Iron Hands: The Tera Raid Titan – When to Bring the Beefy Bot

Iron Hands, the futuristic Hariyama Paradox Pokémon from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, has quickly cemented itself as a premier choice for Tera Raid Battles. Its Fighting/Electric typing, combined with its massive Attack stat and access to moves like Belly Drum and Drain Punch, make it a self-sustaining powerhouse capable of dismantling numerous raid bosses. Iron Hands excels in raids where its offensive prowess and survivability are maximized, especially against Pokémon weak to Fighting or Electric moves, or those that don’t have strong moves of types that Iron Hands is weak to, such as Fairy, Psychic, and Ground. While a versatile pick, it’s important to know where Iron Hands shines and when to leave it in the PC.

Leveraging Iron Hands in Tera Raids

Iron Hands’ core strength lies in its ability to boost its Attack to astronomical levels with Belly Drum and then recover HP with Drain Punch, creating a cycle of damage and sustainability. This combination makes it particularly effective against raids where you can set up easily and then constantly use Drain Punch.

Here are key factors making Iron Hands shine in raids:

• High Attack Stat: Iron Hands boasts one of the highest Attack stats in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. This enables it to deal massive damage, especially after a Belly Drum boost.

• Drain Punch: The life-steal mechanic of Drain Punch is crucial for Iron Hands’ survival. It allows it to recover HP while simultaneously damaging the raid boss, sustaining it through long battles.

• Offensive Typing: The Fighting/Electric typing provides coverage against a wide variety of Pokémon, making it viable in numerous raid scenarios.

• Fighting Tera Type: Terastallizing Iron Hands into the Fighting Tera Type further amplifies the power of Drain Punch, making it an absolute nuke.

Recognizing Favorable Matchups

Iron Hands truly shines when facing raid bosses with weaknesses to either Fighting or Electric-type moves. Consider the following matchups where Iron Hands can thrive:

• Rock-type Raids: Rock-type Pokémon are vulnerable to Fighting moves, making Iron Hands an excellent choice.

• Steel-type Raids: Similarly, Fighting-type moves deal super effective damage against Steel-type raid bosses.

• Water-type Raids: Water-type Pokémon are weak to Electric-type attacks, allowing Iron Hands to capitalize on its secondary typing.

• Dark-type Raids: Iron Hands’ Fighting-type moves are super effective against Dark-type raid bosses.

Understanding Unfavorable Matchups

While Iron Hands is a formidable raid Pokémon, it’s not a universal answer. There are situations where it should be avoided:

• Fairy-type Raids: Fairy-type Pokémon resist Fighting-type moves and can deal super effective damage to Iron Hands.

• Psychic-type Raids: Psychic-type Pokémon resist Fighting-type moves and can deal super effective damage to Iron Hands.

• Flying-type Raids: Flying-type Pokémon resist Fighting-type moves.

• Pokémon with High Defense or Special Defense: While Iron Hands has high attack, Pokémon with high defense or special defense can hinder its damage output, especially before it Terastallizes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Iron Hands in Raids

Here are some frequently asked questions about Iron Hands and its capabilities in Tera Raid Battles:

1. What is the ideal nature for Iron Hands in raids?

The ideal nature is Adamant, which boosts Attack and lowers Special Attack (a stat Iron Hands doesn’t need).

2. What is the best ability for Iron Hands?

Iron Hands only has one ability, Quark Drive. This ability boosts its highest stat (usually Attack) when Electric Terrain is active or when it’s holding a Booster Energy.

3. What is the best held item for Iron Hands in raids?

The best held item is usually Booster Energy for an immediate stat boost from Quark Drive. Shell Bell is also a good choice for additional HP recovery on top of Drain Punch.

4. How do I EV train my Iron Hands for raids?

Focus on maxing out Attack (252 EVs) and HP (252 EVs). The remaining 4 EVs can be placed in Defense or Special Defense.

5. What is the best moveset for Iron Hands in Tera Raids?

A common moveset includes: Belly Drum, Drain Punch, Thunder Punch, and Wild Charge.

6. How does Belly Drum work? Is it worth the risk?

Belly Drum sharply raises your Attack (by six stages) but cuts your HP in half. It’s risky but can be worth it if you can survive and use Drain Punch to recover.

7. Is Iron Hands a Violet exclusive Pokémon? How can I get it in Scarlet?

Yes, Iron Hands is exclusive to Pokémon Violet. You’ll need to trade with a Violet player to obtain it in Scarlet.

8. What Tera Type is best for Iron Hands?

Fighting Tera Type is generally the best, boosting the power of Drain Punch to ridiculous levels.

9. Can Iron Hands solo 6-star raids?

Yes, with proper EV/IV training, level 100, and the right strategy, Iron Hands can solo many 6-star raids. However, some matchups are unfavorable.

10. How do I find Iron Hands in Pokémon Violet?

Iron Hands spawns in Area Zero after unlocking it by completing the main story.

11. What are some strategies for dealing with status conditions like paralysis or burns on Iron Hands?

Chesto Berry can cure paralysis, and Lum Berry can cure any status condition. Also, having a teammate with the move Heal Pulse can help remove status conditions and heal your Iron Hands.

12. Is Iron Hands better than other raid Pokémon like Azumarill?

It depends on the raid. Azumarill with Huge Power and Belly Drum is excellent against Dragon-type raid bosses due to its Fairy typing and access to Play Rough. Iron Hands excels in different matchups due to its Fighting/Electric typing and Drain Punch sustain.

13. What should I do if the raid boss nullifies my stats?

Some raid bosses can reset your stat boosts. If this happens, you’ll need to use Belly Drum again, provided you can survive.

14. How important is it to Terastallize Iron Hands in a raid?

Terastallizing Iron Hands, especially into the Fighting Tera Type, is crucial for maximizing damage output. It’s essential to time your Terastallization for maximum impact.

15. Where can I learn more about optimal strategies for Pokémon in education, gaming, and learning?

For more insights into the intersection of games and education, including strategies and resources, visit the Games Learning Society website.