[OVERVIEW]
Arceus-Water is a solid defensive pick in Ubers, being one of the best answers to hard-to-check threats like Dragon Dance Necrozma-DM, Arceus-Ground, offensive Ho-Oh, Calyrex-I, Chien-Pao, Rayquaza, and Kyogre lacking Thunder. While it cannot compare to Arceus-Fairy in terms of taking on Koraidon, its resistance to Flare Blitz makes Arceus-Water a decent check in combination with other Koraidon switch-ins like Landorus-T. Arceus-Water can spread burns and paralysis with relative freedom, as it discourages Ground-types from switching in and the use of Tera Fire, not to mention that Calm Mind makes it a decent setup sweeper in combination with massive Defense investment. The most notable flaw of Arceus-Water is that it invites arguably the most threatening Pokemon in the tier, Miraidon, to come in with little risk; it is also quite passive and vulnerable to being worn down over time.
Defensive (Arceus-Water) @ Splash Plate
Ability: Multitype
Tera Type: Fairy / Poison
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
- Judgment
- Ice Beam / Dragon Tail
- Calm Mind / Thunder Wave / Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
[SET COMMENTS]
While Judgment has decent neutral coverage by itself, it's weakened by how common sun is, so a secondary attack is necessary. Ice Beam is usually chosen as the best option to hit switch-ins like Miraidon and Clodsire. Dragon Tail can rack up entry hazard damage and has good synergy with Arceus-Water's status options. Since Arceus-Water can often check most threats without status, Calm Mind is a great option to turn it into a solid win condition. Alternatively, Thunder Wave can cripple Ho-Oh and Tera Fire users like Koraidon, Necrozma-DM, and Calyrex-I, making it a safe option. Will-O-Wisp may be used to more solidly check physical threats. Do note that Tera Fire can put a stop to this, especially from Koraidon, which doesn't mind taking Judgment in the sun; therefore, Dragon Tail is highly recommended for Will-O-Wisp sets to mitigate this risk. Tera Fairy allows Arceus-Water to take boosted Scale Shot from Koraidon, while Tera Poison is possible on Calm Mind sets to prevent Arceus-Water from being crippled by Toxic from Eternatus, Clodsire, and specially defensive Gliscor. The EVs maximize Defense investment while outspeeding all neutral-natured base 90 Speed Pokemon.
Arceus-Water works best when it has other walls to back it up against powerful wallbreakers like Koraidon. Landorus-T has fantastic synergy with Arceus-Water, checking Pokemon like Zacian-C and Zekrom, and its Intimidate and Rocky Helmet support makes Koraidon much easier to handle. Necrozma-DM can check Zacian-C and Kyurem-B and appreciates Arceus-Water handling Calyrex-I. Ting-Lu is the most solid switch-in to Miraidon that often come in on Arceus-Water, making it a highly recommended teammate. Meanwhile, Clodsire can absorb Toxic Spikes and check Miraidon and Kyogre. Miraidon can help against Kyogre sets that have Thunder while also bringing in Arceus-Water easily with U-turn. Skeledirge likes Arceus-Water dealing with Ho-Oh and can handle Koraidon and Zacian-C for it in return. Flutter Mane is a good offensive partner that forces difficult decisions on opposing Koraidon as to what move to choose; using anything but Flare Blitz allows Flutter Mane in for free, while Flare Blitz allows Arceus-Water to switch in easily.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Dragon Dance sets are possible, but are too limited by Koraidon's sun and are generally outclassed by Extreme Killer Arceus and Arceus-Ground.
Checks and Counters
====
**Miraidon**: Miraidon can come in quite easily, as it can stomach an Ice Beam without much worry and blow past even a boosted Arceus-Water.
**Poison**: Eternatus and Clodsire can take even a boosted Ice Beam and immediately threaten Arceus-Water with Toxic, though they must be wary of Tera Poison. Specially defensive Gliscor is not OHKOed by Ice Beam or Judgment and thus can retaliate with Toxic. All of the aforementioned Pokemon can also set Toxic Spikes, which is devastating for Arceus-Water's longevity.
**Kyogre**: Kyogre can switch in without too much worry and use Thunder or Thunder Wave, both of which can cripple Arceus-Water. However, Kyogre will lose to Calm Mind sets if it lacks Thunder.
**Arceus-Grass**: Though rare, Arceus-Grass can boost alongside Arceus-Water and deal devastating damage at any time with Grass Knot.
