immune to its STAB Judgment, a move with solid coverage overall blessed by the fact that its STAB Judgment has no immunities as well as solid overall coverage as an individual type. With Calm Mind boosting its already stellar special stats, Refresh eliminating bothersome status and Recover healing any damage it has sustained, Dark Arceus can be incredibly difficult to take down, especially for stall teams.</p>

<p>Not only do Dark-type Judgments hit many Ubers super effectively, but very few Pokemon commonly found in the tier resist the attack. Thanks to its great coverage, Dark Arceus can afford to eschew a secondary attack for a useful support move to help it set up. More often than not, this move should be Refresh, as it prevents Dark Arceus from being crippled by status. The Achilles' heel of most Calm Minders is status, specifically Toxic damage, and so Dark Arceus’ ability to cleanse itself with Refresh greatly separates it from other Calm Mind sweepers. As previously mentioned, this specific Arceus excels at breaking stall teams. With Refresh removing poison from Toxic Spikes and Recover to heal residual damage, stall teams will struggle to defeat Dark Arceus. In addition, common stall team phazers such as Lugia and Groudon can't keep up with absorbing boosted Judgments before being able to as they use Whirlwind and Roar, respectively. While Refresh gives Dark Arceus near-unparalleled stallbreaking abilities, there are a few other feasible options, each with their pros and cons. If one feels an auxiliary attacking move is necessary, Focus Blast is the ideal choice for nearly perfect neutral coverage alongside Judgment, although Dark Arceus will have a much harder time breaking stall and staying alive in general. However, Focus Blast allows Dark Arceus to deal with its most common counters, including Tyranitar, Lucario and Scizor. On the other hand, Substitute can block incoming status moves while also allowing Dark Arceus to scout switch-ins, but it’s generally inferior to Refresh because it leaves Dark Arceus helpless against Toxic Spikes.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Although Dark Arceus’ combination of bulk and power makes it a frightening offensive threat, it still has many solid counters. Scizor is without a doubt the number one Dark Arceus counter, as it's bulky enough to withstand even boosted Judgments, and it can retaliate with its super effective STAB Bug-type attacks. While Tyranitar doesn't have a super effective STAB, its excellent Special Defense, resistance to Judgment and ability to respond with retaliate with strong Stone Edge or stat-up with Dragon Dance make it a threat to any Dark Arceus lacking Focus Blast. Despite its poor defenses, Lucario possesses a 4x resistance to Judgment and has STAB Close Combat to dispatch of Dark Arceus. Despite their scarcity in Ubers, Heracross and Infernape resist Judgment and have super effective STABs to force out or KO Dark Arceus outright. While the lack of common Bug- and Fighting-type attacks means Dark Arceus can often be difficult to take down, Bug Arceus and Fighting Arceus deserve mention as counters for their Dark counterpart due to their super effective STABs, especially the latter, as it resists Dark Arceus' Judgment. Heatran can be a nuisance because it can easily absorb its Judgments and prevents Dark Arceus from boosting or recovering with Taunt. With their high Special Defense, Ho-Oh and Calm Mid Kyogre can withstand Dark Arceus’ Judgments and retaliate with their devastating STABs. Ho-Oh is free to exploit Dark Arceus’ unboosted Defense with either Brave Bird or Sacred Fire, while Kyogre will come out on top in a Calm Mind war with Dark Arceus assuming it has Rest. Although they’ll have troubles breaking Dark Arceus after it has used a few Calm Minds, Darkrai and Dialga can switch in with near impunity, thanks to their resistance to Judgment, mean they can switch-in with near impunity and can threaten Arceus with their Fighting-type attacks.</p>

<p>Without Focus Blast, Dark Arceus requires partners that are capable of eliminating the ubiquitous Steel-types found in Ubers. Giratina-O has fantastic synergy with Dark Arceus, resisting Fighting- and Bug-type attacks, and has no problem eradicating Steels with Hidden Power Fire provided that sunlight it present. Speaking of which, a bulky Groudon can pair nicely with Dark Arceus, as it can easily deal with Scizor, Tyranitar, Lucario and Heracross thanks to its immense physical bulk. It is also capable of setting up Stealth Rock, which Dark Arceus, like all sweepers, greatly appreciates. If one opts against using not to use Refresh, Forretress makes a good partner to eliminate Toxic Spikes that quickly wear Dark Arceus down; Forretress can also while also being able to sponge Choice Dialga’s Dragon-type attacks. Kyogre is a solid answer to Ho-Oh and Heatran, who both give Dark Arceus trouble, and Choice Scarf variants make excellent checks for any troublesome Darkrai, Heracross or Infernape.</p>

