Rock Type

The Rock type (Japanese: いわタイプ Rock Type) is one of the eighteen Pokemon types. Rock-type Pokemon are characterized by their stone-like composition, exceptional physical defense, and connection to mountains, caves, and ancient geology. The Rock type is renowned for its entry hazard Stealth Rock, which is considered the most influential move in competitive Pokemon, and its exceptional Defense stat distribution.^[1]

Overview

Type Effectiveness

Offensive

Defensive

Key Note: Five Weaknesses

Rock-type Pokemon have the most weaknesses tied with Grass and Ice, being weak to five different types (Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, Steel). This defensive liability is somewhat offset by Rock's four resistances and typically high Defense stats.^[2] However, the five weaknesses include some of the most common offensive types in the game, making pure Rock-types defensively challenged.

Sandstorm Synergy

Rock-type Pokemon receive a 50% Special Defense boost during Sandstorm weather, significantly improving their special bulk and making them formidable mixed walls when combined with their naturally high Defense stats.^[3]

Characteristics

Common Traits

Special Properties

Notable Rock-Type Pokemon

Pseudo-Legendary Pokemon

Tyranitar is the only pseudo-legendary Rock-type Pokemon, introduced in Generation II. With its signature Sand Stream ability and exceptional mixed bulk, Tyranitar has been a competitive staple for over two decades.^[4]

Legendary/Mythical

Mythical Rock Types

Iconic Rock Types

Competitively Notable

Fossil Pokemon

Rock is unique in that all fossil Pokemon (before Generation VIII) are part Rock-type when revived:

Common Rock-Type Moves

Physical Moves

Special Moves

Status Moves

Signature Moves

Rock-Type Specialists

Gym Leaders

Elite Four/Champions

Trial Captains & Kahunas

Other Specialists

Brock is the most famous Rock-type specialist, serving as the first Gym Leader in the original Pokemon games and a main character in the anime series.^[5]

Type Combinations

All Rock-Type Combinations

Most Common Combination: Rock/Ground

Rock/Ground is the most common Rock-type combination, appearing on Pokemon like Golem, Rhyperior, and Onix. However, this combination has a 4x weakness to both Water and Grass, making it one of the worst defensive type combinations in the game.^[6]

Unique Combinations

Strategic Type Combinations

Rock/Steel provides one of the best defensive type combinations, with 10 resistances and only 3 weaknesses (Fighting 4x, Ground 2x, Water 2x). Pokemon like Aggron and Bastiodon exemplify this defensive synergy.

Rock/Water negates Rock's Water weakness while maintaining Fire and Ice resistances, creating defensively sound Pokemon like Omastar and Carracosta.

Rock/Flying is notable on Aerodactyl and Archeops, providing Ground immunity to offset some of Rock's weaknesses, though it maintains the Water and Electric weaknesses.

Abilities

Rock-Type Related Abilities

Sturdy: The Survival Ability

Sturdy is one of the most strategically important Rock-type abilities. When at full HP, Sturdy guarantees survival of any attack with 1 HP remaining, similar to Focus Sash. This allows Pokemon like Gigalith and Crustle to set up Stealth Rock reliably or use setup moves.^[7]

Common Sturdy Strategy:

1. Take any hit, survive with 1 HP (Sturdy activates)
2. Set Stealth Rock
3. Use Custap Berry for +1 priority on next move
4. Attack or set more hazards before fainting

Rock Head and Recoil Moves

Rock Head negates all recoil damage from moves, making it exceptional on Rampardos, which learns Head Smash (150 BP Rock move with normally 50% recoil). With Rock Head, Rampardos can spam 150 BP STAB attacks with no drawback.

Solid Rock Defensive Utility

Solid Rock reduces super-effective damage by 25%, turning 2x damage into 1.5x and 4x damage into 3x. On Pokemon like Rhyperior, this significantly improves survival against Water and Grass attacks.

Sand Abilities

Rock-types synergize heavily with sandstorm weather:

• Sand Stream automatically sets sandstorm (Tyranitar signature)
• Sand Rush doubles Speed for sweepers
• Sand Force boosts Rock, Ground, and Steel moves by 30%
• Rock-types gain +50% Special Defense in sandstorm^[3]

Competitive Analysis

Strengths

Weaknesses

Role in Metagame

Stealth Rock: The Defining Move

Stealth Rock is widely considered the most influential move in competitive Pokemon. Unlike Spikes, it deals damage based on the Rock-type effectiveness against the switching Pokemon:

This means Pokemon like Charizard (Fire/Flying, 4x weak to Rock) lose half their HP just from switching into Stealth Rock, effectively removing them from competitive viability without Rapid Spin or Defog support.^[8]

Rock Polish Sweepers

Rock-types often use Rock Polish to offset their low Speed, doubling their Speed stat to sweep. Notable Rock Polish users include:

• Tyranitar (base 61 → 122 Speed)
• Aggron (base 50 → 100 Speed)
• Rhyperior (base 40 → 80 Speed)

Sandstorm Teams

Rock-types form the core of Sandstorm teams, which abuse the weather condition for multiple advantages:

Sandstorm Benefits:

1. +50% Special Defense to all Rock-types
2. Passive damage (1/16 HP) to non-Rock/Ground/Steel types
3. Activates Sand Rush, Sand Force abilities
4. Powers up Shore Up (Ground-type recovery move)
5. Powers up Weather Ball (becomes Rock-type)

Tyranitar is the premier Sand Stream user, automatically setting sandstorm and benefiting from the Sp. Def boost.

Special Mechanics

Stealth Rock Damage Calculation

Stealth Rock damage is calculated as: (Type Effectiveness vs Rock) × (1/8 Max HP)

Examples:

• Charizard (Flying/Fire): 4x weak to Rock = 50% damage
• Talonflame (Flying/Fire): 4x weak to Rock = 50% damage
• Dragonite (Dragon/Flying): 2x weak to Rock = 25% damage
• Scizor (Bug/Steel): 2x weak to Rock = 25% damage
• Ferrothorn (Grass/Steel): 1x neutral = 12.5% damage
• Heatran (Fire/Steel): 0.5x resisted = 6.25% damage
• Forretress (Bug/Steel): 0.25x doubly resisted = 3.125% damage

Accuracy Issues

Rock-type moves are notorious for having lower accuracy than other types:

The only 100% accurate offensive Rock-type moves are Accelerock (40 BP), Power Gem (80 BP special), and Rock Tomb (60 BP), making accuracy a constant concern for Rock-type users.^[9]

Sandstorm Special Defense Boost

During Sandstorm weather, all Rock-type Pokemon receive a 50% Special Defense boost (1.5x multiplier). This transforms Rock-types into exceptional mixed walls:

Tyranitar Example:

• Base Sp. Def: 100
• In Sandstorm: Effective 150 Sp. Def
• Combined with 100 Base Defense, becomes a mixed tank

Fossil Resurrection

All traditional Fossil Pokemon are part Rock-type when revived from fossils found throughout the regions. This thematic connection emphasizes Rock's association with ancient history and geology.^[10]

Generation VIII broke this tradition with Dracozolt, Arctozolt, Dracovish, and Arctovish, which are not Rock-type despite being fossil Pokemon (though they use a different "chimera" fossil system).

Smack Down and Gravity

Smack Down is a unique Rock-type move that grounds Flying-types and Pokemon with Levitate, making them vulnerable to Ground-type moves. It deals 50 BP damage and removes Flying-type and Levitate immunity for the rest of the battle.

Similarly, Gravity (not Rock-type but widely distributed) grounds all Pokemon on the field, allowing Rock-types to hit Flying opponents with Earthquake.

Rock-Type in Different Generations

Generation I

Rock was powerful in Gen I due to:

• Rhydon's massive stats (first Pokemon designed)
• Few Fighting-type moves (only Low Kick widely distributed)
• Geodude/Graveler/Golem extremely common
• Lack of strong Water and Grass special attackers

Generation II

Introduction of Tyranitar transformed the type:

• Sand Stream ability debuts
• Tyranitar becomes premier physical wall
• Dark/Rock typing provides Psychic immunity
• Rock Slide flinch strategy emerges

Generation III-IV

Stealth Rock changed competitive Pokemon forever:

• Introduced in Generation IV (Diamond/Pearl)
• Immediately became mandatory on every team
• Defined team building around hazard management
• Rock-types gained strategic importance beyond stats

Generation V-VI

Rock-types gained new tools:

• Terrakion introduced as fast Fighting/Rock legendary
• Wide Guard protects teams from spread moves
• Fairy-type introduction (Gen VI) weak to Steel, not Rock
• Rock types remained relevant for Stealth Rock

Generation VII-VIII

Ultra Beasts and Gigantamax:

• Nihilego (Rock/Poison Ultra Beast) debuts
• Dracovish breaks fossil = Rock tradition
• Gigantamax Coalossal gains competitive presence
• Galarian Fossils are not Rock-type

Generation IX

Modern Rock-types:

• Glimmora becomes premier hazard setter with Toxic Debris
• Garganacl emerges as setup sweeper with Purifying Salt
• Great Tusk uses Rock Tera type for coverage
• Stealth Rock remains universally crucial

Competitive Tier Placement

Rock-types in competitive tiers (Generation IX OU):

Tyranitar: The Armor Pokemon

Tyranitar deserves special mention as the most competitively successful Rock-type in Pokemon history. As the only Rock-type pseudo-legendary:

Historical Importance:

• Pursuit trapping (removed in Gen VIII) eliminated threats
• Sand Stream defined weather wars (Gens III-V)
• Megahorn, Crunch, Stone Edge coverage
• Choice Band and Assault Vest sets
• Special Defense tanks in sandstorm^[11]

Glimmora: Modern Hazard Setter

Glimmora (Gen IX) revolutionized hazard setting with its Toxic Debris ability:

Toxic Debris Strategy:

1. Switch in and take physical hit
2. Toxic Spikes automatically set
3. Set Stealth Rock manually
4. Use Mortal Spin to remove opposing hazards
5. Double hazard pressure overwhelms opponents^[12]

See Also

• Pokemon Types Index
• Ground Type
• Steel Type
• Fighting Type
• Tyranitar
• Pokemon Main Page