[OVERVIEW]
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Judgement
move 2: Defog
move 3: Recover
move 4: Toxic
item: Draco Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 132 Def / 124 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Checks and Counters
===================
**Shadow Tag**: Mega Gengar can trap and easily remove Arceus-Dragon with a Hex or Destiny Bond, although it must be wary of Arceus-Dragon's powerful STAB Judgement. Wobbufet can Encore Arceus-Dragon into one of its status movves and switch out to give set up fodder to one of its teammates.
**Fairy-types**: Arceus-Dragon can barely touch most Fairy-types. Magearna isn't hit by Toxic due to its Steel-typing and Clefable can heal it off with Heal Bell, making Arceus-Dragon's primary form of attacking fairy-types useless against both. Xerneas, especially its Z-Geomancy set can easily set up on Arceus-Dragon. Arceus-Fairy can also set up on Arceus-Dragon. Tapu Lele can also easily brea through Arceus-Dragon withy its powerful STAB.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types resist Judgment and are immune to Toxic, making them extremely difficult to deal with. Mega Lucario, Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, Celesteela, and Skarmory in particular can be quite troublesome.
**Bulky Sweepers**: Although Arceus-Dragon can hit them with Toxic, sweepers such as Arceus, Xerneas, and even Double Dance Primal Groudon can use Arceus-Dragon as setup bait and sweep.
**Blissey and Chansey**: Blissey and Chansey can both absorb Arceus-Dragon's Judgement and heal off Toxic with Heal Bell, plus they can also Toxic Arceus-Dragon.
**Primal Kyogre**: Primal Kyogre can use Arceus-Dragon as setup fodder and deal heavy damage with Ice Beam, although one not carrying Rest can be taken care of with Toxic to an extent.
**Cloyster**: Cloyster can set up hazards on Arceus-Dragon, while Arceus-Dragon cannot safely Defog in fear of Icicle Spear. However, Cloyster cannot safely switch in due to fear of Judgment or Toxic breaking its Focus Sash.
**Revenge Killers**: Mewtwo, Deoxys-A, and Tapu Lele can all revenge kill Arceus-Dragon, although the former two can't hard switch in in fear of Toxic or Judgement.
- Arceus-Dragon's great bulk, decent defensive typing, and access to excellent support moves such as Defog, Toxic, and Will-O-Wisp, make it a great bulky support Pokemon.
- Despite having a similar role to Arceus-Water, Arceus-Dragon has the bonus of being able to hit Primal Groudon and Salamence hard in only one moveslot.
- Arceus-Dragon's ability to fulfill a similar role as Arceus-Water without giving up STAB or coverage lets it carve out a niche over Arceus-Water in general.
- But despite this, Arceus-Water is still often chosen instead of Arceus-Dragon because Arceus-Dragon stacks weaknesses with common Dragon- and Dark-types, namely Giratina-O, Mega Salamence, Zygarde-C, Yveltal, and Mega Sabeleye.
- Bulkier Pokemon such as Arceus-Ground, Zygarde-C, and Giratina-O also give Arceus-Dragon competition for a team slot.
- Arceus-Dragon also has an incredible weakness to Fairy-types as its only way of damaging them is Toxic.
- Magearna and Xerneas in particular are quite troublesome, the former being immune to Toxic and the latter being able to merely set up Arceus-Dragon.
- Steel-types such as Mega Lucario and Celesteela can also freely switch into Arceus-Dragon, the former also being able to set up on Arceus-Dragon
- It also can be easily trapped and removed by the very common Mega Gengar.
- Finally, it suffers from having poor defensive synergy with most of the Pokemon it relies on to check offensive Primal Groudon, such as Zygarde-C and Mega Salamence.
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Judgement
move 2: Defog
move 3: Recover
move 4: Toxic
item: Draco Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 132 Def / 124 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Judgment is Arceus-Dragon's best STAB move, as its more powerful than Dragon Pulse, but it doesn't have the repercussions of Outrage or Draco Meteor.
- Defog helps Arceus-Dragon clear hazards for its teammates.
- Recover lets Arceus-Dragon heal itself reliably and potentially stall Pokemon that can't take out more than half of its HP in one move, but it is notable that it can only really stall if its opponent is afflicted with Toxic and Arceus-Dragon isn't.
- Toxic lets Arceus-Dragon poison bulkier Pokemon such as Giratina-O and Arceus-Ground and stall them out.
- Will-O-Wisp can be utilized instead of Toxic to cripple physical attackers, namely Arceus-Dragon's physical Steel-type switch ins, but it doesn't do enough damage to warrant using it, and Primal Groudon, Ho-oh and Mega Salamence all either don't mind or, in the case of the latter, like being burned.
- Fire Blast could help Arceus-Dragon break through Steel-types, but it eliminates some of Arceus-Dragon's utility.
Set Details
========
- Draco Plate converts Arceus to its Dragon-type forme and converts Judgment into a Dragon-type move to hit Primal Groudon and Mega Salamence.
