Taking over from drcossack, whose old analysis can be found here. The analysis already passed QC, so it can be put in Copyediting straightaway.
[Overview]
<p>The Creator assumes the guise of the mythical dragon of yore upon donning the Draco Plate. Writhe in horror as the Original One shows the true power of the dragon, and dare not incur His divine wrath unless you are imbued with the power of cold steel, lest you may get squashed by His Outrage. Dragon Arceus absorbs the fiery blasts and the torrential downpours in His draconian guise with His wonderful bulk and scaly hide, but shudders when confronted with the frigid blasts of Ice-types and powerful blows of his fellow Dragons. Despite these flaws, dare not confront Dragon Arceus unless you are fully prepared for it, or all you hold dear will be obliterated in an instant.</p>
[SET]
Name: Swords Dance
Move 1: Swords Dance
Move 2: Outrage
Move 3: Earthquake
Move 4: ExtremeSpeed
item: Draco Plate
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature: Adamant
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Though Dragon Arceus might not look like much when compared with more threatening Arceus formes such as Extremekiller Arceus, its STAB Outrage poses a major threat and its own ExtremeSpeed still deals respectable amounts of damage to anything that doesn't resist it. With its fantastic offensive stats, Dragon Arceus has no difficulty pulling off a Swords Dance set, hitting a mind-boggling 744 Attack stat after just one turn of setup. What sets it apart from other Arceus formes utilizing Swords Dance (Normal Arceus in particular) is the incredible power of its STAB Outrage, which blasts common Dragon-type Pokemon in the metagame into oblivion as well as anything that doesn't resist it. Earthquake pairs wonderfully with Outrage, smashing the Steel-types which resist Outrage hard. Finally, ExtremeSpeed finishes off weakened threats in addition to severely hurting healthy Choice Scarf users who wish to revenge kill Dragon Arceus. However, it must be noted that Steel-types immune to Earthquake, such as Skarmory, will wall Dragon Arceus completely and phaze it with ease.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EV spread is straightforward, allowing Dragon Arceus to hit as hard and fast as possible, while an Adamant nature maximizes its Attack. However, due to the ubiquity of Dragon- and Ice-type attacks in Ubers, an alternative EV spread of 72 HP / 252 Atk / 184 Spe with a Jolly nature can be used, giving Arceus more bulk and the ability to outspeed base 111s such as Thundurus.</p>
<p>Choice Scarf users such as Garchomp and Zekrom can survive a +2 ExtremeSpeed and give Dragon Arceus a taste of its own medicine by revenge killing it with Outrage. Thus, walls such as Lugia and Groudon are great teammates for Dragon Arceus, as they can check these threats with ease. Ferrothorn does a fantastic job as well, as it can KO or severely hurt Garchomp and Zekrom with Gyro Ball and Iron Barbs, even though the latter has a Steel-type resistance. Specially-based Choice Scarf users such as Dialga and Palkia are also a headache for Dragon Arceus, making special walls such as Chansey, Blissey, and Kyogre good teammates for Dragon Arceus as well. Chansey and Blissey, in addition to sponging special attacks, can also support Dragon Arceus very well with Wish and Heal Bell, and cripple the opponent with Thunder Wave. Skarmory will also wall this set, making Magnezone a great partner for Dragon Arceus, as it can trap and eliminate Steel-types with ease.</p>
[SET]
Name: Calm Mind
Move 1: Calm Mind
Move 2: Judgment
Move 3: Recover
Move 4: Earth Power / Fire Blast
item: Draco Plate
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With Dragon-type attacks being resisted only by Steel-types, Dragon Arceus can run a very effective Calm Mind set. Calm Mind, while not providing a large offensive boost, also raises Dragon Arceus's already-immense special bulk to massive levels, letting it set up fearlessly on special attackers. This is made easier by the fact that Dragon Arceus packs useful resistances to Fire- and Grass-type attacks, allowing it to set up on Choice-locked Pokemon such as Kyogre. After a Calm Mind, STAB Judgment will dish out a massive amount of damage to anything that doesn't resist it, OHKOing or 2HKOing every neutral target in Ubers. Both Earth Power and Fire Blast complement Judgment well by finishing off Steel-types that switch in to soak up the resisted Judgment. While Earth Power deals with Dialga and Heatran, Fire Blast allows Dragon Arceus to roast both Ferrothorn and Skarmory, which is very useful when considering the fact that the latter completely walls Dragon Arceus otherwise. However, note that Dragon Arceus will be walled by Heatran if it runs Fire Blast. Flamethrower can also be used if Fire Blast's accuracy is an issue. Finally, Recover enables Dragon Arceus to heal off any damage it might take while setting up, making it all the more difficult to bring it down.