Gen 1 Articuno (Stadium OU Mini) [QC 2/2] [GP 1/1]

[Plague von Karma]

[OVERVIEW]

Articuno possesses the most powerful unboosted special attack in the game in its Blizzard, giving it offensive prowess rivaled only by the less consistent Moltres. This alone grants Articuno a strong niche in the tier, outspeeding and 2HKOing the mighty Exeggutor. This offense is backed by a reasonable 15% critical hit rate, with critical hit Blizzard OHKOing even Tauros. With Agility, Articuno can function as a late-game sweeper that is very difficult to stop when the stage is set. This is because it isn't just a strong offensive threat: it's also quite bulky, winning against Tauros one-on-one, or even Zapdos if at +2 Speed. Because of the increased presence of Rest Exeggutor, there are many opportunities for Articuno to switch in and turn the game on its head with nuclear damage output.

However, Articuno has some deep pitfalls that make it difficult to use in Stadium OU. Team Preview is a massive hit to its viability, removing all surprise factor that helps set up for a sweep in cartridge play. Articuno only has Normal-type coverage and a poor Attack stat to use it with, so Pokemon like Chansey and Starmie, as well as the rarer Lapras and Cloyster, tend to wall it out. Additionally, its valuable Speed, while high relative to OU, means paralysis inducers force it out, which is worsened by Agility not negating the paralysis Speed drop, unlike standard play. It can use Rest to get rid of it, but this isn't ideal. Due to these flaws, Articuno can be seen as very linear, but its immense power is nothing to sneeze at.

[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Blizzard
move 2: Double-Edge
move 3: Ice Beam / Reflect / Agility
move 4: Rest

[SET COMMENTS]

Articuno's Blizzard is the main reason it sees play, OHKOing Rhydon, Golem, and the rare Nidoking; it also 2HKOes a majority of the tier, notably Exeggutor, Tauros, Zapdos, Persian, Kangaskhan, and Alakazam after using Substitute once. The freeze chance also cannot be ignored, giving Articuno a degree of volatility that means even consistent checks like Chansey aren't safe. Double-Edge allows Articuno to consistently pressure Substitute without losing valuable PP against users such as Chansey and Alakazam. It also pressures Blizzard-resistant Pokemon like Starmie and Lapras. Rest is crucial for allowing Articuno to make use of its bulk, giving it staying power against Snorlax and Tauros while removing the Speed drop from paralysis.

The third moveslot defines how Articuno will act for its team. Ice Beam acts as a weaker alternative to Blizzard with more PP while still finishing off Exeggutor, ensuring a sustained assault; it can also let Articuno fish for a freeze against big targets like Chansey. Reflect is a viable third option for a bulky approach, stonewalling Pokemon like Snorlax and Tauros without much effort; they require two critical hit Body Slams to stop it from repeatedly using Rest if Reflect is active. Reflect doesn't protect Articuno from Persian, though, and it's threatened with a 3HKO from Slash. Agility lets Articuno take a late-game sweeping approach, which, combined with Rest, can be difficult for weakened teams to stop.

Articuno cannot break through bulky Water-types, so it's best to cut your losses and have its teammates deal with them. Articuno is often used alongside Thunderbolt Chansey, Zapdos, or Jolteon, forming a two-pronged special offense that can be difficult for teams to counter; Jolteon also appreciates Articuno's Ground immunity. Additionally, Pokemon like Tauros and the ubiquitous Snorlax, which can muscle past physically frail Pokemon like Alakazam, are also of great assistance; Self-Destruct Snorlax also tends to help against Pokemon like Slowbro. Rhydon warrants consideration for reducing the holes opened up by Articuno's weaknesses to Electric and Rock. Gengar shuts down Persian offensively, has good Speed, and has access to Thunderbolt, all of which highly benefit Articuno; Gengar's Explosion also puts Chansey in KO range for Articuno's Double-Edge. Articuno functions best late-game when its bulky Water-type checks have been removed, though Team Preview often makes the opponent less inclined to use them, which frequently means aggressive double switching is necessary to force them in earlier than usual. Articuno can function as a mid-game tank if the opponent lacks a good check. If using Agility and intending to sweep, it's best to bring Articuno in upon a forced Rest from Pokemon like Exeggutor, letting it set up and attempt to muscle past. Articuno can arguably run Hyper Beam alongside Double-Edge despite the drawbacks, namely to finish off Starmie and Chansey from a minimum of 33.4% and 37.9%, respectively. However, it is somewhat difficult to fit into its moveset and comes at severe opportunity cost outside of these matchups.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[May, 236353]]
- Quality checked by: [[Ctown6, 509438], [Mikon, 535276]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]

