Pokémon GO Articuno - Best Counters and Moveset

The first of the Legendary Birds in the Kanto region, Articuno can prove the be quite a challenge in Pokémon GO, even after so much time in the game. Trainers can expect the Freeze Pokémon to return to Five-Star raids this Summer as the Season of GO rages on and new content releases.

As always, Niantic released a blog post just before the next month begins, and we have a full look at what the month of July brings. Articuno will initiate the Five-Star raid rotation in July, and if you want to take the icy bird down, you'll need the right counters. Once you've caught the Legendary for your collection, a new moveset will also be possible.

The best counters for Articuno in Pokémon GO

One of the downfalls of the Legendary Bird trio is simply how vulnerable to damage they all are. They have plenty of damage potential in their own right, and Trainers that aren't careful can be quickly knocked out of the battle. But the right team can decimate an Articuno.

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Rock-type Pokémon is the best choice by far as they dish out 2.56x more damage on their attacks. Steel, Fire, and Electric-types are all secondary with a 1.6x damage increase. They can be used as backups on a team, but Rock-types should be the main focus.

• Rampardos - Smack Down (Fast) and Rock Slide (Charged)
• Terrakion - Smack Down (Fast) and Rock Slide (Charged)
• Tyranitar - Smack Down (Fast) and Stone Edge (Charged)
• Rhyperior - Smack Down (Fast) and Rock Wrecker (Charged)
• Mega Charizard - Fire Spin (Fast) and Blast Burn (Charged)
• Metagross - Bullet Punch (Fast) Meteor Mash (Charged)

When you look at the options listed above, keep in mind that many of them have variants. For example, Tyranitar is even better in the Shadow form, but that won't change the moveset used. Simply use the best version of the Pokémon that you have and stick to the same moveset for the best results against Articuno.

The best moveset for Articuno in Pokémon GO

Once you catch the first Pokémon in the Legendary Bird trio, you can start to think about the moveset that you want. Using a Pokémon for PvP or PvE can change the way they are used, but in general, it's better to lean towards the best PvP moveset.

Starting with a Fast Attack on Articuno, the best option is Ice Shard. It has slightly less damage than Frost Breath, but it will charge up the powerful moves on the ice bird much faster. That leaves room for more nukes or shield burns.

When you pick a Charged Attack, the first option should be Icy Wind. The move is a good damage dealer that stays consistent with the Ice-type attacks that propel Articuno in battles. Hurricane, which is an Elite TM or event attack, is the best second option and is integral to a full moveset on the Freeze Pokémon. This will allow for a second nuke that also deals Flying-type damage.

And that's all. For more awesome content, check out our section dedicated to Pokémon GO news, guides, updates, and more!

Featured image courtesy of Niantic.