[TEAM OPTIONS]
<p>Although Dark Arceus is fairly self-sufficient thanks to Refresh and Recover, it needs some support to allow it to optimally perform optimally. Like all sweepers, it appreciates Stealth Rock to help wear down its common counters. Not only can Deoxys-S set up Stealth Rock, but it is also the premier Spiker in Ubers, which can help Dark Arceus muscle its way past even its most sound counters. For instance, with Stealth Rock and three layers of Spikes, even Scizor is 2HKOed by a +1 Judgment. Groudon is another excellent choice to set up Stealth Rock, as it can also deal with most of Dark Arceus’ counters, namely Scizor, Tyranitar, Lucario and Heracross.</p>

<p>With Judgment as its only attack, Dark Arceus will inherently run into problems with Pokemon that resist Dark-type attacks. As such, having teammates who are capable of dealing with common Steel-, Dark- and Fighting-type Pokemon in Ubers will make Dark Arceus’ job easier. As previously mentioned, Groudon can support Dark Arceus by setting up Stealth Rock and defeating nearly all of Dark Arceus’ physically-inclined counters. Giratina-O resists or is immune to all of Dark Arceus’ weaknesses, and can dispatch Steel-types with Hidden Power Fire. Kyogre pairs very well with Dark Arceus, especially Choice Scarf versions, as it can deal with a plethora number of Dark Arceus’ counters, including Ho-Oh, Heatran, Infernape and Darkrai. Since Steels are the most common of the three aforementioned types, Magnezone is a decent option to trap and KO Pokemon like Scizor and Luacrio, but its utility is very situational.</p>

[OPTIONAL CHANGES]
<p>Other than Focus Blast and Substitute, there are very few other options for Dark Arceus to use. Flamethrower deserves mention as a secondary attack to roast any Scizor or Heracross bold enough to switch in, but it has fairly poor coverage, and it still leaves Dark Arceus walled by Heatran and Tyranitar. An entirely offensive Calm Mind set with Judgment / Focus Blast / Ice Beam hits the majority of Uber Pokemon super effectively, although it struggles with stall and ignores does not make use of the excellent bulk Dark Arceus possesses. Any Swords Dance Dark Arceus set is discouraged due to the lack of a reliable physical STAB move; and since it is completely outclassed by its Ghost counterpart.</p>

[COUNTERS]
<p>Dark Arceus is extremely difficult to take down because of its lack of common weaknesses its weaknesses are uncommon in Ubers, coupled with the fact that Refresh and Recover greatly increase its longevity. Even Pokemon who resist Judgment like Forretress will struggle to do any meaningful damage back to Dark Arceus; meaning its most solid counters will resist Dark and threaten it back with powerful attacks.</p>

<p>Scizor and Lucario are among Dark Arceus’ top counters thanks to their resistance to Dark and their super effective STAB attacks. Although rare, Heracross resists Judgment and its dual STAB is super effective against Dark Arceus. Infernape also resists Judgment, and can threaten with Close Combat or U-turn. Tyranitar has excellent Special Defense and resists Judgment, although its lack of super effective attacks to damage Dark Arceus can cause it to become set-up fodder unless it packs Dragon Dance. Dark Arceus’ Bug and Fighting counterparts deserve mention since they have super effective STABs, and the latter resists Dark Arceus’ Judgment. Heatran’s ability to use Taunt can prevent Dark Arceus from healing or boosting, and it can use powerful Fire Blasts to scare Dark Arceus away. Although most Dialga will have difficulties hurting Dark Arceus after a few Calm Minds, mixed variants can threaten with Brick Break and Bulk Up versions can boost alongside it. With their excellent Special Defense and powerful attacks, Ho-Oh and Calm Mind Kyogre will almost always defeat Dark Arceus in a one-on-one situation.</p>

<p>Without Refresh, Dark Arceus' great coverage will make it hard to switch into, although it will be quickly worn down by status and is vulnerable to stall. If Dark Arceus chooses to use Focus Blast, Blissey's unmatched defenses will let it absorb any attack and get a Toxic off to effectively cripple Dark Arceus. By extension, any Dark Arceus lacking Refresh is extremely susceptible to Toxic Spikes.</p>

Changes in bold and removals in red.

