Is Articuno Good in Sword & Shield Playthrough?
Kantonian Articuno appears in Crown Tundra Dynamax Adventures. The Galarian form (Psychic/Flying) is the roaming encounter in the Crown Tundra overworld. Both are postgame content. Galarian Articuno's AbilityCompetitive boosts Special Attack when stats are lowered. Neither contributes to the Galar gym story.
Articuno resists most of Milo's coverage and hits back hard.
Articuno has the type edge here and should clean up Nessa's team.
Articuno has the type edge here and should clean up Kabu's team.
Articuno resists most of Bea's coverage and hits back hard.
Articuno resists most of Opal's coverage and hits back hard.
Articuno trades roughly evenly with Gordie's team.
Articuno resists most of Piers's coverage and hits back hard.
Articuno has the type edge here and should clean up Raihan's team.
Articuno has the type edge here and should clean up Bede's team.
Articuno has the type edge here and should clean up Leon's team.
Catch Articuno on Crown Shrine (Dynamax Adventure, Lv 70). Dynamax Adventure final boss. Catch at the end of a Dynamax Adventure in the Crown Tundra Max Lair. One attempt per adventure — choose whether to keep the legendary or pass.
How to Get Articuno in Sword & Shield
Articuno can't be caught in Sword & Shield. Bring it over from Red & Blue, Yellow, or Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.
Articuno is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Also Obtainable In:
Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.
Articuno Weakness
Articuno is weak to Rock, Fire, Electric, and Steel. Watch out for Rock attacks, those deal 4x damage. On the flip side, it's immune to Ground-type moves entirely. Articuno's special bulk (base 125 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Rock |
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Electric, Steel |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground |
What is Articuno Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Articuno
 Raichu Electric | C | |
 Jolteon Electric | B | |
 Roggenrola Rock | C | |
 Dwebble BugRock | C | |
 Growlithe Fire | C | |
 Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Excadrill builds →Rock Slide 4x89-106%KO Metal Claw 2x46-55% | ||
 Coalossal RockFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Coalossal builds →Ancient Power 4x63-74% Incinerate 2x31-37% | ||
 Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
 Arcanine Fire | B | |
 Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Excadrill builds →Rock Slide 4x90-106%KO Metal Claw 2x45-54% | ||
Coalossal RockFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Coalossal builds →Ancient Power 4x63-75% Incinerate 2x31-38% | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Excadrill builds →Rock Slide 4x87-103%KO Smart Strike 2x61-73% | ||
 Solrock RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Solrock builds →Stone Edge 4x131-154%KO Flare Blitz 2x52-61% | ||
 Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Coalossal RockFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Coalossal builds →Ancient Power 4x58-69% Incinerate 2x29-34% | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Drednaw builds →Rock Tomb 4x94-111%KO Smart Strike 2x36-43% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x108-127%KO Rock Slide 4x90-107%KO | ||
 Barbaracle RockWater | C | |
Coalossal RockFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Coalossal builds →Rock Slide 4x87-103%KO Incinerate 2x29-35% | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Drednaw builds →Rock Slide 4x115-136%KO Smart Strike 2x36-42% | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Excadrill builds →Rock Slide 4x88-104%KO Smart Strike 2x62-74% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x110-130%KO Rock Slide 4x94-111%KO | ||
Barbaracle RockWater | C | |
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Dwebble BugRock | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Dwebble builds →Rock Wrecker 4x147-174%KO | ||
Coalossal RockFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Coalossal builds →Rock Slide 4x89-106%KO Incinerate 2x30-36% | ||
 Crustle BugRock | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Crustle builds →Rock Wrecker 4x213-251%KO | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Drednaw builds →Head Smash 4x231-272%KO Smart Strike 2x37-43% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Sudowoodo builds →Head Smash 4x207-243%KO Fire Punch 2x35-41% Thunder Punch 2x35-41% | ||
Barbaracle RockWater | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Barbaracle builds →Stone Edge 4x144-169%KO | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Tyranitar builds →Stone Edge 4x177-209%KO Fire Punch 2x45-53% Thunder Punch 2x45-53% | ||
