Rhydon was practically built for Trick Room teams. Lightning Rod redirects Electric moves and boosts its Sp. Atk, and 130 base Attack gives it real offensive presence. Electric moves can't touch it, which offsets the 6 weaknesses somewhat. Known as the Drill Pokemon.
Attack leads and Speed gets almost nothing. That's Rhydon's stat line in a nutshell. 3 stats sit in respectable range, but the spread is brutal. Moderately hard to find and yields 2 Attack EVs.
Its brain developed after it stood up on its hind legs. Its drill horn bores tunnels through solid rock.
Rhydon Weakness
FragileRhydon 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. Lightning Rod grants an additional Electric immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Rhydon's physical bulk (base 120 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
Rhyhorn's line splits into 2 evolutions, and Rhydon is the level-up path. Each sibling form needs a different method to obtain. Breed through Rhyhorn to get eggs. Rhyperior has 50 more total stats, but Rhydon makes up for it with a stronger Attack gain (+45 from Rhyhorn).
How to Evolve
Breed with Rhydon to get Rhyhorn eggs easily from the Ground and Monster egg groups. Notable egg moves include Counter, Crunch, Crush Claw and 9 more.
Rhydon's job is getting Stealth Rock up and staying on the field. Eviolite provides a bulk boost that only works before full evolution, Reckless helps it stick around, and max HP and Defense EVs prioritize longevity.
Best Build
Best Rhydon Moveset
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Roar
The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 12 types means almost nothing walls Rhydon cleanly, with Earthquake and Stone Edge anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
16 encounter spots for Rhydon at decent spawn rates starting from endgame routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.
Where To Catch Rhydon in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
To get Rhydon, start by catching Rhyhorn through walking encounters at Lv. 16-63. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch RhyhornEFFORTLESSRocky CaveShining PearlGrassLv.16-6370%MidCaveUnique encounterEFFORTLESSRocky CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.16-6370%MidCaveUnique encounterEFFORTLESSSunlit CavernShining PearlGrassLv.16-6370%MidCaveUnique encounterEFFORTLESSSunlit CavernBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.16-6370%MidCaveUnique encounterEFFORTLESSSandsear CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.16-6350%MidDesertUnique encounterEFFORTLESSTyphlo CavernBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.16-6350%MidCaveUnique encounterEFFORTLESSSandsear CaveShining PearlGrassLv.16-6340%MidDesertUnique encounterEFFORTLESSTyphlo CavernShining PearlGrassLv.16-6340%MidCaveUnique encounterEASYSpacious CaveShining PearlGrassLv.16-6319%MidCaveUnique encounterEASYSpacious CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.16-6319%MidCaveUnique encounterCHALLENGINGRoute 227Shining PearlGrassLv.22-245%MidRouteCHALLENGINGRoute 227Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.22-245%MidRouteCHALLENGINGStark Mountain - OutsideShining PearlGrassLv.22-245%MidVolcanoCHALLENGINGStark Mountain - OutsideBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.22-245%MidVolcanoBig Bluff CavernShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameBig Bluff CavernBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRocky CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRocky CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameSandsear CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostDesertPost-gameSandsear CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostDesertPost-gameSpacious CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameSpacious CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
Step 2Rhydon ✓EASYRoute 228Shining PearlGrassLv.52-5320%PostRouteMorning/dayEASYRoute 228Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.52-5320%PostRouteMorning/dayEASYRoute 227Shining PearlGrassLv.5520%PostRouteEASYRoute 227Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.5520%PostRouteEASYStark Mountain - OutsideBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.5520%PostVolcanoEASYStark Mountain - OutsideShining PearlGrassLv.5520%PostVolcanoMODERATERoute 228Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.5310%PostRouteNightMODERATERoute 228Shining PearlGrassLv.5310%PostRouteNightBig Bluff CavernBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameBig Bluff CavernShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRocky CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRocky CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameSandsear CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostDesertPost-gameSandsear CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostDesertPost-gameSpacious CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameSpacious CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameor evolve from Rhyhorn (Step 1)
Lightning Rod changes the entire equation for Rhydon. The 485 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked A-Tier as a wallbreaker.
Rhydon'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. At base 40 Speed, Rhydon won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.
Lightning Rod is what you want on Rhydon. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Rock Head, Reckless) work on paper but Lightning Rod is what makes Rhydon worth using. On wall sets, Lightning Rod pairs with Rhydon's base 120 Defense to absorb physical hits on the switch.
Base 40 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Rhydon is a physical attacker with base 130 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a wallbreaker.
Rhydon appears in 21 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
One of the original 151, Rhydon has appeared in 21 games — nearly every mainline game. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.
- 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 VIISM
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