Pokémon is one of the few franchises that’s been able to run for decades. It is arguably even more popular today than when it first hit its stride in the ‘90s. The Pokémon series remains the same at its core, even though minor details have been upgraded and changed to stay with modern times.
Each new entry into the Pokémon world also brings with it many new Pokémon and some of the most remarkable and important additions turn out to be new Legendary Pokémon. Arceus is a particularly important Legendary Pokémon that has a lot of history behind it and it’s far more than just some powerful entity.
10 It's Responsible For The Creation Of The Pokémon Universe
Increasingly important Pokémon have been introduced in the series over time, some of which have unbelievable powers over time, space, and other extreme skills. Arceus is the apex example of this and it’s a Pokémon that’s referred to as the Original One due to how it’s over 1,000 years old and responsible for the creation of the Pokémon universe.
Arceus explicitly created the Sinnoh region, but its power is presumed to be responsible for all creation. The Pokémon’s legendary 1,000 arms are supposedly how Arceus built the vast world around him.
9 It Was Supposed To Appear In Diamond, Pearl, & Platinum’s Hall Of Origin
It’s not unusual for changes to happen during the development of a Pokémon title and sometimes certain features — or even Pokémon — can get scrapped at the last minute and repurposed elsewhere. Arceus is a Mythical Pokémon that’s associated with Generation IV, but the original plan was to actually have it appear in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum’s Hall of Origin.
An event item called the Azure Flute was supposed to summon Arceus in the Hall of Origin, but the Flute was never distributed. However, Arceus remains in the data and is still possible through glitches.
8 It's Able To Become Any Pokémon Type
Any seasoned Pokémon trainer understands that a Pokémon’s strength or moveset are important in battle, but it’s fundamental to take into consideration different Pokémon types and how to use them against each other to garner success.
Arceus is an important anomaly because the Normal-Type Pokémon has the ability to become any other Pokémon type depending on the Plates and Z-Crystals that are associated with it. This makes Arceus very hard to predict and able to maneuver any situation because it can take advantage of the opponent’s weakness or cover up its own.
7 It Originated From An Egg
Pokémon are a complex species and many of the games add further details and evolutionary steps to give them more context. The addition of Baby Pokémon and Pokémon Eggs has caused many innovations to the series and it’s always satisfying when a rare or valuable Pokémon can be produced from an unassuming Pokémon Egg.
The legend that surrounds Arceus says that it started from a Pokémon Egg of its own, which it proceeded to hatch from and then create the universe. It’s a radical thought, but fascinating that a being as powerful as Arceus still began from this humble start.
6 It’s The Only Pokémon That Can Learn The Move Judgment
Arceus is a valuable Pokémon because it begins with incredibly high base stats, an arsenal of powerful moves, and an unprecedented level of versatility for a Normal-Type Pokémon. Arceus also has one extra advantage over every other Pokémon, which is that the deadly attack, Judgment, is specific to it.
Judgment plays out like a series of meteor attacks that are absolutely devastating to the target. Furthermore, Judgment is able to manifest in different ways depending on the specific Plate that Arceus has, so the ability is given even more freedom.
5 Its Official Debut Was In The Movie Arceus & The Jewel Of Life
Pokémon has expanded in considerable ways since its debut and a popular tradition is the release of a new Pokémon movie on a regular basis. The Pokémon movies have covered a broad range of content, typically skewing more towards the rarer Legendary and Mythical Pokémon that don’t get as big of a showcase in the anime and games.
Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life is the 12th Pokémon movie and it’s the first place that the Pokémon made its official debut. Audiences were wise to Arceus’ existence, but Pokémon wouldn’t publicly acknowledge the creature until its movie reveal.
4 It Has The Power To Bring Things Back To Life & Freeze Time
Some of the Pokémon that are the centerpieces of feature films have extravagant powers that often keep the planet in balance or could just as easily throw the world into ruin. There are many destructive Pokémon out there, but Arceus is a being of creation and it allows the Pokémon to have unique powers.
Arceus can bring back to life anything that is destroyed, including things like the Creation Trio, as well as the opposite skill to make problems vanish out of existence. Additionally, Arceus can freeze time itself if it's necessary and so this Pokémon will never be ill-prepared.
3 It Was First Made Available Through Special Promotional Events
The later Pokémon generations started to feature rare Pokémon and items that could only be obtained through exclusive timed events. It’s a clever approach that’s still used in some capacity today. The original plan for Arceus was that the Pokémon properly appears in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, but after that idea was scrapped it was decided to make Arceus a valuable event Pokémon.
Arceus was first distributed at cinemas in Japan and at Toys "R" Us locations in America. It makes Arceus quite rare, but it's fitting considering the power that the Pokémon possesses.
2 It's The Trio Master For Both The Creation Trio & Lake Guardians
Legendary Pokémon are a big deal, but each new title expands on the concept and there are now multiple tiers of Legendary Pokémon. There are many Legendary and Mythical Pokémon that have come out after Arceus, but it's unlikely that any will actually trump the Pokémon.
The reason for this is that Arceus is the master of two sets of Legendary Pokémon, the Lake Guardians (Uxie, Azelf, and Mesprit), as well as the Creation Trio (Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina). These are all exceptional Pokémon in their own rights, yet Arceus controls them all and can make them appear or vanish.
1 It's The Mascot For The New Upcoming Pokémon Legends: Arceus
There’s been lots of traction within the Pokémon series over the last few years and it’s exciting to see how the Nintendo Switch has become a reliable platform for lots of upcoming Pokémon content. Direct remakes of Diamond and Pearl are headed to the Switch, but Arceus is also making a big return as the mascot in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, a game that’s set hundreds of years before the events of Diamond and Pearl.
The new game will show off Arceus in a powerful new context and also function as the history behind the formation of Sinnoh’s very first Pokédex.