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

Its feather-like blades are composed of psychic energy and can shear through thick iron sheets as if they were paper.

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 Sword & Shield (Best Counters)
Heatran
Heatran
FireSteel
S
Recommended Build
AbilityFlashfire
ItemLeftovers
NatureTimid
Moves
  • Earth Power
  • Magma Storm
  • Stealth Rock
  • TauntUtility
View Heatran builds →

Sword & Shield 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

Sword & Shield 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
Kyurem
KyuremDecent

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
TR12
Agility
C——30Psychic
TM95
Air Slash
A759515Flying
TM64
Avalanche-4
C6010010Ice
TR06
Blizzard
S110705Ice
TR66
Brave Bird
B12010015Flying
TR26
Endure+4
C——10Normal
TM39
Facade
D7010020Normal
TM06
Fly
C909515Flying
TM09
Giga Impact
C150905Normal
TM35
Hail
A——10Ice
TR89
Hurricane
C1107010Flying
TM08
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal
TR05
Ice Beam
B9010010Ice
TM51
Icicle Spear
D2510030Ice
TM27
Icy Wind
C559515Ice
TM25
Protect+4
C——10Normal
TM33
Rain Dance
C——5Water
TM18
Reflect
C——20Psychic
TM21
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM76
Round
D6010015Normal
TM32
Sandstorm
D——10Rock
TR27
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
TM24
Snore
—5010015Normal
TM30
Steel Wing
D709025Steel
TR20
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM34
Sunny Day
C——5Fire
TM40
Swift
D60—20Normal
TM56
U-turn
D7010020Bug
TM46
Weather Ball
D5010010Normal

Egg Moves

Articuno doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Dual Wingbeat
D409010Flying
Tutor
Triple Axel
B209010Ice

How to Get Articuno in Sword & Shield

Articuno can't be caught in Sword & Shield. 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 Sword & Shield, 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 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 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 Sword & Shield, 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