How The Worst Legendary Won a Tournament

Articuno, Utrecht 2024
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[@SmugLookingBarrel]

Gen 1 Articuno: Spammed Blizzard, did big damage, fished for freezes, was tanky Gens 2-3 Articuno: Cried Gens 4-8 Articuno: Cried even harder Gen 9 Articuno: Spams Blizzard, does big damage, fishes for freezes, is tanky

[@ConductorElcrest]

Finally Gen 1 Articuno

[@redrider578]

nature is healing.

[@quadabyte8933]

NOO YOU HAVE TO USE OGREPON AND RAGING BOLT AND URSHIFU AND INCINEROAR AND- blizzard make you go brrrrr

[@nexenojustice552]

@@quadabyte8933sure but only by smartly playing around those, blindly brining a team like this will get your ass beat on the ladder in no time

[@sneezytuba1019]

gen 3 articuno is actually the best its been from gens 2-8

[@orenalbertmeisel3127]

NGL that Articuno moveset is something I could've used as a kid. It's mental to see a professional player using it. Hats off

[@brandonhoward3672]

It reminds me of the time that I learned that Flamethrower, Heatwave, Fireblast, and Blastburn was a bad moveset for Charizard when I came acrossed a FlashFire Ninetales

[@shooby117]

​@@brandonhoward3672 me with hydro pump, hydro canon, surf, and waterfall on my blastoise in gen 3 😂

[@nicocchi]

It absolutely reeks of 10 year old energy but damn if it doesn't work

[@DkKobaADV]

​@@brandonhoward3672there's no ice type equivalent so :p

[@MrZahsome]

Really went full nostalgia on us with that move set

[@jonathandax]

Weak Aura: I am at peace with my coverage Strong Aura: FUCK IT WE ICE STAB FUCK IT WE ICE STAB FUCK IT WE ICE STAB FUCK IT WE ICE STAB

[@RedRockin6]

*Gen 1 Aura

[@HeatherGg15]

r/stunfisk

[@lucabertani225]

​@@HeatherGg15 hey he's got water type coverage!

[@DuskLegend]

Insanely based

[@rene9175]

This is literally that average IQ meme on full display here. Beginning of the curve: "hehe ice spam go brr" Top of the curve: "Articuno is held back by its ice type and can't see any success as a result. It is detrimental to have one in the team " End of the curve: "hehe ice spam go brr."

[@yusheitslv100]

Literally "go brr" (ice joke)

[@Worthyfool]

@@yusheitslv100 That's pretty good actually XD

high iq comment btw

[@thatswhatsgood24]

Bell curve

[@josidfin]

This video did a really good job explaining why the strategy isn’t banking on RNG/odds, but rather why it could be a supplement to an already unique and effective one

[@yungmuney5903]

Ayy its the king 👑

[@rizachan8892]

Oh the king himself is here O7

[@angrycinnabon2956]

YOOO IT'S HIM!!!

[@irakyl]

I think it's time stealth rock makes an appearance in vgc 🪨

[@mistergrool3941]

Finchinator says that while smogon bans every rng-based move to the point that paralysis is close to the chopping block

[@sekaihunter9378]

Before we had Fissure Ting-Lu. Now we have Sheer Cold Articuno. WHY TF IS GEN 9 A ONE HIT K-O MOVES RENAISSANCE???

[@MrEntinen]

Because we have reached a point in power creep where you might as well run it.

[@zappelins8942]

Articuno in snow with Aurora Veil up and Ting Lu a are both bulky as hell meaning which means you can press the one-hit KO moves multiple times. And if your other moves don't do much damage as Articuno, why not gamble on the one-hit KO? Ting Lu is a bit of a different case as it can learn Stomping Tantrum which doubles in power if the previous move used by Ting Lu failed or missed. So you can press Fissure followed by Stomping Tantrum and do as much damage as you would get by pressing Stomping Tantrum twice.

[@walaceandrade4046]

Because stall tactics have been rising in vgc this gen. Still not dominating, but you gotta have a plan for those defensive mons, hence Sheer Cold.

[@juliandurant7559]

intimidate is back on the menu everything is oneshotting anyway previous point is starting not to matter as much more defensive mons are coming to combat that even more so, tera is ironically making it easier for said moves to be effective since a lot of common teras wont be immune to fissure We've reached that critical point in powercreep where alot more things COULD be viable, especially considering just how fucking large the diversity of teams can theoretically become when considering Tera.

[@tomwantshelp]

Don’t forget Fissure Dondozo! There was also the RNG issue but that’s a different thing.

[@danielhale1]

I love seeing clever anti-meta teams and just-plain-weird designs. This makes perfect sense when explained, but imagine the opponents who encounter this for the first time!

[@TheGhostFart]

rogue strats are always the best

[@Endershock1678]

“What is this team?! And why am I losing to it?!”

[@Gandhi0]

What's so great about this Articuno was that the team it defeated in grands went undefeated throughout that entire tournament. I watched it live and it was so dope to watch lmao

[@njivwathomassilavwe2056]

Choice specs sheer cold is wild and brilliant

[@leonseuropeanislandadventu7398]

Why? It's a one hit ko move anyway.

[@newjumpcityjosh9333]

⁠I’m almost certain that was sarcasm lol

[@enzoforgets9456]

​@@leonseuropeanislandadventu7398 hes saying boosting damage on an ohko is bizarre which if you think for a bit you know it is But articuno cooked so what do we know

[@joshualeespiny7172]

@leonseuropeanislandadventu7398 at that point use choice scarf because choice specs doesn't boost sheer cold's power

[@leonseuropeanislandadventu7398]

​@@joshualeespiny7172Wrong person to reply to.

[@ryanlally8116]

There’s some important things trainers have to realize when they want to use their favorites in competitive Pokémon: How the metagame is, what are the strongest picks right now, and how to build your favorite Pokémon to completely topple other trainers

[@DkKobaADV]

Top players only use favorites when it actually gives them some sort of chance of winning it all too. It being a favorite moreso helps knowing the nuances of the mon and thus exploring it better

[@Takkunda]

there's a world of difference between your favorite being articuno which has a niche vs something like bulbasaur which is strictly worse than venusaur.

[@alex-dh8zy]

also surprise factor, a good gimmick can really screw with an opponent. people tend to keep dracopault in on my gengar, not knowing it has focus sash. then I usually destiny bond whatever comes afterwards.

[@alex-dh8zy]

⁠@@Takkunda I don’t think anyone is really arguing that. favourites in this context more-so meaning “preferred off meta mons” if that makes sense.

[@Takkunda]

@@alex-dh8zy then use the word off meta. My favorite pokemon is snorunt. Its not competitively viable cause its a baby mon.

[@Kasaaz]

I love this breakdown. I hadn't realized how important specifically the H-Arcanine was.

[@Jvgl_2000]

5:03 - I can already imagine Emvee losing his mind about that EV spread, LOL

[@Draecozolt]

most ev spreads look like this in vgc, especially since investing in only 4 stats means having unused evs due to the way evs work at level 50

[@sgt.zaitsev287]

I am at peace and in charge of my own coverage FUCK IT WE SHEER COLD

[@rizachan8892]

Actually, this isn't the first time this happened Back in gen 6 someone used this same moveset on a snow Warning Vanilluxe and won a tournament with it, it's funny

[@theflaminggroundon632]

now thats rad

[@rawbinYT]

riza Gayge

[@rizachan8892]

No u

[@wolfekupo5651]

Vanilluxe didn't get Snow Warning until Gen 7 though

[@kewlaldo10]

@@wolfekupo5651I think he might be lying.

[@clairebit]

Terastalized Articuno looks really pretty wow

[@letmesleepinpeace7052]

I wished they just had the crystallized effects instead of the goofy hats. The hats made everything silly for no reason.

[@prestoncole1862]

Brother this is a game for kids

[@Oath_Of_The_Ancients]

@@prestoncole1862 ? they just thought the crystallized ice bird looked pretty

[@block827]

@@prestoncole1862kids cant have things that look good?

[@MrYoujordan]

The hat is goofy I can't lie the idea itself is cool though

[@solitare4602]

I love videos like this. I love breakdowns or explanations of crazy teams and movesets. That's what got me into watching VGC stuff in Gen 8 in the first place (specifically Foofootoo's crazy and funny comps, then I found Wolfey and you).

[@ValianceGames]

Very cool that Articuno is the OG ice legendary and it is optimal to run it in snow spamming its signature Blizzards with literally 3 other ice type moves using a snow based ability. Just cool stuff Kind of reminds me of how the unique qualities of Dragonite mix with Extremespeed to become a nightmare even after 9 generations

[@relay6109]

I love these kinds of mid-meta developments. “Slept-on mon lost to history actually benefits from new mechanics?!” Love it!

[@SheriffJake_]

PMD blue was my first ever pokemon game, and articuno was the first legendary I managed to recruit, it holds a special place in my heart due to this. Awesome to see it make a comeback

[@jonathanlgill]

I really appreciated the explanation of the meta conditions that allowed Articuno to shine.

[@jugemujugemugokounosurinantoka]

Always love seeing rogue/anti meta strategies take competitive by storm.

[@sinteleon]

At least until said anti-meta gets so meta it becomes the new meta (e.g. farigiraf anti-priority)

[@michaelbowman6684]

@@sinteleon Articuno will never be meta in the likes of Flutter Mane, the moment it becomes popular enough it immediately gets shut down by the 101 strategies that hard counter it. It'll only ever find success as an off-meta pick that takes advantage of a metagame where it's many weaknesses can't be exploited, and its strengths are itself a counter to what is currently popular.

[@grifleep4916]

So we start running focus band!

[@felipesilva3732]

This brings me back when, in my playthorugh of XY, I had a Raichu with thunder, thunder shock, thunder bolt and thunder wave. But obviously that's not reliable on vgc lol

[@owenaspinall2046]

Charge beam thunder thunderbolt nuzzle and you've got a shot

[@JustKadoni]

Weak aura: "I'm in peace now with my own coverage" Strong aura: "F*CK IT, WE STAB F*CK IT, WE STAB F*CK IT, WE STAB F*CK IT, WE STAB"

[@ilphaesn]

ice birb go brrrrr

[@IconicTristan]

That move set looks like what my 11 year old self brought to the elite 4

[@Pam234]

Tera ice quadruple ice stab ice flying special defensive Pokémon.

[@TauTau12]

Love the video. The whole idea for this form of content seems to work pretty well

[@arthurmallmann5768]

The amount of synergy in this team is amazing. This team is just beautiful

[@Warrior_of_Symbolica]

Dutch person here... It took me three re-listens to realize you meant Utrecht XD I absolutely love your work on this, watching this happen on the livestream was bizarre! Thanks for covering it!

[@Lucois010]

Yeah it’s that I knew it was in Utrecht because the pronunciation was super off

[@maol2038]

Definitely like the team breakdown content, it's interesting to hear the thought behind the strategies

[@shizuae3743]

I remember watching one of your earlier videos and enjoying it so i went to subscribe, only to find out i had already sub'd. So i literally would have subscribed twice if it was possible. You make fantastic videos my guy and they are very appreciated. 🦈

[@joshframent9385]

I absolutely love team breakdowns! Getting thoughts behind what weird meta calls people make is just fun and inspiring

[@VGCBenji]

Love the VGC content, really liked your worlds qualifying series last year as well.

[@andrewarmstrong24]

Love this kind of content! Super valuable to the community

[@LimitBreakr424]

I Liked your video because I did enjoy this style of video. Cool breakdown and explanations

[@KeatonWadzinski]

I would loveeee to see freezai cover or play in a draft league like SPL. He may have a while ago but I can't remember. This kind of analysis is so informative and exciting because it sheds a light on the creativity players bring to the table, and what better venue for that than draft league imo. For example, custap berry is really big in draft league rn, along with a complex and evolving low tier tera meta, and so much more

[@chocolatesmotheredpretzels4025]

Would 10/10 love more of this content! Always here for more random battles too

[@ShortcakeAngle]

oh yeah i'm gonna like the video AND subscribe AND comment because i want to see more of this type of video

[@diortememirp6204]

Even if this was lightning in a bottle and Articuno's gonna be on everyone's hitlist now, this was a great thing to see. Articuno's always been my favorite of the birds because it's so pretty, and offensively ice is a baller type. Now it's either on par or just slightly below everyone else because of Snow. And alas, if only we could see Frostbite make a return...

[@ccrobat342]

As someone who's always wanted to get into comp but doesn't have the time I'd love more of these types of videos.

[@TheShirochan10]

That’s my favorite boy Articuno 😍😍 I was already using that strategy on S&S tower and it worked really fine. Now with the Tera it gets even better because you get rid of the flying type that was giving him a crucial weakness to rock (especially stone edge and rock slide you see everywhere) and also a bonus in defense thanks to the snow rework. Just wonderful to see my favorite Pokémon with my favorite strategy to evolve one more step above 😍

[@Schlaym]

Hey Freezai, just wanted to mention it's awesome to see you grow and hone your video skills.

[@josephchacra2840]

I WASN'T SUBSCRIBED??? WHAT??? Legitimately so sorry about that man, thanks for asking people to check, great content

[@Tvz42]

I like this new content, it fits well with your channel

[@dismasyves]

Wow articuno getting some love finally! Very nice breakdown!

[@jocloud31]

Man, this is basically what I've always wanted to do with Froslass. Cool to see someone making the concept work!

[@THEGREATMAX]

I mourn every day over how bad froslass is. Such a great design held back by... everything lol

[@miniiore]

We spamming sheer cold 🥶

[@Zeo--]

Competitors and spectators: Nooo you can't just use 4 ice moves! Nikhil: Hahaaaa blizzard go brrrr

[@dualmonkeyx]

Loved the reasoning and explanation behind the moveset. 95% of time spam Blizzard because the team is built around its utterly devastating raw power. 2.5% of time use Ice beam for perfect accuracy. 1.5% of time use Freeze dry for water type. 1% of time use sheer cold in an otherwise unwinnable situation or to potentially punish a very tanky inoffensive pokemon. No reason to use other attacks because you have specs, tera ice and nothing will ever hit as hard as your ice moves.

[@zhang6754]

Ah yes choice specs sheer cold to assure the ohok

[@whooopdeedo]

i dont watch much competitive pokemon and definitely dont know much about strats, but i love these kinds of breakdown videos, if only for the fascination/entertainment value. thanks for your video and would definitely watch more, esp for funky teams/wins like this one

[@LukeFaulkner]

I've not played since Gen 1. Great to see nothing's changed and my favourite Articuno is still one of the best Pokemon. I can only assume this has always been the case.

[@sagacious03]

Seeing this win while watching it live was so hype! It wasn't the 1st time in the last year or even this tournament that I'd seen an Articuno at VGC & I was amazed & baffled that it won! Super excited for this analysis video! Thanks for uploading! Might comment more later!

[@AVarghul]

That Articuno farmed those K.Os like a grassmower! It was such an insane display!

[@OrbitalPulsar]

there was also a bug-tyoe baxcaliber which was incredibly hype to watch in day 1

[@trevorsreya8277]

OG Articuno was my favorite legendary bird back in the day. It's great to see it be competitive and get recognition.

[@Riokaii]

dodges and freezes are, in a weird way, its own form of speed control. Speed control is fundamentally about turns as a resource, being able to spend your turns on forward progress in the battle. Denying your opponents turns means you come out ahead in the resource economy.

[@iantaakalla8180]

It is really funny to note that in this team Articuno is the dodge tank who controls turns.

[@eskimobob117]

This video rules, I would definitely watch more of these.

[@silverseaofmoonlight]

My boy Articuno actually being relevant in competitive battling, I never thought I'd see the day :')

[@tdimensional6733]

"I am at peace with the meta and in control of my match-ups"

[@MirageIslander]

Damn, I guess 9 year old me was onto something!

[@gregorymirabella1423]

A fellow tera ice believer? I thought I was the only one.

[@nightfire731]

My boy Articuno, finally stepping out of the shadows of the other birds that it's been stuck in for about 8 generations now.

[@iantaakalla8180]

And to think, all it took was an evasion move, and a general defense buffing move, and a physical defense buffing weather, and that Dragons and Landorus-I were popular. This is probably the only time Articuno will have its time.

[@Wiz_Once]

love this kind of team breakdown video! super interesting

[@a.v.y8331]

Articuno has always had a special place in my heart and I'm so happy to see it get competitive play

[@aud1566]

this is literally my in game articuno from childhood

[@ashross5860]

Its 1999. I'm in the elite four for the first time. I have my level 91 pikachu, a level 61 Articuno, and four hm slaves, and my pikachu just soloed the first member, but all the rocks around the next guy makes me think hey, this guy might be ground type trainer. I switch articuno to the front to soften them up for my boy. An onix comes out. My sweaty little eight-year-old thumb rubs over the a-button. Ice moves are super effective, right? I click ice beam. I click ice beam. I click ice beam. I have found the win button. I am invincible, a god. Mewtwo is nothing. Mewthree is nothing. Arceus, just a twinkle in satoshi's eye at this point, curls into himself where he waits for his existance in the platonic ether. I am become faint, destroyer of teams. In the years that come, they fight back. They try to bury my bird in an avalanche of nerfs, but the killer has come home to roost. He remembers. He will not forget the trials you put him through- you, in your hubris, trying to shackle a god. He rises up from the snowbanks an inverted phoenix, finally siezing the opportunity to clench this doomed world in his talons. A beautiful, blue psychopomp, an aspect of nature, entropy itself come to still the breath of every soul that stood against it. It is 2024, and it is the return of ice spam

[@MelonLuminus2845]

Team breakdown content is silo much more comprehensive than any other types of PvP content

[@LucasFleming-lq2ry]

Sheer cold isn't a gamble, it's a punish.

