Burd
QC: //
GP: /
Overview
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- Great Stats across the board
- Received Freeze Dry this Gen, allowing it to hit Water types SE
- Glaring weakness to Stealth Rock, and it's typing gives it a lot of common weaknesses
- Faces competition from Regice
Offensive
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name: Offensive
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Freeze-Dry
move 3: Roost
move 4: U-turn / Substitute
ability: Pressure
item: Life Orb
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
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- Freeze Dry hits Water types that Ice Beam can't, although Ice Beam has more power.
- Roost is to improve longevity, since Articuno has great bulk and can take a lot of neutral hits.
- Hurricane is a second great STAB that hits everything hard.
- U-Turn is to gain momentum, although Substitute can be used to improve time on the field
Set Details
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- Articuno can utilize an all out attacking set, and it hits like a truck with Life Orb
- Timid nature and max Speed is to outspeed base 80s
- A fantastic member of the Volt-Turn combo
- Unlike most all out attackers, Articuno has great bulk that allows it to take multiple hits
Usage Tips
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- AVOID STEALTH ROCKS
- Make sure other Pokemon with higher Speed don't hit you with a SE hit, especially a Rock type attack
- Hurricane hits everything HARD, especially with a Life Orb. Try to avoid Pokemon like Lickilicky, one of the few Pokemon who can tank a hit.
- U-Turn doesn't hit too hard, but it helps gain momentum if you predict a switch
Team Options
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- Hazard Control again
- Anything that hits hard on the physical side, such as Sneasel and Tauros work great, as they allow you to hit Special walls that might annoy Articuno.
- Roselia and Garbordor are helpful for setting up Toxic Spikes
- Ninetales works as a fantastic team mate, since it has Psyshock to hit special walls and Fire moves to hit Steel types
Substitute + Toxic
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name: Substitute + Toxic
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Roost
move 4: Freeze-Dry
ability: Pressure
item: Leftovers
evs: 240 HP / 252 SpD / 16 Spe
nature: Calm
Moves
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- Substitute allows Articuno to avoid major damage on SE hits, especially on an opponent's switch.
- Toxic can wear down opponents that Articuno has a hard time damaging
- Roost is Articuno's most reliable recovery, allowing longer longevity.
- Freeze-Dry is Articuno's primary STAB, and it allows it to hit bulky water types much more efficiently.
Set Details
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- Articuno's Sub-Roost set can be a big pain to stall teams that rely on Toxic.
- Leftovers is to maximize Articuno's time on the field, since Substitute can wear down your heal easily.
- The Speed EVs are to outspeed base 55s.
- Pressure is actually helpful, as opponents will have to use up all of their attacks just to break the Sub.
Usage Tips
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- Avoid Stealth Rocks at all cost.
- Keeping Articuno near full health is vital, as most SE hits will take a huge chunk out
- Set up a Substitute as soon as possible
- Use entry hazards. It makes Articuno's job easier since Freeze-Dry doesn't hit too hard.
Team Options
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- Having a Rapid Spinner or Defogger on your team is almost mandatory.
- Anything that can set up Stealth Rocks and / or Spikes, such as Garbordor.
- Pokemon that can set up screens also help, since Articuno has amazing bulk, making it harder to break a Sub
Other Options
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- Agility Sweeper
- Choice Specs
- Choice Scarf
- Defog / Heal Bell support
Checks & Counters
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- **Stealth Rocks** Stealth Rocks make Articuno's job nearly impossible, as every switch-in costs half of your health.
- **Special Walls** Special walls such as Lickilicky can wall Articuno to hell and back, but they have to be careful due to Toxic.
- **Steel Types** Most Steel types can easily take Articuno's dual STABs, although they must be wary of Confusion from Hurricane.
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