Quick facts
Species: Articuno (Legendary)
Types: Ice / Flying
Primary weaknesses: Rock, Steel, Fire, Electric
Recommended lobby: 3–7 trainers
Articuno is an Ice/Flying-type Legendary raid boss in Pokémon GO. While it’s not the bulkiest raid boss, its Ice-type moves can quickly take down unprepared attackers. Fortunately, Articuno has several exploitable weaknesses — especially to Rock-type attacks — making it one of the easier Legendary bosses to defeat with the right team.
Table of Contents
Weakness Best Pokemon Regular Counters Shadow Counters Mega Counters Moveset Weather Effects Size Rewards FAQsWeaknesses & resistances
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Weak to |
 Rock •
 Steel •
 Fire •
 Electric
|
| Resists to |
 Ground •
 Bug •
 Grass
|
| Notes | Articuno’s Ice/Flying typing gives it a massive double weakness to Rock-type moves, which completely defines this raid. Rock attackers such as Rampardos and Rhyperior deal enormous damage and can melt through Articuno much faster than other options. It is also weak to Electric, Fire, and Steel, but none of them come close to Rock in terms of raw efficiency. |
Best Articuno Counters
Mega-type Counters
- Tyranitar: Smack Down / Stone Edge
- Diancie: Rock Throw / Rock Slide
Shadow-type Counters
- Rampardos: Smack Down / Rock Slide
- Rhyperior: Smack Down / Rock Wrecker
- Tyranitar: Smack Down / Stone Edge
Regular-type Counters
- Zacian: Metal Claw / Behemoth Blade
Best Mega Evolutions
Recommended Megas to use against Articuno:
- Tyranitar, Diancie, Aerodactyl, Aggron – Rock boost
- Blaziken, Charizard Y – Fire boost
Difficulty
Articuno does not have the extreme bulk of bosses like Lugia or Giratina. With proper Rock-type teams, this raid usually ends very quickly. The main danger is not the timer, but losing fragile attackers too fast if Articuno is using powerful Ice-type moves.
Best Regular Counters
Regular Pokémon that amplify the right types give you a powerful edge. Below are top Regular counters with short notes on why they excel.
| Pokémon | Fast Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zacian | Metal Claw / Air Slash | Play Rough / Close Combat / Giga Impact / Behemoth Blade | - | Air Slash (12) and Giga Impact / Behemoth Blade (200) |
| Rampardos | Smack Down / Zen Headbutt | Rock Slide / Flamethrower / Outrage | - | Smack Down (13) and Outrage (110) |
| Dusk Mane Necrozma | Shadow Claw / Psycho Cut / Metal Claw | Dark Pulse / Iron Head / Future Sight / Outrage / Sunsteel Strike | - | Shadow Claw / Metal Claw (6) and Sunsteel Strike (230) |
| Zamazenta | Metal Claw / Ice Fang | Giga Impact / Moonblast / Close Combat / Behemoth Bash | - | Ice Fang (12) and Giga Impact (200) |
| Rhyperior | Mud Slap / Smack Down | Skull Bash / Superpower / Earthquake / Stone Edge / Surf / Breaking Swipe | Rock Wrecker | Mud Slap (19) and Earthquake (140) |
| Terrakion | Double Kick / Smack Down / Zen Headbutt | Close Combat / Earthquake / Rock Slide | Sacred Sword | Smack Down (13) and Earthquake (140) |
| Gigalith | Mud Slap / Smack Down | Superpower / Rock Slide / Heavy Slam / Solar Beam | Meteor Beam | Mud Slap (19) and Solar Beam (180) |
| Tyranitar | Iron Tail / Dragon Breath / Bite | Stone Edge / Fire Blast / Crunch / Brutal Swing | Smack Down | Iron Tail (14) and Fire Blast (140) |
| Tyrantrum | Rock Throw / Dragon Tail / Charm | Earthquake / Stone Edge / Meteor Beam / Rock Tomb / Outrage / Crunch | - | Charm (20) and Earthquake or Meteor Beam(140) |
| Blacephalon | Astonish / Incinerate | Mystical Fire / Shadow Ball / Overheat | - | Incinerate (32) and Overheat (160) |
Best Shadow Counters
Shadow Pokémon that amplify the right types give you a powerful edge. Below are top Shadow counters with short notes on why they excel.
