#0305 · Hoenn · Generation 3

Lairon

Iron Armor Pokémon · Steel/Rock-type

Lairon is a Steel/Rock-type Pokémon, the Iron Armor Pokémon, number 305 (#0305) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 3 and comes from the Hoenn region. It is 0.9 m tall and weighs 120 kg.

Lairon is a Steel and Rock type that settles disputes over territory by ramming other Lairon with its steel body. The Pokédex says it shows off by making sparks fly, and its armour is covered in scratches and dents from all the fights.

How to pronounce Lairon

Lairon is pronounced LAIR-un. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Lairon said out loud:

In Japanese it is コドラ (Kodora).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Lairon is a stocky, dark grey quadruped, 0.9 m tall and 120 kg, with sky-blue eyes and a back covered in segments of platinum iron armour. Flat protrusions line its lower jaw, two teeth show in its mouth, and two-pronged metal bands wrap its short legs, grey above and silver below.

Behaviour

Lairon is proud of its strength. The Pokédex says it shows off with the size of the sparks it makes by ramming boulders, and that when two meet in the wild their collision clangs for miles. Other entries say it has often come into conflict with humans who mine the iron ore under its nesting grounds.

Habitat

Mountains, according to the Pokédex, which says it nests where iron ore is buried and close to good spring water. In Legends: Z-A it lives in Magenta District's Wild Zone 14 and the Mega Dimension DLC's Hyperspace Lumiose, but not in Scarlet and Violet.

Diet

Iron from rocks, plus mineral spring water, which the Pokédex says it drinks until bloated to temper its steel body.

Powers

Lairon shares its line's Abilities: Sturdy and Rock Head, with Heavy Metal hidden. Heavy Slam turns its weight into damage, Iron Head hits hard, Iron Defense hardens it further, and Metal Burst returns a hit to whoever struck it. Base Defense of 140 against Speed 40 makes it a slow wall.

Name origin

Lairon may blend 'lairy' (slang for aggressive) or 'lair' with 'iron'. The Japanese name is Kodora (コドラ), which may combine kōdō ('mining tunnel'), ko ('small') and 'dragon'.

Design inspiration

Lairon may share the line's Bulgasari inspiration, and Bulbapedia suggests its dragon-like look follows that monster's appearance in a film version of the legend. Its body shape is also similar to Placerias, a synapsid (an early relative of mammals) from the Triassic. These are fan readings.

Evolution notes

Lairon evolves from Aron at level 32 and into Aggron at level 42.

In the games

Lairon arrived in Ruby and Sapphire as the middle stage of its line. It is not available in Scarlet and Violet.

In the anime

Lairon debuted in 'A Fan with a Plan' as the Pokémon of a Coordinator named Savannah. Paul's Lairon lost quickly to Brandon's Regice in 'A Pyramiding Rage!' and was revealed to have evolved into an Aggron by 'Familiarity Breeds Strategy!'.

Fun facts

• In Pokémon Sleep, Bulbapedia says, Lairon has been seen dozing off mid-meal with iron ore in its mouth.
• Several Lairon are among the feuding armies that Sir Aaron calms in the past in the film Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.
• In 'Tag Team Battle Inspiration!', Trevor takes a picture of a Lairon.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Lairon (Pokémon) · Serebii: Lairon (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 60
• Attack: 90
• Defense: 140
• Sp. Atk: 50
• Sp. Def: 50
• Speed: 40

Lairon’s base stat total is 430. Its highest stat is Defense.

Type matchups

What is Lairon weak to?

Lairon takes extra damage from Fighting (4×), Ground (4×), Water (2×) moves.

It resists Normal (¼×), Flying (¼×), Ice (½×), Psychic (½×), Bug (½×), Rock (½×), Dragon (½×), Fairy (½×).

It is immune to Poison moves.

Evolution

What does Lairon evolve from?

Lairon evolves from Aron at level 32.

How does Lairon evolve?

Lairon evolves into Aggron at level 42.

The whole family: Aron, Lairon, Aggron.

Abilities

• Sturdy: Prevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. Protects against the one-hit KO moves regardless of HP.
• Rock Head: Protects against recoil damage.
• Heavy Metal (hidden ability): Doubles the Pokémon's weight.

Moves

Moves Lairon learns by level up in Sword / Shield

TM moves (34)

Lairon can learn 34 moves from TMs in Sword / Shield: Dig, Screech, Rest, Rock Slide, Snore, Protect, Attract, Sandstorm, Rain Dance, Sunny Day, Facade, Rock Tomb, Sand Tomb, Rock Blast, Shadow Claw, Round, Bulldoze, Stomping Tantrum, Body Slam, Earthquake, Substitute, Reversal, Endure, Sleep Talk, Iron Tail, Uproar, Superpower, Iron Defense, Earth Power, Iron Head, Stone Edge, Stealth Rock, Heavy Slam, Body Press.

Egg moves (6), which Aron can hatch knowing:Curse, Dragon Rush, Endeavor, Head Smash, Mud-Slap, Stomp.

Move tutor moves (2): Steel Beam, Steel Roller.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
• Egg groups: Monster.
• Egg cycles: 35 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 4,480).
• Catch rate: 90 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 35.
• Growth rate: Slow (1,250,000 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 2 Defense effort values.
• Base experience yield: 151.

Pokédex entries

During territorial disputes, Lairon fight by slamming into each other. Close inspection of their steel armor reveals scratches and dents. (Shield)

Lairon live in mountains brimming with spring water and iron ore, so these Pokémon often came into conflict with humans in the past. (Sword)

Lairon feeds on iron contained in rocks and water. It makes its nest on mountains where iron ore is buried. As a result, the Pokémon often clashes with humans mining the iron ore. (Sapphire, Alpha Sapphire)

Lairon tempers its steel body by drinking highly nutritious mineral springwater until it is bloated. This Pokémon makes its nest close to springs of delicious water. (Ruby, Omega Ruby)

It habitually shows off its strength with the size of sparks it creates by ramming its steel body into boulders. (FireRed, LeafGreen, Y)

It loves iron ore. Groups of them fight for territory by bashing one another with their steel bodies. (HeartGold, SoulSilver, X)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Taller than 43% of all Pokémon (0.9 m).
• Heavier than 86% of all Pokémon (120 kg).
• Base stat total 430, ranked #544 of 1,025.
• Its best stat is Defense, ranked #21 of 1,025.
• One of 7 Pokémon that are both Steel and Rock.
• One of 107 gray Pokémon.
• Number 54 of 135 Pokémon introduced in Generation 3 (Hoenn).
• Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
• Can learn 52 different moves in Sword / Shield.
• Catch rate 90: about 11.8% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Appears in 9 distinct Pokédex entries.

Sources and fact-checking

• Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
• Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Lairon (Pokémon), Serebii: Lairon (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (LAIR-un): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Steel-type Pokémon · Rock-type Pokémon · Steel/Rock weaknesses and matchups · Hoenn region guide · Sturdy ability · Rock Head ability · Heavy Metal ability · Compare Lairon · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

Browse similar Pokémon

Gen 3 Steel-type Pokémon · Gen 3 Rock-type Pokémon · Gen 3 Pokémon list · Gray Pokémon list · Monster egg group · Pokémon that start with L

← Aron | Aggron →