Tier 2 Standard Current era
Iron Thorns ex: Shut It All Down
Ability-lock hammer that cripples setup decks.
Estimated budget
$200 – $320
Playstyle
Disruption · Lightning · Aggro-control
Strategy
Iron Thorns ex's attack locks abilities on Basic Pokémon — shutting off Pidgeot ex, Comfey, Snorlax, and other engines. Combine with Electric acceleration to apply damage while the lock holds.
Strengths
- ✓ Hard counters ability-reliant decks
- ✓ Strong meta pick vs Pidgeot lists
Weaknesses
- ✗ Weak vs non-Basic engines
- ✗ Fighting weakness
Key Cards
Iron Thorns ex
Ability lock
Flaaffy
Energy acceleration
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Does Iron Thorns lock Stage 1 abilities?
No — only Basic Pokémon. Pidgeot (Stage 2) still activates abilities once evolved, but Pidgey can't evolve with abilities locked.
