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: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX

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 the first move of a Pokémon Contest combination, causing Double-Edge, Protect, Rollout, Tackle, and Take Down to score double the normal appeal if used in the next turn.

Description

Games Description StadStad2 Raises the user's Defense. Useful when battling physically strong Pokémon. GSC Raises the user's Defense. RSEColoXD Stiffens the body's muscles to raise Defense. FRLG The user stiffens all the muscles in its body to raise its Defense stat. DPPtHGSSPBR BWB2W2 XYORAS SMUSUMPE SwShBDSPLA The user stiffens all the muscles in its body to raise its Defense stat.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
						I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
0011		Metapod		Bug		Bug	1RGB 1, 7Y	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, Evo.	1, Evo.
0012		Butterfree		Bug		Bug								1
0014		Kakuna		Bug		Bug	1	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, Evo.	1, Evo.BDSP
0015		Beedrill		Bug		Bug								1BDSP
0074		Geodude		Mineral		Mineral	26	26						12BDSP
0075		Graveler		Mineral		Mineral	29	27						12BDSP
0076		Golem		Mineral		Mineral	29	27						12BDSP
0088		Grimer		Amorphous		Amorphous	42	5	4	4	4	4	4SMUSUM 6PE	4BDSP
088A		Grimer Alolan Form		Amorphous		Amorphous							4SMUSUM 6PE
0089		Muk		Amorphous		Amorphous	45	1, 33	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4SMUSUM 1, 6PE	1, 4BDSP
089A		Muk Alolan Form		Amorphous		Amorphous							1, 4SMUSUM 1, 6PE
0095		Onix		Mineral		Mineral	43	23	21RSE 19FRLG	1	1	1	1	1
0098		Krabby		Water 3		Water 3	40	16	16	11	11	11	11SMUSUM 14PE	4
0099		Kingler		Water 3		Water 3	49	16	16RSE 1, 16FRLG	11	11	11	11SMUSUM 1, 14PE	1
0120		Staryu		Water 3		Water 3	22	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
0121		Starmie		Water 3		Water 3	1						1PE	1
0127		Pinsir		Bug		Bug	43	25	19	13	13BW 11B2W2	11	11SMUSUM 12PE	1
0140		Kabuto		Water 1	Water 3	1	1	1	1	1	1	1SMUSUM 6PE	1
0141		Kabutops		Water 1	Water 3	1	1	1	1	1	1	1SMUSUM 1, 6PE	1
0143		Snorlax		Monster		Monster	41
0207		Gligar		Bug		Bug		13	13	9	9BW 7B2W2	7	7	7BDSP
0208		Steelix		Mineral		Mineral		23	21RSE 19FRLG	1	1	1	1	1
0211		Qwilfish		Water 2		Water 2		10	10RSE 9FRLG	9	9	9	9	4
0218		Slugma		Amorphous		Amorphous		22	22	16	14	14XY 13ORAS	13	13BDSP
0219		Magcargo		Amorphous		Amorphous		22	22	16	14	14XY 13ORAS	13	13BDSP
0222		Corsola		Water 1	Water 3		7	6	4	4	4XY 1ORAS	1	1
222G		Corsola Galarian Form		Water 1	Water 3								1SwSh
0266		Silcoon		Bug		Bug			1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, Evo.	1, Evo.BDSP
0267		Beautifly		Bug		Bug								1BDSP
0268		Cascoon		Bug		Bug			1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, Evo.	1, Evo.BDSP
0269		Dustox		Bug		Bug								1BDSP
0273		Seedot		Field	Grass			3	3	3	3	3	1
0274		Nuzleaf		Field	Grass			3	3	3	3	3	1
0275		Shiftry		Field	Grass			1					1
0290		Nincada		Bug		Bug			1	1	1	1	1	5
0291		Ninjask		Bug		Bug			1	1	1	1	1	1
0292		Shedinja		Mineral		Mineral			1	1	1	1	1	1
0299		Nosepass		Mineral		Mineral			7	7	7BW 4B2W2	4	4	4BDSP
0304		Aron		Monster		Monster			4	4	4BW 1B2W2	1	1	1
0305		Lairon		Monster		Monster			1, 4	1, 4	1, 4BW 1B2W2	1	1	1
0306		Aggron		Monster		Monster			1, 4	1, 4	1, 4BW 1B2W2	1	1	1
0337		Lunatone		Mineral		Mineral			1	1	1	1	1	1
0338		Solrock		Mineral		Mineral			1	1	1	1	1	1
0341		Corphish		Water 1	Water 3			7	7	7	7XY 5ORAS	5	1
0342		Crawdaunt		Water 1	Water 3			1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7XY 1, 5ORAS	1, 5	1
0343		Baltoy		Mineral		Mineral			3	3	4BW 1B2W2	1	1	1
0344		Claydol		Mineral		Mineral			1, 3	1, 3	1, 4BW 1B2W2	1	1	1
0347		Anorith		Water 3		Water 3			7	1	1	1	1	1
0348		Armaldo		Water 3		Water 3			1, 7	1	1	1	1	1
0369		Relicanth		Water 1	Water 2			1	1	1	1	1	1
413G		Wormadam Sandy Cloak		Bug		Bug				29	29	29	29	29BDSP
0422		Shellos		Water 1	Amorphous				4	4	4	4	5
0423		Gastrodon		Water 1	Amorphous				1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1
0472		Gliscor		Bug		Bug				1, 9	1, 9BW 1, 7B2W2	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7BDSP
0476		Probopass		Mineral		Mineral								1BDSP
0524		Roggenrola		Mineral		Mineral					4	4	4	4SwSh
0525		Boldore		Mineral		Mineral					1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1SwSh
0526		Gigalith		Mineral		Mineral					1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1SwSh
0582		Vanillite		Mineral		Mineral					4	4	4	1SwSh
0583		Vanillish		Mineral		Mineral					1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1SwSh
0584		Vanilluxe		Mineral		Mineral					1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1SwSh
0597		Ferroseed		Grass	Mineral					1	1	1	1SwSh
0598		Ferrothorn		Grass	Mineral					1	1	1	1SwSh
0665		Spewpa		Bug		Bug						1	1
0703		Carbink		Fairy	Mineral						1	1	1SwSh
0712		Bergmite		Monster	Mineral						1	1	1SwSh
0713		Avalugg		Monster	Mineral						1	1	1SwSh
0719		Diancie		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered						1	1	1SwSh
0769		Sandygast		Amorphous		Amorphous							1	1SwSh
0770		Palossand		Amorphous		Amorphous							1	1SwSh
0771		Pyukumuku		Water 1		Water 1							1	1SwSh
0794		Buzzwole		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered							1	1SwSh
0797		Celesteela		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered							1	5SwSh
0805		Stakataka		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered								1SwSh
0808		Meltan		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered							1PE	1SwSh
0809		Melmetal		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered							1PE	1SwSh
0864		Cursola		Water 1	Water 3								1
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
						II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
0185		Sudowoodo		Mineral		Mineral			✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0214		Heracross		Bug		Bug	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0438		Bonsly		Mineral		Mineral			✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0610		Axew		Monster	Dragon				✔	✔	✔	✔SwSh
0636		Larvesta		Bug		Bug				✔	✔	✔	✔SwSh
0736		Grubbin		Bug		Bug						✔	✔SwSh
0767		Wimpod		Bug	Water 3						✔	✔SwSh
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

