To Purify or Not To Purify Your Articuno: An Icy Dilemma for Pokémon GO Trainers
You’ve snagged a Shadow Articuno in Pokémon GO. That’s impressive. But now, you see the ‘Purify’ button. Should you press it? Is purifying Articuno smart or foolish? Let’s take a look at this conundrum and find the best path. In Pokémon GO, every choice matters, especially with Legendaries.
Articuno 101: The Frosty Facts You Need to Know
Before purification talk, let’s look at Articuno. This Ice and Flying-type Pokémon is a Legendary bird from Kanto. Knowing its strengths and weaknesses helps you decide on its Shadow or Purified status.
Type and Weaknesses: A Double Dose of Rock Trouble
Articuno is an Ice and Flying-type. Its type matchups create challenges. It is weak to Electric, Fire, Rock, and Steel-type moves. With dual Ice/Flying typing, it is especially weak to Rock-type moves. That’s 256% damage from Rock attacks. Imagine constant boulder hits – not good for a legendary bird. Electric, Fire, and Steel moves hit for 160% damage too. So be cautious against these types. Many say its typing makes Articuno the ‘weakest’ of the Kanto trio. Ouch.
Strengths: More Than Just a Pretty Ice Sculpture
Despite its weaknesses, Articuno has strengths. In the Pokémon GO Ultra League, it can be a strong competitor. It can battle the common Giratina effectively, which is a big deal. Imagine defeating a Giratina; that’s cool. Articuno also performs well against Cresselia, Togekiss, and Swampert. It might just revamp your Ultra League team. Plus, it can create blizzards by freezing air moisture. Now that’s a cool ability.
Rarity and Catching: A Legendary Game of Hide and Seek
Catching Articuno isn’t easy, especially the Galarian version. These Legendary birds are rare when using Daily Adventure Incense. They seem to avoid capture. Once spotted, the catch rates and flee rates are tough. Community reports say the base catch rate is just 0.3% with a 90% flee rate. You may find it easier to spot a shiny than catch a Galarian bird first try. So if you encounter one, use all your berries and Ultra Balls. Maybe even pray to RNG luck.
Moves: Frosty Offense
Articuno has decent moves. For Fast Attacks, Frost Breath is better than Ice Shard, though they’re close. For Charged Moves, Triple Axel is Articuno’s best option. It delivers solid damage and matters in tight battles. While not topping DPS charts, these moves make it viable in some PvP and PvE fights. Don’t expect it to perform like a Fire-type, though.
Comparisons: Standing in the Shadow of Moltres (and Zapdos?)
In Legendary birds, there’s a pecking order. Moltres usually gets more attention in Pokémon GO because of its higher Attack stat and win rates in raids and battles. Galarian Articuno fares better in PvE than its Kantonian counterpart due to its stronger Attack stat. However, Kantonian Articuno is still seen as the ‘weakest’ Kanto bird due to challenging typing.
Role as a Legendary: God of Mercy (Apparently)
In some lore, particularly from the Hora region, Legendary birds are like deities. Here, Articuno is seen as the ‘god of mercy’. Ironically, it can freeze foes solid in battles without mercy. Maybe it’s merciful before it unleashes the storm? Whatever the case, this adds mystique to Articuno, despite its sometimes underwhelming performance.
Shadow vs. Purified: The Great Pokémon GO Dilemma
Now we reach the heart of it: Shadow vs. Purified Articuno. This isn’t just about looks; it’s about battle strength and resource management. Let’s compare the advantages and downsides of each option to help you choose.
Shadow Pokémon Advantages: Unleashing the Inner Beast
Shadow Pokémon shine with raw power. Keeping Articuno in its Shadow form grants a 20% damage boost. That’s significant! This boost acts like a permanent Choice Band without locking into moves. This extra damage changes the game in raids and PvE settings. Even weak Shadow Pokémon can beat a perfect non-Shadow one. For example, a Shadow Groudon can outperform a regular hundo one. This power makes Shadow Pokémon the clear victor in offense.
Purified Pokémon Advantages: The Path of Less Resistance (and Lower Costs)
Purifying a Shadow Pokémon offers benefits related to resource economy and stats. Purifying Articuno improves its appraisal and IVs get a minor boost. Additionally, Stardust and Candy costs drop when powering up and teaching moves. Purified Pokémon are much cheaper to invest in overall. You also gain an exclusive Charged Attack called ‘Return’, but it’s not top-tier bait for purifying.
