Recent Pokemon generations have been fond of introducing new kinds of Pokemon. With Sun and Moon, gamers got the Ultra Beasts, while with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, gamers were introduced to the Paradox Pokemon. These creatures are very powerful, and they are ancestors and descendants of Pokemon from the present. Iron Hands has arguably one of the most interesting designs in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet because the creature has floating hands, much like Rayman.
Iron Hands is the perfect creature for players looking for a team member with high offensive stats while not being a glass canon. Although it is not fast, when it does strike, it does so with great might. It is not the only creature from Gen 9 that looks like a character from another gaming franchise, as Garganacl looks like a Minecraft mob.
Iron Hands the Paradox Pokemon and Rayman
In Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, players encounter the Paradox Pokemon which come from a different era. In Scarlet, they are brought from the past to the present via a time machine, while in Violet, they are brought from the future. As one would expect, the Violet Paradox Pokemon feature futuristic designs, with many of them appearing to have metallic bodies, as though they are robots. Nevertheless, these Pokemon are powerful, and they pose a serious threat to Paldea's stability.
One of the Paradox Pokemon players encounter in Violet is Iron Hands. It appears to be the future form of Hariyama, which is a Fighting-type humanoid creature that looks like a sumo wrestler. The Fighting/Electric Pokemon's design is striking because it has no arms, and its comically large hands float independently. This makes it look a bit like Rayman from Ubisoft's Rayman series. In the platformer games, Rayman lacks a neck, legs, and arms, allowing his head, hands, and feet to float freely. This comes in handy, as it allows Rayman to throw long-range punches at his enemies. In the Pokemon world, Iron Hands might benefit in a similar way.
Iron Hands Packs a Mighty Punch
Although Iron Hands might have a bit of a silly design, it is no foe to scoff at on the battlefield. With a base Attack of 140, it can deal a lot of damage to its opponents. Its high base Defense of 108 also makes it nice and bulky, allowing it to survive for a few turns as it pulverizes its enemies. There are a few other factors that make it stand out. For starters, its base HP of 154 is the highest of all Fighting-type, Electric-type, and Paradox Pokemon. It also has the honor of being the Paradox Pokemon with the highest base Attack stat.
Though it is a good creature to have on one's team, players should be aware that it is a ridiculously slow creature, with a base Speed of 50. This makes it the slowest Paradox Pokemon. Hence, it is unlikely to attack first unless it knows a priority move, or a Trick Room is set up. It is also worth keeping in mind that its base Special Attack stat of 50 is the lowest of all Paradox Pokemon, so players hoping to take Iron Hands with them into Pokemon VGC should focus on making it a physical attacker.
Currently, there are 16 Paradox Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet, though leaks suggest that upcoming DLC will introduce more of these creatures from the past and future. According to information gained via data mining, the DLC will feature Paradox versions of Suicune and Virizion. These would be interesting additions, as they would be the first examples of Paradox Pokemon based on Legendary creatures from past generations. There has also been plenty of speculation about where the DLC might be set. While many theories claim it will tie in with Gen 6's Kalos region, others claim Scarlet and Violet's DLC will connect with the Hisuian region.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available on Nintendo Switch.
