The Spikes Pokemon. Rhyhorn's Ground/Rock typing provides strong same-type coverage in Yellow, and its evolution Rhydon is an S-Tier competitive force.
345HP80Attack85Defense95Speed25Sp.Def30Sp.Atk30
Rhyhorn
Rhydon
Weak to
Physical
Trick Room
25Speed · Very Slow

Is Rhyhorn Good in Yellow Playthrough?

The slowest thing on any team, but the physical power Rhydon brings makes the grind worth it. Rhyhorn evolves at 42, so there's no shortcut.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTTGTGESEEEGEEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4RhyhornCatchableRhydonEvolveKogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Rhyhorn's defenses.

Even
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Risky
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's team hits Rhyhorn's weaknesses hard.

Even
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Good

Rhyhorn has the type edge here and should clean up Lt. Surge's team.

You Win
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Tough

Erika's team hits Rhyhorn's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
Risky
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
Risky
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Good

Rhydon has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.

Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
You Win
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
You Win
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Rhydon trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

You Win
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Even
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Even
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Strong

Rhydon resists most of Blaine's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
Easy KO
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Even

Rhydon trades roughly evenly with Giovanni's team.

Even
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
You Win
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
You Win
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Even
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
You Win
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Rhydon trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

You Win
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
Even
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Even
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
You Win
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
You Win
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Even

Rhydon trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
Even
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
Even
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
You Win
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Good

Rhydon has the type edge here and should clean up Agatha's team.

You Win
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
You Win
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
You Win
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
Easy KO
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
You Win
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Rhydon trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Even
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
You Win
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Rhydon trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Even
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
Easy KO
Ninetales
Lv 61
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Easy KO
Magneton
Lv 63
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
Risky
Vaporeon
Lv 65
Water
Water Absorb
Aurora BeamMistQuick AttackHydro Pump

Catchable

Available after Badge 4
Type
GroundRock
Tier
E

Catch Rhyhorn in the Safari Zone (walking, Lv 20, uncommon).

View Rhyhorn locations

Evolve Rhyhorn to Rhydon

Level 42
Type
GroundRock
Tier
S

Rhyhorn evolves into Rhydon at Level 42. Your Rhyhorn should hit Level 42 before you reach Koga, at typical leveling pace.

View Rhydon locations

Recommended Moves

How to Get Rhyhorn in Yellow

Rhyhorn charges through a couple of spots, uncommon, with a huge level swing from 20 to 52. Catch it late and it arrives nearly maxed.

2 locations to catch Rhyhorn

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8
Post-Game

Where To Catch Rhyhorn in Y

The line opens with Rhyhorn at Lv. 20-52 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

Want the exact numbers? Work out your catch odds in Yellow for Rhyhorn.

Rhyhorn Weakness

Rhyhorn's Ground/Rock typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Grass, Ice, Fighting, and Ground. Water and Grass hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It shrugs off Electric-type attacks completely. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Rhyhorn's physical bulk (base 95 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

Rhyhorn Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Water, Grass
2x (Weak)Ice, Fighting, Ground
0.5x (Resist)Normal, Fire, Flying, Rock
0.25x (Resist)Poison
0x (Immune)Electric
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Rhyhorn Weak Against

Fragile
5Weak
5Resist
1Immune
Score-5
4xCritical
¼xResist
0xImmune

What is Rhyhorn Strong Against

7Strong
0Resisted
0Immune
Score+7
½xResisted
None
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Rhyhorn

B
Vileplume
Vileplume
GrassPoison
C
C
Lapras
Lapras
WaterIce
B
Sandslash
Sandslash
Ground
C

Rhyhorn Evolutions

A Ground/Rock type with 345 stats, Rhyhorn has a chain leading to Rhydon. Breeding won't work. The evolved forms gain up to 140 total stats over Rhyhorn. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Rhyhorn
GroundRock
Rhydon
GroundRock
HP
80
105+25
ATK
85
130+45
DEF
95
120+25
SP.ATK
30
45+15
SP.DEF
30
45+15
SPE
25
40+15
BST
345E-Tier
485S-Tier+140
ROLE
Trick Room
Wallbreaker
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Rhyhorn Best Moveset

Rock/Ground typing with 4x weaknesses to Water and Grass that eliminate it before the moves matter. 80 Attack behind MoveEarthquake is passable but Rhydon does the same job at 130. Folds instantly to any special attack.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Rhyhorn
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • EarthquakeSTAB
  • Rock SlideSTAB
  • Fire Blast
  • Body Slam

Moves List

Without TMs, Rhyhorn's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get Normal and Fire coverage on top of Earthquake and Dig for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Horn Attack
D6510025Normal
Lv 30
Stomp
B6510020Normal
Lv 35
Tail Whip
——10030Normal
Lv 40
Fury Attack
D158520Normal
Lv 45
Horn Drill
——305Normal
Lv 50
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 55
Take Down
C908520Normal

TM Moves

All 20 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM08
Body SlamS.S. Annebadge 2
B8510015Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
C12010015Normal
TM26
EarthquakeSilph Co.badge 5
S15010010Ground
TM38B120855Fire
TM27——305Ground
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM48B1129010Rock
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
C10010010Normal
HM04
StrengthFuchsia Citybadge 4
—8010015Normal
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
C908520Normal
TM25
ThunderKanto Power Plantbadge 5
D1107010Electric
TM24D9510015Electric
TM06A—9010Poison

Tutor Moves

Rhyhorn can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP80
C
Attack85
C
Defense95
B
Sp. Atk30
F
Sp. Def30
F
Speed25
F
Total345
Details
Catch Rate
Moderate120 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height1.0 m
Weight115.0 kg
Base XP69
EV Yield
HPAtkDef+1SpASpDSpe
Defense training source
Pokedex Entry

A POKéMON with a one-track mind. Once it charges, it won’t stop running until it falls asleep.

Pokemon Yellow

Rhyhorn Yellow Guide

  • Where in the Yellow Safari Zone can I find Rhyhorn?

    See the Locations section above for where to find Rhyhorn in Yellow.

    Safari rules: You can only use Safari Balls. No battling. Two tactical items shift the catch/flee trade-off:

    • Throw bait to keep Rhyhorn from fleeing (flee rate cut to 1/4) but it becomes harder to catch (catch factor halved).
    • Throw a rock to make Rhyhorn easier to catch (catch factor doubled) but it flees twice as often.
    • Each effect lasts 2-6 random turns; throwing one cancels the other.
  • In Yellow, Rhyhorn does the job early-game if you need a Ground/Rock type on your team. Evolve it into Rhydon before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.

Game Availability

Rhyhorn has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 21 titles across all 9 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.

Explore

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