From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

Articuno (Japanese: フリーザー Freezer) is a dual-type Ice/Flying Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation I.

It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.

In Galar, Articuno has a Psychic/Flying regional form, set to debut in The Crown Tundra expansion of the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass.

Along with Zapdos and Moltres, it is one of the three Legendary birds of Kanto.

Biology

Articuno is a large avian Pokémon with predominantly 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.

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.

Galarian Articuno is a light purple with blue eyes and black feet, with a longer tail and a black marking covering its chest and most of its face that resembles a mask. It uses its psychic powers to aid its flight and can fire beams of psychic power from its eyes that can immobilize victims as if they were frozen. It is said to have a cold, callous personality. It can be found in the Crown Tundra once every few decades.[1]

Galarian Articuno is the only Pokémon that can learn the move Freezing Glare.

In the anime

In the main series

Major appearances

In The Power of One, Lawrence III sought an Articuno, the other two Legendary birds, and their master Lugia for his own personal collection.

In Moving Pictures and Spring Fever, an Articuno was seen flying in the distance. Todd had gone to search for Articuno in the Johto region 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.

In Numero Uno Articuno and The Symbol Life, he Frontier Brain Noland befriended a wild Articuno that he uses against challengers. He accepted Ash's challenge, and Articuno battled Charizard; it was eventually defeated.

Other

In The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon, the Mirage Master briefly used a Mirage Articuno.

Minor appearances

An Articuno appeared in Team Rocket's fantasy in An EGG-sighting Adventure!.

An Articuno appeared in the opening sequence of Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.

In the opening sequence of The Rise of Darkrai, an Articuno was flying across the sky.

An Articuno appeared in the opening sequence of Zoroark: Master of Illusions.

An Articuno appeared in a fantasy in An Electrifying Rage!.

In the ending credits of I Choose You!, Sorrel and his Lucario witnessed an Articuno flying overhead whilst in a snowy environment.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry EP187 Articuno Ash's Pokédex 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.

Episode Pokémon Source Entry AG135 Articuno May's Pokédex Articuno, the Freeze Pokémon. Articuno lives deep within mountain ranges, and is said to be able to fly by gracefully waving its tail.

In Pokémon Origins

In File 4: Charizard, Red caught an Articuno in Seafoam Islands. He later used it in his battle with Mewtwo, but it was easily defeated.



In the manga

In the Ash & Pikachu manga

An Articuno appears in One Half Of A Poké Ball.

Noland's Articuno appears in Off To The Battle Frontier!!.

In the movie adaptations

Articuno appeared in the manga adaptation of The Power of One.

Articuno also appeared in the graphic novel adaptation of the same movie.

In the Magical Pokémon Journey manga

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.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Articuno first appeared in You know... Articuno! where it was being chased by several Team Rocket Grunts. It is shown to seal itself in a block of ice when it senses the presence of an enemy. It strongly dislikes confrontation. However, in Pokémon Adventures volume 3, Team Rocket was able to temporary get hold of it, together with Moltres and Zapdos. It was used by the then-Rocket Executive Koga to try to finish Red and Blue and succeeded in freezing them, but that turned out to be a strategy to let the ninja master's guard down and attack him from behind when Blue's Charizard unfroze them. After his defeat, it is called upon by Sabrina's Kadabra with Zapdos and merged to form Thu-Fi-Zer, a combination that proved almost unstoppable until Saur, the Ivysaur it knocked out of the wall, saved its Trainers with a web created using Vine Whip and evolved to Venusaur to deliver the final blow with Charizard and Blasty. It, at last, regains its freedom after the defeat and splits from its fellow birds.

Much later, in the Gold, Silver & Crystal chapter, it reappears under Green's possession with its fellow birds and is lent to Red in the battle against Will and Karen, who nearly overwhelmed the three with Ho-Oh and Lugia. Since it has not been seen since its last appearance, it has either been kept in the box or released, its true status unknown.

In the Pokémon Battrio: Aim to be Battrio Master! manga

An Articuno appeared in ABM01.

In the Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys manga

Falkner has an Articuno that debuted in The Legendary Pokémon Appears!. It went up against Gold's Pikachu after it came from another time.

In the Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All manga

An Articuno appeared in GDZ24.

An Articuno appeared in GDZ52, under the ownership of Nagi.

In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team manga

An Articuno appeared in Battle in a Bitter Cold Land!!. It reappeared in a flashback in Why I Became a Pokémon. The Answer Finally Revealed!!.

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

Articuno debuted in Will You Risk Your Life To Play The Magic Game?!. It was caught by Red in the next chapter.

An Articuno appeared in Get Lugia!.

In the Pokémon Zensho manga

A silhouette of an Articuno appeared in PZ07.

Blaine caught an Articuno with Satoshi's help in PZ08.

In the TCG

Merchandise

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.

Other appearances

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.

Trophy information

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.

Articuno appears as a Spirit alongside Zapdos and Moltres.

Game data

NPC appearances

Pokédex entries

Game locations

In side games

In events

Held items

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

Type effectiveness

Articuno

Galarian Articuno

Learnset

Generation VIII Other generations: I - II - III - IV - V - VI - VII This Pokémon is unavailable within Generation VIII.

Click on the generation numbers above to see Articuno's learnsets from other generations.





Side game data

Evolution

Articuno

Galarian Articuno

Sprites

Trivia

Engraving of Articuno (top right) in EP002

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 Kanto Legendary birds).

Freezer is literally freezer (that which freezes).

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese フリーザー Freezer From freezer French Artikodin From arctique and the Norse god Odin Spanish Articuno Same as English name German Arktos From arktisch Italian Articuno Same as English name Korean 프리져 Peurijya Transliteration of Japanese name Cantonese Chinese 急凍鳥 Gāpdungníuh Literally "Quick-freezing bird" Mandarin Chinese 急凍鳥 / 急冻鸟 Jídòngniǎo Literally "Quick-freezing bird" More languages Hindi आरतीकुनो Articuno Transcription of English name Russian Артикуно Artikuno Transcription of English name Thai ฟรีเซอร์ Freezer Transcription of trademarked Japanese name





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