[overview]
**Draft order**: Round 2 onwards
**Price range**: 15-16 points
**Overview**: Iron Moth is a strong special wallbreaker and sweeper that can serve as a terrifying Tera Captain. It boasts extremely high Special Attack, a solid Speed tier, and a wide variety of coverage moves that make it difficult to answer defensively. Its Quark Drive ability combined with Booster Energy also gives it the ability to further boost its Speed or Special Attack and sweep teams. However, its weakness to entry hazards, physical frailty, and reliance on Fiery Dance's inconsistent Special Attack boosts can sometimes hold it back on a roster that cannot properly support it.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Sweeper**: Iron Moth can boost its Speed with Booster Energy or Agility and can set up while attacking with Fiery Dance, turning it into a deadly sweeper that snowballs without giving foes free turns. Its strength as a special attacker and variety of coverage moves give it the tools to clean up a weakened team once it outspeeds the opposing Pokemon. Terastallizing can make Iron Moth even more threatening in this role, as it can break through typical checks and gain a new type of coverage as necessary for the matchup.
**Wallbreaker**: Iron Moth's strong Special Attack makes it a threatening special wallbreaker, especially when combined with Choice Specs or Booster Energy and strong STAB moves like Overheat and Fire Blast.
**Offensive pivot**: Iron Moth’s solid Speed and access to U-turn allow it to threaten KOs and pivot out on potential checks. It often runs Heavy-Duty Boots in this role, minimizing its weakness to Stealth Rock while switching in multiple times.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Fiery Dance, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Overheat, Sludge Wave
**Setup moves**: Agility
**Utility moves**: U-turn, Morning Sun, Substitute
**Coverage**: Air Slash, Bug Buzz, Dazzling Gleam, Discharge, Energy Ball, Flash Cannon, Hurricane, Psychic
Niche Moves
========
**Meteor Beam**: With Power Herb, Meteor Beam can give Iron Moth a unique Rock-type coverage option while providing a guaranteed method of boosting its Special Attack.
**Toxic Spikes**: In matchups where it struggles offensively, Iron Moth can sometimes take on a supportive role where it utilizes its special bulk and access to reliable recovery in Morning Sun to spread status with Toxic Spikes and wall opposing special attackers.
**Whirlwind**: Using Whirlwind allows Iron Moth to prevent the rare foes that it doesn’t offensively threaten from freely setting up on it.
**Acid Spray**: Acid Spray can punish special walls that attempt to check Iron Moth by dropping their Special Defense to levels where they cannot safely stay in against it.
**Fire Spin**: Fire Spin can trap foes and deal chip damage to them, allowing Iron Moth to attempt to set up on overly passive foes with Fiery Dance or force switch-ins to stay in while Iron Moth switches out to a teammate.
Common Items
========
**Booster Energy**: Running Booster Energy allows Iron Moth to boost either its Speed or Special Attack without being locked into a single move, giving it the freedom to sweep teams. This comes at the cost of only being usable once, sometimes making Booster Energy ineffective in matchups where Iron Moth is expected to come in several times.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots can give Iron Moth more longevity by removing its weakness to Stealth Rock.
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs further boost Iron Moth’s wallbreaking power, allowing it to fire off an extremely powerful Overheat.
**Choice Scarf**: A Choice Scarf can turn Iron Moth into effective speed control or a late-game cleaner.
**Damage-boosting items**: Iron Moth’s variety of coverage moves encourages it to use items that generally increase the power of its moves. It can use an Expert Belt well, since it can hit many Pokemon super effectively, or it can opt for a Life Orb instead for a larger power boost at the cost of its longevity. Charcoal or Poison Barb can also be used if you want to consistently boost the damage of Iron Moth's STAB moves while leaving its coverage moves usable.
Niche Items
========
**Assault Vest**: Iron Moth has high Special Defense and often runs only offensive moves, allowing it to comfortably run Assault Vest to further increase its special bulk.
**Air Balloon**: An Air Balloon can turn Iron Moth’s 4x weakness to Ground into a temporary immunity, enabling it to switch in on Ground-types and potentially KO them with a coverage move like Energy Ball.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries can allow Iron Moth to bait in threats that it would otherwise not be able to safely stay in against and KO them with a coverage move like Bug Buzz or Energy Ball. Shuca Berry is commonly run to compensate for its 4x weakness to Ground, but caution should be taken when using one, as Iron Moth often does not have enough bulk to survive an Earthquake from strong physical attackers even with the power reduction. Other types of resistance Berries are safer to run than a Shuca Berry because the attacks they protect against are less likely to KO Iron Moth even through the Berry’s activation.
