Nixon73
Scuttlebug Jamboree
[OVERVIEW]
* Blessed by an excellent typing offensively and defensively with solid bulk and access to reliable recovery, Arceus-Fairy is perhaps the tier's best switch-in to the prominent Yveltal and Marshadow and can blanket check Dragon-type attackers such as Mega Salamence, Rayquaza, and Zygarde-C, letting it fit on a wide variety of teams.
* Arceus-Fairy's solid bulk and its favorable matchup against Defog and Magic Bounce users such as Yveltal, Giratina-O, and Mega Sableye make it an excellent setter of Stealth Rock.
* Its strong neutral coverage with Judgment and Earth Power makes Arceus-Fairy a solid Calm Mind sweeper. It particularly stands out among sweepers because it does not need to be preserved for its sweep due to its bulk and recovery, allowing it to take hits to support the team early-game without losing momentum or sacrificing its potential for a sweep late-game.
* Arceus-Fairy's support options and wide coverage including Will-O-Wisp to cripple Necrozma-DM, Toxic to handle support Arceus formes, Fire Blast to surprise Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor, and Earth Power to chip away at Primal Groudon allow Arceus-Fairy to cover many of its weaknesses, although this also means that its limited moveslots will always leave it helpless against some of these Pokemon.
* Arceus-Fairy is hard-countered by Necrozma-DM and has a relatively poor matchup against Primal Groudon, which lets the opponent set Stealth Rock or set up with powerful sweepers for free if it is used carelessly.
* Arceus-Fairy fears poison and paralysis, which badly compromise its ability to keep Stealth Rock up, sponge attacks, or sweep when put on a timer or slowed and at risk of missing recovery turns. This typically forces it out against most passive Pokemon that it cannot hit super effectively and makes it hesitant to switch into Pokemon it can otherwise check, such as Taunt + Toxic Yveltal and Glare Zygarde-C.
* Arceus-Fairy is easily trapped and disposed of by both Mega Gengar and Gothitelle, undermining its usefulness as a blanket check and entry hazard setter.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Judgment
move 2: Stealth Rock
move 3: Recover
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
item: Pixie Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Judgment is a reliable Fairy-type STAB move that does significant damage on Pokemon that don't resist it and allows Arceus-Fairy to OHKO the Pokemon it is supposed to check, such as Marshadow, Yveltal, and Mega Salamence.
* Stealth Rock damages foes when they switch in and is almost mandatory in any serious team. Arceus-Fairy's typing and bulk give it a strong matchup against most Defoggers and allow it to keep Stealth Rock up throughout the match.
* Recover keeps Arceus-Fairy healthy to check Dark- and Dragon-types and allows it to set up Stealth Rock several times throughout the match.
* Will-O-Wisp provides Arceus-Fairy with an option to punish Necrozma-DM, a hard-counter to Arceus-Fairy that is also the second-most prominent Pokemon in the metagame. Will-O-Wisp can also be used to debilitate other physical attackers in a pinch.
* Toxic is an alternative status move that allows Arceus-Fairy to have a way of hurting passive Pokemon such as support Arceus formes, which can switch into it without fear otherwise, but running Toxic leaves Necrozma-DM free to switch into Arceus-Fairy repeatedly.
* Fire Blast can be run as an alternative to status moves, allowing Arceus-Fairy to severely damage Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor, which otherwise switch into this set with impunity and respectively set Spikes or use Defog. It also provides Arceus-Fairy with a way to chip at Necrozma-DM, Magearna, and Celesteela.
Set Details
========
* Full investment in HP increases Arceus-Fairy's bulk, allowing it to set up entry hazards reliably throughout the match.
* Maximum Speed investment allows Arceus-Fairy to at worst Speed tie with Mega Salamence as well as Arceus formes.
* An alternative EV spread with 96 Speed EVs and a Timid nature allows Arceus-Fairy to outspeed Pokemon up to positive-natured base 100s, which notably includes Xerneas, Yveltal, Rayquaza, and Palkia, solidly checking all except Xerneas. This allows Arceus-Fairy to invest more in its defenses while still outspeeding its crucial targets.
* 192 Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow Arceus-Fairy to outspeed Mega Lucario and KO it after some chip damage, although Arceus-Fairy must be wary of Bullet Punch. It also outspeeds most variants of Mega Salamence.
* Pixie Plate is needed in order to use Arceus-Fairy and provides it with a steady boost in Judgment's power.
Usage Tips
========
* Arceus-Fairy should be liberally switched into Dragon-, Dark-, and Fighting-type Pokemon such as Mega Salamence, Giratina-O, Arceus-Dark, Yveltal, and Marshadow, forcing them out and thus gaining opportunities to set Stealth Rock or spread status.
* Arceus-Fairy is capable of breaking through Mega Sableye and Mega Diancie with Judgment and fears little from their attacks, so it should be capable of getting Stealth Rock up against Magic Bounce users.
* Play Arceus-Fairy conservatively outside of these favorable matchups, especially while the opponent still has a Defogger in play. Be careful not to get overloaded, as a combination of resisted hits, status damage, and entry hazard damage can cause Arceus-Fairy to fall easily if used to sponge too much damage.
* The first priority when given a free turn should be to set up Stealth Rock. After that, Arceus-Fairy should try to spread Will-O-Wisp if expecting a Steel-type switch-in or Toxic if expecting a defensive switch-in, or it could consider double switching if not carrying the appropriate move.
* If the opponent is running Gothitelle or an already Mega-Evolved Gengar, leaving Arceus-Fairy out should be thought of as sacrificing it. This should definitely never be done if the opponent still has a healthy Defogger, or if the scenario can be avoided in general.
* Avoid being hit with Toxic and Glare when using Arceus-Fairy, as these significantly limit its usefulness as a defensive Pokemon and Stealth Rock setter. On the other hand, being burned does not really annoy Arceus-Fairy much and could even be beneficial, as it prevents Arceus-Fairy from being afflicted by a more annoying status, so switch into Will-O-Wisp if given the opportunity.
Team Options
========
* Stealth Rock Arceus-Fairy gives Necrozma-DM and Primal Groudon the freedom to run offensive sets, and they fit well on bulkier offense and balance teams that do not want to rely on suicide setters, so Arceus-Fairy should be considered on such teams if Necrozma-DM and Primal Groudon wish to run sweeping sets.
* Pokemon such as Necrozma-DM, Zygarde-C, Mega Salamence, Marshadow, Primal Groudon, and Giratina-O appreciate Arceus-Fairy's ability to switch into Dark-, Ghost-, and Dragon-type attacks. Defensive Zygarde-C in particular makes for a good teammate for its ability to switch into hits from Primal Groudon, Ho-Oh, and Necrozma-DM, making a good defensive backbone.
* Arceus-Fairy should be paired with a Defogger such as Giratina-O, Mega Salamence, or Yveltal. These Pokemon are also useful as checks to Primal Groudon.
* Gothitelle makes an excellent core with Arceus-Fairy. Gothitelle traps and disposes of passive Pokemon, notably including support Arceus formes and other Toxic spreaders users Arceus-Fairy cannot handle. This enables Arceus-Fairy to confidently run Will-O-Wisp, which in turn allows Gothitelle to switch into burned Necrozma-DM's attacks to trap it. Arceus-Fairy and Gothitelle together check all of the tier's Defoggers, which combined with Arceus-Fairy's ability to repeatedly set up Stealth Rock allows the team to maintain complete control over the flow of entry hazards mid- and late-game. To a lesser extent but with a Pokemon far easier to fit into teams, these advantages are also present with Mega Gengar.
* Pokemon that can threaten Steel-types for Arceus-Fairy, such as Yveltal, Primal Groudon, and Marshadow, make good partners.
* Arceus-Fairy hates being poisoned or paralyzed, so it appreciates being partnered with a status absorber such as Zygarde-C, Facade Mega Salamence, Magearna, Ferrothorn, or Necrozma-DM or a cleric such as Heal Bell Magearna.
* Arceus-Fairy is a common option when trying to patch up a weakness to Dark-types in teambuilding, so teams with Pokemon such as Necrozma-DM, Marshadow, Lunala, Giratina-O, and others that aren't already partnered with a good switch-in to Dark-types should consider Arceus-Fairy.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Judgment
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Recover
item: Pixie Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Calm Mind increases the power of Judgment and Earth Power while increasing Arceus-Fairy's special bulk, making it a threatening sweeper late-game.
* Judgment is a reliable Fairy-type STAB move that no Pokemon are immune to, and it OHKOes most of the Pokemon Arceus-Fairy needs to check unboosted, such as Mega Salamence, Yveltal, and Marshadow.
* Earth Power is a coverage move capable of hitting Fairy-resistant Pokemon like Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM super effectively.
* Recover is a reliable healing move that keeps Arceus-Fairy healthy as it sets up.
* Fire Blast can be run in place of Earth Power, providing a better matchup against Steel-types such as Celesteela, Necrozma-DM, Ferrothorn, and Mega Scizor. However, this leaves Arceus-Fairy without a good way to hit Primal Groudon.
Set Details
========
* Full investment in HP increases Arceus-Fairy's bulk, allowing it to take more hits as it sets up.
* Maximum Speed investment allows Arceus-Fairy to at worst Speed tie with Mega Salamence as well as Arceus formes, making it hard to revenge kill.
* An alternative spread of 96 EVs with a Timid nature allows Arceus-Fairy to outspeed Pokemon up to positive-natured base 100s, which notably includes Xerneas, Yveltal, Rayquaza, and Palkia, solidly checking all except Xerneas. This allows Arceus-Fairy to invest more in its defenses while still outspeeding its crucial targets.
* 192 Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow Arceus-Fairy to outspeed Mega Lucario and KO it after minimal chip or with a Calm Mind boost, although it will still take serious damage from Bullet Punch.
* Pixie Plate is needed to use Arceus-Fairy and have access to Fairy-type Judgment.
Usage Tips
========
* Arceus-Fairy should only try to sweep late-game when its checks have been removed, as Pokemon such as Necrozma-DM easily stop a sweep otherwise. Until late-game, it is best to not use Calm Mind and potentially bluff a more support-oriented set.
* Before setting up, Arceus-Fairy is a good switch-in to Dark-, Dragon-, and Fighting-type attacks from the likes of Yveltal and Marshadow, as part of the advantage of it as a sweeper is that it does not need much preserving throughout the match to be able to sweep and can sponge resisted hits and heal the damage off with Recover.
* Don't overestimate Earth Power's damage against Steel-types, especially through Necrozma-DM's Prism Armor. Even though Arceus-Fairy runs this move, it should still be avoiding Steel-types unless they have serious prior damage.
* Do not allow Arceus-Fairy to get hit by Toxic or paralysis, which will make it unable to sweep. Getting hit by Will-O-Wisp intentionally is a good way to prevent these statuses if possible.
* Calm Mind Arceus-Fairy can break out of Gothitelle's trapping but should be wary of Mega Gengar, which will beat it one-on-one unless it has a boost, and even with that boost, Arceus-Fairy is typically left within range of being revenge killed.
Team Options
========
* Calm Mind Arceus-Fairy fits well on Sticky Web teams, as it can confidently handle the Defoggers that are immune to the entry hazard such as Giratina-O, Mega Salamence, and Yveltal, allowing it to keep Sticky Web up while also being a threatening sweeper.
* Calm Mind Arceus-Fairy is a good Pokemon to add to a bulky offense or balance team that needs a switch-in for Dark-, Dragon-, and Fighting-type attacks that will not lose much momentum. Pokemon found on said team archetypes that fear these attacks, such as Zygarde-C, Giratina-O, Mega Salamence, and Necrozma-DM, benefit from being teamed up with Arceus-Fairy. Zygarde-C and Mega Salamence stand out for their ability to also switch into Arceus-Fairy's checks, such as Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh.
* Trappers can be used to clear the way for Arceus-Fairy to sweep. Mega Gengar can be used to dispose of defensive stops to Arceus-Fairy such as Magearna, Chansey, and Necrozma-DM with Destiny Bond. Gothitelle can trap defensive variants of Necrozma-DM, which could otherwise endlessly switch into Arceus-Fairy, and support Arceus formes that can interrupt a sweep with Toxic. Both Mega Gengar and Gothitelle can also handle the likes of Blissey and Toxapex if they lack Shed Shell.
* Primal Groudon breaks through Steel- and Poison-types with powerful super effective STAB moves and can set up Stealth Rock to help Arceus-Fairy to sweep.
* Wallbreakers such as Primal Kyogre, Rayquaza, and Life Orb Yveltal put pressure on defensive Arceus formes, which can switch into Arceus-Fairy and interrupt a sweep with Toxic if left healthy. These wallbreakers also handle Primal Groudon effectively, which needs to be chipped at significantly for Arceus-Fairy to handle it with a +1 Earth Power.
* As a bulky setup sweeper, Arceus-Fairy appreciates entry hazard support, such as Spikes from Ferrothorn and Stealth Rock from Necrozma-DM and Primal Groudon. Ferrothorn stands out as a partner for its ability to absorb Toxic for Arceus-Fairy.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Calm Mind can be run on the Stealth Rock set less as a sweeping tool and more as a way to avoid being taken out by Gothitelle, but Necrozma-DM is a far more common threat.
