Fireflame
Silksong when
QC: Aurora / Minority / Nayrz
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / frenzyplant
[OVERVIEW]
Arceus-Water's excellent bulk combined with its pure Water typing makes it one of the best support Arceus formes for balanced and defensive teams, capable of checking top-tier threats such as Primal Groudon, Arceus-Ground, Ho-Oh, Zygarde-C, Mega Lucario, and Mega Salamence. Arceus-Water's typing gives it valuable resistances to Ice-, Water-, and Fire-type moves as well as no common weaknesses, letting it switch into most attacks comfortably. Due to this, Arceus-Water is one of the best Defog users and can use the move often, which grants great defensive utility to all teams. Furthermore, Arceus-Water's high Speed allows it to outspeed many common offensive Pokemon it is meant to check, and it is also able to punish the Pokemon it checks with Toxic. However, Arceus-Water is passive due to its limited ability to punish its common defensive answers like Steel-types, making it vulnerable to Toxic, setup, and Mega Gengar, which give the opponent momentum. Arceus-Water has four-moveslot syndrome, often having to decide which attacking moves it uses. It succumbs to specialized sets designed to beat it from Pokemon it is otherwise meant to check, such as Swords Dance Primal Groudon and Z-Move users. Arceus-Water also faces competition from Arceus-Ground and Arceus-Fairy as a defensive Arceus forme, with the former being able to check Primal Groudon more reliably and the latter being able to check Marshadow and Yveltal.
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Recover
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Defog / Ice Beam
move 4: Ice Beam / Judgment
item: Splash Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 64 Def / 192 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Recover is necessary in order to keep Arceus-Water healthy throughout the match and enable it to consistently check the Pokemon that it needs to. Toxic allows Arceus-Water to deal with Primal Groudon and cripple Pokemon like Ho-Oh, Arceus-Fairy, and Lugia. Defog provides important entry hazard removal; Arceus-Water's typing and bulk allow it to use Defog often and thus make it one of the best users of the move. However, if entry hazard removal is present on your team already, Arceus-Water can forgo Defog. Ice Beam OHKOes Mega Salamence and Rayquaza, dents Zygarde-C, and chips away at Primal Groudon, allowing Arceus-Water to check them better. Judgment gives Arceus-Water a decently powerful STAB move, capable of hitting Steel- and Fire-types, doing chip damage to switch-ins, and augmenting its ability to check Ho-Oh and Arceus-Ground. Using both Judgment and Ice Beam gives Arceus-Water maximum effectiveness against all of the aforementioned threats. Fire Blast can be used to hit Mega Lucario for a potential OHKO as well as deter defensive Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, and Magearna from switching in.
Set Details
========
Splash Plate is required to use Arceus-Water and boosts the power of Judgment. The given Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow Arceus-Water to outspeed Jolly Mega Lucario and anything slower. The rest of the EVs aim to maximize Arceus-Water's physical bulk, allowing it to check what it needs to. Specifically, 64 Defense EVs let Arceus-Water take a +1 Double-Edge from Mega Salamence. An EV spread of 252 HP / 132 Def / 124 Spe with a Bold nature gives Arceus-Water more bulk while still outspeeding positive-natured base 90s, but it will be outsped by Mega Lucario.
Usage Tips
========
Due to its typing and bulk, Arceus-Water is able to switch into most neutral physical attacks relatively comfortably. It is a solid and consistent switch-in to common threats such as Primal Groudon, Zygarde-C, Mega Salamence, Arceus-Ground, and Ho-Oh. Arceus-Water is also useful for playing around Primal Kyogre. Arceus-Water can be brought into Primal Kyogre relatively safely if Primal Kyogre switched into Primal Groudon; Primal Groudon can then come back in due to Desolate Land overriding Primordial Sea again. Be cautious against Mega Gengar, since it can easily trap and KO Arceus-Water if it switches in healthy. If Arceus-Water lacks Judgment, it is more vulnerable to Mega Gengar; double switching to another Pokemon can keep Arceus-Water safe.
Once in, Arceus-Water should use Recover to maintain its health and Toxic to cripple the opposing team, though it should switch out against a predicted Steel-type switch-in in order to gain momentum. Because Arceus-Water frequently switches into play, it will probably end up trading Toxic with another Pokemon it would try to cripple, such as either Giratina forme, Arceus-Fairy, or opposing Arceus-Water. Judgment and Ice Beam should be used to chip switch-ins that are already afflicted with Toxic. Ice Beam should also be used to hit Rayquaza, Mega Salamence, Zygarde-C, and even offensive Yveltal on predicted switches. Note that although Arceus-Water can beat standard defensive Primal Groudon, it cannot defeat Swords Dance Primal Groudon without assistance. Arceus-Water should use Toxic against it, and then you should stall Primal Groudon out for a couple of turns by switching to other Pokemon until you rack up enough Toxic damage to KO it. Arceus-Water is also bothered by defensive Primal Groudon that opt for Toxic; this most likely results in it trading Toxic with Primal Groudon, though this is less of a concern if you have a cleric on your team. If Arceus-Water is carrying Defog, it is best used on forced switches due to how vulnerable Arceus-Water is to setup and status. Arceus-Water can stay in on Primal Groudon and use Defog against it, though. Arceus-Water can be used as a Will-O-Wisp absorber, as it is much better for it to get burned than hit with Toxic. Doing this allows Arceus-Water to better stop opposing Toxic users.
