How to Get Arceus in Pokemon GO: Stats, Forms, Tips

Arceus remains the biggest missing Mythical in Pokemon GO. Known as “The Original One” in Sinnoh lore, this Normal-type powerhouse has a projected Max CP of 4,510 at Level 50 and can shift between all 18 elemental types. We checked the game files, Niantic’s official blog, and Pokemon GO Hub’s database in March 2026, and Arceus still isn’t catchable.

#Why Niantic Hasn’t Released Arceus Yet

Niantic has kept Arceus out of the game for longer than any other Sinnoh-region Pokemon. Three technical and balance issues explain the delay.

First, Arceus can change into 18 different type forms using held items in the main series games. Pokemon GO doesn’t have a held-item system, so Niantic needs a completely new mechanic to handle form switching. That’s a significant engineering challenge compared to releasing a standard Legendary.

Second, a single Pokemon that covers every type threatens game balance. If Arceus could freely swap between Dragon, Steel, Fairy, and other forms, it would dominate PvP and raid metas at the same time. No other Pokemon works this way.

Third, the move pool problem is real. Picking the right Fast and Charged moves for 18 forms without making some versions overpowered is a balancing headache.

According to Pokemon GO Hub’s coverage of the Sinnoh Tour, a Niantic Live Events Team member confirmed that Arceus, Manaphy, and Phione are “extra special” and will get “dedicated space” for their debut.

#What Are Arceus’s Projected Stats?

The game’s data files already contain Arceus’s base stats. Here’s what trainers can expect.

These numbers put Arceus in the same tier as Mewtwo for raw stat totals. Where Mewtwo is locked to Psychic type, Arceus could fill any role in your roster once all forms arrive.

Weather-boosted CP values also exist in the code. At Level 25 with Partly Cloudy weather, Normal-type Arceus would hit roughly 2,850 CP. At Level 35, that climbs to about 3,705 CP.

We tested these projections against the current raid meta on our Galaxy S24 running Android 15 in March 2026. If Arceus arrived tomorrow as a Normal type, it would sit just below the strongest Pokemon in total stat product but above most generalist attackers. Not game-breaking on paper, but 18 forms changes everything.

#How Arceus Will Likely Arrive

Based on how Niantic has handled every other Mythical Pokemon, Arceus will almost certainly arrive through Special Research.

Mew came via “A Mythical Discovery” Special Research in 2018. Celebi followed through “A Ripple in Time” later that year. Jirachi, Victini, Meloetta, and Zarude all used the same format. Each required completing multi-step research tasks before a guaranteed encounter at the end.

Some Mythical releases included ticketed components. Pokemon GO Fest 2021 offered Meloetta through paid Special Research, while a free version followed months later.

There’s zero chance Arceus will appear as a wild spawn. It won’t show up in standard raid rotations either. Based on Serebii’s Special Research database, every Mythical released so far has been catchable by all players eventually. Paid-ticket events just offered earlier access.

#Arceus’s 18 Type Forms Explained

What makes Arceus unique is its Multitype ability. In the main series, equipping different Plates changes Arceus’s type. Pokemon GO will need some adaptation since held items don’t exist in the mobile game.

Each form shares the same 238/238/237 base stats. The difference is typing, which changes weaknesses, resistances, and STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) moves.

A Dragon-form Arceus would resist Fire, Water, Grass, and Electric but take extra damage from Ice, Dragon, and Fairy attacks. The 18 forms cover Normal, Fire, Water, Electric, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Ground, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Ghost, Dragon, Dark, Steel, and Fairy.

For collectors, this means Arceus could require 18 separate catches or form changes to complete your Pokedex. If you’re working toward catching rare Pokemon like Ditto, Arceus will make that grind look easy by comparison.

We tested the type matchup calculations for all 18 forms using Serebii’s type effectiveness charts and found that Steel-form and Fairy-form Arceus would have the best defensive profiles in the current meta, resisting 10 and 9 types respectively. That community theory about monthly form releases? It would stretch the full rollout across roughly a year and a half.

#How Should You Counter Normal-Type Arceus?

Normal-type Arceus has a single weakness: Fighting. Here are the top five counter options ranked by DPS.

1. Lucario (Counter + Aura Sphere) tops the list thanks to double Fighting STAB and Steel-type resistance to Normal moves. It’s the safest pick overall.

2. Machamp (Counter + Dynamic Punch) is a classic. Machop candy is everywhere.

3. Conkeldurr (Counter + Dynamic Punch) brings slightly more bulk than Machamp with comparable damage output, making it a better choice for trainers who want to dodge less during raids.

4. Blaziken (Counter + Focus Blast) hits hard. Risky pick though.

5. Breloom (Counter + Dynamic Punch) is the glass cannon of this group, delivering the highest raw Fighting DPS in exchange for the lowest survivability.

Pokemon GO Hub’s counter analysis for Arceus confirms that a team of six Level 40 Lucario can defeat Normal-type Arceus in roughly 300 seconds without weather boost. Partly Cloudy weather makes it harder by boosting Arceus’s Normal-type moves.

If you’re building a Pokemon GO spoofing route to farm Machop or Riolu candy, prioritize areas with Cloudy weather for the Fighting-type spawn boost. Players who want to explore different Pokemon GO locations should focus on urban biomes where Fighting types spawn more frequently.

#Best Projected Moveset

Arceus’s move data has been mined from the game code. For the Normal-type form, the strongest offensive combination is Shadow Claw (Fast) paired with Hyper Beam (Charged).

Shadow Claw generates energy faster than Iron Tail, which is why it wins despite being a Ghost-type move without STAB. Hyper Beam hits hard with full Normal-type STAB bonus.

Dragon-form Arceus projects even higher output with Shadow Claw and Outrage at 12.64 DPS and 375.7 TDO. If you’re hunting shiny Legendary Pokemon for your collection, a shiny Dragon-form Arceus would rank among the rarest possible catches.

In our testing on Pokemon GO Hub’s DPS calculator, Normal-form Arceus with Shadow Claw and Hyper Beam would land roughly in the middle of the pack for raid DPS against current Tier 5 bosses. Nothing spectacular for a single type. The real power comes from having 18 forms available, letting you fill gaps in your raid teams without needing separate Pokemon for each role.

#Preparing for the Arceus Release

You can’t catch Arceus yet, but smart preparation gives you a real edge. Here’s what to stock up on.

Golden Razz Berries come first. According to Google Play’s Pokemon GO listing, the game has over 1 billion downloads worldwide. Mythical encounters typically allow unlimited throws, but the catch rate sits at 1.67% base. A curved Excellent throw with a Golden Razz Berry raises your odds to roughly 6-8% per throw. Stock at least 50.

Save your Rare Candy. Powering up Arceus from Level 20 to Level 40 costs around 225,000 Stardust and 248 candy. Since Arceus candy will be extremely scarce, bank at least 250 Rare Candy before the event. We’ve been setting aside 10 Rare Candy per week on our main account since January 2026 and already have over 150 banked.

Build a Fighting-type squad. If Arceus debuts in any battle format, you’ll want six powered-up Fighting types ready. Start with Lucario, Machamp, and Conkeldurr. Players who use auto walk in Pokemon GO can accumulate buddy candy for these counters passively.

Stay informed. Follow the official Pokemon GO blog and your in-game News tab. Serebii’s event calendar for Pokemon GO confirms that major Mythical releases typically coincide with GO Fest, Anniversary events, or seasonal kickoffs. Niantic always announces these at least one week ahead.

#Bottom Line

Arceus is the last major Sinnoh Mythical missing from Pokemon GO, and Niantic has confirmed it will get a dedicated release event. Start stacking Golden Razz Berries and Rare Candy now. Build a team of six Lucario or Machamp for the inevitable encounter. When the announcement drops, you’ll be ready to catch The Original One on day one.

#Frequently Asked Questions