[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 2 Onwards
**Price Range**: 15-16 points
**Overview**: Iron Moth boasts an extremely high Special Attack stat as a strong wallbreaker that is reinforced by its strong Speed tier. It can be a difficult Pokemon to defensively check due to its extensive coverage, and can provide niche utility in unfavourable matchups. Iron Moth excels with Quark Drive, as it can easily pressure most teams via an immediate Speed or Special Attack boost as soon as it appears in battle. However, it requires significant support from its allies to remove hazards and to cover for its lack of physically defensive bulk.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Setup Sweeper**: Iron Moth can boost its Speed with Booster Energy or Agility and can set up while attacking with Fiery Dance, turning it into a deadly sweeper in just a few turns. Its strength as a special attacker and variety of coverage moves give it the tools to clean up a weakened team once it outspeeds the opposing Pokemon. Terastallization is especially beneficial for Iron Moth in this role, as it provides additional coverage to its expansive movepool or defensive resistances to increase its longevity.
**Wallbreaker**: Iron Moth's high Special Attack makes it a threatening special wallbreaker, especially when combined with Choice Specs or Booster Energy and strong STAB moves like Overheat and Fire Blast.
**Offensive Pivot**: Iron Moth's solid Speed and access to U-turn allow it to threaten KOs and pivot out on potential checks. It often runs Heavy-Duty Boots in this role, minimizing its weakness to Stealth Rock while switching in multiple times.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Fiery Dance, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Overheat, Sludge Wave
**Setup Moves**: Agility, Flame Charge
**Utility Moves**: U-turn, Light Screen, Morning Sun, Substitute, Toxic Spikes, Toxic
**Coverage**: Air Slash, Bug Buzz, Dazzling Gleam, Discharge, Energy Ball, Flash Cannon, Hurricane, Psychic
Niche Moves
========
**Meteor Beam**: With Power Herb, Meteor Beam can give Iron Moth a unique Rock-type coverage option while providing a guaranteed method of boosting its Special Attack.
**Acid Spray**: Acid Spray can punish special walls that attempt to check Iron Moth by dropping their Special Defense to levels where they cannot safely stay in against it.
**Fire Spin**: Fire Spin can trap foes and deal chip damage to them, allowing Iron Moth to attempt to set up on overly passive foes with Fiery Dance or force switch-ins to stay in while Iron Moth switches out to a teammate.
Common Items
========
**Booster Energy**: Running Booster Energy allows Iron Moth to boost either its Speed or Special Attack without being locked into a single move, giving it the freedom to sweep teams. This comes at the cost of only being usable once, sometimes making Booster Energy ineffective in matchups where Iron Moth is expected to come in several times.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots can give Iron Moth more longevity by removing its weakness to Stealth Rock.
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs further boost Iron Moth's wallbreaking power, allowing it to fire off an extremely powerful Overheat.
**Choice Scarf**: A Choice Scarf can turn Iron Moth into effective speed control or a late-game cleaner.
Niche Items
========
**Assault Vest**: Iron Moth has high Special Defense and often runs only offensive moves, allowing it to comfortably run Assault Vest to further increase its special bulk.
**Air Balloon**: An Air Balloon can turn Iron Moth's 4x weakness to Ground into a temporary immunity, enabling it to switch in on Ground-types and potentially KO them with a coverage move like Energy Ball.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Iron Moth's variety of coverage moves encourages it to use items that generally increase the power of its moves. It can use an Expert Belt well, since it can hit many Pokemon super effectively, or it can opt for a Life Orb instead for a larger power boost at the cost of longevity. Charcoal or Poison Barb can also be used if you want to consistently boost the damage of Iron Moth's STAB moves while leaving its coverage moves usable.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries can allow Iron Moth to bait in threats that it would otherwise not be able to safely stay in against and KO them with a coverage move like Bug Buzz or Energy Ball. Shuca Berry is commonly run to compensate for its 4x weakness to Ground, but caution should be taken when using one, as Iron Moth often does not have enough bulk to survive an Earthquake from strong physical attackers even with the power reduction. Other types of resistance Berries are safer to run than a Shuca Berry because the attacks they protect against are less likely to KO Iron Moth even through the Berry's activation.
**Power Herb**: A Power Herb can be used with Meteor Beam to provide Iron Moth's only guranteed way of raising its Special Attack, as well as its only source of Rock-type coverage without Terastallizing. It can also be used with Solar Beam as a stronger Grass-type coverage move than Energy Ball at the cost of only being safely usable once.
**Eject Pack**: Holding an Eject Pack enables Iron Moth to pivot out once by using Overheat, simulatenously using a strong attack and generating momentum.
Tera
========
Iron Moth is very strong as a Tera Captain. Changing types can allow it to break through common checks such as bulky Water- and Ground-type Pokemon, and it often appreciates being able to get rid of its 4x weakness to Ground. Common Tera types for Iron Moth include Tera Fairy, Ground, and Grass. Depending on the matchup, Iron Moth can use these Tera types to hit targets that resist its STAB moves like Garchomp and Heatran or change type to avoid being KOed itself by checks like Palafin. It can also run various other Tera types to boost its wide array of coverage moves. Sets such as Tera Flying with Hurricane or Air Slash, Tera Electric with Discharge, and Tera Psychic with Psychic can be viable possibilities depending upon the matchup.
Draft Strategy
========
Iron Moth reaches its full potential as a Tera Captain, but it can easily serve as a special wallbreaker or sweeper without Terastallization. Although it is not overwhelmingly strong or versatile enough to justify taking as a first pick, it can be a highly threatening piece of a team with the proper support, leaving it as an excellent choice from the second round onwards.
**Ground-resistant or -immune Pokemon**: Iron Moth's heavy weakness to Ground leaves it vulnerable to bulky Ground-types or coverage moves. At least one partner that can safely switch into Earthquakes is essential. Grass-types like Ogerpon, Hydrapple, Rillaboom, and Zarude are often good partners for Iron Moth, as they resist two of its weaknesses—Ground and Water—and offensively threaten foes of those types in return.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Iron Moth is weak to entry hazards, especially Stealth Rock, as it often prefers to run an offensive item over Heavy-Duty Boots. Having consistent hazard removers like Great Tusk, Terapagos, and Iron Treads can free up Iron Moth to maximize its offensive potential.
**Entry Hazard Setting**: Although Iron Moth suffers from entry hazards on its side of the field, it greatly benefits from the hazards on the opponent's side that chip away at foes so it can KO them. Some hazard setters that partner well with it include Landorus-T, Great Tusk, Swampert, and Ting-Lu.
**Physically Defensive Partners**: Iron Moth's poor Defense can leave it vulnerable when faced with a physical attacker it cannot immediately KO. In these situations, it benefits from being able to switch or pivot with U-turn into a teammate that can take the physical hit for it and punish the attacker. Some examples of Pokemon that can accomplish this well are Landorus-T, Rotom-W, and defensive Zapdos.
**Pivoting**: Iron Moth appreciates opportunities to take the field without taking an attack first. Offensive pivots like Zapdos or slow bulky pivots like Slowking and Corviknight can give it the chances it needs to come in and break open the opponent's team.
Checks and Counters
========
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Iron Moth cannot withstand super effective attacks, especially physical ones. If an opposing Pokemon is able to survive Iron Moth's own attacks and attack back, it can be forced to switch out or be KOed. Galarian Slowking is a prime example of this, as it can easily take Iron Moth's attacks and use Future Sight, pivot out, or simply KO it with Psychic or Psyshock. Pokemon that can artificially increase their special bulk with an Assault Vest like Iron Treads and Primarina. Pokemon that can reduce Iron Moth's power output, like Ting-Lu with its signature ability, can also be dangerous for this reason.
**Entry Hazards**: Only some Iron moth sets run Heavy-Duty Boots, with its strongest wallbreaker and sweeper sets normally running more offense-oriented items like Choice Specs or Booster Energy. Combined with its weakness to Stealth Rock, this can limit the number of times Iron Moth can take the field if it does not sacrifice its offensive potential by running Heavy-Duty Boots.
**Faster Threats**: Although Iron Moth is already fast and can boost its Speed further with Booster Energy or Choice Scarf, its poor physical bulk can leave it in bad positions against opposing Pokemon that can outspeed it, such as Booster Energy Iron Boulder, or against strong priority moves, like Palafin's Jet Punch. This problem is further exacerbated if it is not running a Speed-boosting item.
[credits]
Written by:
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Quality checked by:
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**Draft Order**: Round 2 Onwards
**Price Range**: 15-16 points
**Overview**: Iron Moth boasts an extremely high Special Attack stat as a strong wallbreaker that is reinforced by its strong Speed tier. It can be a difficult Pokemon to defensively check due to its extensive coverage, and can provide niche utility in unfavourable matchups. Iron Moth excels with Quark Drive, as it can easily pressure most teams via an immediate Speed or Special Attack boost as soon as it appears in battle. However, it requires significant support from its allies to remove hazards and to cover for its lack of physically defensive bulk.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Setup Sweeper**: Iron Moth can boost its Speed with Booster Energy or Agility and can set up while attacking with Fiery Dance, turning it into a deadly sweeper in just a few turns. Its strength as a special attacker and variety of coverage moves give it the tools to clean up a weakened team once it outspeeds the opposing Pokemon. Terastallization is especially beneficial for Iron Moth in this role, as it provides additional coverage to its expansive movepool or defensive resistances to increase its longevity.
**Wallbreaker**: Iron Moth's high Special Attack makes it a threatening special wallbreaker, especially when combined with Choice Specs or Booster Energy and strong STAB moves like Overheat and Fire Blast.
**Offensive Pivot**: Iron Moth's solid Speed and access to U-turn allow it to threaten KOs and pivot out on potential checks. It often runs Heavy-Duty Boots in this role, minimizing its weakness to Stealth Rock while switching in multiple times.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Fiery Dance, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Overheat, Sludge Wave
**Setup Moves**: Agility, Flame Charge
**Utility Moves**: U-turn, Light Screen, Morning Sun, Substitute, Toxic Spikes, Toxic
**Coverage**: Air Slash, Bug Buzz, Dazzling Gleam, Discharge, Energy Ball, Flash Cannon, Hurricane, Psychic
Niche Moves
========
**Meteor Beam**: With Power Herb, Meteor Beam can give Iron Moth a unique Rock-type coverage option while providing a guaranteed method of boosting its Special Attack.
**Acid Spray**: Acid Spray can punish special walls that attempt to check Iron Moth by dropping their Special Defense to levels where they cannot safely stay in against it.
**Fire Spin**: Fire Spin can trap foes and deal chip damage to them, allowing Iron Moth to attempt to set up on overly passive foes with Fiery Dance or force switch-ins to stay in while Iron Moth switches out to a teammate.
Common Items
========
**Booster Energy**: Running Booster Energy allows Iron Moth to boost either its Speed or Special Attack without being locked into a single move, giving it the freedom to sweep teams. This comes at the cost of only being usable once, sometimes making Booster Energy ineffective in matchups where Iron Moth is expected to come in several times.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots can give Iron Moth more longevity by removing its weakness to Stealth Rock.
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs further boost Iron Moth's wallbreaking power, allowing it to fire off an extremely powerful Overheat.
**Choice Scarf**: A Choice Scarf can turn Iron Moth into effective speed control or a late-game cleaner.
Niche Items
========
**Assault Vest**: Iron Moth has high Special Defense and often runs only offensive moves, allowing it to comfortably run Assault Vest to further increase its special bulk.
**Air Balloon**: An Air Balloon can turn Iron Moth's 4x weakness to Ground into a temporary immunity, enabling it to switch in on Ground-types and potentially KO them with a coverage move like Energy Ball.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Iron Moth's variety of coverage moves encourages it to use items that generally increase the power of its moves. It can use an Expert Belt well, since it can hit many Pokemon super effectively, or it can opt for a Life Orb instead for a larger power boost at the cost of longevity. Charcoal or Poison Barb can also be used if you want to consistently boost the damage of Iron Moth's STAB moves while leaving its coverage moves usable.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries can allow Iron Moth to bait in threats that it would otherwise not be able to safely stay in against and KO them with a coverage move like Bug Buzz or Energy Ball. Shuca Berry is commonly run to compensate for its 4x weakness to Ground, but caution should be taken when using one, as Iron Moth often does not have enough bulk to survive an Earthquake from strong physical attackers even with the power reduction. Other types of resistance Berries are safer to run than a Shuca Berry because the attacks they protect against are less likely to KO Iron Moth even through the Berry's activation.
**Power Herb**: A Power Herb can be used with Meteor Beam to provide Iron Moth's only guranteed way of raising its Special Attack, as well as its only source of Rock-type coverage without Terastallizing. It can also be used with Solar Beam as a stronger Grass-type coverage move than Energy Ball at the cost of only being safely usable once.
**Eject Pack**: Holding an Eject Pack enables Iron Moth to pivot out once by using Overheat, simulatenously using a strong attack and generating momentum.
Tera
========
Iron Moth is very strong as a Tera Captain. Changing types can allow it to break through common checks such as bulky Water- and Ground-type Pokemon, and it often appreciates being able to get rid of its 4x weakness to Ground. Common Tera types for Iron Moth include Tera Fairy, Ground, and Grass. Depending on the matchup, Iron Moth can use these Tera types to hit targets that resist its STAB moves like Garchomp and Heatran or change type to avoid being KOed itself by checks like Palafin. It can also run various other Tera types to boost its wide array of coverage moves. Sets such as Tera Flying with Hurricane or Air Slash, Tera Electric with Discharge, and Tera Psychic with Psychic can be viable possibilities depending upon the matchup.
Draft Strategy
========
Iron Moth reaches its full potential as a Tera Captain, but it can easily serve as a special wallbreaker or sweeper without Terastallization. Although it is not overwhelmingly strong or versatile enough to justify taking as a first pick, it can be a highly threatening piece of a team with the proper support, leaving it as an excellent choice from the second round onwards.
**Ground-resistant or -immune Pokemon**: Iron Moth's heavy weakness to Ground leaves it vulnerable to bulky Ground-types or coverage moves. At least one partner that can safely switch into Earthquakes is essential. Grass-types like Ogerpon, Hydrapple, Rillaboom, and Zarude are often good partners for Iron Moth, as they resist two of its weaknesses—Ground and Water—and offensively threaten foes of those types in return.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Iron Moth is weak to entry hazards, especially Stealth Rock, as it often prefers to run an offensive item over Heavy-Duty Boots. Having consistent hazard removers like Great Tusk, Terapagos, and Iron Treads can free up Iron Moth to maximize its offensive potential.
**Entry Hazard Setting**: Although Iron Moth suffers from entry hazards on its side of the field, it greatly benefits from the hazards on the opponent's side that chip away at foes so it can KO them. Some hazard setters that partner well with it include Landorus-T, Great Tusk, Swampert, and Ting-Lu.
**Physically Defensive Partners**: Iron Moth's poor Defense can leave it vulnerable when faced with a physical attacker it cannot immediately KO. In these situations, it benefits from being able to switch or pivot with U-turn into a teammate that can take the physical hit for it and punish the attacker. Some examples of Pokemon that can accomplish this well are Landorus-T, Rotom-W, and defensive Zapdos.
**Pivoting**: Iron Moth appreciates opportunities to take the field without taking an attack first. Offensive pivots like Zapdos or slow bulky pivots like Slowking and Corviknight can give it the chances it needs to come in and break open the opponent's team.
Checks and Counters
========
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Iron Moth cannot withstand super effective attacks, especially physical ones. If an opposing Pokemon is able to survive Iron Moth's own attacks and attack back, it can be forced to switch out or be KOed. Galarian Slowking is a prime example of this, as it can easily take Iron Moth's attacks and use Future Sight, pivot out, or simply KO it with Psychic or Psyshock. Pokemon that can artificially increase their special bulk with an Assault Vest like Iron Treads and Primarina. Pokemon that can reduce Iron Moth's power output, like Ting-Lu with its signature ability, can also be dangerous for this reason.
**Entry Hazards**: Only some Iron moth sets run Heavy-Duty Boots, with its strongest wallbreaker and sweeper sets normally running more offense-oriented items like Choice Specs or Booster Energy. Combined with its weakness to Stealth Rock, this can limit the number of times Iron Moth can take the field if it does not sacrifice its offensive potential by running Heavy-Duty Boots.
**Faster Threats**: Although Iron Moth is already fast and can boost its Speed further with Booster Energy or Choice Scarf, its poor physical bulk can leave it in bad positions against opposing Pokemon that can outspeed it, such as Booster Energy Iron Boulder, or against strong priority moves, like Palafin's Jet Punch. This problem is further exacerbated if it is not running a Speed-boosting item.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user1.100000
Quality checked by:
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Grammar checked by:
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Last edited: