Pokemon GO Shadow Articuno raid guide: Weaknesses and best counters

Pokemon GO Shadow Articuno Raids are running through February 2024, and trainers are already assembling their best counters to defeat it. With its Attack stat boosted by 20% as a shadow Pokemon, this Articuno could be pretty helpful in battle, but players still have to defeat it before catching it. Fortunately, Shadow Articuno is a perfectly straightforward opponent when the right team is assembled against it.

Since this is the case, it's not a bad idea to examine Articuno's weaknesses and the best counters to beat it in Shadow Raids. The good news is that there are several roads to beating and capturing Shadow Articuno, and trainers can always call for backup from their fellow players to make the raid an easier undertaking.

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Pokemon GO Shadow Articuno weaknesses and resistances

Articuno and its shadow counterpart share the same weaknesses in Pokemon GO (Image via Niantic)

Since Articuno and its shadow counterpart are Flying/Ice-type species in Pokemon GO, they take super effective damage from the following attack types:

• Rock (256% damage)
• Electric (160%)
• Fire (160%)
• Steel (160%)

Meanwhile, Articuno will take reduced damage from the following move types:

• Ground (39.1%)
• Bug (62.5%)
• Grass (62.5%)

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Pokemon GO Shadow Articuno: Best counters

Since Rock-type moves deal the most damage to Articuno in Pokemon GO, many Rock-type Pokemon are also the best options for defeating it whether it's in shadow form or not. However, if players are having trouble, they can give the following monsters a try:

• Rampardos
• Rhyperior
• Tyranitar
• Aggron
• Terrakion
• Omastar
• Gigalith
• Tyrantrum
• Excadrill
• Aurorus
• Alolan Golem
• Metagross
• Golem
• Regirock
• Hisuian Arcanine

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Best Mega/Primal Pokemon to counter Shadow Articuno

• Mega Diancie
• Mega Tyranitar
• Mega Aerodactyl
• Mega Aggron
• Mega Blaziken
• Mega Charizard Y
• Mega Ampharos

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What are the best moves to beat Pokemon GO Shadow Articuno raids?

Much like the Pokemon counters, Shadow Articuno is the most susceptible to Rock-type moves. However, Electric-, Fire-, and Steel-type moves can also get the job done, albeit a bit more slowly. The recommended moves to counter Shadow Articuno can be found below:

Fast Moves

• Smack Down
• Rock Throw
• Metal Claw
• Bullet Punch
• Fire Spin
• Fire Fang
• Thunder Fang
• Volt Switch
• Spark
• Thunder Shock
• Incinerate

Charged Moves

• Rock Slide
• Rock Wrecker
• Stone Edge
• Meteor Beam
• Ancient Power
• Meteor Mash
• Rock Blast
• Blast Burn
• Weather Ball (Rock)
• Power Gem
• Wild Charge
• Overheat
• Discharge
• Fusion Flare
• Magma Storm

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Pokemon GO Shadow Articuno: Moves, catch CP, and stats

Shadow Articuno is capable of learning the following moves in Pokemon GO and can, therefore, use them in raids and Shadow Raids as well:

Fast Moves

• Ice Shard
• Frost Breath

Charged Moves

• Ice Beam
• Blizzard
• Ancient Power
• Icy Wind
• Hurricane
• Frustration
• Triple Axel

Once it has been defeated in a raid setting, Shadow Articuno will have the following CP ranges in its post-raid capture encounter:

Weather Boosted: 2005 - 2179 CP when weather boosted by snowy or windy weather

Not Weather Boosted: 1604 - 1743 CP

Shadow Articuno's stats:

• Max CP - 3,450 CP at level 50
• Base Attack - 192
• Base Defense - 236
• Base Stamina - 207

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Can you beat Pokemon GO Shadow Articuno solo?

Given the nature of Shadow Raids, beating Shadow Articuno in this raid format is highly unlikely. If players want to defeat this Shadow Raid boss, they'll want to invite their fellow players to give them a hand. This will ensure Shadow Articuno doesn't snowball via the rage mechanic and wipe out a player's team.

Pokemon GO Shadow Articuno's return is exciting, but once players defeat it, they have several events in February 2024 to look forward to as well.

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Check out our other Pokemon GO guides:

Ditto disguises || Current Raid bosses || February 2024 infographic || GO Shiny Hisuian Starter guides || Buddy evolution Adventure Together guide || Best Fast Attacks || Giovanni counters || Sierra counters || Cliff counters || Arlo counters