[@Apterygidae]

Would definitely like to see more videos like this! However nothing makes me wanna click off a video more than doing the whole “This many people are subscribed” at the start of the video Keep up the great videos🔥

[@ddgnp1057]

"He's not fishing for a KO, he's just fishing for a KO against that wall."

[@TradFang]

Love the analytical commentary! 👌

[@danzackblack5829]

This might be the most coherent and eloquent comment section I've ever read

[@AntiZubat]

On one of my pre indigo disk teams I made an inteleon set with water pledge, snipe shot, flip turn, and protect. It was on an armarouge weakness policy set with weak armor and it did really well before indigo disk came.

[@m4rqu1s]

Articuno really getting used more than Garchomp, how the mighty have fallen

[@iantaakalla8180]

Garchomp isn’t used anymore? Why?

[@m4rqu1s]

@@iantaakalla8180 in 0:24 articuno is shown to be #75 in usage, garchomp is #76

[@xyro3633]

Articuno once again proving that it's the best bird

[@pmnt_]

This reminds me of my play Gen 1 playthrough movesets. only STAB. no coverage. Peck, Fly, Ice Beam, Blizzard.

[@Cabelcrod]

Love the video! I recommend you put some background music on your vids, it’s kinda weird to hear someone just talk with no bg noise 😅

[@nacl4988]

Weak: "I need coverage moves or im gonna die ;-;" Strong: 'FUCK IT WE STAB'

[@Hnui03]

This makes me wonder why not Glaceon instead? Granted the bulk difference is there, but the monstrously higher Special Attack and comparable physical bulk surely make it a consideration? I guess the speed isn't really there, but that can be fixed.

[@GravityIsFalling]

The difference in bulk is WAY to great In VGC bulk tends to matter more then speed and power, especially now with mons like raging bolt punishing said speed and power

[@xXunknownXx0000]

Be fr 😂

[@vaporeon344]

Glaceon I believe has significantly high physical defense, with lower special defense. Although using glaceon in snow would work, it would still have its poor special defense to take advantage of (flash cannon, fire blast, etc). Articuno, on the other hand, is a specially defensive mon, with still passable physical bulk. Being bulkier on both sides made Articuno a more well rounded choice.

[@ClefairyRox]

@@vaporeon344 Glaceon has only 10 more base defense than Articuno (110 vs. 100) and has a lot less HP (Base 65 vs. Articuno's 90) and Sp. Defense (95 vs. 120). It makes Articuno much tougher to take down in snow than Glaceon.

[@vaporeon344]

@@ClefairyRox definitely. On the special side it’s quite frail.

[@timeshark8727]

Ice has always been a terrifying attacking type, its just been let down by its horrible defensive matchups. Shore up the defenses enough and it becomes horrifying.

[@th3celestial]

I pray this doesn't turn into a using your favourites argument. I mean sure it is a brilliant pick and is absolutely worth celebrating, but articuno absolutely brought something unique to the table, which cannot be said about just any old ice mon pulled off the streets of

[@plopsplipspladoodle]

this video brought me back to your chanel

[@macroglossumstellatarum3068]

“Honorable use of sheer cold” Bro

[@GravityIsFalling]

It literally is lol

[@lighting7508]

BRO TEAM BREAKDOWNS ARE W CONTENT. Pls more 🙏

[@shisharupu]

I would LOVE more content like this.

[@scxntxllx]

would definitely love to see more stuff like this!!

[@meichelr]

as someone whose favorite pokemon used to be articuno when i was a kid, this makes me very happy to see

[@fabioalanmp]

I really enjoyed this team breakdown. You could do the same for famous teams like the Pachirisu one

[@Mysterious-Stranger]

Would welcome more VGC content from you

[@Kkuroshiro]

It always amazes me how these players come up with big brain team like this

[@multiMRag]

There’s also a regice snow team that is super good basically using the same strategy.

[@mikeleddyphoto]

Sending out a positive signal for randbats

[@rooislangwtf]

choice specs + sheer cold is a wild combination

[@jacobnguyen8372]

VINDICATION!!!! MY 1200 RATING ARTICUNO MOVESET IS GOOD

[@justdominik9812]

Your videos are always entertaining to watch, even if it's singles which is a format I don't really like I enjoy watching you make videos on them.

[@y8knsnsnzmzz]

Thanks for covering this!

[@jayd.doubledubs]

This is absolutely wild. Man, competitive pokemon is so cool

[@trip18]

Holy shit I just realized your almost at 1/4 of a million subs

[@enafunnyperson]

People kept bringing up the Karen quote with this but fail to grasp thag Articuno wasnt a favorite, it was a genuinely good anti-meta pick that was built well to function in the meta