Is Arceus-Dark viable in Gen 9 Pure Hackmons?

Arceus-Dark is ranked #10 in Gen 9 Pure Hackmons with 15.48% usage according to Smogon Aug 2026 - Sep 2026 data.

What beats Arceus-Dark in Gen 9 Pure Hackmons?

Mewtwo-Mega-X has the strongest conservative score in this observed Aug 2026 - Sep 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 79.4% of 28.221535477732473 relevant encounters. Standard error is 7.6 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Arceus-Dark matchup checks ranked in Gen 9 Pure Hackmons?

They are ranked by p minus four standard errors. Here, p is the observed fraction of relevant encounters where Arceus-Dark was knocked out or switched out. This is not a set-specific battle guarantee.

Arceus-Dark counters

Gen 9 Pure Hackmons · Smogon source period Aug 2026 - Sep 2026

#0493 Arceus-Dark

Dark

USAGE 15.5% #10

ABILITYNeutralizing Gas

BASE STATS

HP 120

ATK 120

DEF 120

SPA 120

SPD 120

SPE 120

BST720

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

FightingBugFairy

½×

GhostDark

0×

Psychic

Moves

Power Trip 72.0% Shell Smash 47.2% Spore 38.9% Corrosive Gas 36.3% Taunt 30.6% Magic Room 28.0% Judgment 27.4% Victory Dance 26.0%

Items

Safety Goggles 29.5% Pixie Plate 22.0% Ability Shield 19.6% Dread Plate 6.1% Iron Plate 5.4% Leftovers 4.1% Lum Berry 3.8% Mental Herb 3.3%

Abilities

Neutralizing Gas72.9%Wonder Guard14.4%Good as Gold6.2%Prankster2.3%Simple1.0%Magic Bounce0.9%No Guard0.6%Soundproof0.5%

Tera Types

Grass 32.0% Ghost 25.0% Dark 22.4% Fairy 7.6% Electric 5.5% Poison 3.7% Normal 3.2% Steel 0.3%

Common Teammates

Leading observed checks

Open a matchup for a separate set-based damage estimate, or browse uploaded teams with both Pokémon.

Checks & Counters

Observed target KO or switch rate is upstream p: the fraction of relevant encounters where the target was knocked out or switched out. Standard error is upstream d. The conservative score is p − 4d. These ladder observations do not prove a set-specific counter.

How to read this table

Use encounter count and standard error to judge the sample. Damage estimates below use inferred sets and remain separate from the observed ladder metric.

# Checker Encounters Conservative score Target KO or switch rate

Mewtwo-Mega-X

PsychicFighting OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

28.222

49.0

79.4% Standard error 7.61 points

DAMAGE CALC

0- Atk Ability Shield Huge Power Mewtwo-Mega-X Mach Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Neutralizing Gas Arceus-Dark: 236-278 (53.1 - 62.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Mewtwo-Mega-X counters →

Groudon-Primal

GroundFire SOFT CHECK View matchup

23.788

12.9

53.8% Standard error 10.22 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Groudon-Primal V-create vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Arceus-Dark: 354-417 (79.7 - 93.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Groudon-Primal counters →

Arceus

Normal SOFT CHECK View matchup

22.923

7.1

48.9% Standard error 10.44 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Arceus Boomburst vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Arceus-Dark: 151-178 (34 - 40%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Arceus counters →

Regieleki

Electric SOFT CHECK View matchup

24.392

-7.8

28.9% Standard error 9.18 points

Arceus-Water

Water SOFT CHECK View matchup

23.062

-8.8

29.0% Standard error 9.45 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Ability Shield Arceus-Water Surging Strikes (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Neutralizing Gas Arceus-Dark on a critical hit: 171-201 (38.5 - 45.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Arceus-Water counters →

Ranked #10 with 15.48% usage. Sorted by conservative score.