[OVERVIEW]
Eternatus is a versatile Pokemon that is mostly used on passive balance and bulky offense teams due to its access to Toxic and Toxic Spikes. Thanks to its unique typing and great defensive stats, it is a reliable answer to Kyogre, Ho-Oh, Arceus-Water, and Arceus-Fairy and can absorb Toxic Spikes set by opposing Glimmora, Eternatus, and Gliscor. With the lack of good entry hazard control options and Poison-types, it can also quickly wear down opposing teams, often forcing them to use Tera Poison to remove Toxic Spikes. However, it is weak to other Dragon-types such as Miraidon and Koraidon because they can outspeed and OHKO it, and it typically struggles with Steel-types such as Zacian-C and Necrozma-DM, which can easily set up on it if it's lacking a Fire-type attack. Additionally, other strong physical attackers such as Calyrex-I and Arceus-Ground can force Eternatus out with their super effective STAB moves, so a lot of defensive support is necessary when running it.
[SET]
Specially Defensive (Eternatus) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Pressure
Tera Type: Fairy / Steel / Dark
EVs: 228 HP / 48 Def / 188 SpD / 44 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dynamax Cannon / Draco Meteor
- Recover
- Toxic
- Toxic Spikes / Fire Blast / Flamethrower
[SET COMMENTS]
Eternatus is an excellent blanket check to Kyogre, defensive Ho-Oh, Arceus-Water, and Arceus-Fairy that pressures opposing teams with Toxic Spikes and Toxic. Toxic Spikes is one of Eternatus's greatest assets, as it weakens the opposing defensive core and especially overwhelms hyper offense teams because it quickly chips down their sweepers due to them not having a way to remove it. Fire Blast or Flamethrower can be used instead to threaten Steel-types such as Zacian-C, Necrozma-DM, and Kingambit, (comma) with the former guaranteeing a 2HKO on Zacian-C and having a chance to OHKO it in sun and the latter providing more consistent damage at the cost of reduced firepower. However, this means dropping Toxic Spikes, (comma) which makes spreading poison much more difficult. Dynamax Cannon is Eternatus's preferred STAB move, (comma) but Draco Meteor can be run instead, trading consistency for the ability to OHKO both Koraidon and Miraidon. The given EV spread allows Eternatus to outspeed maximum Speed Kyogre and survive offensive Arceus-Ground's Earthquake from full HP. Tera Fairy allows Eternatus it to block Miraidon's Draco Meteor and Koraidon's Scale Shot or Outrage in an emergency but makes it more vulnerable to Steel-type attacks from Zacian-C and Kingambit and Flare Blitz from Koraidon. Tera Steel gives it valuable resistances to Kyogre's Ice Beam, Calyrex-I's Glacial Lance, Arceus's Extreme Speed, Arceus-Fairy's Judgment, and Psychic-type moves from Calyrex-S. Although, using Tera Steel makes Eternatus weak to Fire-type attacks such as Flare Blitz and Sacred Fire from Koraidon and Ho-Oh, respectively, as well as Koraidon's Low Kick and Zacian-C's Close Combat. Tera Dark is another option, albeit niche, that may be used to improve a team's matchup against Calyrex-S, (comma) but it makes Eternatus weak to Arceus-Fairy's Judgment and Koraidon's Low Kick. All three Tera types also reduce Eternatus's ability to check Kyogre and Ho-Oh, (comma) so the user must be wary before committing to Terastallizing.
Eternatus fits on more passive balance and bulky offense teams that appreciate its ability to act as both a Toxic Spikes absorber and spreader that can take on threats like Kyogre, Ho-Oh, Arceus-Water, and Arceus-Fairy. Koraidon and Miraidon are both excellent partners, as the former can threaten Steel-type Pokemon, and the latter helps to break bulky Ground-types such as Ting-Lu and Arceus-Ground. In return, Eternatus helps check Kyogre and puts their checks, such as bulky Arceus formes and Ting-Lu, on a timer with poison. They both also appreciate Eternatus's ability to soak up status effects, and Koraidon in particular enjoys Eternatus reliably switching into defensive Arceus formes like Arceus-Fairy and Ho-Oh. Eternatus is vulnerable to Koraidon and Miraidon, which force it out with strong Dragon-type attacks, so Pokemon that can check them such as Ho-Oh, Arceus-Fairy, and Ting-Lu also make good teammates. Ting-Lu also helps Eternatus by switching into Calyrex-S, which can deal massive damage to Eternatus with its Psychic-type moves or lock it into Toxic Spikes or Recover via Encore. If Eternatus isn't running Fire Blast or Flamethrower, it is incapable of hitting Steel-types like Zacian-C, Necrozma-DM, and Kingambit, so Ground-types that force them out like Arceus-Ground and Landorus-T are also recommended. Arceus-Water can check the aforementioned Steel-types and Koraidon, as well as switching into Calyrex-I, Arceus-Ground, and Extreme Killer Arceus. Arceus helps to check Calyrex-S and benefits from Eternatus weakening the opposing defensive structure so it can clean up late-game. Eternatus also struggles with Hatterene, as it blocks Toxic and Toxic Spikes and is immune to Dynamax Cannon, so Pokemon that can beat Hatterene like Ho-Oh and Arceus-Ground are appreciated. Although, Fire Blast under sun can 2HKO Hatterene. Setup sweepers like Scale Shot Koraidon, Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground, and Swords Dance Zacian-C can easily force Eternatus out and set up on it, so reliable checks to them like defensive Arceus-Fairy and Arceus-Water are recommended.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gigabytes7.660324/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adhi.631210/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/swas.487990/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rose.511181/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Life Orb Eternatus can be a decent wallbreaker, but it is easily chipped down by the combination of recoil from Life Orb and entry hazard damage, and despite running Life Orb, it's unable to do good damage to Ting-Lu. Reflect can be used in conjunction with Toxic to allow Eternatus to beat Ting-Lu, offensive Ho-Oh, and Extreme Killer Arceus one-on-one, and it can also help Eternatus's teammates take hits better. Other attacks like Sludge Bomb to threaten Hatterene and Arceus-Fairy and Shadow Ball to more immediately threaten Calyrex-S can also be used. Haban Berry + Draco Meteor can also be helpful to let Eternatus survive an Outrage or Draco Meteor from Koraidon or Miraidon and OHKO it back without any investment, but this leaves Eternatus vulnerable to Spikes. Dragon Tail can be used to phaze anything that tries setting up on Eternatus like Tera Poison Calm Mind Kyogre or Arceus-Fairy. Fire Spin is sometimes used to trap walls such as Blissey and bulky Arceus formes as well as Kyogre Choice-locked into a move like Ice Beam against Tera Steel Eternatus, but both Dragon Tail and Fire Spin are incredibly niche options, as they do not get many opportunities to be used. Most of the aforementioned options also require dropping Toxic Spikes, which is much more valuable in most scenarios.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Tera Poison Users**: Tera Poison on Ting-Lu and defensive Arceus formes gives them an immunity to Toxic and Toxic Spikes, making it difficult to spread poison and break through teams, as they remove Toxic Spikes and take very little damage from Dynamax Cannon. Calm Mind Kyogre likes to run Tera Poison in conjunction with Thunder Wave to use Eternatus as setup fodder. Calm Mind Arceus-Fairy can similarly turn Eternatus into setup fodder by running this Tera type.
**Steel-types**: Without Fire Blast or Flamethrower, Eternatus is walled by Steel-types such as Zacian-C, Necrozma-DM, and Kingambit, as they take little to no damage from Dynamax Cannon and are immune to poison.
**Dragon-types**: Faster Dragon-types like Miraidon and Koraidon can easily threaten and force out Eternatus with their powerful Dragon-type attacks but are unable to safely switch into it.
**Ground-type Coverage**: Earthquake from offensive Ho-Oh, Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground, and Ting-Lu as well as Ground-type Judgment from the aforementioned Arceus-Ground can threaten Eternatus for large amounts of damage and force it out.
**Calyrex-S**: Calyrex-S can threatren Eternatus with its powerful Psychic-type attacks or lock it into Toxic Spikes or Recover with Encore and can threaten to sweep if not dealt with properly.
**Calyrex-I**: Calyrex-I can OHKO Eternatus with Glacial Lance and become extremely threatening if it sets up Trick Room.
