Articuno vs Moltres
Articuno and Moltres have the same base stat total (580), Moltres is faster (base Speed 90 vs 85), and Moltres’s Fire moves hit Articuno for 2×, while Articuno’s own types do 1× damage to Moltres.
Legendary bird trio of Kanto: the Ice and Fire birds.
Base stats side by side
| Stat | Articuno | Moltres |
|---|---|---|
| HP | 90 | 90 |
| Attack | 85 | 100 (higher) |
| Defense | 100 (higher) | 90 |
| Sp. Atk | 95 | 125 (higher) |
| Sp. Def | 125 (higher) | 85 |
| Speed | 85 | 90 (higher) |
| Total | 580 | 580 |
| Bulk | 315 (higher) | 265 |
Who has the edge?
Moltres is faster (90 vs 85 base Speed), has the higher Attack (100 vs 85), has the higher Sp. Atk (125 vs 95), and hits Articuno for 2× with its Fire moves, but Articuno has more bulk, counting HP, Defense and Sp. Def together (315 vs 265).
Articuno is ahead on
- has more bulk, counting HP, Defense and Sp. Def together (315 vs 265)
Moltres is ahead on
- is faster (90 vs 85 base Speed)
- has the higher Attack (100 vs 85)
- has the higher Sp. Atk (125 vs 95)
- hits Articuno for 2× with its Fire moves
This compares base numbers and the type chart; it does not predict a winner. A real battle also depends on level, nature and EVs, the moves each one knows (a Pokémon does not always learn a move of its own type), held items, weather and terrain, and abilities (Articuno: Pressure, Snow Cloak; Moltres: Pressure, Flame Body), so either one can come out ahead.
Who moves first?
At Level 50 with 252 Speed EVs, 31 IVs and a neutral nature, Articuno has 137 Speed and Moltres has 142, so Moltres moves first when both use moves of the same priority and no item, ability, status or stat change gets in the way.
| Speed | Articuno | Moltres |
|---|---|---|
| Base Speed | 85 | 90 |
| Level 50, 252 EVs, neutral nature | 137 | 142 |
Type matchup, both ways
Articuno (Ice/Flying) attacking Moltres
Ice 1×, Flying 1×. Using only its own types, Articuno hits Moltres for 1× with Ice moves (normal damage) and 1× with Flying moves (normal damage).
Moltres (Fire/Flying) attacking Articuno
Fire 2×, Flying 1×. Using only its own types, Moltres hits Articuno for 2× with Fire moves (super effective) and 1× with Flying moves (normal damage).
What hits each one for 2× or more
- Articuno: Fire 2× (super effective), Electric 2× (super effective), Rock 4× (super effective), Steel 2× (super effective).
- Moltres: Water 2× (super effective), Electric 2× (super effective), Rock 4× (super effective).
The multipliers come from the 18×18 type chart; what a Pokémon can actually use depends on the moves it learns.
Abilities
Articuno
- Pressure. Increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.
- Snow Cloak (hidden ability). Increases evasion to 1.25× during snow or hail. Protects against hail damage.
Moltres
- Pressure. Increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.
- Flame Body (hidden ability). Has a 30% chance of burning attacking Pokémon on contact.
Size, generation and evolution
Moltres is taller (2 m vs 1.7 m for Articuno), and Moltres is heavier (60 kg vs 55.4 kg for Articuno).
| Detail | Articuno | Moltres |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 1.7 m | 2 m |
| Weight | 55.4 kg | 60 kg |
| Generation | 1 (Kanto) | 1 (Kanto) |
| Evolution line | Articuno (does not evolve) | Moltres (does not evolve) |
Articuno (#0144) is an Ice/Flying-type Freeze Pokémon from Kanto, first seen in Generation 1, a Legendary Pokémon. Articuno does not evolve.
Moltres (#0146) is a Fire/Flying-type Flame Pokémon from Kanto, first seen in Generation 1, a Legendary Pokémon. Moltres does not evolve.
Keep exploring
- Open Articuno and Moltres in the Compare tool
- Articuno and Moltres Pokédex pages
- Ice/Flying weaknesses · Fire/Flying weaknesses
- Speed tiers