Harden (move)

Harden
かたくなる Stiffen

Battles

Type	Normal
Category	Status
PP	30 (max. 48)
Power	—
Accuracy	—%
Priority	0
Does not make contact Not affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Affected by Snatch Not affected by Mirror Move Not affected by King's Rock

Range

Opponent	Opponent	Opponent
Self	Ally	Ally
Self: Affects the user

Availability

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

Contests

Condition	Tough
Appeal	2 ♥♥
Jam	0
Can avoid being startled by others once.

Super Contests

Condition	Tough
Appeal	2 ♥♥
Prevents the Voltage from going up in the same turn.

Contest Spectaculars

Condition	Tough
Appeal	2 ♥♥
Jamming	0
Prevents the user from being startled one time this turn.

On Smogon's Movedex:

Harden (Japanese: かたくなる Stiffen) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation I.

Effect

Harden increases the user's Defense stat by one stage.

If powered up by a Normalium Z into Z-Harden, the user's Defense rises by another stage.

Harden can be used as the first move of a Pokémon Contest combination, causing Double-Edge, Protect, Rollout, Tackle, and Take Down to score double the normal appeal if used in the next turn.

Description

Games	Description
StadStad2	Raises the user's Defense. Useful when battling physically strong Pokémon.
GS C	Raises the user's Defense.
RS EColoXD	Stiffens the body's muscles to raise Defense.
FRLG	The user stiffens all the muscles in its body to raise its Defense stat.
DP Pt HGSSPBR BW B2W2 XY ORAS SM USUM PE SwSh BDSP LA	The user stiffens all the muscles in its body to raise its Defense stat.
SV	The user stiffens all the muscles in its body to boost its Defense stat.

