nv I'll be taking Arceus ghost now; also, please remove Kyurem-B from analysis list.
E: QC [2/2] GP [1/1]
Overview
Arceus-Ghost's great defensive typing lets it check top metagame picks such as Pheromosa and leaves it with few exploitable weaknesses; its high defensive stats give it many chances to set up or recover health. Arceus-Ghost's great movepool lets it run multiple sets effectively, which means that it partners well with other physical sweepers thanks to its ability to destroy walls with the powerful Neverending Nightmare. Arceus-Ghost also has a decent Speed tier that lets it outspeed many unboosted threats. However, a reliance on multi-turn and single-use moves leaves the offensive set extremely vulnerable to skilled predictions, and its lack of multiple solid resistances prevents it from having any truly great matchups.
Swords Dance
Arceus-Ghost @ Ghostium Z
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Shadow Force
- Swords Dance
- Extreme Speed
- Earthquake
Set Comments
Moves
Shadow Force is Arceus-Ghost's most powerful STAB move, hitting anything that doesn't resist for solid damage on the second turn and boosting Neverending Nightmare to an amazing 190 Base Power. Neverending Nightmare is Arceus-Ghost's most powerful attack, allowing it to KO bulky Pokemon such as Zapdos and Ghost-resistant Pokemon such as offensive Yveltal at +2. Swords Dance boosts Arceus-Ghost's Attack, allowing it to deal heavy damage to the entire metagame, and Extreme Speed picks off weakened or frail threats such as Pheromosa while letting Arceus-Ghost chip Pokemon such as Genesect and Dragonite. Earthquake hits Primal Groudon and deals decent damage to most Normal-type Pokemon. Brick Break is an alternate option to hit Pokemon such as Blissey harder but has less overall use.
Set Details
252 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature allow Arceus-Ghost to Speed tie with other Arceus formes as well as outpace many slower threats such as Hoopa-U, Lucarionite Tapu Lele, and Pinsirite Genesect. 252 Attack EVs maximize Arceus-Ghost's damage output and ensure it hits as hard as possible. 4 Defense EVs ensure that Genesect's Download boosts its Special Attack, decreasing the damage dealt by its Extreme Speed, and Ghostium Z allows Arceus-Ghost to turn Shadow Force into a powerful Neverending Nightmare with which it can wallbreak.
Usage Tips
Be careful when using Neverending Nightmare, as it has only 1 PP and is required for Arceus-Ghost to take on walls such as Zapdos. While Arceus-Ghost is an excellent Pheromosa check, be cautious switching it in, as it can be easily worn down by U-turn and entry hazards. Keep Arceus-Ghost from taking chip damage wherever possible, as while it is bulky, it needs all the setup opportunities it can get. It is generally efficacious to save Arceus-Ghost for the late-game so it can pull a clean sweep, but if you have other sweepers available, do not hesitate to use Arceus-Ghost to break holes in the opponent's team. When feasible, remove Normal-type Pokemon before attempting to sweep, as they can block Neverending Nightmare and take advantage of Shadow Force's charge turn to cripple Arceus-Ghost.
Team Options
Mega Gengar is a great teammate for Arceus-Ghost, as it can trap and KO annoying Normal-type Pokemon such as Blissey. Attackers that appreciate Arceus-Ghost checking Pheromosa, such as Kartana and Manaphy, also enjoy having it as a partner; in return, they can wear down bulky walls. Fairy-type Pokemon like Xerneas and Tapu Lele are handy to take on bulky Dark-type Pokemon, especially Yveltal and Mandibuzz, that try to wall Arceus-Ghost. Status clearers and absorbers, such as Blissey and Manaphy, pair well with Arceus-Ghost to discourage and cure burns. Other physical attackers such as Dragonite are helpful to wear down shared checks and counters such as Mandibuzz.
Support Arceus
Arceus-Ghost @ Spooky Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
- Judgment
- Recover
- Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
- Defog / Focus Blast
Set Comments
Moves
Judgment is Arceus-Ghost's most powerful special STAB move, dealing decent damage to most of the metagame. Recover restores Arceus-Ghost's HP, keeping it healthy throughout the match to check Pokemon such as Dragonite and Extreme Killer Arceus. Will-O-Wisp allows Arceus-Ghost to cripple physical attackers such as Garchomp and Lucario, preventing them from taking out Arceus-Ghost with their powerful attacks. Toxic, meanwhile, puts foes on a timer and allows Arceus-Ghost to take on other support Arceus forms. Defog removes entry hazards from the field, allowing Arceus-Ghost's teammates to freely pivot and preserving Multiscale on Dragonite or Lugia, while Focus Blast allows Arceus-Ghost to hit the Normal-type Pokemon such as Extreme Killer Arceus that are immune to Judgment as well dealing more damage to Steel- and Rock-type Pokemon.