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, Harden is a move with 22PP. The user raises its Defense by one stage. This move is affected by Snatch and Taunt.

In Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, the move's PP has been decreased to 16.

Pokémon Stadium

In the minigame "Rock Harden" from Pokémon Stadium, the player and non-player characters are either Metapod or Kakuna. They are required to use Harden at the right times to avoid being hurt by falling rocks.

Description

Games Description MDRB Boosts the user's Defense by one level. MDTDS 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

Metapod Meltan Boldore Aggron
The user stiffens all the muscles in its body.
Pokémon	Method
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 freezes its body in place like a statue and doesn't move.
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
	Boldore's body briefly turns light blue, making it able to take attacks.
Goh's Boldore	A Pinch of This, a Pinch of That!		None

In the manga

The Electric Tale of Pikachu

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

How I Became a Pokémon Card

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

Pokémon Adventures

Staryu Snorlax Nosepass Metapod
The user's body hardens and heightens defense.
Pokémon	Method
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
	Metapod's body hardens, making it able to take attacks.
Yellow's Kitty	The Might of... Metapod?!		None
	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

• A wild Cascoon was revealed to know Harden on the official web site, but it was never shown using the move.
• A wild Silcoon was revealed to know Harden on the official web site, but it was never shown using the move.

Pokémon Pocket Monsters

Metapod and Kakuna
The user stiffens its body.
Pokémon	Method
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

Pokémon Newspaper Strip

Metapod
The user's body hardens and heightens defense.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Metapod deflects moves back against the attacker.
Ash's Metapod	Strip 7		Debut

In other generations

Core series games

Generation I	RBY	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	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	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, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RBY	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	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	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, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Side series games

Generation I	RBY	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	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	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, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RBY	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	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	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, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Spin-off series games

Generation I	RBY	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	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	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, andSky	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 * 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 (anime, Emerging Powers-present, manga, The Official Pokémon Handbook) Endurecimento (Diamond & Pearl, The Official Pokémon Handbook) Portugal Endurecimento Serbian Očvršćivanje Spanish Fortaleza Swedish Stelna* Cementattack* Hårdna* Vietnamese Gồng Cứng

Variations of the move Defense Curl
Defense Curl • Harden • Meditate • Sharpen • Withdraw Formerly a variation Howl

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.