Pokemon Sword and Shield

Ferrothorn - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Ferrothorn.png
This is a strategy guide for using Ferrothorn in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Ferrothorn, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Ferrothorn - Related Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Ferrothorn Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SWSH - Ferrothorn Best BuildBuild for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Ferrothorn

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Grass Type Pokemon Sword and Shield - Steel Type
Abilities
Iron Barbs Inflicts damage to the Pokemon on contact.
Anticipation (Hidden) Senses a foe's dangerous moves.

Ferrothorn Weaknesses and Resistances

Type
Takes 4x damage
Pokemon Fire Image
Takes 2x damage
Pokemon Fighting Image
Takes 0.5x damage
Pokemon Normal Image Pokemon Water Image Pokemon Electric Image Pokemon Psychic Image Pokemon Rock Image Pokemon Dragon Image Pokemon Steel Image Pokemon Fairy Image
Takes 1/4x damage
Pokemon Grass Image
Takes 0x damage
Pokemon Poison Image

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP Attack Defense Sp. Atk Sp. Def Speed
74 94 131 54 116 20

Best Nature for Ferrothorn

Best Natures
Relaxed
(+Def, -Spd)
Impish
(+Def, -Sp.Atk)
Sassy
(+Sp.Def, -Spd)
Adamant
(+Atk, -Sp.Atk)
Brave
(+Atk, -Spd)
---

How to Learn Ferrothorn's Egg Moves

Leech Seed Inherit from Roselia (learns at Lv. 10) or Phantump (learns at Lv. 8)
Knock Off Inherit from Lombre (learns at Lv. 1) or Grookey (learns at Lv. 20)

When playing Pokemon Sword and using a starter other than Grookey, this move can be inherited via Dwebble, who learns it as an Egg Move, which it can inherit from Scorupi (learns at Lv. 24)

Recommended Breeding Sequence

  1. Have a male Lotad or Grookey inherit Leech Seed from Roselia or Phantump.
  2. Level these Pokemon up until they learn Knock Off.
  3. Breed the Lotad or Grookey with a female Ferrothorn, whose child will inherit both moves.

Singles Movesets for Ferrothorn

Physically Defensive Moveset & Best Build

Physically Defensive Ferrothorn.png

Nature Relaxed (+Def, -Spd)
EV Spread HP 252 / Def 252 / Sp.Def 4
Final Stat Values HP 181 / Atk. 114 / Def. 201 / Sp.Def. 137 / Spd. 36
Ability Iron Barbs
Held Item Leftovers
Rocky Helmet
Occa Berry
Moveset Gyro Ball
Bullet Seed
Leech Seed
Protect

Ferrothorn works well as a defensive Pokemon thanks to its few weaknesses and multiple resistances. Although Ferrothorn doesn't get any recovery moves, it can rely on Leftovers + Leech Seed to recover indirectly.

That said, make sure to switch out when you're up against a special Fire-type attacker as Ferrothorn will go down in an instant.

About Ferrothorn's Moves

While using Leech Seed to sap the opponent's HP, Ferrothorn can use Protect to stay on the battlefield as long as possible, cutting down the opponent's HP in the process.

On healthier turns, Ferrothorn can use STAB-moves in the form of Gyro Ball
and Bullet Seed.

About Ferrothorn's EV Spread

This is a standard physically defensive spread maximizing EVs in HP and Defense. You can place the remaining 4 EVs in its Sp.Def stat.

About Ferrothorn's Ability

Iron Barbs serves as another form of damage for Ferrothorn where it can hurt attackers who use contact moves. This helps make up for its movepool.

About Ferrothorn's Held Item

Leftovers helps for survivability and to keep Ferrothorn healthier for longer. Rocky Helmet works well with Iron Barbs to deal more chip damage against Pokemon with contact moves.

Occa Berry is also a valid option to help Ferrothorn survive a Fire-type attack.

Other Viable Moves

Iron Defense A great move to help buff Ferrothorn's physical defense more. This move raises Defense by 2 stages.
Body Press Works as a great alternative damaging move for Ferrothorn. Has great synergy with Iron Defense.
Power Whip Really Strong Grass-type STAB with less accuracy than Bullet Seed but can consistently deal strong damage.
Knock Off Disarms the opponent's held item. Really helpful move against Eviolite-users.
Stealth Rock A good move to prepare against Fire-types that might switch into Ferrothorn.
Toxic Badly Poisons the enemy. Works well for bulky Ferrothorn that intend to stall out their opponent.
Thunder Wave Paralyzes the enemy. Good for crippling enemy sweepers.

