Iron Defense

Type

Steel

Category

status

Power

—

Accuracy

—

PP

15

Priority

0

Target

self

Contact

No

Spread

No

Protect blocks

Yes

Wide Guard blocks

No

A utility move whose value depends on the team's gameplan and the tempo it creates.

• Metagross Mega
• Tyranitar Mega
• Glimmora Mega
• Steelix Mega
• Barbaracle Mega
• Heracross Mega
• Kingambit
• Chesnaught Mega
• Scizor Mega
• Falinks Mega
• Kommo O Totem
• Slowbro Mega
• Blastoise Mega
• Pinsir Mega
• Kommo O
• Archaludon
• Excadrill Mega
• Lucario Mega Z
• Lucario Mega
• Scrafty Mega
• Empoleon
• Crabominable Mega
• Scolipede Mega
• Golurk Mega
• Glimmora
• Blastoise Gmax
• Rhyperior
• Torterra
• Aggron Mega
• Mr Rime
• Sandaconda
• Aegislash Blade
• Blastoise
• Tyranitar
• Vanilluxe
• Ceruledge
• Skarmory Mega
• Armarouge
• Avalugg
• Avalugg Hisui
• Aggron
• Heracross
• Lycanroc Dusk
• Sandaconda Gmax
• Lycanroc Midnight
• Lycanroc Midday
• Sinistcha
• Scolipede
• Barbaracle
• Scizor
• Mawile Mega
• Steelix
• Slowking Galar
• Appletun
• Bastiodon
• Flapple
• Runerigus
• Chesnaught
• Orthworm
• Garganacl
• Excadrill
• Cofagrigus
• Falinks
• Crabominable
• Scrafty
• Appletun Gmax
• Slowbro Galar
• Aegislash Shield
• Flapple Gmax
• Corviknight Gmax
• Torkoal
• Lucario
• Metagross
• Slowbro
• Pinsir
• Aurorus
• Reuniclus
• Tyrantrum
• Mudsdale
• Klefki
• Slowking
• Toxapex
• Corviknight
• Forretress
• Golurk
• Skarmory
• Stunfisk Galar
• Araquanid
• Araquanid Totem
• Vivillon
• Mawile

Iron Defense is a Steel-type status move. It targets the user and has 15 PP. Iron Defense is a Steel-type status move. It targets the user and has 15 PP.

A utility move whose value depends on the team's gameplan and the tempo it creates.

Consider Iron Defense when your team needs the utility it provides rather than direct damage. Status moves define speed control, redirection, protection and disruption in VGC. Its value depends on whether your team can exploit the turns it creates. Check your team composition for Pokémon that benefit from the positioning or tempo it generates.

In team building, Iron Defense competes with other support and disruption options for a limited number of moveslots. Ask whether your team has enough offense to justify a utility move, and whether you have the speed or bulk to use it safely. Many successful teams run one or two status moves that enable the rest of the roster, so treat it as part of your overall gameplan rather than an afterthought.

Common mistakes with Iron Defense include: Using it without a clear plan for the turns it creates. Forgetting that Protect and Detect can block it, wasting a key turn. Not considering how redirectors like Follow Me and Rage Powder change targeting.

Protect and Detect block this move. These interactions are situational, so test them in the team builder and matchup analyzer before committing to the moveslot.

Use the tools below to test Iron Defense in a full team context and compare it with alternative options.

• Protect / Detect: blocks this move.
• Wide Guard: does not block this move.
• Follow Me / Rage Powder: spread moves are not redirected.
• Quick Guard: no effect (non-priority).