Crustle BugRock | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Crustle builds →Rock Wrecker 4x213-251%KO | ||
 Aurorus RockIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Aurorus builds →Ancient Power 4x70-82% Thunder 2x42-49% | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Drednaw builds →Head Smash 4x231-272%KO Smart Strike 2x37-43% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Sudowoodo builds →Head Smash 4x207-243%KO Fire Punch 2x35-41% Thunder Punch 2x35-41% | ||
Barbaracle RockWater | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Barbaracle builds →Stone Edge 4x144-169%KO | ||
Crustle BugRock | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Crustle builds →Rock Wrecker 4x213-251%KO | ||
Aurorus RockIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Aurorus builds →Ancient Power 4x70-82% Thunder 2x42-49% | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Drednaw builds →Head Smash 4x231-272%KO Smart Strike 2x37-43% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Sudowoodo builds →Head Smash 4x207-243%KO Fire Punch 2x35-41% Thunder Punch 2x35-41% | ||
Barbaracle RockWater | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Barbaracle builds →Stone Edge 4x144-169%KO | ||
In Sword & Shield, Tyranitar can KO Articuno with Stone Edge (287-338%). Cinderace's High Jump Kick hits Articuno for 34-40%. Jolteon deals 64-75% with Thunderbolt.
Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Tyranitar builds →Crunch57-67% Stone Edge 4x287-338%KO | ||
 Cinderace Fire | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLibero ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Cinderace builds →Sucker Punch18-22% High Jump Kick34-40% U Turn9-11% | ||
Jolteon Electric | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityVoltabsorb ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Jolteon builds →Thunderbolt 2x64-75% Shadow Ball19-22% Volt Switch 2x50-59% | ||
 Scizor BugSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Articuno View Scizor builds →Bullet Punch 2x38-45% Knock Off20-24% | ||
Articuno Evolutions
Articuno is strong overall with 580 total stats as a Ice/Flying legendary. Can't breed it, so you're locked to whatever you catch or receive. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
SwSh Articuno Best Moveset
Ice/Flying typing punishes the defensive playstyle this moveset wants to run. 4x MoveStealth Rock weakness costs half HP on every switch, and AbilityPressure stalling requires staying on the field that the hazard damage prevents. 125 Sp. Def and 100 Defense are real bulk but D-tier because of what the typing costs.
Best Build
Articuno best EVs are HP and Sp. Def
Wall Moveset
- Roost
- Freeze Dry
- Defog
- Heal Bell
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Articuno develops a solid moveset just through leveling. Ice Beam and Hurricane show up naturally, and the progression handles both STAB and utility without leaning on TMs for the core attacks.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
Its feather-like blades are composed of psychic energy and can shear through thick iron sheets as if they were paper.
Known as Articuno, this Pokémon fires beams that can immobilize opponents as if they had been frozen solid.
Articuno Sword & Shield Guide
In Sword & Shield, Articuno is a Legendary Pokemon rated C-Tier. At 580 BST, it hits hard. It excels as a support. Roost with Heavy-Duty Boots is the standard set.
In Sword & Shield, Articuno's biggest threats include Golem (Rock), Charizard (Fire), and Raikou (Electric), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Golem is the most dangerous since Rock moves deal 4x damage. Steel-type attackers are also a problem. Articuno has enough bulk to absorb a hit, but don't push the matchup. Pivot to a teammate that resists.
Pressure is the go-to ability for Articuno. It increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one. Its hidden ability Snow Cloak can work in specific setups.
In Sword & Shield, Articuno fills the support role. It's a mixed attacker with base 85 Attack and 95 Sp. Atk. Base 85 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. And it's tanky enough to absorb a few hits.
For Sword & Shield, the core moveset is Roost, Freezedry, Defog, and Heal Bell. Roost leads at 0% usage. This set covers the support role with a mix of damage and utility.
Game Availability
Articuno has appeared in 20 games since Red & Blue, spanning 10 generations. As a Legendary, it's typically a one-per-save encounter tied to the story or post-game content.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShGalarian
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves