What is a good moveset for Iron Boulder?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Iron Boulder, post an answer below and upvote the best ones.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some explanation, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Iron Boulder Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Hammering Speed Control

Gen 9 OU
Iron Boulder @ Booster Energy
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Mighty Cleave
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat / Zen Headbutt

Iron Boulder has found use as a powerful revenge-killer with strong hitting power. Iron Boulder is a ridiculously powerful form of speed control with Booster Energy, giving it a one-time Choice Scarf with no drawback.

Mighty Cleave is Iron Boulder’s extremely powerful signature STAB, bypassing Protect. Earthquake is coverage against Toxapex, Gholdengo, and Archaludon. Swords Dance is to raise Iron Boulder’s attack to lethal levels. Close Combat is extremely powerful, and pairs well with Tera Fighting. Zen Headbutt can be used instead as STAB with a flinch chance, since Mighty Earthquake (Mighty Cleave / Earthquake catchphrase. Copyright 2023 Anchor9) is great coverage for the current Metagame.

Tera Fighting to lose a deadly vulnerability to Sucker Punch and Grassy Glide, while resisting Sucker Punch.

Comments

I use the exact same set, and it is pretty good. +1

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Great set, also tera fighting boosts CC

Answer 2

Gen 9 Monotype Choice Scarf

Iron Boulder @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Rock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Mighty Cleave
- Zen Headbutt
- Close Combat / Sacred Sword
- Earthquake

Iron Boulder's base 124 Speed allows it to be used as a Choice Scarf user in Gen 9 Monotype to revenge kill faster Pokemon such as Chien-Pao, Flutter Mane, and Dragapult. Might Cleave is used for the Rock STAB since not only it doesn't miss, but it can also bypass protection moves, which is pretty neat. Zen Headbutt is used for a Psychic STAB that allows Iron Boulder to break through Poison-types such as Amoonguss, Clodsire, and Toxapex. Zen Headbutt is also nice to hit Fighting-types such as Ursifhu-Rapid-Strike, Sneasler, Great Tusk, Iron Hands, and Iron Valiant super effectively. Close Combat is used for a coverage move to hit Steel- and Rock-types such as Iron Treads, Kingambit, Archaludon, Excadrill, Empoleon, Garganacl, and Ogerpon-Cornerstone super effectively. Sacred Sword is an option to use to ignore the defense boosts of Pokemon such as Archaludon and Garganacl. Earthquake along with Mighty Cleave forms the EdgeQuake (MightyQuake in this case) combo in addition to allowing Iron Boulder to OHKO non-Air Balloon Heatran and 2HKOing Alolan Muk, which is useful for the Poison matchup.

Comments

Use booster energy cause you don’t get locked into the first move and the speed boost is exactly same

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Booster Energy is banned in Monotype, which is why Choice Scarf is used.

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Ok good to know!