[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Judgment / Surf
move 2: Recover
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
move 4: Earth Power / Ice Beam / Toxic / Dragon Tail / Taunt / Refresh
item: Splash Plate / Waterium Z
ability: Multitype
nature: Bold or Timid
evs: 248 HP / 136 Def / 124 Spe or 136 HP / 204 Def / 168 Spe or 248 HP / 124 Def / 136 Spe
tera type: Grass / Dark
[SET COMMENTS]
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/09-10a.563751/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user2.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.103/
Grammar checked by:
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name: Defensive
move 1: Judgment / Surf
move 2: Recover
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
move 4: Earth Power / Ice Beam / Toxic / Dragon Tail / Taunt / Refresh
item: Splash Plate / Waterium Z
ability: Multitype
nature: Bold or Timid
evs: 248 HP / 136 Def / 124 Spe or 136 HP / 204 Def / 168 Spe or 248 HP / 124 Def / 136 Spe
tera type: Grass / Dark
[SET COMMENTS]
- Arceus-Water shines as one of the few Arceus forms whose STAB Judgment greatly pressures Ho-Oh and Arceus-Ground. With its access to reliable recovery, solid bulk, and strong defensive typing coupled with its uncommon type weakness, Arceus-Water serves as a valuable defensive pivot for balance teams, offering reliable defensive support and the ability to handle a variety of threatening Pokemon such as Primal Groudon, Zygarde, Dragon Dance + Solganium Z Necrozma-DM, Arceus-Ground, Calyrex-Ice, Melmetal, and unboosted Zacian-C. Although Arceus-Water is not as proficient in being a blanket check due to its relative passivity and hatred of paralysis, its natural resistance to Ice and Steel, in conjunction with Will-O-Wisp and Recover, makes it a worthwhile option to consider, especially when partnered with other defensive pivots like defensive Zygarde and Ho-Oh.
- Splash Plate turns Judgment into Water-type, allowing Arceus-Water to deal meaningful damage to most of the tier. Surf alongside Waterium Z is an option that allows Arceus-Water to always OHKO all Arceus-Ground variants after Stealth Rock, should it prove necessary.
- Will-O-Wisp allows Arceus-Water to cripple boosting threats such as Swords Dance Arceus without Lum Berry and Swords Dance Zacian-Crowned, denying their snowball attempt and rendering them easier to deal with. Toxic, on the other hand, allows Arceus-Water to force progress by putting Primal Groudon, opposing support Arceus lacking Refresh, and other potential switch-ins on a timer, hindering their ability to stifle its teammates like Primal Kyogre and Marshadow in the long run.
- Earth Power provides coverage against Primal Groudon, a common threat in the metagame, dealing respectable damage and potentially forcing it out, whereas Ice Beam can pick off threats like Zygarde, Mega Salamence, and Rayquaza by surprise, although it might not do much against Primal Groudon.
- Dragon Tail is an option that racks up hazard damage while simultaneously phazing threats that wouldn't mind being statused or prevents Arceus-Water from liberally inflicting it, such as Meteor Beam Eternatus and Taunt + Swords Dance variants of Arceus.
- The combination of Will-O-Wisp and Toxic enables Arceus-Water to spread status efficiently across the metagame, catching opponents off guard and luring threats that have gone complacent, like Necrozma-DM, after revealing Toxic.
- Taunt is a proactive move that shuts down setup sweepers like Zygarde and walls reliant on their non-damaging moves and support options, such as Stealth Rock Primal Groudon. This, in combination with Toxic, can potentially dismantle teams on the spot.
- Refresh turns Arceus-Water into an ironclad Ho-Oh and Zygarde switch-in, serving as a status sponge for the rest of the game. This greatly enhances its longevity and invalidates one of the ways for teams to break it.
- The recommended spread of 136 HP / 204 Def / 168 Spe with a Bold nature allows Arceus-Water to maximize physical bulk while outspeeding threats such as Rayquaza and Kyurem-Black to burn them before being hit. Alternatively, a Timid spread of 248 HP / 124 Def / 208 Spe can be used if utilizing Taunt + Toxic, allowing Arceus-Water to move first before opposing maximum speed, neutral-natured Arceus forms to easily stall them out, though the loss in bulk will be noticeable.
- Tera Grass significantly improves Arceus-Water's matchups against Arceus-Ground, Zekrom, Zygarde, and Primal Groudon without Fire coverage and turns the tables against a boosted Zacian-C, acting as an immovable wall to these formidable threats. Tera Dark acts as an emergency check to Ultra Necrozma, Tera Ghost Marshadow, Basculegion, and other dangerous Psychic types like Meteor Beam Deoxys-Attack, neutralizing them by inflicting burn and outright knocking out the latter.
- In the early game, leverage Arceus-Water to spread status. Disrupt the opponent's game plan by switching it in on breakers like Marshadow and boosting threats such as Swords Dance Arceus and then burning them, thereby reducing their effectiveness. However, exercise caution, as they can terastallize to overwhelm Arceus-Water.
- Be very careful of switching Arceus-Water directly against common status spreaders, namely Primal Groudon, defensive Arceus forms, and Zygarde if it doesn't have Refresh, as being afflicted with poison or paralysis heavily affects its capability to wall key threats throughout the course of a game. Strategically switch Arceus-Water to a predicted Sacred Fire from Ho-Oh or a suspected Will-O-Wisp from the likes of Arceus-Fairy or Arceus-Dark in order to shield it from other status conditions. If it carries Refresh, though, bring in Arceus-Water on common status spreaders liberally to protect its teammates like Ho-Oh from having to absorb it.
- As support Arceus-Water struggles against Alomomola, Eternatus, defensive Giratina, Chansey, and Blissey, and faces passivity against Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre, it's advisable to opt for aggressive double-switching if you anticipate your opponent switching to them on the next turn.
- If not running Ice Beam or Dragon Tail, do not burn an unscouted Mega Salamence, as you risk giving it a +1 boosted Facade, and be vigilant of Arceus-Ground, as the Dragon Dance variant can Taunt on a suspected Will-O-Wisp, while Calm Mind variants can use Arceus-Water as setup fodder once boosted, exacerbated even further by potential terastallization at any given time.
- Arceus-Water performs best when teamed up with defensive pivots and offensive threats. Pairing it with Primal Groudon, which can set hazards and deal with Primal Kyogre as well as Zekrom, and defensive Zygarde, which can check threats like Mega Salamence and Marshadow, enhances its effectiveness. Eternatus supports Arceus-Water by absorbing Toxic spikes; Yveltal deals with a boosted Ultra Necrozma; Ho-Oh scouts various threats, including different Arceus forms, Zacian-C, and Eternatus while giving Defog support. In return, Arceus-Water deals with specific threats that would often require terastallization to handle, like Choice Band Calyrex-Ice and Dragon Dance + Taunt Arceus-Ground, and aids in checking Zacian-C for its teammates.
- Setup sweepers like Bulk Up Marshadow, Swords Dance Zacian-C, and Zekrom, along with breakers such as Life Orb Yveltal and Primal Kyogre, benefit greatly from Arceus-Water's ability to inflict burns on opponents. This weakens their offensive capabilities, making it easier for the sweepers and breakers to capitalize on the situation. Arceus-Water can also use Toxic to wear down walls like Primal Groudon, defensive Primal Kyogre, Zygarde, and opposing Arceus forms, giving its teammates a significant advantage. In return, these teammates provide heavy damage and disposes of would-be walls such as Eternatus and Alomomola, compensating for Arceus-Water's passivity
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/09-10a.563751/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user2.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.104/
Last edited:
