The Kanto region harnesses many Legendary Flying types, from the fiery Moltres to the icy Articuno. Depending on the Raid schedule, you’ll be able to battle against these fearsome creatures, giving you the chance to collect them. For this guide, we’ll focus on Articuno in Pokémon Go, including its best counters, weaknesses, and whether or not you can solo it.
Pokémon Go Articuno weakness, explained
As an Ice and Flying creature, Articuno is weak against the following types in Pokémon Go:
- Fire
- Rock
- Electric
- Steel
- Rock
Articuno’s primary weakness is Rock attacks, a vulnerability shared by its Flying and Ice types. This means that if you want to maximize your attack damage, leveraging this attribute is key. You can still get by with other types, but Rock is an absolute game-changer for the Legendary Pokémon’s weakness.
Best Articuno counters and movesets in Pokémon Go
To counter Articuno, we’ll break down the best Pokémon and movesets to use:
| Pokémon | Best Movesets |
|---|---|
| Mega Diancie | -Rock Throw -Rock Slide |
| Mega Tyranitar | -Stone Edge -Smack Down |
| Mega Aerodactyl | -Rock Throw -Rock Slide |
| Mega Blaziken | -Fire Spin -Blast Burn |
| Shadow Rampardos | -Smack Down -Rock Slide |
| Shadow Rhyperior | -Smack Down -Rock Wrecker |
| Shadow Tyranitar | -Stone Edge -Smack Down |
| Shadow Aggron | -Meteor Beam -Smack Down |
| Shadow Omastar | -Rock Throw -Rock Slide |
| Shadow Darmanitan | -Fire Fang -Rock Slide |
| Dusk Mane Necrozma | -Metal Claw -Sunsteel Strike |
| Rampardos | -Smack Down -Rock Slide |
| Rhyperior | -Smack Down -Rock Wrecker |
| Tyrantrum | -Rock Throw -Meteor Beam |
| Gigalith | -Smack Down -Meteor Beam |
You’ll likely notice that these creatures mainly involve Rock-type moves. Smack Down is the most common as a Fast Move, depleting Articuno’s health at a fast rate. Rock Slide is another excellent choice since Mega Diancie and Shadow Rampardos utilize this particular moveset. These two Pokémon are among the best against Articuno due to their overwhelming attacks.
If you don’t have any Mega or Shadow types in your collection, don’t worry. Regular types like Rhyperior and Rampardos can still be effective against Articuno. Although they may not be as potent as other types, they can certainly hold their ground.
The Dusk Mane Necrozma is one of the newer Raid additions of 2024. This creature’s Steel attacks prove effective against Articuno’s weakness in Pokémon Go. However, you must be sure to use the Dusk Mane version, given that there are two forms with its Dawn Wings.
Can you solo Articuno in Pokémon Go?
While it may be possible to solo Articuno in Pokémon Go, it’s not recommended due to Legendary Pokémon’s robust abilities. You can, by all means, try it out for yourself, but it’s probably best to go in with other trainers. The rest of the team should also equip members with Articuno’s weakness in mind to make the battle go by quickly.