The Iron Armor Pokemon. Lairon has Sturdy guaranteeing surviving one hit, and Rock Head enables recoil-free Head Smash. A mid-stage tank on the way to Aggron.
Ability 1SturdyAbility 1Prevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. Protects against the one-hit KO moves regardless of HP.Ability 2Rock HeadAbility 2Protects against recoil damage.
430HP60Attack90Defense140Speed40Sp.Def50Sp.Atk50
Aron
Lairon
Aggron
Weak to
Immune to
Physical
Trick Room
UTier
40Speed · Very Slow

Lairon Best Moveset

Physical bulk reaches 140 Defense, absorbing attacks that would collapse most Pokemon. 90 Attack behind Steel and Rock TermStab fires at 40 Speed cooldowns with decent force. The moveset tanks and retaliates at a measured pace. Mega Aggron's 230 Defense waits one evolution ahead.

Evolution family tier history
SABCDEFE+DE+E+E+ERuby, Sapphire & EmeraldIIIRS/EDiamond, Pearl & PlatinumIVDP/PtPEAKBlack & White / B2W2VBW/B2W2X & Y / ORASVIXY/ORASSun & Moon / USUMVIISM/USUMSword & Shield / BDSPVIIISS/BDSPCURRENT
●Gen III — Ruby, Sapphire & EmeraldE+

Lairon saw minimal competitive use in Gen III (Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald). This marked Lairon's competitive debut. Its most popular set ran Rockhead with Choice Band, favoring a Adamant nature.

Received Sturdy and Rock Head
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 53
Double-Edge
Normal120POPULARCoverage
TM26
Earthquake
Ground100COMMONCoverage
Tutor
Rock Slide
Rock75COMMONSTAB
TM10
Hidden Power (Bug)
Bug60COMMONCoverage
Lv 21
Roar
Normal—COMMONUtility
TM6
Toxic
Poison—COMMONUtility
Lv 37
Protect
Normal—COMMONPriority
Lairon Ruby & Sapphire MovesLairon Emerald Moves
Experimental
Physical Wallbreaker
Ability
Rock Head
Item
Choice BandPOWER
Best Nature for Lairon
Adamant+ATK
EVs

Physical Wallbreaker Moveset

  • Double Edge
  • EarthquakeCoverage
  • Rock SlideSTAB
  • Hidden Power Bug

Recommended Teammates

Hitmonchan
HitmonchanGood
Golbat
GolbatGood
Diglett
DiglettGood
★Gen IV — Diamond, Pearl & PlatinumD

Lairon sat at D-Tier in Gen IV. This was Lairon's competitive peak. Its most popular set ran Rockhead with Life Orb, favoring a Adamant nature.

Physical/Special split overhauled move damage

Best Moves

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Xfer
Head Smash
Rock150COMMONSTAB
TM26
Earthquake
Ground100COMMONCoverage
Lv 29
Iron Head
Steel80COMMONSTAB
TM69
Rock Polish
Rock—COMMONSTAB
Tutor
Superpower
Fighting120RARECoverage
TM76
Stealth Rock
Rock—RARESTAB
Lairon Diamond & Pearl MovesLairon Platinum Moves

Best Build

Experimental
Physical Sweeper
Ability
Rock Head
Item
Life OrbPOWER
Best Nature for Lairon
Adamant+ATK

Lairon best EVs are Attack and Speed

EVs

Physical Sweeper Moveset

  • Head SmashSTAB
  • EarthquakeCoverage
  • Iron HeadSTAB
  • Rock PolishSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Luxray
LuxrayGood
Camerupt
CameruptDecent
Carnivine
CarnivineDecent
↓Gen V — Black & White / B2W2E+

Lairon saw minimal competitive use in Gen V (Black & White / B2W2). This was a decline from D-Tier in the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Rockhead with Eviolite, favoring a Impish nature.

Gained Heavy Metal as hidden abilityHidden Abilities became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Egg
Head Smash
Rock150COMMONSTAB
Egg
Stealth Rock
Rock—COMMONSTAB
Lv 25
Iron Head
Steel80COMMONSTAB
Egg
Curse
Ghost—RARESetup
TM26
Earthquake
Ground100RARECoverage
TM44
Rest
Psychic—RARERecovery
Lairon Black & White MovesLairon Black 2 & White 2 Moves
Experimental
Hazard Setter
Ability
Rock Head
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Lairon
Impish+DEF
EVs

Hazard Setter Moveset

  • Head SmashSTAB
  • Stealth RockSTAB
  • Iron HeadSTAB
  • CurseSetup

Recommended Teammates

Shelgon
ShelgonDecent
Fraxure
FraxureDecent
Beheeyem
BeheeyemDecent
→Gen VI — X & Y / ORASE+

Lairon saw minimal competitive use in Gen VI (X & Y / ORAS). Lairon maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Rockhead with Nothing, favoring a Adamant nature.

