Ferrothorn - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle | Pokemon Sword and Shield

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, Builds, and Held Items to use with Ferrothorn, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Ferrothorn - Related Articles
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Ferrothorn

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Ferrothorn
Abilities
Iron Barbs	Inflicts damage to the Pokemon on cotact.
Anticipation (Hidden)	Senses a foe's dangerous moves.

Type Defenses

	Type
Takes 4x damage
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage
Takes 0x damage

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Ferrothorn

What are Natures?

How to Learn Ferrothorn's Egg Moves

Recommended Breeding Sequence

Moveset & Best Build for Ferrothorn

Defensive Leftovers Moveset & Best Build

These values are from base stats and ideal EVs, excluding external factors.

As Ferrothorn doesn't get any recovery moves, it'll be relying on a Leftovers + Iron Barbs strategy to recover indirectly. While using Leech Seed to sap the opponent's HP, it can use Protect to stay on the battlefield as long as possible, cutting down the opponent's HP in the process.

That said, make sure to switch out when you're up against a special Fire-type attacker as Ferrothorn is extremely weak to moves like that.

Choice Band Moveset & Best Build

These values are from base stats and ideal EVs, excluding external factors.

Ferrothorn has a 4x weakness against Fire-types. Therefore, boosting its Attack with 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.

Alternate Move Choices

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.

Effective Wall for Fairy-types

Ferrothorn is a proud member of the Steel type, the Fairy type's great enemy. It's 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 him 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, Ferrothorn comes into its own as a physical sweeper.

Counters for Ferrothorn

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
Heat Rotom	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Takes 1/4x damage from Steel-type moves ・Can use Volt Switch to control the flow of battle Moveset & Best Build for Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Ranking: ★★★★☆ ・Its ability Intimidate can lower Ferrothorn's attack ・Good at taking physical hits Moveset & Best Build for Arcanine
Cinderace	Ranking: ★★★☆☆ ・Its powerful attack Pyro Ball can cause trouble for Ferrothorn's follow-up Pokemon as well Moveset & Best Build for Cinderace

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Movesets & Best Builds for Isle of Armor Pokemon
Scizor	Kingdra	Magnezone
Volcarona	Chansey	Blissey
Talonflame	Azumarill	Galarian Slowbro
Porygon2	Urshifu Single-Strike Style	Urshifu Rapid-Strike Style
Slowbro	Alolan Marowak	Dragalge
Klefki	Lycanroc	Amoonguss
Poliwrath	Palossand	Mienshao
Starmie	Heracross

Movesets & Best Builds for New Pokemon
Dragapult	Galarian Corsola	Toxtricity
Galarian Darmanitan	Corviknight	Dracovish
Grimmsnarl	Rillaboom	Duraludon
Cinderace	Alcremie	Dracozolt
Hatterene	Eiscue	Inteleon
Pincurchin	Frosmoth	Zacian
Sirfetch'd	Flapple	Coalossal
Centiskorch	Arctozolt

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent

Movesets & Best Builds for Gigantamax Pokemon
Gigantamax Grimmsnarl	Gigantamax Snorlax	Gigantamax Charizard

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		DLC Buffs
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams