Articuno [QC 0/3] [GP 0/2]

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[OVERVIEW]
  • Articuno has a lot of bulk, being able to take a hit from Pokemon such as Vanilluxe, Sneasel and Sceptile and being able to kill the latter two from full while running Life Orb as well as Vanilluxe after Stealth Rocks. Articuno can safely switch in on Pokemon such as Slowbro, Whimsicott and Froslass and check them.
  • Articuno has good STAB moves in Ice Beam, Hurricane and Freeze Dry being able to beat Water-types such as Slowbro and Seismitoad.
  • With its Speed of 85 Articuno can out speed huge threats in the tier such as Emboar, Vanilluxe and Vikavolt being able to deal with them before they cause issues to the rest of the team.
  • Articuno is 4x weak to Stealth Rocks giving it limited switch ins during a match and conditioning your team to have a very reliable hazard remover.
  • Articuno only has 95 Special Attack leaving more to be desired offensively. Usually needing Life Orb to give it any real offensive presence.
  • Articuno is outsped by huge threats such as Rotom-C, Delphox and Virizion that are all able to easily take care of Articuno.
[SET]

Name: Offensive
Move 1:Freeze Dry
Move 2: Hurricane
Move 3: Ice Beam
Move 4: Roost / Agility
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 Spa / 4 Spd / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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  • Freeze Dry on Articuno is important for dealing with Water-types in RU, A majority of the Water-types are easily dealt with using Freeze Dry. It is a guaranteed kill on Seismitoad as well as a 2HKO on Slowbro, Vaporeon and Jellicent.
  • Hurricane is Articuno's most powerful STAB move, 110 base power, being able to beat Pokemon that are not effected much by Ice stab such as Emboar and Vanilluxe. Hurricane also has the chance to confuse the opponents Pokemon.
  • Ice Beam is the preferred Ice STAB move when not facing Water-types. It is used when battling Grass, Ground and Flying as well as types that Hurricane is resisted on. Ice Beam is also 100% accurate so there is no risk of missing unlike Hurricane.
  • Roost is an interchangeable move with Agility depending on whether you will want to stay healthy against Pokemon such as Slowbro or be able to outspeed threats such as Rotom-C and scarfed Emboar.

Set Details
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  • Running maximum Speed and Special Attack with a Timid Nature allows you to hit as hard as you can whilst outspeeding a lot of powerful Pokemon in the tier. Pokemon such as Emboar or Vanilluxe will easily punch holes in teams if they have nothing to counter them.
  • Life Orb helps you to make up for the lack of special attack, it allows you to hit harder than usual at the cost of your health. It helps Articuno to always 2HKO Vaporeon and Jellicent with Freeze Dry as well as break through bulkier Pokemon easier.
  • Pressure is actually really important on a bulky Pokemon such as Articuno, especially with the Roost set, being able to PP stall Scalds and other neutral attacks from bulkier less offensive Pokemon helps your team with status prevention.

Usage Tips
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  • Try to keep hazards off the field as much as possible, Articuno does not want to take 50% everytime it switches in.
  • Do not use Hurricane in the sun unless you absolutely have to ass its accuracy is severely decreased.
  • Try getting yourself into a position to force switches, that way you are able to get free turns to Roost or Agility.

Team Options
========
  • Hazard removers such as Hitmonlee, Cryogonal and Skuntank would work well in keeping Articuno safe from Stealth Rocks and would make good partners.
  • Magic Bounce would also be perfect for Articuno so Xatu would be an amazing teammate. Being able to prevent hazards from ever being set up is great.
  • A Taunt user like Froslass would be amazing for Articuno also preventing hazards from ever entering the field.
  • Rhydon would be the best teammate as it resists Rock and Fire while being immune from Electric, this completely walls Articuno's counters.
  • Rain setters such as Liepard and Mesprit help as they give Hurricane 100% accuracy as well as weakening Fire-type attacks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
  • A Substitute and Roost set is viable on Articuno with sub replacing Ice Beam. This allows Articuno to force out weaker Pokemon that cant get past Articuno's impressive bulk.
  • A Scarf set allows Articuno to outspeed threats such as Rotom-C, Delphox and Virizion as well as Scarf Emboar. This is viable as Articuno can late game sweep in certain situations.

Checks and Counters
==================

**Electric-types**: Articuno is very weak to Electric-types, always being forced out by Pokemon such as Rotom-C and Vikavolt. This gives your opponent a lot of momentum as they are able to get a hit off on your switch in as well as the potential to Volt Switch into a Pokemon that beats your switch in.

**Rock-types**: Articuno is 4x weak to Rock, this gives Pokemon with rock coverage a huge advantage vs Articuno, as a lot of Pokemon get it, it is easily bluffed as well. Pokemon such as Barbaracle and Rhydon force out Articuno, giving momentum, Barbaracle the option to set up as well as Rhydon having the opportunity to get up Stealth Rocks, stopping Articuno from safely coming back in later.

**Fire-types**: Delphox and Emboar are two examples of Pokemon using Fire-type moves well. Delphox's use of Fire Blast will break through many Pokemon and Articuno does not stand a chance with a weakness to it. As well as Emboar's Flare Blitz obliterating teams with the Reckless ability it forces out Articuno. This gives a huge hit off on another Pokemon on your team severely crippling a Pokemon for the later game.

**Hazards**: Articuno is 4x weak to Stealth Rocks, with so many good Stealth Rock users in the tier it is hard for Articuno to catch a break. A great example of this is Steelix, its access to Steel STAB and Stealth Rocks allows it to easily force Articuno out getting free rocks pressuring it for the rest of the match.
 
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Not QC but I'd like to point out that maybe Blizzard should be placed under other options or maybe even slashed with Ice Beam, as this is an offensive Articuno it should be included somewhere as of how powerful it is. I'd also like to point out that teammates that can set up Hail such as Aurorus or Abomasnow, as Articuno is Ice Type and it will help Blizzard out
 
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