**Hatterene**: Hatterene is able to completely wall Eternatus by blocking status moves, bouncing back Toxic Spikes, and being immune to Dynamax Cannon; it can also paralyze Eternatus with Nuzzle but must be wary of coverage like Sludge Bomb or sun-boosted Fire-type attacks.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gigabytes7.660324/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adhi.631210/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/swas.487990/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rose.511181/
Eternatus is a versatile Pokemon that is mostly used on passive balance and bulky offense teams due to its access to Toxic and Toxic Spikes. Thanks to its unique typing and great defensive stats, it is a reliable answer to Kyogre, Ho-Oh, Arceus-Water, and Arceus-Fairy and can absorb Toxic Spikes set by opposing Glimmora, Eternatus, and Gliscor. With the lack of good entry hazard control options and Poison-types, it can also quickly wear down opposing teams, often forcing them to use Tera Poison to remove Toxic Spikes. However, it is weak to other Dragon-types such as Miraidon and Koraidon because they can outspeed and OHKO it, and it typically struggles with Steel-types such as Zacian-C and Necrozma-DM, which can easily set up on it if it's lacking a Fire-type attack. Additionally, other strong physical attackers such as Calyrex-I and Arceus-Ground can force Eternatus out with their super effective STAB moves, so a lot of defensive support is necessary when running it.
[SET]
Specially Defensive (Eternatus) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Pressure
Tera Type: Fairy / Steel / Dark
EVs: 228 HP / 48 Def / 188 SpD / 44 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dynamax Cannon / Draco Meteor
- Recover
- Toxic
- Toxic Spikes / Fire Blast / Flamethrower
[SET COMMENTS]
Eternatus is an excellent blanket check to Kyogre, defensive Ho-Oh, Arceus-Water, and Arceus-Fairy that pressures opposing teams with Toxic Spikes and Toxic. Toxic Spikes is one of Eternatus's greatest assets, as it weakens the opposing defensive core and especially overwhelms hyper offense teams because it quickly chips down their sweepers due to them not having a way to remove it. Fire Blast or Flamethrower can be used instead to threaten Steel-types such as Zacian-C, Necrozma-DM, and Kingambit, (comma) with the former guaranteeing a 2HKO on Zacian-C and having a chance to OHKO it in sun and the latter providing more consistent damage at the cost of reduced firepower. However, this means dropping Toxic Spikes, (comma) which makes spreading poison much more difficult. Dynamax Cannon is Eternatus's preferred STAB move, (comma) but Draco Meteor can be run instead, trading consistency for the ability to OHKO both Koraidon and Miraidon. The given EV spread allows Eternatus to outspeed maximum Speed Kyogre and survive offensive Arceus-Ground's Earthquake from full HP. Tera Fairy allows Eternatus it to block Miraidon's Draco Meteor and Koraidon's Scale Shot or Outrage in an emergency but makes it more vulnerable to Steel-type attacks from Zacian-C and Kingambit and Flare Blitz from Koraidon. Tera Steel gives it valuable resistances to Kyogre's Ice Beam, Calyrex-I's Glacial Lance, Arceus's Extreme Speed, Arceus-Fairy's Judgment, and Psychic-type moves from Calyrex-S. Although, using Tera Steel makes Eternatus weak to Fire-type attacks such as Flare Blitz and Sacred Fire from Koraidon and Ho-Oh, respectively, as well as Koraidon's Low Kick and Zacian-C's Close Combat. Tera Dark is another option, albeit niche, that may be used to improve a team's matchup against Calyrex-S, (comma) but it makes Eternatus weak to Arceus-Fairy's Judgment and Koraidon's Low Kick. All three Tera types also reduce Eternatus's ability to check Kyogre and Ho-Oh, (comma) so the user must be wary before committing to Terastallizing.