| Pokémon | Fast Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shadow Darmanitan | Tackle / Fire Fang / Incinerate | Focus Blast / Rock Slide / Overheat / Psychic | - | Incinerate (32) and Overheat (160) |
| Shadow Aerodactyl | Rock Throw / Steel Wing / Dragon Breath / Bite | Hyper Beam / Earth Power / Ancient Power / Rock Slide / Iron Head | - | Steel Wing (14) and Hyper Beam (150) |
| Shadow Metagross | Fury Cutter / Bullet Punch / Zen Headbutt | Earthquake / Flash Cannon / Psychic | Shadow Claw / Meteor Mash | Zen Headbutt (11) and Earthquake (140) |
| Shadow Excadrill | Mud Slap / Mud Shot / Metal Claw | Earthquake / Drill Run / Scorching Sands / Rock Slide / Iron Head | - | Mud Slap (19) and Earthquake (140) |
| Shadow Alolan Golem | Rock Throw / Volt Switch | Stone Edge / Rock Blast / Wild Charge | Rollout | Rollout (15) and Stone Edge (105) |
| Shadow Crustle | Smack Down / Fury Cutter | Rock Blast / Rock Slide / Rock Wrecker / X-Scissor | - | Smack Down (13) and Rock Wrecker (110) |
| Shadow Aurorus | Rock Throw / Frost Breath / Powder Snow | Hyper Beam / Ancient Power / Meteor Beam / Thunderbolt / Weather Ball / Blizzard | - | Rock Throw (13) and Hyper Beam (150) |
| Shadow Omastar | Mud Shot / Water Gun | Ancient Power / Rock Blast / Hydro Pump | Rock Throw / Rock Slide | Rock Throw (13) and Hydro Pump (135) |
| Shadow Tyrantrum | Rock Throw / Dragon Tail / Charm | Earthquake / Stone Edge / Meteor Beam / Rock Tomb / Outrage / Crunch | - | Charm (20) and Earthquake or Meteor Beam(140) |
| Shadow Aggron | Smack Down / Iron Tail / Metal Sound / Dragon Tail | Stone Edge / Rock Tomb / Meteor Beam / Heavy Slam / Thunder | - | Iron Tail / Dragon Tail (14) and Meteor Beam (140) |
| Shadow Gigalith | Mud Slap / Smack Down | Superpower / Rock Slide / Heavy Slam / Solar Beam | Meteor Beam | Mud Slap (19) and Solar Beam (180) |
| Shadow Rampardos | Smack Down / Zen Headbutt | Rock Slide / Flamethrower / Outrage | - | Smack Down (13) and Outrage (110) |
| Shadow Rhyperior | Mud Slap / Smack Down | Skull Bash / Superpower / Earthquake / Stone Edge / Surf / Breaking Swipe | Rock Wrecker | Mud Slap (19) and Earthquake (140) |
| Shadow Tyranitar | Iron Tail / Dragon Breath / Bite | Stone Edge / Fire Blast / Crunch / Brutal Swing | Smack Down | Iron Tail (14) and Fire Blast (140) |
Best Mega Counters
Mega Pokémon that amplify the right types give you a powerful edge. Below are top Mega counters with short notes on why they excel.
