Eternatus, The Gigantic Pokémon. The core on its chest absorbs energy emanating from the lands of the Galar region. This energy is what allows Eternatus to stay active. It was inside a meteorite that fell 20,000 years ago. There seems to be a connection between this Pokémon and the Dynamax phenomenon.
Overview
Eternatus was a surprise for the climax of Sword and Shield’s story. Instead of fighting the title legendaries, you were fighting alongside the title legendaries against this world ending threat. And Eternatus can live up to the hype. Its odd stat distribution, emphasizing HP, Special Attack and Speed, emphasizes Eternatus’ role as a bulky special attacker and it has the movepool to match, enabling both defensive and offensive roles. Being a Dragon type capable of scaring Xerneas off with STAB Sludge Bomb while still answering Steel types with Flamethrower in conjunction with its high speed means that there are few reliable checks to an Eternatus offense. Defensively, its high HP offsets its just below average defenses and with proper investment, can repeatedly take blows from Kyogre, Necrozma-Dusk Mane, and Yveltal being able to easily Recover off any damage.
However, Eternatus’ typing holds it back just as much as it propels it forward. Many fellow legendaries are part Dragon or Psychic, limiting opportunities when Eternatus can safely switch in, despite its high speed giving it an advantage against most of the former. Lacking a resistance to Fairy means that Eternatus can’t stop a setup Xerneas or Zacian despite Poison’s advantageous match-up. Despite this, Eternatus is an incredible Pokémon whose unique blend of typing, speed and bulk ensures a slot on many teams stuffed to the brim with other legends.
Positives
Incredible Base 145 Special Attack and complimentary movepool ensures that Eternatus is hitting everything hard.
Base 140 HP with defensive options like Cosmic Power, Recover, Pressure and Toxic helps Eternatus pivot into attacks repeatedly and stay healthy
Dynamax Cannon is an Incredible STAB, having a Psuedo super effective against any non Fairy Dynamaxed Pokémon
Negatives
Common weaknesses prevent Eternatus from being able to pivot in as often as it would like.
Meteor Beam is Eternatus’ only boosting move preventing it from blasting through dedicated Sponges like Blissey without an inordinate amount of setup.
Unable to Dynamax
Eternamax Eternatus is unavailable
Movesets
Power beyond the Stars
-Meteor Beam
-Dynamax Cannon
-Sludge Wave
-Flamethrower
Item Attached: Power Herb
Ability: Pressure
EVs and Nature:
252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
Meteor Beam Eternatus functions as a potent late game cleaner, able to setup and leverage its amazing Special Attack and coverage to lay waste to a weakened team. Meteor Beam is fantastic beyond the Special Attack boost -answering common Special walls in Ho-Oh and Yveltal and with Power Herb, the surprise shot can be the opening salvo to a sweep. Dynamax Cannon is a ludricously good STAB, not only having 100 Base Power, but Pseudo advantage against opposing Dynamax targets, negating the health bonus they would otherwise have and preventing a desperate Dynamax from stopping a sweep. Sludge Wave is invaluable for checking Xerneas, Clefable and other Fairies. Flamethrower rounds out the set, giving Eternatus a reliable answer to most Steel types who reliable wall its STABs.
DYNAMAX:
Eternatus can't Dynamax
EVs and Items:
Standard Sweeper array of Max Speed and Special Attack to give Eternatus as much stopping power as possible. Investing in Special Defense or HP over Special Attack may be viable if you are looking to hedge against switching into a Knock Off or Meteor Beam miss, but the Special Attack investment is heavily recommended since even a Max Special Attack +1 Meteor Beam only has a 30% chance of knocking out more specially defensive Yveltal. If not running Meteor Beam, Life Orb is a good option to get that extra bit of power.
Other Options:
Recover -helps offset pivoting in and Life Orb recoil.
Sludge Bomb -slightly lower power for additional Poison chance.
Partners:
Yveltal is perhaps Eternatus' best friend, able to switch into Ground and Psychic attacks with impunity and shutdown opposing setup attempts with Taunt, increasing Eternatus' Special Bulk with Snarl while remaining a generally healthy wall.
Necrozma Dusk Mane readily answers Eternatus Dragon and Ice weaknesses while crippling faster targets like Zacian Crowned with Thunder Wave and generally just setting up for the sweep. Forms a Solid Core with Yveltal as well.
Calyrex Shadow rider enjoys Eternatus' ability to lure and eliminate opposing Yveltal and can take advantage of the Psychic attacks it draws for a relatively safe switch in.
