Ubers Arceus-Ground [QC 2/2] [GP 0/1]

Arceus-Ground has quickly risen in usage in SM Ubers to become the premier Arceus forme on every team archetype. Defensively, its typing offers it only one common weaknesses in Water and two less common weaknesses in Ice and Grass, which are generally only used as weak coverage moves or on rarer Pokemon like Shaymin-S and Arceus-Ice. Offensively, its typing is most notable for allowing it to threaten the omnipresent Primal Groudon while also giving it the ability to scare out other threats like Mega Lucario, Mega Diancie, Toxapex, Magearna, and Excadrill. As a result, Arceus-Ground is very versatile and fits easily on most playstyles, being able to run utility options like Stealth Rock and Defog on bulkier teams while also having the ability to use offensive Swords Dance or Calm Mind sets. Furthermore, Arceus-Ground has access to excellent coverage options such as Ice Beam and Stone Edge, which let it beat Pokemon like Mega Salamence, Ho-Oh, Rayquaza, and Yveltal, depending on whether it chooses to run a physical or special set, making it a very useful addition to a number of teams.

Arceus-Ground @ Earth Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 HP / 64 Def / 192 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Judgment
- Recover
- Defog / Stealth Rock
- Ice Beam / Toxic

Arceus-Ground's support set fits best on more defensive teams that are in need of a bulky Defog or Stealth Rock user. Defog is the more common option on this set, as it allows Arceus-Ground to support hazard-weak teammates like Lugia and Ho-Oh. Arceus-Ground is a particularly good user of the move, as it is capable of beating some of the most common Stealth Rock setters like Primal Groudon, Tyranitar, and Dialga. Alternatively, it can opt to instead run Stealth Rock, as Arceus-Ground's good overall bulk and access to reliable recovery allows it to switch in multiple throughout a game and set it up. Ice Beam is often used in the final slot as a means of OHKOing Mega Salamence and Zygarde-C and chipping away at Yveltal switch-ins. Toxic can also be used to give Arceus-Ground an option to punish Lugia, Ho-Oh, and certain support Arceus formes. The EV spread allows Arceus-Ground to outspeed and check a +2 Mega Lucario while maximizing its bulk.

Arceus-Ground @ Groundium Z
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Recover

This is a more offensive Arceus-Ground set, taking advantage of its good EdgeQuake coverage to break through the majority of the metagame after a boost. Groundium Z is the item of choice on this set, as it allows Arceus-Ground to break through bulkier threats after a boost with Tectonic Rage; for example, a +2 Tectonic Rage is able to OHKO Ferrothorn and defensive Primal Kyogre, making its matchup versus defensive teams much more workable. Unlike the support set, which is used more as a utility Pokemon, Arceus-Ground's Swords Dance set tends to be used as a late-game sweeper. It tends to fit on more offensive teams that still appreciate the defensive utility it provides.

Although Arceus-Ground has many useful traits, it has some shortcomings that hold it back. None of its sets have any way of dealing with Pokemon like Celesteela, Skarmory, and Bronzong outside of the niche Gravity. Furthermore, Ice Beam sets are walled by Ho-Oh, while sets opting for Stone Edge struggle to deal with Giratina-O and can be easily invalidated by Marshadow. The support set is also trapped and eliminated by Gothitelle, and both sets are threatened offensively by Water-types like Primal Kyogre and Arceus-Water.

Overall, the god of Pokemon in its Ground-type forme is a very potent Pokemon in the Ubers metagame, give it a shot!
 
Last edited:
This is now ready for QC. A little bit over 500 words but this is a fairly deep Pokemon so it's kinda hard to stay under. If you see anything that doesn't need to be there lmk.
 
Defensively, its typing offers it only a single common weakness in Water
Ice Beam is commonly seen on support Arceus, but it doesn't have the damage to really bother Arceus-Ground. Pokemon like Mewtwo and Kyogre still run Ice coverage as well - its pointless to note it for Kyogre for obvious reasons, but I'm noting that Ice attacks are still commonly seen in the tier and not just from niche mons like Arceus-Ice and Kyurem-W. While I do understand you mean that Arceus-Ground is able to "avoid" these things for various reasons, considering its a FB spotlight someone will comment on this statement. I'd try and clear it up.
None of its sets have any way of dealing with Pokemon like Celesteela, Skarmory, and Bronzong.
Gravity is niche on the SD set but works for this very reason. It's probably worth writing that in here.

For the current meta this is fine, but I suspect things could change for this mon in the near future.

QC 1/2
 

Minority

Numquam Vincar
is a Tiering Contributoris a Top Contributoris a Tutor Alumnusis a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Team Rater Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
Defensively, its typing offers it only two common weaknesses in Water and Ice
Going to nitpick this line. I don't consider it fair to call Ice a common weakness in this tier and yet not mention Grass. The most commonly used Ice-type has less than 5% usage, so its hardly a common type. Before someone argues "but what about coverage" the most common Pokemon that run Ice Beam (Primal Kyogre and Arceus-Water) aren't clicking Ice Beam vs. Arceus-Ground. There is no significant difference in the cost associated with Arceus-Ground's weaknesses to Ice vs. Grass. Mention both or mention neither.

allowing it to threaten the omnipresent Primal Groudon while also giving it the ability to scare out other threats like Toxapex, Mega Diancie, and Excadrill
Going to nitpick this one too. You mention mons like Excadrill but don't mention Mega Lucario or Magearna, which are much more common and meaningful in regards to the utility Arceus-Ground provides. The list should probably read Primal Groudon, Mega Lucario, Mega Diancie, Toxapex, Magearna, and Excadrill.

while sets opting for Stone Edge struggle to deal with Zygarde-C and Mega Salamence.
This is not really true. Zygarde is OHKOed after SR by +2 Tectonic Rage and Mega Salamence is 2HKOed by +1 SE -> E Speed. Mega Mence is also OHKOed by +2 SE and OHKOed by +1 SE after SR. Both can be broken quite easily by standard SD Arceus-Ground. Pokemon such as floaty Steels, Giratina-O, and Marshadow are infinitely more threatening to this set.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wob
Going to nitpick this line. I don't consider it fair to call Ice a common weakness in this tier and yet not mention Grass. The most commonly used Ice-type has less than 5% usage, so its hardly a common type. Before someone argues "but what about coverage" the most common Pokemon that run Ice Beam (Primal Kyogre and Arceus-Water) aren't clicking Ice Beam vs. Arceus-Ground. There is no significant difference in the cost associated with Arceus-Ground's weaknesses to Ice vs. Grass. Mention both or mention neither.

Going to nitpick this one too. You mention mons like Excadrill but don't mention Mega Lucario or Magearna, which are much more common and meaningful in regards to the utility Arceus-Ground provides. The list should probably read Primal Groudon, Mega Lucario, Mega Diancie, Toxapex, Magearna, and Excadrill.

This is not really true. Zygarde is OHKOed after SR by +2 Tectonic Rage and Mega Salamence is 2HKOed by +1 SE -> E Speed. Mega Mence is also OHKOed by +2 SE and OHKOed by +1 SE after SR. Both can be broken quite easily by standard SD Arceus-Ground. Pokemon such as floaty Steels, Giratina-O, and Marshadow are infinitely more threatening to this set.
did this, i changed up the first bit about defensive weaknesses a little as well, is that ok?
 

GMars

It's ya boy GEEEEEEEEMARS
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Admin Alumnusis a Social Media Contributor Alumnusis a Senior Staff Member Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Top CAP Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
Great job, very few changes.
Arceus-Ground has quickly risen in usage in SM Ubers to become the premier Arceus forme on every team archetype. Defensively, its typing offers it only one common weaknesses weakness in Water and two less common weaknesses in Ice and Grass, which are generally only used as weak coverage moves or on rarer Pokemon like Shaymin-S and Arceus-Ice. Offensively, its typing is most notable for allowing it to threaten the omnipresent Primal Groudon while also giving it the ability to scare out other threats like Mega Lucario, Mega Diancie, Toxapex, Magearna, and Excadrill. As a result, Arceus-Ground is very versatile and fits easily on most playstyles, being able to run utility options like Stealth Rock and Defog on bulkier teams while also having the ability to use offensive Swords Dance or Calm Mind sets. Furthermore, Arceus-Ground has access to excellent coverage options such as Ice Beam and Stone Edge, which let it beat Pokemon like Mega Salamence, Ho-Oh, Rayquaza, and Yveltal, (RC) depending on whether it chooses to run a physical or special set, making it a very useful addition to a number of teams.

Arceus-Ground @ Earth Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 HP / 64 Def / 192 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Judgment
- Recover
- Defog / Stealth Rock
- Ice Beam / Toxic

Arceus-Ground's support set fits best on more defensive teams that are in need of a bulky Defog or Stealth Rock user. Defog is the more common option on this set, as it allows Arceus-Ground to support hazard-weak teammates like Lugia and Ho-Oh. Arceus-Ground is a particularly good user of the move, as it is capable of beating some of the most common Stealth Rock setters like Primal Groudon, Tyranitar, and Dialga. Alternatively, it can opt to instead run Stealth Rock, as Arceus-Ground's good overall bulk and access to reliable recovery allows allow it to switch in multiple times throughout a game and set it Stealth Rock up. Ice Beam is often used in the final slot as a means of OHKOing Mega Salamence and Zygarde-C and as well as [optional] chipping away at Yveltal switch-ins. Toxic can also be used to give Arceus-Ground an option to punish Lugia, Ho-Oh, and certain support Arceus formes. The EV spread allows Arceus-Ground to outspeed and check a +2 Mega Lucario while maximizing its bulk.

Arceus-Ground @ Groundium Z
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Recover

This is a more offensive Arceus-Ground set, taking advantage of its good EdgeQuake coverage to break through the majority of the metagame after a boost. Groundium Z is the item of choice on this set, as it allows Arceus-Ground to break through bulkier threats after a boost with Tectonic Rage; for example, a +2 Tectonic Rage is able to OHKO Ferrothorn and defensive Primal Kyogre, making its Arceus-Ground's matchup versus defensive teams much more workable. Unlike the support set, which is used more as a utility Pokemon, Arceus-Ground's Swords Dance set tends to be used as a late-game sweeper. It tends to fit on more offensive teams that still appreciate the defensive utility it provides.

Although Arceus-Ground has many useful traits, it has some shortcomings that hold it back. None of its sets have any way of dealing with Pokemon like Celesteela, Skarmory, and Bronzong outside of the niche Gravity. Furthermore, Ice Beam sets are walled by Ho-Oh, while sets opting for Stone Edge struggle to deal with Giratina-O and can be easily invalidated by Marshadow. The support set is also trapped and eliminated by Gothitelle, and both sets are threatened offensively by Water-types like Primal Kyogre and Arceus-Water.

Overall, the god of Pokemon in its Ground-type forme is a very potent Pokemon in the Ubers metagame, give it a shot!

GP 1/1
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wob

P Squared

a great unrecorded history
is a Site Content Manageris a Community Contributoris a Top Contributoris a Top Social Media Contributor Alumnusis a Senior Staff Member Alumnusis a Top Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
implemented and scheduled. please know when your spotlights are going to be posted so I don't have to do the work for you, the schedule is in the reservation thread
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wob

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 1, Guests: 0)

Top