 

[Ctown6]

[OVERVIEW]

Articuno holds the distinction of possessing the most powerful unboosted special attack in the game in its Blizzard, giving it offensive prowess rivalled only by the less consistent Moltres. This alone grants Articuno a strong niche in the tier, 2HKOing the mighty Exeggutor. With Agility in tow, Articuno can function as a late-game sweeper that can be very difficult to stop when the stage is set. This is because Articuno isn't just a strong offensive threat either: it's also quite bulky, winning against Tauros one-on-one, or even Zapdos if at +2 Speed.

However, Articuno has some deep pitfalls that make it difficult to use in Stadium OU. In addition to its numerous inherent shortcomings, Team Preview is a massive hit to its viability, removing all surprise factor that normally helps set up for a sweep. Articuno has very little coverage to its name, with its only viable options being Ice- and Normal-type; ergo, because of its poor Attack stat, Pokemon like Chansey, Starmie, Lapras, and Cloyster tend to stonewall it. Articuno's Speed, while fair relative to OU, also comes back to bite it, making it a difficult Pokemon to lead off with and thus making the rest of the team a bit more linear. Due to these flaws, Articuno can be seen as a one-trick pony, but the trick it has is certainly a nasty one.(id mention in this paragraph how agility is worse in Stadium since it doesn’t boost through para like in rby ou)


[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Blizzard
move 2: Double-Edge
move 3: Ice Beam / Reflect
move 4: Agility / Rest

[SET COMMENTS]

Articuno's Blizzard is the main reason it sees play, OHKOing Rhydon, Golem, and sometimes the rare Nidoking; it also 2HKOes a majority of the tier, notably Exeggutor, Tauros, Zapdos, Persian, Kangaskhan, and Alakazam a majority of the time. The freeze chance also cannot be ignored, giving Articuno a degree of volatility that means even consistent checks like Chansey aren't safe. Double-Edge allows Articuno to consistently pressure Substitute without losing valuable PP against users such as Chansey and Alakazam. It also allows Articuno to pressure Blizzard resists like Starmie and Lapras.

The other two attacks depend on the direction you want to take Articuno. Ice Beam and Agility let Articuno take a late-game sweeping approach; Ice Beam acts as a weaker alternative to Blizzard while still finishing off Exeggutor, ensuring a sustained assault, while Agility lets Articuno outspeed the entire metagame upon use to close out the game. However, Reflect + Rest is a viable alternative for a bulky approach, stonewalling Pokemon like Snorlax and Tauros without much effort.(one crit from Tauros can really fuck cuno, if Tauros comes in on rest it be pretty scary although it’s more likely cuno wins one on one) Ice Beam is a viable option on Rest Articuno sets as well, allowing it to fish for a freeze. Reflect Articuno does tend to have issues against Persian though, which can 3HKO it while ignoring Reflect's Defense boost.

Because Articuno cannot break through bulky Water-types, it's best to cut your losses and have its teammates deal with them. Because of this, Articuno is often used alongside Zapdos or Jolteon,(add that bolt beam Chans is a great teammate, it’s already on every team so it’s usually just a set change and can be immensely helpful against waters since Chans doesn’t fear them and can switch in all day)
forming a two-pronged special offense that can be difficult for teams to counter; Jolteon also appreciates Articuno's Ground immunity. Additionally, Pokemon like Tauros and the ubiquitous Snorlax, which can muscle past physically frail Pokemon like Alakazam, are also of great assistance. Rhydon or Golem also warrant consideration for reducing the holes opened up by Articuno's weaknesses to Electric and Rock; Golem is notable for also having a slightly better Rhydon matchup. Articuno functions best late-game where its bulky Water-type checks have been removed, though Team Preview often makes the opponent less inclined to use them, which often means aggressive double switching is necessary. Agility Articuno is best brought in upon a forced Rest from Pokemon like Snorlax, wherein it can set up and attempt to muscle past. On the other hand, Rest Articuno can function as more of a mid-game tank if the opponent lacks a good check.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Plague von Karma, 236353]]
- Quality checked by: [[name, id], [name, id]]
- Grammar checked by: [[name, id]]

I made a few notes in the margins, check them over and implement and qc 1/2

nice work!

