Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres
| Articuno | |
|---|---|
| File:Articuno.png National Pokédex Snorlax - Articuno (#144) - Zapdos Johto Pokédex Blastoise - Articuno (#235) - Zapdos | |
| Japanese name | Freezer |
| Evolves from | None |
| Evolves into | None |
| Generation | First |
| Species | Freeze Pokémon |
| Type | Ice / Flying |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) |
| Weight | 122.0 pounds (55.3 kg) |
| Ability | Pressure |
Articuno (フリーザー, Furīzā, Freezer) is one of the Template:Pokenum fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise – a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. Its main purpose in the games, as with all other Pokémon, is to battle both "wild" Pokémon, untamed creatures encountered while the player passes through various environments, and "tamed" Pokémon that are owned by Pokémon trainers.
Articuno is one of the three Legendary Birds, which also include Zapdos and Moltres. The name "Articuno" originates from the word "arctic", because it is an ice-type, and from the Spanish word "uno", meaning "one", because it is numerically the first of the three Legendary Birds. Its Japanese name is 'Freezer' spelled phonetically.
Characteristics
Articuno, quite friendly and gentle, is the avian embodiment of freezing cold. It appears to be a large, crested bird with blue plumage all around looking like a woman's chest, white talons, a white-feathered chest, a three feathered crest adorning its head, and a long, beautiful elegant tail. The crest and tail are slightly darker in colour compared to its body and its beak and legs are almost lilac-blue. Its appearance, especially when flying, it has red beautiful eyes, has been labeled magnificent by all who have seen this rare Pokémon and is normally considered to be the most beautiful of the three Kanto legendary birds which includes the other two, Zapdos and Moltres.
Some trainers think what Articuno's gender, either a male or a female or genderless, it appears to be genderless like other Pokémon, including the Legendary Pokémon.
Articuno is a powerful, magical and beautiful creature that can create and manipulate ice freely. Its translucent wings are imbued with the essence of frigidity, and the flapping of its wings chills the air, causing the conversion of water particles in the air into snow or ice. Therefore, it is believed that when this Pokémon flies overhead, snow will fall. To be able to freeze water with heat producing movement proves that Articuno is one of the coldest Pokémon in existence and appears to be able to control its body temperature as it does not freeze the air while idle. It is also believed that Articuno resides within the confines of icy mountains, because those who have seen it were often doomed explorers scaling such mountains, and therefore it is believed Articuno makes it a point to appear before them and save them, since it is not a malevolent creature.
Articuno may have been somewhat based on the real-life Resplendent Quetzal with a similar long tail and crest, and also the Anka, a mythical bird similar to the Phoenix that has powers associated with ice.
Articuno's height is 5 feet 7 inches, which was the same height as Charizard. Since Charizard is fire-type, while Articuno is ice-type, some have said they would address Charizard and Articuno as the king of fire and queen of ice.
Articuno's weight is about 122 pounds, its body and legs shaped like a woman's. Its eyes and lashes attracts other Pokémon by its beauty to look at so that it shows how beautiful and attractive it is.
Articuno's hair formed like a three ice crystals which is similar to Gyarados.
In the video games
Articuno is only available in the following Pokémon RPGs: Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, and LeafGreen like the other two, Zapdos and Moltres. It is located in Seafoam Islands. Articuno is unique, and the player has only one chance to capture it. It is also a Shadow Pokémon owned by Grand Master Greevil in Pokémon XD. But because it is 1 of 6 Shadow Pokémon owned by Greevil, it is hard to catch. Articuno also appears as a boss character and a playable character in Pokemon Mystery Dungeon.
In Pokémon Red & Blue and Pokémon Yellow, Articuno is the only Legendary Pokémon that can learn ice-attacks such as Ice Beam (TM14) and Blizzard (TM13) to freeze its enemies/opponents' statues so that they unwilling to fight when they are frozen solid.
As a legendary Pokémon, Articuno's stats are very high, most notably its HP, defense, and special defense. Trainers using Articuno are sometimes considered "cheap" for using it. However, the combination of a quadruple rock weakness, a series of other exploitable weaknesses (electric, steel and fire) and the high usage of Metagross and Snorlax on teams has taken Articuno down several notches in competitive play - well below many Pokémon with inferior base stats. As such, despite how some players consider all legendaries cheap, most people who actually use legendaries avoid using Articuno altogether. It only sometimes sees play competitively, but it is a good special tank and XD gave it the move Heal Bell. More controversy results from the fact that in Fire Red and Leaf Green versions, it can learn both Sheer Cold (an unlikely-to-hit 1-hit KO) and Mind Reader (a move that ensures the next move to hit), sometimes banning it from competitions altogether.
Articuno makes a cameo in Super Smash Bros. Melee as one of the Pokémon in the Pokéball item. When it comes out, it will freeze anyone close to it and fly away. It is also available as a Super Smash Bros. Melee trophy.
Articuno appears in Pokémon Snap, in the Cave level. Playing the Pokeflute near a pair of slumbering Jynx causes them to chant a spell to hatch an egg containing Articuno. Articuno circles the cavern before flying out above the player. If players threw Pester Balls at a Zubat earlier in the level to free a Pikachu it is holding, Pikachu will be riding on Articuno's back as it exits the cave as they flew off.