* Stone Edge can be run to lure and KO Ho-Oh, which switches into Arceus-Fairy freely otherwise, but this similarly is hard to justify over Will-O-Wisp for Necrozma-DM.
* Roar can be run on Arceus-Fairy to phaze setup sweepers and break out of Gothitelle's trapping. However, Arceus-Fairy without Earth Power or a status-inducing move has no way to meaningfully punish Steel-types or Primal Groudon, making it impractically passive for its usual bulky offense builds.
* Defog may seem a viable option on the Stealth Rock set, but Arceus-Fairy has a terrible matchup against most of the tier's entry hazard setters such as Necrozma-DM, Ferrothorn, Toxapex, and Primal Groudon, so the opponent can easily set hazards back up in its face.
* Refresh could be run on the Calm Mind set instead of Earth Power to heal off status and set up on Toxic spreaders, but Arceus-Fairy will completely lose its ability to stand up to Steel-types, Mega Gengar, Toxapex, and Primal Groudon.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Trappers**: Stealth Rock Arceus-Fairy is very easily switched into, trapped, and disposed of by Gothitelle and Mega Gengar. Calm Mind Arceus-Fairy can stand up to Gothitelle but still loses to Mega Gengar one-on-one unless it has set up a boost or Mega Gengar has taken prior damage.
**Necrozma-DM**: Necrozma-DM is the second-best Pokemon in the tier and a hard-counter to Arceus-Fairy; Necrozma-DM 2HKOes Arceus-Fairy with Sunsteel Strike regardless of either Pokemon's set and can take advantage of Arceus-Fairy as it switches out to set up Stealth Rock, spread status, or set up offensive boosts and threaten a sweep. If Arceus-Fairy is not running Will-O-Wisp, it struggles to punish Necrozma-DM meaningfully, and even burned Necrozma-DM checks Arceus-Fairy confidently.
**Primal Groudon**: While Stealth Rock Arceus-Fairy can annoy Primal Groudon with Toxic and Calm Mind Arceus-Fairy can do meaningful chip damage with Earth Power, Primal Groudon's attacks hit for more than Arceus-Fairy can heal and overwhelm it, and Primal Groudon can usually set up boosts fairly comfortably against Arceus-Fairy, making it a good check.
**Ho-Oh**: Although it dislikes being hit by Toxic, Ho-Oh can generally switch into Arceus-Fairy confidently. Defensive sets carry Toxic, and trading Toxic usually puts the Ho-Oh user at an advantage, while the Choice Band set hits for more than Arceus-Fairy can heal and pushes the Arceus-Fairy user to switch into a strong attack.
**Steel-types**: Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor have nothing to fear from Arceus-Fairy bar the rare Fire Blast and can freely switch in to set entry hazards and spread status, respectively. Magearna can steal boosts from Calm Mind Arceus-Fairy with Heart Swap and use Stealth Rock Arceus-Fairy to heal with Pain Split without fear. Celesteela can set up Leech Seed and threaten Arceus-Fairy with Heavy Slam, outlasting it easily bar the rare Calm Mind + Fire Blast set. Aegislash 2HKOes Arceus-Fairy with Gyro Ball and is at worst inconvenienced by Will-O-Wisp.
**Primal Kyogre**: Offensive Primal Kyogre sets hit Arceus-Fairy for much more than it can heal and do not really fear switching in, while defensive Primal Kyogre sets can endlessly take Arceus-Fairy's attacks and status moves and can heal with Rest. Primal Kyogre defeats Arceus-Fairy in a Calm Mind war.
**Status Spreaders**: Being hit by Toxic will put Arceus-Fairy on a timer, preventing it from keeping up Stealth Rock or setting up for a sweep. Similarly, paralysis will take away its Speed and also threaten to make Arceus-Fairy overwhelmed by the attacks it is supposed to switch into if it misses Recover turns. Because of this, Arceus-Fairy is usually forced out by status spreaders such as support Arceus formes, and it is even hesitant to switch into some of its usual targets, such as Yveltal and Zygarde-C, if they could potentially spread status onto it.
**Poison-types**: Though rare, Toxapex will completely wall Arceus-Fairy's attacks, hazing away boosts accumulated by Calm Mind sets and taking advantage of free turns to set Toxic Spikes. Naganadel will also threaten Arceus-Fairy by outspeeding it and hitting it with devastating super effective STAB Poison-type attacks.
* Blessed by an excellent typing offensively and defensively with solid bulk and access to reliable recovery, Arceus-Fairy is perhaps the tier's best switch-in to the prominent Yveltal and Marshadow and can blanket check Dragon-type attackers such as Mega Salamence, Rayquaza, and Zygarde-C, letting it fit on a wide variety of teams.
* Arceus-Fairy's solid bulk and its favorable matchup against Defog and Magic Bounce users such as Yveltal, Giratina-O, and Mega Sableye make it an excellent setter of Stealth Rock.
* Its strong neutral coverage with Judgment and Earth Power makes Arceus-Fairy a solid Calm Mind sweeper. It particularly stands out among sweepers because it does not need to be preserved for its sweep due to its bulk and recovery, allowing it to take hits to support the team early-game without losing momentum or sacrificing its potential for a sweep late-game.
* Arceus-Fairy's support options and wide coverage including Will-O-Wisp to cripple Necrozma-DM, Toxic to handle support Arceus formes, Fire Blast to surprise Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor, and Earth Power to chip away at Primal Groudon allow Arceus-Fairy to cover many of its weaknesses, although this also means that its limited moveslots will always leave it helpless against some of these Pokemon.
* Arceus-Fairy is hard-countered by Necrozma-DM and has a relatively poor matchup against Primal Groudon, which lets the opponent set Stealth Rock or set up with powerful sweepers for free if it is used carelessly.
* Arceus-Fairy fears poison and paralysis, which badly compromise its ability to keep Stealth Rock up, sponge attacks, or sweep when put on a timer or slowed and at risk of missing recovery turns. This typically forces it out against most passive Pokemon that it cannot hit super effectively and makes it hesitant to switch into Pokemon it can otherwise check, such as Taunt + Toxic Yveltal and Glare Zygarde-C.
* Arceus-Fairy is easily trapped and disposed of by both Mega Gengar and Gothitelle, undermining its usefulness as a blanket check and entry hazard setter.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Judgment
move 2: Stealth Rock
move 3: Recover
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
item: Pixie Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Judgment is a reliable Fairy-type STAB move that does significant damage on Pokemon that don't resist it and allows Arceus-Fairy to OHKO the Pokemon it is supposed to check, such as Marshadow, Yveltal, and Mega Salamence.
* Stealth Rock damages foes when they switch in and is almost mandatory in any serious team. Arceus-Fairy's typing and bulk give it a strong matchup against most Defoggers and allow it to keep Stealth Rock up throughout the match.
* Recover keeps Arceus-Fairy healthy to check Dark- and Dragon-types and allows it to set up Stealth Rock several times throughout the match.
* Will-O-Wisp provides Arceus-Fairy with an option to punish Necrozma-DM, a hard-counter to Arceus-Fairy that is also the second-most prominent Pokemon in the metagame. Will-O-Wisp can also be used to debilitate other physical attackers in a pinch.
* Toxic is an alternative status move that allows Arceus-Fairy to have a way of hurting passive Pokemon such as support Arceus formes, which can switch into it without fear otherwise, but running Toxic leaves Necrozma-DM free to switch into Arceus-Fairy repeatedly.
* Fire Blast can be run as an alternative to status moves, allowing Arceus-Fairy to severely damage Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor, which otherwise switch into this set with impunity and respectively set Spikes or use Defog. It also provides Arceus-Fairy with a way to chip at Necrozma-DM, Magearna, and Celesteela.
Set Details
========
* Full investment in HP increases Arceus-Fairy's bulk, allowing it to set up entry hazards reliably throughout the match.
* Maximum Speed investment allows Arceus-Fairy to at worst Speed tie with Mega Salamence as well as Arceus formes.
* An alternative EV spread with 96 Speed EVs and a Timid nature allows Arceus-Fairy to outspeed Pokemon up to positive-natured base 100s, which notably includes Xerneas, Yveltal, Rayquaza, and Palkia, solidly checking all except Xerneas. This allows Arceus-Fairy to invest more in its defenses while still outspeeding its crucial targets.
* 192 Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow Arceus-Fairy to outspeed Mega Lucario and KO it after some chip damage, although Arceus-Fairy must be wary of Bullet Punch. It also outspeeds most variants of Mega Salamence.
* Pixie Plate is needed in order to use Arceus-Fairy and provides it with a steady boost in Judgment's power.
