Iron Tail (move)

Iron Tail アイアンテール Iron Tail

The foe is slammed with a steel-hard tail. It may also lower the target's Defense stat.

Battles Type  Steel Category  Physical PP  15 (max. 24) Power  100 Accuracy  75% Priority  {{{priority}}} Makes contact Affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Affected by BrightPowder Not affected by King's Rock

Target Foe Foe Self Ally May affect anyone but the user

Availability Introduced  Generation II TM23 in Generation II TM23 in Generation III TM23 in Generation IV

Contests Category  Cool Appeal  1 ♥ Jam  4 ♥♥♥♥ Badly startles the Pokémon in front.

Super Contests Category  Cool Appeal  2 ♥♥ Earn +2 if the Pokémon performs last in the turn.

Iron Tail on Legendary Pokémon MoveDex Iron Tail on Eevee's Movedex

Iron Tail (Japanese: アイアンテール Iron Tail) is a damage-dealing Steel-type move introduced in Generation II.

Effect

Iron Tail inflicts damage and has a 10% chance of lowering the target's Defense stat by one stage.

Learnset

Generation II

By TM23

#   Pokémon Type 004 Charmander Fire 005 Charmeleon Fire 006 Charizard Fire Flying 007 Squirtle Water 008 Wartortle Water 009 Blastoise Water 019 Rattata Normal 020 Raticate Normal 025 Pikachu Electric 026 Raichu Electric 027 Sandshrew Ground 028 Sandslash Ground 029 Nidoran♀ Poison 030 Nidorina Poison 031 Nidoqueen Poison Ground 032 Nidoran♂ Poison 033 Nidorino Poison 034 Nidoking Poison Ground 035 Clefairy Normal 036 Clefable Normal 037 Vulpix Fire 038 Ninetales Fire 052 Meowth Normal 053 Persian Normal 054 Psyduck Water 055 Golduck Water 056 Mankey Fighting 057 Primeape Fighting 058 Growlithe Fire 059 Arcanine Fire 077 Ponyta Fire 078 Rapidash Fire 079 Slowpoke Water Psychic 080 Slowbro Water Psychic 083 Farfetch'd Normal Flying 095 Onix Rock Ground 104 Cubone Ground 105 Marowak Ground 108 Lickitung Normal 111 Rhyhorn Ground Rock 112 Rhydon Ground Rock 113 Chansey Normal 115 Kangaskhan Normal 125 Electabuzz Electric 126 Magmar Fire 128 Tauros Normal 131 Lapras Water Ice 133 Eevee Normal 134 Vaporeon Water 135 Jolteon Electric 136 Flareon Fire 137 Porygon Normal 142 Aerodactyl Rock Flying 147 Dratini Dragon 148 Dragonair Dragon 149 Dragonite Dragon Flying 150 Mewtwo Psychic 151 Mew Psychic 152 Chikorita Grass 153 Bayleef Grass 154 Meganium Grass 155 Cyndaquil Fire 156 Quilava Fire 157 Typhlosion Fire 158 Totodile Water 159 Croconaw Water 160 Feraligatr Water 161 Sentret Normal 162 Furret Normal 172 Pichu Electric 173 Cleffa Normal 179 Mareep Electric 180 Flaaffy Electric 181 Ampharos Electric 183 Marill Water 184 Azumarill Water 190 Aipom Normal 194 Wooper Water Ground 195 Quagsire Water Ground 196 Espeon Psychic 197 Umbreon Dark 199 Slowking Water Psychic 203 Girafarig Normal Psychic 206 Dunsparce Normal 207 Gligar Ground Flying 208 Steelix Steel Ground 215 Sneasel Dark Ice 228 Houndour Dark Fire 229 Houndoom Dark Fire 233 Porygon2 Normal 240 Magby Fire 243 Raikou Electric 244 Entei Fire 245 Suicune Water 248 Tyranitar Rock Dark 249 Lugia Psychic Flying Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

Generation III

By leveling up

#   Pokémon Type Level 095 Onix Rock Ground 45 208 Steelix Steel Ground 45 304 Aron Steel Rock 29 305 Lairon Steel Rock 29 306 Aggron Steel Rock 29 Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