Learnset

By leveling up

#		Egg Groups		Level
				I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII		VIII		IX
										SM USUM	PE	SwSh	BDSP	SV
0011	Metapod	Bug		Bug	1^RGB 1, 7^Y	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, Evo.	1, Evo.	1, Evo.	1, Evo.
0012	Butterfree	Bug		Bug	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	1	1
0014	Kakuna	Bug		Bug	1	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, Evo.	1, Evo.		1, Evo.
0015	Beedrill	Bug		Bug	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−		1
0074	Geodude	Mineral		Mineral	26	26	−	−	−	−	−	−		12	−
0075	Graveler	Mineral		Mineral	29	27	−	−	−	−	−	−		12	−
0076	Golem	Mineral		Mineral	29	27	−	−	−	−	−	−		12	−
0088	Grimer	Amorphous		Amorphous	42	5	4	4	4	4	4	6		4	4
0088	Grimer Alolan Form	Amorphous		Amorphous							4	6			4
0089	Muk	Amorphous		Amorphous	45	1, 33	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 6		1, 4	1
0089	Muk Alolan Form	Amorphous		Amorphous							1, 4	1, 6			1
0095	Onix	Mineral		Mineral	43	23	21^RSE 19^FRLG	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
0098	Krabby	Water 3		Water 3	40	16	16	11	11	11	11	14	4	4
0099	Kingler	Water 3		Water 3	49	16	16^RSE 1, 16^FRLG	11	11	11	11	1, 14	1	1
0120	Staryu	Water 3		Water 3	22	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
0121	Starmie	Water 3		Water 3	1	−	−	−	−	−	−	1	1	1
0127	Pinsir	Bug		Bug	43	25	19	13	13^BW 11^B2W2	11	11	12	1	1
0140	Kabuto	Water 1	Water 3	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	6	1	1
0141	Kabutops	Water 1	Water 3	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1, 6	1	1
0143	Snorlax	Monster		Monster	41	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−
0207	Gligar	Bug		Bug		13	13	9	9^BW 7^B2W2	7	7			7	7
0208	Steelix	Mineral		Mineral		23	21^RSE 19^FRLG	1	1	1	1		1	1
0211	Qwilfish	Water 2		Water 2		10	10^RSE 9^FRLG	9	9	9	9		4	4	4
0211	Qwilfish Hisuian Form	Water 2		Water 2											4
0218	Slugma	Amorphous		Amorphous		22	22	16	14	14^XY 13^ORAS	13			13	13
0219	Magcargo	Amorphous		Amorphous		22	22	16	14	14^XY 13^ORAS	13			13	13
0222	Corsola	Water 1	Water 3		7	6	4	4	4^XY 1^ORAS	1		1	1
0222	Corsola Galarian Form	Water 1	Water 3									1
0266	Silcoon	Bug		Bug			1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, Evo.			1, Evo.
0267	Beautifly	Bug		Bug			−	−	−	−	−			1
0268	Cascoon	Bug		Bug			1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, Evo.			1, Evo.
0269	Dustox	Bug		Bug			−	−	−	−	−			1
0273	Seedot	Field	Grass			3	3	3	3	3		1	1	1
0274	Nuzleaf	Field	Grass			3	3	3	3	3		1	1	1
0275	Shiftry	Field	Grass			1	−	−	−	−		1	1	Rem.
0290	Nincada	Bug		Bug			1	1	1	1	1		5	5
0291	Ninjask	Bug		Bug			1	1	1	1	1		1	1
0292	Shedinja	Mineral		Mineral			1	1	1	1	1		1	1
0299	Nosepass	Mineral		Mineral			7	7	7^BW 4^B2W2	4	4			4	4
0304	Aron	Monster		Monster			4	4	4^BW 1^B2W2	1	1		1	1
0305	Lairon	Monster		Monster			1, 4	1, 4	1, 4^BW 1^B2W2	1	1		1	1
0306	Aggron	Monster		Monster			1, 4	1, 4	1, 4^BW 1^B2W2	1	1		1	1
0337	Lunatone	Mineral		Mineral			1	1	1	1	1		1	1
0338	Solrock	Mineral		Mineral			1	1	1	1	1		1	1
0341	Corphish	Water 1	Water 3			7	7	7	7^XY 5^ORAS	5		1	1	1
0342	Crawdaunt	Water 1	Water 3			1, 7	1, 7	1, 7	1, 7^XY 1, 5^ORAS	1, 5		1	1	1
0343	Baltoy	Mineral		Mineral			3	3	4^BW 1^B2W2	1	1		1	1
0344	Claydol	Mineral		Mineral			1, 3	1, 3	1, 4^BW 1^B2W2	1	1		1	1
0347	Anorith	Water 3		Water 3			7	1	1	1	1		1	1
0348	Armaldo	Water 3		Water 3			1, 7	1	1	1	1		1	1
0369	Relicanth	Water 1	Water 2			1	1	1	1	1		1	1
0413	Wormadam Sandy Cloak	Bug		Bug				29	29	29	29			29
0422	Shellos All forms	Water 1	Amorphous				4	4	4	4		5	5	5
0423	Gastrodon All forms	Water 1	Amorphous				1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4		1	1	1
0472	Gliscor	Bug		Bug				1, 9	1, 9^BW 1, 7^B2W2	1, 7	1, 7			1, 7	1
0476	Probopass	Mineral		Mineral				−	−	−	−			1	−
0524	Roggenrola	Mineral		Mineral					4	4	4		4
0525	Boldore	Mineral		Mineral					1, 4	1, 4	1, 4		1
0526	Gigalith	Mineral		Mineral					1, 4	1, 4	1, 4		1
0582	Vanillite	Mineral		Mineral					4	4	4		1
0583	Vanillish	Mineral		Mineral					1, 4	1, 4	1, 4		1
0584	Vanilluxe	Mineral		Mineral					1, 4	1, 4	1, 4		1
0597	Ferroseed	Grass	Mineral					1	1	1		1
0598	Ferrothorn	Grass	Mineral					1	1	1		1
0665	Spewpa	Bug		Bug						1	1				1
0703	Carbink	Fairy	Mineral						1	1		1		1
0712	Bergmite	Monster	Mineral						1	1		1		1
0713	Avalugg	Monster	Mineral						1	1		1		1
0713	Avalugg Hisuian Form	Monster	Mineral											1
0719	Diancie	No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered						1	1		1		1
0769	Sandygast	Amorphous		Amorphous							1		1		1
0770	Palossand	Amorphous		Amorphous							1		1		1
0771	Pyukumuku	Water 1		Water 1							1		1
0794	Buzzwole	No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered							1		1
0797	Celesteela	No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered							1		5
0805	Stakataka	No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered							−		1
0808	Meltan	No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered								1	1
0809	Melmetal	No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered								1	1
0864	Cursola	Water 1	Water 3									1
0901	Ursaluna Bloodmoon	Field		Field											17
0904	Overqwil	Water 2		Water 2											4
0932	Nacli	Mineral		Mineral											1
0933	Naclstack	Mineral		Mineral											1
0934	Garganacl	Mineral		Mineral											1
0950	Klawf	Water 3		Water 3											6
0968	Orthworm	Field		Field											1
0969	Glimmet	Mineral		Mineral											1
0970	Glimmora	Mineral		Mineral											1
0978	Tatsugiri All forms	Water 2		Water 2											6
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

#		Egg Groups		Egg Move
				II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII		IX
									SM USUM	SwSh	BDSP	SV
0185	Sudowoodo	Mineral		Mineral	−	−	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	−	−
0214	Heracross	Bug		Bug	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0438	Bonsly	Mineral		Mineral			✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0610	Axew	Monster	Dragon				✔	✔	✔	✔		−
0636	Larvesta	Bug		Bug				✔	✔	✔	✔		✔
0736	Grubbin	Bug		Bug						✔	✔		✔
0767	Wimpod	Bug	Water 3						✔	✔
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.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Harden raises the user's Defense by one stage.

Game	Base Power	Max Power	Base PP	Max PP	Base Accuracy	Max Accuracy	Range	Target	Cuts corners
MDRB	-	-	22	-	—%	-	User	User	-
MDTD S	-	-	16	-	—%	-	User	User	-
BSL	-	-	16	-	—%	-	User	User	-
MDGtI	-	-	20	99	—%	-	User	User	-
SMD	-	-	20	99	—%	-	User	User	-
With some exceptions, Pokémon learnsets match those from the core series games: MD Rescue Team = Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald. MD Time and Darkness = Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. MD Sky = Pokémon Platinum. MD Adventure Squad = ??. MD Gates to Infinity = Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. Super Mystery Dungeon = Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. MD Rescue Team DX = Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

Pokémon Stadium

In the minigame "Rock Harden" from Pokémon Stadium, the player and non-player characters are either Metapod or Kakuna. They are required to use Harden at the right times to avoid being hurt by falling rocks.

Pokémon Rumble Rush

In Pokémon Rumble Rush, all status moves including Harden could only be used by opposing Pokémon and could not be obtained on any caught Pokémon. Harden could be seen as a move used by opposing Silcoon, Cascoon, and Seedot.

Harden

Charge time	1.54 seconds
Range type	Circular (self)
Target	Self
Additional effect	Raises the user's Defense

Description

Games	Description
MDRB	Boosts the user's Defense by one level.
MDTD S	Boosts the user's Defense by 1 level.
BSL	じぶんのぼうぎょを１だんかいあげる
MDGtI	It boosts your Defense. (The stat change returns to normal when you go to the next floor or step on a Wonder Tile.)
SMD	It boosts your Defense. The stat returns to normal when you go to the next floor or step on a Wonder Tile.

In the anime

Pokémon	Method
Metapod Aggron Meltan Boldore
The user stiffens all the muscles in its body.
User	First Used In	Notes
	Metapod glows a greenish-whitish color and becomes hard as steel.
Ash's Metapod	Challenge of the Samurai	Debut
Samurai's Metapod	Challenge of the Samurai	None
Bugsy's Metapod	Gettin' the Bugs Out	None
	Kingler glows pale blue and any attack that hits it bounces off.
Giovanni's Kingler	The Battle of the Badge	None
	Krabby tenses its body up like a statue and doesn't move.
Ash's Krabby	Round One - Begin!	None
	Larvitar tenses its body up like a statue and doesn't move.
Ash's Larvitar	Hatch Me if You Can	Larvitar cannot legally learn Harden
	Cascoon tenses up its body and its body shines, making attacks bounce off it.
Jessie's Cascoon	Seeing is Believing!	None
	Corphish's body flashes white and shines, making it able to take attacks.
Ash's Corphish	Just One of the Geysers	None
	Aggron tenses up and its body flashes white and shines, making it able to take attacks.
Johnny's Aggron	Shocks and Bonds	None
	Meltan's body briefly turns light blue, making it able to take attacks.
Ash's Meltan	Aiming for the Top Floor!	None
	Boldore's body briefly turns light blue, making it able to take attacks.
Goh's Boldore	A Pinch of This, a Pinch of That!	None

In the manga

The Electric Tale of Pikachu

Pokémon	Method
Metapod
The user stiffens its body for defense.
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
	Metapod stiffens its body, raising its defense slightly.
Ash's Metapod	Play Misty For Me	Debut

How I Became a Pokémon Card

Pokémon	Method
Metapod
The user stiffens its body.
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
	Metapod stiffens its body.
Midori's Metapod	PW10	Debut

Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon	Method
Staryu Snorlax Nosepass Metapod
The user stiffens all the muscles in its body to better take attacks.
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
	The curves on Snorlax's body turn into edges and its body becomes stiff.
Red's Snor	A Charizard... and a Champion	Debut
	Metapod's body hardens, making it able to take attacks.
Yellow's Kitty	The Might of... Metapod?!	None
	Staryu's body hardens, making it able to take attacks.
Crystal's multiple Staryu	Surrounded by Staryu	None
	Nosepass hardens its body, making it able to take attacks.
Roxanne's Nosepass	Blowing Past Nosepass I	None

A wild Cascoon and Silcoon were revealed to know Harden on the official website, but they were never shown using the move.

Pokémon Pocket Monsters

Pokémon	Method
Metapod and Kakuna
The user stiffens its body.
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
	Metapod stiffens its body and any attacks making contact with it are nullified.
Bugsy's Heracross	The Hardest Insect Pokémon Wins?!	Debut
	Kakuna stiffens its body and any attacks making contact with it are nullified.
Bugsy's Kakuna	The Hardest Insect Pokémon Wins?!	Debut

Pokémon Newspaper Strip

Pokémon	Method
Metapod
The user's body hardens and heightens defense.
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
	Metapod deflects moves back against the attacker.
Ash's Metapod	Strip 7	Debut

In other generations

Core series games

Generation I	RB Y	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	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	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	RB Y	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	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	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

Side series games

Generation I	RB Y	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	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	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	RB Y	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	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	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

Spin-off series games

Generation I	RB Y	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	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	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

In other languages

Language		Title
Chinese	Cantonese	變硬 Binngaahng * 僵硬 Goengngaahng *
Chinese	Mandarin	變硬 / 变硬 Biànyìng * 硬梆梆 Yìngbāngbāng *
Czech		Zpevnění
Danish		Hærde
Dutch		Verharding
Finnish		Kovetus
French		Armure
German		Härtner
Greek		Σκλήρυνση
Hindi		सख्त होजाओ Sakht Hojao
Indonesian		Mengeras
Italian		Rafforzatore
Korean		단단해지기 Dandanhaejigi
Polish		Twardnienie
Portuguese	Brazil	Endurecer (anime, Emerging Powers-present, manga, The Official Pokémon Handbook) Endurecimento (Diamond & Pearl, The Official Pokémon Handbook)
Portuguese	Portugal	Endurecimento
Serbian		Očvršćivanje
Spanish		Fortaleza
Swedish		Stelna* Cementattack* Hårdna*
Turkish		Sertleşme
Vietnamese		Gồng Cứng

Variations of the move Defense Curl

Formerly a variation
	Defense Curl • Harden • Meditate • Sharpen • Withdraw
	Howl

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.

Harden (move)

Contents

Effect

Description

Learnset

By leveling up

By breeding

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Pokémon Stadium

Pokémon Rumble Rush

Description

In the anime

In the manga

The Electric Tale of Pikachu

How I Became a Pokémon Card

Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Pocket Monsters

Pokémon Newspaper Strip

In other generations

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

In other languages

Navigation menu

Page actions

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Personal tools

Navigation

Search

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Tools

In other languages