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The legendary and powerful Ice-Type Bird Articuno is found in the Seafoam Islands, but you'll need a lot more preparation, planning, and work to catch it than most other Pokémon. Once you find the Legendary Bird, you've only got one chance to capture it, so make sure it counts.
Steps
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Buy as many Ultra Balls as you can afford at a Poké Mart. The closest one is at Fuchsia City, but you can buy them anywhere. While you could catch Articuno, theoretically, with any ball, the Ultra Ball has the highest chance of success. -
Train several Pokémon up to level 55 or above. Articuno is at level 50, and it will put up a good fight when it comes across you. Be prepared to chip away at its health with a few strong Pokémon. [1] X Research source- While you don't want to kill it before capture, a Fire and an Electric Pokémon will make powerful additions to your team here. Make sure you also have a strong, basic Pokemon, like a Normal type, to fight as well.
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Make sure you have a Pokémon with a status-affecting move like Sleep or Paralysis. Some of the of the best moves to have are Thunder Wave, Hypnosis, and/or Sleep Powder. These effects will greatly increase your ability to capture Articuno, as they up the percentages of a successful ball throw. [2] X Research source -
Bring along several Potions and Repels to keep your team healthy on the way on the way to Articuno. You'll be making a decent sized trip to get to Articuno, and you don't want to be left with weak Pokémon when the fight begins. Bring Revives, TM Boosts, and Potions to make sure your team is in top shape when you arrive, or simply use Repels to avoid fighting wild Pokemon. -
Know the HMs Strength and Surf. You'll need both of them to reach Articuno, so don't attempt it until your have 1-2 Pokémon with the moves in your party. [3] X Research source
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Use Surf off of the Southern coast of Fuschia City. Once you're situated with Pokémon and Ultra Balls, head down to the bottom-most end of Fuscia City and hop in the water. -
Surf down and to the left until you reach a small cave. You'll be going southwest. Start by going straight down until you get stuck, then turn hard to the left to reach the Seafoam Islands, the home of Articuno. You'll see a little cave that you need to enter.- There are two entrances to this cave, but only this entrance will work to get Articuno. [4] X Research source
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Drop the two boulders in the cave through the holes in the floor using HM Strength. When you enter, there will be a small boulder next to a hole in the floor. Use Strength to push the boulder through the hole. Off to the left, on the same floor, is another boulder that needs to be pushed through as well. Without leaving that floor, push that boulder the whole near it as well. Then return to the first hole and drop through along with the boulders.- Do not use the ladder in the cave, as it will reset your boulders.
- The boulders halt the current in the lower levels of the cave, allowing you to surf on the river and find Articuno.
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Head down to the lowest level once you've pushed all the boulders through. Keep pushing the boulders down the holes until you're at the lowest level of the cave. There will be a river with two boulders blocking it off, slowing it down enough to surf on.- If you try and surf on this water without getting the boulders placed you will be swept away and out of the cave.
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Surf down the river until you reach Articuno. It will be sitting on a small, raised platform, and will be clearly visible from the water. You won't fight it until you talk to it. [5] X Research source
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Save the game before "talking" to Articuno. If you miss this chance to catch the bird, you will not get another one. Avoid this mishap by saving before you click on the bird. Approaching and hitting A will trigger the fight, so prepare your team and save before starting. [6] X Research source -
Lower Articuno's HP down to the red zone. Fight the Pokémon like you'd fight any other you wanted to catch. When possible, use moves that deal damage but aren't super effective, as you don't want to unintentionally knock the bird out. Normal moves like Slash are good, as are moves like False Swipe. To help you capture the bird, remember it's strengths and weaknesses:- Weak Against: Fire, Electric, Rock (x2, so be careful with Rock attacks), and Steel.
- Strong Against: Grass, Ground, Bug, and Dragon.
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Put it to sleep or paralyze it once you have its health in the red. Once you've weakened it enough, it's time to slow it down and make it easier to catch. Obviously, the lower the health you can get it to the better, but don't risk knocking it out if your attacks are hitting strongly. Use Sleep Powder, Paralysis, Thunder Wave to ensure that Articuno is lulled out of combat, making it easier to catch. -
Throw Ultra Balls at it until it is caught. Even if an Ultra Ball fails, it makes the next one slightly more likely to succeed. That means you 10th attempt at catching the bird will be far more likely to succeed that the last. Keep Articuno paralyzed or asleep and you'll scoop it up in no time. [7] X Research source
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I go back to my saved point after accidentally defeating it?Community AnswerShut down the game then restart it again. If you saved before attacking Articuno, then it should start you where you saved.
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QuestionWhich Pokemon should I use at first?Community AnswerUse your strongest Pokemon against it until you get it down to 10 HP. Then, put it to sleep and catch it.
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QuestionCan I defeat Articuno level 50 with a level 62 Charizard and a level 18 Dratini?Natalie TellecheaTop AnswererTechnically, yes, because virtually any Pokemon can defeat any other Pokemon.
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Tips
- Save the game before engaging in a Pokémon battle with it.Thanks
- If Articuno is released from paralysis, paralyze it again.Thanks
- Save the game again when Articuno's health bar is in the red zone.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- Bring full restores or at least max potions and full heals. You don't want Articuno to wipe out your party after you've spent ages getting there!
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Things You'll Need
- A Pokémon that knows Strength and a Pokémon that knows Surf
- Enough money to buy a lot of Ultra Balls
References
- ↑ https://masternoobs.com/pokemon-frlg-articuno/
- ↑ https://masternoobs.com/pokemon-frlg-articuno/
- ↑ https://masternoobs.com/pokemon-frlg-articuno/
- ↑ https://www.ign.com/wikis/pokemon-firered-leafgreen-version/Seafoam_Islands
- ↑ https://masternoobs.com/pokemon-frlg-articuno/
- ↑ https://www.ign.com/wikis/pokemon-firered-leafgreen-version/Seafoam_Islands
- ↑ https://www.ign.com/wikis/pokemon-firered-leafgreen-version/Seafoam_Islands
About This Article
Article Summary
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If you want to catch Articuno in Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green, increase your chances of success by purchasing Ultra Balls from a Poké Mart, and making sure you have a Pokémon that can perform a status-affecting move, like Sleep or Paralysis. Since Articuno is level 50, you should also train several of your Pokémon to level 55 or above. When you're ready, you can find Articuno by surfing southwest from the Southern coast of Fuschia City to a small cave. Inside the cave, drop two boulders through holes in the floor using HM strength, then head down to the lowest level and surf downriver to Articuno. To capture Articuno, attack it until its HP turns red, then put it to sleep and use as many Ultra Balls as you need to catch it. For more tips, like how to do more damage against Articuno, read on!
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