Specially Defensive Moveset & Best Build

Specially Defensive Ferrothorn.png

Nature Sassy (+Sp.Def, -Spd)
EV Spread HP 252 / Def 4 / Sp.Def 252
Final Stat Values HP 181 / Att 114 / Def 152 / Sp.Def 184 / Spd 36
Ability Iron Barbs
Held Item Leftovers
Moveset Gyro Ball
Power Whip
Leech Seed
Protect

This is a Specially Defensive variant of the previous build which is meant to tank special hits, especially from Kyogre's Water Spout. It's slightly different but just as effective.

About Ferrothorn's Moves

While using Leech Seed to sap the opponent's HP, Ferrothorn can use Protect to stay on the battlefield as long as possible, cutting down the opponent's HP in the process.

On healthier turns, Ferrothorn can use STAB-moves in the form of Gyro Ball
and Power Whip.

About Ferrothorn's EV Spread

This is a standard specially defensive spread maximizing EVs in HP and Special Defense. You can place the remaining 4 EVs in its Def stat.

About Ferrothorn's Ability

Iron Barbs serves as another form of damage for Ferrothorn where it can hurt attackers who use contact moves. This helps make up for its movepool.

About Ferrothorn's Held Item

Leftovers helps for survivability and to keep Ferrothorn healthier for longer.

Other Viable Moves

Bullet Seed A decent multi-hit STAB move that can be a more accurate alternative to Power Whip.
Knock Off Disarms this opponent's held item. Really helpful move against Eviolite-users.
Stealth Rock A good move to prepare against Fire-types that might switch into Ferrothorn.
Toxic Badly Poisons the enemy. Works well for bulky Ferrothorn that intend to stall out the opponent.
Thunder Wave Paralyzes the enemy. Good for crippling enemy sweepers.

Choice Band Moveset & Best Build

Choice Band Ferrothron.png

Nature Brave (+Atk, -Spd)
EV Spread HP 252 / Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4
(0 IVs in Speed)
Final Stat Values HP 181 / Atk. 160 / Def. 151 / Sp.Def. 137 / Spd. 22
Speed is calculated at 0 IVs.
Ability Iron Barbs
Held Item Choice Band
Moveset Gyro Ball
Power Whip
Knock Off
Bullet Seed

Ferrothorn has a 4x weakness against Fire-types so boosting its Attack with a Choice Band is an effective way to overwhelm your opponent with Gyro Ball and Power Whip at the start of the battle, especially if your opponent chooses to switch out to a different Pokemon.

About Ferrothorn's Moves

Gyro Ball gets stronger the slower the user is to its target, and as such Brave Ferrothorn with 0IVs in Speed greatly benefits from this STAB move. Power Whip is another high-powered STAB move that can deal significant damage.

Knock Off disarms the opponent's held item, which is a very helpful move against Eviolite-user,. while Bullet Seed is a decent multi-hit STAB move that can be a more accurate alternative to Power Whip.

About Ferrothorn's EV Spread

This is a bulky physically offensive spread maximizing EVs in HP and Attack. You can place the remaining 4 EVs in its Sp. Def stat. We aren't putting any EVs in Speed to maximize the damage from Gyro Ball.

About Ferrothorn's Ability

Iron Barbs serves as another form of damage for Ferrothorn where it can hurt attackers who use contact moves. This helps make up for its movepool.

About Ferrothorn's Held Item

Choice Band lets Ferrothorn deal the most damage it can, at the cost of locking its move choice.

Other Viable Moves

Body Press Works as a fighting-type coverage move for Ferrothorn to combat other Steel-types. Damage is calculated from its Defense instead of Attack.
Explosion Good last resort to deal damage witn Ferrothorn is expected to faint soon anyway.

How to Use Ferrothorn Effectively

An Ideal Tank for Physical Attacks

Ferrothorn's strongest suit lies in its ability to absorb physical hits. Combined with Leech Seed, it can stack up massive total damage, so in a switch-heavy battle, Ferrothorn proves to be an invaluable asset.

Has a Good Combo in Iron Defense + Body Press

Iron Defense allows Ferrothorn to further capitalize on its already high defenses and transition it into an offensive advantage. Thanks to Body Press calculating damage from the user's defense stat. Ferrothorn can be prepared even against other Steel-types.

Can Stall Out Opponent's Dynamax turns.

Ferrothorn's natural bulk can be extremely useful to stall out the opponent's Dynamax turns. When timed correctly with Protect, it can shrug off opponents who will try to take it out.

