Competitive Information for Arceus [Sun/Moon]
Normal
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Arceus? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sun/Moon Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Sun/Moon generation metagame.
Arceus is an extraordinary Normal-typed Pokemon. It's common to find yourself dealing with Arceus when battling in the 7th generation meta. Arceus is considered strong enough to compete with Uber tiered Pokemon. Arceus's only type-related weakness is Fighting.
Item: Normalium Z / Life Orb
Ability: Multitype
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 172 Hp / 252 Atk / 84 Spe
Moveset:
- Return / Extreme Speed
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Shadow Claw
Physical Sweeper Arceus (Multitype)
Arceus is a legendary Physical Sweeper. It's designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Life Orb boosts the power of Arceus's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. Arceus's ability Multitype changes it's typing based on the item it's holding. Arceus's default typing becomes Normal when it's not holding a Multitype triggering item.
♦ Extreme Speed is a physical STAB-boosted priority-increased 80-base power Normal-type move (nearly always goes first).
♦ Outrage is a physical 120-base power Dragon-type move (lasts 2-3 turns. confuses your Arceus afterwards).
♦ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
♦ Shadow Claw is a physical 70-base power Ghost-type move (high critical hit ratio).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/hs10a1ed
Item: Normalium Z / Life Orb
Ability: Multitype
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 172 Hp / 252 SpA / 84 Spe
Moveset:
- Judgment / Hyper Voice
- Spacial Rend / Draco Meteor
- Overheat
- Thunderbolt
Special Sweeper Arceus (Multitype)
Arceus is a legendary Special Sweeper. This moveset attempts to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Life Orb boosts the power of Arceus's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. Arceus's ability Multitype changes it's typing based on the item it's holding. Arceus's default typing becomes Normal when it's not holding a Multitype triggering item.
♦ Hyper Voice is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Normal-type move (no additional effect. hits adjacent foes).
♦ Spacial Rend is a special 100-base power Dragon-type move (high critical hit ratio).
♦ Draco Meteor is a special 130-base power Dragon-type move (lowers your Arceus's special attack by 2 stages).
♦ Overheat is a special 130-base power Fire-type move (lowers your Arceus's special attack by 2 stages).
♦ Thunderbolt is a special 90-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/hs11a1ed
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Arceus? These builds have been optimized for Sun/Moon Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Sun/Moon generation metagame.
Item: Normalium Z / Life Orb
Ability: Multitype
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 172 Hp / 252 Atk / 84 Spe
Moveset:
- Return / Extreme Speed
- Earthquake / Bulldoze
- Rock Slide
- Outrage
Doubles Physical Sweeper Arceus (Multitype)
Arceus is a legendary Physical Sweeper. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Life Orb boosts the power of Arceus's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. Arceus's ability Multitype changes it's typing based on the item it's holding. Arceus's default typing becomes Normal when it's not holding a Multitype triggering item.
♦ Extreme Speed is a physical STAB-boosted priority-increased 80-base power Normal-type move (nearly always goes first).
♦ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
♦ Bulldoze is a physical 60-base power Ground-type move (100% chance lower adjacent pkmn speed by 1 stage).
♦ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to flinch the foes).
♦ Outrage is a physical 120-base power Dragon-type move (lasts 2-3 turns. confuses your Arceus afterwards).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/hd10a1ed
Item: Normalium Z / Life Orb
Ability: Multitype
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 172 Hp / 252 SpA / 84 Spe
Moveset:
- Hyper Voice / Judgment
- Heat Wave / Incinerate
- Surf
- Spacial Rend / Draco Meteor
Doubles Special Sweeper Arceus (Multitype)
Arceus is a legendary Special Sweeper. It was designed to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Life Orb boosts the power of Arceus's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. Arceus's ability Multitype changes it's typing based on the item it's holding. Arceus's default typing becomes Normal when it's not holding a Multitype triggering item.
♦ Judgment is a special STAB-boosted 100-base power Normal-type move (type varies based on the held plate).
♦ Heat Wave is a special 95-base power Fire-type move (10% chance to burn the foes).
♦ Incinerate is a special 60-base power Fire-type move (destroys the foes berry/gem).
♦ Surf is a special 90-base power Water-type move (hits adjacent pokemon. double damage on dive).
♦ Spacial Rend is a special 100-base power Dragon-type move (high critical hit ratio).
♦ Draco Meteor is a special 130-base power Dragon-type move (lowers your Arceus's special attack by 2 stages).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/hd11a1ed
Item: Normalium Z / Life Orb
Ability: Multitype
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Moveset:
- Return / Extreme Speed
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Trick Room
Offensive Trick Room Arceus (Multitype)
Arceus is a legendary Offensive Trick Room. Life Orb boosts the power of Arceus's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. Arceus's ability Multitype changes it's typing based on the item it's holding. Arceus's default typing becomes Normal when it's not holding a Multitype triggering item.
♦ Extreme Speed is a physical STAB-boosted priority-increased 80-base power Normal-type move (nearly always goes first).
♦ Outrage is a physical 120-base power Dragon-type move (lasts 2-3 turns. confuses your Arceus afterwards).
♦ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
♦ Trick Room is a status move (goes last. for 5 turns, turn order is reversed).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/hd12a1ed
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Arceus learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Arceus can perform in Sun/Moon. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive SM Move and Ability Combos for Arceus
- Moves: Sunny day + Solar beam
- Moves: Safeguard + Outrage
- Moves: Swagger + Psych up
- Moves: Rain dance + Thunder
- Moves: Swagger + Punishment
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Moves: Thunderbolt + Ice beam
- Moves: Perish song + Protect
- Moves: Whirlpool + Perish song
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Magic Coat, Protect, Extreme Speed
- Moves that Break Screens: Defog, Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave, Toxic
Moves that boost Arceus's stats
- Ancient Power
- Calm Mind
- Charge Beam
- Cosmic Power
- Hone Claws
- Iron Defense
- Ominous Wind
- Silver Wind
- Swords Dance
- Work Up
Most notable and possible best moves for Arceus
- Blast Burn
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power
- Hydro Cannon
- Ice Beam
- Light Screen
- Protect
- Reflect
- Rest
- Roar of Time
- Snarl
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Arceus in Sun and Moon
- Nature ( )
- Nature ( )
- Optimize Arceus's EV spread for Pokemon Sun and Moon
Related Videos
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Here are the best movesets for Arceus. Top rated Arceus Sun/Moon movesets. You can find Arceus builds Sun/Moon. Arceus movesets Sun/Moon are listed here. VGC Arceus Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Arceus in Sun/Moon along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution