Slow is good when Trick Room is up, and Rhyperior is about as slow as they come. Ground/Rock typing gives it a defined role on the team. Lightning Rod redirects Electric moves and boosts its Sp. Atk. Known as the Drill Pokemon.
The stat bars tell the story: Attack carries everything and Speed's dead weight. But this Drill Pokemon still yields 3 Attack EVs per fight on a slow 1.25M XP grind.
It can load up to three projectiles per arm into the holes in its hands. What launches out of those holes could be either rocks or Roggenrola.
It relies on its carapace to deflect incoming attacks and throw its enemy off balance. As soon as that happens, it drives its drill into the foe.
Rhyperior Weakness
FragileRhyperior 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. The Ground/Rock typing picks up 5 resistances to work with. Lightning Rod grants an additional Electric immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Rhyperior's physical bulk (base 130 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
Rhyhorn's line splits into 2 evolutions, and Rhyperior is the trade route. Each sibling form needs a different method to obtain. Breed through Rhyhorn to get eggs. Rhyperior edges out Rhydon by 50 total stats (535 vs 485). Attack is where most of the advantage lives.
How to Evolve
Breed with Rhyperior to get Rhyhorn eggs easily using 138 partners from the Ground and Monster egg groups. Notable egg moves include Counter, Curse, Dragon Rush and 4 more.
Rhyperior's job is getting Stealth Rock up and staying on the field. Rocky Helmet provides chip damage on every physical hit received, Solidrock helps it stick around, and max HP and Defense EVs prioritize longevity.
Best Build
Best Rhyperior Moveset
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Ice Punch
- Stealth Rock
Recommended Teammates
The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 12 types means almost nothing walls Rhyperior cleanly, with Rock Wrecker and Meteor Beam anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
The chain to Rhyperior requires a trade evolution through a trade. Catch Rhyhorn at solid rates and level through the stages, but line up the trade first. The rest of the chain runs on levels alone.
How to Obtain Rhyperior in Sword & Shield
To get Rhyperior, start by catching Rhyhorn through walking encounters at Lv. 10-40. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch RhyhornEFFORTLESSPotbottom DesertShieldOverworldLv.10-1532%EarlyDesertThunderstormEFFORTLESSPotbottom DesertShieldOverworldLv.10-1532%EarlyDesertIntense SunEFFORTLESSPotbottom DesertShieldOverworldLv.10-1532%EarlyDesertSnowingEFFORTLESSPotbottom DesertShieldOverworldLv.10-1532%EarlyDesertSandstormEFFORTLESSPotbottom DesertShieldOverworldLv.10-1532%EarlyDesertRainingEFFORTLESSPotbottom DesertShieldOverworldLv.10-1532%EarlyDesertHeavy FogEFFORTLESSPotbottom DesertShieldOverworldLv.10-1532%EarlyDesertOvercastEFFORTLESSPotbottom DesertShieldOverworldLv.10-1532%EarlyDesertNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSPotbottom DesertShieldOverworldLv.10-1532%EarlyDesertSnowstormEFFORTLESSGiant's MirrorSwordOverworldLv.28-3050%MidSandstormEFFORTLESSGiant's MirrorShieldOverworldLv.28-3050%MidSandstormEFFORTLESSMotostoke RiverbankSwordOverworldLv.26-2840%MidIntense SunEFFORTLESSStony WildernessSwordGrassLv.26-2840%MidSandstormEFFORTLESSMotostoke RiverbankShieldGrassLv.26-2835%MidIntense SunEFFORTLESSMotostoke RiverbankShieldGrassLv.26-2835%MidSandstormEFFORTLESSMotostoke RiverbankSwordGrassLv.26-2835%MidIntense SunEFFORTLESSMotostoke RiverbankSwordGrassLv.26-2835%MidSandstormEFFORTLESSPotbottom