Articuno's Ice/Flying typing gives it an immunity to Ground. The 4 weaknesses are the tradeoff, but that immunity creates real opportunities. Known as the Freeze Pokemon. Flexible enough to run physical or special sets.
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.
A legendary bird Pokémon. It can create blizzards by freezing moisture in the air.
Articuno Weakness
VulnerableArticuno is weak to Rock, Fire, Electric, and Steel-type moves. 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.
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
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.
How to Evolve
Pressure helps Articuno stick around while dealing real damage. Leftovers for passive recovery each turn, a spread EV build EVs for the right balance, and Roost as the main threat. Not the fastest, but it doesn't need to be.
Best Build
Best Articuno Moveset
- Roost
- Ice Beam
- Toxic
- Substitute
Recommended Teammates
TMs define Articuno's movepool. The natural moves cover basics with Blizzard and Ice Beam, but the real versatility comes from technical machines giving it coverage across 9 types. That's where the options open up.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Finding Articuno at low spawn rates takes patience. 1 spots are available in endgame routes, but the rate difference between them matters. Lock in the top one from the sorted list below.
Best Locations
Articuno is a Legendary Pokemon rated C-Tier on our tier list. At 580 BST, it hits hard. It excels as a support. Base 125 Sp. Def is where it shines.
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.
Articuno doesn't evolve. As a Legendary Pokemon, it stands on its own without an evolutionary line. It's a Ice/Flying type with 580 BST.
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.
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.
Articuno appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Articuno has appeared in 20 games since Red & Blue, spanning 9 generations. As a Legendary, it's typically a one-per-save encounter tied to the story or post-game content.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwShGalarian
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A