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs maximize Dragon Arceus's Special Attack and Speed. A Timid nature is used since this set lacks priority attacks and relishes the opportunity to outspeed and set up Calm Mind on Pokemon such as Latios. This set also requires some team support to sweep. Terrakion and Mewtwo are wonderful teammates, as they can get rid of Chansey, who can stall out Dragon Arceus with Toxic and Wish, with Close Combat and Psystrike, respectively. Mewtwo is also able to weaken Lugia, who can phaze Dragon Arceus while stomaching its attacks pretty well. While special attacking Choice Scarf users are no longer a problem, physical Choice Scarf users such as Garchomp and Zekrom pose as big a threat as ever. Ferrothorn can switch into Outrage and set up Spikes, or KO them with Gyro Ball and Iron Barbs damage, making it a wonderful teammate for Dragon Arceus. Forretress can also deal with these threats, and set up Stealth Rock and Spikes to make it easier for Dragon Arceus to sweep.</p>
[SET]
Name: SubCM
Move 1: Substitute
Move 2: Calm Mind
Move 3: Judgment
Move 4: Recover
Item: Draco Plate
evs: 92 HP / 164 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Dragon Arceus can run a simple, but dangerous, Substitute + Calm Mind set very well with its natural bulk and fantastic offensive stats. This set trades coverage for the ability to boost Dragon Arceus's Special Attack and Special Defense to unassailable levels. Substitute protects Dragon Arceus from status and allows it to survive powerful attacks from the likes of Choice Scarf users such as Garchomp. It also allows Dragon Arceus to set up with impunity on walls such as Chansey, whose Seismic Toss cannot break Dragon Arceus's Substitute with the given EVs. Recover further eases Dragon Arceus's setup, healing damage taken from using Substitute repeatedly and taking the odd blow. STAB Judgment is Dragon Arceus's most reliable form of offense, squashing anything that doesn't resist it flat after a few boosts while still hitting Steel-types for decent damage.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EV spread is fairly straightforward. 252 EVs in Speed, along with a Timid nature, maximize Dragon Arceus's Speed. The 92 HP EVs enable Dragon Arceus to make 101 HP Substitutes, allowing it to set up on Chansey and Blissey with ease. The remaining EVs are put in Special Attack. This set also loves the removal of Steel-types, allowing Dragon Arceus to sweep without being met with any resistance. Magnezone is the prime candidate for this role, trapping and KOing Steel-types such as Skarmory and Ferrothorn with ease. Physical Choice Scarf users such as Garchomp and Zekrom are a massive pain for this set too, as unless Dragon Arceus is behind a Substitute, it will be forced to abruptly halt its sweep and switch to avoid being KOed by an Outrage. Thus, Steel-types such as Ferrothorn make great partners for Dragon Arceus, as they can deal with these threats very well. Lugia is also a pest, since it can take a boosted Judgment and phaze Dragon Arceus with Whirlwind. Darkrai comes to Dragon Arceus's aid in this regard, setting up on Lugia with Dark Void and Nasty Plot, and 2HKOing it with a boosted Dark Pulse.</p>
<p>It must be noted that Dragon Arceus can also run Refresh instead of Substitute to render any attempts to inflict status useless while still maintaining the ability to set up on Chansey and Ferrothorn. However, this would not protect it from sleep-inducing moves such as Dark Void, which would cripple it. Substitute also allows Dragon Arceus to survive attacks from faster threats that could KO it.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Dragon Arceus has a few alternative options it can use. Will-O-Wisp can be used to cripple physical Choice Scarf users such as Garchomp and Zekrom, but Dragon Arceus has trouble finding a moveslot on all of its sets. Fire Blast can be used along with sun support on the Swords Dance set to OHKO Ferrothorn and Skarmory, clearing the way for a sweep, but it will then have to drop Earthquake or ExtremeSpeed. Recover can be used on the Swords Dance set too, but Dragon Arceus finds it difficult to drop a coverage option.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Physical Choice Scarf users such as Zekrom and Garchomp are the best checks to Dragon Arceus, as they will outspeed and OHKO it with Outrage while surviving a boosted ExtremeSpeed. Special attacking Choice Scarf users such as Palkia revenge kill the Swords Dance set, but will fall to the Calm Mind sets. None of them can switch into Dragon Arceus, though, as Judgment or Outrage will lay the smack down upon them. Steel-types neutral or immune to Earthquake, such as Skarmory and Ferrothorn, can take Dragon Arceus's boosted attacks with ease, and phaze it or smack it hard with Gyro Ball, respectively; however, they do need to watch out for Fire Blast which will smash them to bits. The pink blobs, Chansey and Blissey, wall the Calm Mind set and can stall out Dragon Arceus with Toxic and Wish. Lugia survives a boosted Outrage or Judgment and can phaze Dragon Arceus with Whirlwind or Dragon Tail.</p>
=======================================
Dragon Arceus
Status: Needs one more GP Check.
