[OVERVIEW]
Arceus-Ground is one of the tier's most dangerous sweepers, exploiting the tier’s scarcity of Ground-type checks and the valuable offensive benefits of its Ground typing. Very few Pokemon in the tier can take its Earthquake and Stone Edge, making it a ferocious sweeper that can decimate many teams after a single Dragon Dance. Arceus-Ground is also a Ground-type sweeper that Ho-Oh, the most common Ground immunity and physical check, cannot check without Terastallization. However, the few Ground-type checks are among the best Pokemon in the tier, despite their scarcity, with Arceus-Water in particular being difficult for Arceus-Ground to get past. Phazing is also not uncommon in the tier, with Giratina-O, Arceus-Water, and Terastallized Ho-Oh being bulky enough to consistently phaze Arceus-Ground. Furthermore, because of Species Clause, Arceus-Ground's lack of bulk compared to other Arceus formes and the fact it cannot be used alongside Arceus-Fairy makes it incredibly difficult to justify using it outside of offense.
[SET]
Dragon Dance (Arceus-Ground) @ Earth Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 120 HP / 252 Atk / 136 Spe
Tera Type: Ground / Fire / Water
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Recover / Ice Beam / Taunt
[SET COMMENTS]
Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground is a dangerous sweeper and late-game cleaner for offense because of the limited amount of Pokemon that can take boosted Earthquake and Stone Edge. Stone Edge is needed to OHKO Ho-Oh and does good damage to Tera Flying Zacian-C. Recover gives Arceus-Ground additional longevity, letting it beat Landorus-T long-term and heal off damage that Koraidon, Zacian-C, defensive Arceus-Fairy, and Eternatus can do while Arceus-Ground sets up, letting it avoid revenge killing attempts. Ice Beam allows Arceus-Ground to threaten to OHKO Landorus-T, especially with Stealth Rock, easily allowing partners like Koraidon, Zacian-C, and Kingambit to run wild. Taunt denies phazing attempts from Pokemon that can take +1 Earthquake, most notably Roar Arceus-Water, Arceus-Fairy, and Terastallized Ho-Oh. Taunt also denies recovery attempts from these same Pokemon, allowing Arceus-Ground to overwhelm them for the benefit of its teammates, like Koraidon and Zacian-C. 136 Speed EVs allow Arceus-Ground to outspeed Choice Scarf Landorus-T at +1, Timid Kyogre without a boost, and +1 Koraidon at +2. Tera Ground allows Arceus-Ground to get KOs on bulky Pokemon that can otherwise survive boosted Earthquake, namely Koraidon and Terastallized Eternatus at +1 and Terastallized Ho-Oh at +2. Tera Ground also guarantees a 2HKO against defensive Arceus-Fairy and Arceus-Water with +1 Earthquake. Tera Fire gives Arceus-Ground a burn immunity and resistances to Fire, Steel, and Fairy, allowing it to set up more safely against Ho-Oh, Koraidon Choice-locked into Flare Blitz, and Zacian-C. Tera Water allows Arceus-Ground to set up on Zacian-C and Koraidon Choice-locked into Flare Blitz. Unlike Tera Fire, though, Tera Water's additional resistances to Water and Ice in conjunction with the lack of a Ground weakness allows Arceus-Ground to check and set up on Kyogre and Calyrex-I.
Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground only fits on offense, where it is a staple for its ability to offensively check Zacian-C and threaten or overwhelm physical checks like Landorus-T. Hyper offense also appreciates Arceus-Ground potentially being able to set up against defensive Arceus formes, like Fairy and Water, by utilizing its Thunder Wave immunity, access to Taunt, and possibility of Tera Fire's burn immunity. Arceus-Ground pairs very well with Koraidon and Zacian-C, as together they are able to overwhelm shared checks like Ho-Oh, Kyogre, defensive Arceus-Fairy, Arceus-Water, and Landorus-T. Arceus-Ground also enjoys the support of Ribombee, Glimmora, Deoxys-S, and Grimmsnarl, taking advantage of the entry hazards and dual screens they set to more easily set up and sweep. Special attackers like Eternatus and Lunala are also good partners, as they threaten checks to Arceus-Ground, like Arceus-Water, Landorus-T, and Giratina-O; punish revenge killing attempts from Koraidon and Kyogre; and appreciate Arceus-Ground’s ability to threaten or wear down their checks, like Ting-Lu, Ho-Oh, and Kingambit.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Tera Ghost can be used to avoid revenge killing attempts from Extreme Killer Arceus's Extreme Speed and Koraidon’s Low Kick, but this does not provide enough value to justify using it over Tera Fire, Ground, or Water.
Checks and Counters
====
**Giratina-O**: With its typing, Levitate, and great physical bulk, Giratina-O is the best check to Arceus-Ground in the tier, as it is able to take boosted Stone Edge with ease even with Stealth Rock. Giratina-O can even phaze Arceus-Ground with Dragon Tail, forcing it to take more damage when setting up. Tera Steel Giratina-O also fears nothing from Arceus-Ground and can phaze it endlessly. However, Giratina-O's lack of recovery means it cannot check Arceus-Ground long-term, especially Recover variants.
**Landorus-T**: Landorus-T is a good check to Arceus-Ground with its typing and access to Intimidate. However, it must be wary of Ice Beam or getting overwhelmed by repeated hits and Stealth Rock, especially if it is the most relied-upon check to Zacian-C. Furthermore, Landorus-T's disappointing power means that it cannot check Recover Arceus-Ground on its own.
**Phazing**: Giratina-O, Arceus-Water, Arceus-Fairy, Ting-Lu, and Terastallized Ho-Oh are bulky enough to take an attack from +1 Arceus-Ground and phaze it. However, Ting-Lu's lack of recovery means phazing Arceus-Ground opens it up to getting overwhelmed by Eternatus later on, and Ho-Oh's need to Terastallize to phaze Arceus-Ground can be exploited by Koraidon and Zacian-C. In addition, Taunt shuts down phazing from all of these except Giratina-O and Dragon Tail Arceus-Water.
**Water-types**: Bulky Kyogre and Arceus-Water are able to survive even +1 Tera Ground Earthquake. In response, Kyogre threatens to OHKO Arceus-Ground with Origin Pulse, though this can be thwarted by Tera Water, and Arceus-Water threatens to burn or phaze Arceus-Ground.
**Ice-types**: Calyrex-I can easily take any attack from +1 Arceus-Ground and threatens to set up Trick Room, OHKO it with Glacial Lance, or both. Kyurem-B and Chien-Pao are faster than unboosted Arceus-Ground and threaten it with their Ice-type moves. However, Calyrex-I struggles greatly against Tera Water, while Kyurem-B and Chien-Pao cannot check boosted Arceus-Ground.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/oreospeedruns.597293/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lana.374620/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/taka.595062/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/igiveuponaname.593115/
Last edited:
