Arceus (Pokémon): Difference between revisions

For Pokémon GO information on this species, see the game's section.
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This article is about the species. For a specific instance of this species, see Arceus (disambiguation).

Arceus Alpha Pokémon アルセウス Arceus #493 Images on the Bulbagarden Archives
Type Normal Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Abilities Multitype Cacophony Cacophony Cacophony Hidden Ability Cacophony Hidden Ability Cacophony Cacophony
Gender ratio Gender unknown	Catch rate 3 (1.6%)
Breeding Egg Group Undiscovered Hatch time 120 cycles Egg not obtainable
Height 10'06" 3.2 m Arceus 0'0" 0 m {{{form2}}} 0'0" 0 m {{{form3}}} 0'0" 0 m {{{form4}}}	Weight 705.5 lbs. 320.0 kg Arceus 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form2}}} 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form3}}} 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form4}}}
Mega Stone [[|]] [[|]]
Base experience yield 255 Gen. IV Unknown IV 324 V+	Leveling rate Slow
EV yield Total: 3 Arceus 3 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed
Shape	Footprint {{{form2}}}
Pokédex color   White	Base friendship 0
External Links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Arceus (Japanese: アルセウス Arceus) is a Normal-type Mythical Pokémon introduced in Generation IV.

While it is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon, Arceus will change type when it is holding a Plate or type-specific Z-Crystal.

Like Darkrai and Shaymin before it, Arceus was not officially recognized by Nintendo until February 14, 2009, the year of its debut movie. It was officially revealed to international audiences on August 3, 2009.

Arceus is known as "The Original One", as it is said that it created Sinnoh and Ransei, and possibly the entire Pokémon universe, along with the lake guardians and creation trio.

It is the trio master of both the lake guardians and the creation trio.

Biology

Arceus is a white equine resembling a qilin or centaur with a gray, vertically-striated underside. The striated pattern has similar recurrences on the underside of its mane, tail, and face. Its four pointed feet are tipped with gold hooves. Its long mane juts away from its head, and its face is gray, with green eyes and red pupils, and a green circular pattern below its eyes. Arceus also has a streak of gold coloration on its head, and ears that point upward. Its neck is fairly long, with two pairs of extrusions to the sides, and a flap-like feature on the neck's underside that is colored white like much of the body. Arceus also has a golden cross-like wheel attached to its body by its round abdomen, which changes color along with its eyes and hooves based on its current type, which depends on the plate or type-specific Z-Crystal that it wields. The wheel also has four jewels attached to it. The pattern of striated gray of Arceus's underbelly resumes past Arceus's waist. Its limbs have gray undersides and extrusions at the tops of the legs. Arceus's tail is fairly like its mane in terms of shape and coloration. According to legend, it shaped the Pokémon universe using its 1000 arms.

Arceus is thought to have created the Sinnoh region and possibly the entire Pokémon world, the lake guardians Uxie, Azelf, and Mesprit; and the creation trio Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina. Because of this, Arceus is thought to be one of the most long-lived of all Pokémon species. It has the power to recreate the creation trio as well, presumably to guard the dimensions when a Trainer has caught one of them. According to the anime, its power can also bring back things that it once destroyed, make certain things vanish into thin air, or to halt time.

Arceus is shown to care for and safeguard the planet in ancient times and protected it from cataclysms such as meteors, and it would show gratitude and compassion in return to those who treated it with equal kindness. Arceus does not suffer fools gladly, and it will attack in a violent rampage if betrayed or deceived. It also holds long grudges if betrayed by those it considered friends. In Arceus and the Jewel of Life, it is said to "feed" off the energy of the elemental plates. It is the only known Pokémon that can learn Judgment.

In the anime

Arceus in the anime

Major appearances

Arceus (M12)

Arceus debuted in Arceus and the Jewel of Life. It was angry at the people of Michina Town for Damos's unwitting betrayal of it in ancient times, and so it attempted to destroy the land. When Ash, his friends, and Sheena were teleported by Dialga to ancient times, they directly influenced the event, changing the future for the better so that Arceus will stop its destruction.

Other

Arceus appeared in Hoopa and the Clash of Ages. Following the devastating incident at Dahara City, Ash, his friends, Baraz, Meray, and Hoopa saw it floating in the sky before it soared away.

Minor appearances

• 

  Fire type Arceus in the anime

• 

  Ghost type Arceus in the anime

In the manga

Arceus in Pokémon Adventures

Arceus's various forms in Pokémon Adventures

In the movie adaptations

Arceus appears as a central character in the Arceus and the Jewel of Life manga adaptation, reprising its role from the movie. After Arceus saved the world from a meteor, Damos took care of it. It gave Damos the Jewel of Life to make the land of Michina Town rich and fertile. Damos then "betrayed" Arceus, and it has been outraged ever since.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Main article: Arceus (Adventures)

In the HeartGold & SoulSilver arc, Arceus appears as one of the main antagonists, where it plans on destroying humanity due to its mistrust of humans. It was the target of Team Rocket's plans to create Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina. It first appeared in With a Little Help From Hitmonchan.

In the TCG

Main article: Arceus (TCG)

Arceus appears in the TCG in all types but Dragon and Fairy, and a player can have as many Arceus cards in their deck as they like, unlike all other cards in the game (besides Basic Energy cards). Cards based on Arceus first appeared in the Arceus expansion set.

Other appearances

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U

Arceus appears as a Poké Ball summon where it uses Gravity to produce a shockwave that brings opponents downwards.

Trophy information

A Pokémon said to have hatched from an egg that appeared from nothing. Newly hatched, it created the world and the sky. Its Gravity attack will bring any fighter in midair crashing down to earth. No ground below you? Looks like you're going to go plummeting off the stage as if you'd been hit by a Meteor Smash!

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Arceus appears as a Pokémon summoned from the Poké Ball, retaining its behavior from the previous game. It also appears as a Spirit.

Game data

NPC appearance

• Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon: Arceus appears when Dark Matter begins trying to take the Tree of Life to the sun, leading the other Pokémon in attempting to stop its ascent. He is able to telepathically reach the player thanks to Mewtwo and transports them to the Tree of Life's roots to confront Dark Matter. When Dark Matter regenerates itself and sends out a massive shockwave, Arceus and the other legendary Pokémon gathered to stop the Tree of Life are immediately turned to stone. After Dark Matter is defeated, Arceus will remain at the top of Destiny Tower.

Pokédex entries

Game locations

Arceus was originally intended to appear in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum in the Hall of Origin when summoned using an event item called the Azure Flute. However, the Azure Flute was never distributed, although the text seen when receiving the 20th Anniversary Arceus states that Arceus could first be obtained in Diamond and Pearl in the Hall of Origin.

In side games

Arceus and the hero of Pokémon Conquest

Arceus and the heroine of Pokémon Conquest

A statue of Arceus can be found in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky at Destiny Tower.

In events

Pokémon Global Link promotions

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Events*		Rowap Berry (100%)	Silk Scarf (???%)

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

No Plate equipped

With a Plate equipped

With Fist Plate

With Sky Plate

With Toxic Plate

With Earth Plate

With Stone Plate

With Insect Plate

With Spooky Plate

With Iron Plate

With Flame Plate

With Splash Plate

With Meadow Plate

With Zap Plate

With Mind Plate

With Icicle Plate

With Draco Plate

With Dread Plate

Type effectiveness

For the type effectiveness when Arceus is holding a Plate, see type chart. In Generation IV, if Arceus was hacked to be ???-type, this Pokémon is damaged normally by moves of all types.

Learnset

Side game data

Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs Group: Normal Poké Assist: (present) Normal Field move: (present) (None ×-) Poké Assist: (past) Normal Field move: (past) (Tackle ×1) Browser entry S-006/N-221 It protects itself with psychic orbs that bring meteors down.
Pokémon Rumble Blast Attack ●●●●● Defense ●●●●● Speed ●●●●
Pokémon Rumble Rush Walking Speed: 1.95 seconds Base HP: 63 Base Attack: 87 Base Defense: 63 Base Speed: 70
Pokémon Conquest HP: ★★★★★ Move: Judgment Attack: ★★★★ Ability 1: Omnipotent Defense: ★★★★★ Speed: ★★★★★ Does not evolve into or from anything Range: 4 Perfect Links: Hero/Heroine
Pokémon Battle Trozei Normal Attack Power: ★★★★★ Brute Force Deals normal damage even to types resistant to its type.			Pokémon Shuffle Normal Attack Power: 90 - 150 20 #274 Double Normal Deals a lot more damage done by any Normal types in the combo.
Pokémon GO Base HP: 237 Base Attack: 238 Base Defense: 238 Egg Distance: N/A Buddy Distance: 20 km Evolution Requirement: N/A Fast Attacks: Iron Tail, Shadow Claw Charged Attacks: Future Sight, Hyper Beam, Outrage

Evolution

Unevolved Arceus  Normal

Forms

No Plate or Z-Crystal Arceus  Normal	Fist Plate Fightinium Z Arceus  Fighting	Sky Plate Flyinium Z Arceus  Flying	Toxic Plate Poisonium Z Arceus  Poison	Earth Plate Groundium Z Arceus  Ground	Stone Plate Rockium Z Arceus  Rock
Insect Plate Buginium Z Arceus  Bug	Spooky Plate Ghostium Z Arceus  Ghost	Iron Plate Steelium Z Arceus  Steel	Flame Plate Firium Z Arceus  Fire	Splash Plate Waterium Z Arceus  Water	Meadow Plate Grassium Z Arceus  Grass
Zap Plate Electrium Z Arceus  Electric	Mind Plate Psychium Z Arceus  Psychic	Icicle Plate Icium Z Arceus  Ice	Draco Plate Dragonium Z Arceus  Dragon	Dread Plate Darkinium Z Arceus  Dark	Pixie Plate Fairium Z Arceus  Fairy

Sprites

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
Generation IV Diamond Pearl Platinum HeartGold SoulSilver Front Back Front Back Front Back
Generation V Black White Black 2 White 2 Front Back Front Back
Generation VI X Y Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire Front Back Front Back
Generation VII Sun Moon Ultra Sun Ultra Moon Front Back Front Back

For other sprites and images, please see Arceus images on the Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

???-type Arceus

• In the Generation IV games, there are sprites for ???-type Arceus, but this is not obtainable without cheating, as there is no ??? Plate.
  • Due to how its Ability would automatically turn any Arceus without a Plate into the Normal-type in Generation IV, a ???-type Arceus hacked into the game will be treated as a Normal type.
• According to the anime dub's then-voice director Tom Wayland, the dub chose to pronounce Arceus with a hard c instead of a soft c due to concerns over the latter pronunciation's potential implications in British English-speaking territories.
• Arceus has the highest base stat total of all Normal-type Pokémon.
  • Arceus also has the highest base stat total of all Mythical Pokémon.
• Prior to Generation VIII, Arceus was the only Pokémon with a base stat total of 720 and the only Pokémon that is the last of its generation in National Pokédex order that does not have a base stat total of 600.
• Arceus is the only event-exclusive trio master.
  • Arceus is also the only trio master of two different trios: the lake guardians and the creation trio.
• In its debut generation of Generation IV, it was impossible to legitimately give Arceus more than 100 EVs in any stat without the use of the Pal Park Retire glitch, since it was only ever distributed at level 100. Prior to Generation V, level 100 Pokémon could not gain EVs through battling since they could not gain experience.
• Arceus is the only pre-Generation V Pokémon to never officially receive a DPBP number. Kadabra, which was not released as a TCG card during the DPBP era, is assumed to be #070, as Abra and Alakazam are #069 and #071, respectively.
• Arceus received the most votes of all pre-Generation V Pokémon in the Pokémon Global Link promotion poll in both the Japanese poll and the international (non-Japanese and non-Korean) poll.
• Prior to Generation VII, Arceus was classified by Pokédex color sorting as gray.
• In Diamond and Pearl, Arceus can be encountered without the use of the Azure Flute by a combination of Tweaking and the Pal Park Retire glitch. In addition, Arceus can be encountered an unlimited amount of times with this method, unlike Darkrai and Shaymin.
  • This has been remedied in Pokémon Platinum, however, as the player can no longer freely move in the "void".

Origin

Arceus appears to be particularly based on a creator deity, present in many world cultures. Arceus's stance and general form are similar to Egyptian bull and calf idols, particularly Apis. Based on its appearance and attack movements in the 3D games, Arceus may be modeled after a horse or qilin. The arc on its back may be inspired by the Dharmachakra, or the Bhavacakra, used to represent a concept similar to the reincarnation in Hinduism.

The conception of the first god might be influenced by the Shinto gods Kuninotokotachi and Amenominakanushi, who summoned Izanami and Izanagi to create Japan with the spear. It may also be a reference to the qilin, a Chinese mythical creature. Its myth is nearly identical to the world egg, found in creation myths of many cultures and civilizations. Arceus may also represent or be inspired by the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, who, in Buddhism, is either pictured with eleven heads and one thousand arms (the latter of which is mentioned in Arceus's Pokédex entry) or in a white, four-armed manifestation (which could look similar to Normal-type Arceus).

Name origin

Arceus may be a combination of arch- (most extreme, highest), archon (a Greek word that means "ruler" or "lord"), arcanus (Latin for secret, mystery), archaic (ancient), αρχή arkhē (Greek for beginning), or archetypus (Latin for original), and deus (Latin for god). It may also derive from aureus (golden, in reference to its hooves and wheel), arc (round or ring), arcessere (Latin for to summon), or Archeus (an aspect of the astral plane). It may also be a reference to Arcesius, the king of Ithaca mentioned in the Odyssey that was a son of Zeus.

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese アルセウス Arceus From a combination of arch, archon, arcanus (Latin for secret/sacred mystery), archaic (ancient), αρχή arkhē (Greek for beginning), or archetypus (Latin for original), and deus (Latin for god). May also derive from aureus (golden), arc (round or ring), or Archeus (an aspect of the astral plane). French Arceus Same as Japanese name Spanish Arceus Same as Japanese name German Arceus Same as Japanese name Italian Arceus Same as Japanese name Korean 아르세우스 Arceus Transliteration of Japanese name Mandarin Chinese 阿爾宙斯 / 阿尔宙斯 Ā'ěrzhòusī Transliteration of its Japanese name. Also a portmanteau of 阿爾法 / 阿尔发 ā'ěrfǎ and 宙斯 Zhòusī. Cantonese Chinese 阿爾宙斯 Ayíhjauhsī Mandarin-based transliteration of its Japanese name. Also a portmanteau of 阿爾法 áyíhfaat and 宙斯 Jauhsī.

More languages Greek Αρκέους Arkéous Transcription of English name Russian Аркеус Arkeus Transcription of English name Thai อาร์เซอุส Arceus Transcription of trademarked Japanese name

Related articles

• Arceus (M12)
• Arceus (Adventures)
• Lake guardians
• Creation trio
• List of Pokémon with form differences
• Mythical Pokémon
• Myths and legends involving Legendary Pokémon

External links

• Article on Wikipedia
• Grass-type Arceus on Smogon Pokédex
• Fire-type Arceus on Smogon Pokédex
• Water-type Arceus on Smogon Pokédex
• Flying-type Arceus on Smogon Pokédex
• Bug-type Arceus on Smogon Pokédex
• Poison-type Arceus on Smogon Pokédex
• Electric-type Arceus on Smogon Pokédex
• Psychic-type Arceus on Smogon Pokédex
• Rock-type Arceus on Smogon Pokédex
• Ground-type Arceus on Smogon Pokédex
• Dark-type Arceus on Smogon Pokédex
• Ghost-type Arceus on Smogon Pokédex
• Steel-type Arceus on Smogon Pokédex
• Fighting-type Arceus on Smogon Pokédex
• Ice-type Arceus on Smogon Pokédex
• Dragon-type Arceus on Smogon Pokédex
• Fairy-type Arceus on Smogon Pokédex

Mythical Pokémon

Generation I

Generation II

Generation III

Generation IV

Generation V

Generation VI

Generation VII

Generation VIII

Generation IX

See also: Legendary Pokémon

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Pokémon

#494: Victini →

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.