By TM23

#   Pokémon Type 004 Charmander Fire 005 Charmeleon Fire 006 Charizard Fire Flying 007 Squirtle Water 008 Wartortle Water 009 Blastoise Water 019 Rattata Normal 020 Raticate Normal 023 Ekans Poison 024 Arbok Poison 025 Pikachu Electric 026 Raichu Electric 027 Sandshrew Ground 028 Sandslash Ground 029 Nidoran♀ Poison 030 Nidorina Poison 031 Nidoqueen Poison Ground 032 Nidoran♂ Poison 033 Nidorino Poison 034 Nidoking Poison Ground 035 Clefairy Normal 036 Clefable Normal 037 Vulpix Fire 038 Ninetales Fire 052 Meowth Normal 053 Persian Normal 054 Psyduck Water 055 Golduck Water 056 Mankey Fighting 057 Primeape Fighting 058 Growlithe Fire 059 Arcanine Fire 063 Abra Psychic 064 Kadabra Psychic 065 Alakazam Psychic 077 Ponyta Fire 078 Rapidash Fire 079 Slowpoke Water Psychic 080 Slowbro Water Psychic 083 Farfetch'd Normal Flying 095 Onix Rock Ground 104 Cubone Ground 105 Marowak Ground 108 Lickitung Normal 111 Rhyhorn Ground Rock 112 Rhydon Ground Rock 113 Chansey Normal 115 Kangaskhan Normal 125 Electabuzz Electric 126 Magmar Fire 128 Tauros Normal 131 Lapras Water Ice 133 Eevee Normal 134 Vaporeon Water 135 Jolteon Electric 136 Flareon Fire 137 Porygon Normal 142 Aerodactyl Rock Flying 147 Dratini Dragon 148 Dragonair Dragon 149 Dragonite Dragon Flying 150 Mewtwo Psychic 151 Mew Psychic 152 Chikorita Grass 153 Bayleef Grass 154 Meganium Grass 158 Totodile Water 159 Croconaw Water 160 Feraligatr Water 161 Sentret Normal 162 Furret Normal 172 Pichu Electric 173 Cleffa Normal 179 Mareep Electric 180 Flaaffy Electric 181 Ampharos Electric 183 Marill Water 184 Azumarill Water 190 Aipom Normal 194 Wooper Water Ground 195 Quagsire Water Ground 196 Espeon Psychic 197 Umbreon Dark 199 Slowking Water Psychic 203 Girafarig Normal Psychic 206 Dunsparce Normal 207 Gligar Ground Flying 208 Steelix Steel Ground 210 Granbull Normal 215 Sneasel Dark Ice 228 Houndour Dark Fire 229 Houndoom Dark Fire 231 Phanpy Ground 232 Donphan Ground 233 Porygon2 Normal 234 Stantler Normal 240 Magby Fire 241 Miltank Normal 242 Blissey Normal 243 Raikou Electric 244 Entei Fire 245 Suicune Water 248 Tyranitar Rock Dark 249 Lugia Psychic Flying 252 Treecko Grass 253 Grovyle Grass 254 Sceptile Grass 258 Mudkip Water 259 Marshtomp Water Ground 260 Swampert Water Ground 261 Poochyena Dark 262 Mightyena Dark 263 Zigzagoon Normal 264 Linoone Normal 286 Breloom Grass Fighting 298 Azurill Normal 300 Skitty Normal 301 Delcatty Normal 304 Aron Steel Rock 305 Lairon Steel Rock 306 Aggron Steel Rock 309 Electrike Electric 310 Manectric Electric 311 Plusle Electric 312 Minun Electric 324 Torkoal Fire 325 Spoink Psychic 326 Grumpig Psychic 330 Flygon Ground Dragon 334 Altaria Dragon Flying 335 Zangoose Normal 336 Seviper Poison 348 Armaldo Rock Bug 350 Milotic Water 352 Kecleon Normal 359 Absol Dark 363 Spheal Ice Water 364 Sealeo Ice Water 365 Walrein Ice Water 373 Salamence Dragon Flying 383 Groudon Ground 384 Rayquaza Dragon Flying Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

Generation IV

By leveling up

#   Pokémon Type Level 095 Onix Rock Ground 38DP 095 Onix Rock Ground 41PtHGSS 208 Steelix Steel Ground 38DP 208 Steelix Steel Ground 41PtHGSS 304 Aron Steel Rock 39 305 Lairon Steel Rock 45 306 Aggron Steel Rock 48 Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

