Arceus (Pokémon)

← #492: Shaymin

Pokémon

#001: Bulbasaur →

Arceus アルセウス Arceus #493
Artwork from Platinum
Type Ground ' Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Alpha Pokémon
Ability Multitype Blue-Striped -----	Exp. at Lv. 100 1,250,000
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #— Johto — Hoenn — Sinnoh — Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R— Almia R— Oblivia
Height 10'06" Imperial 3.2 m Metric 10'06"/3.2 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 705.5 lbs. Imperial 320.0 kg Metric 705.5 lbs./320.0 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Gray	Catch rate 3 (0.4%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown Gender unknown
Breeding Undiscovered group 121 cycles* (30855 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 3 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Base Exp.: 255 Battle Exp.: 2551*
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 Template:Type2 legendary Pokémon.

It is currently the final Pokémon in the National Pokédex. Like Darkrai and Shaymin before it, Arceus was not officially recognized by Nintendo until February, 2009, the year of its debut movie. It was later revealed by the official site on August 3rd, 2009, making all Pokémon in the games officially revealed.

Arceus is also known as "The Original One," as it is said that it created Sinnoh, and possibly the entire Pokémon world, along with the lake guardians and dragon trio. The only legitimate way to get Arceus is with the Azure Flute, which has yet to be distributed officially, or through a Nintendo event.

Biology

Physiology

Arceus is an equine being similar to a Qilin or Centaur. Its body is white with a gray underside, and its four pointed feet are tipped with gold hooves. Its mane is quite long and its face is gray with green eyes with red pupils. It also has a golden cross-like wheel attached to its body, which changes color along with its eyes and hooves based on Arceus's current type. The wheel also has four jewels attached to it.

Gender differences

Arceus is a genderless species.

Special abilities

File:Arceus Formes.gif

An animation displaying Arceus's different colorings while holding plates

According to legend, Arceus is thought to have created the Sinnoh region and possibly the entire Pokémon world, the Lake guardians, Dialga, Palkia and Giratina.

While Arceus is normally a pure Template:Type2, it has the ability to change its type and appearance when in contact with special plates.

Arceus is the only known Pokémon that learns Judgment via level-up. Arceus can also use many attacks of various types, but to a lesser extent than Smeargle or Mew. Arceus is also the only non-Dragon type Pokémon other than Smeargle who can learn Draco Meteor, although it must become a Template:Type2 (by holding a Draco Plate) in order to learn it.

Habitat

Arceus lives at the Hall of Origin, which can only be accessed by use of the Azure Flute at Spear Pillar.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

In Arceus and the Jewel of Life it is said to "feed" of the energy of the elemental plates.

In the anime

File:Arceus movie 12.png

Arceus in the anime

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.

In DP152, the Red Chain takes on the appearance of the ring that surrounds Arceus's body when it is wrapped around Dialga and Palkia. Despite this, Arceus itself does not appear.

In the manga

Arceus appears as a central character in the Movie 12 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 Michīna rich and fertile. Damos then betrayed Arceus, and it has been outraged ever since.

In the TCG

Main article: Arceus (TCG)

Arceus appears in the TCG in all nine elemental types, 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

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
Generation I Red {{{redbluedex}}} Blue Yellow {{{yellowdex}}} Stadium {{{stadiumdex}}}
Generation II Gold {{{golddex}}} Silver {{{silverdex}}} Crystal {{{crystaldex}}} Stadium 2 Unknown
Generation III Ruby {{{rubydex}}} Sapphire {{{sapphiredex}}} Emerald {{{emeralddex}}} FireRed {{{firereddex}}} LeafGreen {{{leafgreendex}}}
Generation IV Diamond It is described in mythology as the Pokémon that shaped the universe with its 1,000 arms. Pearl It is told in mythology that this Pokémon was born before the universe even existed. Platinum It is said to have emerged from an egg in a place where there was nothing, then shaped the world. HeartGold According to Sinnoh legends, it appeared from an egg and then shaped the world. SoulSilver According to Sinnoh legends, it appeared from an egg and then shaped the world.
Generation V Black {{{blackdex}}} White {{{whitedex}}} Black 2 {{{black2dex}}} White 2 {{{white2dex}}}
Generation VI X Unknown Y Unknown

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
Generation I Red Blue None Trade Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow None Trade
Generation II Gold Silver None Trade Crystal None Trade
Generation III Ruby Sapphire None Trade Emerald None Trade FireRed LeafGreen None Trade Colosseum None Trade XD None Trade
Generation IV Diamond Pearl One Hall of Origin (requires Azure Flute) Platinum One Hall of Origin (requires Azure Flute) HeartGold SoulSilver None Trade Pal Park None Pokéwalker None
Generation V Black White None Trade Black 2 White 2 None Trade Dream World None
Generation VI X Y None Trade

In side games

Arceus hasn't appeared in any side games as of yet, although a statue of it can be found in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky.