=======================================
Dragon Arceus
Status: Needs one more GP Check.
Code:
GP Checks 1 / 2: [Erebyssial]
[Overview]
<p>The Creator assumes the guise of the mythical dragon of yore upon donning the Draco Plate. Writhe in horror as the Original One shows the true power of the dragon, and dare not incur His divine wrath unless you are imbued with the power of cold steel, lest you may get squashed by His Outrage. Dragon Arceus absorbs the fiery blasts and the torrential downpours in His draconian guise with His wonderful bulk and scaly hide, but shudders when confronted with the frigid blasts of Ice-types and powerful blows of his fellow Dragons. Despite these flaws, dare not confront Dragon Arceus unless you are fully prepared for it, or all you hold dear will be obliterated in an instant.</p>
[SET]
Name: Swords Dance
Move 1: Swords Dance
Move 2: Outrage
Move 3: Earthquake
Move 4: ExtremeSpeed
item: Draco Plate
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature: Adamant
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Though Dragon Arceus might not look like much when compared with more threatening Arceus formes such as Extremekiller Arceus, its STAB Outrage poses a major threat and its own ExtremeSpeed still deals respectable amounts of damage to anything that doesn't resist it. With its fantastic offensive stats, Dragon Arceus has no difficulty pulling off a Swords Dance set, hitting a mind-boggling 744 Attack stat after just one turn of setup. What sets it apart from other Arceus formes utilizing Swords Dance (Normal Arceus in particular) is the incredible power of its STAB Outrage, which blasts common Dragon-type Pokemon in the metagame into oblivion as well as anything that doesn't resist it. Earthquake pairs wonderfully with Outrage, smashing the Steel-types which resist Outrage hard. Finally, ExtremeSpeed finishes off weakened threats in addition to severely hurting healthy Choice Scarf users who wish to revenge kill Dragon Arceus. However, it must be noted that Steel-types immune to Earthquake, such as Skarmory, will wall Dragon Arceus completely and phaze it with ease.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EV spread is straightforward, allowing Dragon Arceus to hit as hard and fast as possible, while an Adamant nature maximizes its Attack. However, due to the ubiquity of Dragon- and Ice-type attacks in Ubers, an alternative EV spread of 72 HP / 252 Atk / 184 Spe with a Jolly nature can be used, giving Arceus more bulk and the ability to outspeed base 111s such as Thundurus.</p>
<p>Choice Scarf users such as Garchomp and Zekrom can survive a +2 ExtremeSpeed and give Dragon Arceus a taste of its own medicine by revenge killing it with Outrage. Thus, walls such as Lugia and Groudon are great teammates for Dragon Arceus, as they can check these threats with ease. Ferrothorn does a fantastic job as well, as it can KO or severely hurt Garchomp and Zekrom with Gyro Ball and Iron Barbs, even though the latter has a Steel-type resistance. Specially-based Choice Scarf users such as Dialga and Palkia are also a headache for Dragon Arceus, making special walls such as Chansey, Blissey, and Kyogre good teammates for Dragon Arceus as well. Chansey and Blissey, in addition to sponging special attacks, can also support Dragon Arceus very well with Wish and Heal Bell, and cripple the opponent with Thunder Wave. Skarmory will also wall this set, making Magnezone a great partner for Dragon Arceus, as it can trap and eliminate Steel-types with ease.</p>
[SET]
Name: Calm Mind
Move 1: Calm Mind
Move 2: Judgment
Move 3: Recover
Move 4: Earth Power / Fire Blast
item: Draco Plate
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With Dragon-type attacks being resisted only by Steel-types, Dragon Arceus can run a very effective Calm Mind set. Calm Mind, while not providing a large offensive boost, also raises Dragon Arceus's already-immense special bulk to massive levels, letting it set up fearlessly on special attackers. This is made easier by the fact that Dragon Arceus packs useful resistances to Fire- and Grass-type attacks, allowing it to set up on Choice-locked Pokemon such as Kyogre. After a Calm Mind, STAB Judgment will dish out a massive amount of damage to anything that doesn't resist it, OHKOing or 2HKOing every neutral target in Ubers. Both Earth Power and Fire Blast complement Judgment well by finishing off Steel-types that switch in to soak up the resisted Judgment. While Earth Power deals with Dialga and Heatran, Fire Blast allows Dragon Arceus to roast both Ferrothorn and Skarmory, which is very useful when considering the fact that the latter completely walls Dragon Arceus otherwise. However, note that Dragon Arceus will be walled by Heatran if it runs Fire Blast. Flamethrower can also be used if Fire Blast's accuracy is an issue. Finally, Recover enables Dragon Arceus to heal off any damage it might take while setting up, making it all the more difficult to bring it down.