[SET]
Special Wall (Articuno) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Pressure
Tera Type: Dragon / Steel
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Roost
- Freeze-Dry
- U-turn
- Haze / Roar
[SET COMMENTS]
Amazing bulk and reliable recovery make Articuno a cool special wall in the ZU metagame. Special attackers like Whimsicott and Calm Mind Dudunsparce struggle to break through Articuno on their own. Roost keeps Articuno healthy and lets it take repeated hits from special wallbreakers like Alolan Exeggutor and Clawitzer while stonewalling more passive Pokemon like Lanturn and Cramorant. Freeze-Dry has the best coverage and reliability of any of Articuno's moves, nailing special attackers like Cramorant, Lanturn, and Oricorio-G. U-turn helps Articuno keep up momentum against wallbreakers that might switch in against it like Charizard, Typhlosion, and Magneton. Haze immediately removes boosts from special setup users like Frosmoth and Oricorio-G. Roar is an alternative to Haze that lets Articuno rack up residual damage from entry hazards, but it forces Articuno to move second and fails if the target is the last active member of its team. Tera Dragon helps Articuno beat Fire-types it struggles against like Charizard and Typhlosion. Tera Steel gives Articuno a Toxic immunity and lets it more reliably check attackers like Grafaiai, Alolan Exeggutor, and Farigiraf.
Articuno is a great choice for balance teams in need of a specially defensive Pokemon. However, Articuno can also support more offensive teams thanks to U-turn enabling teammates like Typhlosion, Charizard, and Clawitzer. Pokemon vulnerable to Grass-types and special attackers such as Sandaconda, Dipplin, and Palossand greatly appreciate Articuno's support, and they can assist it against threatening physical attackers like Rhydon and Passimian. Articuno can form cores with other pivots like Passimian, Jolteon, and Qwilfish. Articuno's 4x weakness to Rock is a major vulnerability that can be covered by partners like Hisuian Decidueye, Orthworm, and Palossand. Entry hazard setting partners like Naclstack, Regirock, and Hisuian Qwilfish complement Articuno running Roar, as Articuno racks up hazard damage with Roar, forces Dipplin out even if it Terastallizes, and pressures other Pokemon vulnerable to hazards like Snorlax and Regirock to switch in. Knock Off users like Mesprit, Grafaiai, and Passimian support Articuno if it runs Roar to rack up entry hazard chip damage by removing Heavy-Duty Boots from foes dependent on them to avoid hazard damage such as opposing Articuno, Sandslash, and Cramorant. Articuno struggles with Fire-types like Typhlosion and Charizard, so Snorlax and Regirock partner well with it by bolstering against these bad matchups. Steel-types like Orthworm and Magneton can respectively set up on Articuno and break through it, so teammates like Hisuian Decidueye, Passimian, and Virizion can threaten them for Articuno.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hurricane is less reliable than Freeze-Dry but is stronger and much more significant against foes that resist Ice such as Typhlosion, Frosmoth, and Glastrier. A more offensive EV spread using Hurricane can catch faster or more offensive Pokemon expecting to get the jump on Articuno off-guard, letting Articuno nail foes weak to Freeze-Dry like Hisuian Decidueye, Rock Blast Sandaconda, and Clawitzer while still maintaining its good bulk. However, Articuno is not very strong on its own and tends to be outclassed by other offensive pivots like Mesprit, Passsimian, and Whimsicott for their superior power, coverage, and utility from moves like Knock Off, Trick, and Switcheroo. Tera Ground alleviates Articuno's 4x Rock weakness and gives it an immunity to Electric to enable it to block Volt Switch, but it worsens Articuno's matchups against specially offensive Grass-types like Whimsicott, Calm Mind Virizion, and Alolan Exeggutor that it's meant to check.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-types and Rock-type Coverage**: Articuno's 4x Rock weakness makes Rock-type moves a huge threat to it. Regirock and Hisuian Avalugg can threaten out Articuno and use it as an opportunity to set up entry hazards. Though Rhydon is suspectible to Freeze-Dry, it is very offensively threatening to Articuno. Naclstack cannot get frozen, can recover off chip damage from Articuno, and wears Articuno down with Salt Cure. Sandaconda and Virizion commonly run Rock-type coverage but must be wary of Articuno's Freeze-Dry and strong Hurricane.
**Item Removal**: Articuno depends on its Heavy-Duty Boots to avoid losing 50% of its HP to Stealth Rock as it switches in, so losing them hurts its longevity and pushes it to Terastallize. Mesprit is a common special attacker that can lure Articuno in and threaten to use Knock Off or give it a Choice item with Trick. Mismagius and Whimsicott respectively run Trick and Switcheroo.
**Steel-types**: Orthworm shrugs off attacks from Articuno, threatens it with its Steel-type STAB moves, and can set up Coil or entry hazards on it. Magneton is only chipped by Articuno's attacks, threatens it with its STAB moves, and can keep up momentum if Articuno switches out with its STAB Volt Switch.
**Electric-types**: Jolteon, Rotom, and Alolan Raichu resist Hurricane, threaten Articuno with their Electric-type STAB moves, and can gain momentum with Volt Switch. All three of the Electric-types can use setup moves to blow through Articuno.
