[OVERVIEW]
Articuno carves itself a good niche in the PU metagame, as it has respectable bulk, a useful ability, and a decent Speed tier. These traits allow Articuno to stall out and beat many passive foes in the tier, such as Clefairy, Ferroseed, and Gastrodon, which is made even more deadly with the combination of Substitute and its ability Pressure. Articuno's good bulk also allows it to blanket check many offensive Pokemon like Mesprit, Lilligant, Skuntank, and Swanna and deal with them with its STAB moves in return. Articuno's STAB moves pressure a lot of defensive cores, namely those with Ferroseed and Lanturn, and the small number of pure Steel-types makes its STAB moves easier to spam. However, Articuno does have a 4x weakness to Stealth Rock, which limits its opportunities to switch in freely. As a result, Articuno must be partnered with a teammate that can remove entry hazards. In addition, Articuno's poor defensive typing prevents it from being a fully defensive wall, and its average offenses make it too weak to be a fully offensive sweeper. Articuno competes with other Ice-types in the tier, namely Aurorus, Jynx, and Abomasnow, all of which are more versatile and stronger offensively. Despite outspeeding the likes of Mesprit, Skuntank, and Stoutland, Articuno sits in a slightly awkward Speed tier, leaving it outpaced by common threats like Kangaskhan, Primeape, and Togedemaru. Finally, Articuno has trouble in some matchups versus more offensively based teams, as it can be more easily pressured by strong wallbreakers. Those teams also tend to set up Stealth Rock more easily and are able to apply more pressure to the hazard remover.
[SET]
name: SubRoost
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Roost
move 3: Freeze-Dry
move 4: Hurricane
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Substitute allows Articuno to buffer weaker attacks and avoid status. It is also the key component to stalling out the foe's PP. Roost is Articuno's reliable source of recovery that keeps it healthy throughout the match and also allows Articuno to continue using Substitute. Freeze-Dry is Articuno's primary STAB move and has super effective coverage on Water-types like Lanturn and Gastrodon. Hurricane is its other STAB move that hits Pokemon such as Hitmonchan and Pyroar and is stronger than Freeze-Dry at the expense of accuracy.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature allows Articuno to outrun Pokemon like Mesprit, Skuntank, and Shiftry. Maximum Special Attack investment lets Articuno hit as hard as possible. Pressure allows Articuno to whittle the foe's PP much faster and stall out moves. Leftovers gives Articuno passive recovery and helps it set up more Substitutes.
Usage Tips
========
Send out Articuno as early as possible if the opponent does not have a direct counter to it, such as Togedemaru, Probopass, or Type: Null. Since Articuno's offensive coverage is very threatening, don't hesitate to simply attack if the opponent cannot switch into its Ice- or Flying- coverage well. Switch Articuno into passive Pokemon or Pokemon that don't threaten it offensively, such as Gastrodon and defensive Mesprit, but be cautious of status moves such as Toxic and Thunder Wave. Then, set up Substitute or just attack without a Substitute if they are within range of being KOed. Repeatedly set up Substitute against foes that are slower and have moves with low PP in order to stall them out, such as Ferroseed's Gyro Ball and Regirock's Stone Edge. Use Roost when moves have either run out of PP or have missed. Avoid switching in Articuno when Stealth Rock is on the field unless absolutely necessary. If it must switch in, it should almost always use Roost to recover, though this makes it lose momentum, makes it vulnerable to attacks or status, or gives the opponent a free switch. Articuno is best used as a Pokemon that breaks down the opponent's team for teammates to sweep, so focus primarily on chipping and whittling down the foes rather than sweeping late-game on its own.
