[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 2 onwards
**Price Range**: 16-17 points
**Overview:** Iron Boulder is a reliable cleaner and wallbreaker with great Speed and solid Attack. When using Booster Energy, it becomes almost impossible to outspeed and excels at cleaning up weakened teams. Because of its unique STAB typing and access to Earthquake, Iron Boulder can hit every Pokemon for at least neutral damage, making it difficult to switch into. It also benefits from Terastallization, gaining even stronger coverage moves or a better defensive typing. Despite these good traits, it is a very one-dimensional and predictable Pokemon. Iron Boulder's frail Defense and reliance on the single-use Booster Energy to outspeed faster foes means it can be revenge killed or phazed out by foes that can survive a hit which limits it potential.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Setup Sweeper**: Utilizing Booster Energy, Iron Boulder can clean up many weakened teams. It can also boost its Attack using Swords Dance to break through bulkier foes. Terastallization gives it stronger coverage options and a better defensive typing to give it opportunities to set up more safely.
**Wallbreaker**: Iron Boulder can utilize items other than Booster Energy like Choice Band and Life Orb to take advantage of its already-great Speed and dish out more immediate damage. Some of these sets can still run Swords Dance, but they risk being revenge killed without Booster Energy.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Mighty Cleave, Zen Headbutt, Psycho Cut
**Setup Moves**: Swords Dance, Agility
**Utility Moves**: Substitute, Taunt, Brick Break
**Coverage**: Close Combat, Earthquake, Megahorn, Throat Chop, Sacred Sword, Wild Charge, Iron Head, Poison Jab, X-Scissor, Tera Blast
Niche Moves
========
**Rock Blast**: Rock Blast is useful to break through Dragonite's Multiscale and OHKO foes with a Focus Sash.
**Quick Attack**: Quick Attack can be useful in select cases where priority is mandatory, but it is generally outclassed by running more powerful coverage moves. This also adds insurance against common counterplay, such as opposing priority attacks and foes using Custap Berry.
**Solar Blade**: When combined with Power Herb, Solar Blade can pick off Ground- and Water-type foes that threaten Iron Boulder.
**Facade**: Facade is useful if Iron Boulder is expected to be statused, allowing it to catch foes by surprise and break through would-be checks.
Common Items
========
**Booster Energy**: Boosting an already top-tier Speed makes Iron Boulder very difficult to revenge kill, enabling it to set up and sweep opposing teams.
**Choice Band**: Choice Band is primarily used when Iron Boulder needs dish out as much damage as possible in a short period of time.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Damage-boosting items like Life Orb and Expert Belt are useful to get more damage out of Iron Boulder without the downside of being Choice-locked into a move.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf is useful if Iron Boulder needs multiple opportunities to revenge kill or clean, but it can be prediction reliant.
**Assault Vest**: While Iron Boulder is not used defensively, Assault Vest can help it survive a number of hits thanks to it naturally high Special Defense. It is especially useful if setup moves are unnecessary.
**Power Herb**: Power Herb can be used in conjunction with Solar Blade to pick off bulky Water- and Ground-type Pokemon that commonly switch into Iron Boulder's attacks.
Tera
========
Iron Boulder is a great primary Tera Captain, and it tends to be reliant on Terastallization to function well. It can boost its STAB types with Tera Rock and Psychic, gain stronger coverage moves with Tera Fighting and Ground, gain new coverage with types like Tera Ghost, and flip type weaknesses with types like Tera Water and Fairy to gain opportunities to set up on would-be super effective attacks.
Draft Strategy
========
Iron Boulder is a solid cleaner, but it can't win games by itself. It fits well on teams with strong wallbreakers and ways to remove foes with a solid type matchup against it.
**Wallbreakers**: While Iron Boulder has respectable base stats, it can struggle to break through teams even after a Swords Dance , so having strong wallbreakers like Palafin, Iron Valiant, and Gouging Fire to pair it with can reduce reliance on Swords Dance and make it easier to clean up with it late-game.