**Power Herb**: A Power Herb can be used with Meteor Beam to provide Iron Moth's only guaranteed way of raising its Special Attack, as well as its only source of Rock-type coverage without Terastallizing. It can also be used with Solar Beam as a stronger Grass-type coverage move than Energy Ball at the cost of only being safely usable once.
**Eject Pack**: Holding an Eject Pack enables Iron Moth to pivot out once by using Overheat, simultaneously using a strong attack and generating momentum.
Tera
========
Iron Moth is very strong as a Tera Captain. Changing types can allow it to break through common checks such as bulky Water- or Ground Pokemon, and it often appreciates being able to get rid of its 4x weakness to Ground. Common Tera types for Iron Moth include Tera Fairy, Ground, and Grass. Depending on the matchup, Iron Moth can use these Tera types to hit targets that resist its STAB moves like Garchomp and Heatran or change type to avoid being KOed itself by checks like Palafin. It can also run various other Tera types to boost its wide array of coverage moves. Sets such as Tera Flying with Hurricane or Air Slash, Tera Electric with Discharge, and Tera Psychic with Psychic can be viable possibilities depending upon the matchup.
Draft Strategy
========
Iron Moth reaches its full potential as a Tera Captain, but it can easily serve as a special wallbreaker or sweeper without Terastallization. Although it is not overwhelmingly strong or versatile enough to justify taking as a first pick, it can be a highly threatening piece of a team with the proper support, leaving it as an excellent choice from the second round onwards.
**Ground resistances/immunities**: Iron Moth’s heavy weakness to Ground leaves it vulnerable to bulky Ground-types or coverage moves. At least one partner that can safely switch into Earthquakes is essential. Grass types like Ogerpon and Zarude are often good partners for Iron Moth, as they resist two of its weaknesses — Ground and Water — and offensively threaten those types in return.
**Entry hazard removal**: Iron Moth is weak to hazards, especially Stealth Rock, as it often prefers to run an offensive item over Heavy-Duty Boots. Having consistent hazard removal like Great Tusk or Iron Treads can free up Iron Moth to maximize its offensive potential.
**Entry hazard setting**: Although Iron Moth suffers from hazards on its side of the field, it greatly benefits from hazards on the opponent's side that chip away at enemy Pokemon so it can KO them. Some hazard setters that partner well with it include Landorus-T, Great Tusk, Swampert, and Ting-Lu.
**Physically defensive partners**: Iron Moth’s poor Defense can leave it vulnerable when faced with a physical attacker it cannot immediately KO. In these situations, it benefits from being able to switch or U-turn into a teammate that can take the physical hit for it and punish the attacker. Some examples of Pokemon that can accomplish this well are Landorus-T, Rotom-W, and defensive Zapdos.
**Pivoting**: Iron Moth appreciates opportunities to take the field without taking an attack first. Offensive pivots like Zapdos or slow, bulky pivots like Slowking and Corviknight can give it the chances it needs to come in and break open the opponent's team.
Checks and Counters
========
**Specially bulky Pokemon**: Iron Moth often cannot withstand super effective attacks, especially physical ones. If an opposing Pokemon is able to survive Iron Moth’s own attacks and attack back, it can be forced to switch out or be KOed. Galarian Slowking is a prime example of this, as it can easily take Iron Moth’s attacks and use Future Sight and pivot out or simply KO it with Psychic or Psyshock. Pokemon that can artificially increase their special bulk with an Assault Vest like Hisuian Samurott or Hisuian Goodra can also be dangerous for this reason.
**Entry hazards**: Only some Iron Moth sets run Heavy-Duty Boots, with its strongest wallbreaker and sweeper sets normally running more offense-oriented items like Choice Specs or Booster Energy. Combined with its weakness to Stealth Rock, this can limit the number of times Iron Moth can take the field if it does not sacrifice its offensive potential by running Heavy-Duty Boots.
