Q&A for How to Catch Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres in Pokémon X and Y

You must walk to its location. If you use fly, it will move locations more frequently.

Yes, it is actually better if you use repels because it makes all the regular Pokemon go away so you can focus on catching your legendary bird, without other Pokemon getting in the way.

It should appear in any of the patches on that route as long as you have defeated the Pokemon League

Yes, but remember you cannot use fly to go to where the legendary bird is.

Go to a place where you can move locations without a new map loading, such as moving from Route 4 and Santalune City rapidly.

To get him in the cave, you have to encounter him multiple times before you actually go to the cave. Once you're in the cave with him, just interact with him like Mewtwo, then you can battle and catch him there.

If you look in the Pokédex and at the bird's location, the Sea Spirit's Den will be flashing red.

It can work, but you have to get lucky. Any ball can catch it; Ultra Balls and Dusk Balls are simply the best ones.

You can't without trading. Only one bird will appear per save file. The bird you encounter will be based on your starter. If you started with Chespin, you'll get Articuno. If you started with Fennekin, you'll get Zapdos. If you started with Froakie, you'll get Moltres.

You must encounter it multiple times before it goes to the cave. There is no pattern. If it was close to the cave, it was just a coincidence.

Any 11 places will work.

You cannot battle them while they're moving; you can only battle them when they rest in the Sea Spirit's Den.

No, it's only the recommended method. As long as your lead Pokemon is above the levels of the wild Pokemon of the route you're looking on, you'll be able to find the legendary bird.

There is no pattern where the birds go, it is completely random.

Don't chase after it with the Pokedex - repetitively move from Santalune City to Route 4 until the corresponding bird appears.

No.

Yes.

It can be fully evolved. Which legendary bird appears only depends on the starter Pokemon you take.

No. Whenever you enter a new area, the bird will disappear.

You cannot - it will flee as soon as you go into battle. You have to do this multiple times, until it goes into the Sea Spirit's Den, where you can catch it without worry of it fleeing.

Not without trading.

No. Only one will appear, depending on the starter you chose when you first started the game.

Ultra Balls and Dusk Balls will be the most effective. If you are on one of the first turns of the battle, Quick Balls are a great choice, and if it is late into the battle, use Timer Balls.

The bird of the starter you chose at the start of the game will still be there.

No, it only takes into account which starter Pokemon you took at the beginning of the game.

No, it won't appear until you've beaten the Elite Four and Champion.

That's fine. Which legendary bird appears only depends on which starter Pokemon you take.

No, you will have to trade for the other ones if you want them.

It's not impossible, but they have significantly lower chances of succeeding.

There are indeed. Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres are the legendary bird trio.