
[OVERVIEW]
- Articuno has natural bulk in HP and Defense as well as a really great Special Defense Stat.
- Serves as specially defensive wall and a Stall Breaker.
- Serves also as specially defensive wall against common stall breakers like Sigilyph and Meloetta
- Pressure helps cripple pokemon that rely on low PP moves like Gyro Ball and Fire Blast.
- Stall Breaks most of the tiers common walls bar Mega Steelix and Rhyperior.
- Has a hard time dealing with any Steel type as well as faster fire types.
- Weak to stealth rock which severely hinders its viability.
- Movepool for support is very diverse allowing different roles to be played.
- Typing is a hindrance defensively.
- Does require more support than some other pokemon in the tier.
- Great supportive movepool
- Stops some set-up
name: SubToxic Wall
move 1: Freeze-dry
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 116 SpD / 144 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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- Is effective at both stalling low PP moves like Gyro Ball and Fire Blast and stalling breaking common walls in the tier Substitute to block status and Taunt and roost for keeping it's HP up.
- Roost keeps Articuno's HP consistently up so Articuno can endure more attacks.
- Substitute is used over protect to avoid getting crippled by status effects like toxic and burn and it can be used constantly whereas protect has a chance to fail after consistent use.
- Freeze-dry is used over ice beam since some of the more common walls in the tier are water-types.
- Freeze Dry also helps as offensive pressure to pokemon such as Samurott and Clawitzer who threaten Articuno by breaking its Substitutes.
- Toxic is amazingly great since it can break down walls that the rest of your team may have a hard time dealing.
Set Details
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- Set allows Articuno to outspeed adamant max speed Tyrantrum and other base 80 with out a plus speed nature such as modest Samurott.
- HP investment minimizes Stealth Rock so if needed it will be possible to switch in twice.
- The rest of the EVs go into making Articuno as bulky as possible
- Leftovers is there to help recover health making sure Articuno an pull up more subs which is needed for proper PP stalling and making sure Articuno can
- Articuno can switch into a Modest Samurott after Stealth Rock and live the hit same for Scalds from Clawitzer.
- Calm Nature is used to help support Articuno's already great special defense.
Usage Tips
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- Articuno can play a different role every battle.
- It is very important to analyze the opponent's team and see what role Articuno does against the opponent like for example, do you need to nullify Mega Camerupt's Fire Blast to make switching in easier?
- Articuno handles most common walls like Alomomola, Amoonguss, Aromatisse, and etc. either though toxic or freeze-dry
- Articuno needs support to break steel-types and faster fire and electric-types as well as Defog support so Articuno can come in and not have to worried about getting killed after Stealth Rocks are removed.
- Articuno is a pokemon that has a few roles during the match and once those roles are complete Articuno makes for a great sacrifice to get free switch ins.
- It is not recommended to roost without a Substitute up on common walls due to the fact Articuno might get statused and start losing usefulness by not being able to stay for as long as it wants.
- Articuno's special defense is suburb even being able to take heavy hits after Stealth Rocks and live be able to Roost stall moves like Hydro Pump
- Articuno can switch into a Sucker Punch and make it use 2 PP which can be important for stopping sweeps. Sucker Punch only has 8 PP.
Team Options
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- Defensive Flygon compliments Articuno by being able to wall strong Physical Attackers who threaten Articuno like Emboar and Tyrantrum as well as having Defog
- Articuno has no way of touching steel types so pokemon like Dugtrio who can trap them or Mega Camerupt who deals a lot damage no matter what support Articuno substantially.
- Mega Steelix can bait in water-types for Articuno as well as set up Stealth Rocks and take hits from Tyrantrum and Escalivier
- Toxic Spikes are really good since a lot of pokemon can't break Articuno's substitutes forcing switch outs and making it easier to stall out.
- Any Rapid Spinner or Defogger helps Articuno not get broken down by Stealth Rocks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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- Articuno can run Heal Bell over Substitute to not lose lose damage but it fails to PP stall Stone Edge and Fire Blast most of the time.
- Articuno can run Hurricane or Ice Beam over Freeze-dry for more damage but being able to hit water-types like Jelicent and Samurott is too important to pass up.
- Articuno does get Agility and two great STABs being Hurricane and Freeze-dry making it a potential Late Game Sweeper but it is very difficult to fit onto teams and overall is just a lot worse than other sweepers in the tier.
Checks and Counters
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**Faster Rock Types** Articuno can't get a Substitute fast enough and could get killed by a Head Smash/Rock Slide/Stone Edge. If Articuno can get Substitute up and enough HP it can effectively PP stall Head Smash and Stone Edge.
**Fire Types** Pokemon like Scarf Emboar and Houndoom could easily beat Articuno but Articuno can stall out Fire Blast if needed if Articuno is running the SubToxic Set.
**Steel Types** Articuno cannot touch steel types and even worse is set-up bait for SD Escavalier and Durant.
**Electric Types** All they have to do is stay in and choose Thunderbolt. Articuno has good special defense but can't handle most STAB Thunderbolts on it's own.
**Physical Wallbreakers** Pokemon like Hitmonlee and Medicham will be able to outspeed Articuno and exploit Articuno's pretty not so great defense.
**Stealth Rock** This takes Articuno's HP down to half on the switch meaning that it will hard for Articuno to set up Substitute or Sweep at so low of HP.
**Infiltrator Pokemon** A lot of Articuno's usage is based around using Substitute to block status or to deplete PP but any Infiltrator user go right through a Substitute.
**Faster Taunt Users** These pokemon can stop Articuno's vast supportive and defensive sets.
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