Stats

Base stats

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 120		180 - 227	350 - 444
Attack: 120		112 - 189	220 - 372
Defense: 120		112 - 189	220 - 372
Sp. Atk: 120		112 - 189	220 - 372
Sp. Def: 120		112 - 189	220 - 372
Speed: 120		112 - 189	220 - 372
Total: 720	Other Pokémon with this total
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.

Pokéthlon stats

No plate equipped

Speed 4/5 ★★★★☆ Power 5/5 ★★★★★ Skill 4/5 ★★★★☆ Stamina 5/5 ★★★★★ Jump 4/5 ★★★★☆ Total 22/25 ★★★★☆

With Fist Plate

Speed 4/5 ★★★★☆ Power 5/5 ★★★★★ Skill 5/5 ★★★★★ Stamina 4/5 ★★★★☆ Jump 4/5 ★★★★☆ Total 22/25 ★★★★☆

With Sky Plate

Speed 5/5 ★★★★★ Power 4/5 ★★★★☆ Skill 4/5 ★★★★☆ Stamina 4/5 ★★★★☆ Jump 5/5 ★★★★★ Total 22/25 ★★★★☆

With Toxic Plate

Speed 4/5 ★★★★☆ Power 4/5 ★★★★☆ Skill 5/5 ★★★★★ Stamina 5/5 ★★★★★ Jump 4/5 ★★★★☆ Total 22/25 ★★★★☆

With Earth Plate

Speed 4/5 ★★★★☆ Power 5/5 ★★★★★ Skill 4/5 ★★★★☆ Stamina 5/5 ★★★★★ Jump 4/5 ★★★★☆ Total 22/25 ★★★★☆

With Stone Plate

Speed 4/5 ★★★★☆ Power 5/5 ★★★★★ Skill 4/5 ★★★★☆ Stamina 5/5 ★★★★★ Jump 4/5 ★★★★☆ Total 22/25 ★★★★☆

With Insect Plate

Speed 5/5 ★★★★★ Power 4/5 ★★★★☆ Skill 4/5 ★★★★☆ Stamina 4/5 ★★★★☆ Jump 5/5 ★★★★★ Total 22/25 ★★★★☆

With Spooky Plate

Speed 4/5 ★★★★☆ Power 4/5 ★★★★☆ Skill 5/5 ★★★★★ Stamina 4/5 ★★★★☆ Jump 5/5 ★★★★★ Total 22/25 ★★★★☆

With Iron Plate

Speed 4/5 ★★★★☆ Power 4/5 ★★★★☆ Skill 5/5 ★★★★★ Stamina 5/5 ★★★★★ Jump 4/5 ★★★★☆ Total 22/25 ★★★★☆

With Flame Plate

Speed 4/5 ★★★★☆ Power 5/5 ★★★★★ Skill 4/5 ★★★★☆ Stamina 5/5 ★★★★★ Jump 4/5 ★★★★☆ Total 22/25 ★★★★☆

With Splash Plate

Speed 5/5 ★★★★★ Power 4/5 ★★★★☆ Skill 5/5 ★★★★★ Stamina 4/5 ★★★★☆ Jump 4/5 ★★★★☆ Total 22/25 ★★★★☆

With Meadow Plate

Speed 4/5 ★★★★☆ Power 4/5 ★★★★☆ Skill 4/5 ★★★★☆ Stamina 5/5 ★★★★★ Jump 5/5 ★★★★★ Total 22/25 ★★★★☆

With Zap Plate

Speed 5/5 ★★★★★ Power 4/5 ★★★★☆ Skill 5/5 ★★★★★ Stamina 4/5 ★★★★☆ Jump 4/5 ★★★★☆ Total 22/25 ★★★★☆

With Mind Plate

Speed 5/5 ★★★★★ Power 4/5 ★★★★☆ Skill 5/5 ★★★★★ Stamina 4/5 ★★★★☆ Jump 4/5 ★★★★☆ Total 22/25 ★★★★☆

With Icicle Plate

Speed 5/5 ★★★★★ Power 5/5 ★★★★★ Skill 4/5 ★★★★☆ Stamina 4/5 ★★★★☆ Jump 4/5 ★★★★☆ Total 22/25 ★★★★☆

With Draco Plate

Speed 3/5 ★★★☆☆ Power 5/5 ★★★★★ Skill 5/5 ★★★★★ Stamina 5/5 ★★★★★ Jump 5/5 ★★★★★ Total 23/25 ★★★★☆

With Dread Plate

Speed 4/5 ★★★★☆ Power 4/5 ★★★★☆ Skill 5/5 ★★★★★ Stamina 4/5 ★★★★☆ Jump 5/5 ★★★★★ Total 22/25 ★★★★☆

Type effectiveness

No 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

Learnset

Arceus is capable of learning the following moves:

Moves in bold get STAB for the Template:Type2, meaning that Arceus must be holding the Earth Plate. Judgment, the type of which is dependent on the plate Arceus is holding (or lack thereof) will always receive STAB, while damaging moves of other types can receive STAB depending on which plate Arceus holds.

By leveling up

|- style="text-align:center" | style="text-align:left" | arceus | style="background:#FAC000" |  arceus 

| style=" background:#FFF" | 4 | style=" background:#FFF" | 4 | style=" background:#FFF" | Arceus | style="display:none; background:#FFF" | {{{6}}} Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Movelist/note

By tutoring

Template:Tutor Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a Template:Mtentry4a |- style="background:#FCD659" | colspan="13" | Bold indicates a move that gets STAB
Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an evolution or alternate form of this Pokémon
Arceus must be holding the Draco Plate when Draco Meteor is taught. |} |}

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow		Red (Ja)	Green	Back
	This Pokémon did not appear during Generation I.
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal				Back
	This Pokémon did not appear during Generation II.
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald		FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
	This Pokémon did not appear during Generation III.
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum		HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
	V	Black	White	Black 2	White 2			Back

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

Trivia

Normal-color sprite for Template:Type2 Arceus

Shiny sprite for Template:Type2 Arceus

• At level 80, Arceus is the second highest level non-glitch Pokémon available for capture. The highest is Magikarp which can be caught at up to level 100 in Pokémon Platinum. It is, however, still the highest level legendary Pokémon available for capture.
• Arceus's English name has had three different pronunciations. Before it was officially revealed, fans pronounced it as "AR-see-oos", as does Pokémon Battle Revolution. Then, a promotional trailer for Arceus and the Jewel of Life pronounced it as "Ar-SAY-us". Its official pronunciation was then revealed in a Pokémon.com mailbag as "ARK-ee-us".
• Arceus's base stat total is 720, higher than any other Pokémon. Previous Pokémon, among them Mewtwo, have only had a maximum total of 680.
  • In its base form, Arceus has the highest base stat in Defense of all Template:Type2 Pokémon.
• Arceus has the highest base experience yield of all Pokémon, tied with Happiny, Chansey, and Blissey. That means an Arceus would yield 13,933 experience points when defeated if it is at level 100 and belongs to a Trainer.
• The code for Diamond and Pearl has sprites for Arceus using its Multitype ability with all 18 types, including Template:Type2. 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 Template:Type2 attack.
• Even though it is said that Arceus created the world with its thousand arms, it is not shown to have any arms at all, nor can it learn hand and arm based moves such as the elemental punches.
• Holding the Sky Plate, Arceus is the only Pokémon able to become a pure Template:Type2 outside of battle (other Pokémon can do so in battle through the use of Conversion, Conversion 2, and Color Change).
• With the appropriate plate, Arceus is the only legendary Poison-, Bug-, or Template:Type2 Pokémon.
• Earth Power is the only move with a fixed base power, besides Judgment, that Arceus learns by level-up which can receive STAB with a plate attached.
• Arceus is the only trio master not catchable by typical in-game mechanics, instead needing an event item (the Azure Flute) to be catchable in-game.
  • Furthermore, Arceus is the only trio master of two different trios.
• Arceus is the only Pokémon to never officially receive a DPBP number, although it or one of its forms probably would have been assigned DPBP#532 had that system continued to be used.
• The ring around Arceus's body appears to have a malevolent counterpart in the embodiment of the Red Chain, as a red version of it is shown to ring Dialga and Palkia around the middle when Cyrus takes control of them in DP152.
• The Arceus event that takes place in HeartGold and SoulSilver includes real life pictures in the game. This is a first for an event within a game and a first in the Pokémon games franchise.
• Arceus can learn all of the HM moves, including ones which no longer have that status.

