Lairon is the mid-stage grind to B-Tier Aggron in Emerald. Rock Head prevents recoil at D-Tier, and the evolution comes at level 42.
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
Physical
Trick Room
40Speed · Very Slow

Is Lairon Good in Emerald Playthrough?

Steel/Rock mid-stage with growing Defense. AbilityRock Head for recoil-free MoveDouble-Edge. Lairon handles Winona and contributes through the gym stretch. Aggron at 42 is the late payoff. The Defense keeps Lairon alive through fights it can't end quickly.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadGTEEEEEEGEGGTRoxanneGym 1BrawlyGym 2AronCatchableWattsonGym 3FlanneryGym 4NormanGym 5WinonaGym 6LaironEvolveTate & LizaGym 7AggronEvolveJuanGym 8SidneyE4PhoebeE4GlaciaE4DrakeE4WallaceChamp*
Roxanne
Gym 1
Good

Aron has the type edge here and should clean up Roxanne's team.

You Win
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
You Win
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
You Win
Nosepass
Lv 15
Rock
Sturdy
BlockHardenTackleRock Tomb
Brawly
Gym 2
Tough

Brawly's team hits Aron's weaknesses hard.

Even
Machop
Lv 16
Fighting
Guts
Karate ChopLow KickSeismic TossBulk Up
Risky
Meditite
Lv 16
FightingPsychic
Pure Power
Focus PunchLight ScreenReflectBulk Up
Even
Makuhita
Lv 19
Fighting
Thick Fat
Arm ThrustVital ThrowReversalBulk Up
Wattson
Gym 3
Even

Aron trades roughly evenly with Wattson's team.

Even
Voltorb
Lv 20
Electric
Soundproof
RolloutSparkSelf DestructShock Wave
Even
Electrike
Lv 20
Electric
Static
Shock WaveLeerQuick AttackHowl
Risky
Magneton
Lv 22
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicShock WaveThunder WaveSonic Boom
Risky
Manectric
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Quick AttackThunder WaveShock WaveHowl
Flannery
Gym 4
Even

Aron trades roughly evenly with Flannery's team.

Even
Numel
Lv 24
FireGround
Oblivious
OverheatTake DownMagnitudeSunny Day
You Win
Slugma
Lv 24
Fire
Magma Armor
OverheatSmogLight ScreenSunny Day
Risky
Camerupt
Lv 26
FireGround
Magma Armor
OverheatTackleSunny DayAttract
Even
Torkoal
Lv 29
Fire
White Smoke
OverheatSunny DayBody SlamAttract
Norman
Gym 5
Even

Aron trades roughly evenly with Norman's team.

You Win
Spinda
Lv 27
Normal
Own Tempo
Teeter DancePsybeamFacadeEncore
Even
Vigoroth
Lv 27
Normal
Vital Spirit
SlashFacadeEncoreFeint Attack
You Win
Linoone
Lv 29
Normal
Pickup
SlashBelly DrumFacadeHeadbutt
Even
Slaking
Lv 31
Normal
Truant
CounterYawnFacadeFeint Attack
Winona
Gym 6
Even

Aron trades roughly evenly with Winona's team.

You Win
Swablu
Lv 29
NormalFlying
Natural Cure
Perish SongMirror MoveSafeguardAerial Ace
Even
Tropius
Lv 29
GrassFlying
Chlorophyll
Sunny DayAerial AceSolar BeamSynthesis
Even
Pelipper
Lv 30
WaterFlying
Keen Eye
Water GunSupersonicProtectAerial Ace
Even
Skarmory
Lv 31
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
Sand AttackFury AttackSteel WingAerial Ace
Even
Altaria
Lv 33
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
EarthquakeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Tate & Liza
Gym 7
Even

Lairon trades roughly evenly with Tate & Liza's team.

Risky
Claydol
Lv 41
GroundPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
EarthquakeAncient PowerPsychicLight Screen
You Win
Xatu
Lv 41
PsychicFlying
Synchronize
PsychicSunny DayConfuse RayCalm Mind
You Win
Lunatone
Lv 42
RockPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Light ScreenPsychicHypnosisCalm Mind
You Win
Solrock
Lv 42
RockPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Sunny DaySolar BeamPsychicFlamethrower
Juan
Gym 8
Even

Aggron trades roughly evenly with Juan's team.

Even
Luvdisc
Lv 41
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseAttractSweet KissFlail
Even
Whiscash
Lv 41
WaterGround
Oblivious
Rain DanceWater PulseAmnesiaEarthquake
You Win
Sealeo
Lv 43
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamAurora BeamWater Pulse
Even
Crawdaunt
Lv 43
WaterDark
Hyper Cutter
Water PulseCrabhammerTauntLeer
Risky
Kingdra
Lv 46
WaterDragon
Swift Swim
Water PulseDouble TeamIce BeamRest
Sidney
Elite Four
Good

Aggron has the type edge here and should clean up Sidney's team.

You Win
Mightyena
Lv 46
Dark
Intimidate
RoarDouble EdgeSand AttackCrunch
You Win
Shiftry
Lv 48
GrassDark
Chlorophyll
TormentDouble TeamSwaggerExtrasensory
Easy KO
Cacturne
Lv 46
GrassDark
Sand Veil
Leech SeedFeint AttackNeedle ArmCotton Spore
Risky
Crawdaunt
Lv 48
WaterDark
Hyper Cutter
SurfSwords DanceStrengthFacade
You Win
Absol
Lv 49
Dark
Pressure
Aerial AceRock SlideSwords DanceSlash
Phoebe
Elite Four
Even

Aggron trades roughly evenly with Phoebe's team.

You Win
Dusclops
Lv 48
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow PunchConfuse RayCurseProtect
Even
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallGrudgeWill O WispFeint Attack
You Win
Sableye
Lv 50
DarkGhost
Keen Eye
Shadow BallDouble TeamNight ShadeFeint Attack
Even
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallPsychicThunderboltFacade
Even
Dusclops
Lv 51
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow BallIce BeamRock SlideEarthquake
Glacia
Elite Four
Good

Aggron has the type edge here and should clean up Glacia's team.

Easy KO
Sealeo
Lv 50
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamHailIce Ball
You Win
Glalie
Lv 50
Ice
Inner Focus
Light ScreenCrunchIcy WindIce Beam
Easy KO
Sealeo
Lv 52
IceWater
Thick Fat
AttractDouble EdgeHailBlizzard
You Win
Glalie
Lv 52
Ice
Inner Focus
Shadow BallExplosionHailIce Beam
Even
Walrein
Lv 53
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamIce BeamSheer Cold
Drake
Elite Four
Good

Aggron has the type edge here and should clean up Drake's team.

You Win
Shelgon
Lv 52
Dragon
Rock Head
Rock TombDragon ClawProtectDouble Edge
You Win
Altaria
Lv 54
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
Double EdgeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Risky
Kingdra
Lv 53
WaterDragon
Swift Swim
SmokescreenDragon DanceSurfBody Slam
Even
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
FlamethrowerCrunchDragon BreathEarthquake
You Win
Salamence
Lv 55
DragonFlying
Intimidate
FlamethrowerDragon ClawRock SlideCrunch
Wallace
Champion
Tough

Wallace's team hits Aggron's weaknesses hard.

Even
Wailord
Lv 57
Water
Water Veil
Rain DanceWater SpoutDouble EdgeBlizzard
Risky
Tentacruel
Lv 55
WaterPoison
Clear Body
ToxicHydro PumpSludge BombIce Beam
Risky
Ludicolo
Lv 56
WaterGrass
Swift Swim
Giga DrainSurfLeech SeedDouble Team
Even
Whiscash
Lv 56
WaterGround
Oblivious
EarthquakeSurfAmnesiaHyper Beam
Even
Gyarados
Lv 56
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon DanceEarthquakeHyper BeamSurf
Risky
Milotic
Lv 58
Water
Marvel Scale
RecoverSurfIce BeamToxic

Catch Aron

Available after Badge 2
Type
SteelRock
Tier
E

Catch Aron in Granite Cave (walking, Lv 7-8, uncommon).

View Aron locations

Evolve Aron to Lairon

Level 32
Type
SteelRock
Tier
E

Aron evolves into Lairon at Level 32. Your Aron should hit Level 32 before you reach Tate & Liza, at typical leveling pace.

