Articuno is a large avian Pokémon with predominantly sky blue plumage and wings said to be made of ice. On its forehead is a crest that consists of three, darker blue rhombus-shaped feathers. It has circular red eyes, a short gray beak, and long, thin gray legs. Each foot has three forward-facing toes and one that faces backward. On its chest is a mass of pale blue, downy feathers. Its long, streamer-like tail is longer than its body and the same shade of blue as its crest.
Articuno has the power to control the ice at will. When Articuno flaps its wings, it can chill the moisture in the air around it, making snow fall. It flies from icy mountain to icy mountain. According to legend, it appears before doomed travelers lost in icy regions. As seen in the anime, Articuno sometimes aids travelers and guides them to safety. Articuno lives in cold, isolated locations such as snowy mountains filled with permafrost.
In Galar, Articuno has a distinct appearance. The main body has lavender coloration with a black marking covering its chest. Its feet are black with lavender talons. The three feathers of its crest, which are longer, fused, and folded to the back, have the same purple color as its beak and tail. Its eyes glow light blue, appear to be mostly closed, and are surrounded by a black, mask-like facial disc. When Articuno utilizes its psychic power, the entire mask glows the same color as its eyes, as do the white, feather-like blades of condensed psychic power at the edges of its wings.
Galarian Articuno keeps itself airborne with its psychic power, almost never having to use its wings for this purpose. Instead, the blades on its wings can be used to slice through iron as easily as paper. Its eyes can fire beams of psychic energy that leave its opponents stuck in place, as if frozen solid - this is what earns this Pokémon the name of its Kantonian counterpart. It also has the ability to create mirages of itself in order to fool its opponent and escape. Its elegant and refined movements belie a cold and callous personality. It can be found in the Crown Tundra once every few decades congregating at the Dyna Tree Hill.[1]
In Moving Pictures and Spring Fever, an Articuno was seen flying in the distance. Todd had gone to search for Articuno in the Johtoregion so he could add its photograph to his photo album. In Freeze Frame, he followed it to Snowtop Mountain, where he finally took a snapshot of it.
Articuno, the Freeze Pokémon. This Legendary Pokémon, with wings like thin sheets of ice, is believed to possess the ability to freeze water vapor and create snow.
Articuno appears in The Legendary Articuno!. It lives atop a mountain used by a ski resort and is rumored to spirit away the lives of lost travelers, but in reality, it is a friendly Pokémon that runs a Snowcone shop. Pikachu, Clefairy and Jigglypuff enter a Snowcone-eating contest at Articuno's shop, and Articuno also rescues an injured Hazel.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
Articuno first appeared in You know... Articuno!, where it was chased by a group of Team Rocket Grunts at Seafoam Islands. Although it managed to defeat their Muk, it spent so much energy in doing this that it was soon caught by the Grunts and placed under Team Rocket Commander Koga's possession. He later used it to battle Blue and Red at Silph Co., where it froze both of them. However, Blue's Charizard quickly melted them, allowing Red and Blue to defeat Koga. Articuno was later merged with Zapdos and Moltres into a combination Pokémon that was defeated by Red, Blue, and Green, causing it to split up again and freeing the Legendary birds
Green later caught Articuno before the Gold, Silver & Crystal arc as a part of overcoming her fear of birds. She used it and the other Legendary birds to battle Lugia and Ho-Oh in Ilex Forest.
Articuno was one of the first four Pokémon designs revealed when the Pokémon 151 brand was first announced. In the shirt design, an Articuno is rising out of the right side with the number 144 on its chest.
When released from a Poké Ball, Articuno will use a Blizzard attack that freezes any opponent that is caught in it for a few seconds.
Trophy information
"Clouds gather, the barometer plunges, and fresh snow falls from the frigid air when this legendary Pokémon takes wing. Graceful and elegant, it boasts long tail feathers that flap in the wind and are lovely to behold. As would be expected, its combat moves are based on its cold nature; they include Ice Beam and Blizzard."
Articuno reappears as a trophy in the 3DS game (but not the Wii U edition).
Trophy information
Articuno trophy in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS
NA: The air around Articuno is always cool, and it can make snow fall on even the hottest of days. It must be the perfect Pokémon to have around in summer! Then again, do you really want to be the one to use a Legendary bird Pokémon as an ice machine? Let's just think this through for a minute.
PAL: The air around Articuno is always cool, and it can make snow fall on even the hottest of days. It must be the perfect Pokémon to have around in summer! Then again, do you really want to be the one to use a Legendary Bird Pokémon as an ice machine? You'd just get the cold shoulder from the whole Pokémon community.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team: Articuno resides in Frosty Forest and challenges the player and partner when they trespass. Articuno then accuses the player and partner of causing the snow of the forest to melt. An Absol then appears and convinces Articuno to let the player and partner pass through.
Articuno is a legendary bird Pokémon that can control ice. The flapping of its wings chills the air. As a result, it is said that when this Pokémon flies, snow will fall.
Articuno is a legendary bird Pokémon that can control ice. The flapping of its wings chills the air. As a result, it is said that when this Pokémon flies, snow will fall.
Articuno is a legendary bird Pokémon that can control ice. The flapping of its wings chills the air. As a result, it is said that when this Pokémon flies, snow will fall.
Galarian Articuno shares its category with Liepard. They are both known as the Cruel Pokémon.
In the second episode of the anime, there is an engraving on a wall in the Viridian City Pokémon Center that depicts the Legendary birds. Ash mistakes the Articuno engraving as Ho-Oh. While the blue coloration of the stone indicates the Ice type, and the wings and crest feathers are those of Articuno, the multiple tail feathers look nothing like Articuno's tail, being more similar in appearance to those of Ho-Oh.
In the opening of Spring Fever, Todd points out a tall mountain that is Articuno's home. This mountain is, on the outside, the same as Ice Island, Articuno's home in The Power of One.
Kantonian Articuno is the only Pokémon other than Smeargle and Poliwrath* that is able to learn an accuracy-focusing move and a OHKO move, learning Mind Reader and Sheer Cold. An Articuno using this combination can be fought in the Battle Subway.
Articuno, alongside the other two Legendary birds, had an Australian Beetle named after it, named Binburrumarticuno.
Origin
Articuno may be based on the Simurgh, deriving from the Persian رخ rokh, which is a giant arctic bird. Its long tail and small body also may be a reference to the quetzal. In addition, it is anatomically similar to the white-throated magpie-jay.
Galarian Articuno has feathers reminiscent of a mask worn at a masquerade ball. Its facial disc may also be inspired by owls.
Name origin
Articuno is a combination of arctic (far northern regions of the globe) and uno (Spanish for one, indicating that it is the first in the series of KantoLegendary birds).
Freezer is literally freezer (that which freezes).
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
BrightPowder (100%)
For other sprites and images, please see Articuno images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
