Dynamax Articuno is the new Legendary type in Pokémon Go’s Max Battles. It’s a Tier 5 Max Battle and the first Legendary Dynamax we’ve seen in the game. The upcoming couple of weeks are going to have three of such Legendary Pokémon with this one being the first to arrive, which is available in Max Battles from January 20 until January 26 and is featured in Max Monday. If you want to know how to beat Dynamax Articuno, get its shiny version (only if you’re lucky), and claim the amazing rewards, I’ve got all the information you need to know in this guide.
Dynamax Articuno Weaknesses
Pokémon Go Dynamax Articuno is an Ice-type and Flying-type Pokémon, so there are a lot of weaknesses that you’ll want to exploit for maximum damage. This bird creature is weak to Rock, Electric, Fire, and Steel-type moves. Of these, Rock-type are the best moves since Articuno has a double weakness to Rock moves. Sadly, we don’t have any Dynamax Pokémon with these Max Battle attacks (at least not yet), so you’ll need to lean into other types too.
On the flip side, avoid using Bug-, Grass-, and Ground-types. Articuno resists them, and they’ll only slow your team down. The recommended strategy involves having one Healer and one Tank focused team.
Best Pokémon Counters for Dynamax Articuno
Here’s the list of heavy-hitting counters to bring to the battle. Make sure to focus on their Fast Moves, since your Max Move will be based on its type.
Top Attackers
- Gigantamax Toxtricity – Spark (Electric)
- Gigantamax Charizard – Fire Spin (Fire)
- Dynamax Cinderace – Fire Spin (Fire)
- Dynamax Metagross – Bullet Punch (Steel)
- Dynamax Excadrill – Metal Claw (Steel)
Articuno can have Ancient Power (Rock-type) in its moveset, which is highly effective against Charizard. So, if you’re bringing a Gigantamax Charizard into the fight, keep it out of harm’s way until you have to Dynamax it – let bulkier Pokémon take the hits early on and then use your wild card later to give a Max damage.
Top Defenders
If you want to play defensively or support your team, these Pokémon can soak up the damage by keeping the combat going:
- Gigantamax Blastoise – Water Gun (Water)
- Gigantamax Lapras – Water Gun (Water)
- Dynamax Metagross – Bullet Punch (Steel)
Best Healers
While healing in Pokémon Go isn’t as common, if you have Pokémon with Max Spirit moves, they can help keep your team survive longer in Dynamax Articuno Max Battle:
- Gigantamax Lapras
- Dynamax Metagross
- Dynamax Excadrill
How Many Trainers Do I Need to Beat Dynamax Articuno in Pokémon Go?
The Dynamax Articuno Max Battle in Pokémon Go is capped at 4 Trainers, and you’ll need at least 3 solid players with decent counters to take it down. If your team is well-prepared, you can even duo it, but that’s only if you have maxed out Dynamax Pokémon and have strong coordination. The teammates with leveled-up Max Moves, Mac Spirit, or Max Shield are the best choice in the battle.
Soloing? Forget about it. Since it is a Legendary Pokémon, Dynamax Articuno is not an easy opponent to encounter, and soloing isn’t possible here.
Dynamax Articuno Moves
Dynamax Articuno primarily leans into its Ice-type identity, but it also contains a few sneaky surprises in its back pocket. Here’s the rundown:
Fast Moves:
- Ice Shard (Ice)
- Frost Breath (Ice)
Charged Moves:
- Blizzard (Ice)
- Ice Beam (Ice)
- Icy Wind (Ice)
- Triple Axel (Ice)
- Ancient Power (Rock)
- Hurricane (Flying – Legacy Move via Elite TM)
So, what’s the biggest takeaway here? Articuno’s attacks are heavily Ice-focused, which means it is easy to plan your team around resisting these attacks. However, the real curveballs come from Ancient Power (Rock-type) and Hurricane (Flying-type), which can ruin your day if you’re not careful.
Dynamax Max Battle Tips
Max Battles in Pokémon Go are a completely different ball game compared to standard Raids. They’re intense, require coordination, and there’s a lot more strategy involved than just spamming Charged Attacks. Even though it’s not as hard as in Gigantamax fights, Max Battles still puts you in some challenges and works best when everyone has a role. Ideally, your group of four should include:
- Two Attackers: Focus on Pokémon with maxed-out attack stats and super-effective moves, these will deal most of the harm.
- One Defender (Tank): Use bulky Pokémon with high Defense and Stamina stats to soak up damage, especially during tough phases.
- One Healer: Pokémon with Max Spirit moves are rare but very helpful. They heal the team and let the attackers stay in the fight longer.
Most of Dynamax Articuno’s moves are Ice-based, which is good news because Ice moves are resisted by Steel, Fire, and Water-types. If you bring Pokémon like Metagross, Excadrill, or Gigantamax Blastoise, they’ll tank these hits easily. Further, your Fast Move charges the Max Meter, which is the key to dealing heavy damage with Max Moves. Though the temptation to spam Charged Attacks, doing so slows you down in this format. Stick to your Fast Moves as much as possible, and save the charge moved for Dynamaxing.
Dynamax your Pokémon only when it has a super-effective Max Move, like Max Steelspike (Steel), Max Flare (Fire), or Max Lightning (Electric) for Dynamax Articuno – it determines the fate of your team’s success here. Moreover, don’t rush to Dynamax your Pokémon early in the battle unless it’s a must. The Max Meter charges faster in the final stages of the fight, so waiting until then will be better with an upper edge.
Bringing low-level Pokémon to Max Battles is a big no-no. You don’t need a team of maxed-out Level 50 ‘mons, but ensure to not show up with something like an under-leveled Wooloo. Even if there are no great counters available for Max Battle, at least use your highly stronger Pokémon to contribute. It’s worth fighting hard with your maximum possible force and adopting a good approach to claim victory.
When playing with friends or using Campfire to organize, you must need to communicate roles and strategies and have full coordination between Trainers. For example, decide who will Dynamax first or if someone should focus on healing. In the case of random players in the team, simply try to prioritize playing your role effectively.
Dodging focused attacks like Ancient Power can save your best Pokémon when you’re short on numbers. Don’t quit the Raid if you faint out, cheering from the sidelines will speed up your team’s Max Meters, so you can still do something to defeat Dynamax Articuno in Pokémon Go.
Rewards for Defeating Dynamax Articuno
If you manage to take down this icy giant, you will these valuable rewards:
- 15,000 Stardust
- 15,000 XP
- 1 Rare XL Candy
- 10 Articuno Candy
- Chance to encounter a Shiny Dynamax Articuno!
If you have good luck getting a shiny one, use a Pinap Berry for extra candy. Dynamax Articuno is an exciting and challenging boss battle, but with the right strategy and powerful team, you can crush it.