**Entry Hazards**: Iron Boulder appreciates strong entry hazard support more than most other Pokemon. Similar to strong wallbreakers, good hazard support from teammates like Hisuian Samurott and Ting-Lu can damage foes enough for Iron Boulder to pick up KOs late-game.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: In many games, Iron Boulder needs to take at least one or two hits to put itself in a winning position, and since it really does not want to be holding Heavy-Duty Boots, entry hazard removal from teammates like Iron Treads and Corviknight is vital in ensuring it have the health to set up properly.
**Water and Ground-type answers** Pokemon like Sinistcha and Rotom-W that can switch into Water- and Ground-type threats and beat them make great partners for Iron Boulder, as it often has trouble dealing with those types by itself.
Checks and Counters
========
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: While it has many good coverage options, Iron Boulder likes to be using its STAB attacks as much as possible, and foes that resist its STAB types like Gholdengo, Skarmory, and Iron Treads can give it problems. They can also reliably force it out or KO it if it hasn't set up yet.
**Phazing / Encore**: Since Iron Boulder is usually reliant on Booster Energy to outspeed foes and often needs setup to get through opposing teams, phazing and Encore can be very disruptive to its gameplan. Whether it gets phazed out and loses its boosts or gets locked into a setup move or an easily walled attack with Encore, it becomes much less effective. Red Card can also force Iron Boulder out even if the opponent can't use a Phazing move.
**Priority Moves**: Since Iron Boulder relies on outspeeding opposing Pokemon to avoid taking damage, priority attacks can be an issue for it. Moves like Sucker Punch and Bullet Punch that can hit it super effectively are especially problematic, often limiting its options even if it can Terastallize. Foes can also use Endure and Custap Berry to get a one-time shot at beating Iron Boulder.
**Status**: Burn and paralysis are highly effective at crippling Iron Boulder. Foes like Gholdengo and Galarian Weezing that can take attacks and inflict it with status can be particularly problematic.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/termnal.404799/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
**Draft Order**: Round 2 onwards
**Price Range**: 16-17 points
**Overview:** Iron Boulder is a reliable cleaner and wallbreaker with great Speed and solid Attack. When using Booster Energy, it becomes almost impossible to outspeed and excels at cleaning up weakened teams. Because of its unique STAB typing and access to Earthquake, Iron Boulder can hit every Pokemon for at least neutral damage, making it difficult to switch into. It also benefits from Terastallization, gaining even stronger coverage moves or a better defensive typing. Despite these good traits, it is a very one-dimensional and predictable Pokemon. Iron Boulder's frail Defense and reliance on the single-use Booster Energy to outspeed faster foes means it can be revenge killed or phazed out by foes that can survive a hit which limits it potential.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Setup Sweeper**: Utilizing Booster Energy, Iron Boulder can clean up many weakened teams. It can also boost its Attack using Swords Dance to break through bulkier foes. Terastallization gives it stronger coverage options and a better defensive typing to give it opportunities to set up more safely.
**Wallbreaker**: Iron Boulder can utilize items other than Booster Energy like Choice Band and Life Orb to take advantage of its already-great Speed and dish out more immediate damage. Some of these sets can still run Swords Dance, but they risk being revenge killed without Booster Energy.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Mighty Cleave, Zen Headbutt, Psycho Cut
**Setup Moves**: Swords Dance, Agility
**Utility Moves**: Substitute, Taunt, Brick Break
**Coverage**: Close Combat, Earthquake, Megahorn, Throat Chop, Sacred Sword, Wild Charge, Iron Head, Poison Jab, X-Scissor, Tera Blast
Niche Moves
========
**Rock Blast**: Rock Blast is useful to break through Dragonite's Multiscale and OHKO foes with a Focus Sash.
**Quick Attack**: Quick Attack can be useful in select cases where priority is mandatory, but it is generally outclassed by running more powerful coverage moves. This also adds insurance against common counterplay, such as opposing priority attacks and foes using Custap Berry.