GP check 1.

 

[Iconic]

Made the necessary changes. Thanks jc104!

 

[jumpluff]

GP Check #2

check under here

[OVERVIEW]
<p>If one were to consider Arceus's best forms, it would be easy to disregard Dark due to the presence of Ghost Arceus. Granted, it's outclassed in the physical attacking department, but Dark Arceus excels at one thing that its Ghost counterpart cannot do: mono-attacking. Because Dark-type Judgment has great coverage, with nothing being immune to it, Dark Arceus can afford to pack an immensely useful support move in Refresh. As such, Dark Arceus becomes incredibly difficult to take down, and can easily ravage unsuspecting teams, even ones that pack the special walling behemoth Blissey. With its potent stallbreaking abilities and surprising bulk, Dark Arceus is a powerful threat that should not be underestimated.</p>

[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Judgment
move 3: Refresh / Focus Blast / Substitute
move 4: Recover
item: Dread Plate
evs: 100 HP / 100 Def / 100 SpA / 100 SpD / 100 Spe
nature: Timid

[SET COMMENTS]
<p>In a tier infested with Psychic-type Pokemon, Dark Arceus makes an excellent Calm Mind mono-attacker, as nothing is immune to its STAB Judgment, a move with solid coverage overall. With Calm Mind boosting its already stellar special stats, Refresh eliminating bothersome status, and Recover healing any damage it has sustained, Dark Arceus can be incredibly difficult to take down, especially for stall teams.</p>

<p>Not only do Dark-type Judgments hit many Ubers super effectively, but very few Pokemon commonly found in the tier resist the attack. Thanks to its great coverage, Dark Arceus can afford to eschew a secondary attack for a useful support move to help it set up. More often than not, this move should be Refresh, as it prevents Dark Arceus from being crippled by status. The Achilles' heel of most Calm Minders is status, specifically Toxic damage, and so Dark Arceus's ability to cleanse itself with Refresh greatly separates it from other Calm Mind sweepers. As previously mentioned, this specific Arceus excels at breaking stall teams. With Refresh removing poison from Toxic Spikes and Recover to heal residual damage, stall teams will struggle to defeat Dark Arceus. In addition, common stall team phazers such as Lugia and Groudon can't keep absorbing boosted Judgmentsas they use Whirlwind and Roar respectively. While Refresh gives Dark Arceus near-unparallelledunparalleled stallbreaking abilities, there are a few other feasible options, each with their pros and cons. If one feels an auxiliary attacking move is necessary, Focus Blast is the ideal choice for nearly perfect neutral coverage alongside Judgment, although Dark Arceus will have a much harder time breaking stall and staying alive in general. However, Focus Blast allows Dark Arceus to deal with its most common counters, including Tyranitar, Lucario, and Scizor. On the other hand, Substitute can block incoming status moves while also allowing Dark Arceus to scout switch-ins, but it's generally inferior to Refresh because it leaves Dark Arceus helpless against Toxic Spikes.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Although Dark Arceus's combination of bulk and power makes it a frightening offensive threat, it still has many solid counters. Scizor is without a doubt the number one Dark Arceus counter, as it's bulky enough to withstand even boosted Judgments, and can retaliate with its super effective STAB Bug-type attacks. While Tyranitar doesn't have a super effective STAB, its excellent Special Defense, resistance to Judgment, and ability to respond with Stone Edge or Dragon Dance make it a threat to any Dark Arceus lacking Focus Blast. Although he has poor defenses, Lucario possesses a 4x resistance to Judgment and has STAB Close Combat to dispatch Dark Arceus. Despite their scarcity in Ubers, Heracross and Infernape resist Judgment and have super effective STABs to force out or KO Dark Arceus outright. While the lack of common Bug- and Fighting-type attacks means Dark Arceus can often be difficult to take down, Bug Arceus and Fighting Arceus deserve mention as counters for their Dark counterpart due to their super effective STABs, especially the latter, as it resists Dark Arceus' Judgment. Heatran can be a nuisance because it can easily absorb Judgments and prevents Dark Arceus from boosting or recovering with Taunt. With their high Special Defense, Ho-Oh and Calm Mind Kyogre can withstand Dark Arceus's Judgments and retaliate with their devastating STABs. Ho-Oh is free to exploit Dark Arceus's unboosted Defense with either Brave Bird or Sacred Fire, while Kyogre will come out on top in a Calm Mind war with Dark Arceus assuming it has Rest. Although they'll have troubles breaking Dark Arceus after it has used a few Calm Minds, Darkrai and Dialga can switch in with near impunity, thanks to their resistance to Judgment, and can threaten Arceus with their Fighting-type attacks.</p>