Can also be a Specially Defensive Tank

Ferrothorn works well as a countermeasure to Scarfed Kyogre because of its high bulk and natural resistances to Water-type moves. Even in Rain, Specially Defensive Ferrothorn is bulky enough to withstand STAB Water Spout from Kyogre.

Assault Vest can even be an option if up against Choice Specs Kyogre, but you will lose access to status moves such as Leech Seed and Protect.

Effective Wall for Fairy-types

Ferrothorn is a proud member of the Steel-type, and an important Pokemon as an overall counter to Fairy-types. As Hidden Power is no more in Sword and Shield, the days where any Pokemon could have Hidden Power Fire and counter it with 4x damage are over, and Ferrothorn stands strong in their wake.

A Great Attacker Under Trick Room

With its incredibly low Speed of 20, the normally last-to-move Ferrothorn becomes a silver bullet under the effects of Trick Room. Together with Gyro Ball, which becomes stronger the slower the user is, Ferrothorn comes into its own as a physical sweeper.

How to Build a Team with Ferrothorn

Physical Wall in a Rain Team

Example Rain Team

Rain Setter / Special Offense Physical Wall Physical Offense
Pokemon SWSH - Kyogre ImageKyogre Pokemon SWSH - Ferrothorn ImageFerrothorn Pokemon SWSH - Seismitoad ImageSeismitoad

Ferrothorn works wonderfully in the rain as it helps mitigate its weakness to Fire-type attacks. As such, it makes a great fit for rain teams. It pairs up well with Kyogre in particular as it can resist Grass-type moves that might be aimed at Kyogre.

Kyogre will be the team's rain setter and can deal high amounts of Special Damage thanks to Water Spout, Origin Pulse, and 100% accurate Thunder.

Seismitoad rounds out this rain team well with its immunity to Electric-type attacks. Its Ground-type coverage can also help against opposing Steel-types. Seismitoad benefits offensively from rain thanks to Swift Swim, allowing it to hit faster in the rain.

How to Build a Weather Team

Counters for Ferrothorn

Ferrothorn
Weakness Pokemon Fire Image Pokemon Fighting Image

Kill it with Fire

With a 4x weakness to Fire, Ferrothorn can be quickly handled with Fire attacks. Any of the Fire-types listed below are easy to use in Ranked Battle and even besides being great Ferrothorn counters, will be a welcome addition to your team.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Cinderace ImageCinderace Ranking: ★★★★★
・Pyro Ball is a 4x effective move that doesn't do contact
・Can be used as a starting point to set up Max Knuckle and increase its Attack

Moveset & Best Build for Cinderace
Pokemon SWSH - Celesteela ImageCelesteela Ranking: ★★★★
・Resists most of Ferrothorn's attacks
・Has access to the super effective move Flamethrower

Moveset & Best Build for Celesteela
Pokemon SWSH - Zapdos ImageZapdos Ranking: ★★★★
・Has access to the super effective move Heat Wave
・Has to be careful of Stealth Rocks

Moveset & Best Build for Zapdos
Pokemon SWSH - Heat Rotom ImageHeat Rotom Ranking: ★★★★
・Has access to the super effective move Overitat
・Can pivot into a favorable matchup with Volt Switch.
・Can render defensive variants helpless after tricking a Choice Item on to them.

Moveset & Best Build for Heat Rotom

Attack with Strong Fighting-type moves.

Other than Fire, Ferrothorn is also weak to Fighting-type attacks. By attacking with strong physical moves, some Pokemon can be strong enough to blow dents into Ferrothorn.

Although, be mindful of Ferrothorn who may use Iron Defense as they will be harder to take down after stacking their defenses.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Urshifu Single-Strike Style ImageUrshifu Single-Strike Style Ranking: ★★★★
・Choice Band Close Combat can deal significant damage to Ferrothorn

Moveset & Best Build for Urshifu (Single-Strike Style)
Pokemon SWSH - Zacian ImageZacian Ranking: ★★★★
・Has access to the super effective move Close Combat.
・After a few Swords Dances, Zacian should be able to take out Ferrothorn

Moveset & Best Build for Zacian
Pokemon SWSH - Galarian Zapdos ImageGalarian Zapdos Ranking: ★★★★
・Has access to the super effective move Thunderous Kick which also lowers Ferrothorn's defense
・Has access to the super effective move Blaze Kick.

Moveset & Best Build for Galarian Zapdos
Pokemon SWSH - Glastrier ImageGlastrier Ranking: ★★★★
・Has access to the super effective move Close Combat.
・Can also be the starting point to set up Max Knucle and increase its Attack

Moveset & Best Build for Glastrier

Related Links

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