Iron Hands is one of the best options in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet for tackling Tera Raid battles. The Pokemon has an incredible attack stat paired with respectable bulk that makes it an ideal mix of offense and survivability.
Even before Paradox Pokemon became available in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet ranked battling, those who play online got to see a whole lot of Iron Hands, the Paradox version of Hariyama. The Pokemon has become a go-to for five and six-star Tera Raid battles thanks to its one-hit knockout potential.
With 140 base attack, Iron Hands has one of the highest base attack stats of any non-legendary Pokemon. On top of that, it has access to the incredible Belly Drum move, which turns even the comparatively weak Azumarill into a beast. With the right build, Iron Hands can help players farm all the Herba Mysticas, EXP Candies, and Tera Shards they can dream of.
Best Iron Hands Build for Tera Raids in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
The best Iron Hands build maximizes the Pokemon’s attack stat, allowing it to deliver a one-hit knockout to raid bosses after using Belly Drum. Though its Sp. Def stat can be a liability, good HP investment and the Drain Punch move can keep it alive, even if things start going sideways. Here are the key facets of an Iron Hands Tera Raid build:
- Ability: Quark Drive
- Nature: Adamant
- EVs: 252 HP, 252 Attack, 6 Sp. Def
- Item: Booster Energy
- Tera Type: Fighting
Though Iron hands has an incredible attack stat, its highest base stat is actually its 154 HP. Its solid Fighting/Electric typing leaves it with just three weaknesses and no double weaknesses that can reliably threaten a one-hit knockout.
Players can maximize HP and attack by giving it 26 HP Ups, 26 Proteins, and one Zinc. These can be easily purchased at the Chansey Supply store in Mesagoza. To top it off, give it an Adamant Mint to give it the ideal Adamant nature.
Booster Energy is the go-to held item for any hard-hitting Paradox Pokemon. For Iron Hands, it bolsters its attack even higher, upping its firepower even more.
Best Iron Hands Moves
Iron Hands’ best moves for Tera Raid battles include Belly Drum, Drain Punch, and two coverage options. Here is the best catch-all move set:
- Belly Drum
- Drain Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Earthquake / Play Rough / Ice Punch
Belly Drum maximizes Iron Hands’ attack stat at the expense of half its HP. While that’s a significant price tag, it’s the equivalent of using Swords Dance three times in one turn. After using Belly Drum, Iron Hands can almost certainly gain all its HP back by using Drain Punch.
Thunder Punch is a good STAB electric option for Iron Hands. It lacks the power of Wild Charge but adds a chance of paralysis and drops the recoil damage.
To round out the move set, Earthquake, Play Rough, and Ice Punch are all reasonable choices. Each of these offers super-effective options against at least two more types.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are available now on Nintendo Switch.