Moves

Defog is Articuno's main niche and allows it to neuter Pokemon such as Registeel and Bronzong, rendering them useless and unable to fulfill their main purpose on teams. Freeze-Dry is a reliable STAB move that lets Articuno beat Water-types like Blastoise easily. Its high PP should also be noted, as it allows Articuno to PP stall its targets more easily. Heal Bell lets Articuno act as a cleric for its team as well as beat passive Pokemon that rely on Toxic for damage, such as Registeel or Cresselia. This move is particularly useful on stall teams, where Articuno cannot afford to be statused on the switch. Alternatively, Substitute can be used to help Articuno PP stall moves such as Stone Edge from Rhyperior and Power Gem from Diancie, as well as avoid status, although it makes Articuno more vulnerable to being statused on the switch. Substitute notably allows it to potentially stall through defensive cores.

Set Details

The given spread lets Articuno outspeed Choice Band Tyrantrum and Taunt + Toxic Mandibuzz, both common nuisances against bulkier teams, while the remaining EVs are poured into HP and Special Defense to help Articuno wall threats such as Mega Blastoise and Roserade. Slower and bulkier spreads are also viable. Some relevant Speed benchmarks include Adamant Tyrantrum and Modest Nidoqueen. Pressure immensely aids Articuno in PP stalling several moves such as Toxic and Stealth Rock.

Usage Tips

It's important to have the field clear of entry hazards before sending Articuno out. If the opponent's entry hazard setters are walled by Articuno, hard switch it into them to prevent having to take Stealth Rock damage and use Defog to remove them afterwards. Heal Bell variants have a lot more leeway against Toxic users like Registeel; with Pressure, it has enough PP to stall out a single Pokemon's Toxic. If running Substitute, try to predict whether the opponent will try to use Toxic against Articuno as it switches in, as it is heavily crippled if statused. Preserve Heal Bell's PP as much as possible; for example, switch to a Steel-type on a predicted Toxic. While Articuno can beat a single Toxic user one-on-one, multiple users of the move can overwhelm Articuno teams with little trouble. If Stealth Rock has been set up on the field already, avoid using Articuno to remove it unless absolutely necessary. Try to use Articuno's teammates first, or position your team to force the opponent to use Defog themselves. Pressure can be used to stall through a specific threat, but Articuno can also be switched into moves throughout the match to slowly stall out their PP, especially against moves such as Defog, Toxic, and Scald.

Team Options

Articuno is a good choice on bulky teams like stall and balance. As such, Pokemon commonly found in these archetypes generally work well with it; staples like Milotic, Registeel, and Mandibuzz, for example, synergize well with Articuno. While Articuno is an excellent Defogger, it won't be consistent if it is the sole entry hazard remover in a team due to the existence of Pokemon like Rhyperior and Metagross. Other removers like Mandibuzz and Donphan can keep entry hazards off the field against these Pokemon. Articuno is setup bait for many dangerous offensive Pokemon, so bulky teammates like Donphan, Bronzong, and Pyukumuku can help mitigate its weak offense matchup. Fire-type switch-ins, like Gigalith and Goodra, can check Pokemon such as Salazzle and Ninetales that can set up on Articuno. In return, Articuno can help whittle down walls for them to wallbreak later on. Cleaners like Mega Sceptile and Ditto appreciate Articuno's ability to shut down defensive answers like Registeel and can help pressure the opponent more offensively.