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  • Shadow Articuno: Strengths And Weakness
  • Shadow Articuno: Best Counter Picks

Shadow Raids are the latest variation of Pokemon Go's popular Raiding feature, challenging teams of Trainers with defeating and catching different Team Go Rocket-controlled Shadow Pokemon. Possessing a few key unique features compared to other types of Raids, successfully completing these battles will require the proper preparations.

Related: Pokemon Go Battle League - Season 11: Hidden Gems Guide

The latest Shadow Pokemon that has been introduced in Pokemon Go is Shadow Articuno, a powered-up version of the Ice and Flying dual-type Legendary Pokemon. Proving to be a challenging Raid battle, this guide will give you all the information to maximize your chances of defeating Shadow Articuno in this encounter, allowing you to secure this rare and powerful Pokemon.

Recommended Group Size

One of the main differences with Shadow Raids is the restrictions placed on player participation. With Shadow Raids, you are only able to participate locally, disabling the use of Remote Raid Passes to join in on these battles.

With this in mind, Shadow Articuno proves to be an extremely powerful and tough opponent in its Raid. To ensure that you are going into this Raid with the proper number of players, do your best to attempt this Shadow Raid with a group of at least four to six Trainers.

This will most likely require you to coordinate with other players due to the in-person requirement for these specific Raids. This is important, as this Raid will be difficult and nearly impossible to successfully complete with a smaller group of players.

Mega Evolving and Primal Reverting Pokemon in your Raid party is especially important when attempting Shadow Raids.

This will give you and your allies a better chance of success, improving the attacks of yourself and other players you're battling with.

Shadow Articuno: Strengths And Weakness

With the difficulty that comes with Shadow Articuno's Shadow Raid, it's important to put together your team of Pokemon with specific attack types in mind.

For the best results when attempting this Shadow Raid, make sure to use Rock, Steel, Fire, and Electric-type Pokemon with attacks of the same type. If possible, prioritize the use of Rock-type Pokemon and attacks, dealing the most damage against Shadow Articuno because of its double weakness to this type.

There are three different attack types that you'll need to avoid in order to be successful in this Shadow Raid because of Articuno's different resistances. Bug, Grass, and Ground-type attacks will deal reduced damage in this specific Shadow Raid, minimizing your effectiveness if they are used.

Use Purified Gems during this Shadow Raid battle to reduce the stats of Shadow Articuno in battle.

Collect and combine Shadow Shards to acquire Purified Gems, obtained through the defeat of Team Go Rocket members.

Related: Pokemon Go: June Raid Guide

Shadow Articuno: Best Counter Picks

For this Shadow Raid, you will want to be using as many Rock-type Pokemon as possible, ideally equipped with strong Rock-type attacks. This will provide you with maximum damage output due to Shadow Articuno's double weakness to this type.

To help you with putting together an effective Raid team for this battle, we have made a list of the top-performing Pokemon for this specific Raid, most of which are Rock types.

With the high difficulty of this Raid, make sure to use as many of the Pokemon listed below as you can.

If you need to, use other strong Pokemon in your team, ideally also being Rock types.

Top Shadow Articuno Counter Picks

Pokemon

Recommended Moves

Shadow Tyranitar

Fast Attack: Smack Down

Charged Attack: Stone Edge

Mega Aerodactyl

Fast Attack: Rock Throw

Charged Attack: Rock Slide

Rampardos

Fast Attack: Smack Down

Charged Attack: Rock Slide

Shadow Aggron

Fast Attack: Smack Down

Charged Attack: Meteor Beam

Rhyperior

Fast Attack: Smack Down

Charged Attack: Rock Wrecker

Terrakion

Fast Attack: Smack Down

Charged Attack: Rock Slide

Shadow Omastar

Fast Attack: Rock Throw

Charged Attack: Rock Slide

Gigalith

Fast Attack: Smack Down

Charged Attack: Meteor Beam

Mega Blaziken

Fast Attack: Fire Spin

Charged Attack: Blast Burn

Aurorus

Fast Attack: Rock Throw

Charged Attack: Meteor Beam

Tyrantrum

Fast Attack: Rock Throw

Charged Attack: Meteor Beam

Shadow Metagross

Fast Attack: Bullet Punch

Charged Attack: Meteor Mash

Shadow Sudowoodo

Fast Attack: Rock Throw

Charged Attack: Meteor Beam

Shadow Golem

Fast Attack: Rock Throw

Charged Attack: Stone Edge

Mega Charizard

Fast Attack: Fire Spin

Charged Attack: Blast Burn

Lycanroc (Midday)

Fast Attack: Rock Throw

Charged Attack: Stone Edge

Hisuian Arcanine

Fast Attack: Fire Fang

Charged Attack: Rock Slide

Alolan Golem

Fast Attack: Rock Throw

Charged Attack: Stone Edge

Darmanitan

Fast Attack: Fire Fang

Charged Attack: Rock Slide

Nihilego

Fast Attack: Acid

Charged Attack: Rock Slide

Excadrill

Fast Attack: Metal Claw

Charged Attack: Rock Slide

Shadow Machamp

Fast Attack: Bullet Punch

Charged Attack: Rock Slide

Mega Ampharos

Fast Attack: Volt Switch

Charged Attack: Power Gem

Shadow Entei

Fast Attack: Fire Fang

Charged Attack: Overheat

Next: Pokemon Go: What Are Lucky Pokemon And How Can You Get Them?