Ferrothorn Best Moveset
Premier defensive moveset in the format. AbilityIron Barbs deals chip to anything making physical contact, Grass/Steel typing resists 9 types including Water, and 131/116 defenses on 74 HP give incredible bulk. MoveStealth Rock, MoveSpikes, and MoveLeech Seed add relentless field control. S-tier through pure defensive dominance.
Grass/Steel with Iron Barbs and Leech Seed in Gen V (Black & White). Contact attackers took chip damage every hit. Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Leech Seed from a wall that punished everything.
Best Moves
Best Build
Ferrothorn best EVs are HP and Sp. Def
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Spikes
- Power Whip
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
Recommended Teammates
Fairy-types couldn't touch Ferrothorn thanks to Steel resistance in Gen VI (X & Y). Grass/Steel had only two weaknesses: Fire and Fighting. Two gens at the top.
Wall Moveset
- Leech Seed
- Gyro Ball
- Spikes
- Power Whip
Recommended Teammates
Iron Barbs plus Rocky Helmet punished contact moves with stacking chip in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Physical attackers lost a third of their HP just touching it.
Wall Moveset
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Gyro Ball
- Stealth Rock
Recommended Teammates
Four straight gens at the top in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield). The most consistent defensive Steel-type across four generations. Leech Seed, hazards, Iron Barbs. The formula never needed to change.
Wall Moveset
- Leech Seed
- Knock Off
- Spikes
- Gyro Ball
Recommended Teammates
Ferrothorn Weakness
Type-wise, Ferrothorn takes extra damage from Fire and Fighting. Watch out for Fire attacks, those deal 4x damage. Poison moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. With 9 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Ferrothorn's overall bulk (74/131/116) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Fire |
| 2x (Weak) | Fighting |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Water, Electric, Psychic, Rock, Dragon, Steel, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass |
| 0x (Immune) | Poison |
What is Ferrothorn Weak Against
ExcellentBest Pokemon Against Ferrothorn
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Ferrothorn View Alomomola builds →Flip Turn3-3% Scald4-4% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Ferrothorn View Cyclizar builds →Rapid Spin4-5% U Turn11-13% Knock Off10-12% Draco Meteor9-11% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemEviolite NatureBold Moves View Chansey builds →
| ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityElectric Surge ItemTerrain Extender NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Ferrothorn View Tapu Koko builds →Dazzling Gleam9-11% Volt Switch8-9% Thunderbolt10-12% U Turn9-11% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityEartheater ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves View Orthworm builds →
| ||
Evolution
Evolved from Ferroseed. Ferrothorn is the final form in this two-stage line. Plenty of partners for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are average hatch time. Attack grew the most through evolution (+44 over Ferroseed), and Ferrothorn peaks at 489 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
How to Get Ferrothorn
2 encounter spots for Ferrothorn at moderate rates starting from late-game routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.
Where To Catch Ferrothorn in SwSh
To get Ferrothorn, start by catching Ferroseed through walking encounters at Lv. 13-65. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch FerroseedRoute 4Lv.13-15GrassRate 1%All WeatherMotostoke RiverbankLv.26-28GrassRate 10%SnowstormBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 5%SnowstormBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 5%Normal WeatherBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 5%Heavy FogBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 5%RainingBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 5%Intense SunBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 5%SnowingBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 5%OvercastBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 5%SandstormBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 5%ThunderstormStony WildernessLv.28-30OverworldRate 5%SnowstormStony Wilderness - 2Lv.28-30OverworldRate 5%SnowstormStony Wilderness - 3Lv.28-30OverworldRate 5%SnowstormLakeside CaveLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%All Weather
Step 2Ferrothorn ✓Dusty BowlLv.40-45GrassRate 10%Snowstormor evolve from Ferroseed (Step 1)
Ferrothorn isn't available in the wild in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. Start by transferring Ferroseed from Black & White, Black 2 & White 2, or Sword & Shield. The evolution path from Ferroseed to Ferrothorn is covered in the steps below.
How to Obtain Ferrothorn in USUM
Step 1Obtain FerroseedLATER APPEARANCEfrom Black & WhiteNot TradeableAppears in Black & White via Walking · Chargestone Cave. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Black 2 & White 2Not TradeableAppears in Black 2 & White 2 via Walking · Chargestone Cave. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom X & YNot TradeableAppears in X & Y via Walking · Glittering Cave · Shaking spot. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Sword & ShieldNot TradeableAppears in Sword & Shield via Overworld · Lakeside Cave · All Weather. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.- Step 2Ferrothorn ✓
No wild encounters for Ferrothorn in Sun & Moon. Bring Ferroseed over from Black & White, Black 2 & White 2, or Sword & Shield, then level through the stages. Each step in the chain is laid out below.
How to Obtain Ferrothorn in SM
- Step 1Obtain FerroseedBREEDINGAvailableLeave Ferrothorn with a compatible partner at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Ferroseed egg.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Black & WhiteNot TradeableAppears in Black & White via Walking · Chargestone Cave. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Black 2 & White 2Not TradeableAppears in Black 2 & White 2 via Walking · Chargestone Cave. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom X & YNot TradeableAppears in X & Y via Walking · Glittering Cave · Shaking spot. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Sword & ShieldNot TradeableAppears in Sword & Shield via Overworld · Lakeside Cave · All Weather. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
- Step 2Ferrothorn ✓
No wild encounters for Ferrothorn in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire. Bring Ferroseed over from Black & White, Black 2 & White 2, or Sword & Shield, then level through the stages. Each step in the chain is laid out below.
How to Obtain Ferrothorn in ORAS
Step 1Obtain FerroseedCARTRIDGE TRADEfrom X & YAvailableCatch in X & Y via Walking · Glittering Cave · Shaking spot, then trade to the current game via link cable.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Black & WhiteNot TradeableAppears in Black & White via Walking · Chargestone Cave. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Black 2 & White 2Not TradeableAppears in Black 2 & White 2 via Walking · Chargestone Cave. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Sword & ShieldNot TradeableAppears in Sword & Shield via Overworld · Lakeside Cave · All Weather. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
Step 2Ferrothorn ✓
Base Stats
Defense leads and Speed gets almost nothing. That's Ferrothorn's stat line in a nutshell. 3 stats sit in respectable range, but the spread is brutal. Moderately hard to find and yields 2 Defense EVs.
Its spikes are harder than steel. This Pokémon crawls across rock walls by stabbing the spikes on its feelers into the stone.
Ferrothorn Guide
We rate Ferrothorn B-Tier: a solid choice for the right team. At 489 BST, it fits the hazard setter role. Base 131 Defense stands out.
Ferrothorn's biggest threats include Infernape (Fire) and Lucario (Fighting), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Infernape is the most dangerous since Fire moves deal 4x damage. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about. At base 20 Speed, Ferrothorn won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.
Iron Barbs is the go-to ability for Ferrothorn. It damages attacking Pokémon for 1/8 their max HP on contact. Its hidden ability Anticipation can work in specific setups.
Base 20 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Ferrothorn is a physical attacker with base 94 Attack. Defensively? Tanky enough to absorb a few hits. Best used as a hazard setter.
The core moveset is Leech Seed, Gyroball, Stealth Rock, and Protect. Leech Seed leads at 0% usage. This set covers the hazard setter role with a mix of damage and utility.
Game Availability
Ferrothorn joined the series in Black & White and has been available in 7 titles so far. With 6 generations of appearances, it's established itself despite the later start.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BWDebut
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves