76 Articuno

[WaterWizard]

Articuno

Type	HP	ATK	DEF	SPD	SPE
Ice/Flying	383	288	298	288	348

4x	Rock
2x	Electric, Fire
1x	Dragon, Fighting, Flying, Ghost, Ice, Normal, Poison, Psychic, Water
0.5x	Bug, Grass
0.25x
0x	Ground

Agility, Bide, Blizzard, Double-Edge, Drill Peck, Fly, Hyper Beam, Ice Beam, Mimic, Mist, Reflect, Rest, Sky Attack, Substitute, Toxic

Articuno finally gets Drill Peck to deal with special walls, and an increase in attack helps this as well. Sky Attack and Fly are also viable options, perhaps paired with Toxic/Rest. Articuno's Blizzard continues to be one of the strongest attacks in the game, and Articuno now has priority in Mist. It's up to the trainer to decide if priority is worth losing a bit of power and no chance to freeze. Articuno is still the most ethereal bird in the air! Articuno is still your tough bird that has strong Ice attacks. Articuno's main change is gaining Drill Peck and Mist helps when you need to attack fast.

[Isa]

Articuno gains small stat boosts and sees the biggest change in her movepool. Mist is a priority move that allows you to bypass paralysis and hit speedy Grounds, Flyings, Grasses and Dragons. Blizzard sees an accuracy nerf which hurts her, but on the other hand, she gets Drill Peck for reliable Flying STAB. Rock moves are just like previously the bane of Articuno's existance and status should preferably be avoided, so try to get something that can absorb both Rock attacks and status (preferably a Ground).

[DarkCyborg]

#144 - Articuno

Despite the nerf on Blizzard's accuracy, Articuno is still a powerful Ice bird, and he just loved the new weapons he got on RBYPlus!

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Standard set:

- Mist
- Drill Peck
- Blizzard/Ice Beam
- Agility

Set description:

Mist is mandatory. Articuno does not outspeed pokémons like Zapdos, Charizard and Aerodactyl, while all of them are potential threats to the ice bird. Mist is there to assure that a weakened Aerodactyl/Zapdos/Charizard will be sweeped (a critical hit with Mist will sweep a 100% HP Aerodactyl), so, Mist allows Articuno to be a threat to these pokémons. Mist also allows Articuno to strike first even if it is paralysed.

For the three other slots, we have several options. Drill Peck will deal with Bug (mainly Kingler), Water and Fighting-types. Blizzard is still a good option as a powerful Ice move (use Ice Beam if you prefer more accuracy than more damage).

For the last slot, you have several options. Agility is my preferred option, because it will help you to sweep in the late game using Blizzard/Drill Peck.

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Other Options: You can use the last slot to use Ice Beam alongside with Blizzard. Mimic is also an option, and can be great if luck is in your side. Reflect will help Articuno to resist Normal moves, but it is not very reliable against Rock moves (mainly Aerodactyl and his high critical rate). Rest is there, but honestly, is not a great option. Sky Attack, Fly and Hyper Beam are good options as well. I recommend that you use the options above on the last slot.

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Checks and Counters:

Cloyster is the greatest Articuno's counter, since it will completely wall Articuno and will fire back with deadly Rock moves. Lapras deserves a mention here as well (though less than original RBY, because Drill Peck is now available for Articuno). Keep Articuno away from anything that can hit him with Rock moves. Electric and Fire-type pokémons can check it as well.

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OBS: Since I didn't got a lot of battles in RBY+, it is innacurate to make an analysis. If you have any suggestion, or if you found a mistake, please, PM me in this board!