Fairy type added to the gameMega Evolution became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 10
Metal Claw
Steel50POPULARSTAB
Lv 31
Metal Sound
Steel—POPULARSTAB
Lv 39
Iron Defense
Steel—POPULARSTAB
Lv 43
Double-Edge
Normal120POPULARCoverage
Lairon X & Y MovesLairon ORAS Moves
Experimental
Physical Tank
Ability
Rock Head
Item
Nothing
Best Nature for Lairon
Adamant+ATK
EVs

Physical Tank Moveset

  • Metal ClawSTAB
  • Metal SoundSTAB
  • Iron DefenseSTAB
  • Double Edge

Recommended Teammates

Magmar
MagmarExcellent
Electabuzz
ElectabuzzExcellent
Ursaring
UrsaringExcellent
→Gen VII — Sun & Moon / USUME+

Lairon saw minimal competitive use in Gen VII (Sun & Moon / USUM). Lairon maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Rockhead with Eviolite, favoring a Adamant nature.

Z-Moves became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Egg
Head Smash
Rock150COMMONSTAB
Egg
Stealth Rock
Rock—COMMONSTAB
Lv 22
Iron Head
Steel80COMMONSTAB
TM26
Earthquake
Ground100COMMONCoverage
TM6
Toxic
Poison—RAREUtility
Lv 19
Roar
Normal—RAREUtility
Xfer
Hone Claws
Dark—RAREUtility
Lairon Sun & Moon MovesLairon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Moves
Experimental
Physical Tank
Ability
Rock Head
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Lairon
Adamant+ATK
EVs

Physical Tank Moveset

  • Head SmashSTAB
  • Stealth RockSTAB
  • Iron HeadSTAB
  • EarthquakeCoverage

Recommended Teammates

Gabite
GabiteGood
Kadabra
KadabraGood
Fraxure
FraxureDecent
→Gen VIII — Sword & Shield / BDSPE

Lairon saw minimal competitive use in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield / BDSP). Lairon maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Sturdy with Eviolite, favoring a Impish nature.

Gigantamax became availableDynamax became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TR76
Stealth Rock
Rock—COMMONSTAB
Lv 12
Roar
Normal—RAREUtility
Xfer
Curse
Ghost—RARESetup
TR10
Earthquake
Ground100RARECoverage
TR99
Body Press
Fighting80RARECoverage
Lv 64
Heavy Slam
Steel—RARESTAB
Xfer
Head Smash
Rock150RARESTAB
Lairon Sword & Shield MovesLairon BDSP Moves
Experimental
Hazard Setter
Ability
Sturdy
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Lairon
Impish+DEF
EVs

Hazard Setter Moveset

  • Stealth RockSTAB
  • RoarSLOW -6Utility
  • CurseSetup
  • EarthquakeCoverage

Lairon Weakness

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.

Lairon Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Fighting, Ground
2x (Weak)Water
0.5x (Resist)Ice, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Dragon, Fairy
0.25x (Resist)Normal, Flying
0x (Immune)Poison

What is Lairon Weak Against

Good
3Weak
8Resist
1Immune
Score+3
4xCritical
FightingGround
2xWeak
Water
½xResist
IcePsychicBugRockDragonFairy
¼xResist
NormalFlying
0xImmune
Poison

What is Lairon Strong Against

6Strong
1Resisted
0Immune
Score+5
2xStrong
FireIceFlyingBugRockFairy
½xResisted
Steel
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Lairon

Lucario can KO Lairon with Aura Sphere (305-359%). Gyarados's Earthquake also KOs at 134-158%.

Lucario
Lucario
FightingSteel
B
Landorus
Landorus
GroundFlying
B
Gyarados
Gyarados
WaterFlying
B

Evolution

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

3 Forms
Aron
#304Aron
32
Level 32
Lairon
#305Lairon
42
Level 42
Aggron
#306Aggron
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Aron
SteelRock
Lairon
SteelRock
Aggron
SteelRock
HP
50
60+10
70+10
ATK
70
90+20
110+20
DEF
100
140+40
180+40
SP.ATK
40
50+10
60+10
SP.DEF
40
50+10
60+10
SPE
30
40+10
50+10
BST
330C-Tier
430D-Tier+100
530B-Tier+100
ROLE
Balanced
Trick Room
Balanced
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Physical

Breeding

Moderate

Breed with Lairon to get Aron eggs using 81 partners from the Monster egg group.

Egg Groups
Monster
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
35 cycles·8,995 steps
Slow~9 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
venusaurcharizardblastoisenidokingmeganiumferaligatrampharossceptileswampertslowbrorhydonslowking
12 of 81·

Shiny Lairon

Lairon's gray armor plates turn green, keeping some of Aron's shiny energy alive even if the red didn't survive. The jade plating on a steel dinosaur has a jade warrior quality to it. Decent middle child, but everyone knows what happened to this line's shiny at the final stage.

