Pokémon Rock Guide, Type FAQ, Strategies, Hints

Rock Pokémon Guide with Tips, FAQ, Moves, Strengths, Weaknesses

Sep 25, 2009

Rock Pokémon work well in a defensive role, with typically high defense stats and defensive moves. Learn more about the Rock type in this Pokémon strategy guide.

Rock type Pokémon focus on incredibly high defenses, making them suitable for defensive roles. While Rock Pokémon rarely have powerful moves and strong attack, they work well at slowing down an opponent's team. They also work well against Bug, Flying, and Ice Pokémon types.

Rock Pokémon FAQ

Pokémon Strategies Tips and Hints for Rock Pokémon

In the original Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue games, the Rock type was mostly useful because of the resistance to Normal attacks. However, ever since Steel Pokémon came along, the Rock type can't help but feel a little outdated, with weaknesses far more exploitable than its Steel counterpart.

Made even worse is the fact that most Rock type Pokémon are blended with the Ground type. Why Rock and Ground are so often mixed is a curious anomaly of the Pokémon franchise, since the type combination yields x4 weaknesses against both Grass and Water, two inexcusably common types to be x4 weak against.

Even still, a resistance against Normal is still beneficial, particularly throughout the single-player adventure as Normal is the most common type. Additionally, Rock attacks are strong against Flying. Combine these two strengths and Rock can make a far more effective counter to those powerful Nomal/Flying Pokémon than Electric Pokémon. And, since Rock Pokémon typically enjoy enormous defenses, they can usually survive a couple of hits from powerful physical offensive types before going down.

Predictably, the Rock type works best when played defensively - using moves like Thunder Wave to help disable, or using Stealth Rock to damage opponents whenever they switch in. Rock Pokémon work well at "walling off" certain Pokémon, such as offensive types without a strong fighting move and fire Pokémon, preventing them from powering up and sweeping an entire team.

Dual Type Rock Pokémon

The following are all the dual type Rock Pokémon: Rock/Ground, Rock/Flying, Rock/Steel, Rock/Bug, Rock/Water, Rock/Grass, Rock/Fire, Rock/Psychic, Rock/Dark.

Rock/Ground is x4 weak against Grass and Water, and x2 weak against Ground, Steel, Ice, and Fighting. It's easily one of the worst Pokémon type combinations in the entire game. So, except for in rare situations, it's best to avoid this type combo.

Rock/Steel may sound like a great type, considering it's unique double Normal resistance, making normal moves do 1/4 the damage. However, Rock/Steel suffers considerably from a double fighting weakneess.

For a truly unique type, the Rock/Grass combo is weak against Fighting, Bug, Steel, and Ice. The Ice and Fighting weaknesses are unfortunate, but considering the odd type pairing, this combo may catch many players by surprise.

Strongest, Most Powerful Rock Pokémon

Since many Rock Pokémon are held back by crippling weaknesses, finding a powerful Rock Pokémon can be difficult.

Tyranitar is one of the strongest Pokémon in the game, and carries a unique Rock/Dark type combo, but he's considered to be a Legendary for such enormous stats, so those who dislike Legendaries will have to skip Tyranitar.

Many of the strongest Rock Pokémon come from fossils, such as Aerodactyl, Rampardos, and Cradily. Rhyperior is probably the only Rock/Ground type that is great to use in spite of the many weaknesses. Magcargo, as a Rock/Fire type, is a unique combo, but holds more weaknesses than strengths, but might be good in certain teams.

Shuckle, the Rock/Bug, has ridiculous defense and special defense, but doesn't have much movepool variety - relying on Toxic and Sandstorm to widdle away HP. Sudowoodo is also a pretty decent straight Rock type Pokémon.

And, yes, Golem isn't bad either, but the Rock/Ground type really hurts. Water and Grass moves, even when used without the STAB bonus, will destroy Golem with ease.

Rock Pokémon Conclusion

The rock type happens to be one of those weird Pokémon types that is very rarely useful enough to reserve a spot for. And, Rock feels terribly outdated and outclasses by the Steel type, which has more resistances and less exploitable weaknesses. Even despite these weaknesses, any trainer looking for a Pokémon with heavy defenses or a strong counter to Flying Pokémon might find Rock to be a suitable partner.

The copyright of the article Pokémon Rock Guide, Type FAQ, Strategies, Hints in Role-Playing Video Games is owned by Bradley Kairis. Permission to republish Pokémon Rock Guide, Type FAQ, Strategies, Hints in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.