Playthrough tier listGold & Silver

Best Rock Pokémon in Gold & Silver

Aerodactyl (post-game) leads the 14 Rock Pokémon for beating Gold and Silver.

14gradedNov 11, 2026updated
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  • Post-game
  • Trade to evolve
Rapid gradeTap a tier to start your own list · 14 Pokémon
STop1 PokémonCarries a Gold & Silver run against most of the bossesClick any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
AerodactylAerodactylPost-game
Click any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
AStrong2 PokémonA strong pick for most of the game
GolemGolemTrade to evolve
TyranitarTyranitarPost-game
BSolid1 PokémonDoes the job with some help
RhydonRhydon
CSituational4 PokémonStruggles against several bosses
MagcargoMagcargoPost-game
SudowoodoSudowoodo
GravelerGraveler
PupitarPupitarPost-game
DBottom6 PokémonHard to use for beating the game
CorsolaCorsola
ShuckleShuckle
GeodudeGeodude
LarvitarLarvitarPost-game
RhyhornRhyhorn
OnixOnix

What each tier means

  • STop Carries a Gold & Silver run against most of the bosses
  • AStrong A strong pick for most of the game
  • BSolid Does the job with some help
  • CSituational Struggles against several bosses
  • DBottom Hard to use for beating the game
2 reads blended into one listreblend in Showing14/ 14

Board breakdown

Among Rock Pokémon in Gold and Silver, Golem (as the Geodude line, evolves by trade) does well in 8 of the 13 boss fights, Falkner to Lance, 5 fights have no Rock answer, and both versions play out the same.

With Aerodactyl out of reach until the credits, which Rock pick should you raise?

Take Golem (as the Geodude line, evolves by trade), which handles 8 of 13 fights, starting with Bugsy.

If you cannot link trade Graveler, raise Sudowoodo, which does well in 6 fights.

A filled box is a fight the pick does well in: Golem (as the Geodude line, evolves by trade) has 8 of 13, first at Bugsy.

Gym 1, FalknerGym 2, BugsyGym 3, WhitneyGym 4, MortyGym 5, ChuckGym 6, JasmineGym 7, PryceGym 8, ClairElite Four, WillElite Four, KogaElite Four, BrunoElite Four, KarenChampion, Lance
  • GolemGym 1 Falkner: no clear edgeGym 2 Bugsy: does wellGym 3 Whitney: no clear edgeGym 4 Morty: does wellGym 5 Chuck: has troubleGym 6 Jasmine: does wellGym 7 Pryce: does wellGym 8 Clair: no clear edgeWill: does wellKoga: does wellBruno: no clear edgeKaren: does wellLance: does wellFrom the startGeodudeRoute 4645% of encounters at night#034GeodudeLevel 25#035GravelerTrade#036Golem
    Does wellBugsyMortyJasminePryceWillKogaKarenLanceHas troubleChuckNo clear edgeFalkner, Whitney, Clair, Bruno
  • SudowoodoGym 1 Falkner: not on your team yetGym 2 Bugsy: not on your team yetGym 3 Whitney: not on your team yetGym 4 Morty: does wellGym 5 Chuck: has troubleGym 6 Jasmine: no clear edgeGym 7 Pryce: does wellGym 8 Clair: no clear edgeWill: does wellKoga: does wellBruno: has troubleKaren: does wellLance: does wellAfter badge 3Route 36Lv 20
    Not yet: Falkner to WhitneyDoes wellMortyPryceWillKogaKarenLanceHas troubleChuck, BrunoNo clear edgeJasmine, Clair
  • CorsolaGym 1 Falkner: not on your team yetGym 2 Bugsy: not on your team yetGym 3 Whitney: not on your team yetGym 4 Morty: not on your team yetGym 5 Chuck: has troubleGym 6 Jasmine: no clear edgeGym 7 Pryce: does wellGym 8 Clair: has troubleWill: does wellKoga: does wellBruno: no clear edgeKaren: does wellLance: does wellAfter badge 4Cherrygrove CityGood Rod10% of encounters except at nightRock moves use Attack 55, not Sp. Atk 65
    Not yet: Falkner to MortyDoes wellPryceWillKogaKarenLanceHas troubleChuck, ClairNo clear edgeJasmine, Bruno
  • RhydonGym 1 Falkner: not on your team yetGym 2 Bugsy: not on your team yetGym 3 Whitney: not on your team yetGym 4 Morty: not on your team yetGym 5 Chuck: not on your team yetGym 6 Jasmine: not on your team yetGym 7 Pryce: not on your team yetGym 8 Clair: not on your team yetWill: does wellKoga: does wellBruno: no clear edgeKaren: does wellLance: does wellAfter badge 8RhyhornVictory Road 1F5% of encounters#206RhyhornLevel 42#207Rhydonfinal form by Koga
    Not yet: Falkner to ClairDoes wellWillKogaKarenLanceNo clear edgeBruno
  • ShuckleGym 1 Falkner: not on your team yetGym 2 Bugsy: not on your team yetGym 3 Whitney: not on your team yetGym 4 Morty: not on your team yetGym 5 Chuck: has troubleGym 6 Jasmine: has troubleGym 7 Pryce: no clear edgeGym 8 Clair: has troubleWill: no clear edgeKoga: does wellBruno: has troubleKaren: does wellLance: does wellAfter badge 4Route 40Rock Smash10% of encounters
    Not yet: Falkner to MortyDoes wellKogaKarenLanceHas troubleChuck, Jasmine, Clair, BrunoNo clear edgePryce, Will

Best pair

Golem + Sudowoodo8/13 togetherneeds a link trade
No tradeSudowoodo + Corsola6/13 together

After the creditsOnly after you beat LanceCounted in no fight

  • AerodactylAfter the Hall of Fame
  • TyranitarAfter the Hall of Fame
  • MagcargoAfter the Hall of Fame

Which gym leaders and league bosses get no Rock answer?