 

[Plague von Karma]

qc 1/2

Implemented this alongside some rewording on the sentence about why it's hard to lead off with

 

[Mikon]

Content

• Agility should be slashed after Ice Beam and Reflect imo; dropping Rest means you're restricted to the lategame and crippled by paralysis, while you lose nothing major from dropping Ice Beam.
• Might be worth noting Articuno's critical hit rate, 15% is reasonable and a non-crit Blizzard is already considerably powerful.
• The Hyper Beam nerf isn't entirely bad for Articuno; it makes it more of a pain for Tauros and Snorlax.
• Rest Exeggutor being everywhere provides plenty of opportunities for Articuno to switch in and force predictable switches.
• "Pokemon like Chansey, Starmie, Lapras, and Cloyster tend to stonewall it."
  • Make a note here that Lapras and Cloyster are rare. Starmie also isn't as common as it is in RBY OU.
• "Articuno's Speed, while fair relative to OU, also comes back to bite it, as common fast leads like Jolteon make Articuno a difficult Pokemon to lead off with; thus, Articuno tends to make the rest of the team a bit more linear"
  • Articuno wouldn't want to fight Jolteon or Starmie even if it outsped them. Neither of these are common leads to begin with. In fact, they're generally only used when the opponent is anticipating an Articuno lead.
  • Plenty of Pokemon don't make good leads, and this is generally not covered as a flaw to my knowledge. Why state it for Articuno specifically?
• "Articuno's Blizzard is the main reason it sees play, OHKOing Rhydon, Golem, and sometimes the rare Nidoking"
  • Blizzard OHKOes Nidoking 97% of the time, so remove "sometimes".
• "...it also 2HKOes a majority of the tier, notably Exeggutor, Tauros, Zapdos, Persian, Kangaskhan, and Alakazam a majority of the time"
  • Alakazam is only 2HKOed after using Substitute, so either remove this mention or specify that. Blizzard also always 2HKOes the other Pokemon listed here.
• "However, Reflect + Rest is a viable alternative for a bulky approach, stonewalling Pokemon like Snorlax and Tauros without much effort so long as it doesn't get struck with a critical hit."
  • Tauros and Snorlax need at least two Body Slam critical hits to break a Rest loop after Reflect.
• "Reflect Articuno does tend to have issues against Persian though, which can 3HKO it while ignoring Reflect's Defense boost."
  • Persian is uncommon, seeing 10% usage at most in recent tours.
  • Articuno has issues with Persian in general regardless of whether it has Reflect. I'd reword this to something like "Reflect doesn't protect Articuno from Persian" instead.
• "Additionally, Pokemon like Tauros and the ubiquitous Snorlax, which can muscle past physically frail Pokemon like Alakazam, are also of great assistance."
  • Self-Destruct is a good option on Snorlax as well to take out Slowbro, Cloyster, Lapras, et cetera.
• "Rhydon or Golem also warrant consideration for reducing the holes opened up by Articuno's weaknesses to Electric and Rock; Golem is notable for also having a slightly better Rhydon matchup."
  • Rhydon has access to relevant damage ranges on many Pokemon that wall Articuno that Golem doesn't, and has 103HP Substitutes for Seismic Toss Chansey. Golem's slightly higher Speed is irrelevant except against Rhydon and its only other benefit is Explosion, which is generally not sufficient reason to run it instead. On the subject of Rhydon, it needs Rock Slide to beat Articuno, which it doesn't always carry
• I would note Gengar in the teammates section; it has Thunderbolt access, good Speed and therefore a decent crit chance, Explosion, and a Normal immunity to help against Persian.
• "Agility Articuno is best brought in upon a forced Rest from Pokemon like Snorlax, wherein it can set up and attempt to muscle past."
  • Please specify Exeggutor instead here; Snorlax can wake up and try for Body Slam paralysis or just explode since Articuno won't break through it fast enough.
• For OO: Articuno might be able to get away with finishing off Chansey and Starmie with Hyper Beam and removing one of its walls thanks to the surprise factor, its solid bulk, and Rest. DE + HB does 56% minimum to Starmie and at least 63.2% to Chansey.

