Facebook
Reddit
Email
Learn how to use Iron Treads in the Pokemon VGC format based on Yoshitaka Izawa’s 2025 Pokemon World Championships build.
While its past counterpart, Great Tusk, has carved a definitive niche in the Singles meta, Iron Treads has been more than a notable presence in VGC. At the 2025 Pokemon World Championships, its highest placement was 11th as part of Yoshitaka Izawa’s team. So, using his Iron Treads build as a basis, it’s worth looking at what makes this Paradox Pokemon do well in the competitive scene.
What Is the Build of Yoshitaka Izawa’s Iron Treads?
Iron Treads has a seemingly defensive typing on the surface with Ground/Steel. This is further backed up by its decent bulk courtesy of its 90/120/70 defenses. However, it has a glaring weakness to Fire-types, and worse, a 4x weakness to Fighting in a meta with Koraidon and Zamazenta Crowned running around. So players like Yoshitaka Izawa tend to use it offensively instead.
Iron Treads has an Attack stat of 112 and a Speed stat of 106. This is decent enough to work in this meta and can be further boosted if its ability Quark Drive is activated. Additionally, Yoshitaka gave his Iron Treads a Life Orb for another damage boost at the cost of recoil damage. Finally, if he were up against an unfavorable type matchup for Iron Treads, he could Terastallize it into a Ghost-type.
Moves Used by Yoshitaka Izawa’s Iron Treads
For STAB, Yoshitaka gave his Iron Treads Iron Head and High Horsepower. The latter is noteworthy as using something like Earthquake would hit its ally as well. Knock Off is the third move of choice, letting Iron Treads remove an item and deal super effective damage to Ghost-types like Calyrex Shadow Rider. Finally, Yoshitaka had Protect to bluff and stall for a turn.
Which Pokemon Is Iron Treads Good Against?
Iron Treads’ main role in this meta is as a hard counter to Miraidon. This is because it’s immune to its Electric-type attacks, resists its Dragon-type ones, and if Miraidon chooses to Terastallize into a Fairy type, it can still hit it for super effective damage. It also similarly checks Raging Bolt, Calyrex Ice Rider, and Grimmsnarl. Iron Treads also puts pressure on Pokemon like Incineroar and Zamazenta Crowned, as its High Horsepower can OHKO them.
Common Partners for Iron Treads
- Miraidon: Iron Treads loves the Electric Terrain set up by Miraidon, thanks to the Quark Drive boost that follows. In return, Iron Treads takes out opposing Miraidon.
- Fake Out users: Pokemon that can use Fake Out like Incineroar, Iron Hands, and Rillaboom, help keep Iron Treads safe.
- Redirection supporters: Pokemon like Amoonguss and Brute Bonnet redirect damage away from Iron Treads, letting it spam its moves in peace.
Thank you for reading the article. We provide the latest news and create guides for Pokemon GO. Also, watch Deltia play on Twitch or visit the YouTube channel!