Eternatus fits on more passive balance and bulky offense teams that appreciate its ability to act as both a Toxic Spikes absorber and spreader that can take on threats like Kyogre, Ho-Oh, Arceus-Water, and Arceus-Fairy. Koraidon and Miraidon are both excellent partners, as the former can threaten Steel-type Pokemon, and the latter helps to break bulky Ground-types such as Ting-Lu and Arceus-Ground. In return, Eternatus helps check Kyogre and puts their checks, such as bulky Arceus formes and Ting-Lu, on a timer with poison. They both also appreciate Eternatus's ability to soak up status effects, and Koraidon in particular enjoys Eternatus reliably switching into defensive Arceus formes like Arceus-Fairy and Ho-Oh. Eternatus is vulnerable to Koraidon and Miraidon, which force it out with strong Dragon-type attacks, so Pokemon that can check them such as Ho-Oh, Arceus-Fairy, and Ting-Lu also make good teammates. Ting-Lu also helps Eternatus by switching into Calyrex-S, which can deal massive damage to Eternatus with its Psychic-type moves or lock it into Toxic Spikes or Recover via Encore. If Eternatus isn't running Fire Blast or Flamethrower, it is incapable of hitting Steel-types like Zacian-C, Necrozma-DM, and Kingambit, so Ground-types that force them out like Arceus-Ground and Landorus-T are also recommended. Arceus-Water can check the aforementioned Steel-types and Koraidon, as well as switching into Calyrex-I, Arceus-Ground, and Extreme Killer Arceus. Arceus helps to check Calyrex-S and benefits from Eternatus weakening the opposing defensive structure so it can clean up late-game. Eternatus also struggles with Hatterene, as it blocks Toxic and Toxic Spikes and is immune to Dynamax Cannon, so Pokemon that can beat Hatterene like Ho-Oh and Arceus-Ground are appreciated. Although, Fire Blast under sun can 2HKO Hatterene. Setup sweepers like Scale Shot Koraidon, Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground, and Swords Dance Zacian-C can easily force Eternatus out and set up on it, so reliable checks to them like defensive Arceus-Fairy and Arceus-Water are recommended.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gigabytes7.660324/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adhi.631210/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/swas.487990/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rose.511181/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Life Orb Eternatus can be a decent wallbreaker, but it is easily chipped down by the combination of recoil from Life Orb and entry hazard damage, and despite running Life Orb, it's unable to do good damage to Ting-Lu. Reflect can be used in conjunction with Toxic to allow Eternatus to beat Ting-Lu, offensive Ho-Oh, and Extreme Killer Arceus one-on-one, and it can also help Eternatus's teammates take hits better. Other attacks like Sludge Bomb to threaten Hatterene and Arceus-Fairy and Shadow Ball to more immediately threaten Calyrex-S can also be used. Haban Berry + Draco Meteor can also be helpful to let Eternatus survive an Outrage or Draco Meteor from Koraidon or Miraidon and OHKO it back without any investment, but this leaves Eternatus vulnerable to Spikes. Dragon Tail can be used to phaze anything that tries setting up on Eternatus like Tera Poison Calm Mind Kyogre or Arceus-Fairy. Fire Spin is sometimes used to trap walls such as Blissey and bulky Arceus formes as well as Kyogre Choice-locked into a move like Ice Beam against Tera Steel Eternatus, but both Dragon Tail and Fire Spin are incredibly niche options, as they do not get many opportunities to be used. Most of the aforementioned options also require dropping Toxic Spikes, which is much more valuable in most scenarios.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Tera Poison Users**: Tera Poison on Ting-Lu and defensive Arceus formes gives them an immunity to Toxic and Toxic Spikes, making it difficult to spread poison and break through teams, as they remove Toxic Spikes and take very little damage from Dynamax Cannon. Calm Mind Kyogre likes to run Tera Poison in conjunction with Thunder Wave to use Eternatus as setup fodder. Calm Mind Arceus-Fairy can similarly turn Eternatus into setup fodder by running this Tera type.
**Steel-types**: Without Fire Blast or Flamethrower, Eternatus is walled by Steel-types such as Zacian-C, Necrozma-DM, and Kingambit, as they take little to no damage from Dynamax Cannon and are immune to poison.
**Dragon-types**: Faster Dragon-types like Miraidon and Koraidon can easily threaten and force out Eternatus with their powerful Dragon-type attacks but are unable to safely switch into it.
**Ground-type Coverage**: Earthquake from offensive Ho-Oh, Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground, and Ting-Lu as well as Ground-type Judgment from the aforementioned Arceus-Ground can threaten Eternatus for large amounts of damage and force it out.
**Calyrex-S**: Calyrex-S can threatren Eternatus with its powerful Psychic-type attacks or lock it into Toxic Spikes or Recover with Encore and can threaten to sweep if not dealt with properly.
**Calyrex-I**: Calyrex-I can OHKO Eternatus with Glacial Lance and become extremely threatening if it sets up Trick Room.
**Hatterene**: Hatterene is able to completely wall Eternatus by blocking status moves, bouncing back Toxic Spikes, and being immune to Dynamax Cannon; it can also paralyze Eternatus with Nuzzle but must be wary of coverage like Sludge Bomb or sun-boosted Fire-type attacks.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gigabytes7.660324/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adhi.631210/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/swas.487990/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rose.511181/
Last edited:
