Dynamax Articuno will kick off the Legendary Flight event in Pokémon GO as the first 5-star Dynamax boss. This icy foe will present a challenge, and you’ll need to assemble a solid team to exploit its weaknesses. Although it isn’t as tough as previous 6-star Gigantamax Raid bosses like Gigantamax Lapras, the Freeze Pokémon can still easily take down unprepared Trainers. To maximize your chances of success and avoid wasting your precious Max Particles, make sure to prepare your team of Pokémon in advance.
You can engage in Max Battles against Dynamax Articuno in two main ways. Initially, it will appear as the boss at all Power Spots for one hour during its Max Monday debut. Following that, it will continue to show up for Max Battles at various Power Spots on your map. However, the latter will mean it shares the stage with other Pokémon included in this month’s Max Monday lineup.
Dynamax Articuno Weaknesses & Resistances in Pokémon GO
Weak to Rock, Steel & More
Dynamax Articuno is a dual Ice- and Flying-type Pokémon, which means it has four specific weaknesses: Rock-, Fire-, Steel-, and Electric-type attacks. The degree of damage these attacks inflict may vary across different games in the franchise, but the fundamental relationships remain consistent. Rock-type attacks generate 256% damage against Dynamax Articuno, while Fire-, Steel-, and Electric-type assaults deal 160% damage each.
When strategizing your team, consider utilizing Pokémon that have access to Rock-type, as well as Steel-, Fire-, or Electric-type moves. Pokémon such as Machamp, Metagross, and Charizard are all excellent choices for the battle ahead. Remember that you can only bring Pokémon that can Dynamax or Gigantamax into these encounters, which narrows your options slightly. Still, plenty of strong candidates are available, as outlined in the table below:
Dynamax Articuno Counter |
Type |
Fast Attack |
Charge Attack |
---|---|---|---|
Charizard |
Fire Spin |
Blast Burn |
|
Machamp |
Bullet Punch |
Stone Edge |
|
Metagross |
Bullet Punch |
Meteor Mash |
|
Excadrill |
Metal Claw |
Rock Slide |
|
Cinderace |
Fire Spin |
Flamethrower |
|
Dubwool |
Take Down |
Wild Charge |
|
Toxtricity |
Spark |
Wild Charge |
|
Charmeleon |
Fire Fang |
Flamethrower |
|
Machoke |
Fire Spin |
Flamethrower |
|
Blastoise |
Water Gun |
Flash Cannon |
|
Metang |
Metal Claw |
Gyro Ball |
Currently, there are no Rock-types in Pokémon GO that can Dynamax or Gigantamax, but some Pokémon may still have Rock-type attacks in their arsenal. Although these won’t benefit from the 20% STAB (same-type attack bonus), the 2.56x damage multiplier will still be potent. For instance, a Pokémon using a super-effective Rock Slide will deal more damage than a super-effective 1.6x Iron Head. If you’ve gauged a Dynamax Machop from earlier in January, it’s an excellent opportunity to evolve it into Machamp.
To successfully challenge Dynamax Articuno, you will need at least three players, but aiming for a four-player setup will make things easier.
Date & Time of Articuno’s Max Battles
All Week in January
Dynamax Articuno will make its debut in Pokémon GO on Monday, January 20, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM local time, on its Legendary Flight Max Monday. During this hour, Articuno will function as the Max Battle boss at any Power Spot you discover in the game. After this initial availability, players will have the chance to continue battling Dynamax Articuno during the Max Battle Week until January 27.
However, be aware that Dynamax Articuno will be sharing Power Spots with other Max Battle bosses for that week, such as Charmander, Beldum, and Scorbunny, which could lead to some trial and error in finding one, depending on your area. Fortunately, with a week’s time, you should be able to locate one. Keep in mind the weaknesses of Dynamax Articuno to Rock-, Electric-, Fire-, and Steel-type moves in Pokémon GO, and you’ll be well on your way to claiming victory in this Legendary Flight event.