By TM23

#   Pokémon Type 004 Charmander Fire 005 Charmeleon Fire 006 Charizard Fire Flying 007 Squirtle Water 008 Wartortle Water 009 Blastoise Water 019 Rattata Normal 020 Raticate Normal 023 Ekans Poison 024 Arbok Poison 025 Pikachu Electric 026 Raichu Electric 027 Sandshrew Ground 028 Sandslash Ground 029 Nidoran♀ Poison 030 Nidorina Poison 031 Nidoqueen Poison Ground 032 Nidoran♂ Poison 033 Nidorino Poison 034 Nidoking Poison Ground 035 Clefairy Normal 036 Clefable Normal 037 Vulpix Fire 038 Ninetales Fire 052 Meowth Normal 053 Persian Normal 054 Psyduck Water 055 Golduck Water 056 Mankey Fighting 057 Primeape Fighting 058 Growlithe Fire 059 Arcanine Fire 063 Abra Psychic 064 Kadabra Psychic 065 Alakazam Psychic 077 Ponyta Fire 078 Rapidash Fire 079 Slowpoke Water Psychic 080 Slowbro Water Psychic 083 Farfetch'd Normal Flying 095 Onix Rock Ground 104 Cubone Ground 105 Marowak Ground 108 Lickitung Normal 111 Rhyhorn Ground Rock 112 Rhydon Ground Rock 113 Chansey Normal 115 Kangaskhan Normal 125 Electabuzz Electric 126 Magmar Fire 128 Tauros Normal 131 Lapras Water Ice 133 Eevee Normal 134 Vaporeon Water 135 Jolteon Electric 136 Flareon Fire 137 Porygon Normal 142 Aerodactyl Rock Flying 147 Dratini Dragon 148 Dragonair Dragon 149 Dragonite Dragon Flying 150 Mewtwo Psychic 151 Mew Psychic 152 Chikorita Grass 153 Bayleef Grass 154 Meganium Grass 158 Totodile Water 159 Croconaw Water 160 Feraligatr Water 161 Sentret Normal 162 Furret Normal 172 Pichu Electric 173 Cleffa Normal 179 Mareep Electric 180 Flaaffy Electric 181 Ampharos Electric 183 Marill Water 184 Azumarill Water 190 Aipom Normal 194 Wooper Water Ground 195 Quagsire Water Ground 196 Espeon Psychic 197 Umbreon Dark 199 Slowking Water Psychic 203 Girafarig Normal Psychic 206 Dunsparce Normal 207 Gligar Ground Flying 208 Steelix Steel Ground 210 Granbull Normal 215 Sneasel Dark Ice 228 Houndour Dark Fire 229 Houndoom Dark Fire 231 Phanpy Ground 232 Donphan Ground 233 Porygon2 Normal 234 Stantler Normal 240 Magby Fire 241 Miltank Normal 242 Blissey Normal 243 Raikou Electric 244 Entei Fire 245 Suicune Water 248 Tyranitar Rock Dark 249 Lugia Psychic Flying 252 Treecko Grass 253 Grovyle Grass 254 Sceptile Grass 258 Mudkip Water 259 Marshtomp Water Ground 260 Swampert Water Ground 261 Poochyena Dark 262 Mightyena Dark 263 Zigzagoon Normal 264 Linoone Normal 286 Breloom Grass Fighting 298 Azurill Normal 300 Skitty Normal 301 Delcatty Normal 304 Aron Steel Rock 305 Lairon Steel Rock 306 Aggron Steel Rock 309 Electrike Electric 310 Manectric Electric 311 Plusle Electric 312 Minun Electric 324 Torkoal Fire 325 Spoink Psychic 326 Grumpig Psychic 330 Flygon Ground Dragon 334 Altaria Dragon Flying 335 Zangoose Normal 336 Seviper Poison 348 Armaldo Rock Bug 350 Milotic Water 352 Kecleon Normal 359 Absol Dark 363 Spheal Ice Water 364 Sealeo Ice Water 365 Walrein Ice Water 373 Salamence Dragon Flying 383 Groudon Ground 384 Rayquaza Dragon Flying 387 Turtwig Grass 388 Grotle Grass 389 Torterra Grass Ground 390 Chimchar Fire 391 Monferno Fire Fighting 392 Infernape Fire Fighting 399 Bidoof Normal 400 Bibarel Normal Water 403 Shinx Electric 404 Luxio Electric 405 Luxray Electric 408 Cranidos Rock 409 Rampardos Rock 410 Shieldon Rock Steel 411 Bastiodon Rock Steel 417 Pachirisu Electric 418 Buizel Water 419 Floatzel Water 424 Ambipom Normal 427 Buneary Normal 428 Lopunny Normal 431 Glameow Normal 432 Purugly Normal 434 Stunky Poison Dark 435 Skuntank Poison Dark 444 Gabite Dragon Ground 445 Garchomp Dragon Ground 447 Riolu Fighting 448 Lucario Fighting Steel 449 Hippopotas Ground 450 Hippowdon Ground 451 Skorupi Poison Bug 452 Drapion Poison Dark 459 Snover Grass Ice 460 Abomasnow Grass 461 Weavile Dark Ice 463 Lickilicky Normal 464 Rhyperior Ground Rock 466 Electivire Electric 467 Magmortar Fire 470 Leafeon Grass 471 Glaceon Ice 472 Gliscor Ground Flying 474 Porygon-Z Normal 480 Uxie Psychic 481 Mesprit Psychic 482 Azelf Psychic 483 Dialga Steel Dragon 487 Giratina Altered Forme Ghost Dragon 487 Giratina Origin Forme Ghost Dragon 493 Arceus Normal Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

In the anime

Glaceon	Marill	Pikachu	Milotic
The Pokémon's tail glows white and strikes the opponent; sometimes, the hit produces light. According to Chaz, only a Pokémon with a fully developed tail can learn this technique.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Episode Used In		Notes
Marill	The ball at the end of Marill's tail starts to glow white. It then twirls its tail rapidly and strikes the opponent.
Pietra's Marill	Right on, Rhydon!		Debut
Steelix	Steelix's tail glows white, then it slams its tail at the opponent.
Jasmine's Steelix	Nerves of Steelix!		None
Hun's Steelix	The Legend of Thunder!		None
Harrison's Steelix	Playing with Fire!		None
A wild Steelix	All Torkoal, No Play		None
Brock's Steelix	Grating Spaces!		None
Byron's Steelix	Dealing With Defensive Types		None
A Wild Steelix	Steeling Peace of Mind!		None
Charizard	The flame part of Charizard's tail glows white and it slams its tail at its opponent.
Jessie's Charizard	One Trick Phony!		None
Dragonair	The two orbs on the end of Dragonair's tail glow white and it hits the opponent with them.
Clair's Dragonair	Better Eight Than Never		None
Electabuzz	Half of Electabuzz's tail glows white and Electabuzz hits the opponent with it.
Macey's Electabuzz	Love, Pokémon Style		None
Azumarill	The ball at the end of Azumarill's tail glows white and Azumarill hits the opponent with it.
Jackson's Azumarill	Tie One On!		None
Sentret	Sentret's tail glows white and it hits the opponent.
Chaz's Sentret	All Things Bright and Beautifly!		None
Pikachu	Pikachu's entire tail glows white and it hits the opponent with it.
Ash's Pikachu	All in a Day's Wurmple		None
Mightyena	Mightyena's tail glows white and it hits the opponent with it.
Butch's Mightyena	Oaknapped		None
Tabitha's Mightyena	The Spheal of Approval		None
Swampert	Swampert's tailfin glows white and it hits the foe with it.
Tommy's Swampert	Abandon Ship!		None
Marshtomp	Marshtomp's two tailfins glows white and it hits the foe with them.
Tommy's Marshtomp	Abandon Ship!		None
Nicholai's Marshtomp	Zigzag Zangoose!		None
Milotic	The fan part of Milotic's tailfin glows white and it hits the opponent with it.
Robert's Milotic	Win, Lose or Drew!		None
Juan's Milotic	Eight Ain't Enough		None
Delcatty	The purple tip on Delcatty's tail glows white and it hits the opponent with it.
Georgio's Delcatty	A Date with Delcatty		None
Lila's Delcatty	Battling the Generation Gap!		None
Ampharos	Half of Ampharos's tail glows white then it hits the opponent with it.
Watt's Ampharos	Manectric Charge		None
Skitty	The pink part of Skitty's tail glows white, and Skitty hits the opponent with it.
Dr. Abby's Johnny	Delcatty Got Your Tongue		None
Flaaffy	The blue pearl on the tip of Flaaffy's tail glows and then hits the opponent.
Sullivan's Flaaffy	Whiscash and Ash		None
Grumpig	Grumpig's entire tail glows and then hits the opponent.
Kelly's Grumpig	Lessons in Lilycove!		None
Meowth	Meowth's entire tail glows and then hits the opponent.
Tyson's Meowth	Like a Meowth to Flame!		None
Luxray	Luxray's entire tail glows and then hits the opponent.
Marble's Luxray	Luxray Vision!		None
Raichu	Raichu's entire tail glows and then hits the opponent.
Sho's Raichu	Pika and Goliath!		None
Glaceon	Glaceon's entire tail glows and then hits the opponent.
May's Glaceon	A Full Course Tag Battle!		None
Glameow	Glameow's entire tail glows and then hits the opponent.
Zoey's Glameow	Arrival of a Rival		None
Johanna's Glameow	Battling the Generation Gap!		None
Luxio	Luxio's entire tail glows and hits the opponent.
Wild Luxio	Leading a Stray!		None

Trivia

• Despite the narrative implying the need for a tail to perform this attack, Pokémon that lose their tails when they evolve (such as Primeape) or do not have a tail but gain one upon evolution (such as Rhyhorn) can still learn and use this attack.
• Despite the Sinnoh Water-type starter being the only to have a Steel-type trace (Empoleon being a Steel-type), they are the only of the Sinnoh starters not able to learn Iron Tail.

In other languages

• European and Brazilian Portuguese: Cauda de Ferro
• French: Queue de Fer
• German: Eisenschweif
• Italian: Codacciaio
• Latin American Spanish (anime): Cola de Acero
• Norwegian: Jernhale
• Spanish: Cola Ferrea
• Dutch (anime): IJzerstaart

This move article is part of Project MoveDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each move.