This is how to find and catch the namesake of the game in Pokémon Legends: Arceus (PLA): Arceus itself.

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Arceus is the final battle in Pokémon Legends once you’ve filled your Pokédex.

How to Access Arceus¶

Arceus is a Pokémon, and it’s also possible to give it a second typing as it has many different versions. It’s unclear of how exactly to do this in PLA or if it’s random, but as Arceus will change its typing while battling with you, it’s clearly possible.

Accessing the part of the game where you have to defeat Arceus is no easy feat in itself and will take most players quite a while. There are some main and very large things you need to do:

• Complete all of the missions, ending the main story
• Complete the entire Pokédex for the entire region
• Unlock the final post-game mission, “The Defied Pokémon”

The requirement for facing off against Arceus is to catch 239 Pokémon. If you have save files from Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl and Pokémon Sword and Shield, you’ll be able to catch Shaymin and Darkrai for a total of 242. You can catch these as part of the 239 and they will count towards the conditions to face off against Arceus.

Once you’ve done this, you’ll have to head to the Temple of Sinnoh. You can get there by heading to the Summit Camp in the Coronet Highlands, where it’s only a short distance away.

Press A to play the flute, which will summon Arceus to you. A pretty intense cut scene will play before you’ll get the chance to test your strength against it.

The Fight¶

Arceus is Level 75 when you approach it. By this point in the game, your Pokémon should be of a similar level — though fortunately, you aren’t wholly relying on them to catch it.

You might think that’ll make the whole thing easier, but even just taking Arceus down is no easy feat. The fight is very much like the ones you’re used to with the Frenzied Pokémon, only split into four sections. Keep throwing Mysterious Balms at Arceus to whittle down the health.

As you pass each stage of the health bar and get that down, the fight will grow more challenging with every bar you get rid of. You should spend most of your time dodging and only throw Mysterious Balms when Arceus has paused to take a break and you’re quite sure you can land a hit.

Much like the other Frenzied Pokémon, there will also be opportunities to throw out your own Pokémon to battle Arceus. Defeating it using your Pokémon will give you a chance to really throw those Mysterious Balms while its guard is down.

As it’s a Normal-type Pokémon, send out some Fighting-types or other Pokémon strong against Normal. Arceus’ moves include Hyper Beam and Judgment, and both are very strong, so be careful. It can change its second typing throughout the battle too, so one move that was effective may not be the next time you try to use it.

Once you’ve managed to defeat Arceus, you’ll get a rather epic speech about how it wants to come with you and is choosing to be your Pokémon. Arceus will be added to your party, completing the most final possible part of the post-game. Unlike other Pokémon, there’s no need to throw Balls at it. The process of it being added to your party is completely automatic.