**Sun**: Though Koraidon itself prefers to not be on the field when Arceus-Water is, the sun that it brings cripples the damage output that Arceus-Water would normally provide.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
[https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/manaphy.50695/]
Quality checked by:
[https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/corvere.306317/]
[https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/taka.595062/]
Grammar checked by:
[https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aurora.109385/]
Arceus-Water is a solid defensive pick in Ubers, being one of the best answers to hard-to-check threats like Dragon Dance Necrozma-DM, Arceus-Ground, offensive Ho-Oh, Calyrex-I, Chien-Pao, Rayquaza, and Kyogre lacking Thunder. While it cannot compare to Arceus-Fairy in terms of taking on Koraidon, its resistance to Flare Blitz makes Arceus-Water a decent check in combination with other Koraidon switch-ins like Landorus-T. Arceus-Water can spread burns and paralysis with relative freedom, as it discourages Ground-types from switching in and the use of Tera Fire, not to mention that Calm Mind makes it a decent setup sweeper in combination with massive Defense investment. The most notable flaw of Arceus-Water is that it invites arguably the most threatening Pokemon in the tier, Miraidon, to come in with little risk; it is also quite passive and vulnerable to being worn down over time.
Defensive (Arceus-Water) @ Splash Plate
Ability: Multitype
Tera Type: Fairy / Poison
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
- Judgment
- Ice Beam / Dragon Tail
- Calm Mind / Thunder Wave / Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
[SET COMMENTS]
While Judgment has decent neutral coverage by itself, it's weakened by how common sun is, so a secondary attack is necessary. Ice Beam is usually chosen as the best option to hit switch-ins like Miraidon and Clodsire. Dragon Tail can rack up entry hazard damage and has good synergy with Arceus-Water's status options. Since Arceus-Water can often check most threats without status, Calm Mind is a great option to turn it into a solid win condition. Alternatively, Thunder Wave can cripple Ho-Oh and Tera Fire users like Koraidon, Necrozma-DM, and Calyrex-I, making it a safe option. Will-O-Wisp may be used to more solidly check physical threats. Do note that Tera Fire can put a stop to this, especially from Koraidon, which doesn't mind taking Judgment in the sun; therefore, Dragon Tail is highly recommended for Will-O-Wisp sets to mitigate this risk. Tera Fairy allows Arceus-Water to take boosted Scale Shot from Koraidon, while Tera Poison is possible on Calm Mind sets to prevent Arceus-Water from being crippled by Toxic from Eternatus, Clodsire, and specially defensive Gliscor. The EVs maximize Defense investment while outspeeding all neutral-natured base 90 Speed Pokemon.
Arceus-Water works best when it has other walls to back it up against powerful wallbreakers like Koraidon. Landorus-T has fantastic synergy with Arceus-Water, checking Pokemon like Zacian-C and Zekrom, and its Intimidate and Rocky Helmet support makes Koraidon much easier to handle. Necrozma-DM can check Zacian-C and Kyurem-B and appreciates Arceus-Water handling Calyrex-I. Ting-Lu is the most solid switch-in to Miraidon that often come in on Arceus-Water, making it a highly recommended teammate. Meanwhile, Clodsire can absorb Toxic Spikes and check Miraidon and Kyogre. Miraidon can help against Kyogre sets that have Thunder while also bringing in Arceus-Water easily with U-turn. Skeledirge likes Arceus-Water dealing with Ho-Oh and can handle Koraidon and Zacian-C for it in return. Flutter Mane is a good offensive partner that forces difficult decisions on opposing Koraidon as to what move to choose; using anything but Flare Blitz allows Flutter Mane in for free, while Flare Blitz allows Arceus-Water to switch in easily.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Dragon Dance sets are possible, but are too limited by Koraidon's sun and are generally outclassed by Extreme Killer Arceus and Arceus-Ground.
Checks and Counters
====
**Miraidon**: Miraidon can come in quite easily, as it can stomach an Ice Beam without much worry and blow past even a boosted Arceus-Water.
**Poison**: Eternatus and Clodsire can take even a boosted Ice Beam and immediately threaten Arceus-Water with Toxic, though they must be wary of Tera Poison. Specially defensive Gliscor is not OHKOed by Ice Beam or Judgment and thus can retaliate with Toxic. All of the aforementioned Pokemon can also set Toxic Spikes, which is devastating for Arceus-Water's longevity.
**Kyogre**: Kyogre can switch in without too much worry and use Thunder or Thunder Wave, both of which can cripple Arceus-Water. However, Kyogre will lose to Calm Mind sets if it lacks Thunder.
**Arceus-Grass**: Though rare, Arceus-Grass can boost alongside Arceus-Water and deal devastating damage at any time with Grass Knot.
**Sun**: Though Koraidon itself prefers to not be on the field when Arceus-Water is, the sun that it brings cripples the damage output that Arceus-Water would normally provide.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
[https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/manaphy.50695/]
Quality checked by:
[https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/corvere.306317/]
[https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/taka.595062/]
Grammar checked by:
[https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aurora.109385/]
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