Ferrothorn Report

Ferrothorn (the Thorn Pod Pokémon) is a rare Grass/Steel-type Pokémon found within fields and caverns throughout the Unova, Kalos and Galar regions. Feared by trainers for their incredible defenses and surprising offenses, Ferrothorn are wicked creatures that can effectively attack from all sides and even above opponents when placed in a closed setting. Make sure to bring some powerful Fire-type special attacks with you when facing these thorny brambles in battle; they might only look tough on defense, but you'll be singing a different tune after they break through your Pokémon’s armor like a hammer through glass!

Ferroseed and Ferrothorn are unique among plants in numerous ways, chief among them being the fact that they are Steel-types; along with granting them plenty of resistances, this feature makes Ferroseed and Ferrothorn some of the few Grass-types immune to Poison-type moves. The steel shell covering their bodies is generated from the minerals that these creatures leech from rocks within their habitats; while the vascular systems of plants are generally designed to absorb water, Ferroseed and Ferrothorn possess modified systems that allow them to drain minerals straight from solid rock by sticking the tips of their barbs into it. This same system allows them to draw enzymes from the mossy rocks they like to cling to, facilitating healthy growth in the sharp spines on their bodies. Perhaps not surprisingly, this also means that Ferroseed and Ferrothorn have no reason to use photosynthesis and therefore cannot use the process at all. The only things that these two species truly have in common with plants is the fact that they possess the same rigid cell walls found in plants and still reproduce in the wild through seed production. In addition to all of this, Ferroseed and Ferrothorn have one particular trait that makes them extremely difficult to deal with without special attacks: their primary Ability, Iron Barbs. Because their entire bodies are literally covered in sharp thorns, any physical contact with these beasts will deal a considerable of amount of damage to an attacker in the process; considering their high defenses, this feature can translate into massive damage over the duration of a battle if not dealt with quickly.

Unlike Ferroseed, Ferrothorn are designed for both defense and offense, giving them a tremendous advantage over most opponents. Ferrothorn attach themselves to ceilings with the three thorny feeler pods protruding from their bodies, firing barbs from their main body at opponents below them that are harder than steel; this seems to give them an advantageous position in most circumstances, so it is rare to see them ever come down from their perch outside of battle. The three pods are connected to the main body by numerous layers of plant tissue reinforced with iron, making it almost impossible to disconnect them from the main body; this is probably a good thing, as these thorn pods are responsible for producing their seeds and absorbing nutrients from rocks. More importantly, aside from the small amount of vascular tissue contained within them, these pods are essentially solid and can be manipulated freely; as such, Ferrothorn use these thorny pods as their main form of offense, swinging them around recklessly like sledgehammers. A single blow from one of these thorn pods is enough to reduce a large boulder to rubble, so even thick armor is of little use against these monstrous plants. Furthermore, it comes as no surprise that Ferrothorn are able to learn the devastating Power Whip attack immediately after evolving, but it is interesting to note that they are also the only Grass and Steel-type Pokémon capable of learning the Rock Climb attack naturally (likely a result of their overall physical form and lifestyle).

Though they might be far too slow to deal the first blow in battle, Ferrothorn are dangerous plants that have more than enough power to leave their opposition beaten and bruised every time. With the highest base Defense stat out of all Grass-type Pokémon (tied with Kartana) and both offense and defense to spare with their hardened forms, you can bet that these thorny monsters will do everything in their power to both crush and outlast their opponents in combat, often with much success. These are not creatures for the faint of heart, so Grass-type enthusiasts might want to think twice about pursuing any in the wild; let down your guard for even a second, and these hardcore plants will have no problem turning you into mulch!

Professor Wormwood