**Solar Blade**: When combined with Power Herb, Solar Blade can pick off Ground- and Water-type foes that threaten Iron Boulder.
**Facade**: Facade is useful if Iron Boulder is expected to be statused, allowing it to catch foes by surprise and break through would-be checks.
Common Items
========
**Booster Energy**: Boosting an already top-tier Speed makes Iron Boulder very difficult to revenge kill, enabling it to set up and sweep opposing teams.
**Choice Band**: Choice Band is primarily used when Iron Boulder needs dish out as much damage as possible in a short period of time.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Damage-boosting items like Life Orb and Expert Belt are useful to get more damage out of Iron Boulder without the downside of being Choice-locked into a move.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf is useful if Iron Boulder needs multiple opportunities to revenge kill or clean, but it can be prediction reliant.
**Assault Vest**: While Iron Boulder is not used defensively, Assault Vest can help it survive a number of hits thanks to it naturally high Special Defense. It is especially useful if setup moves are unnecessary.
**Power Herb**: Power Herb can be used in conjunction with Solar Blade to pick off bulky Water- and Ground-type Pokemon that commonly switch into Iron Boulder's attacks.
Tera
========
Iron Boulder is a great primary Tera Captain, and it tends to be reliant on Terastallization to function well. It can boost its STAB types with Tera Rock and Psychic, gain stronger coverage moves with Tera Fighting and Ground, gain new coverage with types like Tera Ghost, and flip type weaknesses with types like Tera Water and Fairy to gain opportunities to set up on would-be super effective attacks.
Draft Strategy
========
Iron Boulder is a solid cleaner, but it can't win games by itself. It fits well on teams with strong wallbreakers and ways to remove foes with a solid type matchup against it.
**Wallbreakers**: While Iron Boulder has respectable base stats, it can struggle to break through teams even after a Swords Dance , so having strong wallbreakers like Palafin, Iron Valiant, and Gouging Fire to pair it with can reduce reliance on Swords Dance and make it easier to clean up with it late-game.
**Entry Hazards**: Iron Boulder appreciates strong entry hazard support more than most other Pokemon. Similar to strong wallbreakers, good hazard support from teammates like Hisuian Samurott and Ting-Lu can damage foes enough for Iron Boulder to pick up KOs late-game.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: In many games, Iron Boulder needs to take at least one or two hits to put itself in a winning position, and since it really does not want to be holding Heavy-Duty Boots, entry hazard removal from teammates like Iron Treads and Corviknight is vital in ensuring it have the health to set up properly.
**Water and Ground-type answers** Pokemon like Sinistcha and Rotom-W that can switch into Water- and Ground-type threats and beat them make great partners for Iron Boulder, as it often has trouble dealing with those types by itself.
Checks and Counters
========
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: While it has many good coverage options, Iron Boulder likes to be using its STAB attacks as much as possible, and foes that resist its STAB types like Gholdengo, Skarmory, and Iron Treads can give it problems. They can also reliably force it out or KO it if it hasn't set up yet.
**Phazing / Encore**: Since Iron Boulder is usually reliant on Booster Energy to outspeed foes and often needs setup to get through opposing teams, phazing and Encore can be very disruptive to its gameplan. Whether it gets phazed out and loses its boosts or gets locked into a setup move or an easily walled attack with Encore, it becomes much less effective. Red Card can also force Iron Boulder out even if the opponent can't use a Phazing move.
**Priority Moves**: Since Iron Boulder relies on outspeeding opposing Pokemon to avoid taking damage, priority attacks can be an issue for it. Moves like Sucker Punch and Bullet Punch that can hit it super effectively are especially problematic, often limiting its options even if it can Terastallize. Foes can also use Endure and Custap Berry to get a one-time shot at beating Iron Boulder.
**Status**: Burn and paralysis are highly effective at crippling Iron Boulder. Foes like Gholdengo and Galarian Weezing that can take attacks and inflict it with status can be particularly problematic.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/termnal.404799/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Last edited:
