You can find and catch Iron Thorns in Pokemon Violet in the end-game Area Zero, near the cliffs outside of Research Stations 1 and 2. This area is unlocked after completing the main three storylines in the game.
Once you have finished the Victory Road, Starfall Street, and Path of Legends storylines, Arven will contact you to start the end-game section in Area Zero.
From that point, you will be able to reach Zero Gate, which is southeast of Medali, to access Area Zero. Ideally, you should explore this crater area to discover all the Research Stations.
This will make fast traveling in the area and finding the Iron Thorns location outside Research Stations 1 and 2 in Pokemon Violet an easier task.
- Research Station #1 Iron Thorns Location – You can find it on the cliff to the right after you exit this Research Station.
- Fast Travel to Zero Gate, which is the entry point to the Great Crater of Paldea. You will see this fast-traveling point southeast of Medali.
- Once there, enter the Zero Gate building.
- Step into the middle of the room, right on the green transporter, and select Research Station No. 1.
- Exit the Research Station after you get transported, and you should be able to find Iron Thorns on the slope and cliffs to the right.
- If you want to improve your odds of finding a Shiny Iron Thorns, you can prepare an Electric boosting Sparkling Power Sandwich or equip the Shiny Charm!
- Research Station #2 Iron Thorns Location – You can find Iron Thorns on a cliff nearby by taking the path on the left as soon as you exit this Research Station.
- Fast Travel to Zero Gate, which is the entry point to the Great Crater of Paldea. You will see this fast-traveling point southeast of Medali.
- Once there, enter the Zero Gate building.
- Step into the middle of the room, right on the green transporter, and select Research Station No. 2.
- Exit the Research Station after you get transported, and continue traveling by taking the road on the left. You should soon arrive at a cliff where Iron Thorns spawn.
How to Get Iron Thorns in Pokemon Scarlet
Iron Thorns is exclusive to Pokemon Violet. If you want to get this mon on your Scarlet version, the only viable option is getting it via trade.
Thankfully, trading in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is quite simple. It can be done directly from the Poke Portal by choosing the Link Trade option and inputting the same Trade Code with a friend.
How to Catch Iron Thorns
To catch Iron Thorns in Pokemon Violet, you only need to lower its health to yellow or red and use a Pokeball. Preferably an Ultra Ball is recommended for a higher catch rate.
- Due to Iron Thorns Rock / Electric type, it is 4x weak to Ground attacks and 2x weak to Water, Grass, and Fighting moves. Avoid bringing Fire, Bug, Water, Ice, and Flying Pokemon, as these are weak to Rock and/or Electric moves.
- Using False Swipe is ideal since it can lower Iron Thorns’ HP to 1.
- For a higher catch rate, inflicting a status move like Paralysis or Sleep is always a great plus. However, avoid damaging status moves such as Poison or Burn, as these can accidentally cause Iron Thorns to faint.
What is Iron Thorns in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet?
Iron Thorns is a future Rock/Electric Paradox Pokemon featured as a Violet version exclusive. Based on its appearance, it seems that Iron Thorns is a futuristic version or relative of Tyranitar.
The aesthetic of Iron Thorns is all futuristic, with a body that resembles Tyranitar’s likeness but sports a green metallic armor covering it entirely.
Its Pokedex entries in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet reads:
It has some similarities to a Pokémon introduced in a dubious magazine as a Tyranitar from one billion years into the future.
Pokemon Scarlet
Some of its notable features match those of an object named within a certain expedition journal as Iron Thorns.
Pokemon Violet
At this moment, there is no known evolution for this Pokemon.
Iron Thorns’ Weaknesses & Resistances
In Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Iron Thorns is weak to Ground, Fighting, Water, and Grass moves, and it resists Normal, Poison, Fire, Electric, and Flying Moves.
| Weaknesses | Normal Damage | Resistances |
| Ground (4x) | Rock | Flying (1/4x) |
| Fighting (2x) | Bug | Poison (1/2x) |
| Water (2x) | Ghost | Fire (1/2x) |
| Grass (2x) | Steel | Electric (1/2x) |
| Psychic | Normal (1/2x) | |
| Ice | ||
| Dragon | ||
| Dark | ||
| Fairy |
Iron Thorns’ Stats
Iron Thorns has high Attack while retaining Defense and Special Defense base stats. In total, Iron Thorns’ add up to a 570 BST, placing it in the same rank as Ultra Beasts like Buzzwole.
Make sure you know how to effectively Hyper Train and EV Train your Iron Thorn to get the best out of its stats!
| Stat | Base Stat | Range at LVL 50 | Range at LVL 100 |
| HP | 100 | 160 – 207 | 310 – 404 |
| Attack | 134 | 125 – 204 | 245 – 403 |
| Defense | 110 | 103 – 178 | 202 – 350 |
| Sp. Atk | 70 | 67 – 134 | 130 – 262 |
| Sp. Def | 84 | 80 – 149 | 155 – 293 |
| Speed | 72 | 69 – 136 | 134 – 267 |
Minimum values are 0 EVs, IVs, and a not favorable nature, while maximum values are calculated at 252 EVs, IVs at 31, and a favorable nature.
Iron Thorns’ Ability
Iron Thorns’ Quark Drive Ability boosts the most proficient stat if there is an Electric Terrain or if holding Booster Energy. This Ability is granted to all Paradox Pokemon in Violet, except for Miraidon.
- This Ability does not take into account the HP Stat.
- Quark Drive does take into consideration stat stages but not held items.
- The boost received for the most proficient stat is 30%. However, if the most proficient stat is Speed, it gets a 50% boost instead.
- Worry Seed and Gastro Acid will fail if the receiving Pokemon has Quark Drive.
- Skill Swap and Doodle will also fail if either party has Quark Drive.
