Iron Moth (Pokémon)

For Pokémon GO information on this species, see the game's section.
← #0993: Iron Jugulis	Pokémon	#0995: Iron Thorns →

Iron Moth Paradox Pokémon テツノドクガ Tetsunodokuga #0994 Images on the Bulbagarden Archives
Type Fire Poison Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Ability Quark Drive Cacophony Cacophony Hidden Ability Cacophony Hidden Ability Cacophony Cacophony
Gender ratio Gender unknown	Catch rate 30 (8.8%)
Breeding Egg Group No Eggs Discovered Hatch time 50 cycles
Height 3'11" 1.2 m Iron Moth 0'0" 0 m {{{form2}}} 0'0" 0 m {{{form3}}} 0'0" 0 m {{{form4}}}	Weight 79.4 lbs. 36.0 kg Iron Moth 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form2}}} 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form3}}} 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form4}}}
Mega Stone [[|]] [[|]]
Base experience yield Unknown Gen. IV Unknown IV 285	Leveling rate Slow
EV yield Total: 3 Iron Moth 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 3 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed
Shape	Footprint {{{form2}}}
Pokédex color   Yellow	Base friendship 0
External Links On Smogon Pokédex Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Iron Moth (Japanese: テツノドクガ Tetsunodokuga) is a dual-type Fire/Poison Paradox Pokémon introduced in Generation IX.

While not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon, it is said to be a relative of Volcarona from the distant future or a version of it from a different timeline. It has an ancient counterpart called Slither Wing.

Biology

Iron Moth firing its "legs"

Iron Moth is very similar to Volcarona in appearance, resembling a robotic moth. It has four small "feet", red compound eyes, red horns on the sides of its head, and white armor plating covering its thorax. Its abdomen is black and light blue with two black diamond spots on the outside. It has six diamond-shaped wings that are mostly orange with white speckles and a single black triangle marking, which levitate a short distance away from its body.

In an article from an August issue of Occulture magazine, it is said that the name Iron Moth was borrowed from that of a flying object described in the Violet Book. Iron Moth is said to resemble Volcarona, and it would descend from the skies, following people around and occasionally attacking them. Some point to Iron Moth's aggression as evidence supporting that it may be a UFO controlled by alien life. It is speculated that something out there may be using Iron Moth to observe the people of the Pokémon world in preparation for an invasion. In the TCG, it was shown to be capable of sending its "legs" flying by themselves independently of its body. It has been seen releasing attacks from its six connected wings similarly to a cannon. While asleep, it turns itself off, connecting its wings to its back and causing the energy on its wings to disappear, making them black.

According to AI Turo, Iron Moth is an future Pokémon related to Volcarona. However, according to a Turo brought to the Crystal Pool by Terapagos, Iron Moth is a counterpart of Volcarona from another timeline. Its true origin is unknown. Iron Moth were brought to the depths of Area Zero by a time machine built by Professor Turo ten years ago.

In the anime

In the TCG

Main article: Iron Moth (TCG)

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IX.
Generation IX Paldea #386 Kitakami #— Blueberry #— Scarlet This Pokémon resembles an unknown object described in a paranormal magazine as a UFO sent to observe humanity. Violet No records exist of this species being caught. Data is lacking, but the Pokémon's traits match up with an object described in an old book.

Iron Moth in the Paldea Pokédex

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IX.
Generation IX Scarlet Union Circle, Poké Portal News Violet Area Zero

In events

Poké Portal News

Games	Event	Tera Type	Location	Level	Distribution period
V	Slither Wing and Iron Moth	Random Grass	hide	75	September 22 to 24, 2023

Held items

Games		Held items
Scarlet	Violet	Booster Energy (5%)

Stats

Base stats

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 80		140 - 187	270 - 364
Attack: 70		67 - 134	130 - 262
Defense: 60		58 - 123	112 - 240
Sp. Atk: 140		130 - 211	256 - 416
Sp. Def: 110		103 - 178	202 - 350
Speed: 110		103 - 178	202 - 350
Total: 570	Other Pokémon with this total
Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature. Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:

Damaged normally by: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 1× Poison ½× Ground 4× Rock 2× Bug ¼× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water 2× Grass ¼× Electric 1× Psychic 2× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy ¼× None

Weak to: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 1× Poison ½× Ground 4× Rock 2× Bug ¼× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water 2× Grass ¼× Electric 1× Psychic 2× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy ¼× None

Immune to: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 1× Poison ½× Ground 4× Rock 2× Bug ¼× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water 2× Grass ¼× Electric 1× Psychic 2× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy ¼× None

Resistant to: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 1× Poison ½× Ground 4× Rock 2× Bug ¼× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water 2× Grass ¼× Electric 1× Psychic 2× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy ¼× None

Learnset

By leveling up

Generation IX Other generations: None

Level   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP 011 Gust Flying Special 04040 100100% 35 011 Whirlwind Normal Status 0000— 00——% 20 011 Ember Fire Special 04040 100100% 25 011 Acid Spray Poison Special 04040 100100% 20 Rem.Rem. Electric Terrain Electric Status 0000— 00——% 10 077 Struggle Bug Bug Special 05050 100100% 20 1414 Fire Spin Fire Special 03535 08585% 15 2121 Take Down Normal Physical 09090 08585% 20 2828 Lunge Bug Physical 08080 100100% 15 3535 Screech Normal Status 0000— 08585% 40 4242 Discharge Electric Special 08080 100100% 15 4949 Sludge Wave Poison Special 09595 100100% 10 5656 Fiery Dance Fire Special 08080 100100% 10 6363 Metal Sound Steel Status 0000— 08585% 40 7070 Morning Sun Normal Status 0000— 00——% 5 7777 Hurricane Flying Special 110110 07070% 10 8484 Bug Buzz Bug Special 09090 100100% 10 9191 Overheat Fire Special 130130 09090% 5

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Iron Moth Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Iron Moth

By TM

Generation IX Other generations: None

TM   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  TM001 TM001 Take Down Normal Physical 09090 085}}85% 20 TM004 TM004 Agility Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 30 TM007 TM007 Protect Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM013 TM013 Acid Spray Poison Special 04040 100}}100% 20 TM014 TM014 Acrobatics Flying Physical 05555 100}}100% 15 TM015 TM015 Struggle Bug Bug Special 05050 100}}100% 20 TM017 TM017 Confuse Ray Ghost Status 0000— 100}}100% 10 TM021 TM021 Pounce Bug Physical 05050 100}}100% 20 TM023 TM023 Charge Beam Electric Special 05050 090}}90% 10 TM024 TM024 Fire Spin Fire Special 03535 085}}85% 15 TM025 TM025 Facade Normal Physical 07070 100}}100% 20 TM032 TM032 Swift Normal Special 06060 00—}}—% 20 TM038 TM038 Flame Charge Fire Physical 05050 100}}100% 20 TM045 TM045 Venoshock Poison Special 06565 100}}100% 10 TM047 TM047 Endure Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM049 TM049 Sunny Day Fire Status 0000— 00—}}—% 5 TM060 TM060 U-turn Bug Physical 07070 100}}100% 20 TM065 TM065 Air Slash Flying Special 07575 095}}95% 15 TM070 TM070 Sleep Talk Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM075 TM075 Light Screen Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 30 TM079 TM079 Dazzling Gleam Fairy Special 08080 100}}100% 10 TM085 TM085 Rest Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 5 TM091 TM091 Toxic Spikes Poison Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM093 TM093 Flash Cannon Steel Special 08080 100}}100% 10 TM103 TM103 Substitute Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM118 TM118 Heat Wave Fire Special 09595 090}}90% 10 TM119 TM119 Energy Ball Grass Special 09090 100}}100% 10 TM120 TM120 Psychic Psychic Special 09090 100}}100% 10 TM125 TM125 Flamethrower Fire Special 09090 100}}100% 15 TM130 TM130 Helping Hand Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM136 TM136 Electric Terrain Electric Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM141 TM141 Fire Blast Fire Special 110110 085}}85% 5 TM152 TM152 Giga Impact Normal Physical 150150 090}}90% 5 TM157 TM157 Overheat Fire Special 130130 090}}90% 5 TM160 TM160 Hurricane Flying Special 110110 070}}70% 10 TM162 TM162 Bug Buzz Bug Special 09090 100}}100% 10 TM163 TM163 Hyper Beam Normal Special 150150 090}}90% 5 TM165 TM165 Flare Blitz Fire Physical 120120 100}}100% 15 TM168 TM168 Solar Beam Grass Special 120120 100}}100% 10 TM171 TM171 Tera Blast Normal Special 08080 100}}100% 10 TM175 TM175 Toxic Poison Status 0000— 090}}90% 10 TM185 TM185 Lunge Bug Physical 08080 100}}100% 15 TM214 TM214 Sludge Wave Poison Special 09595 100}}100% 10 TM220 TM220 Meteor Beam Rock Special 120120 090}}90% 10 TM223 TM223 Metal Sound Steel Status 0000— 085}}85% 40