<p>Without Focus Blast, Dark Arceus requires partners that are capable of eliminating the ubiquitous Steel-types found in Ubers. Giratina-O has fantastic synergy with Dark Arceus, resisting as it resists Fighting- and Bug-type attacks, and has no problem eradicating Steels with Hidden Power Fire provided that sunlight it is present. Speaking of which, a bulky Groudon can pair nicely with Dark Arceus, as it can easily deal with Scizor, Tyranitar, Lucario, and Heracross thanks to its immense physical bulk. It is also capable of setting up Stealth Rock, which Dark Arceus, like all sweepers, greatly appreciates. If one opts not to use Refresh, Forretress makes a good partner to eliminate Toxic Spikes that quickly wear Dark Arceus down; Forretress can also sponge Choice Dialga's Dragon-type attacks. Kyogre is a solid answer to Ho-Oh and Heatran, who both give Dark Arceus trouble, and Choice Scarf variants make excellent checks for any troublesome Darkrai, Heracross, or and Infernape.</p>

[TEAM OPTIONS]
<p>Although Dark Arceus is fairly self-sufficient thanks to Refresh and Recover, it needs some support to allow it to perform optimally. Like all sweepers, it appreciates Stealth Rock to help wear down its common counters. Not only can Deoxys-S set up Stealth Rock, but it is also the premier Spiker in Ubers, which can help Dark Arceus muscle its way past even its most sound counters. For instance, with Stealth Rock and three layers of Spikes, even Scizor is 2HKOed by a +1 Judgment. Groudon is another excellent choice to set up Stealth Rock, as it can also deal with most of Dark Arceus's counters, namely Scizor, Tyranitar, Lucario, and Heracross.</p>

<p>With Judgment as its only attack, Dark Arceus will inherently run into problems with Pokemon that resist Dark-type attacks. As such, having teammates who are capable of dealing with common Steel-, Dark- and Fighting-type Pokemon in Ubers will make Dark Arceus's job easier. As previously mentioned, Groudon can support Dark Arceus by setting up Stealth Rock and defeating nearly all of Dark Arceus's physically-inclined counters. Giratina-O resists or is immune to all of Dark Arceus's weaknesses, and can dispatch Steel-types with Hidden Power Fire. Kyogre pairs very well with Dark Arceus, especially Choice Scarf versions, as it can deal with a number of Dark Arceus's counters, including Ho-Oh, Heatran, Infernape, and Darkrai. Since Steels are the most common of the three aforementioned types, Magnezone is a decent option to trap and KO Pokemon like Scizor and Luacrio, but its utility is very situational.</p>

[OPTIONAL CHANGES]
<p>Other than Focus Blast and Substitute, there are very few other options for Dark Arceus to use. Flamethrower deserves mention as a secondary attack to roast any Scizor or Heracross bold enough to switch in, but it has fairly poor coverage, and it still leaves Dark Arceus walled by Heatran and Tyranitar. An entirely offensive Calm Mind set with Judgment / Focus Blast / Ice Beam hits the majority of Uber Pokemon super effectively, although it struggles with stall and does not make use of the excellent bulk Dark Arceus possesses. Any Swords Dance Dark Arceus set is discouraged due to the lack of a reliable physical STAB move; it is completely outclassed by its Ghost counterpart.</p>