View Lairon locations

Recommended Moves

  • STARTING (Lv 32)
    • LV 32SteelIron TailPower 150Accuracy 75%PP 15
    • LV 32NormalTake DownPower 90Accuracy 85%PP 20
  • After Wattson
  • After Flannery
    • TM06PoisonToxicPower —Accuracy 85%PP 10Fiery Path
  • After Tate & Liza
    • LV 53NormalDouble-EdgePower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15
  • Post-Game

Evolve Lairon to Aggron

Level 42
Type
SteelRock
Tier
B

Lairon evolves into Aggron at Level 42. Your Lairon should hit Level 42 before you reach Juan, at typical leveling pace.

Recommended Moves

How to Get Lairon in Emerald

Lairon walks Victory Road wild in the low 40s, so the middle stage is catchable right at the end. Most players get there sooner by evolving a Granite Cave Aron at level 32 instead of waiting.

Wild Lairon may be holding when caught:

Hard Stone (5% chance) A hold item that raises the power of ROCK-type moves.

1 location to catch Lairon

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 8

Where To Catch Lairon in E

Aron gets you Lairon sooner: catch it (before Badge 2) and evolve it at Lv 32. Wild Lairon first appears at Victory Road (after Badge 8).

  1. Aggron
    Step 3Evolve into Aggron
    BREEDING
    Available
    Leave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Aron egg.

Want the exact numbers? Work out your catch odds in Emerald for Lairon.

How to Get Shiny Lairon in Emerald

Lairon patrols Victory Road at a steady clip; battle through the cave's winding corridors, chaining encounters until the middle-stage armor Pokemon turns up shiny. Compare Shiny Lairon odds across every game

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Lairon in EmeraldNormal
Shiny Lairon in Emerald Shiny
Color ShiftGray
Shiny TierB Tier Shiny

Shiny Lairon Evolution

3 Forms
Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

Emerald Shiny Lairon Calculator

2 Methods
Shiny Odds

Both methods here share the same odds, about 1 in 8,192 on each try. Pick whichever fits how you play.

Step 1 · Encounter Method2 in Emerald

Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.

Breeding: Hatch eggs of this line; each egg rolls at the base shiny rate (no Masuda before Gen IV).

How many you have done, or plan to do.

120,000
Shiny Odds Per Try1 / 8,192Full Odds
Chance By Now50.0%at 5,678 encountersAbout 5 in 10 hunters have one by now
What To Expect
ChanceEncountersTime
10%lucky few864----
25%one in four2,357----
50%coin flip5,678----
90%very likely18,862----
How is this calculated?

Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.

chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N,  where  p = 1 / odds per try

Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.

The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.

These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.

Where these shiny odds come from: Read our full methodology

Curious how fast a hunt could go? Work out your Emerald shiny odds for Lairon.

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 9 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, Ghost, Dragon, Dark
0.25x (Resist)Normal, Flying
0x (Immune)Poison
Gen III Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move

What is Lairon Weak Against

Good
3Weak
9Resist
1Immune
Score+4

What is Lairon Strong Against

5Strong
1Resisted
0Immune
Score+4
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Lairon

Groudon
Groudon
Ground
S
Breloom
Breloom
GrassFighting
B
Heracross
Heracross
BugFighting
A
Hariyama
Hariyama
Fighting
B
Blaziken
Blaziken
FireFighting
B

Lairon Evolutions

Lairon sits between Aron and Aggron in this three-stage line. Not the final form yet. For breeding, slow to hatch with a decent partner pool 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
330E-Tier
430E-Tier+100
530B-Tier+100
ROLE
Balanced
Trick Room
Balanced
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Physical

Breeding

Moderate

Breed with Lairon to get Aron eggs using 49 partners from the Monster egg group. Notable egg moves include Body Slam, Endeavor, Smelling Salts and 1 more.

Egg Groups
Monster
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
35 cycles·8,995 steps
Slow~9 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
4moves
Breed With (best first)
venusaurcharizardblastoisenidokingmeganiumferaligatrampharossceptileswampertslowbrorhydonslowking

E Lairon Best Moveset

Improved bulk over Aron but still held back by the 4x Ground and Fighting weaknesses. The moveset runs physical Steel and Rock TermStab while building toward Aggron.

Best Build

Experimental
Physical Wallbreaker
Ability
Rock Head
Item
Choice BandPOWER
Best Nature for Lairon

Lairon best EVs are Attack and HP

EVs

Physical Wallbreaker Moveset

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

Moves List

Don't skip the egg moves. Lairon picks up Body Slam and Endeavor only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Iron Tail and Rock Slide while coverage across 7 types adds range.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Harden
C——30Normal
Lv 1
Headbutt
C7010015Normal
Lv 1
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Lv 1
Tackle
D3510035Normal
Lv 4
Harden
C——30Normal
Lv 7
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Lv 10
Headbutt
C7010015Normal
Lv 13
Metal Claw
—759535Steel
Lv 17
Iron Defense
———15Steel
Lv 21
Roar-6
B——20Normal
Lv 25
Take Down
C908520Normal
Lv 29
Iron Tail
C1507515Steel
Lv 37
Protect+4
B——10Normal
Lv 45
Metal Sound
——8540Steel
Lv 53
Double-Edge
S12010015Normal

TM Moves

All 24 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM40D60—20Flying
TM45
AttractVerdanturf Townbadge 2
——10015Normal
TM28
DigRoute 114badge 3
C6010010Ground
TM32
Double TeamRoute 113badge 2
———15Normal
TM26
EarthquakeSeafloor Cavernnot until badge 7
B10010010Ground
TM42C7010020Normal
TM21
FrustrationPacifidlog Townbadge 5
D—10020Normal
TM10
Hidden PowerFortree Citybadge 3
—6010015Normal
TM23
Iron TailMeteor Fallsnot until badge 8
C1507515Steel
TM17B——10Normal
TM18
Rain DanceAbandoned Shipnot until badge 7
C——5Water
TM44
RestLilycove Citybadge 5
C——10Psychic
TM27
ReturnFallarbor Townbadge 3
D—10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6Route 114badge 3
B——20Normal
HM06D2010015Fighting
TM39C909510Rock
TM37
SandstormRoute 111badge 4
D——10Rock
TM43
Secret PowerRoute 111badge 3
—7010020Normal
TM34D60—20Electric
HM04—8010015Normal
TM11
Sunny DayScorched Slabbadge 5
C——5Fire
TM06
ToxicFiery Pathbadge 4
B—8510Poison
TM03
Water PulsePrize for defeating Juannot until badge 8
D6010020Water

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
Egg
Endeavor
D—1005Normal
Egg
Smelling Salts
C7010010Normal
Egg
Stomp
D6510020Normal

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
Tutor
Defense Curl
D——40Normal
Tutor
Double-Edge
S12010015Normal
Tutor
Endure+4
C——10Normal
Tutor
Fury Cutter
—109520Bug
Tutor
Mimic
D——10Normal
Tutor
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Tutor
Rock Slide
B1129010Rock
Tutor
Rollout
—459020Rock
Tutor
Sleep Talk
D——10Normal
Tutor
Snore
—4010015Normal
Tutor
Substitute
C——10Normal
Tutor
Swagger
D—9015Normal

Base Stats

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
Weight120.0 kg
Base XP151
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.
EV Yield
HPAtkDef+2SpASpDSpe
Defense training target
Pokedex Entry

When two LAIRON meet in the wild, they fight for territory by bashing into each other with their steel bodies. The sound of their collision carries for miles.

Pokemon Emerald

Lairon Emerald Guide

  • Yes. Wild Lairon in Emerald can hold Hard Stone (5%). Use Thief (TM46) or Covet to swipe the held item without affecting your catch chance. Quickest way to farm rare items like Hard Stone.

  • In Emerald, 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.

  • In Emerald, use Lairon as a trick room. Physical side carries the damage. It's slow, so Trick Room or priority moves are key.

  • For Emerald, run Adamant on Lairon. +Attack is what matters, and the -Sp. Atk cut doesn't hurt this set. Fits the trick room role.

  • For Emerald, build your team around Hitmonchan, Golbat, and Diglett. These have the highest co-usage rates with Lairon in competitive formats. They cover each other's weaknesses.

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.

Explore

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