What is a good moveset for Arceus?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Arceus, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for Arecus of any type can and should only be posted on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Arceus Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Comments

Does arceus have the best state total?

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Apart from both Mega Mewtwos, yes.

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Just a reminder, Poison Arceus (or any other than the Normal) can't hold any item, as it has to hold the respective Plate to change the type anyway, so there's no slot for an item.

Answer 1

Arceus-Ghost @ Spooky Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Shadow Force
- Brick Break
- Extreme Speed / Recover

Swords Dance Boosts Arceus' already good attack to nice levels.
Shadow Force is an awesome Ghost type move, only Arceus and Giratina can learn it so it's pretty awesome, STAB.
Brick Break hits Steel, Dark, and Normal types super effectively, all of whom resist Shadow Force. It gives perfect coverage along with Shadow Force.
Extreme Speed allows Arceus to hit faster revenge killers, Recover lets Arceus get up more Swords Dances and is good for staying healthy overall.

Comments

Hahaha, leave it to you do do the Ghost Arceus.

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actually Arceus cant learn Shadow Force there was a one time give away around the release of Platinum which it knew judgement shadow force roar of time and spacial rend but unless you have one of those and plan on ruining its one time event status then you have no way of getting arceus with shadow force without hacking etc

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Shadow force?

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Is judgement better than shadow force in this case ?

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Not on a Swords Dance sweeper. Shadow Force isn't that good of a move but it's Arceus-Ghost's best physical STAB option.

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Why not shadow claw? Coz shadow claw only needs one turn to deal damage. Shadow claw power 7, then if u use for two turns the damage would be 140 compared to shadow force 120

Answer 2

Ask and you shall receive. Here is a physical moveset for Arceus, the Pokémon god. I use it myself in my Ubers team, and it works VERY well.

Arceus @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Extreme Speed
- Earthquake
- Recover

Swords Dance is a very helpful move, as Arceus can take almost any hit and, after a Swords Dance, is an instant powerhouse. Extreme Speed is one of the premier moves, to be used right after SD to demolish the opponent's team. Earthquake takes out the Rock and Steel types. Recover is used to increase Arceus's longevity. Why no plate, you ask? Well, Arceus, being a Normal type, already has only one weakness, and you can really notice the difference of power when you have a Life Orb instead of a plate, and the main move is Extreme Speed, so why would you change the type when you can have a Life Orb boosted STAB move with +2 priority? Leftovers is also a good item to be used instead of Life Orb, though you will definitely notice the lack of ridiculous power that Life Orb gives.

Answer 3

Arceus-Fire @ Flame Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 6 HP
Timid Nature
- Judgement
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Earth Power

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Judgement is powerful STAB that even gets boosted by the item, if you use this in the Sun then you will be doing tons of damage. Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, and Earth Power give him super effective coverage over 488 Pokemon and neutral over the rest.

Comments

This is a really great set. I use this but with my Arceus-Electric.

Answer 4

Freezing Rain

Arceus-Ice @ Icicle Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 6 HP
Timid Nature
- Judgment
- Thunder
- Shadow Ball
- Recover / Calm Mind

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You do not need Splash Plate to perform in the Rain, he even works as a Groudon killer! Judgment is his signature move, always STAB, it has 180 base power and is super-effective on Groudon, it will always OHKO unless full EVs are spent in Groudon's Special Defense and HP, and it has super-effective coverage on about half of the rest of Uber as well. Thunder get 100% with Kyogre support and is great coverage paired with Judgment. Shadow Ball is awesome coverage in Uber. Recover is for you to last longer while Calm Mind is for boosting.

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Note: If you plan on running this outside of rain remember to switch Thunder for Thunderbolt.

Answer 5

Disgruntled goat of BULK!

Arceus-Steel @ Iron Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SpD / 6 HP
Bold Nature
- Cosmic Power
- Recover
- Toxic / Will-O-Wisp
- Refresh / Earth Power

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Cosmic Power makes your defenses over 500 after one use. Recover is for healing. Toxic is for stalling while Will-O-Wisp can also be used but can be used to cut opponents attack. Refresh can remove status ailments while Earth Power can be used to get rid of the Steel types that would kill you if you choose Toxic.

Comments

I'd definitely go with steel as the best type as it has so many resistances

Answer 6

Arceus-Dark @ Dread Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 124 HP / 100 Atk / 32 Def / 220 SpA / 32 SpD
Brave Nature
- Judgment
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Brick Break

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I have 3 favorite types, and Dark probably comes out on top of the bunch.
But Arceus-Dark? Oh... I love it.

Judgment is that jacked up STAB that everyone loves, and when I say jacked up, I mean 100 base power, 100 accuracy, Dread Plate boosted STAB.

Earthquake is awesome coverage, especially when paired with Ice Beam and Brick Break! :D

Dark, Ground, Ice and Fighting hit 152 Pokemon for normal effectiveness, and 511 for super effectiveness. That's the great part about Arceus, he can run awesome coverage.

Comments

Why brave nature? Invest in speed and put a lonely nature if you want max attack.

Answer 7

Arceus-Fire @ Flame Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Judgement
- Draco Meteor / Spacial Rend
- Earth Power
- Solar Beam / Energy Ball

According to the type checker, Fire + Dragon give almost perfect neutral coverage. I know that it does not account for abilities and the only Pokemon I can think of that resist this is Flash Fire Heatran.

So, Fire Judgement is powerful STAB, and in the Sun, it's even better. Spacial Rend is for consistent damage while Draco Meteor is more hit-&-run, so your choice.

Earth Power is for Heatran and coverage that might be too bulky for Draco-Flare cough Steel-Types cough .

The last slot is also your choice. Solar Beam is for Sun teams and powerful coverage, but if you are afraid that the weather might be changed on you, go for Energy Ball.

Comments

Reshiram's Fire+Dragon hits everything.

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You invest EV's in Sp.Atk and give it all those special moves but it has a nature that favours Atk and lowers Sp.Atk. I don't get that.

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yeah...

Answer 8

**PHYSICAL GOD OF SAND*

Arceus @ Stone Plate / Earth Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Extreme Speed / Shadow Claw

Move over Excadrill, there's a new sand sweeper in town and he's ready to bring his divine power to all his opponents. Stone Plate can be used for the 50% Special Defense boost in sand while Earth Plate can be used for the better STAB. Anyway, this simple yet powerful set is quite usable in and out of sand, and can handle multiple metagame threats such as Zekrom, Reshiram, and the many flying types. SwordsDance is the standard boosting move for a physical attacker and the EdgeQuake combo provides superb coverage. In the last slot you can either run Extreme Speed, which is the preferred move for its priority, or Shadow Claw, for the numerous Ghost and Psychic types in Ubers, most notably Giratina. Good teammates for this Arceus include Shaymin, who can deal with opposing weather setters, and Tyranitar, who sets up sand and can deal with Giratina and other such bulky Ghosts/Psychics.

Answer 9

Well, I think its safe to say that Arceus is a monster.

Arceus @ Silk Scarf
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Extreme Speed
- Refresh
- Earthquake

Swords Dance lets you set up, ideally to +6 but +4 works as well and sometimes even +2. Refresh allows you to get rids of burns or Toxic, and finally Extreme Speed. Extreme Speed lets you bypass all of the fast Pokemon, and when its +4 Silk Scarf STAB boosted, it sweeps. A lot. Earthquake is for Steel and Rock types that resist as well as hitting Ghost types who are immune.

Answer 10

Arceus @ Splash Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Judgment
- Thunder
- Ice Beam
- Energy Ball

Good coverage, strong STAB, Thunder + Ice Beam for Bolt-beam, but use in rain. Energy Ball also for coverage.

Comments

Sadly, you might as well use Kyogre with Hidden Power Grass instead of this.

Answer 11

Arceus-Ghost @ Spooky Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Judgment
- Focus Blast
- Calm Mind
- Recover

This guy is great.
2 Calm Minds make a Scarfogre's Water Spout a 3HKO.
Judgment hits most of Ubers very hard, and when it doesn't, Focus Blast does.
He provides good synergy for teams and proves a successful spin blocker.

Answer 12

Arceus-Bug @ Insect Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- X-Scissor
- Recover
- Iron Tail / Waterfall

Lowly bugs :3. Swords Dance will boost up your attack stat. X-Scissor is STAB. Not many will be surviving this. It provides solid damage, Mewtwo and Darkrai will go down. Recover heals when in a bind. Iron Tail / Waterfall are your coverage attacks.

Comments

Don't use Arceus-Bug. Use Genesect ;D

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Arceus has better things to do than be a bug type. Not the worst set about, but not the best.

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Why x scissor use judgement?
Oh physical moves ok

Answer 13

This is the best Arceus set I have ever used. Absolutely love it:

Arceus @ Leftovers
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance / Bulk Up
- Extreme Speed
- Brick Break
- Shadow Claw

This is an Extremekiller Arceus set that uses his fantastic bulk to tank big hits and hit back even harder. He's a good answer to the 252 Spe variant of Extremekiller. 8 Speed EVs help outspeed other 4 Speed Arceus. Brick Break and Shadow Claw provide good neutral coverage, and after a boost or two, can take down Dialga and Giratina respectively.

Answer 14

Generation 6 (X/Y)

Arceus @ Iron Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Recover
- Poison Jab

Earthquake is coverage against Fire types. Swords Dance is for boosting your Attack. Poison Jab is coverage against Fairy types (Arceus can't learn a physical Steel move in XY) and Recover if you have low HP.