Normal vs Shiny
Normal LaironNormal
Shiny Lairon Shiny
Color ShiftGray
Shiny TierB Tier Shiny

Shiny Lairon Evolution

3 Forms
Shiny Aron evolution
Stage 1Aron
Lv. 32
Shiny Lairon evolution
Stage 2Lairon
Lv. 42
Shiny Aggron evolution
Stage 3Aggron
Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

Shiny Lairon Odds & Hunting Methods

15 of 15 Verified
GameBest MethodOddsDifficulty
GameOmega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
MethodDexNav ChainingVictory Road (Area 1) · 20%
Odds1/37
Difficulty
GameSword & Shield
MethodDynamax Adventure (Max Lair)Best odds require Crown Tundra DLC
Odds1/100
Difficulty
GameUltra Sun & Ultra Moon
MethodMasuda Method
Odds1/512
Difficulty
GameBrilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
MethodMasuda Method (different-language egg)
Odds1/512
Difficulty
GameLegends: Z-A
MethodWild EncounterWild Zone 14 +5 moreBest odds require Mega Dimension DLC
Odds1/586
Difficulty
GameBlack 2 & White 2
MethodMasuda Method
Odds1/1024
Difficulty
GameBlack & White
MethodMasuda Method
Odds1/1365
Difficulty
GameDiamond & Pearl
MethodMasuda Method
Odds1/1638
Difficulty
GamePlatinum
MethodMasuda Method
Odds1/1638
Difficulty
GameHeartGold & SoulSilver
MethodMasuda Method
Odds1/1638
Difficulty
GameRuby & Sapphire
MethodBreeding
Odds1/8192
Difficulty
GameEmerald
MethodBreeding
Odds1/8192
Difficulty
GameX & Y
MethodPoke Radar ChainingTerminus Cave (1F) · 20%
Odds1/100
Difficulty
Shiny via transfer only
Not obtainable here — bring a shiny in from a game where it can be caught or bred.
GameSun & Moon
Method—
Odds—
Difficulty—
No shiny in these games
This Pokemon has no obtainable shiny form here.
GameFireRed & LeafGreen
MethodShiny locked
Odds—
Difficulty—
More dots = harder hunt1/200 Green = best verified rate
How do we research these odds?

We check every game where a shiny is possible, then rank each one by the best method available in that game, so the row at the top is the fastest route overall.

Odds marked verified are cross-checked against multiple independent sources before we publish them. Where a rate is not yet confirmed we mark the row pending rather than guess a number.

Read our full methodology

How to Get Lairon

All 15 games

An iron-plated Steel and Rock type, Lairon pushes deep into Lumiose's tougher Wild Zones, grinding through the open overworld from level 32 as high as level 49.

Where To Catch Lairon in LZA

To get Lairon, start by catching Aron through walking encounters at Lv. 20-40. The chain covers 3 catchable stages before reaching the final form.

  1. Aron
    Step 1Catch Aron
    Hyperspace Lumiose - Steel 2-Star
    Lv.20-22Grass
    Legends: Z-A
    Hyperspace Lumiose - Rock 3-Star
    Lv.23-25Grass
    Legends: Z-A
    Hyperspace Lumiose - Steel 3-Star
    Lv.23-25Grass
    Legends: Z-A
    Wild Zone 14
    Lv.28-30Overworld
    Legends: Z-A
  2. Lairon
    Step 2Lairon ✓
    Hyperspace Lumiose - Rock 3-Star
    Lv.32-34Grass
    Legends: Z-A
    Hyperspace Lumiose - Steel 3-Star
    Lv.32-34Grass
    Legends: Z-A
    Wild Zone 14
    Lv.38-39Overworld
    Legends: Z-A
    Hyperspace Lumiose - Rock 4-Star
    Lv.40-42Grass
    Legends: Z-A
    or evolve from Aron (Step 1)
  3. Aggron
    Step 3Catch or Evolve into Aggron
    Hyperspace Lumiose - Rock 4-Star
    Lv.42-44Grass
    Legends: Z-A
    Hyperspace Lumiose - Steel 4-Star
    Lv.42-44Grass
    Legends: Z-A
    Wild Zone 20
    Lv.54-55Overworld
    Legends: Z-A
    Hyperspace Lumiose
    Lv.55-57Grass
    Legends: Z-A
    or evolve from Lairon (Step 2)

Base Stats

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.

Base Stats
Above
HP60
C
Attack90
B
Defense140
A
Sp. Atk50
D
Sp. Def50
D
Speed40
D
Total430
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging90 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height0.9 m
2'11"Small
Weight120.0 kg
264.6 lbsHeavy
Base XP151
Average
Abilities
Sturdy
Prevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. Protects against the one-hit KO moves regardless of HP.
Rock Head
Protects against recoil damage.
Heavy MetalHidden Ability
Doubles the Pokémon's weight.
EV Yield
HPAtkDef+2SpASpDSpe
Defense training target
Pokedex Entry

Lairon live in mountains brimming with spring water and iron ore, so these Pokémon often came into conflict with humans in the past.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Lairon Guide

  • For a casual playthrough, Lairon works as a placeholder. Steel/Rock coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Aggron. That's where the stats start mattering.

Game Availability

Debuting in Ruby & Sapphire, Lairon appears in 15 games across 7 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

Explore

Where to go next after Lairon.

Next stepPokedexBrowse the full Pokedex for every gameSee Pokedex
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Want to tell us more?
What was most useful?
What could be improved?
Thanks for your feedback