[OVERVIEW]
Iron Bundle is one of the foremost speed control options in Ubers thanks to its fantastic offensive typing and the fact that it is one of the few Pokemon surpassing the critical base 135 Speed tier. Hydro Pump and Freeze-Dry give Iron Bundle perfect coverage, and Ice Beam deals considerable damage to many prominent threats in the tier, such as Koraidon, Miraidon, Eternatus, and Arceus-Ground. Unfortunately, Iron Bundle is hampered by its dreadful defensive typing and special bulk, which leaves most teams with abundant means of OHKOing it; for example, even uninvested attacks such as Judgment from the Arceus formes and Dynamax Cannon from defensive Eternatus can OHKO Iron Bundle. As a result, Iron Bundle has difficulty getting safely onto the battlefield without the help of pivoting moves from its teammates. Additionally, Iron Bundle must be wary of potential status moves from the likes of defensive Arceus formes, Kyogre, Giratina-O, Eternatus, and Gliscor, since paralysis renders Iron Bundle completely useless, while poison and burn exacerbate Iron Bundle's problems with longevity.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Tera Water is an option to boost the power of Hydro Pump, enabling Iron Bundle to 2HKO common defensive Pokemon such as Necrozma-DM and Arceus-Fairy as well as improving its matchup against Zacian-C. However, the defensive utility of Tera Ghost and the damage benchmarks achieved by Tera Ice are typically more valuable to the teams Iron Bundle finds itself on. Flip Turn can be used in the last moveslot to maintain momentum against the switches Iron Bundle often forces, but the utility of Taunt or Encore is one of the primary motives for using Iron Bundle and is almost never worth forgoing. A power boosting item like Choice Specs or Life Orb allows Iron Bundle to accomplish notable KOs without the need to Terastallize, such as OHKOs against Koraidon and Miraidon with Ice Beam and most Arceus-Ground with Hydro Pump and 2HKOs against Necrozma-DM, Arceus-Fairy, and Calyrex-I with Hydro Pump. Iron Bundle's atrocious longevity and complete dependence on prediction with these items makes them difficult to justify using, though.
Checks and Counters
====
**Zacian-C**: Zacian-C not only resists Iron Bundle's Ice-type moves, but it also is one of the few Pokemon in Ubers that naturally outspeeds Iron Bundle, and with its Intrepid Sword boost, it can comfortably OHKO Iron Bundle with nearly all of its moves.
**Kyogre**: Although Freeze-Dry deals super effective damage, a bulky Kyogre cannot be 2HKOed unless Iron Bundle Terastallizes Ice, and Kyogre can OHKO Iron Bundle with Thunder or even a resisted Origin Pulse or Water Spout.
**Choice Scarf Users**: With a Choice Scarf, Pokemon that Iron Bundle usually outspeeds like Koraidon, Eternatus, and Kyogre can gain the Speed advantage and OHKO it as long as Electric Terrain is not active. Koraidon is especially bothersome, as its sun hinders Iron Bundle's damage output with Hydro Pump. It should be noted, however, that Koraidon and Eternatus cannot safely switch into Ice Beam.
**Priority Moves**: Iron Bundle's poor bulk makes it vulnerable to being picked off by priority moves like Extreme Speed and Sucker Punch. Encore can shut down most priority users, but this requires Iron Bundle to Terastallize or correctly predict the use of setup moves, which can prove fatal should the opponent decide to immediately attack Iron Bundle rather than set up.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lillianofficial.547277/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lasen.273339/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/situm.274590/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Iron Bundle is one of the foremost speed control options in Ubers thanks to its fantastic offensive typing and the fact that it is one of the few Pokemon surpassing the critical base 135 Speed tier. Hydro Pump and Freeze-Dry give Iron Bundle perfect coverage, and Ice Beam deals considerable damage to many prominent threats in the tier, such as Koraidon, Miraidon, Eternatus, and Arceus-Ground. Unfortunately, Iron Bundle is hampered by its dreadful defensive typing and special bulk, which leaves most teams with abundant means of OHKOing it; for example, even uninvested attacks such as Judgment from the Arceus formes and Dynamax Cannon from defensive Eternatus can OHKO Iron Bundle. As a result, Iron Bundle has difficulty getting safely onto the battlefield without the help of pivoting moves from its teammates. Additionally, Iron Bundle must be wary of potential status moves from the likes of defensive Arceus formes, Kyogre, Giratina-O, Eternatus, and Gliscor, since paralysis renders Iron Bundle completely useless, while poison and burn exacerbate Iron Bundle's problems with longevity.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Tera Water is an option to boost the power of Hydro Pump, enabling Iron Bundle to 2HKO common defensive Pokemon such as Necrozma-DM and Arceus-Fairy as well as improving its matchup against Zacian-C. However, the defensive utility of Tera Ghost and the damage benchmarks achieved by Tera Ice are typically more valuable to the teams Iron Bundle finds itself on. Flip Turn can be used in the last moveslot to maintain momentum against the switches Iron Bundle often forces, but the utility of Taunt or Encore is one of the primary motives for using Iron Bundle and is almost never worth forgoing. A power boosting item like Choice Specs or Life Orb allows Iron Bundle to accomplish notable KOs without the need to Terastallize, such as OHKOs against Koraidon and Miraidon with Ice Beam and most Arceus-Ground with Hydro Pump and 2HKOs against Necrozma-DM, Arceus-Fairy, and Calyrex-I with Hydro Pump. Iron Bundle's atrocious longevity and complete dependence on prediction with these items makes them difficult to justify using, though.
Checks and Counters
====
**Zacian-C**: Zacian-C not only resists Iron Bundle's Ice-type moves, but it also is one of the few Pokemon in Ubers that naturally outspeeds Iron Bundle, and with its Intrepid Sword boost, it can comfortably OHKO Iron Bundle with nearly all of its moves.
**Kyogre**: Although Freeze-Dry deals super effective damage, a bulky Kyogre cannot be 2HKOed unless Iron Bundle Terastallizes Ice, and Kyogre can OHKO Iron Bundle with Thunder or even a resisted Origin Pulse or Water Spout.
**Choice Scarf Users**: With a Choice Scarf, Pokemon that Iron Bundle usually outspeeds like Koraidon, Eternatus, and Kyogre can gain the Speed advantage and OHKO it as long as Electric Terrain is not active. Koraidon is especially bothersome, as its sun hinders Iron Bundle's damage output with Hydro Pump. It should be noted, however, that Koraidon and Eternatus cannot safely switch into Ice Beam.
**Priority Moves**: Iron Bundle's poor bulk makes it vulnerable to being picked off by priority moves like Extreme Speed and Sucker Punch. Encore can shut down most priority users, but this requires Iron Bundle to Terastallize or correctly predict the use of setup moves, which can prove fatal should the opponent decide to immediately attack Iron Bundle rather than set up.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lillianofficial.547277/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lasen.273339/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/situm.274590/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Last edited:
