Arceus-Dark
Type: Dark
Stats: 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120
Abilities: Multitype
Introduction
What Arceus-Dark offers that virtually nothing else in the tier offers is a bulky yet fast stall-breaker with few exploitable weaknesses (the Fairy type being the only common attacking type in the tier which it is weak to) and a STAB which has so few resistances in the tier that it can afford to run Refresh alongside rather than a coverage move, making it almost entirely invulnerable to status. Although there is opportunity cost in running it over another Arceus form, it is not to be overlooked, for it is a powerful threat with an important yet uncommon typing - one that lets it check major threats such as Arceus-Ghost and Mewtwo - that can certainly be challenging to take down.
Sets
MonoCM
Arceus-Dark @ Dread Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 HP / 80 SpA / 176 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Judgment
- Recover
- Calm Mind
- Refresh
Set Details
Judgment is its STAB - strong, reliable, and with good PP. Recover gives it necessary staying power, and Calm Mind lets it boost up and threaten teams. Refresh is chosen in the last slot as there are few Dark-type resists in the tier, and many of them are either frail enough that they can be worn down by repeated hits, particularly with the assistance of hazards, or rely on status options (such as is the case with Klefki) to beat most threats. It makes it harder in general for stall to handle it, forcing them to run a dedicated answer such as Snatch Chansey or a powerful Fairy-type such as Xerneas or Sylveon.
The EVs push its speed up high enough to outpace the Lati twins, two important Pokemon which Arceus-Dark checks effectively. 252 HP EVs are used to increase Arceus-Dark's impressive overall bulk, with the remaining EVs thrown into Special Attack to maximise its power, though moving those EVs into Defense or Special Defense is perfectly reasonable too. It can be run faster or slower: 252 EVs in Speed is an option, letting it speed tie other Arceus forms, and 96 Speed EVs still enables it to outspeed Palkia and numerous other Pokemon, which is an option if Latias is already well-covered.
An alternative approach is to utilise Will-O-Wisp over Refresh. This makes it an even better answer to Arceus-Ghost and also enables it to check physical attackers such as Ekiller and Rayquaza. It's worse as a sweeper but provides more valuable utility by going this route.
Other Options
Dark Pulse is a less powerful STAB option with a 20% chance to flinch, however Judgment's greater power is preferred. Sludge Bomb is an option over Refresh, giving it nearly perfect coverage (although Pokemon such as Klefki and Tyranitar resist both Sludge Bomb and Judgment), but Arceus-Dark generally prefers the invulnerability to status which Refresh offers. A set based around Defog is an option, although Arceus-Ghost checks many of the same things and more, making Arceus-Dark arguably somewhat outclassed as a Defog user.
Checks and Counters
Fighting- and Fairy-types resist Arceus-Dark's Dark-type STAB and can hit it back super-effectively. Mega Blaziken and Mega Lucario are good examples of strong Fighting-type which can manage Arceus-Dark and pile on the offensive pressure, whilst Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy are powerful Fairy-types that handle Arceus-Dark comfortably. Other Dark-types resist Arceus-Dark's STAB but cannot necessarily do much in return. Tyranitar with moves such as Low Kick or Roar can definitely put a stop on Arceus-Dark achieving much, although Tyranitar is liable to being worn down over time, particularly if Arceus-Dark is paired with teammates such as the Lati twins which Tyranitar switches into and takes damage from as it scares them out, and Tyranitar lacks reliable recovery options. Genesect doesn't resist Arceus-Dark's STAB, but it hits it back super-effectively with U-turn, dealing impressive damage, letting it keep Arceus-Dark under control and generating momentum for its teammates. Special walls such as Snatch Chansey or Ho-Oh can be used to keep Arceus-Dark in check, but they have to keep the pressure on it to work. Hyper Offense teams can keep it under control through offensive pressure.
Type: Dark
Stats: 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120
Abilities: Multitype
Introduction
What Arceus-Dark offers that virtually nothing else in the tier offers is a bulky yet fast stall-breaker with few exploitable weaknesses (the Fairy type being the only common attacking type in the tier which it is weak to) and a STAB which has so few resistances in the tier that it can afford to run Refresh alongside rather than a coverage move, making it almost entirely invulnerable to status. Although there is opportunity cost in running it over another Arceus form, it is not to be overlooked, for it is a powerful threat with an important yet uncommon typing - one that lets it check major threats such as Arceus-Ghost and Mewtwo - that can certainly be challenging to take down.
Sets
MonoCM
Arceus-Dark @ Dread Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 HP / 80 SpA / 176 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Judgment
- Recover
- Calm Mind
- Refresh
Set Details
Judgment is its STAB - strong, reliable, and with good PP. Recover gives it necessary staying power, and Calm Mind lets it boost up and threaten teams. Refresh is chosen in the last slot as there are few Dark-type resists in the tier, and many of them are either frail enough that they can be worn down by repeated hits, particularly with the assistance of hazards, or rely on status options (such as is the case with Klefki) to beat most threats. It makes it harder in general for stall to handle it, forcing them to run a dedicated answer such as Snatch Chansey or a powerful Fairy-type such as Xerneas or Sylveon.
The EVs push its speed up high enough to outpace the Lati twins, two important Pokemon which Arceus-Dark checks effectively. 252 HP EVs are used to increase Arceus-Dark's impressive overall bulk, with the remaining EVs thrown into Special Attack to maximise its power, though moving those EVs into Defense or Special Defense is perfectly reasonable too. It can be run faster or slower: 252 EVs in Speed is an option, letting it speed tie other Arceus forms, and 96 Speed EVs still enables it to outspeed Palkia and numerous other Pokemon, which is an option if Latias is already well-covered.
An alternative approach is to utilise Will-O-Wisp over Refresh. This makes it an even better answer to Arceus-Ghost and also enables it to check physical attackers such as Ekiller and Rayquaza. It's worse as a sweeper but provides more valuable utility by going this route.
Other Options
Dark Pulse is a less powerful STAB option with a 20% chance to flinch, however Judgment's greater power is preferred. Sludge Bomb is an option over Refresh, giving it nearly perfect coverage (although Pokemon such as Klefki and Tyranitar resist both Sludge Bomb and Judgment), but Arceus-Dark generally prefers the invulnerability to status which Refresh offers. A set based around Defog is an option, although Arceus-Ghost checks many of the same things and more, making Arceus-Dark arguably somewhat outclassed as a Defog user.
Checks and Counters
Fighting- and Fairy-types resist Arceus-Dark's Dark-type STAB and can hit it back super-effectively. Mega Blaziken and Mega Lucario are good examples of strong Fighting-type which can manage Arceus-Dark and pile on the offensive pressure, whilst Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy are powerful Fairy-types that handle Arceus-Dark comfortably. Other Dark-types resist Arceus-Dark's STAB but cannot necessarily do much in return. Tyranitar with moves such as Low Kick or Roar can definitely put a stop on Arceus-Dark achieving much, although Tyranitar is liable to being worn down over time, particularly if Arceus-Dark is paired with teammates such as the Lati twins which Tyranitar switches into and takes damage from as it scares them out, and Tyranitar lacks reliable recovery options. Genesect doesn't resist Arceus-Dark's STAB, but it hits it back super-effectively with U-turn, dealing impressive damage, letting it keep Arceus-Dark under control and generating momentum for its teammates. Special walls such as Snatch Chansey or Ho-Oh can be used to keep Arceus-Dark in check, but they have to keep the pressure on it to work. Hyper Offense teams can keep it under control through offensive pressure.