Stats & Training
An unusually even spread gives Arceus flexibility. HP barely edges ahead. But any other stat isn't far off. Near-impossible to catch and follows a slow 1.25M XP grind. Yields 3 HP EVs.
According to the legends of Sinnoh, this Pokémon emerged from an egg and shaped all there is in this world.
According to the legends of Sinnoh, this Pokémon emerged from an egg and shaped all there is in this world.
Arceus Weakness
Fighting moves hit Arceus for super-effective damage. The upside? Ghost-type moves can't touch it at all. Arceus's overall bulk (120/120/120) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fighting |
| 0x (Immune) | Ghost |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Infernape's Close Combat hits Arceus for 76-90%. Lucario threatens a KO with Close Combat (112-132%).
 Infernape FireFighting | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemExpert Belt NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Arceus View Infernape builds →Close Combat 2x76-90% U Turn15-18% Fire Blast25-29% | ||
 Lucario FightingSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityInnerfocus ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Arceus View Lucario builds →Close Combat 2x112-132%KO Extreme Speed25-30% Bullet Punch19-22% | ||
HeartGold & SoulSilver Evolution
Mythical Pokemon don't breed, and Arceus is no exception. This Normal type sits at 720 stats with no chain to speak of. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
HeartGold & SoulSilver Arceus Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 4.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
Need something that threatens multiple types? Arceus's movepool delivers. Coverage across 16 types plus STAB from Hyper Beam and Giga Impact gives it answers for most defensive cores you'll run into.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Arceus in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Arceus can't be caught in HeartGold & SoulSilver. Bring it over from Diamond, Platinum, or Legends: Arceus instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.
Arceus is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Special encounter in:
Then trade to HeartGold & SoulSilver.
Also found in:
Arceus Guide
For the HeartGold & SoulSilver meta, At 720 BST, Arceus is built different. We rank it S-Tier. As a Mythical Pokemon, the raw stats back up the reputation. Best used as a sweeper.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, watch for Hitmonlee (Fighting) when using Arceus. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 1 weakness means fewer dedicated counters to worry about. Arceus has enough bulk to absorb a hit, but don't push the matchup. Pivot to a teammate that resists.
Multitype changes Arceus's type and form to match its held Plate. That's the one you want on Arceus. It's the only ability Arceus has.
Base 120 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Arceus is a mixed attacker with base 120 Attack and 120 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Tanky enough to absorb a few hits. Best used as a sweeper.
For HeartGold & SoulSilver, Arceus has answers, but so do you. Priority moves (Mach Punch, Aqua Jet, Ice Shard) bypass its speed. Bulky walls that resist its STAB also shut it down.
Game Availability
Arceus first appeared in Diamond & Pearl and has been available in 12 titles. Mythical distribution means event-only access in most games, making it one of the harder Pokemon to collect.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves