Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: How to Get Iron Hands

Some of the new additions to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are making waves in the Tera Raid Battle meta, and one of the top contenders for five and six-star Raids is Iron Hands. Available only in Violet, this Pokemon from the future has the stats, survivability, and move list to take on almost any high-difficulty content in the game.

Only specific six and seven-star raids require a change, with Iron Hands coasting through most other endgame activities. Thankfully, this new Pokemon isn’t hard to come by once you can start capturing them, but you’ll be spending quite a few hours earning the right.

How to Capture Iron Hands in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Iron Hands is native to only one location in Pokemon Violet: Area Zero in the Great Crater of Paldea. That means you need to complete the main story campaign, including all the Gyms, Titans, and Team Star bases, plus heading into Area Zero for the final fights. Once the credits finish rolling, however, you’re free to head back down into the crater and start hunting for your perfect Iron Hands.

You can fast-travel to the Zero Gate after all the post-game cutscenes finish and before you start any of the endgame content. Teleport to the first Research Station, head out into the level and wander around for a few moments. Provided you’re playing the Violet version or are in a Violet player’s world through online co-op, you should see at least one or two Iron Hands in the mix.

Every Iron Hands you fight in Area Zero will be around levels 51 through 54. They’re a Fighting/Electric dual type, so bring either Ground, Psychic, or Flying types to whittle down their HP.

You can eat a sandwich with Encounter Power: Fighting before coming down into Area Zero will prioritize Iron Hands spawns, making it easier to find them, and if it’s your thing, hunt for a shiny version.

Your ideal Iron Hands has a Nature that increases its Attack stat without sacrificing either of its Defense stats. Once you have one on your team, it’s time to start training it. Use either Experience Candies or grind high-experience-giving Pokemon like Chansey to take it to level 100, then increase its HP and Attack IVs and EVs, and you’ll have an absolute monster on your…hands.

With all this knowledge, you can hunt for your perfect Iron Hands in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Again, they’re only available in a Violet player’s world, but with co-op, even Scarlet players can capture one. You can trade for them as well. For an easy way to change your Iron Hands’ nature, check out our guide to Nature Mints and our articles on the best Gym order and how to get Tera Shards. Our Scarlet and Violet guides hub has more.