Set Details
248 HP EVs alongside 244 Defense EVs and a Bold nature improve Arceus-Ghost's defensive prowess, allowing it to wall most physical attackers; the HP investment also provides a status and entry hazards number. Defense investment is used over Special Defense to better let Arceus-Ghost check common attackers such as Dragonite. 16 Speed EVs allow Arceus-Ghost to outspeed fully invested neutral-natured base 90 Speed Pokemon, particularly Primal Groudon.
Usage Tips
In the early-game, Arceus-Ghost should attempt to spread status as much as possible to wear down the opposing teams and hopefully cripple switch-ins before they Mega Evolve with Sablenite and obtain Magic Bounce. Use this Pokemon to aggressively switch and remove entry hazards, as it beats most setters and has difficulty switching in on the Pokemon it wants to check with them up. Once Arceus-Ghost's type is revealed, it acts as a deterrent for High Jump Kick throughout the game, so it may be advantageous not to bring it in on Pheromosa and thus avoid losing momentum to U-turn. While Arceus-Ghost is weak to Dark-type attacks, access to Will-O-Wisp allows it to cripple most Pursuit trappers such as Alolan Muk, so it doesn't need to greatly fear them coming in. Judgment can OHKO some frail attackers, particularly Kartana and Pheromosa, so don't bother crippling them with Will-O-Wisp.
Team Options
Dark-type switch-ins such as Mandibuzz and Togekiss are handy to prevent them from knocking out Arceus-Ghost; Alolan Muk is particularly useful due to its ability to trap Hoopa-U with Pursuit. Status answers such as Blissey and Togekiss are helpful to increase Arceus-Ghost's longevity and punish Toxic spam. Ghost-type answers such as Alolan Muk and Blissey are handy to take on Pokemon such as Lunala and offensive Arceus-Ghost for this set, as they hit it for massive damage. Fighting-type Pokemon such as Terrakion and Keldeo pair well with Arceus-Ghost, as it struggles greatly with Blissey.
Strategy Comments
Other Options
Stealth Rock may be run over Defog on the support set should entry hazard removal be available elsewhere, but Stealth Rock setters are generally more common than Defoggers. A Calm Mind set with Judgment and Recover can be used as a sweeper thanks to the excellent coverage granted by Ghost- and Fighting-type attacks, but it hits little super effectively. Ice Beam on the support set may be used to better check Dragonite, while Recover may be run on the offensive set to allow for more setup opportunities, but the loss of coverage or priority is a major downside. Spooky Plate on the Swords Dance set allows for another Z-Move on the team, but there are few other viable users and Arceus-Ghost greatly appreciates the extra power. Shadow Claw over Shadow Force is a niche option to prevent the foe from pivoting between immunities, but the loss of power is extremely noticeable in wallbreaking and Neverending Nightmare. Stone Edge is an option on the Swords Dance set to hit Mandibuzz and Yveltal, but does not beat either without Stealth Rock or chip damage and is thus suboptimal.
Checks and Counters
Normal-type Pokemon: Normal-type Pokemon such as Arceus are immune to Shadow Force, Judgment, and Neverending Nightmare, restricting Arceus-Ghost to weaker coverage options. In particular, Shadow Force's charge turn allows them to either gain a free turn or switch in without needing prediction.
Dark-type Pokemon: Dark-type Pokemon such as Yveltal and Mandibuzz resist Arceus-Ghost's STAB moves, allowing them to switch in and use their powerful Dark-type STAB moves to KO Arceus-Ghost. Some of them can be taken out by a +2 Neverending Nightmare, however, so they must be careful.
Faster Attackers: Faster Pokemon not vulnerable to Extreme Speed such as Mega Gengar, Tapu Lele, and Kartana can move before weakened Arceus-Ghost and take it out before it can react. While they cannot switch in and chip damage is often required to KO, they cut short Arceus-Ghost's sweep with no counterplay bar switching.
Bulky Walls: Extremely bulky neutral walls such as Skarmory, Zapdos, and Hippowdon can live even +2 attacks and either phaze or status Arceus-Ghost. The defensive set often cannot touch them as well, and the common Sablenite will reflect its status. Should they not carry that or not have Mega Evolved, however, they must beware Toxic or Will-O-Wisp, and some will fall prey to the sheer power of offensive sets.
Status: Status cripples Arceus-Ghost, preventing it from doing its job. A burn on the offensive set prevents it from KOing any answers, while Toxic puts both sets on a timer and damages their effectiveness. Paralysis, meanwhile, ruins the excellent Speed tier Arceus-Ghost possesses and prevents it from reliably recovering off health.