DesertSwordOverworldLv.19-2432%MidDesertHeavy FogEFFORTLESSPotbottom DesertSwordOverworldLv.19-2432%MidDesertOvercastEFFORTLESSPotbottom DesertSwordOverworldLv.19-2432%MidDesertNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSPotbottom DesertSwordOverworldLv.19-2432%MidDesertSnowstormEFFORTLESSPotbottom DesertSwordOverworldLv.19-2432%MidDesertThunderstormEFFORTLESSPotbottom DesertSwordOverworldLv.19-2432%MidDesertIntense SunEFFORTLESSPotbottom DesertSwordOverworldLv.19-2432%MidDesertSnowingEFFORTLESSPotbottom DesertSwordOverworldLv.19-2432%MidDesertSandstormEFFORTLESSPotbottom DesertSwordOverworldLv.19-2432%MidDesertRainingEFFORTLESSBridge FieldShieldGrassLv.26-2830%MidSandstormEFFORTLESSBridge FieldSwordGrassLv.26-2830%MidSandstormEASYMotostoke RiverbankSwordOverworldLv.26-2825%MidSandstormEASYMotostoke RiverbankShieldOverworldLv.28-3025%MidSandstormEASYStony WildernessShieldGrassLv.26-2820%MidSandstormMODERATEMotostoke RiverbankShieldOverworldLv.28-305%MidIntense SunEFFORTLESSGiant's Cap - GroundSwordOverworldLv.31-3460%LateSnowingEFFORTLESSGiant's Cap - GroundShieldOverworldLv.31-3460%LateSnowstormEFFORTLESSGiant's Cap - GroundSwordOverworldLv.31-3460%LateRainingEFFORTLESSGiant's Cap - GroundShieldOverworldLv.31-3460%LateThunderstormEFFORTLESSGiant's Cap - GroundShieldOverworldLv.31-3460%LateSnowingEFFORTLESSGiant's Cap - GroundSwordOverworldLv.31-3460%LateSnowstormEFFORTLESSGiant's Cap - GroundShieldOverworldLv.31-3460%LateRainingEFFORTLESSGiant's Cap - GroundSwordOverworldLv.31-3460%LateThunderstormEFFORTLESSGiant's Cap - GroundSwordOverworldLv.31-3430%LateSandstormEFFORTLESSGiant's Cap - GroundSwordOverworldLv.31-3430%LateHeavy FogEFFORTLESSGiant's Cap - GroundSwordOverworldLv.31-3430%LateOvercastEFFORTLESSGiant's Cap - GroundSwordOverworldLv.31-3430%LateNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSGiant's Cap - GroundSwordOverworldLv.31-3430%LateIntense SunEASYRoute 8SwordGrassLv.38-4020%LateRouteAll WeatherEASYRoute 8ShieldGrassLv.38-4020%LateRouteAll WeatherMODERATEGiant's Cap - GroundShieldOverworldLv.31-3410%LateIntense SunMODERATEGiant's Cap - GroundShieldOverworldLv.31-3410%LateSandstormMODERATEGiant's Cap - GroundShieldOverworldLv.31-3410%LateHeavy FogMODERATEGiant's Cap - GroundShieldOverworldLv.31-3410%LateOvercastMODERATEGiant's Cap - GroundShieldOverworldLv.31-3410%LateNormal Weather- Step 2Rhyperior ✓
Rhyperior looks average on paper at 535 BST. But Lightning Rod is why it sees play — build around that and it pulls its weight. B-Tier wallbreaker on our tier list.
Rhyperior'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, Rhyperior won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.
Rhyperior gets Lightning Rod, Solid Rock, and Reckless. But Lightning Rod is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that. On wall sets, Lightning Rod pairs with Rhyperior's base 130 Defense to absorb physical hits on the switch.
Rhyperior is a physical attacker with base 140 Attack. Tanky enough to absorb a few hits, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 40 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. Fits the wallbreaker role.
Rhyperior appears in 13 games, including Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver, and Diamond & Pearl.
Since Diamond & Pearl, Rhyperior has been in 13 games. Requiring a trade evolution to obtain means it's consistently available but requires more effort than simply catching it in the wild.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
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 IVDPDebut
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