Arceus (Japanese: アルセウス Arceus) is a Normal-type Legendary Pokémon.
While it is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon, it will change type when it is holding a Plate.
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 also 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. Arceus can only be found in the wild legitimately with the Azure Flute, which was never distributed at any official event. However, Arceus itself was distributed via multiple Nintendo events in 2009 and 2010 and the Pokémon Global Link in 2012.
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. It 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 Arceus's current type, which depends on the plate 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 shape and coloration. According to legend, it has 1000 arms.
Arceus is thought to have created the Sinnoh region and possibly the entire Pokémon world, the lake guardians: Uxie, Azelf, 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
Major appearances
Arceus made its debut 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 attempted to destroy the land. When Ash and his friends are teleported by Dialga to ancient times, they directly influence the event, changing the future for the better so that Arceus will stop its destruction.
Minor appearances
In Battle Finale of Legend!, although Arceus is neither seen or named, the Red Chain is said to contain the power of 'The Original One'. Using the Red Chain, Cyrus takes control of Dialga and Palkia by causing a red ring similar to the one surrounding Arceus's body to appear around their bodies.
In the manga
Fire-type Arceus in Pokémon Adventures
In the Arceus and the Jewel of Life manga
Arceus appears as a central character in the Arceus and the Jewel of Life manga adaptation, reprising its role from the film. 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
In the HeartGold & SoulSilver arc, Arceus appears as one of the main antagonists, where it plans on destroying humanity.
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.
Game data
Arceus and the
heroine of Pokémon Conquest
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
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Generation IV
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Diamond
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It is described in mythology as the Pokémon that shaped the universe with its 1,000 arms.
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Pearl
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It is told in mythology that this Pokémon was born before the universe even existed.
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Platinum
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It is said to have emerged from an egg in a place where there was nothing, then shaped the world.
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HeartGold
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According to the legends of Sinnoh, this Pokémon emerged from an egg and shaped all there is in this world.
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SoulSilver
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{{{soulsilverdex}}}
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Generation V
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Black
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It is said to have emerged from an egg in a place where there was nothing, then shaped the world.
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White
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{{{whitedex}}}
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Black 2
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It is said to have emerged from an egg in a place where there was nothing, then shaped the world.
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White 2
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{{{white2dex}}}
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Generation VI
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X
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According to the legends of Sinnoh, this Pokémon emerged from an egg and shaped all there is in this world.
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Y
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It is told in mythology that this Pokémon was born before the universe even existed.
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Game locations
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
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In events
Games
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Event
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Language
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Location
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Level
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Distribution period
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Movie Arceus
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Japanese
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Japan
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100
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July 11 to September 30, 2009
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Toys "R" Us Arceus
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English
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United States
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100
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November 7 to 15, 2009
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Michina Arceus
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English
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Australia
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100
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November 5 to 16, 2009
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Cinema Arceus
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Korean
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South Korea
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100
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December 24, 2009 to January 31, 2010
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Michina Arceus
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German
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Germany
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100
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February 17 to April 9, 2010
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Michina Arceus
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Italian
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Italy
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100
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February 17 to March 26, 2010
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Michina Arceus
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English
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Europe
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100
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February 20 to April 10, 2010
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Michina Arceus
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French
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Europe
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100
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February 22 to April 11, 2010
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Michina Arceus
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Spanish
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Spain
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100
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February 22 to April 11, 2010
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Pokémon Global Link promotions
In side games
A statue of Arceus can be found in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky at Destiny Tower.
Held items
Stats
Base stats
Stat
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Range
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At Lv. 50
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At Lv. 100
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120
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180 - 227
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350 - 444
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120
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112 - 189
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220 - 372
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120
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112 - 189
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220 - 372
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120
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112 - 189
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220 - 372
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120
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112 - 189
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220 - 372
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120
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112 - 189
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220 - 372
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Total: 720
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Other Pokémon with this total
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- Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature.
- Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.