**Faster threats**: Although Iron Moth is already fast and can boost its Speed further with Booster Energy or Choice Scarf, its poor physical bulk can leave it in bad positions against opposing Pokemon that can outspeed it, such as Booster Energy Iron Boulder, or against strong priority moves, like Palafin’s Jet Punch. This problem is further exacerbated if it is not running a Speed-boosting item.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solunar11.470115/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno6377.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dartrix-joker.356084
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
**Draft order**: Round 2 onwards
**Price range**: 15-16 points
**Overview**: Iron Moth is a strong special wallbreaker and sweeper that can serve as a terrifying Tera Captain. It boasts extremely high Special Attack, a solid Speed tier, and a wide variety of coverage moves that make it difficult to answer defensively. Its Quark Drive ability combined with Booster Energy also gives it the ability to further boost its Speed or Special Attack and sweep teams. However, its weakness to entry hazards, physical frailty, and reliance on Fiery Dance's inconsistent Special Attack boosts can sometimes hold it back on a roster that cannot properly support it.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Sweeper**: Iron Moth can boost its Speed with Booster Energy or Agility and can set up while attacking with Fiery Dance, turning it into a deadly sweeper that snowballs without giving foes free turns. Its strength as a special attacker and variety of coverage moves give it the tools to clean up a weakened team once it outspeeds the opposing Pokemon. Terastallizing can make Iron Moth even more threatening in this role, as it can break through typical checks and gain a new type of coverage as necessary for the matchup.
**Wallbreaker**: Iron Moth's strong Special Attack makes it a threatening special wallbreaker, especially when combined with Choice Specs or Booster Energy and strong STAB moves like Overheat and Fire Blast.
**Offensive pivot**: Iron Moth’s solid Speed and access to U-turn allow it to threaten KOs and pivot out on potential checks. It often runs Heavy-Duty Boots in this role, minimizing its weakness to Stealth Rock while switching in multiple times.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Fiery Dance, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Overheat, Sludge Wave
**Setup moves**: Agility
**Utility moves**: U-turn, Morning Sun, Substitute
**Coverage**: Air Slash, Bug Buzz, Dazzling Gleam, Discharge, Energy Ball, Flash Cannon, Hurricane, Psychic
Niche Moves
========
**Meteor Beam**: With Power Herb, Meteor Beam can give Iron Moth a unique Rock-type coverage option while providing a guaranteed method of boosting its Special Attack.
**Toxic Spikes**: In matchups where it struggles offensively, Iron Moth can sometimes take on a supportive role where it utilizes its special bulk and access to reliable recovery in Morning Sun to spread status with Toxic Spikes and wall opposing special attackers.
**Whirlwind**: Using Whirlwind allows Iron Moth to prevent the rare foes that it doesn’t offensively threaten from freely setting up on it.
**Acid Spray**: Acid Spray can punish special walls that attempt to check Iron Moth by dropping their Special Defense to levels where they cannot safely stay in against it.
**Fire Spin**: Fire Spin can trap foes and deal chip damage to them, allowing Iron Moth to attempt to set up on overly passive foes with Fiery Dance or force switch-ins to stay in while Iron Moth switches out to a teammate.
Common Items
========
**Booster Energy**: Running Booster Energy allows Iron Moth to boost either its Speed or Special Attack without being locked into a single move, giving it the freedom to sweep teams. This comes at the cost of only being usable once, sometimes making Booster Energy ineffective in matchups where Iron Moth is expected to come in several times.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots can give Iron Moth more longevity by removing its weakness to Stealth Rock.
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs further boost Iron Moth’s wallbreaking power, allowing it to fire off an extremely powerful Overheat.
**Choice Scarf**: A Choice Scarf can turn Iron Moth into effective speed control or a late-game cleaner.
**Damage-boosting items**: Iron Moth’s variety of coverage moves encourages it to use items that generally increase the power of its moves. It can use an Expert Belt well, since it can hit many Pokemon super effectively, or it can opt for a Life Orb instead for a larger power boost at the cost of its longevity. Charcoal or Poison Barb can also be used if you want to consistently boost the damage of Iron Moth's STAB moves while leaving its coverage moves usable.
Niche Items
========
**Assault Vest**: Iron Moth has high Special Defense and often runs only offensive moves, allowing it to comfortably run Assault Vest to further increase its special bulk.
**Air Balloon**: An Air Balloon can turn Iron Moth’s 4x weakness to Ground into a temporary immunity, enabling it to switch in on Ground-types and potentially KO them with a coverage move like Energy Ball.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries can allow Iron Moth to bait in threats that it would otherwise not be able to safely stay in against and KO them with a coverage move like Bug Buzz or Energy Ball. Shuca Berry is commonly run to compensate for its 4x weakness to Ground, but caution should be taken when using one, as Iron Moth often does not have enough bulk to survive an Earthquake from strong physical attackers even with the power reduction. Other types of resistance Berries are safer to run than a Shuca Berry because the attacks they protect against are less likely to KO Iron Moth even through the Berry’s activation.
