Is Iron Valiant viable in Gen 9 Monotype?

Iron Valiant is ranked #23 in Gen 9 Monotype with 8.59% usage according to Smogon Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 data.

What beats Iron Valiant in Gen 9 Monotype?

The best counter for Iron Valiant in Gen 9 Monotype is Greninja with a 78.4% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Iron Valiant include Greninja, Meowscarada, Archaludon, Dragapult, Goodra-Hisui.

What is the best counter for Iron Valiant in Gen 9 Monotype?

Greninja is the best counter for Iron Valiant in Gen 9 Monotype, KOing or forcing it out in 78.4% of their encounters.

Iron Valiant counters

Gen 9 Monotype · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Apr 2026 - Jun 2026

#1006 Iron Valiant

FairyFighting

USAGE 8.6% #23

BASE STATS

HP 74

ATK 130

DEF 90

SPA 120

SPD 60

SPE 116

BST590

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

PoisonFlyingPsychicSteelFairy

½×

FightingRock

¼×

BugDark

0×

Dragon

Moves

Close Combat 85.5% Thunderbolt 61.2% Moonblast 57.9% Ice Punch 37.3% Knock Off 36.7% Shadow Sneak 27.2% Swords Dance 19.5% Trick 19.0%

Items

Expert Belt 32.4% Choice Scarf 31.4% Life Orb 14.9% Choice Specs 7.5% Focus Sash 5.4% Air Balloon 4.7% Heavy-Duty Boots 1.1% Choice Band 1.0%

Common Teammates

Great Tusk51.0%

Iron Hands50.0%

Flutter Mane46.5%

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike44.2%

Checks & Counters

Reliability ranks observed matchups; KO rate is how often the checker knocked out or forced out the target. “Checker faints” reports the checker's own observed death rate. Categories use matchup reliability plus offensive and defensive base stats.

How to read this table

Use encounter count to judge sample size. A high-reliability check with a modest KO rate can still be useful when it consistently forces switches or limits the target.

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Greninja

WaterDark OFFENSIVE CHECK

28.696

78.4% checker faints 7.68%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Protean Greninja Sludge Wave vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Iron Valiant: 288-338 (81.8 - 96%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Greninja counters →

Meowscarada

GrassDark OFFENSIVE CHECK

44.914

63.2% checker faints 10.13%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Protean Meowscarada Play Rough vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Iron Valiant: 470-554 (133.5 - 157.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Meowscarada counters →

Archaludon

SteelDragon SOFT CHECK

33.293

51.1% checker faints 8.66%

DAMAGE CALC

0- SpA Archaludon Flash Cannon vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Iron Valiant: 186-218 (52.8 - 61.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Archaludon counters →

Dragapult

DragonGhost SOFT CHECK

88.631

37.5% checker faints 8.85%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Dragapult Phantom Force vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Iron Valiant: 168-198 (47.7 - 56.2%) -- 82.4% chance to 2HKO

View Dragapult counters →

Goodra-Hisui

SteelDragon SOFT CHECK

90.627

33.4% checker faints 8.40%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Goodra-Hisui Heavy Slam (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Iron Valiant: 392-464 (111.3 - 131.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Goodra-Hisui counters →

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK

22.194

9.2% checker faints 6.15%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Skarmory Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Iron Valiant: 338-402 (96 - 114.2%) -- 75% chance to OHKO

View Skarmory counters →

Ranked #23 with 8.59% usage. Sorted by reliability score.