Stats & Training
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.
Lairon live in mountains brimming with spring water and iron ore, so these Pokémon often came into conflict with humans in the past.
During territorial disputes, Lairon fight by slamming into each other. Close inspection of their steel armor reveals scratches and dents.
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.
| 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 |
In Sword & Shield, Excadrill can KO Lairon with Earthquake (195-230%). Cobalion threatens a KO with Close Combat (176-207%). Slowking's Scald also KOs at 115-136%.
 Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Lairon View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 4x195-230%KO Rapid Spin4-5% | ||
 Cobalion SteelFighting | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemRocky Helmet NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Lairon View Cobalion builds →Close Combat 4x176-207%KO | ||
 Slowking WaterPsychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemColbur Berry NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Lairon View Slowking builds →Scald 2x115-136%KO | ||
 Lucario FightingSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Lairon View Lucario builds →Bullet Punch20-23% Aura Sphere 4x305-359%KO Extreme Speed6-7% | ||
 Landorus Ground | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySheerforce ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Lairon View Landorus builds →Psychic39-46% | ||
Sword & Shield 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
Breeding
Breed with Lairon to get Aron eggs using 64 partners from the Monster egg group.
Sword & Shield Lairon Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.
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 Fighting coverage and more extends the reach beyond that.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Lairon in Sword & Shield
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 Guide
At 430 BST, Lairon is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Aggron before bringing it to any serious fight.
In Sword & Shield, 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.
Game Availability
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