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Iron Moth Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution or an alternate form of Iron Moth

By breeding

Generation IX Other generations: None

Parent   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  This Pokémon learns no moves by breeding.

Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Iron Moth Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Iron Moth Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Iron Moth

Side game data

Pokémon GO File:GO0994.png Base HP: 190 Base Attack: 281 Base Defense: 194 Egg Distance: N/A Buddy Distance: 20 km Evolution Requirement: N/A Fast Attacks: Charged Attacks:

Evolution data

Unevolved Iron Moth  Fire  Poison

Sprites

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IX.
Cross-Generation HOME

For other sprites and images, please see Iron Moth images on the Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• Iron Moth and Slither Wing can be considered counterparts of one another.
  • Both share one type with Volcarona, but neither share the same type with each other.
  • Both are the first Paradox Pokémon used by the AI Professors in their battles with the player.
• Iron Moth has the highest base Special Attack stat of all Paradox Pokémon.

Origin

Iron Moth is based on Volcarona. Its descriptions in the Pokédex and the Occulture magazine suggest it is based on a UFO, specifically a foo fighter, a type of UFO which was often described as a ball of fire, and whose name may have come from a corruption of the French word feu, meaning fire. Its appearance may also be based on satellites and space telescopes, particularly the James Webb Space Telescope, while its wings resemble solar panels or LED displays.

Name origin

Iron Moth may come from the words iron and moth.

Tetsunodokuga can be taken literally as 鉄の毒蛾 tetsu no dokuga (iron venomous moth).

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese テツノドクガ Tetsunodokuga From 鉄の毒蛾 tetsu no dokuga French Mite-de-Fer From mite de fer Spanish Ferropolilla From ferro- and polilla German Eisenfalter From Eisen and Falter Italian Falenaferrea From falena and ferrea Korean 무쇠독나방 Musoedongnabang From 무쇠 musoe and 독나방 dongnabang Mandarin Chinese 鐵毒蛾 / 铁毒蛾 Tiědú'é From 鐵 / 铁 tiě and 毒蛾 dú'é Cantonese Chinese 鐵毒蛾 Titduhkngòh From 鐵 tit and 毒蛾 duhkngòh

More languages Brazilian Portuguese Mariposa Férrea From mariposa and férrea Thai แมลงมอธเหล็ก Malaengmotlek From แมลงมอธ malaengmot and เหล็ก lek

Related articles

• Paradox Pokémon
• Violet Book
• Artificial Pokémon
• Extraterrestrial Pokémon

External links

← #0993: Iron Jugulis

Pokémon

#0995: Iron Thorns →

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.