| Pokémon | Fast Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Tyranitar | Iron Tail / Dragon Breath / Bite | Stone Edge / Fire Blast / Crunch / Brutal Swing | Smack Down | Iron Tail (14) and Fire Blast (140) |
| Mega Diancie | Tackle / Rock Throw | Rock Slide / Power Gem / Moonblast | - | Rock Throw (13) and Moonblast (130) |
| Mega Aerodactyl | Rock Throw / Steel Wing / Bite / Dragon Breath | Earth Power / Hyper Beam / Ancient Power / Rock Slide / Iron Head | - | Steel Wing (14) and Hyper Beam (150) |
| Mega Aggron | Smack Down / Iron Tail / Dragon Tail | Stone Edge / Rock Tomb / Meteor Beam / Heavy Slam / Thunder | - | Iron Tail / Dragon Tail (14) and Meteor Beam (140) |
| Mega Blaziken | Counter / Fire Spin / Ember | Focus Blast / Brave Bird / Overheat / Blaze Kick / Aura Sphere | Stone Edge / Blast Burn | Counter / Fire Spin (13) and Overheat (160) |
| Mega Charizard Y | Air Slash / Fire Spin | Fire Blast / Overheat / Dragon Claw / Air Cutter | Wing Attack / Ember / Dragon Breath / Blast Burn / Flamethrower | Fire Spin (13) and Overheat (160) |
Moves & Threats
Articuno common fast moves are Frost Breath or Ice Shard. Charged moves include Ancient Power or Ice Beam or Icy Wind or Triple Axel and Blizzard. Elite moves include Hurricane .
Move Notes: Articuno’s Ice moves can quickly faint unprepared Pokémon. If Articuno has Ancient Power, its Rock damage can be exploited or can threaten counters depending on typing, so be ready to swap strategically.
Weather Effects
Sunny weather: boosts Fire type attackers. Rainy weather : boosts Electric type attackers. Partly Cloudy weather : boosts Rock type attackers.
Tip: Rock-type attackers are generally the best choice due to Articuno’s double weakness, but Fire, Steel, and Electric counters can help if you lack strong Rock attackers.
Recommended Team Setups
Best Team (3–5 Trainers)
- Mega Diancie — primary Rock DPS
- Shadow Rampardos — top Rock attacker
- Shadow Rhyperior — bulky Rock counter
- Mega Tyranitar — Rock power + versatility
- Terrakion — balanced Rock damage
Alternate / Backup Options
- Heatran — Fire DPS support
- Electivire — Electric coverage
- Raikou — Electric fast attacker
- Mega Blaziken — Fire DPS and Mega boost
Even if you don’t have perfect Rock counters, mixing Fire, Electric, and Steel attackers fills in coverage while still exploiting weaknesses.
Battle Strategy Tips
- Start with your highest Rock-type attackers to take advantage of double weakness early.
- Dodge Articuno’s charged moves (especially Blizzard and Ice Beam) to preserve your counters longer.
- Rotate in Fire and Electric counters if you need to handle secondary resistances.
- Rejoin quickly if your team faints — every bit of extra DPS adds up.
Rewards
Reasons include Pokédex entry, strong Ice / Flying attacker, shiny chance, and XL Candy farming.
Why Raid Articuno?
Articuno is not a top-tier raid attacker in today’s meta, but it is still popular for shiny hunting, Pokédex completion, and collecting XL Candy. Shadow Articuno and event versions also make it more interesting for collectors. For many players, this is a “farm quickly and move on” type of raid boss.
PvP Relevance
While Articuno isn’t top tier in PvP, it’s a fun spice pick. Articuno shines more in raids and PvE content.
FAQ
Can Articuno be shiny in Pokémon GO?
Yes, shiny Articuno is available! Its shiny form has a slightly lighter blue body.
What are best moveset of Articuno?
Best moveset of Articuno are Frost Breath which does damage of 11 under Fast Attack and Blizzard of 130 under Charged Attack.
Are Shadow Pokémon better?
Yes—Shadow forms have +20% attack, making them excellent choices if available.
What is the best weather to raid Articuno?
Sunny weather to boosts Fire type moves, Partly Cloudy weather to boosts Rock type moves, Rainy weather to boosts Electric type moves.
Conclusion
Articuno’s double weakness to Rock makes this raid relatively quick and predictable with the right counters. Prioritize Rock-type Pokémon like Megas and Shadow Rampardos, and support with Fire or Electric attackers when necessary. With solid strategy and a well-rounded team, Articuno goes down efficiently, giving you great reward opportunities such as Candy, XL Candy, and the chance to catch its shiny form.
Related Guides
Looking for more counters? Check out our Mega Tyranitar Raid Guide, Mega Diancie Raid Guide