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i am cool
04-10-2009, 07:44 PM
http://www.teamuber.net/forum/showthread.php?t=547&highlight=Articuno (http://www.teamuber.net/forum/showthread.php?t=547&highlight=Articuno)

Done by Strype McClaine
Articuno:

http://www.arkeis.com/images/pokemonfactory/articuno.png

Summary:

Articuno:

Most Used Articuno Set:

In the Under Used environment, Articuno usually runs a Substitute, Roost, Toxic and Ice Beam set. What you should generally do if you’re using Articuno is try to find out if your opponent has a Clefable; if he does, faint it with one of your Fighting-type Pokemon, and then from there start annoying the hell out of your opponent by stalling them with Pressure, Toxic, Substitute and Roost.

Usual Counters:

Clefable can easily counter the Sub Roost set thanks to its Magic Guard ability which blocks status moves and its high Special Defense stat which helps it survive Ice Beams. Come to think of it, any set can be countered by Clefable, even the Physical sets. Steelix can Roar Articuno out and won’t take much damage from any of Articuno’s moves, bar Life Orb Ice Beam. Usually Rock moves including Stealth Rock will be the doom for the doom bird, so be careful of those.

Articuno Is Used On:

Articuno is usually used on Under Used stall teams for its ability to become a great staller with the ‘Sub Roost’ set.

In Depth:

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_articuno.gifSub Roost@ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 40 SpA / 216 Spe
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)

- Substitute
- Roost
- Toxic
- Ice Beam

This Articuno set is very irritating to face in the Under Used environment where there are no extremely powerful sweepers present to stop this set. Switch in on a move you’re immune to or resist, then set up a Substitute. After setting up a Substitute, use Toxic on any Pokemon that isn’t a Steel or Poison-type or is named Clefable. Then, switch between using Roost and Substitute when necessary, and feel free to attack with Ice Beam when it is required.

Pokemon players have a tendency to think that Articuno is walled by Steel-types because they are immune to Toxic and resistant to Ice Beam. However, Articuno is faster and can easily out stall them. Additionally, people tend to think that Articuno is walled by the plethora of Poison-types found in the Under Used metagame. This generalization is also false because these Poison-types have a secondary typing that renders them weak to Ice Beam (Vileplume, Nidoking, Nidoqueen etc.). This set also works best with Stealth Rock and Spikes support, since they aid it in becoming more of a staller than it already is.

The Speed EVs ensure you can outrun the common Grumpig and the various Steel-types present in today’s Under Used metagame. The HP EVs guarantee that you can survive a lot of powerful attacks from the dominant sweepers in the Under Used metagame.

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_articuno.gifKickin’ it old school@ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 6 HP
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)

- Blizzard / Ice Beam
- Water Pulse
- Hyper Beam / Hidden Power Electric / Hidden Power Ground / Extrasensory
- Agility

Essentially, this is a modified version of the Gen One Articuno, and it is bringing sexy back. Blizzard / Ice Beam are for your choice of sexy STAB, Blizzard of course if you’re deciding to be awesome and run a Hail team. Water Pulse is for the darn Rock-types that switch in such as Mr. T-tar, and any Fire-type that randomly waltzes in on you. I added Hyper Beam for random nostalgic reasons. Hidden Power Ground, Electric, or maybe even Fighting is preferable as you can angle yourself a little more for coverage; your last option is Extrasensory, which has a rare flinch rate. Agility up and rock on….err…Articuno hates rocks…um…chill out?

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_articuno.gifSupport@ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 96 Def / 64 SpA / 96 SpD
Nature: Calm (+SpD, -Atk)

- Ice Beam
- Roost / Rest
- Roar
- Reflect / Toxic / Heal Bell / Sleep Talk

Rest Talk or team support, your choice. This set works best with some Stealth Rock support, Toxic Spikes support and even some Spikes support from your team mates, and maybe a good Rapid Spinner to help your Articuno survive more turns by spinning Stealth Rock away. Yep. Basically just shuffle your opponent or try to support your team mates by relieving them from a status effect or giving the opponent one.

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_articuno.gifBandacuno!@ Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 6 HP
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)

- Ice Shard
- U-turn
- Steel Wing
- Aerial Ace / Blizzard

As if Articuno wasn’t novelty enough, how about a Choice Band set?! Adamant is preferable since you have priority with Ice Shard to make up for the Speed loss. U-turn to get the hell out of there, Steel Wing…for filler, feel free to change. Aerial Ace is STAB…and Blizzard is for the odd Physical walls that steps in on you. Call this build lame if you want, but it had to be done, just to say it’s doable.

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_articuno.gifBird of Doom@ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 96 Def / 64 Spe / 96 SpD
Nature: Calm (+SpD, -Atk)

- Roost / Ice Beam
- Protect
- Sheer Cold
- Mind Reader

Outlawed in most states, countries, and independent municipalities…however, it is still worth stating. This is the only Pokemon I think can actually use an OHKO move at all, and he does it better than anyone else. This is what the Red/Blue Pokedex meant when it said “A legendary bird Pokemon said to appear to doomed people who are lost in icy mountains.”…Scary, isn’t it? This is an easy-mode Pokemon for the most part. Protect and Roost can stall PP of the most dangerous moves with Pressure; when you know a kill is possible, you hit the Mind Reader and let them know their man is doomed.

Note: Do not attempt to use this set in a Ladder match or any match with the OHKO Clause, if you want to use this set just notify your opponent and take off the OHKO Clause.

Other Options:

Erm…really Articuno’s movepool isn’t that great…He barely has enough options for one set…

Opinion

Articuno is one of the dudes that just hides his face when he thinks about where he sits in the game. He was once the meanest Special Attackers…and now…no one cares to use him because there are better choices in every tier he is allowed to play in. Rocks…Stone Edge, Stealth Rock, Rock Slide…even Power Gem scares poor Articuno. When he sets his claws on the ground to Roost, he has nightmares of Fighting. Electrics and Fires also bother him….This is a bird with a giant set of Heracross hairs on his head, but let’s face it, you want him. You need him. You’re looking at the Old school build and smirking, thinking, THAT is why you should use him.

mosers15
04-12-2009, 08:48 PM
lol i <3 articuno
Done checking.

Iconic
04-12-2009, 09:32 PM
Lol did Strype do this? I really love how it's written hahaha.

mosers15
04-12-2009, 09:38 PM
Yeah he did. I love this too.