Iron Barbs (Ability)

Iron Barbs	てつのトゲ
	Steel Thorns
Flavor text Generation V Inflicts damage to the Pokémon on contact. Generation VI Inflicts damage to the attacker on contact. Generation VII Inflicts damage to the attacker on contact with iron barbs. Generation VIII Inflicts damage on the attacker upon contact with iron barbs. Generation IX The Pokémon's iron barbs damage the attacker if it makes direct contact.

Iron Barbs (Japanese: てつのトゲ Steel Thorns) is an Ability introduced in Generation V. Prior to Generation VII, it was the signature Ability of Ferroseed and Ferrothorn.

Effect

In battle

When a Pokémon with this Ability is hit by a move that makes contact, the attacking Pokémon takes damage equal to 1/8 of its own maximum HP. If Iron Barbs causes both the Pokémon with this Ability and the attacking Pokémon to faint, then the attacking Pokémon will faint first.

If a Pokémon with this Ability is hit by a multi-strike move that makes contact (such as Fury Swipes), each hit will activate this Ability.

Outside of battle

Iron Barbs has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Iron Barbs

#	Pokémon	Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
	Ferroseed	Grass	Steel	Iron Barbs	None	None
	Ferrothorn	Grass	Steel	Iron Barbs	None	Anticipation
	Togedemaru	Electric	Steel	Iron Barbs	Lightning Rod	Sturdy
Please note that this is only 100% accurate to Generation IX games. For Generation III games, ignore Abilities introduced in Generation IV or later and Hidden Abilities. For Generation IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities. For Generation V games, ignore Abilities introduced in Generation VI or later. For Generation VI games, ignore Abilities introduced in Generation VII or later. For Generation VII games, ignore Abilities introduced in Generation VIII or later. For Generation VIII games, ignore Abilities introduced in Generation IX or later.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

When a Pokémon with this Ability is hit by a move that makes contact, the attacking Pokémon takes damage equal to 1/10 of its own maximum HP. If a Pokémon with this Ability is hit by a multi-strike move that makes contact (such as Fury Swipes), each hit will activate this Ability. The Ability does not activate if the move causes the Pokémon with Iron Barbs to faint.

Description

Games Description MDGtI Unavailable SMD When the Pokémon is hit with a contact move like Tackle or Scratch, the attacker is damaged a little!

Trivia

• Iron Barbs has the same Japanese name as the item Iron Thorn from the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 鐵刺 Titchi Mandarin 鐵刺 / 铁刺 Tiěcì French Épine de Fer German Eisenstachel Italian Spineferrate Korean 철가시 Cheol Gasi Russian Желзные Шипы Zhelzyye Shipy Spanish Punta Acero

Variations of the Ability Rough Skin
Rough Skin • Iron Barbs

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.