Origin

Arceus may 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) 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 Arceus's Normal form).

Some inspiration may have come from a horse, because of its Platinum sprite and attack movements in Pokémon Battle Revolution.

Name origin

Arceus's name may come from the words arch (highest) and deus, which is Latin and Greek for god. It may also have a root in the Latin word arcanus, which means secret; sacred mystery. Or Arceus's name which was pronounced as (Arh-keus) maybe a combination of "Arch" and a mispronounced word "Chaos".

Arceus's name may also come from the word archaic (ancient), which comes from the Greek arkhaios, and is derived from the ancient Greek word for "beginning", arkhē. It could have also come from the Latin word archetypus (original). Alternatively, Arceus's name can be seen as a portmanteau of Zeus, the most powerful of Greek gods and arch (highest).

Arceus' name is pronounced with a soft "c" by the announcer in Pokémon Battle Revolution; in keeping with its probable name origin, it is pronounced with a hard "c" in television commercials and in Arceus and the Jewel of Life.

In other languages

• German: Arceus
• French: Arceus
• Korean: 아르세우스 Arceus

Legendary Pokémon

Generation I

Generation II

Generation III

Generation IV

Generation V

Generation VI

Generation VII

Generation VIII

Generation IX

See also: Mythical Pokémon

Event distributions Event Pokémon distributions Generation I: Japanese • European language Generation II: Japanese • European language Generation III: Japanese • English • German • Spanish • French • Italian Generation IV: Japanese (local | Wi-Fi) • English (local | Wi-Fi) • German (local | Wi-Fi) Spanish (local | Wi-Fi) • French (local | Wi-Fi) • Italian (local | Wi-Fi) • Korean (local | Wi-Fi) Trading (GTS) Generation V: Japanese (local | Wi-Fi) • English (local | Wi-Fi) • German (local | Wi-Fi) Spanish (local | Wi-Fi) • French (local | Wi-Fi) • Italian (local | Wi-Fi) • Korean (local | Wi-Fi) Global Link promotions Generation VI: Japanese region (Nintendo Network | serial code) • American region (Nintendo Network | serial code) PAL region (Nintendo Network | serial code) • Korean region (Nintendo Network | serial code) Taiwanese region (Nintendo Network | serial code) Local • Trading Generation VII: 3DS: Japanese region (Nintendo Network | serial code) • American region (Nintendo Network | serial code) PAL region (Nintendo Network | serial code) • Korean region (Nintendo Network | serial code) Taiwanese region (Nintendo Network | serial code) Local Switch: PE Generation VIII: SwSh • BDSP • LA Trading Generation IX: SV Specific events: Gather More Pokémon! Campaign PCNY (Gen II | Gen III) • Trade and Battle Day • Journey Across America • Party of the Decade Other groupings: Movie events • 10th Anniversary • Tanabata • Undistributed Special Pokémon from games In-game: Gen I • Gen II • Gen III (RS • FRLG • E • Colosseum/XD) • Gen IV (DP ​• Pt ​• HGSS) • Gen V (BW • B2W2) Gen VI (XY • ORAS) • Gen VII (SM • USUM • PE) • Gen VIII (SwSh • BDSP • LA) • Gen IX (SV) Gift Pokémon (Eggs) • Wild Pokémon (Roaming Pokémon) • In-game trades (Hayley's trades) Game-based: Gen I • Gen II • Gen III • Gen IV • Gen VI • Gen VII Gen VIII (Wild Area News) • Gen IX (Poké Portal News) Other: Undistributed Non-Pokémon event distributions Gen III • Gen IV • Gen V • Gen VI • Gen VII (Game-based) • Gen VIII • Gen IX (Game-based) Global Link Other lists Notable ID numbers (Gens I-II • III onward) • Wonder Cards (Gen V • Gen VI • Gen VII) • Serial code prefixes

← #492: Shaymin

Pokémon

#001: Bulbasaur →

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.