Shadow Articuno is one of the most challenging raid bosses in Pokemon Go. It is a shadow version of the legendary Ice and Flying type Pokemon, Articuno, that has been corrupted by Team Go Rocket.
Shadow Articuno has a higher attack and defense than its normal counterpart, and it can also become enraged during the battle, making it even more powerful and dangerous.
To defeat and catch Shadow Articuno, you will need a team of strong and coordinated trainers, as well as some special items called Purified Gems. In this guide, we will show you how to prepare for the Shadow Articuno raid, what are the best counters and strategies, and how to use Purified Gems to subdue the enraged boss.
What is Shadow Articuno and How to Encounter It?
Shadow Articuno is a special raid boss that can only be encountered in Tier 5 Shadow Raids. Shadow Raids are different from regular raids in several ways:
- Shadow Raids can only be done using in-person raid passes. You cannot use remote raid passes or invite friends to join you.
- Shadow Raids have a limited time window. They only appear on certain days and hours, and they last for 15 minutes. You can check the in-game news or the official Pokemon Go website for the schedule of Shadow Raids.
- Shadow Raids have a unique mechanic. The Shadow Raid Boss will grow enraged as you battle it, boosting its attack and defense. You will need to use Purified Gems to lower its stats and subdue it.
To encounter Shadow Articuno, you will need to find a Tier 5 Shadow Raid near you and join it with a raid pass. You will also need to have some Purified Gems in your inventory, which are essential for the battle.
Purified Gems are items that can be crafted from Shadow Shards, which are dropped by Team Go Rocket grunts, leaders, and Shadow Raids. You will need 8 Purified Gems to subdue Shadow Articuno, so make sure you have enough before you attempt the raid.
What are the Best Counters and Strategies for Shadow Articuno?
Shadow Articuno is an Ice and Flying-type Pokemon, which means it is weak to Rock, Electric, Fire, and Steel-type attacks. It also has four possible moves: Frost Breath (Ice), Ice Shard (Ice), Blizzard (Ice), Ice Beam (Ice), Icy Wind (Ice), and Ancient Power (Rock).
Depending on its moveset, some counters may perform better or worse than others. Here are some of the best counters and strategies for Shadow Articuno:
- Rock type Pokemon are the best overall counters for Shadow Articuno, as they deal super effective damage and resist most of its moves. The best Rock types of Pokemon are Mega Aerodactyl, Rampardos, Rhyperior, Terrakion, and Tyranitar. Mega Aerodactyl has the highest DPS, but it is also very fragile. Rampardos is similar, but it can survive longer against Ice Shard and Icy Wind. Rhyperior is more bulky, but it is weak to Blizzard and Ice Beam. Terrakion is a good balance of offense and defense, but it is also weak to Ancient Power. Tyranitar is the most durable, but it has the lowest DPS. You should use Rock Throw and Rock Slide as your moves for these Pokemon.
- Electric type Pokemon are also good counters for Shadow Articuno, as they deal super effective damage and resist its Flying type moves. The best Electric type Pokemon are Zekrom, Raikou, Electivire, Magnezone, and Zapdos. Zekrom is the strongest, but it is weak to Blizzard and Ice Beam. Raikou is more consistent, but it has lower DPS. Electivire is similar, but it is more glassy. Magnezone is more tanky, but it is weak to Ancient Power. Zapdos is a good option, but it is outclassed by the others. You should use Charge Beam and Wild Charge as your moves for these Pokemon.
- Fire type Pokemon are also effective counters for Shadow Articuno, as they deal super effective damage and resist its Ice type moves. The best Fire type Pokemon are Mega Charizard Y, Reshiram, Darmanitan, Chandelure, and Moltres. Mega Charizard Y has the highest DPS, but it is weak to Ancient Power. Reshiram is more balanced, but it is also weak to Ancient Power. Darmanitan is very powerful, but it is very frail. Chandelure is similar, but it can survive longer against Frost Breath and Ice Shard. Moltres is a decent option, but it is outclassed by the others. You should use Fire Spin and Overheat as your moves for these Pokemon.
- Steel type Pokemon are also viable counters for Shadow Articuno, as they deal super effective damage and resist most of its moves. The best Steel type Pokemon are Metagross, Dialga, Excadrill, Melmetal, and Genesect. Metagross is the best, as it has high DPS and TDO, and it is only weak to Ancient Power. Dialga is similar, but it has lower DPS. Excadrill is more glassy, but it has higher DPS. Melmetal is more bulky, but it has lower DPS. Genesect is a good option, but it is weak to Blizzard and Ice Beam. You should use Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash as your moves for these Pokemon.
The best strategy for Shadow Articuno is to use a team of 4-6 trainers with the best counters and coordinate the use of Purified Gems. You should use Purified Gems when Shadow Articuno is enraged, which will happen after 30 seconds, 90 seconds, and 150 seconds into the battle.
You can use more than one Purified Gem at the same time, and their effects will stack. If you use enough Purified Gems, you will subdue Shadow Articuno, which will lower its stats and make it easier to defeat.
You should also use Mega Evolutions to boost your team’s damage and stagger them between trainers to keep the boost active for as long as possible. You should also dodge the charged moves of Shadow Articuno, especially Blizzard and Ice Beam, which can deal a lot of damage and wipe out your team.
How to Catch Shadow Articuno?
After you defeat Shadow Articuno, you will have a chance to catch it. You will get a fixed number of Premier Balls, based on your individual and team performance, as well as any bonuses from medals, friendship, and gym control.
You will also get a bonus Premier Ball if you subdue Shadow Articuno during the battle. You can use any type of berry to increase your chances of catching Shadow Articuno, but Golden Razz Berries are the best.
You should also use curveballs and aim for excellent throws to maximize your catch rate. Shadow Articuno can be shiny, which will have a different color and a sparkly effect. If you encounter a shiny Shadow Articuno, you are guaranteed to catch it, as long as you don’t miss your throw or run out of balls.
Shadow Articuno is a rare and powerful Pokemon that can be a great addition to your collection. It can also be purified, which will increase its stats, lower its cost of powering up and unlocking a second move, and change its charged move to Return.
However, purifying Shadow Articuno will also remove its shadow boost, which gives it a 20% increase in attack and a 20% decrease in defense. Some players prefer to keep Shadow Articuno as it is, while others prefer to purify it. The choice is yours, but you should consider the pros and cons of each option before you decide.
This is all there is to know about Shadow Articuno Raid Guide. You can also read our Street Fighter 6 Character Guide and Diablo Immortal Familiar Guide. Stay up to date with GameEmpress.com for the most recent gaming news and guides.