Articuno is one of the three legendary birds of Kanto, sitting at #144 in the National Pokédex alongside Zapdos and Moltres. It is a dual Ice and Flying-type Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation I, and it does not evolve into or from anything. A second version, Galarian Articuno, swaps that typing entirely and behaves like a different creature in battle.
Quick answer: Standard Articuno is an Ice/Flying Legendary that is especially weak to Rock and also takes extra damage from Steel, Fire, and Electric moves. In Pokémon Go, its strongest moveset is Frost Breath paired with Triple Axel, and its maximum CP is 3,450.
Articuno type, forms, and core profile
The Kantonian Articuno is a large avian Pokémon with sky-blue plumage and wings said to be made of ice. It controls ice at will, and flapping its wings chills the moisture in the surrounding air enough to make snow fall. Pokédex lore describes it appearing before travelers who are lost and freezing on icy mountains. It carries the Pressure ability, with Snow Cloak as a hidden ability.
Galarian Articuno is a regional form introduced in The Crown Tundra expansion for Sword and Shield. It is a Psychic/Flying-type with lavender coloring, a black mask-like facial disc, and condensed psychic blades along its wings. It stays aloft using psychic power rather than its wings, and its eyes can fire beams that lock opponents in place, which is why it still shares the Kantonian name. Its standard ability is Competitive.
| Attribute | Articuno | Galarian Articuno |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Ice / Flying | Psychic / Flying |
| Category | Freeze Pokémon | Cruel Pokémon |
| Height | 5’07” (1.7 m) | — |
| Weight | 122.1 lbs (55.4 kg) | 112.2 lbs (50.9 kg) |
| Ability | Pressure (Snow Cloak hidden) | Competitive |
| Signature move | — | Freezing Glare |
| Catch rate | 3 (1.6%) | 3 (1.6%) |
Neither form belongs to an Egg Group, so neither can be bred. Both have an unknown gender and follow the Slow leveling rate. Galarian Articuno is the only Pokémon that can learn Freezing Glare, just as Shadow Articuno is the only one that can learn Shadow Chill.
Articuno in Pokémon GO: stats and max CP
In Pokémon GO, Articuno is a Legendary Ice and Flying-type with a base Attack of 192, Defense of 236, and Stamina of 207. The defensive stat is its standout, which shapes how it performs in raids and gyms. A shiny version is available, and encounters are boosted during snowy and windy weather.
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| 15 (research encounters) | 1,308 |
| 20 (hatched / raids) | 1,743 |
| 25 (weather-boosted raids) | 2,179 |
| 30 (max wild) | 2,616 |
| 35 (weather-boosted wild) | 2,833 |
| 40 | 3,051 |
| 50 | 3,450 |
Articuno has a 20 km buddy walk distance, and it has no evolutions in the game. It can also Dynamax in Pokémon GO, where it functions as a defense-oriented Ice-type option.
Best Articuno moveset in Pokémon GO
For attacking gyms and for PvP, the top combination is the fast move Frost Breath with the charged move Triple Axel. That pairing produces the highest total damage output among Articuno’s options. On defense, Ice Shard with Ice Beam is the most efficient setup.
| Role | Fast move | Charged move | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offense (best) | Frost Breath (13.2 DPS) | Triple Axel (36 DPS) | 21 DPS (100%) |
| Offense (alt) | Ice Shard (12 DPS) | Triple Axel (36 DPS) | 20.7 DPS (99%) |
| Defense (best) | Ice Shard (12 DPS) | Ice Beam (32.6 DPS) | 20.5 DPS (100%) |
Both Frost Breath and Triple Axel are Ice-type, so they gain the Same Type Attack Bonus and deal 20% extra damage. Other charged options include Blizzard, Ancient Power, Icy Wind, Hurricane (via Elite TM), and the legacy Return.
Articuno weaknesses and counters
The Ice/Flying typing leaves Articuno wide open to Rock attacks, which land for more than double damage. Steel, Fire, and Electric moves all hit hard as well, so a strong Rock attacker is the most reliable way to bring it down quickly in raids.
| Attack type | Damage dealt to Articuno |
|---|---|
| Rock | 256% |
| Steel | 160% |
| Fire | 160% |
| Electric | 160% |
| Bug | 63% |
| Grass | 63% |
| Ground | 39% |
Where Articuno appears across the games
Beyond being a catchable Legendary, Articuno shows up on several notable Trainer rosters in the core and side series. These appearances are useful to know if you are climbing battle facilities or replaying older titles.
| Game | Trainer |
|---|---|
| Pokémon Emerald | Pyramid King Brandon (Gold Symbol challenge) |
| Platinum, HeartGold, SoulSilver | Buck (Battle Tower Multi Battle) |
| Generation VI games | Battle Chatelaine Dana (Battle Maison) |
| Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl | Candice (Battle Tower Double Battle) |
| Pokémon Stadium | Lorelei |
| Pokémon Stadium 2 | Pryce (Round 2) |
| Pokémon XD | Greevil (Shadow Articuno, snaggable) |
In the Mystery Dungeon spin-offs, Articuno guards Frosty Forest in Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, where it challenges trespassers before an Absol convinces it to let the player pass. In Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness, it serves as the guardian of the Icy Flute.
Whether you are catching it for the Pokédex, building a raid team around Rock-type counters, or fielding it yourself in Pokémon GO, the priorities stay the same. Lean on its high Defense, run Frost Breath and Triple Axel for offense, and remember that a single strong Rock attacker is the fastest way to knock it out.