You come up short in 5 fights: Falkner, Whitney, Chuck, Clair and Bruno.

The best Rock pick you can have by each fight, Falkner to Lance. First with none: Falkner.

Gyms

  1. Closest: Geodude

    Team

    1. PidgeyLv 7NormalFlying
    2. PidgeottoLv 9NormalFlyingAce

    No clear edge (1)Golem Trade to evolveas Geodude

    Full fight

  2. Golemas Geodude

    Team

    1. MetapodLv 14Bug
    2. KakunaLv 14BugPoison
    3. ScytherLv 16BugFlyingAce

    Does well (1)Golem Trade to evolveas GeodudeMoves: Rock Throw

    Full fight

  3. Closest: Geodude

    Team

    1. ClefairyLv 18Normal
    2. MiltankLv 20NormalAce

    No clear edge (1)Golem Trade to evolveas Geodude

    Full fight

  4. Sudowoodo+1 more

    Team

    1. GastlyLv 21GhostPoison
    2. HaunterLv 21GhostPoison
    3. GengarLv 25GhostPoisonAce
    4. HaunterLv 23GhostPoison

    Does well (2)SudowoodoMoves: DigGolem Trade to evolveMoves: Dig

    Full fight

  5. Has trouble: Golem

    Team

    1. PrimeapeLv 27Fighting
    2. PoliwrathLv 30WaterFightingAce

    Has trouble (4)Golem Trade to evolveSudowoodoCorsolaShuckle

    Full fight

  6. Golem

    Team

    1. MagnemiteLv 30ElectricSteel
    2. MagnemiteLv 30ElectricSteel
    3. SteelixLv 35SteelGroundAce

    Does well (1)Golem Trade to evolveMoves: Dig

    No clear edge (2)CorsolaSudowoodo

    Has trouble (1)Shuckle

    Full fight

  7. Sudowoodo+2 more

    Team

    1. SeelLv 27Water
    2. DewgongLv 29WaterIce
    3. PiloswineLv 31IceGroundAce

    Does well (3)SudowoodoMoves: Thunder Punch, Rock Slide and Dynamic PunchCorsolaMoves: Rollout and SurfGolem Trade to evolveMoves: Dig, Rock Throw and Dynamic Punch

    No clear edge (1)Shuckle

    Full fight

  8. Closest: Golem

    Team

    1. DragonairLv 37Dragon
    2. DragonairLv 37Dragon
    3. DragonairLv 37Dragon
    4. KingdraLv 40WaterDragonAce

    No clear edge (2)Golem Trade to evolveSudowoodo

    Has trouble (2)CorsolaShuckle

    Full fight

League

  1. Rhydon+3 more

    Team

    1. XatuLv 40PsychicFlying
    2. JynxLv 41IcePsychic
    3. ExeggutorLv 41GrassPsychic
    4. SlowbroLv 41WaterPsychic
    5. XatuLv 42PsychicFlyingAce

    Does well (4)RhydonMoves: Rollout and Fury CutterSudowoodoMoves: Rock Slide and Feint AttackGolem Trade to evolveMoves: Rock Throw and Fury CutterCorsolaMoves: Ancient Power

    No clear edge (1)Shuckle

    Full fight

  2. Rhydon+4 more

    Team

    1. AriadosLv 40BugPoison
    2. VenomothLv 41BugPoison
    3. ForretressLv 43BugSteel
    4. MukLv 42Poison
    5. CrobatLv 44PoisonFlyingAce

    Does well (5)RhydonMoves: Rollout, Fire Blast and EarthquakeGolem Trade to evolveMoves: Rock Throw, Fire Blast and EarthquakeSudowoodoMoves: Rock Slide, Fire Punch and EarthquakeCorsolaMoves: Ancient Power and EarthquakeShuckleMoves: Rollout and Earthquake

    Full fight

  3. Closest: Rhydon

    Team

    1. HitmontopLv 42Fighting
    2. HitmonleeLv 42Fighting
    3. HitmonchanLv 42Fighting
    4. OnixLv 43RockGround
    5. MachampLv 46FightingAce

    No clear edge (3)RhydonGolem Trade to evolveCorsola

    Has trouble (2)SudowoodoShuckle

    Full fight

  4. Rhydon+4 more

    Team

    1. UmbreonLv 42Dark
    2. VileplumeLv 42GrassPoison
    3. GengarLv 45GhostPoison
    4. MurkrowLv 44DarkFlying
    5. HoundoomLv 47DarkFireAce

    Does well (5)RhydonMoves: Fury Cutter, Fire Blast and EarthquakeGolem Trade to evolveMoves: Fury Cutter, Fire Blast and EarthquakeSudowoodoMoves: Dynamic Punch, Fire Punch and Feint AttackCorsolaMoves: Rock Smash, Ancient Power and EarthquakeShuckleMoves: Rock Smash, Rollout and Earthquake

    Full fight

  5. Rhydon+4 more

    Team

    1. GyaradosLv 44WaterFlying
    2. DragoniteLv 47DragonFlying
    3. DragoniteLv 47DragonFlying
    4. AerodactylLv 46RockFlying
    5. CharizardLv 46FireFlying
    6. DragoniteLv 50DragonFlyingAce

    Does well (5)RhydonMoves: Thunder, Blizzard and RolloutSudowoodoMoves: Thunder Punch, Ice Punch and Rock SlideShuckleMoves: RolloutGolem Trade to evolveMoves: Rock ThrowCorsolaMoves: Ancient Power

    Full fight

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