[COUNTERS]
<p>Dark Arceus is extremely difficult to take down because its weaknesses are uncommon in Ubers, coupled with the fact that Refresh and Recover greatly increase its longevity. Even Pokemon who resist Judgment like Forretress will struggle to do any meaningful damage back to Dark Arceus; its most solid counters will resist Dark and threaten it back with powerful attacks.</p>

<p>Scizor and Lucario are among Dark Arceus's top counters, thanks to their resistance to Dark and their super effective STAB attacks. Although rare, Heracross resists Judgment and its dual STAB is super effective against Dark Arceus. Infernape also resists Judgment, and can threaten with Close Combat or U-turn. Tyranitar has excellent Special Defense and resists Judgment, although its lack of super effective attacks to damage Dark Arceus can cause it to become set-up fodder unless it packs Dragon Dance. Dark Arceus's Bug and Fighting counterparts deserve mention since they have super effective STABs, and the latter resists Dark Arceus's Judgment. Heatran's Taunt can prevent Dark Arceus from healing or boosting, and it can use powerful Fire Blasts to scare Dark Arceus away. Although most Dialga will have difficulties hurting Dark Arceus after a few Calm Minds, mixed variants can threaten with Brick Break and Bulk Up versions can boost alongside it. With their excellent Special Defense and powerful attacks, Ho-Oh and Calm Mind Kyogre will almost always defeat Dark Arceus in a one-on-one situation.</p>

<p>Without Refresh, Dark Arceus' great coverage will make it hard to switch into, although it will be quickly worn down by status and is vulnerable to stall. If Dark Arceus chooses to use Focus Blast, Blissey's unmatched defenses will let it absorb any attack and get a Toxic off to effectively cripple Dark Arceus. By extension, any Dark Arceus lacking Refresh is extremely susceptible to Toxic Spikes.</p>

I might've missed some, but on Smogon, the second-last item in a list has a comma after it. e.g. Blissey, Snorlax, and Tyranitar.

<333333 Now let's see an Ubers Happiny analysis~

OOPS I FORGOT

 

[iDunno]

Just a little Grammar nitpick: In many areas you refer to Dark-type Arceus as Dark Arceus. Doing this is inconsistent and somewhat clumsy, so I suggest you change it.

 

[Iconic]

Thank you jumpluff, I made all your changes!

Just a little Grammar nitpick: In many areas you refer to Dark-type Arceus as Dark Arceus. Doing this is inconsistent and somewhat clumsy, so I suggest you change it.

As far as I know, the convention for the Arceus analyses is to refer to the different forms as "*Insert Type Here* Arceus", which is why they are continually referred to as "Dark Arceus" or "Steel Arceus". If I'm wrong someone can tell me, but I'm fairly sure that's how we're meant to do it.

I guess this is ready to upload when the new Arceus pages are ready. Until then, anyone is free to point out nitpicky things for me to fix.

 

[firecape]

Thank you jumpluff, I made all your changes!


As far as I know, the convention for the Arceus analyses is to refer to the different forms as "*Insert Type Here* Arceus", which is why they are continually referred to as "Dark Arceus" or "Steel Arceus". If I'm wrong someone can tell me, but I'm fairly sure that's how we're meant to do it.

I guess this is ready to upload when the new Arceus pages are ready. Until then, anyone is free to point out nitpicky things for me to fix.

It was decided upon (and is in the current reservation thread) that it should be "Dark Arceus", you did it correctly.

 

[Oglemi]

The Overview needs moar epicness:

<p>The Creator lurks in the shadows with the attachment of the Dread Plate and lies in wait for prey to come by for Him to pounce on. The Master of the night's opaque Judgement crushes His abudant Psychic- and Ghost-type children that reside in the Uber tier. While the deity of terror is Himself scared witless by Bugs and Fighters, and cannot hope to scratch the hide of Steel clad Pokemon, the former two are rare in Ubers, and the latter are eradicated by a swift Focus Blast. The tenebrous One is also seemingly outclassed by its ectoplasmic counterpart, Ghost Arceus; however, nothing is immune to Dark Arceus's piercing Judgement. Cower in fear before the Master of horrors!</p>

EDIT: Also, epic necro-post ftw.