Hello students! My name is Professor Geekbeak, and today, I wish to draw attention to Shadow Articuno. The bird trio has slowly fallen out of favor for more modern counters, but Articuno can still find a place if you don’t have a great ice type, especially as a shadow. Grab your notebooks, class is in session. For those who wish to do their research independently, our raw data can be found here. And for those who wish for a simple visual guide, go ahead and take a look at the below visual guide by CaptGoldfish.

NOTE: Some visual guides will be outdated for the duration of GO FEST. They will remain mostly accurate, but lack modern counters, such as the Mega Mewtwo duo, or Eternatus.

Course Schedule

This counter is one of many GO FEST raids. There are too many to put a coherent schedule here, but rest assured, pretty much every legendary, mega, and shadow under the sun will be going at some point. Look to your local GO FEST event or the Pokebattler.com raid schedule to see exactly what raids will be going.

Forgive this professor for even suggesting this, but throwing a rock at this bird will bring it down.

Effectiveness	Types
Double Resist (0.4x)	Ground
Resist (0.6x)	Bug Grass
Neutral	Normal Fighting Flying Poison Ghost Water Psychic Ice Dragon Dark Fairy
Super Effective (1.6x)	Steel Fire Electric
Double Super Effective (2.6x)	Rock

Shadow Articuno’s moveset includes the following charge moves:

• Ice Beam
• Blizzard
• Ancient Power
• Icy Wind
• Triple Axel
• Frustration
• Hurricane

The Dean’s List consists of the top 5 counters to Shadow Articuno. As always, the Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and the Third Ranked will have their best moveset alternatives in a table with their rankings and a table detailing their defensive prowess against the charge moves listed above.

Shadow Rampardos A

Best Moveset: Smack Down / Rock Slide

DPS★★★★★

Tank★★★★★

Reliability★☆☆☆☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Quick Move	Charge Move	Efficacy
Smack Down	Rock Slide	100%
Smack Down	Flamethrower	75%
Zen Headbutt	Rock Slide	66%
Smack Down	Outrage	57%
Smack Down	Frustration	46%
Zen Headbutt	Flamethrower	41%

Mega Diancie A

Best Moveset: Rock Throw / Rock Slide

DPS★★★★★

Tank★★★★☆

Reliability★★☆☆☆

3

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Quick Move	Charge Move	Efficacy
Rock Throw	Rock Slide	100%
Rock Throw	Power Gem	97%
Tackle	Rock Slide	72%
Rock Throw	Moonblast	70%
Tackle	Power Gem	70%
Tackle	Moonblast	33%

Shadow Gigalith A

Best Moveset: Smack Down / Meteor Beam

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★☆☆

Reliability★★★☆☆

3

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Quick Move	Charge Move	Efficacy
Smack Down	Meteor Beam	100%
Smack Down	Rock Slide	92%
Smack Down	Heavy Slam	72%
Smack Down	Superpower	57%
Smack Down	Solar Beam	57%
Mud-Slap	Meteor Beam	56%

Defensive Grades for Top 3

Boss Move
Blizzard	—	—	—
Ice Beam	—	—	—
Triple Axel	—	—	—
Icy Wind	—	—	—
Ancient Power	—	—	—

Shadow Rhyperior A

Best Moveset: Smack Down / Rock Wrecker

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★★☆

Reliability★☆☆☆☆

3

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Mega Tyranitar A

Best Moveset: Smack Down / Stone Edge

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★☆☆

Reliability★★★★☆

3

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Also Noteworthy: A: Shadow Tyranitar

We here at Pokebattler Pokémon Research Institute can’t expect you to have the best counters every time. So, here are some of our other best options, most of which will be easier to find than the members of the Dean’s List.

Rampardos A

Best Moveset: Smack Down / Rock Slide

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★★☆

Reliability★☆☆☆☆

3

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Mega Aerodactyl A

Best Moveset: Rock Throw / Rock Slide

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★☆☆

Reliability★☆☆☆☆

3

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Glimmora A

Best Moveset: Rock Throw / Meteor Beam

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★☆☆

Reliability★★☆☆☆

3

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Shadow Aurorus A

Best Moveset: Rock Throw / Meteor Beam

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★☆☆

Reliability★★★☆☆

3

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Shadow Tyrantrum A

Best Moveset: Rock Throw / Meteor Beam

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★★☆

Reliability★☆☆☆☆

3

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Of course, besides our 10 best counters, there are plenty of Pokémon that also work against Shadow Articuno. Here are a few star choices, worthy of praise.

A	Zacian - Crowned SwordShadow AggronRhyperiorZamazenta - Crowned ShieldTerrakionShadow RegigigasGigalithShadow OmastarTyrantrumNecrozma - Dusk ManeShadow DarmanitanShadow ExcadrillTyranitarShadow Alola GolemShadow KleavorShadow AerodactylShadow CrustleMega BlazikenAurorus

Sometimes, the weather can be your most powerful ally. In certain weather conditions, certain Pokémon on our list excel. The most transformative cases are noted below.

Partly Cloudy

Rampardos (2.0)Shadow Tyranitar (2.0)Shadow Tyrantrum (2.0)

Snow

Zacian - Crowned Sword (2.2)Necrozma - Dusk Mane (2.2)Zamazenta - Crowned Shield (2.2)

Overall, Shadow Articuno is simple to counter. Rock types will have no troubles with this bird. Of course, if you wish to do more research on your box’s best Pokémon for the job, Pokebattler.com itself can be a great help! Remember, the best counter is the one you have powered up and ready to go. I grant extra credit to those who use their best friend bonus and the weather to their advantage. Class dismissed!