Iron Boulder
VGC Guide
Iron Boulder is the Rock-type future paradox Pokémon. Quark Drive boosts its highest stat (Attack) by +30% in Electric Terrain. Its signature Mighty Cleave (100 BP Rock-type) ignores opponent abilities — bypassing Levitate’s Ground immunity. Psychic Fangs additionally breaks Light Clay screens. A high-utility physical attacker for Electric Terrain teams.
Quark Drive: Electric Terrain Attack Boost
Quark Drive automatically activates in Electric Terrain, boosting the Pokémon’s highest stat by +30%. Iron Boulder’s highest stat is Attack (120), so Electric Terrain raises it to an effective 156 base. Without relying on terrain, holding Booster Energy auto-activates Quark Drive regardless of field conditions.
Mighty Cleave: Ability-Ignoring Rock Signature Move
Mighty Cleave is a 100 BP Rock-type physical move that completely ignores the target’s ability effects (equivalent to the Mold Breaker mechanic but for a single move). Levitate users like Miraidon and Landorus-Therian cannot use their ability to block Mighty Cleave. Psychic Fangs similarly bypasses abilities and additionally destroys Light Clay screens.
EV Spreads
Team Partners
Miraidon’s Hadron Engine sets Electric Terrain, continuously activating Iron Boulder’s Quark Drive. Both benefit under Electric Terrain. Miraidon provides special Electric output; Iron Boulder covers Rock and Psychic physical directions.
Iron Hands also gets Quark Drive in Electric Terrain, boosting its Defense. Together, Iron Boulder and Iron Hands cover Rock/Psychic and Fighting/Electric directions — almost no opponent can resist both simultaneously.
Fake Out enables safe Iron Boulder entry. Intimidate reduces opposing Attack, making Iron Boulder harder to KO. Parting Shot + Intimidate dual-reduction creates the ideal offensive tempo for Iron Boulder’s burst damage.
Iron Boulder already has 108 base Speed — Tailwind pushes it to 216, acting before almost every opponent. Prankster Taunt prevents screen setup and Trick Room, keeping the field fast and favorable for Iron Boulder.
How to Counter Iron Boulder
Steel resists Rock (×0.5) and is immune to Psychic. Tyranitar, Celesteela, or Gholdengo can safely absorb Iron Boulder’s two primary STAB moves and retaliate with Steel-type coverage.
Rillaboom’s Grassy Surge overrides Electric Terrain, disabling Quark Drive. Without Quark Drive, Iron Boulder’s effective Attack drops from 156 to 120, significantly reducing its threat level.
Iron Boulder’s Rock/Psychic typing creates weaknesses to Water ×2, Ground ×2, Steel ×2, Bug ×2, Ghost ×2, and Dark ×2 on the Psychic side. Water and Fighting are the most accessible super-effective attack directions.
Iron Boulder’s 108 base Speed is high but not untouchable. Choice Scarf Landorus-Therian (136×1.5) or Scarf Flutter Mane outspeeds Iron Boulder outside Tailwind. Speed control is the most reliable counter without Tailwind support.