Competitive Information for Articuno [Sword/Shield]
Ice / Flying
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Articuno? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Ninetales-AlolaLandorus-TherianTornadusGarchompBronzongKabutopsTapu KokoTyranitarKartanaSuicune
Articuno is a stupendous Ice and Flying-typed Pokemon. It's almost common to find yourself dealing with Articuno when battling in the 8th generation meta. Articuno is weak to Electric, Fire, Rock, and Steel-typed attacks.
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
Special Sweeper Articuno (Popular/Trending)
Articuno is a legendary Special Sweeper for single battles. It's goal is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging 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/is10a90
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
Physical Sweeper Articuno (Pressure)
Articuno is a legendary Physical Sweeper for single battles. It's purpose is to take down the opponent's team with 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/is11a90
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
Special Sweeper Articuno (Pressure)
Articuno is a legendary Special Sweeper for single battles. This moveset attempts to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. 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/is12a90
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Snow Cloak
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 192 Hp / 64 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Roost
- Sheer Cold
- Mind Reader
- Substitute
Articuno Support (Sheer Cold Articuno)
Articuno is a legendary Support for single battles. Leftovers are always a great recovery option to ensure Articuno last longer regaining it's vitality 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/is13a90
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Articuno? These builds have been optimized for Sword/Shield Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
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
Doubles Special Sweeper Articuno (Popular VGC)
Articuno is a legendary Special Sweeper for double battles. This particular build was popular during previous competitions. It is primarily designed to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. 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/id10a90
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
Doubles Physical Sweeper Articuno (Pressure)
Articuno is a legendary Physical Sweeper for double battles. It's designed to take down the opponent's team with 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/id11a90
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
Doubles Special Sweeper Articuno (Pressure)
Articuno is a legendary Special Sweeper for double battles. This moveset attempts to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. 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/id12a90
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Articuno learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
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 EV spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Related Videos
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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