Harden (move)

Harden
かたくなる Stiffen

Battles

Type	Normal
Category	Status
PP	30 (max. 48)
Power	—
Accuracy	—%
Priority	0
Does not make contact Not affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Affected by Snatch Not affected by Mirror Move Not affected by King's Rock

Range

Opponent	Opponent	Opponent
Self	Ally	Ally
Self: Affects the user

Availability

Introduced	Generation I
Not a TM, TR, HM, or Move Tutor move.

Contests

Condition	Tough
Appeal	2 ♥♥
Jam	0
Can avoid being startled by others once.

Super Contests

Condition	Tough
Appeal	2 ♥♥
Prevents the Voltage from going up in the same turn.

Contest Spectaculars

Condition	Tough
Appeal	2 ♥♥
Jamming	0
Prevents the user from being startled one time this turn.

On Smogon's Movedex:

Harden (Japanese: かたくなる Stiffen) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation I.

Effect

Harden increases the user's Defense stat by one stage.

If powered up by a Normalium Z into Z-Harden, the user's Defense rises by another stage.

Harden can be used as a part of a Pokémon Contest combination, causing Double-Edge, Protect, Rollout, Tackle and Take Down to have their base appeal points doubled if used in the next turn.

Description

Games	Description
StadStad2	Raises the user's Defense. Useful when battling physically strong Pokémon.
GS C	Raises the user's Defense.
RS EColoXD	Stiffens the body's muscles to raise Defense.
FRLG	The user stiffens all the muscles in its body to raise its Defense stat.
DP Pt HGSSPBR BW B2W2 XY ORAS SM USUM	The user stiffens all the muscles in its body to raise its Defense stat.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
0011		Metapod		Bug		Bug	1^RGB 1, 7^Y	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, Evo.
0014		Kakuna		Bug		Bug	1	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, Evo.
0074		Geodude		Mineral		Mineral	26	26
0075		Graveler		Mineral		Mineral	29	27
0076		Golem		Mineral		Mineral	29	27
0088		Grimer		Amorphous		Amorphous	42	5	4	4	4	4	4^SM^USUM 6^PE
088A		Grimer Alola Form		Amorphous		Amorphous							4^SM^USUM 6^PE
0089		Muk		Amorphous		Amorphous	45	1, 33	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4^SM^USUM 1, 6^PE
089A		Muk Alola Form		Amorphous		Amorphous							1, 4^SM^USUM 1, 6^PE
0095		Onix		Mineral		Mineral	43	23	21^RSE 19^FRLG	1	1	1	1
0098		Krabby		Water 3		Water 3	40	16	16	11	11	11	11^SM^USUM 14^PE
0099		Kingler		Water 3		Water 3	49	16	16^RSE 1, 16^FRLG	11	11	11	11^SM^USUM 1, 14^PE
0120		Staryu		Water 3		Water 3	22	1	1	1	1	1	1
0121		Starmie		Water 3		Water 3	1						1^PE
0127		Pinsir		Bug		Bug	43	25	19	13	13^BW 11^B2W2	11	11^SM^USUM 12^PE
0140		Kabuto		Water 1	Water 3	1	1	1	1	1	1	1^SM^USUM 6^PE
0141		Kabutops		Water 1	Water 3	1	1	1	1	1	1	1^SM^USUM 1, 6^PE
0143		Snorlax		Monster		Monster	41
0207		Gligar		Bug		Bug		13	13	9	9^BW 7^B2W2	7	7
0208		Steelix		Mineral		Mineral		23	21^RSE 19^FRLG	1	1	1	1
0211		Qwilfish		Water 2		Water 2		10	10^RSE 9^FRLG	9	9	9	9
0218		Slugma		Amorphous		Amorphous		22	22	16	14	14^XY 13^ORAS	13
0219		Magcargo		Amorphous		Amorphous		22	22	16	14	14^XY 13^ORAS	13
0222		Corsola		Water 1	Water 3		7	6	4	4	4^XY 1^ORAS	1
0266		Silcoon		Bug		Bug			1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, Evo.
0268		Cascoon		Bug		Bug			1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, Evo.