Answer 15

There's so much Arceus can do, this is one unsuggested set:

Arceus-Fire @ Flame Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 HP OR 252 Spe / 4 HP OR 4 Spe
Modest Nature
- Sunny Day
- Solar Beam
- Judement
- Earth Power / Dragon Claw

Obviously, this set is for in the sun. Sunny Day sets the sun up, Judgment is not only his sig move, but gains sun boost and STAB, making it more powerful than any other option. Solar Beam covers all Arceus-Fire's weaknesses, and doesn't need to be charged due to Sunny Day. Earth Power to cover Fire types, or Dragon Claw to cover Dragons.

Effectiveness:

SE on: 8/10 types
NFE on: 1 type (fire or dragon)

Answer 16

Arceus-Electric @ Zap Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 SpA / 248 HP / 8 Atk
Mild Nature
- Heat Wave/ Flamethrower
- Thunderbolt
- Earthquake
- Spacial Rend

I just checked on move checker. This set covers ALL types!

Immune: 0
Not Very Effective: 0
Normal Effectiveness: 230
Super Effective: 548

Comments

rock slide, ice beam, brick break, earthquake. does normal effect to 5 types and super effective to 11 types and can effect 581 pokemon and normal effect to 197. 0 to the rest covers every type and more.

Answer 17

One of the, if not THE most diverse Pokemon. Let's try something different.

Obey (Arceus-Dragon) @ Draco Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Hone Claws
- Outrage
- Iron Head/ Iron Tail
- Explosion

Hone Claws is setting up, Outrage is to absolutely wreck anything not Fairy type, Iron Head / Iron Tail is to kill Fairies and Explosion for when you somehow are close to death.

Comments

wouldn't Swords Dance be better? the only move with poor accuracy is Iron Tail and most people will choose Iron Head.

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It’s for Iron Tail

Answer 18

Doubles with Torkoal, will include both movesets:

Jesus (Arceus-Fire) @ Flame Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Modset Nature
- Judgment
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Calm Mind

Judgment: Come on. It's boosted by 130%!
Thunderbolt: TB cover Arceus' Water weakness and is half of the Bolt-Beam combo.
Ice Beam: BOLT-BEAM! Also covers other 2 weaknesses. Absolute coverage with Bolt-Beam.
Calm Mind: Boosting, and Arceus has reasonable bulk to set up.
Go in and set up a Calm Mind, unless the is a major threat, and then spam Judgment. The sun pretty much makes water only 1/2 as effective, and two target Judgment works really well in doubles. Torkoal isn't a huge powerhouse, you can use Judgement effectively.

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TURTLE! (Torkoal) @ Heat Rock
Ability: Drought
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Def / 4 HP
Bold / Quiet Nature
- Heat Wave
- Gyro Ball
- Solar Beam
- Curse

Heat Wave: STAB, Boosted by the sun, hits both opponents.
Gyro Ball: Use that low Speed for something.
Solar Beam: Coverage, instant in sun.
Curse: Boosts amazingly, with the lower Speed = more damage on Gyro Ball!

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You can also run this set with just about any Drought Pokemon, like Primal Groudon or Ninetales.

Hope this helped!

Answer 19

Arceus-Fire @ Flame Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 Def
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Judgment
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt / Thunder

Very good moveset with good power and coverage - I am currently using this on my shiny Arceus and it is very strong. Not necessarily the best Arceus out there, but what I like about Arceus is he can be used in several different ways. And if you need a Fire type in your team, then this is a good one.

Answer 20

Tanky goat:

Arceus @ Leftovers
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Def
Calm Nature
- Cosmic Power
- Defog / Stealth Rock
- Judgment / Toxic
- Recover

Cosmic Power allows Arceus to become insanely bulky, taking even super effective hits easily. Defog allows Arceus to clear away entry hazards such as Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Stealth Rock, while Stealth Rock can be used to set up your own entry hazards. Judgement is your way of doing damage, while Toxic puts your opponent on a timer. Recover is self explanatory.

The EVs given are to maximize bulk. Leftovers is to provide steady recovery. Multitype is the only Ability Arceus can have. Finally, a Calm Nature is used to give Arceus some special bulk without any EV investment.

Counters:

Steel types: Arceus can’t poison them, and cannot do much with Judgement.

Marshadow: Judgement has no effect on Marshadow, does good damage with Close Combat, and can take Cosmic Power boosts with Spectral Thief.

Taunt users: completely shuts down non- Judgement Arceus.

Let me know if there are any more counters.

This thing will annoy your opponent to the point of a forfeit!

Comments

Another Counter:

Haze Users like Toxapex that can't be Poisoned and can get rid of Cosmic Power boosts. It's also bulky.

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Thanks for the help, Molthree!

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You are welcome!