Alien Miasma
-Toxic
-Recover
-Dynamax Cannon
-Mystical Fire
Item Attached: Black Sludge
Ability: Pressure
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 220 Def / 36 Spe
Timid Nature
Eternatus trades in immediate power and speed to become a durable wall that repeatedly pivots in and spreads Toxic, wearing down the opposing team with both status and Pressure. Swap into Urshifu’s Close Combat and Sucker Punch, sap away Ho-oh’s Sacred Fire, and Cinderace’s Pyro Ball, there is no lack of moves and Pokémon Eternatus can switch into and wall. Recover is key to this set, keeping Eternatus healthy over repeated hits and entry hazards while Toxic does its grisly work. Dynamax Cannon is as always, an incredible special STAB, enabling to apply immediate pressure to Dynamaxed targets, especially Dynamaxed dragon types like Palkia and Zekrom. Mystical Fire rounds out the set, being a coverage option for Steel types like Necrozma Dusk Mane and Ferrothorn and makes Eternatus even more specially bulky, good for catching predicted Calyrex Shadow Rider switches.
DYNAMAX:
Eternatus can't Dynamax
EVs and Items:
Max HP is a must for maximizing bulk. Timid + 36 Speed EVs guarantees you will outrun Jolly Palkia and Landorus-Incarnate, with everything else in Defense since you are relying on Mystical Fire for Special Defense. Investment in Special Defense is a consideration if you have plenty of other physical walls.
Other Options:
Toxic Spikes -a potent Entry Hazard option, but sadly, many of the most popular Pokémon are Flying or Steel type. Or Eternatus, which hampers their effectiveness.
Venoshock – combo’s well with Toxic, but lacks the immediate threat of Dynamax Cannon and has much worse coverage.
Cosmic Power -patches up your defenses, but makes Eternatus incredibly passive since you would have to give up a coverage option.
Partners:
Yveltal is perhaps Eternatus’ best friend, able to switch into Ground and Psychic attacks with impunity and shutdown opposing setup attempts with Taunt, increasing Eternatus’ Special Bulk with Snarl while remaining a generally healthy wall.
Necrozma Dusk Mane readily answers Eternatus Dragon and Ice weaknesses while crippling faster targets like Zacian Crowned with Thunder Wave and generally just setting up for the sweep. Forms a Solid Core with Yveltal as well.
Ho-oh, like Yveltal blanks Ground moves and provides excellent support with Sacred Fire and Defog, while enjoying Eternatus checking Electric and Water types like Regieleki and Kyogre.
VGC & Double Battle Options
Eternatus is an interesting pick in doubles. While none of its moves are specialized for doubles, its typing and traits make Eternatus stand out. Many of the most popular Doubles picks, such as Rillaboom, Incineroar, and Regieleki are utterly walled by Eternatus, while Eternatus’ fantastic speed tier enables it to get the jump on many targets before team support. However, Eternatus struggles against other restricted Pokémon, such as Zacian Crowned, Calyrex (both forms), and Groudon. Ironically, the Pokémon it checks are so popular in part due to their ability to match up against other Legendaries and thus make good teammates. Eternatus has a lot of good traits, but is utterly dependent on what else is popular to truly excel
ETernatus Phones for Help
-Flamethrower
-Dynamax Cannon
-Sludge Bomb
-Protect
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs and Nature:
252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
Eternatus functions similarly to Zacian Crowned in a doubles format, being an incredibly bulky and shockingly fast sweeper that flourishes with team support. The usual suspects for offense are here -Dynamax Cannon and Sludge bomb for STAB, Flamethrower so that Eternatus isn’t left flailing against Steels types. Protect is a Doubles staple -scout for moves and surprise EV spreads, protect against an Ally’s Earthquake, run out the clock on Weather and Trick Room, the utility just can’t be beat.
DYNAMAX:
Eternatus can't Dynamax
Other Options & Partners:
Dual Screens Grimmsnarl makes Eternatus overwhelmingly bulky, ensuring concerted efforts to take it down.
Incineroar checks Zacian Crowned and the Calyrex Riders, two of Eternatus’ greatest headaches, while indirectly making it more bulky with Intimidate, Snarl and Parting Shot.
Countering Eternatus
Calyrex Shadow Rider is Eternatus’ biggest headache, able to reliably outspeed and 1-2HKO Eternatus, though it can’t switch in safely if Eternatus has nabbed a Special Attack boost. Zacian Crowned is similar, not liking switching into a Flamethrower, but otherwise able to reliably setup or outright KO Zacian.
Eternatus is always Special, so dedicated sponges can work well against it. Blissey is by far the best, needing multiple Meteor Beam boosts to break through, though Ho-Oh and Yveltal fare well against any set lacking Meteor Beam. None of them like eating a Toxic however.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Not in game
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game
Colosseum/XD:
Not in game
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game
Black/White:
Not in game
Black 2/White 2:
Not in game
X/Y:
Not in game
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Not in game
Sun/Moon:
Not in game
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Not in game
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game
Sword/Shield:
Energy Plant
Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl:
Not in game
Legends: Arceus:
Not in game
Anime Appearences