Grammar
Add/Fix
Remove

Because Articuno cannot break through bulky Water-types, so it's best to cut your losses and have its teammates deal with them. Because of this, Articuno is often used alongside Zapdos or Jolteon...

Removing repetition of "because"

Articuno functions best late-game where its bulky Water-type checks have been removed, though Team Preview often makes the opponent less inclined to use them, which often frequently means aggressive double switching is necessary

Removing repetition of "often" in the same sentence

 

[Plague von Karma]

bop

Implemented these!

 

[Mikon]

However, Articuno has some deep pitfalls that make it difficult to use in Stadium OU. In addition to its numerous inherent shortcomings, Team Preview is a massive hit to its viability, removing all surprise factor that normally helps set up for a sweep. Articuno has very little coverage to its name, with its only viable options being Ice- and Normal-type; ergo, because of its poor Attack stat, Pokemon like Chansey and Starmie, as well as the rarer Lapras and Cloyster, tend to wall it out. Additionally, its valuable Speed forces it out in the face of paralysis inducers, worsened by the fact Agility doesn't negate the paralysis Speed drop in Stadium. Due to these flaws, Articuno can be seen as a one-trick pony, but the trick it has is certainly a nasty one.

• I didn't take issue with you saying Articuno had average Speed, I just said there's no reason to say Articuno is a bad lead as most other Pokemon don't have that mentioned as a flaw. Having mediocre Speed means it needs paralysis support/Agility to outspeed Tauros/Jolteon
• I'd note that Articuno can use Rest to wipe off paralysis, but this isn't ideal, as having to rely on it gives Pokemon opportunities to switch into it and threaten it.

Gengar is another good partner for being able to neuter Persian's offensive potential, good Speed, and access to Thunderbolt, all of which highly benefit Articuno.

Explosion from Gengar + Double-Edge from Articuno almost always KOes Chansey.

Articuno functions best late-game where its bulky Water-type checks have been removed, though Team Preview often makes the opponent less inclined to use them, which frequently means aggressive double switching is necessary. Agility Articuno is best brought in upon a forced Rest from Pokemon like Exeggutor, wherein it can set up and attempt to muscle past. On the other hand, Rest Articuno can function as more of a mid-game tank if the opponent lacks a good check.

Maybe move the Rest Articuno line before the Agility Articuno one and reword it to "Articuno can also function as a mid-game tank if the opponent lacks a good check", as Rest is mandatory currently.

Articuno can arguably run Hyper Beam alongside Double-Edge despite the drawbacks, namely to finish off Starmie and Chansey from around half HP.

I'd specify the exact values, as two Double-Edges do 50% minimum to Chansey already.

QC 2/2

 

[Plague von Karma]

QC 2/2

Sorted, ready for GP.

 

[Adeleine]

Add/Fix Remove Comment
(AC): Add Comma

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[OVERVIEW]

Articuno holds the distinction of possessing possesses the most powerful unboosted special attack in the game in its Blizzard, giving it offensive prowess rivalled rivaled only by the less consistent Moltres. This alone grants Articuno a strong niche in the tier, outspeeding and 2HKOing the mighty Exeggutor. This offense is backed by a reasonable 15% critical hit rate, letting it OHKO even Tauros with critical hit Blizzard OHKOing even Tauros. With Agility in tow, Articuno can function as a late-game sweeper that can be is very difficult to stop when the stage is set. This is because Articuno it isn't just a strong offensive threat either: it's also quite bulky, winning against Tauros one-on-one, or even Zapdos if at +2 Speed. Because of the increased presence of Rest Exeggutor, there are many opportunities for Articuno to switch in and turn the game on its head with nuclear damage output.