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs maximize Dragon Arceus's Special Attack and Speed. A Timid nature is used since this set lacks priority attacks and relishes the opportunity to outspeed and set up Calm Mind on Pokemon such as Latios. This set also requires some team support to sweep. Terrakion and Mewtwo are wonderful teammates, as they can get rid of Chansey, who can stall out Dragon Arceus with Toxic and Wish, with Close Combat and Psystrike, respectively. Mewtwo is also able to weaken Lugia, who can phaze Dragon Arceus while stomaching its attacks pretty well. While special attacking Choice Scarf users are no longer a problem, physical Choice Scarf users such as Garchomp and Zekrom pose as big a threat as ever. Ferrothorn can switch into Outrage and set up Spikes, or KO them with Gyro Ball and Iron Barbs damage, making it a wonderful teammate for Dragon Arceus. Forretress can also deal with these threats, and set up Stealth Rock and Spikes to make it easier for Dragon Arceus to sweep.</p>
[SET]
Name: SubCM
Move 1: Substitute
Move 2: Calm Mind
Move 3: Judgment
Move 4: Recover
Item: Draco Plate
evs: 92 HP / 164 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Dragon Arceus can run a simple, but dangerous, Substitute + Calm Mind set very well with its natural bulk and fantastic offensive stats. This set trades coverage for the ability to boost Dragon Arceus's Special Attack and Special Defense to unassailable levels. Substitute protects Dragon Arceus from status and allows it to survive powerful attacks from the likes of Choice Scarf users such as Garchomp. It also allows Dragon Arceus to set up with impunity on walls such as Chansey, whose Seismic Toss cannot break Dragon Arceus's Substitute with the given EVs. Recover further eases Dragon Arceus's setup, healing damage taken from using Substitute repeatedly and taking the odd blow. STAB Judgment is Dragon Arceus's most reliable form of offense, squashing anything that doesn't resist it flat after a few boosts while still hitting Steel-types for decent damage.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EV spread is fairly straightforward. 252 EVs in Speed, along with a Timid nature, maximize Dragon Arceus's Speed. The 92 HP EVs enable Dragon Arceus to make 101 HP Substitutes, allowing it to set up on Chansey and Blissey with ease. The remaining EVs are put in Special Attack. This set also loves the removal of Steel-types, allowing Dragon Arceus to sweep without being met with any resistance. Magnezone is the prime candidate for this role, trapping and KOing Steel-types such as Skarmory and Ferrothorn with ease. Physical Choice Scarf users such as Garchomp and Zekrom are a massive pain for this set too, as unless Dragon Arceus is behind a Substitute, it will be forced to abruptly halt its sweep and switch to avoid being KOed by an Outrage. Thus, Steel-types such as Ferrothorn make great partners for Dragon Arceus, as they can deal with these threats very well. Lugia is also a pest, since it can take a boosted Judgment and phaze Dragon Arceus with Whirlwind. Darkrai comes to Dragon Arceus's aid in this regard, setting up on Lugia with Dark Void and Nasty Plot, and 2HKOing it with a boosted Dark Pulse.</p>
<p>It must be noted that Dragon Arceus can also run Refresh instead of Substitute to render any attempts to inflict status useless while still maintaining the ability to set up on Chansey and Ferrothorn. However, this would not protect it from sleep-inducing moves such as Dark Void, which would cripple it. Substitute also allows Dragon Arceus to survive attacks from faster threats that could KO it.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Dragon Arceus has a few alternative options it can use. Will-O-Wisp can be used to cripple physical Choice Scarf users such as Garchomp and Zekrom, but Dragon Arceus has trouble finding a moveslot on all of its sets. Fire Blast can be used along with sun support on the Swords Dance set to OHKO Ferrothorn and Skarmory, clearing the way for a sweep, but it will then have to drop Earthquake or ExtremeSpeed. Recover can be used on the Swords Dance set too, but Dragon Arceus finds it difficult to drop a coverage option.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Physical Choice Scarf users such as Zekrom and Garchomp are the best checks to Dragon Arceus, as they will outspeed and OHKO it with Outrage while surviving a boosted ExtremeSpeed. Special attacking Choice Scarf users such as Palkia revenge kill the Swords Dance set, but will fall to the Calm Mind sets. None of them can switch into Dragon Arceus, though, as Judgment or Outrage will lay the smack down upon them. Steel-types neutral or immune to Earthquake, such as Skarmory and Ferrothorn, can take Dragon Arceus's boosted attacks with ease, and phaze it or smack it hard with Gyro Ball, respectively; however, they do need to watch out for Fire Blast which will smash them to bits. The pink blobs, Chansey and Blissey, wall the Calm Mind set and can stall out Dragon Arceus with Toxic and Wish. Lugia survives a boosted Outrage or Judgment and can phaze Dragon Arceus with Whirlwind or Dragon Tail.</p>
