How to beat Iron Thorns
Iron Thorns has 1 version in the 2026–27 Standard format, with up to 140 HP as a Lightning Pokémon. Here's the maths for Knocking it Out — worked out from every Standard-legal card.
- HP
- 140
- Weakness
- Fighting
- Resistance
- None
- Prizes
- 1
- One-hit KOs
- 319
- Fastest KO
- 1 Energy
Game plan
- Hit its Weakness. Iron Thorns is weak to Fighting, so those attacks do double damage. 95 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.
- Plan for its big hit. Its strongest printed attack is Megaton Lariat for 140 (4 Energy). 317 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 Fighting attacks do at least 140 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Iron Thorns | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greninja ex Twilight Masquerade | Fighting | Shinobi Blade W | 170 | 340 | 310 | 2 |
| Medicham Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Seventh Kick F | 150 | 300 | 120 | 1 |
| Annihilape Surging Sparks | Fighting | Tantrum F | 130 | 260 | 140 | 1 |
| Flygon ex Surging Sparks | Fighting | Reversing Storm F | 130 | 260 | 310 | 2 |
| Mega Lucario ex Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Aura Jab F | 130 | 260 | 340 | 3 |
| Cynthia's Garchomp ex Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Corkscrew Dive F | 100 | 200 | 330 | 2 |
| Sawk White Flare | Fighting | Rising Chop F | 90 | 180 | 110 | 1 |
| Conkeldurr Twilight Masquerade | Fighting | Tantrum F | 80 | 160 | 180 | 1 |
| Solrock Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Cosmic Beam F | 70 | 140 | 110 | 1 |
| Toxicroak Mega Evolution | Fighting | Reckless Charge F | 70 | 140 | 130 | 1 |
| Mamoswine ex Journey Together | Fighting | Rumbling March FF | 180+ | 360 | 340 | 2 |
| Annihilape Destined Rivals | Fighting | Impact Blow FF | 160 | 320 | 150 | 1 |
One-hit Knock Outs without Weakness
Attacks with a printed 140+ damage.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Iron Thorns | 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 |
| 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 |
| Haxorus Shrouded Fable | Dragon | Dragon Pulse FM | 230 | 230 | 170 | 1 |
Pokémon that survive its biggest attack
These can take a printed 140 from Megaton Lariat and stay in play (Weakness included). Single-Prize Pokémon first.
| Pokémon | Type | Stage | HP | Weakness | Retreat | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Archaludon Phantasmal Flames | Metal | Stage 1 | 180 | Fire ×2 | 2 | 1 |
Every Standard Iron Thorns card
| Card | Set | HP | Stage | Attacks (cost · damage) | Retreat | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Thorns 62/162 | Temporal Forces H | 140 | Basic | Destructo-Press LC 70× Megaton Lariat LLLC 140 | 3 | Fighting ×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: all Iron Thorns cards in Standard · how to knock out a 140 HP Pokémon · Fighting vs Lightning · beating big Pokémon ex · more counter guides
Questions people ask
What is Iron Thorns weak to?
Iron Thorns is weak to Fighting, so those attacks do double damage (×2).
How much HP does Iron Thorns have?
Up to 140 HP in Standard.
How many Prize cards does Iron Thorns give up?
1 — it's a regular Pokémon.
What can one-hit KO Iron Thorns?
319 Standard cards can, going by printed damage. The fastest: Greninja ex's Shinobi Blade (1 Energy, 340 damage); Medicham's Seventh Kick (1 Energy, 300 damage); Annihilape's Tantrum (1 Energy, 260 damage).
What is Iron Thorns's strongest attack?
Megaton Lariat, which prints 140 damage for 4 Energy.
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.