**Fire-types**: Charizard and Typhlosion overcome Articuno's massive special bulk thanks to their super effective STAB attacks. Although Typhlosion resists Freeze-Dry, it prefers not to take damage in order to preserve the power of its Eruption. Oricorio-F and Pyroar can use Taunt on Articuno, and the former can set up on Articuno with Quiver Dance and Roost. However, all of them struggle to break through Tera Dragon Articuno.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Special Wall (Articuno) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Pressure
Tera Type: Dragon / Steel
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Roost
- Freeze-Dry
- U-turn
- Haze / Roar
[SET COMMENTS]
Amazing bulk and reliable recovery make Articuno a cool special wall in the ZU metagame. Special attackers like Whimsicott and Calm Mind Dudunsparce struggle to break through Articuno on their own. Roost keeps Articuno healthy and lets it take repeated hits from special wallbreakers like Alolan Exeggutor and Clawitzer while stonewalling more passive Pokemon like Lanturn and Cramorant. Freeze-Dry has the best coverage and reliability of any of Articuno's moves, nailing special attackers like Cramorant, Lanturn, and Oricorio-G. U-turn helps Articuno keep up momentum against wallbreakers that might switch in against it like Charizard, Typhlosion, and Magneton. Haze immediately removes boosts from special setup users like Frosmoth and Oricorio-G. Roar is an alternative to Haze that lets Articuno rack up residual damage from entry hazards, but it forces Articuno to move second and fails if the target is the last active member of its team. Tera Dragon helps Articuno beat Fire-types it struggles against like Charizard and Typhlosion. Tera Steel gives Articuno a Toxic immunity and lets it more reliably check attackers like Grafaiai, Alolan Exeggutor, and Farigiraf.
Articuno is a great choice for balance teams in need of a specially defensive Pokemon. However, Articuno can also support more offensive teams thanks to U-turn enabling teammates like Typhlosion, Charizard, and Clawitzer. Pokemon vulnerable to Grass-types and special attackers such as Sandaconda, Dipplin, and Palossand greatly appreciate Articuno's support, and they can assist it against threatening physical attackers like Rhydon and Passimian. Articuno can form cores with other pivots like Passimian, Jolteon, and Qwilfish. Articuno's 4x weakness to Rock is a major vulnerability that can be covered by partners like Hisuian Decidueye, Orthworm, and Palossand. Entry hazard setting partners like Naclstack, Regirock, and Hisuian Qwilfish complement Articuno running Roar, as Articuno racks up hazard damage with Roar, forces Dipplin out even if it Terastallizes, and pressures other Pokemon vulnerable to hazards like Snorlax and Regirock to switch in. Knock Off users like Mesprit, Grafaiai, and Passimian support Articuno if it runs Roar to rack up entry hazard chip damage by removing Heavy-Duty Boots from foes dependent on them to avoid hazard damage such as opposing Articuno, Sandslash, and Cramorant. Articuno struggles with Fire-types like Typhlosion and Charizard, so Snorlax and Regirock partner well with it by bolstering against these bad matchups. Steel-types like Orthworm and Magneton can respectively set up on Articuno and break through it, so teammates like Hisuian Decidueye, Passimian, and Virizion can threaten them for Articuno.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hurricane is less reliable than Freeze-Dry but is stronger and much more significant against foes that resist Ice such as Typhlosion, Frosmoth, and Glastrier. A more offensive EV spread using Hurricane can catch faster or more offensive Pokemon expecting to get the jump on Articuno off-guard, letting Articuno nail foes weak to Freeze-Dry like Hisuian Decidueye, Rock Blast Sandaconda, and Clawitzer while still maintaining its good bulk. However, Articuno is not very strong on its own and tends to be outclassed by other offensive pivots like Mesprit, Passsimian, and Whimsicott for their superior power, coverage, and utility from moves like Knock Off, Trick, and Switcheroo. Tera Ground alleviates Articuno's 4x Rock weakness and gives it an immunity to Electric to enable it to block Volt Switch, but it worsens Articuno's matchups against specially offensive Grass-types like Whimsicott, Calm Mind Virizion, and Alolan Exeggutor that it's meant to check.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-types and Rock-type Coverage**: Articuno's 4x Rock weakness makes Rock-type moves a huge threat to it. Regirock and Hisuian Avalugg can threaten out Articuno and use it as an opportunity to set up entry hazards. Though Rhydon is suspectible to Freeze-Dry, it is very offensively threatening to Articuno. Naclstack cannot get frozen, can recover off chip damage from Articuno, and wears Articuno down with Salt Cure. Sandaconda and Virizion commonly run Rock-type coverage but must be wary of Articuno's Freeze-Dry and strong Hurricane.
**Item Removal**: Articuno depends on its Heavy-Duty Boots to avoid losing 50% of its HP to Stealth Rock as it switches in, so losing them hurts its longevity and pushes it to Terastallize. Mesprit is a common special attacker that can lure Articuno in and threaten to use Knock Off or give it a Choice item with Trick. Mismagius and Whimsicott respectively run Trick and Switcheroo.
**Steel-types**: Orthworm shrugs off attacks from Articuno, threatens it with its Steel-type STAB moves, and can set up Coil or entry hazards on it. Magneton is only chipped by Articuno's attacks, threatens it with its STAB moves, and can keep up momentum if Articuno switches out with its STAB Volt Switch.
**Electric-types**: Jolteon, Rotom, and Alolan Raichu resist Hurricane, threaten Articuno with their Electric-type STAB moves, and can gain momentum with Volt Switch. All three of the Electric-types can use setup moves to blow through Articuno.
**Fire-types**: Charizard and Typhlosion overcome Articuno's massive special bulk thanks to their super effective STAB attacks. Although Typhlosion resists Freeze-Dry, it prefers not to take damage in order to preserve the power of its Eruption. Oricorio-F and Pyroar can use Taunt on Articuno, and the former can set up on Articuno with Quiver Dance and Roost. However, all of them struggle to break through Tera Dragon Articuno.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Last edited:
