Electric moves don't affect Golem at all — that's the advantage of Rock/Ground typing. It works well under Trick Room. An original Gen 1 pick. Known as the Megaton Pokemon.
Defense leads and Speed gets almost nothing. That's Golem's stat line in a nutshell. 3 stats sit in respectable range, but the spread is brutal. Tough to catch and yields 3 Defense EVs.
It is said to live in volcanic craters on mountain peaks. Once a year, it sheds its hide and grows larger. The shed hide crumbles and returns to the soil.
Golem Weakness
FragileGolem is weak to Water, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Ground, and Steel-type moves. Watch out for Water and Grass attacks, those deal 4x damage. On the flip side, it's immune to Electric-type moves entirely. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Golem's physical bulk (base 130 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
Getting Golem requires a trade, not just grinding levels. The chain starts at Geodude. Breed this form to get Geodude eggs (quick to hatch). HP grew the most through evolution (+40 over Geodude), and Golem peaks at 495 total stats.
How to Evolve
Breed with Golem to get Geodude eggs easily using 23 partners from the Mineral egg group. Notable egg moves include Block, Mega Punch, Rock Slide.
You commit to a move every time Golem comes in. Choice Band gives raw power at the cost of move flexibility, and Rockhead adds to that. Max HP and Attack EVs make sure the locked move actually hurts. Normal coverage covers the rest.
Best Build
Best Golem Moveset
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Explosion
- Double Edge
Recommended Teammates
Egg moves make a real difference. Golem gets Block and Mega Punch exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Normal and Fighting coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Earthquake and Dig.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
A trade step sits in Golem's 3-stage chain from Geodude. The step cards below map each stage with catch locations and evolution methods. Geodude shows up at solid rates, so the starting catch is the easy part.
How to Obtain Golem in Emerald
The path to Golem starts with Geodude at Lv. 5-40 via rock smash and walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch GeodudeEASYGranite Cave - B2FSmashing rocksLv.5-20CommonEarlyCaveEASYRoute 111 - SouthSmashing rocksLv.5-20CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 114Smashing rocksLv.5-20CommonEarlyRouteEASYSafari Zone - NortheastSmashing rocksLv.5-30CommonEarlyFacilityEASYGranite Cave - 1FGrassLv.6-9UncommonEarlyCaveEFFORTLESSTeam Magma/Aqua HideoutGrassLv.27-30CommonMidVolcanoEASYVictory Road - B1FSmashing rocksLv.30-40CommonMidCave- Step 2Catch or Evolve GravelerEASYVictory Road - B1FSmashing rocksLv.30-40CommonMidCaveEASYTeam Magma/Aqua HideoutGrassLv.30-33UncommonMidVolcanoor evolve from Geodude (Step 1)
- Step 3Golem ✓
We rate Golem C-Tier — a situational pick that fills a niche. At 495 BST, it fits the wallbreaker role. Base 130 Defense stands out.
Golem's biggest threats include Gyarados (Water), Venusaur (Grass), and Lapras (Ice), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Gyarados is the most dangerous since Water moves deal 4x damage. Fighting, Ground, and Steel-type attackers are also a problem. With 6 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.
Rock Head is the go-to ability for Golem. It protects against recoil damage. Its hidden ability Sand Veil can work in specific setups. Sturdy is the other option — pick based on what your team needs.
Base 45 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Golem is a physical attacker with base 120 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a wallbreaker.
Golem appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Since debuting in Red & Blue, Golem has appeared in 20 titles over 9 generations. Along the way, it received an Alolan form in Generation 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISMAlolan
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A