Team Options
========
Arceus-Water can fit on many balanced and defensive teams due to its extreme defensive utility. Celesteela is Arceus-Water's best partner, as it takes pressure off of Arceus-Water due to it also checking Mega Salamence; this lets Arceus-Water use Defog over Ice Beam more easily. Celesteela is also able to check Double Dance Primal Groudon, which would otherwise overwhelm Arceus-Water, and it appreciates Arceus-Water's ability to check Ho-Oh. Primal Groudon can check Xerneas and Primal Kyogre and beat most Steel-types, which threaten Arceus-Water, while Arceus-Water can handle Arceus-Ground and Mega Salamence in return. Ho-Oh also checks Xerneas and Steel-types as well as benefiting from the Defog support Arceus-Water provides. A Defog user like Giratina-O or Giratina is able to free up a moveslot for Arceus-Water, allowing it to use both Ice Beam and Judgment. Giratina-O can also deal with Primal Groudon. Mega Diancie grants a second method of entry hazard removal and appreciates Arceus-Water's ability to check Arceus-Ground. A secondary Primal Groudon check such as Lugia, Zygarde-C, Giratina-O, or Mega Salamence is able to relieve Arceus-Water of pressure. Arceus-Water values a Steel-type like Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, Magearna, or Aegislash that is able to check Xerneas, which is threatening to Arceus-Water, and absorb Toxic. If Arceus-Water is running 124 Speed EVs, Aegislash can ensure your team has a reliable answer to Mega Lucario. Setup sweepers like Xerneas, Extreme Killer Arceus, Bulk Up Marshadow, Mega Lucario, and Rayquaza benefit from Arceus-Water's ability to remove hazards, switch into threats, and chip away at the opposing team with Toxic. Mega Sableye can bounce back entry hazards and status aimed at Arceus-Water while also checking Extreme Killer Arceus. Blissey is able to check most special attackers and can keep Arceus-Water healthy with Heal Bell and Wish. Arceus-Water is able to deal with physical threats to it in return.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Will-O-Wisp can be used to cripple strong physical attackers like Arceus-Ground, Marshadow, and Mega Lucario. However, Primal Groudon is immune to Will-O-Wisp, and Toxic is extremely important for Arceus-Water to beat it. Refresh clears Arceus-Water of status, particularly Toxic, but there is no room to fit it. Grass Knot 3HKOes Primal Kyogre, allowing Arceus-Water to defeat defensive Rest sets, but it is hard to fit when Judgment and Ice Beam offer far superior coverage. A Waterium Z + Swords Dance set with Aqua Tail and Earthquake can 2HKO Primal Groudon and Xerneas at +2, but there are more effective Swords Dance Arceus formes, especially Extreme Killer Arceus. Arceus-Water is able to set up Calm Mind frequently because of its bulk and typing, but Arceus-Ground and Arceus-Dark are better Calm Mind Arceus formes.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Dialga, Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, Solgaleo, Aegislash, and Celesteela are immune to Toxic, and the more defensive ones completely wall Arceus-Water. Furthermore, many of these Steel-types can cripple Arceus-Water with their own Toxic and stall it out. However, none of them barring Dialga appreciate taking Fire Blast.
**Toxic**: Toxic completely undermines Arceus-Water's defensive capabilities. Any Toxic user can cripple Arceus-Water on the switch. Blissey, Chansey, and Steel-type Toxic users are the most dangerous because Blissey and Chanseycan cure Arceus-Water's Toxic with Heal Bell, while Steel-types are immune to it.
**Mega Gengar**: If Mega Gengar switches in safely, it can trap and remove Arceus-Water with powerful STAB attacks or Destiny Bond. It can do so more easily if Arceus-Water lacks Judgment. However, Mega Gengar needs to be wary of Judgment.
**Setup Sweepers**: Setup sweepers like Geomancy Xerneas, Swords Dance Primal Groudon, Calm Mind Mega Mewtwo Y, and Swords Dance and Calm Mind Arceus formes can take advantage of Arceus-Water's passivity and use it as setup fodder.
**Primal Kyogre**: Primal Kyogre can switch into Arceus-Water extremely easily, as it resists both Ice Beam and Judgment. Offensive sets can 2HKO Arceus-Water with Thunder, while defensive variants can cure themselves of Toxic poison with Rest. Primal Kyogre needs to be careful of the rare Grass Knot, though.
**Powerful Attackers**: Very powerful attackers like Deoxys-A, offensive Primal Kyogre, Choice Specs Yveltal, and Kyurem-W can simply overpower Arceus-Water with their extremely powerful STAB moves.
**Specialized Z-Move Users**: Certain sets such as Supersonic Skystrike Dragon Dance Rayquaza and Supersonic Skystrike Landorus-T can potentially use their Z-Moves to KO Arceus-Water.
**Electric-types**: Zekrom, Tapu Koko, and Arceus-Electric can hit Arceus-Water with super effective Electric-type STAB moves, though they take a decent amount of damage if they switch into Arceus-Water's attacks.
**Grass-types**: Shaymin-S outspeeds Arceus-Water and can OHKO it with Seed Flare, but it can't switch into Ice Beam. Arceus-Grass can switch into Arceus-Water's Judgment and threaten it with its own Judgment.
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