**Power Herb**: A Power Herb can be used with Meteor Beam to provide Iron Moth's only guaranteed way of raising its Special Attack, as well as its only source of Rock-type coverage without Terastallizing. It can also be used with Solar Beam as a stronger Grass-type coverage move than Energy Ball at the cost of only being safely usable once.
**Eject Pack**: Holding an Eject Pack enables Iron Moth to pivot out once by using Overheat, simultaneously using a strong attack and generating momentum.
Tera
========
Iron Moth is very strong as a Tera Captain. Changing types can allow it to break through common checks such as bulky Water- or Ground Pokemon, and it often appreciates being able to get rid of its 4x weakness to Ground. Common Tera types for Iron Moth include Tera Fairy, Ground, and Grass. Depending on the matchup, Iron Moth can use these Tera types to hit targets that resist its STAB moves like Garchomp and Heatran or change type to avoid being KOed itself by checks like Palafin. It can also run various other Tera types to boost its wide array of coverage moves. Sets such as Tera Flying with Hurricane or Air Slash, Tera Electric with Discharge, and Tera Psychic with Psychic can be viable possibilities depending upon the matchup.
Draft Strategy
========
Iron Moth reaches its full potential as a Tera Captain, but it can easily serve as a special wallbreaker or sweeper without Terastallization. Although it is not overwhelmingly strong or versatile enough to justify taking as a first pick, it can be a highly threatening piece of a team with the proper support, leaving it as an excellent choice from the second round onwards.
**Ground resistances/immunities**: Iron Moth’s heavy weakness to Ground leaves it vulnerable to bulky Ground-types or coverage moves. At least one partner that can safely switch into Earthquakes is essential. Grass types like Ogerpon and Zarude are often good partners for Iron Moth, as they resist two of its weaknesses — Ground and Water — and offensively threaten those types in return.
**Entry hazard removal**: Iron Moth is weak to hazards, especially Stealth Rock, as it often prefers to run an offensive item over Heavy-Duty Boots. Having consistent hazard removal like Great Tusk or Iron Treads can free up Iron Moth to maximize its offensive potential.
**Entry hazard setting**: Although Iron Moth suffers from hazards on its side of the field, it greatly benefits from hazards on the opponent's side that chip away at enemy Pokemon so it can KO them. Some hazard setters that partner well with it include Landorus-T, Great Tusk, Swampert, and Ting-Lu.
**Physically defensive partners**: Iron Moth’s poor Defense can leave it vulnerable when faced with a physical attacker it cannot immediately KO. In these situations, it benefits from being able to switch or U-turn into a teammate that can take the physical hit for it and punish the attacker. Some examples of Pokemon that can accomplish this well are Landorus-T, Rotom-W, and defensive Zapdos.
**Pivoting**: Iron Moth appreciates opportunities to take the field without taking an attack first. Offensive pivots like Zapdos or slow, bulky pivots like Slowking and Corviknight can give it the chances it needs to come in and break open the opponent's team.
Checks and Counters
========
**Specially bulky Pokemon**: Iron Moth often cannot withstand super effective attacks, especially physical ones. If an opposing Pokemon is able to survive Iron Moth’s own attacks and attack back, it can be forced to switch out or be KOed. Galarian Slowking is a prime example of this, as it can easily take Iron Moth’s attacks and use Future Sight and pivot out or simply KO it with Psychic or Psyshock. Pokemon that can artificially increase their special bulk with an Assault Vest like Hisuian Samurott or Hisuian Goodra can also be dangerous for this reason.
**Entry hazards**: Only some Iron Moth sets run Heavy-Duty Boots, with its strongest wallbreaker and sweeper sets normally running more offense-oriented items like Choice Specs or Booster Energy. Combined with its weakness to Stealth Rock, this can limit the number of times Iron Moth can take the field if it does not sacrifice its offensive potential by running Heavy-Duty Boots.
**Faster threats**: Although Iron Moth is already fast and can boost its Speed further with Booster Energy or Choice Scarf, its poor physical bulk can leave it in bad positions against opposing Pokemon that can outspeed it, such as Booster Energy Iron Boulder, or against strong priority moves, like Palafin’s Jet Punch. This problem is further exacerbated if it is not running a Speed-boosting item.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solunar11.470115/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno6377.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dartrix-joker.356084
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
Last edited:
