Special
Support
CTier
85Speed · Above Avg

Stats & Training

Articuno's spread favors special bulk over offense. Sp. Def leads the defensive side, Attack eats the cost. Yields 3 Sp. Def EVs per defeat. Slow 1.25M XP grind to level.

Base Stats
Pseudo
HP90
B
Attack85
C
Defense100
B
Sp. Atk95
B
Sp. Def125
A
Speed85
C
Total580
Details
Catch Rate
Legendary3 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height1.7 m
5'07"Average
Weight55.4 kg
122.1 lbsStandard
Base XP290
Elite Yield
Abilities
PressureNiche
Increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.
Snow CloakHATop Pick
Increases evasion to 1.25× during hail. Protects against hail damage.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpD+3Spe
Strong Special Defense training target
Pokedex Entries

This legendary bird Pokémon can create blizzards by freezing moisture in the air.

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.

Articuno Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Rock
2x (Weak)Fire, Electric, Steel
0.5x (Resist)Grass, Bug
0x (Immune)Ground
Type ChartVulnerable
4Weak
2Resist
1Immune
Score-5
4xCritical
Rock
2xWeak
FireElectricSteel
½xResist
GrassBug
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
Ground
STAB (6)
GrassGroundFlyingDragonFightingBug
How to Beat Articuno in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (Best Counters)

In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Tyranitar threatens a KO with Stone Edge (343-404%).

Heatran
Heatran
FireSteel
S
Recommended Build
AbilityFlashfire
ItemLeftovers
NatureTimid
Moves
  • Earth Power
  • Magma Storm
  • Stealth Rock
  • TauntUtility
View Heatran builds →

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Evolution

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

No Evolution
Articuno
#144ArticunoDoes not evolve

Breeding

Unavailable
Undiscovered egg group

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Articuno Best Moveset

utility options gives Articuno answers even while choice-locked. Choice Scarf provides speed patching through item lock, and max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs with Snowcloak mean every prediction that lands hits hard.

Best Build

Experimental
Ability
Snow Cloak
Item
Choice ScarfSPEED
Best Nature for Articuno
Timid+SPE

Articuno best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

Doubles Special Revenge Killer Moveset

  • BlizzardSTAB
  • Aurora VeilSTAB
  • HailUtility
  • Air SlashSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Abomasnow
AbomasnowGood

Moves

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.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Gust
D4010035Flying
Lv 1
Mist
D——30Ice
Lv 5
Powder Snow
—4010025Ice
Lv 10
Reflect
C——20Psychic
Lv 15
Ice Shard+1
D4010030Ice
Lv 20
Agility
C——30Psychic
Lv 25
Ancient Power
B601005Rock
Lv 30
Tailwind
C——15Flying
Lv 35
Freeze-Dry
S7010020Ice
Lv 40
Roost
S——10Flying
Lv 45
Ice Beam
B9010010Ice
Lv 50
Hail
A——10Ice
Lv 55
Hurricane
C1107010Flying
Lv 60
Mind Reader
———5Normal
Lv 65
Blizzard
S110705Ice
Lv 70
Sheer Cold
——305Ice

TM Moves

TM
TM40
Aerial Ace
C60—20Flying
TM72
Avalanche-4
C6010010Ice
TM14
Blizzard
S110705Ice
TM97
Defog
S——15Flying
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM58
Endure+4
C——10Normal
TM42
Facade
D7010020Normal
TM94
Fly
C909515Flying
TM68
Giga Impact
C150905Normal
TM07
Hail
A——10Ice
TM15
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
B9010010Ice
TM88
Pluck
—6010020Flying
TM17
Protect+4
C——10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
C——5Water
TM33
Reflect
C——20Psychic
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM05
Roar-6
C——20Normal
TM98
Rock Smash
D4010015Fighting
TM51
Roost
S——10Flying
TM37
Sandstorm
D——10Rock
TM82
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
TM47
Steel Wing
D709025Steel
TM90
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
C——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
D—8515Normal
TM89
U-turn
D7010020Bug
TM03
Water Pulse
D6010020Water

Egg Moves

Articuno doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Articuno can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Articuno in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

Articuno can't be caught in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. Bring it over from Red, Yellow, or Let's Go Pikachu instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.

Articuno is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Also found in:

RedYellowFireRedPlatinumHeartGoldX

Articuno Guide

  • In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Articuno is a Legendary Pokemon rated C-Tier. At 580 BST, it hits hard. It excels as a support. Blizzard with Choice Scarf is the standard set.

  • In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, 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 Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Articuno fills the support role. It's a special attacker with base 95 Sp. Atk. Base 85 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. And it's tanky enough to absorb a few hits.

  • In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, the best way to handle Articuno: Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Rock, Fire, and Electric-type attackers hit hardest.

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

Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Want to tell us more?
What was most useful?
What could be improved?
Thanks for your feedback