In the manga
In Pokémon Adventures in Chapter 25, Articuno appeared as a legendary bird of ice to the hero, Red, Red and his Pokémon teammates go in search for this legendary bird, Articuno, Gyarados was now a new member of Red's Pokémon (original trainer: Misty), but was stopped by the evil hands of Team Rocket, Red and his Pokémon partners must defeat Team Rocket and manage to save this legendary Articuno in a fight before they plan to steal it from him, their plan were backfired as Gyarados accidently break the ice, causing Articuno to break free in the iceberg to save both Red and Gyarados from Team Rocket's Muk from finishing them, but it was frozen by its ice beam attack, in the ending, Red and his teammate thought they had failed to save the legendary Articuno and became their new partner. (in this comic: Gyarados falls in love with the legendary Pokémon, Articuno).
In Chapter 26, Articuno as a legendary had turned into dark side in the hands of Team Rocket's three henchmen, Koga the Ninja, as well as the other two legendary bird, Zapdos for LT. Serge (perfect match for his electric Pokémon) and Moltres for Sabrina (inmmortal soul and mind of inferno) to challenge Red, Blue and Green. In the ending, the trio had successful defeated the three evil combined legendary birds, the three legendary birds are finally freed from the evil hands of Team Rocket, Red (main protagonist) takes his last look at the beautiful legendary bird, he learnt about the beauty of this legendary Articuno.
In Chapter 179, Articuno appears again to be Green's Pokémon protagonist as well as the other two, as the trio legendary birds and their human mistress, Green face off against Pryce's two of his best henchmen, Will and Karen (Elite Four leaders) as well as new two legendary giant-sized Pokémon, Lugia and Ho-Oh, the evil duo try to defeat them, but failed as many Pokémon came to rescue as they attacked both legendary Pokémon so that they could release from the evil control, in the ending, Green summons back her three Legendary Pokémon as Red gave her back her Pokémon, Blastoise and his friend/rival Blue for Charizard.
In Chapter 180, Articuno reappears as a cameo character (cut comic scene) in the ending chapter, like Green's legendary birds traded her Pokémon data to Crystal as she does the same, like Red's Articuno for Crystal's Suicune, Green's Moltres for Silver's Entei and Blue's Zapdos for Gold's Raikou (not really trading in the trading centre).
In the anime
Articuno first appeared in Pokémon The Movie 2000 - The Power of One together with the other two legendary birds. Lawrence III created a battle between them, and Ash Ketchum had to team up with Lugia to stop it.
Articuno also was the focus of a three-part saga of episodes, "Moving Pictures", "Spring Fever" and "Freeze Frame", where Todd (Snap) joined up with Ash and friends to try to get a picture of the legendary bird Pokémon. It culimated in Articuno's appearance in the episode "Freeze Frame", when it saved Ash and friends from a blizzard. Even Ash's Pikachu likes Articuno and its beauty.
Articuno also is a wild befriended Pokémon used by the Battle Frontier Brain at the Battle Factory named Noland. This Articuno was befriended and sometimes is used in battles, such as his battle against Ash and his Charizard. They knew that Articuno is a legendary pokemon. Still, they accepted the challenge.
It is unclear whether all of these appearances are by a single, unique Articuno (as in the games, where each Legendary Pokémon is one of a kind), or if those in the TV series are offspring, relatives or descendants of "the" Articuno of legend, depicted in the second movie. It may just be that Articuno as a species, along with Zapdos and Moltres, are so rare and isolated that they are considered legendary. Articuno does appear significantly larger in the movie, but depictions of Pokémon size are sometimes inconsistent (for example, Ash's Charizard can appear twice as tall as Ash one episode, and be nearly eye level the next, which is exactly the same height as Articuno.)
In the ending of "The Symbol of Life", a seismic toss from Ash's Charizard causes a large cloud of dust. When the dust clears, Charizard appears to be defeated. However, Articuno falls over and Charizard is able to get back up. Ash is then declared the winner. Both congratulate their pokemon. Noland says goodbye to Articuno as it flies off into the sunset as Charizard takes it last look at Articuno's beauty, it realizes as it likes beauty instead of nothing. Later, Ash says goodbye as Charizard also flies off. With the knowledge symbol won, Ash and friends move on to the next area.
In the card game
In the Pokémon Trading Card Game, there are four mainstream versions of Articuno:
- Fossil
- Skyridge
- EX Firered & Leafgreen (as Articuno EX, a secret hidden card - 113/112)
- EX Team Rocket Returns (as Rocket's Articuno EX, as a pure Dark type)
In addition, there were two promotional Articuno cards in the game's history. One was handed out alongside Zapdos and Moltres promo cards at showings of Pokémon: The Movie 2000.
References
- The following games and their instruction manuals: Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue; Pokémon Yellow; Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2; Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal; Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald; Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen; Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
- Publications
- Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9.
- Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-15-1.
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
- Mylonas, Eric. Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0-7615-4761-4
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5
External links
- Articuno.co.uk Articuno's biggest fansite, packed with information, fanart and downloads.
- Official Pokémon website
- Bulbapedia (a Pokémon-centric Wiki)’s article about Articuno as a species
- Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
- PsyPoke - Articuno Pokédex entry and Usage Overview
- Smogon.com - Articuno Tactical Data
- Template:WikiKnowledge
- ^ ""Pokemon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold."". PR Newswire. Retrieved 2006-02-28.