How to beat Articuno
Articuno has 2 versions in the 2026–27 Standard format, with up to 120 HP as a Water Pokémon. Here's the maths for Knocking it Out — worked out from every Standard-legal card.
- HP
- 120
- Weakness
- Metal, Lightning
- Resistance
- Fighting
- Prizes
- 1
- One-hit KOs
- 447
- Fastest KO
- 0 Energy
Game plan
- Hit its Weakness. Articuno is weak to Metal and Lightning, so those attacks do double damage. 120 Standard cards can Knock it Out in one hit that way — the fastest needs just 0 Energy.
- Don't over-invest. It only gives up 1 Prize card, so avoid spending a big two-Prize attacker on it if a cheaper Pokémon can do the job.
- Avoid Fighting attacks. Articuno resists them, so they do less damage.
- Plan for its big hit. Its strongest printed attack is Ice Blast for 110 (3 Energy). 692 Standard cards have enough HP to survive one hit — before any Weakness, + or × effects.
- Watch the Retreat Cost. It costs 1 Energy to retreat. If it gets stuck in the Active Spot, that's your chance.
One-hit Knock Outs using Weakness
These Metal/Lightning attacks do at least 120 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Articuno | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alolan Dugtrio Surging Sparks | Metal | Trio-Cheehoo Free | 120 | 240 | 110 | 1 |
| Tinkaton Mega Evolution | Metal | Windup Swing M | 240- | 480 | 160 | 1 |
| Escavalier Black Bolt | Metal | Wild Lances M | 90 | 180 | 130 | 1 |
| Metagross Chaos Rising | Metal | Bounce Back M | 60 | 120 | 180 | 1 |
| Metagross Temporal Forces | Metal | Meteor Mash M | 60 | 120 | 180 | 1 |
| Kingambit Ascended Heroes | Metal | Double-Edged Slash MM | 180 | 360 | 170 | 1 |
| Klinklang Stellar Crown | Metal | Hyper Ray CC | 130 | 260 | 140 | 1 |
| Vikavolt Pitch Black | Lightning | Giga Railgun LL | 260 | 260 | 160 | 1 |
| Luxray ex Twilight Masquerade | Lightning | Volt Strike LL | 250 | 250 | 310 | 2 |
| Escavalier Journey Together | Metal | Iron Buster MC | 120 | 240 | 120 | 1 |
| Scizor ex Temporal Forces | Metal | Cross Breaker MM | 120× | 240 | 270 | 2 |
| Electivire Stellar Crown | Lightning | Unleash Lightning LL | 220 | 220 | 150 | 1 |
One-hit Knock Outs without Weakness
Attacks with a printed 120+ damage (after Resistance).
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Articuno | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palafin ex Prismatic Evolutions | Water | Giga Impact W | 250 | 250 | 340 | 2 |
| Ceruledge Phantasmal Flames | Fire | Infernal Slash R | 220 | 220 | 140 | 1 |
| Decidueye Shrouded Fable | Grass | Power Shot G | 170 | 170 | 150 | 1 |
| Greninja ex Twilight Masquerade | Fighting | Shinobi Blade W | 170 | 170 | 310 | 2 |
| Medicham Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Seventh Kick F | 150 | 150 | 120 | 1 |
| Diggersby Perfect Order | Colorless | Earthquake C | 140 | 140 | 150 | 1 |
| Annihilape Surging Sparks | Fighting | Tantrum F | 130 | 130 | 140 | 1 |
| Centiskorch Surging Sparks | Fire | Billowing Heat Wave R | 130 | 130 | 130 | 1 |
| Lurantis Destined Rivals | Grass | Petal Blade Dance G | 130 | 130 | 120 | 1 |
| Malamar Pitch Black | Darkness | Brain Crush D | 130 | 130 | 120 | 1 |
Pokémon that survive its biggest attack
These can take a printed 110 from Ice Blast and stay in play (Weakness included). Single-Prize Pokémon first.
| Pokémon | Type | Stage | HP | Weakness | Retreat | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wailord Journey Together | Water | Stage 1 | 240 | Lightning ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Copperajah Shrouded Fable | Metal | Stage 1 | 200 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Rhyperior Stellar Crown | Fighting | Stage 2 | 200 | Grass ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Steelix Mega Evolution | Metal | Stage 1 | 200 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Copperajah Journey Together | Metal | Stage 1 | 190 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Tyranitar Journey Together | Darkness | Stage 2 | 190 | Grass ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Aggron Twilight Masquerade | Metal | Stage 2 | 180 | Fire ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Alolan Golem Journey Together | Lightning | Stage 2 | 180 | Fighting ×2 | 4 | 1 |
Every Standard Articuno card
| Card | Set | HP | Stage | Attacks (cost · damage) | Retreat | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Articuno 18/128 Ability: Frosty Flapping | 30th Celebration J | 120 | Basic | Hail WWC — | 1 | Metal ×2 |
| Articuno 32/159 | Journey Together I | 110 | Basic | Frigid Fluttering C — Ice Blast WWC 110 | 1 | Lightning ×2 |
Damage is the number printed on the card. Attacks marked + or × can do more, and Abilities, Tools and Stadiums can change the maths — always read the card. Energy letters: G Grass, R Fire, W Water, L Lightning, P Psychic, F Fighting, D Darkness, M Metal, N Dragon, C Colorless (any Energy).
Related: all Articuno cards in Standard · how to knock out a 120 HP Pokémon · Metal vs Water · Lightning vs Water · beating big Pokémon ex · more counter guides
Questions people ask
What is Articuno weak to?
Articuno is weak to Metal and Lightning, so those attacks do double damage (×2).
How much HP does Articuno have?
Up to 120 HP in Standard (120 on the 30th Celebration version, 110 on the Journey Together version).
How many Prize cards does Articuno give up?
1 — it's a regular Pokémon.
What can one-hit KO Articuno?
447 Standard cards can, going by printed damage. The fastest: Alolan Dugtrio's Trio-Cheehoo (0 Energy, 240 damage); Tinkaton's Windup Swing (1 Energy, 480 damage); Palafin ex's Giga Impact (1 Energy, 250 damage).
What is Articuno's strongest attack?
Ice Blast, which prints 110 damage for 3 Energy.
What does Articuno resist?
Fighting — those attacks do less damage to it.
Pully Play is an independent fan guide. It isn't run by The Pokémon Company. Format facts are checked against official announcements; always confirm card legality with the official rules before a tournament.