E: QC [2/2] GP [1/1]
Overview
Arceus-Ghost's great defensive typing lets it check top metagame picks such as Pheromosa and leaves it with few exploitable weaknesses; its high defensive stats give it many chances to set up or recover health. Arceus-Ghost's great movepool lets it run multiple sets effectively, which means that it partners well with other physical sweepers thanks to its ability to destroy walls with the powerful Neverending Nightmare. Arceus-Ghost also has a decent Speed tier that lets it outspeed many unboosted threats. However, a reliance on multi-turn and single-use moves leaves the offensive set extremely vulnerable to skilled predictions, and its lack of multiple solid resistances prevents it from having any truly great matchups.
Swords Dance
Arceus-Ghost @ Ghostium Z
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Shadow Force
- Swords Dance
- Extreme Speed
- Earthquake
Set Comments
Moves
Shadow Force is Arceus-Ghost's most powerful STAB move, hitting anything that doesn't resist for solid damage on the second turn and boosting Neverending Nightmare to an amazing 190 Base Power. Neverending Nightmare is Arceus-Ghost's most powerful attack, allowing it to KO bulky Pokemon such as Zapdos and Ghost-resistant Pokemon such as offensive Yveltal at +2. Swords Dance boosts Arceus-Ghost's Attack, allowing it to deal heavy damage to the entire metagame, and Extreme Speed picks off weakened or frail threats such as Pheromosa while letting Arceus-Ghost chip Pokemon such as Genesect and Dragonite. Earthquake hits Primal Groudon and deals decent damage to most Normal-type Pokemon. Brick Break is an alternate option to hit Pokemon such as Blissey harder but has less overall use.
Set Details
252 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature allow Arceus-Ghost to Speed tie with other Arceus formes as well as outpace many slower threats such as Hoopa-U, Lucarionite Tapu Lele, and Pinsirite Genesect. 252 Attack EVs maximize Arceus-Ghost's damage output and ensure it hits as hard as possible. 4 Defense EVs ensure that Genesect's Download boosts its Special Attack, decreasing the damage dealt by its Extreme Speed, and Ghostium Z allows Arceus-Ghost to turn Shadow Force into a powerful Neverending Nightmare with which it can wallbreak.
Usage Tips
Be careful when using Neverending Nightmare, as it has only 1 PP and is required for Arceus-Ghost to take on walls such as Zapdos. While Arceus-Ghost is an excellent Pheromosa check, be cautious switching it in, as it can be easily worn down by U-turn and entry hazards. Keep Arceus-Ghost from taking chip damage wherever possible, as while it is bulky, it needs all the setup opportunities it can get. It is generally efficacious to save Arceus-Ghost for the late-game so it can pull a clean sweep, but if you have other sweepers available, do not hesitate to use Arceus-Ghost to break holes in the opponent's team. When feasible, remove Normal-type Pokemon before attempting to sweep, as they can block Neverending Nightmare and take advantage of Shadow Force's charge turn to cripple Arceus-Ghost.
Team Options
Mega Gengar is a great teammate for Arceus-Ghost, as it can trap and KO annoying Normal-type Pokemon such as Blissey. Attackers that appreciate Arceus-Ghost checking Pheromosa, such as Kartana and Manaphy, also enjoy having it as a partner; in return, they can wear down bulky walls. Fairy-type Pokemon like Xerneas and Tapu Lele are handy to take on bulky Dark-type Pokemon, especially Yveltal and Mandibuzz, that try to wall Arceus-Ghost. Status clearers and absorbers, such as Blissey and Manaphy, pair well with Arceus-Ghost to discourage and cure burns. Other physical attackers such as Dragonite are helpful to wear down shared checks and counters such as Mandibuzz.
Support Arceus
Arceus-Ghost @ Spooky Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
- Judgment
- Recover
- Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
- Defog / Focus Blast
Set Comments
Moves
Judgment is Arceus-Ghost's most powerful special STAB move, dealing decent damage to most of the metagame. Recover restores Arceus-Ghost's HP, keeping it healthy throughout the match to check Pokemon such as Dragonite and Extreme Killer Arceus. Will-O-Wisp allows Arceus-Ghost to cripple physical attackers such as Garchomp and Lucario, preventing them from taking out Arceus-Ghost with their powerful attacks. Toxic, meanwhile, puts foes on a timer and allows Arceus-Ghost to take on other support Arceus forms. Defog removes entry hazards from the field, allowing Arceus-Ghost's teammates to freely pivot and preserving Multiscale on Dragonite or Lugia, while Focus Blast allows Arceus-Ghost to hit the Normal-type Pokemon such as Extreme Killer Arceus that are immune to Judgment as well dealing more damage to Steel- and Rock-type Pokemon.
Set Details
248 HP EVs alongside 244 Defense EVs and a Bold nature improve Arceus-Ghost's defensive prowess, allowing it to wall most physical attackers; the HP investment also provides a status and entry hazards number. Defense investment is used over Special Defense to better let Arceus-Ghost check common attackers such as Dragonite. 16 Speed EVs allow Arceus-Ghost to outspeed fully invested neutral-natured base 90 Speed Pokemon, particularly Primal Groudon.
Usage Tips
In the early-game, Arceus-Ghost should attempt to spread status as much as possible to wear down the opposing teams and hopefully cripple switch-ins before they Mega Evolve with Sablenite and obtain Magic Bounce. Use this Pokemon to aggressively switch and remove entry hazards, as it beats most setters and has difficulty switching in on the Pokemon it wants to check with them up. Once Arceus-Ghost's type is revealed, it acts as a deterrent for High Jump Kick throughout the game, so it may be advantageous not to bring it in on Pheromosa and thus avoid losing momentum to U-turn. While Arceus-Ghost is weak to Dark-type attacks, access to Will-O-Wisp allows it to cripple most Pursuit trappers such as Alolan Muk, so it doesn't need to greatly fear them coming in. Judgment can OHKO some frail attackers, particularly Kartana and Pheromosa, so don't bother crippling them with Will-O-Wisp.
Team Options
Dark-type switch-ins such as Mandibuzz and Togekiss are handy to prevent them from knocking out Arceus-Ghost; Alolan Muk is particularly useful due to its ability to trap Hoopa-U with Pursuit. Status answers such as Blissey and Togekiss are helpful to increase Arceus-Ghost's longevity and punish Toxic spam. Ghost-type answers such as Alolan Muk and Blissey are handy to take on Pokemon such as Lunala and offensive Arceus-Ghost for this set, as they hit it for massive damage. Fighting-type Pokemon such as Terrakion and Keldeo pair well with Arceus-Ghost, as it struggles greatly with Blissey.
Strategy Comments
Other Options
Stealth Rock may be run over Defog on the support set should entry hazard removal be available elsewhere, but Stealth Rock setters are generally more common than Defoggers. A Calm Mind set with Judgment and Recover can be used as a sweeper thanks to the excellent coverage granted by Ghost- and Fighting-type attacks, but it hits little super effectively. Ice Beam on the support set may be used to better check Dragonite, while Recover may be run on the offensive set to allow for more setup opportunities, but the loss of coverage or priority is a major downside. Spooky Plate on the Swords Dance set allows for another Z-Move on the team, but there are few other viable users and Arceus-Ghost greatly appreciates the extra power. Shadow Claw over Shadow Force is a niche option to prevent the foe from pivoting between immunities, but the loss of power is extremely noticeable in wallbreaking and Neverending Nightmare. Stone Edge is an option on the Swords Dance set to hit Mandibuzz and Yveltal, but does not beat either without Stealth Rock or chip damage and is thus suboptimal.
Checks and Counters
Normal-type Pokemon: Normal-type Pokemon such as Arceus are immune to Shadow Force, Judgment, and Neverending Nightmare, restricting Arceus-Ghost to weaker coverage options. In particular, Shadow Force's charge turn allows them to either gain a free turn or switch in without needing prediction.
Dark-type Pokemon: Dark-type Pokemon such as Yveltal and Mandibuzz resist Arceus-Ghost's STAB moves, allowing them to switch in and use their powerful Dark-type STAB moves to KO Arceus-Ghost. Some of them can be taken out by a +2 Neverending Nightmare, however, so they must be careful.
Faster Attackers: Faster Pokemon not vulnerable to Extreme Speed such as Mega Gengar, Tapu Lele, and Kartana can move before weakened Arceus-Ghost and take it out before it can react. While they cannot switch in and chip damage is often required to KO, they cut short Arceus-Ghost's sweep with no counterplay bar switching.
Bulky Walls: Extremely bulky neutral walls such as Skarmory, Zapdos, and Hippowdon can live even +2 attacks and either phaze or status Arceus-Ghost. The defensive set often cannot touch them as well, and the common Sablenite will reflect its status. Should they not carry that or not have Mega Evolved, however, they must beware Toxic or Will-O-Wisp, and some will fall prey to the sheer power of offensive sets.
Status: Status cripples Arceus-Ghost, preventing it from doing its job. A burn on the offensive set prevents it from KOing any answers, while Toxic puts both sets on a timer and damages their effectiveness. Paralysis, meanwhile, ruins the excellent Speed tier Arceus-Ghost possesses and prevents it from reliably recovering off health.
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