0273		Seedot		Field	Grass			3	3	3	3	3
0274		Nuzleaf		Field	Grass			3	3	3	3	3
0275		Shiftry		Field	Grass			1
0290		Nincada		Bug		Bug			1	1	1	1	1
0291		Ninjask		Bug		Bug			1	1	1	1	1
0292		Shedinja		Mineral		Mineral			1	1	1	1	1
0299		Nosepass		Mineral		Mineral			7	7	7^BW 4^B2W2	4	4
0304		Aron		Monster		Monster			4	4	4^BW 1^B2W2	1	1
0305		Lairon		Monster		Monster			1, 4	1, 4	1, 4^BW 1^B2W2	1	1
0306		Aggron		Monster		Monster			1, 4	1, 4	1, 4^BW 1^B2W2	1	1
0337		Lunatone		Mineral		Mineral			1	1	1	1	1
0338		Solrock		Mineral		Mineral			1	1	1	1	1
0341		Corphish		Water 1	Water 3			7	7	7	7^XY 5^ORAS	5
0342		Crawdaunt		Water 1	Water 3			1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7^XY 1, 5^ORAS	1, 5
0343		Baltoy		Mineral		Mineral			3	3	4^BW 1^B2W2	1	1
0344		Claydol		Mineral		Mineral			1, 3	1, 3	1, 4^BW 1^B2W2	1	1
0347		Anorith		Water 3		Water 3			7	1	1	1	1
0348		Armaldo		Water 3		Water 3			1, 7	1	1	1	1
0369		Relicanth		Water 1	Water 2			1	1	1	1	1
413G		Wormadam Sandy Cloak		Bug		Bug				29	29	29	29
0422		Shellos		Water 1	Amorphous				4	4	4	4
0423		Gastrodon		Water 1	Amorphous				1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4
0472		Gliscor		Bug		Bug				1, 9	1, 9^BW 1, 7^B2W2	1, 7	1, 7
0524		Roggenrola		Mineral		Mineral					4	4	4
0525		Boldore		Mineral		Mineral					1, 4	1, 4	1, 4
0526		Gigalith		Mineral		Mineral					1, 4	1, 4	1, 4
0582		Vanillite		Mineral		Mineral					4	4	4
0583		Vanillish		Mineral		Mineral					1, 4	1, 4	1, 4
0584		Vanilluxe		Mineral		Mineral					1, 4	1, 4	1, 4
0597		Ferroseed		Grass	Mineral					1	1	1
0598		Ferrothorn		Grass	Mineral					1	1	1
0665		Spewpa		Bug		Bug						1	1
0703		Carbink		Fairy	Mineral						1	1
0712		Bergmite		Monster		Monster						1	1
0713		Avalugg		Monster		Monster						1	1
0719		Diancie		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered						1	1
0769		Sandygast		Amorphous		Amorphous							1
0770		Palossand		Amorphous		Amorphous							1
0771		Pyukumuku		Water 1		Water 1							1
0794		Buzzwole		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered							1
0797		Celesteela		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered							1
0808		Meltan		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered							1^PE
0809		Melmetal		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered							1^PE
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By breeding

#	Pokémon		Types	Parent Egg Groups		Egg Move
#	Pokémon		Types	Parent Egg Groups		II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
0185		Sudowoodo		Mineral		Mineral			✔	✔	✔	✔
0214		Heracross		Bug		Bug	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0438		Bonsly		Mineral		Mineral			✔	✔	✔	✔
0610		Axew		Monster	Dragon				✔	✔	✔
0636		Larvesta		Bug		Bug				✔	✔	✔
0736		Grubbin		Bug		Bug						✔
0767		Wimpod		Bug	Water 3						✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

In other games

Description

Games	Description
MDRB	Boosts the user's Defense by one level.
MDTD S	Boosts the user's Defense by 1 level.
BSL	じぶんのぼうぎょを１だんかいあげる
MDGtI	It boosts your Defense. (The stat change returns to normal when you go to the next floor or step on a Wonder Tile.)
SMD	It boosts your Defense. The stat returns to normal when you go to the next floor or step on a Wonder Tile.

In the anime

Pokémon	Method
Metapod Meltan Corphish Aggron
The user stiffens all the muscles in its body.
User	First Used In	Notes
	Metapod glows a greenish-whitish color and becomes hard as steel.
Ash's Metapod	Challenge of the Samurai	Debut
Samurai's Metapod	Challenge of the Samurai	None
Bugsy's Metapod	Gettin' the Bugs Out	None
	Kingler glows pale blue and any attack that hits it bounces off.
Giovanni's Kingler	The Battle of the Badge	None
	Krabby's body becomes sturdy and hard.
Ash's Krabby	Round One - Begin!	None
	Larvitar freezes its body in place like a statue and doesn't move.
Larvitar (anime)	Hatch Me if You Can	Larvitar cannot legally learn Harden
	Cascoon tenses up its body and its body shines, making attacks bounce off it.
Jessie's Cascoon	Seeing is Believing!	None
	Corphish's body flashes white and shines, making it able to take attacks.
Ash's Corphish	Just One of the Geysers	None
	Aggron tenses up and its body flashes white and shines, making it able to take attacks.
Johnny's Aggron	Shocks and Bonds	None
	Meltan's body briefly turns light blue, making it able to take attacks.
Ash's Meltan	Aiming for the Top Floor!	None

In the manga

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

Pokémon	Method
Metapod
The user stiffens its body for defense.
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
	Metapod stiffens its body, raising its defense slightly.
Ash's Metapod	Play Misty For Me	Debut

In the How I Became a Pokémon Card manga

Pokémon	Method
Metapod
The user stiffens its body.
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
	Metapod stiffens its body.
Midori's Metapod	PW10	Debut

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Pokémon	Method
Staryu Snorlax Nosepass
The user's body hardens and heightens defense.
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
	The curves on Snorlax's body turn into edges and its body becomes stiff.
Red's Snor	A Charizard... and a Champion	Debut
	Staryu's body hardens, making it able to take attacks.
Crystal's multiple Staryu	Surrounded by Staryu	None
	Nosepass hardens its body, making it able to take attacks.
Roxanne's Nosepass	Blowing Past Nosepass I	None

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

Pokémon	Method
Metapod and Kakuna
The user stiffens its body.
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
	Metapod stiffens its body and any attacks making contact with it are nullified.
Bugsy's Heracross	The Hardest Insect Pokémon Wins?!	Debut
	Kakuna stiffens its body and any attacks making contact with it are nullified.
Bugsy's Kakuna	The Hardest Insect Pokémon Wins?!	Debut

In other generations

Core series games

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Side series games

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Spin-off series games

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

In other languages

Language		Title
Chinese	Cantonese	變硬 Binngaahng * 僵硬 Goengngaahng *
Chinese	Mandarin	變硬 / 变硬 Biànyìng * 硬梆梆 Yìngbāngbāng *
Czech		Zpevnění
Danish		Hærde
Dutch		Verharding
Finnish		Kovetus
French		Armure
German		Härtner
Greek		Σκλήρυνση
Hindi		सख्त होजाओ Sakht Hojao
Indonesian		Mengeras
Italian		Rafforzatore
Korean		단단해지기 Dandanhaejigi
Polish		Twardnienie* Siłowy Atak* Osłona* Pełna Moc* Kontratak* Twardy Atak*
Portuguese	Brazil	Endurecer Endurecimento (The Official Pokémon Handbook)
Portuguese	Portugal	Endurecimento
Serbian		Očvršćivanje
Spanish		Fortaleza
Swedish		Stelna* Cementattack* Hårdna*
Vietnamese		Gồng Cứng

Template:Harden

This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.