Team Options
========
Articuno's 4x weakness to Stealth Rock means entry hazard control is required. Therefore, hazard removers like Hitmonchan, Skuntank, and Lurantis are mandatory. Hitmonchan is notable, as it can take on many strong special attacking Fire- and Electric-types such as Pyroar and Eelektross. Articuno appreciates answers to Steel-type Pokemon, most notably Probopass and Togedemaru, so offensive Ground- and Fighting-types such as Golurk, Primeape, and Gurdurr are good partners. In return, Articuno can help pressure Pokemon like Weezing and Mesprit that serve as defensive checks to them. Fire-types like Ninetales and Pyroar check Articuno well, so Articuno welcomes checks to them such as Regirock and Lanturn. In return, Articuno can beat Ground- and Ice-types, like Gastrodon and Jynx, that threaten them. Pokemon that take on Electric-types, such as Lanturn, Gastrodon, Type: Null, and Eelektross, are also appreciated. Stealth Rock support from the likes of Regirock, Mesprit, and Clefairy chips Articuno's checks and counters and helps it beat them more easily. Pivots, namely slow U-turn and Volt Switch users like Eelektross, Mesprit, Lanturn, and Type: Null, can help Articuno come in more safely. Late-game cleaners and sweepers such as Lilligant, Carracosta, and Gurdurr appreciate Articuno's ability to stall out and break down walls for them. Wallbreakers like Stoutland, Drampa, and Aggron that break through defensive Pokemon that Articuno can't stall out, namely Type: Null, are appreciated.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A bulkier spread of 64 HP / 192 SpA / 252 Spe can help Articuno tank some hits, such as Weezing's Sludge Bomb. A spread of 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 Spe can be used, at the expense of power, to have a better chance of keeping its Substitute intact from weak attacks like defensive Mesprit's Psychic and specially offensive Skuntank's Dark Pulse. An Agility + Flyinium Z set can be a threatening late-game sweeper but can be tricky to pull off because it is still often too weak offensively to sweep unless all of its checks and counters have been eliminated or severely weakened. Toxic can be used to wear down defensive checks, but Articuno must drop one of its STAB moves or Substitute, making it less flexible in its role. Hidden Power Fighting or Ground can be used to hit Steel- or Ice-types like Togedemaru and Alolan Sandslash super effectively but, once again, forces Articuno to drop an important attack or status move.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: Articuno loses half of its health when switching into Stealth Rock, which limits its longevity and defensive capabilities.
**Steel-types**: Togedemaru, Probopass, and Aggron all threaten Articuno with their STAB move while walling Articuno entirely.
**Faster Offensive Threats**: Pokemon such as Archeops, Alolan Raichu, Lycanroc, and Pyroar are all capable of utilizing their advantageous offensive typing and strength to OHKO or 2HKO Articuno.
**Special Walls**: Pokemon like Type: Null and Audino can take on Articuno's average offensive stats. The former can set up on it and beat it one-on-one, while the latter can lock Articuno into a move via Encore and switch out to an appropriate teammate. However, Audino must resort to PP stalling Articuno to truly beat it.
Articuno carves itself a good niche in the PU metagame, as it has respectable bulk, a useful ability, and a decent Speed tier. These traits allow Articuno to stall out and beat many passive foes in the tier, such as Clefairy, Ferroseed, and Gastrodon, which is made even more deadly with the combination of Substitute and its ability Pressure. Articuno's good bulk also allows it to blanket check many offensive Pokemon like Mesprit, Lilligant, Skuntank, and Swanna and deal with them with its STAB moves in return. Articuno's STAB moves pressure a lot of defensive cores, namely those with Ferroseed and Lanturn, and the small number of pure Steel-types makes its STAB moves easier to spam. However, Articuno does have a 4x weakness to Stealth Rock, which limits its opportunities to switch in freely. As a result, Articuno must be partnered with a teammate that can remove entry hazards. In addition, Articuno's poor defensive typing prevents it from being a fully defensive wall, and its average offenses make it too weak to be a fully offensive sweeper. Articuno competes with other Ice-types in the tier, namely Aurorus, Jynx, and Abomasnow, all of which are more versatile and stronger offensively. Despite outspeeding the likes of Mesprit, Skuntank, and Stoutland, Articuno sits in a slightly awkward Speed tier, leaving it outpaced by common threats like Kangaskhan, Primeape, and Togedemaru. Finally, Articuno has trouble in some matchups versus more offensively based teams, as it can be more easily pressured by strong wallbreakers. Those teams also tend to set up Stealth Rock more easily and are able to apply more pressure to the hazard remover.
[SET]
name: SubRoost
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Roost
move 3: Freeze-Dry
move 4: Hurricane
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Substitute allows Articuno to buffer weaker attacks and avoid status. It is also the key component to stalling out the foe's PP. Roost is Articuno's reliable source of recovery that keeps it healthy throughout the match and also allows Articuno to continue using Substitute. Freeze-Dry is Articuno's primary STAB move and has super effective coverage on Water-types like Lanturn and Gastrodon. Hurricane is its other STAB move that hits Pokemon such as Hitmonchan and Pyroar and is stronger than Freeze-Dry at the expense of accuracy.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature allows Articuno to outrun Pokemon like Mesprit, Skuntank, and Shiftry. Maximum Special Attack investment lets Articuno hit as hard as possible. Pressure allows Articuno to whittle the foe's PP much faster and stall out moves. Leftovers gives Articuno passive recovery and helps it set up more Substitutes.
Usage Tips
========
Send out Articuno as early as possible if the opponent does not have a direct counter to it, such as Togedemaru, Probopass, or Type: Null. Since Articuno's offensive coverage is very threatening, don't hesitate to simply attack if the opponent cannot switch into its Ice- or Flying- coverage well. Switch Articuno into passive Pokemon or Pokemon that don't threaten it offensively, such as Gastrodon and defensive Mesprit, but be cautious of status moves such as Toxic and Thunder Wave. Then, set up Substitute or just attack without a Substitute if they are within range of being KOed. Repeatedly set up Substitute against foes that are slower and have moves with low PP in order to stall them out, such as Ferroseed's Gyro Ball and Regirock's Stone Edge. Use Roost when moves have either run out of PP or have missed. Avoid switching in Articuno when Stealth Rock is on the field unless absolutely necessary. If it must switch in, it should almost always use Roost to recover, though this makes it lose momentum, makes it vulnerable to attacks or status, or gives the opponent a free switch. Articuno is best used as a Pokemon that breaks down the opponent's team for teammates to sweep, so focus primarily on chipping and whittling down the foes rather than sweeping late-game on its own.
Team Options
========
Articuno's 4x weakness to Stealth Rock means entry hazard control is required. Therefore, hazard removers like Hitmonchan, Skuntank, and Lurantis are mandatory. Hitmonchan is notable, as it can take on many strong special attacking Fire- and Electric-types such as Pyroar and Eelektross. Articuno appreciates answers to Steel-type Pokemon, most notably Probopass and Togedemaru, so offensive Ground- and Fighting-types such as Golurk, Primeape, and Gurdurr are good partners. In return, Articuno can help pressure Pokemon like Weezing and Mesprit that serve as defensive checks to them. Fire-types like Ninetales and Pyroar check Articuno well, so Articuno welcomes checks to them such as Regirock and Lanturn. In return, Articuno can beat Ground- and Ice-types, like Gastrodon and Jynx, that threaten them. Pokemon that take on Electric-types, such as Lanturn, Gastrodon, Type: Null, and Eelektross, are also appreciated. Stealth Rock support from the likes of Regirock, Mesprit, and Clefairy chips Articuno's checks and counters and helps it beat them more easily. Pivots, namely slow U-turn and Volt Switch users like Eelektross, Mesprit, Lanturn, and Type: Null, can help Articuno come in more safely. Late-game cleaners and sweepers such as Lilligant, Carracosta, and Gurdurr appreciate Articuno's ability to stall out and break down walls for them. Wallbreakers like Stoutland, Drampa, and Aggron that break through defensive Pokemon that Articuno can't stall out, namely Type: Null, are appreciated.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A bulkier spread of 64 HP / 192 SpA / 252 Spe can help Articuno tank some hits, such as Weezing's Sludge Bomb. A spread of 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 Spe can be used, at the expense of power, to have a better chance of keeping its Substitute intact from weak attacks like defensive Mesprit's Psychic and specially offensive Skuntank's Dark Pulse. An Agility + Flyinium Z set can be a threatening late-game sweeper but can be tricky to pull off because it is still often too weak offensively to sweep unless all of its checks and counters have been eliminated or severely weakened. Toxic can be used to wear down defensive checks, but Articuno must drop one of its STAB moves or Substitute, making it less flexible in its role. Hidden Power Fighting or Ground can be used to hit Steel- or Ice-types like Togedemaru and Alolan Sandslash super effectively but, once again, forces Articuno to drop an important attack or status move.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: Articuno loses half of its health when switching into Stealth Rock, which limits its longevity and defensive capabilities.
**Steel-types**: Togedemaru, Probopass, and Aggron all threaten Articuno with their STAB move while walling Articuno entirely.
**Faster Offensive Threats**: Pokemon such as Archeops, Alolan Raichu, Lycanroc, and Pyroar are all capable of utilizing their advantageous offensive typing and strength to OHKO or 2HKO Articuno.
**Special Walls**: Pokemon like Type: Null and Audino can take on Articuno's average offensive stats. The former can set up on it and beat it one-on-one, while the latter can lock Articuno into a move via Encore and switch out to an appropriate teammate. However, Audino must resort to PP stalling Articuno to truly beat it.
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