Usage Tips
========
* Arceus-Fairy should be liberally switched into Dragon-, Dark-, and Fighting-type Pokemon such as Mega Salamence, Giratina-O, Arceus-Dark, Yveltal, and Marshadow, forcing them out and thus gaining opportunities to set Stealth Rock or spread status.
* Arceus-Fairy is capable of breaking through Mega Sableye and Mega Diancie with Judgment and fears little from their attacks, so it should be capable of getting Stealth Rock up against Magic Bounce users.
* Play Arceus-Fairy conservatively outside of these favorable matchups, especially while the opponent still has a Defogger in play. Be careful not to get overloaded, as a combination of resisted hits, status damage, and entry hazard damage can cause Arceus-Fairy to fall easily if used to sponge too much damage.
* The first priority when given a free turn should be to set up Stealth Rock. After that, Arceus-Fairy should try to spread Will-O-Wisp if expecting a Steel-type switch-in or Toxic if expecting a defensive switch-in, or it could consider double switching if not carrying the appropriate move.
* If the opponent is running Gothitelle or an already Mega-Evolved Gengar, leaving Arceus-Fairy out should be thought of as sacrificing it. This should definitely never be done if the opponent still has a healthy Defogger, or if the scenario can be avoided in general.
* Avoid being hit with Toxic and Glare when using Arceus-Fairy, as these significantly limit its usefulness as a defensive Pokemon and Stealth Rock setter. On the other hand, being burned does not really annoy Arceus-Fairy much and could even be beneficial, as it prevents Arceus-Fairy from being afflicted by a more annoying status, so switch into Will-O-Wisp if given the opportunity.
Team Options
========
* Stealth Rock Arceus-Fairy gives Necrozma-DM and Primal Groudon the freedom to run offensive sets, and they fit well on bulkier offense and balance teams that do not want to rely on suicide setters, so Arceus-Fairy should be considered on such teams if Necrozma-DM and Primal Groudon wish to run sweeping sets.
* Pokemon such as Necrozma-DM, Zygarde-C, Mega Salamence, Marshadow, Primal Groudon, and Giratina-O appreciate Arceus-Fairy's ability to switch into Dark-, Ghost-, and Dragon-type attacks. Defensive Zygarde-C in particular makes for a good teammate for its ability to switch into hits from Primal Groudon, Ho-Oh, and Necrozma-DM, making a good defensive backbone.
* Arceus-Fairy should be paired with a Defogger such as Giratina-O, Mega Salamence, or Yveltal. These Pokemon are also useful as checks to Primal Groudon.
* Gothitelle makes an excellent core with Arceus-Fairy. Gothitelle traps and disposes of passive Pokemon, notably including support Arceus formes and other Toxic spreaders users Arceus-Fairy cannot handle. This enables Arceus-Fairy to confidently run Will-O-Wisp, which in turn allows Gothitelle to switch into burned Necrozma-DM's attacks to trap it. Arceus-Fairy and Gothitelle together check all of the tier's Defoggers, which combined with Arceus-Fairy's ability to repeatedly set up Stealth Rock allows the team to maintain complete control over the flow of entry hazards mid- and late-game. To a lesser extent but with a Pokemon far easier to fit into teams, these advantages are also present with Mega Gengar.
* Pokemon that can threaten Steel-types for Arceus-Fairy, such as Yveltal, Primal Groudon, and Marshadow, make good partners.
* Arceus-Fairy hates being poisoned or paralyzed, so it appreciates being partnered with a status absorber such as Zygarde-C, Facade Mega Salamence, Magearna, Ferrothorn, or Necrozma-DM or a cleric such as Heal Bell Magearna.
* Arceus-Fairy is a common option when trying to patch up a weakness to Dark-types in teambuilding, so teams with Pokemon such as Necrozma-DM, Marshadow, Lunala, Giratina-O, and others that aren't already partnered with a good switch-in to Dark-types should consider Arceus-Fairy.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Judgment
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Recover
item: Pixie Plate
ability: Multitype
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Calm Mind increases the power of Judgment and Earth Power while increasing Arceus-Fairy's special bulk, making it a threatening sweeper late-game.
* Judgment is a reliable Fairy-type STAB move that no Pokemon are immune to, and it OHKOes most of the Pokemon Arceus-Fairy needs to check unboosted, such as Mega Salamence, Yveltal, and Marshadow.
* Earth Power is a coverage move capable of hitting Fairy-resistant Pokemon like Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM super effectively.
* Recover is a reliable healing move that keeps Arceus-Fairy healthy as it sets up.
* Fire Blast can be run in place of Earth Power, providing a better matchup against Steel-types such as Celesteela, Necrozma-DM, Ferrothorn, and Mega Scizor. However, this leaves Arceus-Fairy without a good way to hit Primal Groudon.
Set Details
========
* Full investment in HP increases Arceus-Fairy's bulk, allowing it to take more hits as it sets up.
* Maximum Speed investment allows Arceus-Fairy to at worst Speed tie with Mega Salamence as well as Arceus formes, making it hard to revenge kill.
* An alternative spread of 96 EVs with a Timid nature allows Arceus-Fairy to outspeed Pokemon up to positive-natured base 100s, which notably includes Xerneas, Yveltal, Rayquaza, and Palkia, solidly checking all except Xerneas. This allows Arceus-Fairy to invest more in its defenses while still outspeeding its crucial targets.
* 192 Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow Arceus-Fairy to outspeed Mega Lucario and KO it after minimal chip or with a Calm Mind boost, although it will still take serious damage from Bullet Punch.
* Pixie Plate is needed to use Arceus-Fairy and have access to Fairy-type Judgment.
Usage Tips
========
* Arceus-Fairy should only try to sweep late-game when its checks have been removed, as Pokemon such as Necrozma-DM easily stop a sweep otherwise. Until late-game, it is best to not use Calm Mind and potentially bluff a more support-oriented set.
* Before setting up, Arceus-Fairy is a good switch-in to Dark-, Dragon-, and Fighting-type attacks from the likes of Yveltal and Marshadow, as part of the advantage of it as a sweeper is that it does not need much preserving throughout the match to be able to sweep and can sponge resisted hits and heal the damage off with Recover.
* Don't overestimate Earth Power's damage against Steel-types, especially through Necrozma-DM's Prism Armor. Even though Arceus-Fairy runs this move, it should still be avoiding Steel-types unless they have serious prior damage.
* Do not allow Arceus-Fairy to get hit by Toxic or paralysis, which will make it unable to sweep. Getting hit by Will-O-Wisp intentionally is a good way to prevent these statuses if possible.
* Calm Mind Arceus-Fairy can break out of Gothitelle's trapping but should be wary of Mega Gengar, which will beat it one-on-one unless it has a boost, and even with that boost, Arceus-Fairy is typically left within range of being revenge killed.
Team Options
========
* Calm Mind Arceus-Fairy fits well on Sticky Web teams, as it can confidently handle the Defoggers that are immune to the entry hazard such as Giratina-O, Mega Salamence, and Yveltal, allowing it to keep Sticky Web up while also being a threatening sweeper.
* Calm Mind Arceus-Fairy is a good Pokemon to add to a bulky offense or balance team that needs a switch-in for Dark-, Dragon-, and Fighting-type attacks that will not lose much momentum. Pokemon found on said team archetypes that fear these attacks, such as Zygarde-C, Giratina-O, Mega Salamence, and Necrozma-DM, benefit from being teamed up with Arceus-Fairy. Zygarde-C and Mega Salamence stand out for their ability to also switch into Arceus-Fairy's checks, such as Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh.
* Trappers can be used to clear the way for Arceus-Fairy to sweep. Mega Gengar can be used to dispose of defensive stops to Arceus-Fairy such as Magearna, Chansey, and Necrozma-DM with Destiny Bond. Gothitelle can trap defensive variants of Necrozma-DM, which could otherwise endlessly switch into Arceus-Fairy, and support Arceus formes that can interrupt a sweep with Toxic. Both Mega Gengar and Gothitelle can also handle the likes of Blissey and Toxapex if they lack Shed Shell.
* Primal Groudon breaks through Steel- and Poison-types with powerful super effective STAB moves and can set up Stealth Rock to help Arceus-Fairy to sweep.
* Wallbreakers such as Primal Kyogre, Rayquaza, and Life Orb Yveltal put pressure on defensive Arceus formes, which can switch into Arceus-Fairy and interrupt a sweep with Toxic if left healthy. These wallbreakers also handle Primal Groudon effectively, which needs to be chipped at significantly for Arceus-Fairy to handle it with a +1 Earth Power.
* As a bulky setup sweeper, Arceus-Fairy appreciates entry hazard support, such as Spikes from Ferrothorn and Stealth Rock from Necrozma-DM and Primal Groudon. Ferrothorn stands out as a partner for its ability to absorb Toxic for Arceus-Fairy.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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* Calm Mind can be run on the Stealth Rock set less as a sweeping tool and more as a way to avoid being taken out by Gothitelle, but Necrozma-DM is a far more common threat.
* Stone Edge can be run to lure and KO Ho-Oh, which switches into Arceus-Fairy freely otherwise, but this similarly is hard to justify over Will-O-Wisp for Necrozma-DM.
* Roar can be run on Arceus-Fairy to phaze setup sweepers and break out of Gothitelle's trapping. However, Arceus-Fairy without Earth Power or a status-inducing move has no way to meaningfully punish Steel-types or Primal Groudon, making it impractically passive for its usual bulky offense builds.
* Defog may seem a viable option on the Stealth Rock set, but Arceus-Fairy has a terrible matchup against most of the tier's entry hazard setters such as Necrozma-DM, Ferrothorn, Toxapex, and Primal Groudon, so the opponent can easily set hazards back up in its face.
* Refresh could be run on the Calm Mind set instead of Earth Power to heal off status and set up on Toxic spreaders, but Arceus-Fairy will completely lose its ability to stand up to Steel-types, Mega Gengar, Toxapex, and Primal Groudon.
Checks and Counters
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**Trappers**: Stealth Rock Arceus-Fairy is very easily switched into, trapped, and disposed of by Gothitelle and Mega Gengar. Calm Mind Arceus-Fairy can stand up to Gothitelle but still loses to Mega Gengar one-on-one unless it has set up a boost or Mega Gengar has taken prior damage.
**Necrozma-DM**: Necrozma-DM is the second-best Pokemon in the tier and a hard-counter to Arceus-Fairy; Necrozma-DM 2HKOes Arceus-Fairy with Sunsteel Strike regardless of either Pokemon's set and can take advantage of Arceus-Fairy as it switches out to set up Stealth Rock, spread status, or set up offensive boosts and threaten a sweep. If Arceus-Fairy is not running Will-O-Wisp, it struggles to punish Necrozma-DM meaningfully, and even burned Necrozma-DM checks Arceus-Fairy confidently.
**Primal Groudon**: While Stealth Rock Arceus-Fairy can annoy Primal Groudon with Toxic and Calm Mind Arceus-Fairy can do meaningful chip damage with Earth Power, Primal Groudon's attacks hit for more than Arceus-Fairy can heal and overwhelm it, and Primal Groudon can usually set up boosts fairly comfortably against Arceus-Fairy, making it a good check.
**Ho-Oh**: Although it dislikes being hit by Toxic, Ho-Oh can generally switch into Arceus-Fairy confidently. Defensive sets carry Toxic, and trading Toxic usually puts the Ho-Oh user at an advantage, while the Choice Band set hits for more than Arceus-Fairy can heal and pushes the Arceus-Fairy user to switch into a strong attack.
**Steel-types**: Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor have nothing to fear from Arceus-Fairy bar the rare Fire Blast and can freely switch in to set entry hazards and spread status, respectively. Magearna can steal boosts from Calm Mind Arceus-Fairy with Heart Swap and use Stealth Rock Arceus-Fairy to heal with Pain Split without fear. Celesteela can set up Leech Seed and threaten Arceus-Fairy with Heavy Slam, outlasting it easily bar the rare Calm Mind + Fire Blast set. Aegislash 2HKOes Arceus-Fairy with Gyro Ball and is at worst inconvenienced by Will-O-Wisp.
**Primal Kyogre**: Offensive Primal Kyogre sets hit Arceus-Fairy for much more than it can heal and do not really fear switching in, while defensive Primal Kyogre sets can endlessly take Arceus-Fairy's attacks and status moves and can heal with Rest. Primal Kyogre defeats Arceus-Fairy in a Calm Mind war.
**Status Spreaders**: Being hit by Toxic will put Arceus-Fairy on a timer, preventing it from keeping up Stealth Rock or setting up for a sweep. Similarly, paralysis will take away its Speed and also threaten to make Arceus-Fairy overwhelmed by the attacks it is supposed to switch into if it misses Recover turns. Because of this, Arceus-Fairy is usually forced out by status spreaders such as support Arceus formes, and it is even hesitant to switch into some of its usual targets, such as Yveltal and Zygarde-C, if they could potentially spread status onto it.
**Poison-types**: Though rare, Toxapex will completely wall Arceus-Fairy's attacks, hazing away boosts accumulated by Calm Mind sets and taking advantage of free turns to set Toxic Spikes. Naganadel will also threaten Arceus-Fairy by outspeeding it and hitting it with devastating super effective STAB Poison-type attacks.
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