ferrothorn
Generation V · #0598 — Thorn Pod Pokémon
Ferrothorn, the Thorn Pod Pokémon, is a dual-type Grass/Steel Pokémon that debuted in Generation V as the evolved form of Ferroseed. This unique combination grants it exceptional defensive capabilities, with a base Defense stat of 131 and a Special Defense of 116, making it one of the most durable Pokémon available to trainers. Despite its relatively low Speed stat of just 20, Ferrothorn compensates through its remarkable bulk and signature ability, Iron Barbs, which punishes physical attackers by dealing 1/8 of their maximum HP in damage upon contact. Standing at 1.0 meter tall and weighing 110 kilograms, this compact but formidable creature has become a staple in competitive battling and team building across multiple generations. Its Hidden Ability, Anticipation, provides strategic utility by alerting trainers to dangerous moves like super-effective attacks, self-destruct, explosion, or one-hit KO moves lurking in an opponent's arsenal.
Base Stats
Height
1.0m
Weight
110.0kg
Category
Thorn Pod Pokémon
Gender
Male 50% / Female 50%
Color
gray
Shape
tentacles
Abilities
Damages attacking Pokémon for 1/8 their max HP on contact.
Notifies all trainers upon entering battle if an opponent has a super-effective move, self destruct, explosion, or a one-hit KO move.
Ferrothorn Biology & Physical Characteristics
Ferrothorn presents a distinctive biological structure resembling a flattened durian with a metallic composition. Its body is dominated by a gray, spherical frame adorned with countless thorns and three prominent black stripes encircling its width, the middle stripe decorated with triangular markings beneath its characteristic green-rimmed eyes. The most striking feature of Ferrothorn's anatomy is its three vine-like feelers, which extend from its body and terminate in large metallic disks with radiating spikes. These feelers are far more than mere appendages—they serve multiple critical functions in Ferrothorn's physiology and behavior. The creature uses these specialized limbs to cling to cave ceilings, crawl along rock faces by stabbing the spike-tipped ends into stone, absorb vital nutrients from minerals within rocks, and launch devastating attacks. Ferrothorn's spikes are composed of a steel-like material harder than conventional steel, capable of inflicting catastrophic damage. The Pokédex notes that these spikes are so durable and sharp that a single hit can reduce boulders to rubble, and by swinging its feelers with force, Ferrothorn can obliterate opponents through sheer physical force and spike projection.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Ferrothorn Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Ferrothorn exhibits an equal gender distribution with exactly 50 percent male and 50 percent female specimens, allowing for flexible breeding strategies without gender-based limitations. The species belongs to both the Grass and Mineral egg groups, an interesting duality that reflects its hybrid nature and expands potential breeding combinations significantly. This dual egg group membership means Ferrothorn can breed with members of either group, providing breeders with diverse genetic backgrounds and move pool options through Egg Moves. The base Happiness value of 70 indicates a moderately receptive temperament to trainer bonding, though not exceptionally easy to please compared to some creatures. Ferrothorn exhibits a medium growth rate, meaning it requires moderate experience accumulation to reach maximum level—neither the fastest nor slowest progression. The hatch counter of 20 cycles translates to approximately 4,884 to 5,140 steps required to hatch a Ferroseed egg, making it a moderately time-intensive breeding project. When breeding Ferrothorn, trainers can exploit its dual egg group membership to introduce moves from compatible parents, allowing for the creation of competitive Ferrothorn with enhanced move pools beyond its natural level-up learnset. The species' solid base Happiness allows for straightforward friendship-based evolutions or mechanics should future games introduce such requirements, though current evolution to Ferrothorn requires only level 40 regardless of friendship values.
Held Items
Sprites
Held Items
sticky-barb
bad-held-items
Held: Holder takes 1/8 (12.5%) its max HP at the end of each turn. When the holder is hit by a contact move, the attacking Pokémon takes 1/8 its max HP in damage and receive the item if not holding one.
Cost: 4000
sticky-barb
bad-held-items
Held: Holder takes 1/8 (12.5%) its max HP at the end of each turn. When the holder is hit by a contact move, the attacking Pokémon takes 1/8 its max HP in damage and receive the item if not holding one.
Cost: 4000
sticky-barb
bad-held-items
Held: Holder takes 1/8 (12.5%) its max HP at the end of each turn. When the holder is hit by a contact move, the attacking Pokémon takes 1/8 its max HP in damage and receive the item if not holding one.
Cost: 4000
sticky-barb
bad-held-items
Held: Holder takes 1/8 (12.5%) its max HP at the end of each turn. When the holder is hit by a contact move, the attacking Pokémon takes 1/8 its max HP in damage and receive the item if not holding one.
Cost: 4000
sticky-barb
bad-held-items
Held: Holder takes 1/8 (12.5%) its max HP at the end of each turn. When the holder is hit by a contact move, the attacking Pokémon takes 1/8 its max HP in damage and receive the item if not holding one.
Cost: 4000
sticky-barb
bad-held-items
Held: Holder takes 1/8 (12.5%) its max HP at the end of each turn. When the holder is hit by a contact move, the attacking Pokémon takes 1/8 its max HP in damage and receive the item if not holding one.
Cost: 4000
sticky-barb
bad-held-items
Held: Holder takes 1/8 (12.5%) its max HP at the end of each turn. When the holder is hit by a contact move, the attacking Pokémon takes 1/8 its max HP in damage and receive the item if not holding one.
Cost: 4000
sticky-barb
bad-held-items
Held: Holder takes 1/8 (12.5%) its max HP at the end of each turn. When the holder is hit by a contact move, the attacking Pokémon takes 1/8 its max HP in damage and receive the item if not holding one.
Cost: 4000
sticky-barb
bad-held-items
Held: Holder takes 1/8 (12.5%) its max HP at the end of each turn. When the holder is hit by a contact move, the attacking Pokémon takes 1/8 its max HP in damage and receive the item if not holding one.
Cost: 4000
sticky-barb
bad-held-items
Held: Holder takes 1/8 (12.5%) its max HP at the end of each turn. When the holder is hit by a contact move, the attacking Pokémon takes 1/8 its max HP in damage and receive the item if not holding one.
Cost: 4000
sticky-barb
bad-held-items
Held: Holder takes 1/8 (12.5%) its max HP at the end of each turn. When the holder is hit by a contact move, the attacking Pokémon takes 1/8 its max HP in damage and receive the item if not holding one.
Cost: 4000
sticky-barb
bad-held-items
Held: Holder takes 1/8 (12.5%) its max HP at the end of each turn. When the holder is hit by a contact move, the attacking Pokémon takes 1/8 its max HP in damage and receive the item if not holding one.
Cost: 4000
TMs & HMs
tm01
black white
tm01
black 2 white 2
tm01
omega ruby alpha sapphire
tm01
x y
tm03
yellow
tm03
crystal
tm03
gold silver
tm03
red blue
tm03
blue japan
tm04
gold silver
tm03
red green japan
tm04
crystal
tm05
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm06
yellow
tm06
gold silver
tm06
red blue
tm06
crystal
tm06
emerald
tm06
firered leafgreen
tm06
diamond pearl
+679 more TMs/HMs
ferrothorn's Evolution Chain
Ferrothorn Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Ferrothorn evolves from Ferroseed at level 40, marking a significant transformation in both physical form and combat capability. While Ferroseed represents the juvenile, more vulnerable form with lower overall stats and defensive capabilities, Ferrothorn's evolution catalyzes a dramatic increase in durability and offensive potential. The evolution process strengthens Ferrothorn's Defense stat from 109 to 131 and its Special Defense from 86 to 116, alongside meaningful increases in Attack from 70 to 94 and HP from 48 to 74. This evolutionary leap essentially transforms a fragile seedling into a formidable fortress capable of weathering sustained assaults. The physical changes during evolution manifest in the development of its characteristic three feelers and the hardening and refinement of its metallic spikes, transitioning from the simpler form of Ferroseed into the complex, multipurpose appendages that define Ferrothorn's anatomy. Notably, Ferrothorn does not possess a Mega Evolution, remaining static in its appearance and base stats across all subsequent generations. This lack of further evolution is not a limitation but rather reflects Ferrothorn's role as a perfectly adapted final evolution—its statistics are deliberately balanced around defensive excellence and modest offensive output, requiring no additional power boost to fulfill its ecological and strategic niche.
Where to Find
Location data not available for this Pokémon in the database.
Ferrothorn Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Ferrothorn inhabits cave systems and rocky environments where it demonstrates specialized behaviors adapted to its unique physiology. According to multiple Pokédex entries, Ferrothorn frequently attaches itself to cave ceilings, where it waits for unsuspecting prey or threats to pass beneath, at which point it fires steel spikes as projectiles—a behavior suggesting both ambush predation and territorial defense mechanisms. This sedentary hunting strategy contrasts with its mobile combat tactics, where Ferrothorn actively swings its three feeler appendages as both offensive and defensive instruments. The species exhibits a symbiotic relationship with its rocky environment, using its feelers to extract nutrients from stone through a scraping action, suggesting that Ferrothorn may supplement its diet through mineral absorption. This behavior indicates an unusual metabolic process combining plant-based photosynthesis with mineral nutrition, a trait fitting for a Grass/Steel dual-type. Ferrothorn's presence in cave ecosystems likely positions it as an apex predator due to its formidable defenses and offensive capabilities, with its Iron Barbs ability serving as a deterrent against physical attackers in natural encounters. The species' relatively low Speed stat suggests an ambush predator rather than an active pursuer, thriving in environments where patience and defensive positioning favor survival.
Pokedex Entries
It fights by swinging around its three spiky feelers. A hit from these steel spikes can reduce a boulder to rubble.
By swinging around its three spiky feelers and shooting spikes, it can obliterate an opponent.
They attach themselves to cave ceilings, firing steel spikes at targets passing beneath them.
By swinging around its three spiky feelers and shooting spikes, it can obliterate an opponent.
They attach themselves to cave ceilings, firing steel spikes at targets passing beneath them.
By swinging around its three spiky feelers and shooting spikes, it can obliterate an opponent.
They attach themselves to cave ceilings, firing steel spikes at targets passing beneath them.
This Pokémon scrapes its spikes across rocks, and then uses the tips of its feelers to absorb the nutrients it finds within the stone.
Its spikes are harder than steel. This Pokémon crawls across rock walls by stabbing the spikes on its feelers into the stone.
Ferrothorn Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The name Ferrothorn combines "ferro," the Latin root for iron, with "thorn," directly reflecting this Pokémon's dual nature as a steel-armored plant creature. In Japanese, Ferrothorn is known as Nutrey (ナットレイ), derived from "nut" and the French word "raie" meaning ray or spike, emphasizing the radiating spikes characteristic of its design. The visual design itself draws heavy inspiration from the durian fruit, particularly the thorny exterior and relatively compact, spherical shape, but reimagined as a metallic, defensive organism. The three prominent feelers with disk-like metallic terminals resemble both plant tendrils and industrial protrusions, bridging the Grass and Steel typing through their aesthetic design. The triangular markings on its middle stripe evoke a visage suggestive of intentionality and intelligence, while the green spike protruding from its top reinforces its plant heritage. The overall design philosophy positions Ferrothorn as nature's answer to mechanization—a creature that has evolved or been shaped to combine organic growth patterns with metallic durability, creating something entirely alien yet functionally elegant. This synthesis of biological and mechanical elements becomes the visual representation of the Grass/Steel typing, avoiding simple recoloring or component addition to instead create a cohesive organism that authentically embodies both typing characteristics.
Learnable Moves
Ferrothorn can learn 74 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aerial ace | flying | Physical | 60 | — | 20 |
| assurance | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| attract | normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| block | normal | Status | — | — | 5 |
| body press | fighting | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| brutal swing | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| bulldoze | ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| bullet seed | grass | Physical | 25 | 100 | 30 |
| confide | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| curse | ghost | Status | — | — | 10 |
| cut | normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| double team | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| endeavor | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 5 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| energy ball | grass | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| explosion | normal | Physical | 250 | 100 | 5 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| flash | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| flash cannon | steel | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| frustration | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| giga drain | grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| giga impact | normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| grass knot | grass | Special | — | 100 | 20 |
| gravity | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| gyro ball | steel | Physical | — | 100 | 5 |
| harden | normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| heavy slam | steel | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| hidden power | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| hone claws | dark | Status | — | — | 15 |
| hyper beam | normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| ingrain | grass | Status | — | — | 20 |
| iron defense | steel | Status | — | — | 15 |
| iron head | steel | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| knock off | dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| magnet rise | electric | Status | — | — | 10 |
| metal claw | steel | Physical | 50 | 95 | 35 |
| mirror shot | steel | Special | 65 | 85 | 10 |
| nature power | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| payback | dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| pin missile | bug | Physical | 25 | 95 | 20 |
| poison jab | poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| power whip | grass | Physical | 120 | 85 | 10 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| return | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| revenge | fighting | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| rock climb | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| rock polish | rock | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rock smash | fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| rollout | rock | Physical | 30 | 90 | 20 |
| round | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| sandstorm | rock | Status | — | — | 10 |
| secret power | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| seed bomb | grass | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| self destruct | normal | Physical | 200 | 100 | 5 |
| shadow claw | ghost | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| solar beam | grass | Special | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| spikes | ground | Status | — | — | 20 |
| stealth rock | rock | Status | — | — | 20 |
| steel beam | steel | Special | 140 | 95 | 5 |
| steel roller | steel | Physical | 130 | 100 | 5 |
| strength | normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sunny day | fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| swords dance | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| tackle | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| thunder | electric | Special | 110 | 70 | 10 |
| thunder wave | electric | Status | — | 90 | 20 |
| thunderbolt | electric | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| toxic | poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| worry seed | grass | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
Ferrothorn Competitive Battle Guide
Ferrothorn has established itself as a cornerstone defensive Pokémon in competitive battling across multiple generations and formats. Its exceptional Defense stat of 131 combined with Iron Barbs ability creates an unparalleled wall against physical attackers, discouraging aggressive strategies that rely on contact moves. The 116 Special Defense stat provides respectable special bulk without investment, while the 74 HP base stat, though modest, reaches acceptable levels with standard defensive EV spreads. Ferrothorn's movepool includes critical defensive and utility options such as Stealth Rock for entry hazard support, Leech Seed for passive damage and recovery, Curse for stat manipulation, and Iron Head for steel-type coverage. The combination of Gyro Ball, which gains power from Ferrothorn's abysmal 20 Speed stat, provides reliable offensive output without requiring attack investment. Many competitive sets capitalize on Ferrothorn's ability to force switches and wear down opponents through passive damage via Iron Barbs and Leech Seed, supporting team members through hazard control. The access to Light Screen and Reflect allows for dual-screen support variants, while Protect provides scouting capability in doubles formats. However, Ferrothorn's crippling weakness to Fire-type moves (taking 4x damage due to its dual typing) and vulnerability to common special attackers remain persistent vulnerabilities requiring careful team support and positioning. Its predictability can be exploited by experienced opponents, and its near-complete lack of offensive presence means it struggles to threaten many modern threats directly, requiring teammates to capitalize on the setup opportunities it creates.
Commonly Asked Questions About Ferrothorn
What type is Ferrothorn?
Ferrothorn is a grass and steel type Pokemon.
What does Ferrothorn evolve from?
Ferrothorn evolved from ferroseed.
What are Ferrothorn's weaknesses?
Ferrothorn is weak to fighting, poison and fire type moves.
Ferrothorn Cultural Impact & Franchise History
While Ferrothorn has not achieved the mainstream cultural prominence of iconic Pokémon like Pikachu or Charizard, it has earned substantial recognition within competitive Pokémon communities and among dedicated franchise enthusiasts. The species' unique Grass/Steel typing and exceptional bulkiness have made it a subject of extensive competitive analysis and strategy discussion since its introduction in Generation V. Ferrothorn has appeared in various Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions, with multiple cards highlighting its defensive nature and unique abilities, though it has not become a format-defining card. In the Pokémon animated series, Ferrothorn has appeared in background appearances and minor episodes but has not secured a major role comparable to other Generation V Pokémon. The creature's striking design—combining organic and metallic elements—has made it a popular choice for fan art and competitive team showcases, where trainers proudly display their carefully crafted Ferrothorn sets. Its role as a competitive staple has solidified its reputation among hardcore players as essential knowledge for anyone serious about battling, making it a benchmark for understanding competitive building philosophy. Ferrothorn's design has influenced how subsequent generations approach typing combinations and defensive mechanics, with game designers referencing its success when creating new bulky creatures. The species' memorable appearance on cave ceilings in Pokédex imagery has also contributed to its distinctive identity within fan communities, differentiating it from more conventionally-designed creatures.
Where to Find Ferrothorn in Every Pokémon Game
Ferrothorn's availability has shifted significantly across generations since its introduction in Generation V. In Pokémon Black and White, Ferroseed could be encountered in Chargestone Cave, allowing players to catch and evolve the line within the same generation, with Ferrothorn receiving Pokédex number 104 in the regional Unova Pokédex. In Black 2 and White 2, the availability expanded with Ferroseed appearing in additional locations, assigned regional number 176. The species maintained presence in subsequent generations, appearing in X and Y's Coastal Kalos region, where it could be found at number 070 in the regional Pokédex. Sword and Shield included Ferrothorn in the base game with regional number 190, later reassigned to 180 in the Crown Tundra DLC expansion. Ferrothorn's catch rate of 90 makes it relatively easy to capture, requiring minimal specialized ball mechanics, though this is somewhat offset by its statistical bulk making it less likely to be caught at higher HP values. The species can be obtained through breeding Ferroseed, allowing players without access to wild encounters to create Ferrothorn for their teams. As of recent generations, Ferrothorn remains widely available through Sword and Shield's Crown Tundra and other modern titles, maintaining its accessibility to contemporary trainers. The species has not appeared in Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee, Legends: Arceus, or Legends: Z-A, limiting availability in those specific titles, though it remains available in most mainline games released after Generation V.