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Pokéathlon stats
No Plate equipped
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With a Plate equipped
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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
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Type effectiveness
Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
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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
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Arceus
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution or alternate form of Arceus
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Arceus
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution or alternate form of Arceus
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations
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- Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Arceus in Generation VI
- Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation.
- Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Arceus in that game.
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Arceus
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution or alternate form of Arceus
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations
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- A black or white abbreviation in a colored box indicates that Arceus can be tutored the move in that game
- A colored abbreviation in a white box indicates that Arceus cannot be tutored the move in that game
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Arceus
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Arceus
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations
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Side game data
Evolution
Sprites
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
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Trivia
- Arceus's English name has had three different pronunciations. The announcer of Pokémon Battle Revolution pronounced it "AR-see-uss". A promotional trailer for Arceus and the Jewel of Life used the pronunciation "Ar-SAY-us", a pronunciation supported by the katakana used to spell its name. In the final release of Arceus and the Jewel of Life, it was pronounced "AR-key-us", which was affirmed as the official pronunciation by a Pokémon.com mailbag and by the Pokémon Essential Handbook.
- According to Tom Wayland, the "AR-key-us" pronunciation was used due to concerns over the implications behind the first syllable of "AR-see-uss" in the UK and other British English-speaking territories.
- Arceus has the highest base stat total of all non-Mega Evolved Pokémon.
- As a Normal type, Arceus has the highest base stat total of all Normal-type Pokémon.
- Arceus has the highest base Defense stat of all Normal-type Pokémon.
- Arceus is the only Pokémon which ends a generation in National Pokédex order that does not have a base stat total of 600.
- All Generation IV games have sprites for Arceus using its Multitype Ability with all 18 types, including ???-type. It is disputed whether the ???-type Arceus is obtainable, as there is no Plate in the code that can be used for this. It is possible this sprite was programmed in to prevent game crashes caused by tampering with Arceus's type.
- Arceus's signature move, Judgment, is the only move that Arceus is guaranteed STAB for, as it is always the same type as Arceus itself. However, on the battle screen, Judgment is always displayed as a Normal-type attack.
- Arceus is the only event-exclusive trio master.
- 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 Japanese, as well as international (non-Japanese and non-Korean) in the Pokémon Global Link promotion poll.
- In Generation IV an Arceus using Trick would always fail, making the move completely useless on Arceus. However, this was fixed in Generation V so that Trick will only fail if a Plate is held.
Origin
Arceus is 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. The arc on its back may be inspired by the circle arc used to represent reincarnation in Hinduism.
The conception of the first god might be influenced from Kunitokotachi and Amenominakanushi, who, according to Shinto myth, summoned Izanami and Izanagi to create Japan with the spear. It may also be a reference to the Chinese mythical creature, the qilin. Its myth is nearly identical to that of the Pangu, the Chinese creation deity. Arceus may also be inspired by (or a representation of) 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 flavor text) or in a white four-armed manifestation (which could look similar to Normal-type Arceus). Some inspiration may have come from a horse, because of its Platinum sprite and attack movements in Pokémon Battle Revolution.
Name origin
Arceus may be a combination of arch (referring to the highest point), archon (a Greek word that means "ruler" or "lord"), arcanus (Latin for secret/sacred 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), or Archeus (an aspect of the astral plane).
In other languages
Language
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Title
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Meaning
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Japanese
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アルセウス Arceus
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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).
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French
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Arceus
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Same as Japanese name
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Spanish
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Arceus
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Same as Japanese name
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German
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Arceus
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Same as Japanese name
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Italian
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Arceus
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Same as Japanese name
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Korean
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아르세우스 Arceus
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Transliteration of Japanese name
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Mandarin Chinese
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阿爾宙斯 Ā Ěr Zhòu Sī
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Transliteration of its Japanese name. Also a portmanteau of 阿爾法 Ā'ěrfǎ and 宙斯 Zhòusī.
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Cantonese Chinese
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Related articles
External links
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This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
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