Disadvantages of Purifying: Say Goodbye to That Damage Boost
The largest downside to purifying a Shadow Pokémon is losing that 20% damage boost. Gone with the wind! For many Pokémon, this boost is key in battles and raids. Purifying removes their offense potential completely. In most cases, the loss of damage outweighs any benefits from purification.
Considerations for Purifying: When Might it (Rarely) Make Sense?
Purifying Shadow Pokémon usually isn’t ideal for attackers. But are there situations where purifying Articuno might work? Yes, if you’re short on Stardust and Candies and need an Articuno fast, purification could help you power it up quicker as a temporary fix. However, this is often short-term victory at long-term cost. Trading significant potential for resource savings often hurts future performance.
Real-World Usage: A Casual Choice
You might consider purifying if you have a Shadow Articuno with terrible IVs. In that case, having a usable Ice-type might justify this choice even if it isn’t super effective in strong battles.
play, but even then, there are better non-Shadow options.
IVs and Appraisal: Understanding Articuno’s Potential
Individual Values, or IVs, are key to Pokémon stats. They determine a Pokémon’s potential in Attack, Defense, and Stamina (HP). Knowing IVs helps maximize performance and guides purification decisions.
IVs: The Hidden Stat Boosters
In Pokémon GO, every Pokémon has IVs, from 0 to 15 for Attack, Defense, and Stamina. They are randomly assigned when encountering or hatching Pokémon. Higher IVs mean greater strength potential. Each point slightly boosts base stats, impacting overall CP and battle efficiency. IVs matter, especially at higher play levels.
Appraisal System: Your Team Leader’s Insight
To learn your Articuno’s IVs without third-party apps, use the in-game appraisal system. Tap the menu on your Pokémon’s profile, then select ‘Appraise’. Your Team Leader will rate your Pokémon based on IVs. Star ratings range up to 3 stars, the best. They will note the strongest stat. Each bar under Attack, Defense, and Stamina equals 5 IV points. Three full bars mean a perfect 15 in that stat. The appraisal system gives an indication of IV quality without exact numbers.
Importance of IVs: Their Role in PvP
Higher IVs lead to stronger Pokémon in battles and raids. The Shadow boost is powerful, but IVs matter more in PvP, especially in leagues with CP caps like Great and Ultra League. Here, ideal IVs aren’t 15/15/15 but often lower Attack IVs with higher Defense and Stamina. Lower Attack keeps CP lower while maintaining bulk. Specific IV spreads can be harder to achieve with Shadow Pokémon due to fixed IV floors.
Shadow Pokémon and IVs: The Damage Boost Factor
The 20% damage boost of Shadow Pokémon often overshadows minor IV differences, especially in PvE. A 0-star Shadow attacker out-damages a perfect IV non-Shadow attacker. Damage output is significant. Ideal IVs help but aren’t needed for strong Shadow Pokémon. The Shadow boost changes the game.
To Purify or Not: The Verdict on Articuno
After this analysis, what’s the verdict on your Shadow Articuno? Drumroll… Don’t purify it. Shadow Articuno doesn’t gain enough from purification to lose the valuable 20% damage boost. It excels in defense and utility rather than pure offense. That extra damage is crucial in PvP battles.
Specific Scenarios: No Purification
In cases where purifying might seem wise, like resource scarcity, it’s still better not to purify. Patience is key in Pokémon GO. Save your Stardust and Candies for powering up the Shadow version instead. Long-term benefits of Shadow Articuno outweigh short-term convenience from reduced purification costs.
Rarity and Catch Difficulty: Value What You Have
Galarian Articuno encounters are rare. Finding another Shadow Galarian Articuno with good IVs is unlikely. Given its rarity, purifying feels wasteful. You’ve obtained a rare Legendary Pokémon variant. Don’t diminish its power by losing Shadow status. Embrace that boost!
In conclusion, while the idea of purifying seems tempting, especially with limited resources, resist the urge. Keep your Shadow Articuno, unleash its damage, and watch it conquer battles. You’ll appreciate it when dominating raids with your cool, powerful Shadow Articuno.
