Articuno vs Zapdos
Articuno and Zapdos have the same base stat total (580), Zapdos is faster (base Speed 100 vs 85), and each can hit the other super effectively with its own types (Articuno’s Ice moves hit Zapdos for 2×; Zapdos’s Electric moves hit Articuno for 2×).
Legendary bird trio of Kanto: the Ice and Electric birds.
Base stats side by side
| Stat | Articuno | Zapdos |
|---|---|---|
| HP | 90 | 90 |
| Attack | 85 | 90 (higher) |
| Defense | 100 (higher) | 85 |
| Sp. Atk | 95 | 125 (higher) |
| Sp. Def | 125 (higher) | 90 |
| Speed | 85 | 100 (higher) |
| Total | 580 | 580 |
| Bulk | 315 (higher) | 265 |
Who has the edge?
Zapdos is faster (100 vs 85 base Speed), has the higher Attack (90 vs 85), has the higher Sp. Atk (125 vs 95), and hits Articuno for 2× with its Electric moves, but Articuno has more bulk, counting HP, Defense and Sp. Def together (315 vs 265) and hits Zapdos for 2× with its Ice moves.
Articuno is ahead on
- has more bulk, counting HP, Defense and Sp. Def together (315 vs 265)
- hits Zapdos for 2× with its Ice moves
Zapdos is ahead on
- is faster (100 vs 85 base Speed)
- has the higher Attack (90 vs 85)
- has the higher Sp. Atk (125 vs 95)
- hits Articuno for 2× with its Electric 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; Zapdos: Pressure, Static), 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 Zapdos has 152, so Zapdos moves first when both use moves of the same priority and no item, ability, status or stat change gets in the way.
| Speed | Articuno | Zapdos |
|---|---|---|
| Base Speed | 85 | 100 |
| Level 50, 252 EVs, neutral nature | 137 | 152 |
Type matchup, both ways
Articuno (Ice/Flying) attacking Zapdos
Ice 2×, Flying ½×. Using only its own types, Articuno hits Zapdos for 2× with Ice moves (super effective) and ½× with Flying moves (not very effective).
Zapdos (Electric/Flying) attacking Articuno
Electric 2×, Flying 1×. Using only its own types, Zapdos hits Articuno for 2× with Electric 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).
- Zapdos: Ice 2× (super effective), Rock 2× (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.
Zapdos
- Pressure. Increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.
- Static (hidden ability). Has a 30% chance of paralyzing attacking Pokémon on contact.
Size, generation and evolution
Articuno is taller (1.7 m vs 1.6 m for Zapdos), and Articuno is heavier (55.4 kg vs 52.6 kg for Zapdos).
| Detail | Articuno | Zapdos |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 1.7 m | 1.6 m |
| Weight | 55.4 kg | 52.6 kg |
| Generation | 1 (Kanto) | 1 (Kanto) |
| Evolution line | Articuno (does not evolve) | Zapdos (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.
Zapdos (#0145) is an Electric/Flying-type Electric Pokémon from Kanto, first seen in Generation 1, a Legendary Pokémon. Zapdos does not evolve.
Keep exploring
- Open Articuno and Zapdos in the Compare tool
- Articuno and Zapdos Pokédex pages
- Ice/Flying weaknesses · Electric/Flying weaknesses
- Speed tiers