How to beat Iron Boulder
Iron Boulder has 1 version in the 2026–27 Standard format, with up to 140 HP as a Psychic Pokémon. Here's the maths for Knocking it Out — worked out from every Standard-legal card.
- HP
- 140
- Weakness
- Darkness
- Resistance
- Fighting
- Prizes
- 1
- One-hit KOs
- 293
- Fastest KO
- 1 Energy
Game plan
- Hit its Weakness. Iron Boulder is weak to Darkness, so those attacks do double damage. 75 Standard cards can Knock it Out in one hit that way — the fastest needs just 1 Energy.
- Don't over-invest. It only gives up 1 Prize card, so avoid spending a big two-Prize attacker on it if a cheaper Pokémon can do the job.
- Avoid Fighting attacks. Iron Boulder resists them, so they do less damage.
- Plan for its big hit. Its strongest printed attack is Adjusted Horn for 170 (2 Energy). 228 Standard cards have enough HP to survive one hit — before any Weakness, + or × effects.
- Watch the Retreat Cost. It costs 3 Energy to retreat. If it gets stuck in the Active Spot, that's your chance.
One-hit Knock Outs using Weakness
These Darkness attacks do at least 140 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Iron Boulder | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malamar Pitch Black | Darkness | Brain Crush D | 130 | 260 | 120 | 1 |
| Crobat Chaos Rising | Darkness | Poison Sound Wave D | 80 | 160 | 130 | 1 |
| Mega Sharpedo ex Phantasmal Flames | Darkness | Greedy Fang D | 70 | 140 | 330 | 3 |
| Mega Gengar ex Ascended Heroes | Darkness | Void Gale DD | 230 | 460 | 350 | 3 |
| Hydreigon ex Surging Sparks | Darkness | Crashing Headbutt DC | 200 | 400 | 330 | 2 |
| Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex Ascended Heroes | Darkness | Shadow Bullet DD | 180 | 360 | 320 | 2 |
| Gengar ex Temporal Forces | Darkness | Tricky Steps DD | 160 | 320 | 310 | 2 |
| Tyranitar Journey Together | Darkness | Cracking Stomp DC | 150 | 300 | 190 | 1 |
| Hydreigon 30th Celebration | Darkness | Pitch-Black Fangs DC | 140 | 280 | 170 | 1 |
| Team Rocket's Nidoqueen Destined Rivals | Darkness | Mega Kick DD | 130 | 260 | 170 | 1 |
| Crobat Shrouded Fable | Darkness | Poison Fang DC | 120 | 240 | 130 | 1 |
| Team Rocket's Crobat ex Destined Rivals | Darkness | Assassin's Return DD | 120 | 240 | 310 | 2 |
One-hit Knock Outs without Weakness
Attacks with a printed 140+ damage (after Resistance).
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Iron Boulder | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palafin ex Prismatic Evolutions | Water | Giga Impact W | 250 | 250 | 340 | 2 |
| Tinkaton Mega Evolution | Metal | Windup Swing M | 240- | 240 | 160 | 1 |
| Ceruledge Phantasmal Flames | Fire | Infernal Slash R | 220 | 220 | 140 | 1 |
| Decidueye Shrouded Fable | Grass | Power Shot G | 170 | 170 | 150 | 1 |
| Diggersby Perfect Order | Colorless | Earthquake C | 140 | 140 | 150 | 1 |
| Greninja ex Twilight Masquerade | Fighting | Shinobi Blade W | 170 | 140 | 310 | 2 |
| Slaking ex Surging Sparks | Colorless | Great Swing CC | 280 | 280 | 340 | 2 |
| Vikavolt Pitch Black | Lightning | Giga Railgun LL | 260 | 260 | 160 | 1 |
| Luxray ex Twilight Masquerade | Lightning | Volt Strike LL | 250 | 250 | 310 | 2 |
| Salamence ex 30th Celebration | Dragon | Dragon Pulse RW | 240 | 240 | 330 | 2 |
Pokémon that survive its biggest attack
These can take a printed 170 from Adjusted Horn and stay in play (Weakness included). Single-Prize Pokémon first.
| Pokémon | Type | Stage | HP | Weakness | Retreat | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wailord Journey Together | Water | Stage 1 | 240 | Lightning ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Copperajah Shrouded Fable | Metal | Stage 1 | 200 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Rhyperior Stellar Crown | Fighting | Stage 2 | 200 | Grass ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Steelix Mega Evolution | Metal | Stage 1 | 200 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Copperajah Journey Together | Metal | Stage 1 | 190 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Tyranitar Journey Together | Darkness | Stage 2 | 190 | Grass ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Aggron Twilight Masquerade | Metal | Stage 2 | 180 | Fire ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Alolan Golem Journey Together | Lightning | Stage 2 | 180 | Fighting ×2 | 4 | 1 |
Every Standard Iron Boulder card
| Card | Set | HP | Stage | Attacks (cost · damage) | Retreat | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Boulder 46/131 | Prismatic Evolutions H | 140 | Basic | Adjusted Horn PC 170 | 3 | Darkness ×2 |
Damage is the number printed on the card. Attacks marked + or × can do more, and Abilities, Tools and Stadiums can change the maths — always read the card. Energy letters: G Grass, R Fire, W Water, L Lightning, P Psychic, F Fighting, D Darkness, M Metal, N Dragon, C Colorless (any Energy).
Related: how to knock out a 140 HP Pokémon · Darkness vs Psychic · beating big Pokémon ex · more counter guides
Questions people ask
What is Iron Boulder weak to?
Iron Boulder is weak to Darkness, so those attacks do double damage (×2).
How much HP does Iron Boulder have?
Up to 140 HP in Standard.
How many Prize cards does Iron Boulder give up?
1 — it's a regular Pokémon.
What can one-hit KO Iron Boulder?
293 Standard cards can, going by printed damage. The fastest: Malamar's Brain Crush (1 Energy, 260 damage); Palafin ex's Giga Impact (1 Energy, 250 damage); Tinkaton's Windup Swing (1 Energy, 240 damage).
What is Iron Boulder's strongest attack?
Adjusted Horn, which prints 170 damage for 2 Energy.
What does Iron Boulder resist?
Fighting — those attacks do less damage to it.
Pully Play is an independent fan guide. It isn't run by The Pokémon Company. Format facts are checked against official announcements; always confirm card legality with the official rules before a tournament.