Articuno is an Ice and Flying type Pokémon that can be found on the Seafoam Islands. To catch it, you have to prepare a lot of things and make a well-thought-out plan. Once you find this Legendary-type Pokémon, you only have one chance to catch it. Therefore, make sure you have all the necessary equipment ready and have a strong Pokémon.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Preparing Your Trainer
Step 1. Buy a large quantity of Ultra Balls at the Poké Mart
The nearest Poké Mart is in Fuchsia City. However, you can buy Ultra Balls at any Poké Mart in any city. While you can basically catch Articuno using any Poké Ball, Ultra Balls provide a greater chance of capturing them successfully.
Step 2. Train multiple Pokémon to level 55 or above
Articuno is level 50 and will launch powerful attacks that are difficult to counter. Therefore, be prepared to attack him using some powerful Pokemon.
Although you have to catch Articuno before he loses (fainted), Fire and Electric type Pokémon are powerful against him. Make sure you also have another strong base Pokemon, such as a Normal-type Pokémon
Step 3. Make sure you have a Pokémon that has mastered a Move that affects the status of the enemy Pokémon, such as Sleep or Paralysis
Some of the moves that are effective against Articuno are Thunder Wave, Hypnosis, and Sleep Powder. This move increases your chances of catching Articuno because it increases the percentage of successful catching a Pokémon with a Poké Ball.
Step 4. Bring some Potions and Repels to keep the Pokémon's Hit Point high while on the way to the location where Articuno is
You'll pass a lot of places to get to the area where Articuno is and will fight a lot of wild Pokémon that can reduce your Pokémon's Hit Points and Powerpoints. Therefore, bring Revive, TM Boost, and Potions to make sure your Pokémon are in tip-top shape. Plus, you can also use Repel to dodge wild Pokémon.
Step 5. Make sure your Pokémon has Strength and Surf type HMs
You need these two HMs to reach the area where Articuno is. Therefore, it's a good idea to have one or two Pokémon that have that HM before trying to go there.
Method 2 of 3: Finding Articuno
Step 1. Use Surf to skate on the water in the southern part of Fuschia City
Once you have the required Pokémon and Ultra Balls, walk to the bottom of Fuscia City and skate on the water.
Step 2. Slide down and left until you find a small cave
You have to go southwest to find this cave. Slide down until you reach the area limit. After that, turn left until you reach Seafoam Islands where Articuno is located. You will see a small cave that you can enter.
There are two entrances that can be used to enter this cave. However, the entrance described earlier is the only one that can be used to reach Articuno
Step 3. Drop two rocks that are in the cave into the hole using HM Strength type
When you enter the cave, you will see a rock next to the hole. Use Strength to push the rock into the hole. On the left side of the map on the same floor, you'll find rocks to push as well. Without leaving the floor, push the rock into a nearby hole. After that, go back and drop yourself into the first hole. By doing this, the two stones will form a dam that stops the strong current of water.
- Do not use the ladder provided in the cave because it can restore the position of the stone.
- The two dropped stones will stop the flow of water on the bottom floor of the cave. That way, you can use Surf to skate on the water and find Articuno.
Step 4. Go to the bottom floor of the cave after dropping the rock
Keep pushing the rock down the hole until you reach the bottom floor of the cave. After that, the two stones will stop the flow of water so you can slide on them.
If you try to slide on the water without dropping a rock first, you will be carried away by the current and out of the cave
Step 5. Slide through the water until you find Articuno on a small piece of land
You have to talk to him to fight him.
Method 3 of 3: Catching Articuno
Step 1. Save game data before "talking" to Articuno
If you fail to catch this Pokémon, you won't get a second chance. Therefore, save the game data before fighting the Pokémon. Approaching Articuno and pressing the "A" button will start the fight. Therefore, prepare the team and save the game data before starting the fight.
Step 2. Lower Articuno's hit point until it turns red
Fight Articuno the same way you would catch a Pokémon. If possible, use Moves that ineffectively injure Articuno as you don't want to accidentally knock him out. Normal-type moves such as Slash and False Swipe can be used to attack Articuno. To make the process of capturing Articuno easier, learn about its invulnerability as well as its weaknesses:
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Articuno Weaknesses:
Fire, Electric, Rock (Articuno's hit points will be reduced by double if hit by this type of attack), and Steel.
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Immunity:
Grass, Ground, Bug, and Dragon.
Step 3. Use a Move that affects the Pokémon's state, such as Sleep or Paralyze, when Articuno's hit point color turns red
After reducing Articuno's hit points, use a Move that affects the Pokémon's stats to make Articuno easier to catch. Basically, the lower Articuno's hit point, the easier it is to catch. However, Articuno may faint if the Pokémon's attacks are too strong. Use Sleep Powder, Paralysis, or Thunder Wave to keep Articuno from moving so it can be caught more easily.
Step 4. Throw the Ultra Ball until Articuno is caught
If the thrown Ultra Ball fails to catch Articuno, the next Ultra Ball will have a greater chance of catching it. Thus, the more Ultra Balls you throw, the better your chances of catching Articuno. Reuse Sleep Powder, Paralysis, or another similar Move when Articano is conscious and throw the Ultra Ball. After that, Articano would soon be caught.
Tips
- Save game data before fighting Articano.
- If the effects of Paralysis, Sleep Powder, or other similar moves are lost, reuse those moves.
- Re-save game data when Articuno's hit point color turns red.
- When Articuno wakes up, put Sleep back on.
