[OVERVIEW]
Arceus-Ground is one of the tier's most dangerous sweepers, exploiting the tier’s scarcity of Ground-type checks and the valuable offensive benefits of Ground. Very few Pokemon in the tier can take its Earthquake and Stone Edge, making it a ferocious sweeper that can decimate many teams after a single Dragon Dance. Arceus-Ground is also a Ground-type sweeper that Ho-Oh, the most common Ground immunity and physical check, cannot check without Terastallization. However, the few Ground-type checks are among the best Pokemon in the tier despite their scarcity, with Landorus-T and Giratina-O in particular being difficult for Arceus-Ground to get past without specific coverage. Phazing is also not uncommon in the tier, with Giratina-O, Arceus-Water, and Terastallized Ho-Oh being bulky enough to consistently repeatedly phaze Arceus-Ground. Furthermore, because of Species Clause, Arceus-Ground's lack of bulk compared to other Arceus formes and the fact it cannot be used alongside Arceus-Fairy makes it incredibly difficult to justify using Arceus-Ground outside of hyper offense. Overall, Arceus-Ground is a potent sweeper that demands great respect when considering the hyper offense matchup.
[SET]
Dragon Dance (Arceus-Ground) @ Earth Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 132 HP / 252 Atk / 124 Spe
Tera Type: Fire / Ground / Water
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Recover / Ice Beam / Shadow Claw
[SET COMMENTS]
Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground is a dangerous sweeper and late-game cleaner for hyper offense because of the limited amount of Pokemon that can take boosted Earthquake and Stone Edge. Stone Edge is needed to OHKO Ho-Oh and does good damage to Tera Flying Zacian-C. Recover is often the preferred move, as it gives Arceus-Ground additional longevity, letting it beat Landorus-T long-term and heal off damage that Koraidon, Zacian-C, defensive Arceus-Fairy, and Eternatus can do while Arceus-Ground sets up, letting it avoid revenge killing attempts. Ice Beam allows Arceus-Ground to threaten to OHKO Landorus-T, especially with Stealth Rock, easily allowing a partner like Koraidon, Zacian-C, and Kingambit to run wild. Shadow Claw is Arceus-Ground’s strongest option against Giratina-O and Lunala, being able to 2HKO Giratina-O at +1 with Stealth Rock and Lunala through Shadow Shield. However, Arceus-Ground becomes unable to beat Landorus-T with Shadow Claw, so it must rely on teammates like Koraidon and Zacian-C to weaken Landorus-T before attempting to sweep. 124 Speed allows Arceus-Ground to outspeed Timid Kyogre without a boost and +1 Koraidon at +2. Tera Fire gives Arceus-Ground a burn immunity and Fire, Steel, and Fairy resistances, allowing it to set up more safely against Ho-Oh, Zacian-C, and Koraidon Choice-locked into Flare Blitz. Tera Ground allows Arceus-Ground to get KOs on bulky Pokemon that can otherwise survive boosted Earthquake, namely Koraidon and Terastallized Eternatus at +1 and Terstallized Ho-Oh at +2. Tera Ground also guarantees a 2HKO against defensive Arceus-Fairy and Arceus-Water with +1 Earthquake. Tera Water allows Arceus-Ground to set up on Zacian-C and Koraidon Choice-locked into Flare Blitz. Unlike Tera Fire, though, Tera Water's additional resistances to Water and Ice in conjunction with the lack of a Ground weakness allows Arceus-Ground to check and set up on Kyogre and Calyrex-I.
Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground only fits on hyper offense, where it is a staple for its ability to offensively check Zacian-C and threaten or overwhelm physical checks like Landorus-T. Hyper offense also appreciates Arceus-Ground potentially being able to set up against defensive Arceus formes, like Fairy and Water, utilizing its Thunder Wave immunity and possibility of Tera Fire's burn immunity to set up. Arceus-Ground pairs very well with Koraidon and Zacian-C, as together they are able to overwhelm shared checks like Ho-Oh, Kyogre, defensive Arceus-Fairy, Arceus-Water, and Landorus-T. Arceus-Ground also enjoys the support of Ribombee, Glimmora, Deoxys-S, and Grimmsnarl, taking advantage of the entry hazards or dual screens they set to more easily set up and sweep. Special attackers like Eternatus and Lunala are also good partners, as they threaten checks to Arceus-Ground, like Landorus-T and Giratina-O, can punish revenge killing attempts from Koraidon and Kyogre, and appreciate Arceus-Ground’s ability to threaten or wear down their checks, like Ting-Lu, Ho-Oh, and Kingambit.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Tera Ghost can be used to avoid revenge killing attempts from Extreme Killer Arceus' Extreme Speed and Koraidon’s Low Kick, but this does not provide enough value to justify using it over Tera Fire, Ground, or Water.
Checks and Counters
====
**Giratina-O**: With its typing, Levitate, and great physical bulk, Giratina-O is the best check to Arceus-Ground in the tier, able to take boosted Stone Edge with ease even with Stealth Rock. Giratina-O can even phaze Arceus-Ground with Dragon Tail, forcing it to take more damage when setting up. Tera Steel Giratina-O also fears nothing from Arceus-Ground and can phaze it endlessly. However, Giratina-O's lack of recovery means it cannot check Arceus-Ground long-term.
**Landorus-T**: Landorus-T is a good check to Arceus-Ground with its typing and access to Intimidate. However, it must be wary of Ice Beam or getting overwhelmed by repeated hits and Stealth Rock, especially if it is the most relied-upon check to Zacian-C. Furthermore, its disappointing power means Landorus-T cannot check Recover Arceus-Ground on its own.
**Phazing**: Giratina-O, Arceus-Water, Ting-Lu, and Terastallized Ho-Oh are bulky enough to take an attack from +1 Arceus-Ground and phaze it out. However, Ting-Lu's lack of recovery means phazing Arceus-Ground opens it up to getting overwhelmed by Eternatus later on, and Ho-Oh's need to Terastallize to phaze Arceus-Ground can be exploited by Koraidon and Zacian-C.
**Water-types**: Bulky Kyogre and Arceus-Water are able to survive even +1 Tera Ground Earthquake. In response, Kyogre threatens to OHKO Arceus-Ground with Origin Pulse, though this can be thwarted by Tera Water, and Arceus-Water threatens to burn or phaze Arceus-Ground.
**Ice-types**: Calyrex-I can easily take any attack from +1 Arceus-Ground and threatens it back with Trick Room and Glacial Lance. Kyurem-B and Chien-Pao are faster than unboosted Arceus-Ground and threaten it with Ice STAB. However, Calyrex-I struggles greatly against Tera Water, while Kyurem-B and Chien-Pao cannot check boosted Arceus-Ground.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/oreospeedruns.597293/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lana.374620/
[QC checker 2's profile link]
Grammar checked by:
[GP checker's profile link]
Last edited:
