Hello students! My name is Professor Geekbeak, and today, I wish to draw attention to 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. 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NOTE: Some visual guides will be outdated for the duration of GO FEST.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

Articuno’s moveset includes the following charge moves:

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

The Dean’s List consists of the top 5 counters to 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.

Mega Diancie A

Best Moveset: Rock Throw / Rock Slide

DPS★★★★★

Tank★★★★☆

Reliability★★★☆☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Quick Move	Charge Move	Efficacy
Rock Throw	Rock Slide	100%
Rock Throw	Power Gem	97%
Rock Throw	Moonblast	71%
Tackle	Rock Slide	70%
Tackle	Power Gem	69%
Tackle	Moonblast	32%

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	77%
Zen Headbutt	Rock Slide	74%
Smack Down	Outrage	57%
Smack Down	Frustration	45%
Zen Headbutt	Flamethrower	44%

Mega Tyranitar A

Best Moveset: Smack Down / Stone Edge

DPS★★★★★

Tank★★★★☆

Reliability★★★★☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Quick Move	Charge Move	Efficacy
Smack Down	Stone Edge	100%
Smack Down	Fire Blast	80%
Smack Down	Return	77%
Smack Down	Brutal Swing	74%
Iron Tail	Stone Edge	70%
Bite	Stone Edge	64%

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★☆☆☆☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Shadow Gigalith A

Best Moveset: Smack Down / Meteor Beam

DPS★★★★★

Tank★★★★☆

Reliability★★★★☆

2

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.

Shadow Tyrantrum A

Best Moveset: Rock Throw / Meteor Beam

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★★☆

Reliability★☆☆☆☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Zamazenta - Crowned Shield A

Best Moveset: Metal Claw / Behemoth Bash

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★★★

Reliability★★★★★

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Rampardos A

Best Moveset: Smack Down / Rock Slide

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★☆☆

Reliability★★★☆☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Mega Aerodactyl A

Best Moveset: Rock Throw / Rock Slide

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★☆☆

Reliability★★☆☆☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Zacian - Crowned Sword A

Best Moveset: Metal Claw / Behemoth Blade

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★★☆

Reliability★★★★☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

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

A	GlimmoraShadow AggronShadow AurorusNecrozma - Dusk ManeRhyperiorTerrakionShadow OmastarGigalithShadow RegigigasTyrantrumTyranitarMega BlazikenShadow Alola GolemMega AggronShadow DarmanitanShadow ExcadrillShadow CrustleShadow KleavorShadow Metagross

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

Shadow Tyranitar (1.3)Shadow Tyrantrum (1.4)Mega Aerodactyl (1.4)

Snow

Zacian - Crowned Sword (1.4)Zamazenta - Crowned Shield (1.4)Necrozma - Dusk Mane (1.4)

Overall, 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!