Metal Claw (move)

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Metal Claw メタルクロー Metal Claw

Battles Type  Steel Category  Physical PP  35 (max. 56) Power  50 Accuracy  95% Priority  0 Makes contact Affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Not affected by King's Rock

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally Normal: May affect anyone adjacent to the user

Availability Introduced  Generation II Not a TM, TR, HM, or Move Tutor move.

Contests Condition  Cool Appeal  4 ♥♥♥♥ Jam  0   A highly appealing move.

Super Contests Condition  Cool Appeal  2 ♥♥ Earn +2 if the Pokémon performs last in the turn.

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Cool Appeal  4 ♥♥♥♥ Jamming  0   Quite an appealing move.

On Smogon's Movedex: Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX

Metal Claw (Japanese: メタルクロー Metal Claw) is a damage-dealing Steel-type move introduced in Generation II. Prior to Pokémon Crystal, it was the signature move of Scizor.

Effect

Metal Claw deals damage and has a 10% chance of raising the user's Attack stat by one stage.

Description

Games Description Strikes the target with sharp claws. Has a one-in-ten shot at raising the user's Attack. An attack that may up user's Attack. RSE A claw attack that may raise the user’s Attack. FRLG The foe is attacked with steel claws. It may also raise the user’s Attack. PMDRB Inflicts damage on the target. It may also boost the user's Attack by one level. The foe is raked with steel claws. It may also raise the user’s Attack stat. The target is raked with steel claws. It may also raise the user's Attack stat. Conq Scratch the enemy with steel claws. It may also increase the user's Attack. The target is raked with steel claws. This may also raise the user's Attack stat.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Type		Level
					I		II		III		IV		V		VI
004		Charmander	Fire		Fire					13								'
005		Charmeleon	Fire		Fire					13								'
006		Charizard	Fire	Flying					--,13								'
098		Krabby	Water		Water							21				21			21
099		Kingler	Water		Water					--	21				21			21
212		Scizor	Bug	Steel	30			26			21				21			21
215		Sneasel	Dark	Ice		65	64			42				49	22	22
227		Skarmory	Steel	Flying														9
290		Nincada	Bug	Ground				38			38				38			38 21
304		Aron	Steel	Rock				13			15				15	11	11 10
305		Lairon	Steel	Rock				13			15				15	11	11 10
306		Aggron	Steel	Rock				13			15				15	11	11 10
347		Anorith	Rock	Bug				25			19				19			19 17
348		Armaldo	Rock	Bug				25			19				19			19 17
375		Metang	Steel	Psychic				20			--, 20				--, 20			--, 20
376		Metagross	Steel	Psychic				--,20			--, 20				--, 20			--, 20
379		Registeel	Steel		Steel				9			9				9			9 --, 7
394		Prinplup	Water		Water							16				16			16
395		Empoleon	Water	Steel							16				16			16
448		Lucario	Fighting	Steel							--				--			--
461		Weavile	Dark	Ice							42				49	22	22
483		Dialga	Steel	Dragon							10	6		6			6
529		Drilbur	Ground		Ground											15			15
530		Excadrill	Ground	Steel											15			15
597		Ferroseed	Grass	Steel											14			14
598		Ferrothorn	Grass	Steel											14			14
624		Pawniard	Dark	Steel											25			25
625		Bisharp	Dark	Steel											25			25
632		Durant	Bug	Steel											21			21
638		Cobalion	Steel	Fighting											13			13
649		Genesect	Bug	Steel											--			--
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By breeding

#	Pokémon		Type		Father
					II		III		IV		V		VI
004		Charmander	Fire		Fire
027		Sandshrew	Ground		Ground
046		Paras	Bug	Grass
158		Totodile	Water		Water
207		Gligar	Ground	Flying
216		Teddiursa	Normal		Normal
335		Zangoose	Normal		Normal
341		Corphish	Water		Water
443		Gible	Dragon	Ground
621		Druddigon	Dragon		Dragon
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

Special move

Generation V

#   Pokémon Type Obtained with 0341 Corphish Water Dream World - Sparkling Sea Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

By event

Generation II

#   Pokémon Type Obtained with 0098 Krabby Water New York Pokémon Center Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

In other games

Pokémon Conquest

Metal Claw is the only move of Aron.

In the anime

Aggron Ferrothorn Weavile Scizor
The user's claws glow and are used in slashing the foe.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Scizor's claws become surrounded in a silver aura and it grabs onto the opponent, or one of Scizor's claws glow white and then it punches the opponent with it, or Scizor jumps at the opponent and crosses its pincers. Both pincers become surrounded by a gray aura and gray static appears around them. When Scizor reaches the opponent, it brings its claws forward and slams them together in front of it, creating a large gray energy ball that shoots lightning bolts at the opponent, or both of Scizor's claws glow white and it slams both of them into the opponent at once.
Shingo's Blade	Wired for Battle		Debut
Gary's Scizor	Can't Beat the Heat!		None
Unknown Trainer's Scizor	Vanity Affair		None
Katie's Scizor	A Judgment Brawl		None
Minnie's Scizor	Gymbaliar!		None
A Scizor an Unknown Trainer used briefly	Camping it Up!		None
McCann's Scizor	Mastering Current Events!		None
Goone's Scizor	Zoroark: Ruler of Illusions.		None
	Sneasel's claw glows white and then it slashes the opponent.
Harrison's Sneasel	Playing with Fire!		None
	Lairon's claws glow white and it slashes the opponent with them.
Savannah's Lairon	A Fan with a Plan		None
	The black parts of Armaldo's claws glow white and it slashes the opponent.
A wild Armaldo	Where's Armaldo?		None
	Aggron's claws glow white and it slashes the opponent with them.
Johnny's Aggron	Shocks and Bonds		None
Paul's Aggron	Familiarity Breeds Strategy!		None
	The tips on one of Charmander's claws glow white and it slashes the opponent with them.
Charmander of Team Go-Getters	Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters out of the Gate		None
	Registeel's fingers glow white and it slashes the opponent with them.
Brandon's Registeel	Overjoyed!		None
	The light blue parts of Prinplup's flippers glow white and it slashes the opponent with them.
Kenny's Prinplup	Getting the Pre-Contest Titters!		None
	Metang's forearm becomes surrounded by a white aura and light blue sparks surround it. It then hits the opponent with its arm.
Head engineer's Metang	Bibarel Gnaws Best!		None
	The spikes on the top of Lucario's paws glow white and they grow, transforming into three claws. Lucario then slashes the opponent with them.
Maylene's Lucario	Crossing the Battle Line!		None
	Weavile's claws glow white and it slashes the opponent with them.
Paul's Weavile	Pedal to the Mettle!		None
	Metagross crosses its two front arms above its head and light blue sparks run up its arms for a moment. Metagross then slams into the opponent with its arms crossed.
A wild Metagross	Regaining a Home Advantage!		None
	The blue parts on the rims of Empoleon's wings glow white and Empoleon slashes the opponent with one or both of them.
Barry's Empoleon	Fighting Ire with Fire!		None
Kenny's Empoleon	Last Call - First Round!		None
	Both of Excadrill's claws flash white and then turn into iron. It then repeatedly slashes the opponent with both of its claws.
Iris's Excadrill	Iris and Excadrill Against the Dragon Buster!		None
	Drilbur pulls back one of its claws and it starts to shine white. When the glow fades, its claw turns into iron. Drilbur then slashes the opponent with its claw. Sometimes, when it slashes the opponent, it leaves behind a white trail of energy where it slashed.
Iris's Drilbur	Iris and Excadrill Against the Dragon Buster!		None
Rocko's Drilbur	A Surface to Air Tag Battle Team!		None
	Pawniard crosses its arms over its chest and the two white claws at the end of its arms turn into silver metal, starting from the base to the tip. It then slashes the opponent in an 'X'-like fashion, or Pawniard's claws flash white for a moment, and then turn into iron. Pawniard then spins around and slashes the opponent with one of its claws.
Georgia's Pawniard	Cilan Versus Trip, Ash Versus Georgia!		None
	Genesect's claws glow white and it strikes the opponent with them.
Chill Drive Genesect	Genesect and the Legend Awakened		None
Shock Drive Genesect	Genesect and the Legend Awakened		None
	The spikes on Ferrothorn's feelers turn into iron and it slashes the opponent with them.
Cameron's Ferrothorn	Curtain Up, Unova League!		None

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Aron Scizor Lairon Empoleon
The user's body starts to glow and it slashes the opponent with its claws.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Scizor holds out its arms so that its body becomes shaped like a 'T'. Its body then starts to glow and it brings its claws forward, hitting the opponent with them.
Blue's Scizor	Rock, Paper... Scizor		Debut
	Aron scratches the opponent repeatedly with its two front claws.
Sapphire's Rono	Blowing Past Nosepass I		None
	Lairon scratches the opponent with one of its front claws.
Sapphire's Rono	Mashing Makuhita		None
	Prinplup uppercuts the opponent with one of its wings. When it makes contact, it emits a bright flash of light.
Platinum's Prinplup	Perturbed by Pachirisu		None
	Empoleon strikes the opponent with one of its wings. When it makes contact, a fiery white energy surrounds Empoleon's wing or the spot where Empoleon hit the opponent.
Platinum's Empoleon	Mirages of Mismagius I		None

In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team manga

Charizard
The user sticks out its claws and slashes the foe.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Charizard sticks out its claws and slashes the opponent with them.
A Charizard of Team A.C.T.	Why I Became a Pokémon. The Answer Finally Revealed!!		Debut

In other generations

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Trivia

• In FireRed and LeafGreen, Charmander's evolutionary line were capable of learning Metal Claw by leveling up. However, they are unable to do so in later generations, other than via breeding. This may be to give players who choose Charmander as their starter an advantage over the first Gym.
• Metal Claw is the only move not introduced in Generation I to have a base of 35 PP.

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 合金爪 Héjīn Zhuǎ​ Dutch Metalen Klauw Finnish Rautanäppi (EP140) Rautakoura/Rautakynsi (OS) Rautakynsi/Teräskynsi (AG series) French Griffe Acier German Metallklaue Greek Μεταλλόνυχες Hindi धातु का पूंजा Dhatu Ka Punja लोहे का पूंजा Lohay Ka Punja Indonesian Cakar Besi Kuku Besi Italian Ferrartigli Korean 메탈크로우 Metal Claw Polish Metalowy Pazur Portuguese Brazil Garra de Metal Portugal Garra Metálica Romanian Gheara de Metal Serbian Metalna Kandža Spanish Latin America Garra de Metal Spain Garra Metal* Garra-Metal*

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.