Arceus

Legal regulations: regulation-m-a

Arceus is the ultimate flexible restricted slot in Regulation M-A: its Multitype ability lets it adopt almost any typing, which means its only fixed weakness is Fighting and its offensive profile can be tuned to the exact gap in your team. That flexibility is both its strength and its burden, because in open team sheets opponents see your Arceus's Tera-independent typing and can plan around it. The most common builds are a bulky defensive Arceus with Judgment and Recover to wall special attackers, or a utility set with Will-O-Wisp, Defog or screens to support a setup teammate. Its stats are all around excellent but nothing is exceptional, so it rarely wins games by itself — it wins them by being unkillable and flexible. Arceus struggles against the format's strongest physical breakers and against Knock Off, which removes its precious item. Pair it with a partner that covers Fighting pressure and a clear win condition, because a flexible glue piece without a plan is just a very durable delay. In the right team it is the most adaptable restricted Pokémon in the format.

Use this page to understand Arceus's role in the current VGC metagame. Check the base stats and Level 50 benchmarks to plan your EV spreads. Review common moves, items, abilities and Tera types to see what the community uses most. The partners section shows which Pokémon pair well with Arceus, while counters and checks highlight what to watch out for in team preview.

Last updated: July 2026 (Regulation Set M-A). Data is based on available competitive trends and editorial review.

Arceus performs best when its role is clearly defined in team preview. As a Physical Attacker and Special Attacker Pokémon, focus on positioning it where it can execute its job without being forced into unfavorable exchanges.

When teambuilding, pair Arceus with Pokémon that cover its type weaknesses (see counters section below) and provide the speed control or redirection it needs to function. Review the common moves and items section for established sets, then adjust based on your team's specific needs.