- 124 Speed EVs and a Timid nature allow Arceus-Dragon to outspeed Timid Yveltal and Palkia.
- The rest of the EVs are put into HP and Defense to make Arceus-Dragon even bulkier.
Usage Tips
========
- Always remember to beware of Fairy-type Pokemon, especially Magearna and Xerneas, as the former is immune to Toxic and can set up Spikes, and the latter can set up on Arceus-Dragon.
- Defog is best used on predicted switches to clear hazards without sacrificing an of its HP unless its poisoned or burned.
- Be sure to conserve Arceus-Dragon's HP if if your opponent has anything that is checked by it, such as Primal Groudon or Mega Salamence.
- Using Recover or Toxic on a predicted switch is usually a safe option to either recover lost HP or cripple opposing walls and tanks.
- Remember to use Recover often to keep Arceus-Dragon's health topped off and more easily check foes.
- Arceus-Dragon can switch into defensive variants of Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh to easily clear hazards with Defog, although it is quite notable that Arceus-Dragon does not like to switch into Toxic, a move which both of these Pokemon carry.
Team Options
========
- Arceus-Dragon is best used over Arceus-Water when the ability to hit Mega Salamence, Ho-Oh, and Groudon with one Pokemon is appreciated without stacking multiple weaknesses with teammates. The semblance of an offensive presence gained from this also lets it fit slightly better on bulky offense teams.
- A check to Fairy-types such as Primal Groudon, Magearna, Celesteela, or Ho-Oh is necessary, as Arceus-Dragon can do next to nothing to beat them.
- Primal Groudon and Mega Lucario can abuse the Steel-types that Arceus-Dragon brings in by either setting up Stealth Rock or using Fire-type STAB in the case of the former, or using the more defensive ones such as Ferrothorn and Celesteela as set up bait in the case of the latter.
- Although it does exceptionally well against more defensive Primal Groudon sets, offensive ones can give Arceus-Dragon trouble, making Lugia and Landorus-T good partners.
- Mega Salamence, Zygarde-C, and Rayquaza, although stacking weaknesses, can do relatively well against Primal Groudon, and the former can set up and break through Fairy-types in certain situations.
- Checks to to common Steel-types, such as Primal Groudon and Mega Lucario, can be useful to Arceus-Dragon.
- Checks to Mega Lucario in particular such as Ho-oh can switch in on Mega Lucario, as it can use Arceus-Dragon as set up fodder.
- Ferrothorn can check Primal Kyogre and provide Spikes support to Arceus-Dragon's more offensive teammates.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- A Swords Dance set can be used with Outrage and Iron Tail, but other Swords Dance Arceus formes such as Arceus-Ghost and Extreme Killer Arceus perform a Swords Dance sweeping role much better.
- Fire Blast can be used to fit Steel-types such as mega Lucario and Celesteela, but it usually needs all 4 of its moves.
- Flash Cannon can hit Fairy-types, but similar to Fire Blast Arceus-Dragon can't afford it on its move set, and even with this Magearna still walls it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Shadow Tag**: Mega Gengar can trap and easily remove Arceus-Dragon with a Hex or Destiny Bond, although it must be wary of Arceus-Dragon's powerful STAB Judgement. Wobbufet can Encore Arceus-Dragon into one of its status movves and switch out to give set up fodder to one of its teammates.
**Fairy-types**: Arceus-Dragon can barely touch most Fairy-types. Magearna isn't hit by Toxic due to its Steel-typing and Clefable can heal it off with Heal Bell, making Arceus-Dragon's primary form of attacking fairy-types useless against both. Xerneas, especially its Z-Geomancy set can easily set up on Arceus-Dragon. Arceus-Fairy can also set up on Arceus-Dragon. Tapu Lele can also easily brea through Arceus-Dragon withy its powerful STAB.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types resist Judgment and are immune to Toxic, making them extremely difficult to deal with. Mega Lucario, Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, Celesteela, and Skarmory in particular can be quite troublesome.
**Bulky Sweepers**: Although Arceus-Dragon can hit them with Toxic, sweepers such as Arceus, Xerneas, and even Double Dance Primal Groudon can use Arceus-Dragon as setup bait and sweep.
**Blissey and Chansey**: Blissey and Chansey can both absorb Arceus-Dragon's Judgement and heal off Toxic with Heal Bell, plus they can also Toxic Arceus-Dragon.
**Primal Kyogre**: Primal Kyogre can use Arceus-Dragon as setup fodder and deal heavy damage with Ice Beam, although one not carrying Rest can be taken care of with Toxic to an extent.
**Cloyster**: Cloyster can set up hazards on Arceus-Dragon, while Arceus-Dragon cannot safely Defog in fear of Icicle Spear. However, Cloyster cannot safely switch in due to fear of Judgment or Toxic breaking its Focus Sash.
**Revenge Killers**: Mewtwo, Deoxys-A, and Tapu Lele can all revenge kill Arceus-Dragon, although the former two can't hard switch in in fear of Toxic or Judgement.
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