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!
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!
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