Competitive Information for Articuno [Sword/Shield]
Ice / Flying
Abilities:
If this Pokemon is the target of a foe's move, that move loses one additional PP.
If Hail is active, this Pokemon's evasiveness is 1.25x; immunity to Hail.
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Movesets for Singles
Looking for a competitive moveset for Articuno? These builds are optimized for Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs are designed to maximize damage against common opponents and threats in the Sword/Shield metagame. Check out the expert movesets below to boost your battle performance and dominate your opponents!
Ninetales-AlolaLandorus-TherianTornadusGarchompBronzongKabutopsTapu KokoTyranitarKartanaSuicune
Unveil the power of Articuno, a marvelous Pokémon known for its Ice and Flying typing! It's to see Articuno show up as a Sword/Shield opponent. It is weak to Electric, Fire, Rock, and Steel-typed attacks. Check out the movesets listed below to learn more about Articuno's strategies.
Item: Focus Sash / Bright Powder
Ability: Snow Cloak
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Freeze-Dry / Blizzard
- Protect
- Roost
- Tailwind / Hurricane
When it comes to single battles, Articuno shines as a mythical Special Sweeper. It tries to take down the opponent's team with heavy-hitting special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Articuno from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Snow Cloak, if hail is active Articuno's evasiveness is 1.25x; immunity to hail. With a Bright Powder equipped to it, the accuracy of attacks against Articuno is 0.9x.
◆ Blizzard is a special STAB-boosted 110-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze foes. Can't miss in hail).
◆ Protect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Articuno this turn).
◆ Roost is a status move (heals 50% hp. Flying-type removed until turn ends).
◆ Tailwind is a status move (for 4 turns, allies' speed is doubled).
◆ Hurricane is a special STAB-boosted 110-base power Flying-type move (30% chance to confuse target. Can't miss in rain).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/maa90
Item: Charti Berry / Shell Bell
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Brave Bird / Sky Attack
- Triple Axel / Avalanche
- Steel Wing / Double-Edge
- U-turn
Articuno shows a illustrious Physical Sweeper prowess in single battles. This moveset is tailored to crush rivals using brute physical power. The Shell Bell item option is to help Articuno recover from the recoil damage it may take from Double-Edge and Brave Bird. With Pressure, if Articuno is the target of a foe's move that move loses one additional pp. Steel Wing was added to provide additional threat coverage. With a Charti Berry equipped to it, halves damage taken from a supereffective rock-type attack then the Charti Berry gets consumed.
◆ Sky Attack is a physical STAB-boosted 140-base power Flying-type move (charges, then hits turn 2. 30% flinch. High crit).
◆ Triple Axel is a physical STAB-boosted 20-base power Ice-type move (hits 3 times. Each hit can miss, but power rises).
◆ Avalanche is a physical STAB-boosted 60-base power Ice-type move (power doubles if Articuno is damaged by the target).
◆ Steel Wing is a physical 70-base power Steel-type move (10% chance to raise your Articuno's defense by 1 stage).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ U-turn is a physical 70-base power Bug-type move (Articuno switches out after damaging the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/mba90
Item: Charti Berry / Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Ice Beam / Frost Breath
- Air Cutter / Air Slash
- Extrasensory
- Ancient Power / Hyper Beam
Prepare for single battles with Articuno as a iconic Special Sweeper. It attempts to overwhelm foes with powerful special power. Life Orb boosts the power of Articuno's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Pressure, if Articuno is the target of a foe's move that move loses one additional pp. Ancient Power was added to provide additional threat coverage. With a Charti Berry equipped to it, halves damage taken from a supereffective rock-type attack then the Charti Berry gets consumed.
◆ Frost Breath is a special STAB-boosted 60-base power Ice-type move (always results in a critical hit).
◆ Air Cutter is a special STAB-boosted 60-base power Flying-type move (high critical hit ratio. Hits adjacent foes).
◆ Air Slash is a special STAB-boosted 75-base power Flying-type move (30% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Extrasensory is a special 80-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Ancient Power is a special 60-base power Rock-type move (10% chance to raise all stats by 1 stage (not acc/eva)).
◆ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Articuno cannot move next turn).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/mca90
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Snow Cloak
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 192 Hp / 64 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Roost
- Sheer Cold
- Mind Reader
- Substitute
Taking on single battles? Articuno is a noteworthy Support. Leftovers are always a great recovery option to ensure Articuno last longer regaining it's life every turn. With Snow Cloak, if hail is active Articuno's evasiveness is 1.25x; immunity to hail. Substitue for Defense then use Mind Reader followed up by Sheer Cold (OHKO). Use Roost for recovery when needed.
◆ Sheer Cold is a special STAB-boosted 0-base power Ice-type move (ohkos non-ice targets. Fails if Articuno's lower level).
◆ Mind Reader is a status move (Articuno's next move will not miss the target).
◆ Substitute is a status move (Articuno takes 1/4 its max hp to put in a substitute).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/mda90
Movesets for Doubles
Need a strong doubles moveset for Articuno? These builds are perfect for VGC (Pokémon Video Game Championship) and other competitive Sword/Shield Double Battles. The VGC is the ultimate test of strategy and skill, and these movesets and EVs are designed to excel against multiple opponents at once while providing essential support to your team. Dominate the Sword/Shield metagame with these expert-crafted setups!
Ninetales-AlolaLandorus-TherianTornadusGarchompBronzongKabutopsTapu KokoTyranitarKartanaSuicune
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Snow Cloak
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Tailwind
- Freeze-Dry
- Weather Ball
- Hurricane
For those intense double battles, Articuno is a exalted Special Sweeper. Previously, this build dominated competitions. This moveset is tailored to crush rivals using destructive special power. Life Orb boosts the power of Articuno's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Snow Cloak, if hail is active Articuno's evasiveness is 1.25x; immunity to hail.
◆ Freeze-Dry is a special STAB-boosted 70-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze. Super effective on water).
◆ Weather Ball is a special 50-base power Normal-type move (power doubles and type varies in each weather).
◆ Hurricane is a special STAB-boosted 110-base power Flying-type move (30% chance to confuse target. Can't miss in rain).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/naa90
Item: Charti Berry / Shell Bell
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Brave Bird / Sky Attack
- Triple Axel / Avalanche
- Steel Wing / Double-Edge
- U-turn
Articuno is a mythical Physical Sweeper to use for double battles. It's purpose is to take down the opponent's team with heavy-hitting physical attacks. The Shell Bell item option is to help Articuno recover from the recoil damage it may take from Double-Edge and Brave Bird. With Pressure, if Articuno is the target of a foe's move that move loses one additional pp. Steel Wing was added to provide additional threat coverage. With a Charti Berry equipped to it, halves damage taken from a supereffective rock-type attack then the Charti Berry gets consumed.
◆ Sky Attack is a physical STAB-boosted 140-base power Flying-type move (charges, then hits turn 2. 30% flinch. High crit).
◆ Triple Axel is a physical STAB-boosted 20-base power Ice-type move (hits 3 times. Each hit can miss, but power rises).
◆ Avalanche is a physical STAB-boosted 60-base power Ice-type move (power doubles if Articuno is damaged by the target).
◆ Steel Wing is a physical 70-base power Steel-type move (10% chance to raise your Articuno's defense by 1 stage).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ U-turn is a physical 70-base power Bug-type move (Articuno switches out after damaging the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/nba90
Item: Charti Berry / Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Air Cutter / Air Slash
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Twister
- Extrasensory
Dominating double battles, Articuno is a venerated Special Sweeper. This setup is intended to overwhelm foes with lethal special moves. Life Orb boosts the power of Articuno's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Pressure, if Articuno is the target of a foe's move that move loses one additional pp. With a Charti Berry equipped to it, halves damage taken from a supereffective rock-type attack then the Charti Berry gets consumed.
◆ Air Slash is a special STAB-boosted 75-base power Flying-type move (30% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Icy Wind is a special STAB-boosted 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
◆ Ice Beam is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Twister is a special 40-base power Dragon-type move (20% chance to make the foes flinch).
◆ Extrasensory is a special 80-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to make the target flinch).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/nca90
Movepool
Want to know what moves Articuno can learn? Check out the full list of moves available in the Pokemon Sword/Shield generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by type, category, accuracy, and power. Moves in bold get the same-type attack bonus (STAB) when used by Articuno.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Articuno can perform in Sword/Shield. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive SS Move and Ability Combos for Articuno
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- OHKO Combo - Moves: Mind Reader + Sheer Cold
- Moves with Priority: Detect, Endure, Protect, Ice Shard
- Moves that Break Screens: Defog
- Moves that inflict status: Toxic
Moves that boost Articuno's stats
- Agility
- Ancient Power
- Curse
- Steel Wing
Most notable and possible best moves for Articuno
- Air Slash
- Blizzard
- Freeze-Dry
- Hurricane
- Ice Beam
- Ice Shard
- Mind Reader
- Protect
- Reflect
- Rest
- Roost
- Sheer Cold
- Tailwind
- Toxic
- U-turn
Common Effort Values for Articuno in Sword and Shield
- Timid Nature ( 0/0/0/252/4/252 )
- Modest Nature ( 4/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Optimize Articuno's Defensive EV-spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Usage Data
Explore the latest analytical usage data for this Pokémon from various VGC and online competitions. We use this data to develop our strategies and movesets. The data is categorized by competition and skill level: top-ranking trainers, mid-level players, and entry-level players.
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Here are the best movesets for Articuno. Top rated Articuno Sword/Shield movesets. You can find Articuno builds Sword/Shield. Articuno movesets Sword/Shield are listed here. VGC Articuno Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Articuno in Sword/Shield along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution