The stat bars tell the story: Defense carries everything and Speed's dead weight. But this Iron Armor Pokemon still yields 2 Defense EVs per fight on a slow 1.25M XP grind.
For food, it digs up iron ore. It smashes its steely body against others to fight over territory.
For food, it digs up iron ore. It smashes its steely body against others to fight over territory.
Fighting, Ground, and Water moves hit Lairon for super-effective damage. Fighting and Ground hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. The upside? Poison-type moves can't touch it at all. It resists 8 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely. Lairon's physical bulk (base 140 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Fighting, Ground |
| 2x (Weak) | Water |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Ice, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Dragon, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Normal, Flying |
| 0x (Immune) | Poison |
Annihilape's Drain Punch also KOs at 113-133%.
 Landorus Ground | S | |
Recommended Build AbilitySheerforce ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves View Landorus builds →
| ||
 Dondozo Water | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnaware ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves View Dondozo builds →
| ||
 Annihilape FightingGhost | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityDefiant ItemSitrus Berry NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Lairon View Annihilape builds →Drain Punch 4x113-133%KO | ||
 Krookodile GroundDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMoxie ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Lairon View Krookodile builds →Earthquake 4x176-207%KO Knock Off29-34% Close Combat 4x141-166%KO | ||
 Lucario FightingSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityInnerfocus ItemLife Orb NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Lairon View Lucario builds →Extreme Speed7-8% Close Combat 4x261-308%KO | ||
Lairon sits between Aron and Aggron in this three-stage line. Not the final form yet. For breeding, slow to hatch with plenty of partners via one egg group. So far, Defense got the biggest boost (+40 from Aron). The final form adds another 100 stats on top. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Lairon to get Aron eggs using 81 partners from the Monster egg group.
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 9.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 7.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
The level-up pool tells the story here. Lairon learns Take Down and Iron Tail naturally, plus enough variety that TMs feel like bonuses. Normal and Ground coverage extends the reach beyond that.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Don't skip the egg moves. Lairon picks up Body Slam and Curse only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Head Smash and Iron Tail while coverage across 8 types adds range.
The level-up pool tells the story here. Lairon learns Take Down and Iron Tail naturally, plus enough variety that TMs feel like bonuses. Normal and Fighting coverage and more extends the reach beyond that.
Don't skip the egg moves. Lairon picks up Body Slam and Curse only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Head Smash and Iron Tail while coverage across 9 types adds range.
Lairon can't be caught in Legends: Z-A. Transfer Aron from Ruby, Emerald, or Brilliant Diamond and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
Lairon appears at moderate rates across 10 spots in endgame routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.
Where To Catch Lairon in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Aron is your first catch on the way to Lairon. You'll find walking and special encounters from Lv. 29-63 across 21 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch AronFuego IronworksBrilliant DiamondUsing PokeRadar Lv.29-30 Power-plant22%MidBig Bluff CavernBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameBig Bluff CavernShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameGlacial CavernShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameGlacial CavernBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameIcy CaveShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 IcePostPost-gameIcy CaveBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 IcePostPost-gameRocky CaveShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameRocky CaveBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameWhiteout CaveShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameWhiteout CaveBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-game
Step 2Lairon ✓Big Bluff CavernBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameBig Bluff CavernShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameGlacial CavernBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameGlacial CavernShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameIcy CaveShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 IcePostPost-gameIcy CaveBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 IcePostPost-gameRocky CaveShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameRocky CaveBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameWhiteout CaveShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameWhiteout CaveBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameor evolve from Aron (Step 1)
Can't catch Lairon directly. Start with Aron at decent rates from the locations below, then evolve at level 32. The 2-stage line from Aron to Lairon is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Lairon in Sword & Shield
Step 1Catch AronLakeside CaveSwordOverworld Lv.60-65 Cave20%PostAll WeatherLakeside CaveShieldOverworld Lv.60-65 Cave20%PostAll Weather
Step 2Lairon ✓
Lairon isn't available in the wild in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. Start by transferring Aron from Ruby, Emerald, or Brilliant Diamond. The evolution path from Aron to Lairon is covered in the steps below.
At 430 BST, Lairon is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Aggron before bringing it to any serious fight.
Watch for Blaziken (Fighting), Swampert (Ground), and Starmie (Water) when using Lairon. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Blaziken is the most dangerous since Fighting moves deal 4x damage. At base 40 Speed, Lairon won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.
Sturdy prevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. That's the one you want on Lairon. Heavy Metal is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses. Rock Head works too if your team needs something different.
Lairon is a physical attacker with base 90 Attack. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 40 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. Fits the trick room role.
Debuting in Ruby & Sapphire, Lairon appears in 15 games across 8 generations. A reliable presence in most mainline games, typically found through catching or hatching as a base form.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves