I think rby articuno is awesome but I'll let other guys handle that.
in advance it used to be really sweet with a zapdos-esque ib/roar/restalk set cause stab ice beam threatens legitimately everything that doesn't get hit by spikes so it makes for some great shuffling. it also utterly shits on swampert/celebi and pressure is also cool. however it's borderline unusable now with the sleep talk nerf as it can't heal consistently and that is obviously an enormous thorn in its side (it does have heal bell which is extremely cool but idt heal bell restalk is too great an idea cause you just get set up on by everything with cm and are free for the steels). so, I think the only thing it's suited to do is something no other ice-type can:
Articuno @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 88 HP / 252 SpA / 168 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Agility
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power Fire/Grass
- Roar / Heal Bell
speed outruns bulky cele/zap/subcune/endpert/jolly ddtar pre-agil. anyway the idea is ohkoing spike-immune offensive pokes (mence aero zap gon; you don't ohko gar but you certainly smack it and it doesn't really hurt you too bad in return) makes endgame sweeps a lot easier since all (yes, all) the counters are going to be eaten by spikes so you really better get those layers down. also nice against claydol who wants to threaten your whole spikes operation.
fun calcs vs zap in particular:
252+ SpA Articuno Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Zapdos: 300-354 (93.4 - 110.2%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Articuno Ice Beam vs. 120 HP / 0 SpD Zapdos: 300-354 (85.4 - 100.8%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Articuno Ice Beam vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 214-252 (55.8 - 65.7%)
0 SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 88 HP / 0 SpD Articuno: 205-242 (59.7 - 70.5%)
252 SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 88 HP / 0 SpD Articuno: 251-296 (73.1 - 86.2%)
252+ SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 88 HP / 0 SpD Articuno: 275-324 (80.1 - 94.4%) - absolutely minuscule chance in sand!!!!!!
and another big one: 0 SpA Gengar Thunderbolt vs. 88 HP / 0 SpD Articuno: 142-168 (41.3 - 48.9%)
hp fire if you wanna hit jira/meta (and Technically regice) or grass for suicune/starmie/not getting fucked around by swampert. roar racks up spikes and can be an emergency cm poke check. heal bell can also be used there because it's very unique and we all know how strong toxic is so it depends on team/preference.
in advance it used to be really sweet with a zapdos-esque ib/roar/restalk set cause stab ice beam threatens legitimately everything that doesn't get hit by spikes so it makes for some great shuffling. it also utterly shits on swampert/celebi and pressure is also cool. however it's borderline unusable now with the sleep talk nerf as it can't heal consistently and that is obviously an enormous thorn in its side (it does have heal bell which is extremely cool but idt heal bell restalk is too great an idea cause you just get set up on by everything with cm and are free for the steels). so, I think the only thing it's suited to do is something no other ice-type can:
Articuno @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 88 HP / 252 SpA / 168 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Agility
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power Fire/Grass
- Roar / Heal Bell
speed outruns bulky cele/zap/subcune/endpert/jolly ddtar pre-agil. anyway the idea is ohkoing spike-immune offensive pokes (mence aero zap gon; you don't ohko gar but you certainly smack it and it doesn't really hurt you too bad in return) makes endgame sweeps a lot easier since all (yes, all) the counters are going to be eaten by spikes so you really better get those layers down. also nice against claydol who wants to threaten your whole spikes operation.
fun calcs vs zap in particular:
252+ SpA Articuno Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Zapdos: 300-354 (93.4 - 110.2%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Articuno Ice Beam vs. 120 HP / 0 SpD Zapdos: 300-354 (85.4 - 100.8%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Articuno Ice Beam vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 214-252 (55.8 - 65.7%)
0 SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 88 HP / 0 SpD Articuno: 205-242 (59.7 - 70.5%)
252 SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 88 HP / 0 SpD Articuno: 251-296 (73.1 - 86.2%)
252+ SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 88 HP / 0 SpD Articuno: 275-324 (80.1 - 94.4%) - absolutely minuscule chance in sand!!!!!!
and another big one: 0 SpA Gengar Thunderbolt vs. 88 HP / 0 SpD Articuno: 142-168 (41.3 - 48.9%)
hp fire if you wanna hit jira/meta (and Technically regice) or grass for suicune/starmie/not getting fucked around by swampert. roar racks up spikes and can be an emergency cm poke check. heal bell can also be used there because it's very unique and we all know how strong toxic is so it depends on team/preference.