However, Articuno has some deep pitfalls that make it difficult to use in Stadium OU. In addition to its numerous inherent shortcomings, (this puts the rby ou analysis a bit too close to required extra reading imo. if you want to elaborate on this in a more self-contained way, go right ahead) Team Preview is a massive hit to its viability, removing all surprise factor that normally helps set up for a sweep in cartridge play. Articuno has very little coverage to its name, with its only viable options being Ice- and Normal-type; ergo, because of only has Normal-type coverage and a poor Attack stat to use it with, so Pokemon like Chansey and Starmie, as well as the rarer Lapras and Cloyster, tend to wall it out. Additionally, its valuable Speed, while fast high relative to OU, means it's forced out in the face of paralysis inducers, paralysis inducers force it out, which is worsened by the fact Agility doesn't negate Agility not negating the paralysis Speed drop in Stadium. like in cartridge play. It can use Rest to get rid of it, but this isn't ideal. Due to these flaws, Articuno can be seen as a one-trick pony, but the trick it has is certainly a nasty one. is very linear, but its immense power is a great trick to have. (discord) (also fill in the end how you like, I couldnt think of a great way that keeps voice)

[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Blizzard
move 2: Double-Edge
move 3: Ice Beam / Reflect / Agility
move 4: Rest

[SET COMMENTS]

Articuno's Blizzard is the main reason it sees play, OHKOing Rhydon, Golem, and the rare Nidoking; it also 2HKOes a majority of the tier, notably Exeggutor, Tauros, Zapdos, Persian, Kangaskhan, and Alakazam after using Substitute once. The freeze chance also cannot be ignored, giving Articuno a degree of volatility that means even consistent checks like Chansey aren't safe. Double-Edge allows Articuno to consistently pressure Substitute without losing valuable PP against users such as Chansey and Alakazam. It also allows Articuno to pressure Blizzard resists pressures Blizzard-resistant Pokemon like Starmie and Lapras. Rest is crucial for allowing Articuno to make use of its bulk, giving it staying power against Snorlax and Tauros while removing the Speed drop from paralysis.

The third move slot moveslot defines how Articuno will act for its team. Ice Beam acts as a weaker alternative to Blizzard with more PP while still finishing off Exeggutor, ensuring a sustained assault; it can also let Articuno fish for a freeze against big targets like Chansey. Reflect is a viable third option for a bulky approach, stonewalling Pokemon like Snorlax and Tauros without much effort; they require two critical hit Body Slams to stop it from repeatedly using Rest if Reflect is active. Reflect doesn't protect Articuno from Persian, though, being and it's threatened with a 3HKO from Slash. Agility lets Articuno take a late-game sweeping approach, which, (AC) combined with Rest, (AC) can be difficult for weakened teams to stop.

Articuno cannot break through bulky Water-types, so it's best to cut your losses and have its teammates deal with them. Articuno is often used alongside Thunderbolt Chansey, Zapdos, or Jolteon, forming a two-pronged special offense that can be difficult for teams to counter; Jolteon also appreciates Articuno's Ground immunity. Additionally, Pokemon like Tauros and the ubiquitous Snorlax, which can muscle past physically frail Pokemon like Alakazam, are also of great assistance; Self-Destruct Snorlax also tends to help against Pokemon like Slowbro. Rhydon also warrants consideration for reducing the holes opened up by Articuno's weaknesses to Electric and Rock. Gengar is another good partner for being able to neuter Persian's offensive potential, shuts down Persian offensively, has good Speed, and has access to Thunderbolt, all of which highly benefit Articuno; Gengar's Explosion also puts Chansey in KO range for Articuno's Double-Edge. Articuno functions best late-game where when its bulky Water-type checks have been removed, though Team Preview often makes the opponent less inclined to use them, which frequently means aggressive double switching (to force the waters in before late-game? or not? could you elaborate onwhat the double switching wants to accomplish) is necessary. Articuno can function as a mid-game tank if the opponent lacks a good check. If using Agility and intending to sweep, Articuno is best brought it's best to bring Articuno in upon a forced Rest from Pokemon like Exeggutor, wherein it can letting it set up and attempt to muscle past. Articuno can arguably run Hyper Beam alongside Double-Edge despite the drawbacks, namely to finish off Starmie and Chansey from a minimum of 33.4% and 37.9%, respectively. However, it is somewhat difficult to fit into its moveset and often comes at severe opportunity cost outside of these matchups.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Plague von Karma, 236353]]
- Quality checked by: [[Ctown6, 509438], [Mikon, 535276]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]

1/1

 

[Plague von Karma]

pew pew

Implemented and uploaded after proving that stadium is in fact a cartridge