Iron Boulder

It takes the silhouette of Terrakion, a quadruped with a bovine appearance, but this species’ version looks as if it were built from metal and rock plates. The elongated blades on its head resemble a pointed shovel and reinforce its armoured battering-ram appearance. The result fits its English name, Iron Boulder, which combines “iron” and “boulder”.

The Pokédex entries link its origin to two conflicting accounts. In Scarlet, it resembles a Terrakion modified by a villainous organisation, according to a magazine of dubious credibility. In Violet, by contrast, it is named after a mysterious object described in an ancient book, and its body appears metallic. Neither version confirms that it is a future evolution of Terrakion; instead, it presents it as a Paradox Pokémon of uncertain origin.

It has the Rock and Psychic types, measures 1.5 m and weighs 162.5 kg. It does not evolve or come from another species, and its only recorded form is its normal form.

Iron Boulder’s performance is built around two figures: 120 Attack and 124 Speed. It also has 108 Special Defense, 90 HP and 80 Defense, while its Special Attack sits at 68. It is a fast physical attacker, not a Pokémon designed to endure long exchanges. In the Scarlet and Violet competitive environment, it appears in UUBL.

Quark Drive defines how it is used. In Electric Terrain or when holding Booster Energy, it raises its highest stat; in its case, Speed starts at 124 and is the natural candidate for the boost. Swords Dance turns a favourable switch-in into an immediate threat, Mighty Cleave provides reliable Rock STAB, and Close Combat or Earthquake cover targets that resist its main attacks. Psycho Cut supplies Psychic STAB and has a high critical-hit ratio.

The Rock/Psychic combination resists Normal-, Fire-, Flying-, Poison- and Psychic-type attacks, but it stacks weaknesses to Water, Grass, Ground, Steel, Bug, Ghost and Dark. That list limits its opportunities to switch in directly. Entry hazards reduce its room to come in, priority attacks can finish it off, and Pokémon such as Dondozo, Gliscor or Skarmory can stop its sweeping attempts if they have not been weakened first. It works best as a late-game attacker or as part of an offensive team that clears the way for it.

Iron Boulder belongs to the No Eggs Discovered Egg Group and has no gender, so it cannot take part in breeding or produce Eggs. Its 50 Egg Cycles are equivalent to approximately 13,005 steps, a figure that only affects Eggs obtained through external methods permitted by the game, not this species’ reproduction.

It does not evolve: there is no level, item or condition that changes its form. Its catch rate is 10, so catching it is difficult, and it is worth saving status conditions, weakening turns and suitable Poké Balls.

In Pokémon Violet, it can be found in Area Zero after progressing through The Indigo Disk story and accepting Briar’s request. It appears only once. In Scarlet, it cannot be obtained natively: it must be traded over from Violet, transferred through Pokémon HOME or received in a trade connected to the additional content The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero.