Playthrough tier listRuby & Sapphire

Best Rock Pokémon in Ruby & Sapphire

Roxanne's Rustboro Gym, the first badge, uses Geodude and Nosepass, and Geodude lives in Granite Cave once you reach Dewford. We graded 19 Rock Pokémon you can get in Ruby & Sapphire, S to D, for beating the game. Aggron and Armaldo lead.

19gradedOct 18, 2026updated
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  • Trade-in
  • Trade to evolve
  • Fossil: pick 1 of 2
    • Ruby only
    • Sapphire only
STop2 PokémonCarries a Ruby & Sapphire run against most of the bossesClick any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
TyranitarTyranitarTrade-in only
AerodactylAerodactylTrade-in only
Click any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
AStrong3 PokémonA strong pick for most of the game
AggronAggron
ArmaldoArmaldoFossil: pick 1 of 2
KabutopsKabutopsTrade-in only
BSolid5 PokémonDoes the job with some help
LunatoneLunatoneSapphire only
SolrockSolrockRuby only
GolemGolemTrade to evolve
SudowoodoSudowoodoTrade-in only
OmastarOmastarTrade-in only
CSituational6 PokémonStruggles against several bosses
RegirockRegirock
LaironLairon
AnorithAnorithFossil: pick 1 of 2
PupitarPupitarTrade-in only
LarvitarLarvitarTrade-in only
KabutoKabutoTrade-in only
DBottom14 PokémonHard to use for beating the game
RhydonRhydon
CradilyCradilyFossil: pick 1 of 2
RelicanthRelicanth
MagcargoMagcargo
NosepassNosepass
CorsolaCorsola
AronAron
GravelerGraveler
GeodudeGeodude
RhyhornRhyhorn
LileepLileepFossil: pick 1 of 2
ShuckleShuckleTrade-in only
OmanyteOmanyteTrade-in only
OnixOnixTrade-in only

What each tier means

  • STop Carries a Ruby & Sapphire 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 Showing30 19 in Ruby & Sapphire + 11 trade-ins

Board breakdown

Every Rock Pokémon you can get is checked here against the 13 Ruby & Sapphire gym leader, Elite Four and Champion fights, Roxanne to Steven. Aggron does well in 4 of them, 6 fights have no Rock answer, and the versions differ in 2 fights.

Several Rock Pokemon do well in 4 of the 13 gym and league fights: which gets the slot?

Pick Aggron, level with the rest at 4 of 13 fights, since it joins first, after badge 1.

Each row is one Rock pick and its 13 boxes are the fights in order. A filled box means it does well there: Aggron has 4, first at Tate & Liza.

Gym 1, RoxanneGym 2, BrawlyGym 3, WattsonGym 4, FlanneryGym 5, NormanGym 6, WinonaGym 7, Tate & LizaGym 8, WallaceElite Four, SidneyElite Four, PhoebeElite Four, GlaciaElite Four, DrakeChampion, Steven
  • AggronGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: no clear edgeGym 3 Wattson: has troubleGym 4 Flannery: no clear edgeGym 5 Norman: no clear edgeGym 6 Winona: no clear edgeGym 7 Tate & Liza: does wellGym 8 Wallace: has troubleSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: does wellSteven: no clear edgeAfter badge 1AronGranite Cave B1F40% of encounters#070AronLevel 32#071LaironLevel 42#072Aggronfinal form by Sidney
    Not yet: RoxanneDoes wellTate & LizaSidneyGlaciaDrakeHas troubleWattson, WallaceNo clear edgeBrawly, Flannery, Norman, Winona, Phoebe, Steven
  • Pick one fossil
    • ArmaldoGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: not on your team yetGym 4 Flannery: not on your team yetGym 5 Norman: no clear edgeGym 6 Winona: does wellGym 7 Tate & Liza: does wellGym 8 Wallace: no clear edgeSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: no clear edgeSteven: no clear edgeAfter badge 4AnorithClaw Fossil, Route 111 desertrevive at Devon CorporationLv 20#135AnorithLevel 40#136Armaldofinal form by Tate & Liza
      Not yet: Roxanne to FlanneryDoes wellWinonaTate & LizaSidneyGlaciaNo clear edgeNorman, Wallace, Phoebe, Drake, Steven
    • CradilyGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: not on your team yetGym 4 Flannery: not on your team yetGym 5 Norman: has troubleGym 6 Winona: has troubleGym 7 Tate & Liza: does wellGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: no clear edgeSteven: no clear edgeAfter badge 4LileepRoot Fossil, Route 111 desertrevive at Devon CorporationLv 20#133LileepLevel 40#134Cradilyfinal form by Tate & Liza
      Not yet: Roxanne to FlanneryDoes wellTate & LizaWallaceSidneyGlaciaHas troubleNorman, WinonaNo clear edgePhoebe, Drake, Steven
  • LunatoneGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: not on your team yetGym 4 Flannery: does wellGym 5 Norman: no clear edgeGym 6 Winona: does wellGym 7 Tate & Liza: no clear edgeGym 8 Wallace: no clear edgeSidney: no clear edgePhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: does wellSteven: no clear edgeAfter badge 3Meteor Falls 1F20% of encounters
    Not yet: Roxanne to WattsonDoes wellFlanneryWinonaGlaciaDrakeNo clear edgeNorman, Tate & Liza, Wallace, Sidney, Phoebe, Steven
  • SolrockGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: not on your team yetGym 4 Flannery: does wellGym 5 Norman: has troubleGym 6 Winona: does wellGym 7 Tate & Liza: no clear edgeGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: no clear edgePhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: no clear edgeSteven: no clear edgeAfter badge 3Meteor Falls 1F20% of encounters
    Not yet: Roxanne to WattsonDoes wellFlanneryWinonaWallaceGlaciaHas troubleNormanNo clear edgeTate & Liza, Sidney, Phoebe, Drake, Steven
NextNosepass 3Golem 3Regirock 2

Best pair

Ruby
Aggron + Solrock7/13 togetherevery fight a Rock pick wins
Sapphire
Cradily + Lunatone7/13 togetherevery fight a Rock pick wins

Which of the 13 fights from Roxanne on leave a Rock team short?

You come up short in 6 of them: Roxanne, Brawly, Wattson, Norman, Phoebe and Steven.

One row per fight, Roxanne to Steven, with the best Rock pick you can have by then. Tap a fight for its team and every pick. First with none: Roxanne.

Gyms

  1. Nothing yet

    TeamRock-type team

    1. GeodudeLv 14RockGround
    2. NosepassLv 15RockAce

    No Rock pick you can have yet

    Full fight

  2. Closest: Aron

    Team

    1. MachopLv 17Fighting
    2. MakuhitaLv 18FightingAce

    No clear edge (1)Aggronas Aron

    Has trouble (1)Golem Trade to evolveas Geodude

    Full fight

  3. Closest: Geodude

    Team

    1. MagnemiteLv 22ElectricSteel
    2. VoltorbLv 20Electric
    3. MagnetonLv 23ElectricSteelAce

    No clear edge (1)Golem Trade to evolveas Geodude

    Has trouble (1)Aggronas Aron

    Full fight

  4. Nosepass+2 more

    Team

    1. SlugmaLv 26Fire
    2. SlugmaLv 26Fire
    3. TorkoalLv 28FireAce

    Does well (4)NosepassMoves: Rock TombSolrockRuby onlyMoves: Rock TombLunatoneSapphire onlyMoves: Rock TombGolem Trade to evolveMoves: Dig

    No clear edge (1)Aggronas Aron

    Has trouble (1)Magcargoas Slugma

    Full fight

  5. RubyClosest: Anorith
    SapphireClosest: Lunatone

    Team

    1. SlakingLv 28Normal
    2. VigorothLv 30Normal
    3. SlakingLv 31NormalAce

    No clear edge (6)LunatoneSapphire onlyArmaldoas AnorithGolem Trade to evolveAggronas AronNosepassMagcargoas Slugma

    Has trouble (2)Cradilyas LileepSolrockRuby only

    Full fight

  6. Armaldoas Anorith+2 more

    Team

    1. SwellowLv 31NormalFlying
    2. PelipperLv 30WaterFlying
    3. SkarmoryLv 32SteelFlying
    4. AltariaLv 33DragonFlyingAce

    Does well (4)Armaldoas AnorithMoves: Rock TombNosepassMoves: Rock Slide and ThunderboltSolrockRuby onlyMoves: Rock Tomb and OverheatLunatoneSapphire onlyMoves: Rock Tomb and Ice Beam

    No clear edge (3)Aggronas AronGolem Trade to evolveMagcargoas Slugma

    Has trouble (1)Cradilyas Lileep

    Full fight

  7. Aggronas Lairon+2 more

    TeamRock-type team

    1. LunatoneLv 42RockPsychicAce
    2. SolrockLv 42RockPsychic

    Does well (3)Aggronas LaironMoves: Iron TailCradilyMoves: Solar BeamArmaldoMoves: Metal Claw

    No clear edge (2)SolrockRuby onlyLunatoneSapphire only

    Has trouble (4)NosepassGolem Trade to evolveRhydonas RhyhornMagcargo

    Full fight

  8. CradilyRuby +1 more

    Team

    1. LuvdiscLv 40Water
    2. WhiscashLv 42WaterGround
    3. SealeoLv 40IceWater
    4. SeakingLv 42Water
    5. MiloticLv 43WaterAce

    Does well (2)CradilyMoves: Solar BeamSolrockRuby onlyMoves: Solar Beam and Rock Slide

    No clear edge (7)LunatoneSapphire onlyRegirockArmaldoRelicanthNosepassGolem Trade to evolveCorsola

    Has trouble (3)Aggronas LaironRhydonas RhyhornMagcargo

    Full fight

League

  1. Aggron+6 more

    Team

    1. MightyenaLv 46Dark
    2. ShiftryLv 48GrassDark
    3. CacturneLv 46GrassDark
    4. SharpedoLv 48WaterDark
    5. AbsolLv 49DarkAce

    Does well (7)AggronMoves: Focus Punch and ThunderArmaldoMoves: Fury CutterRegirockMoves: Focus Punch and ThunderMagcargoMoves: Rock Smash and OverheatGolem Trade to evolveMoves: Focus PunchCradilyMoves: Rock Smash and Solar BeamRhydonMoves: Focus Punch and Thunder

    No clear edge (5)RelicanthNosepassSolrockRuby onlyLunatoneSapphire onlyCorsola

    Full fight

  2. Closest: Cradily

    Team

    1. DusclopsLv 48Ghost
    2. BanetteLv 49Ghost
    3. SableyeLv 50DarkGhost
    4. BanetteLv 49Ghost
    5. DusclopsLv 51GhostAce

    No clear edge (12)CradilySolrockRuby onlyRelicanthRegirockAggronGolem Trade to evolveMagcargoCorsolaLunatoneSapphire onlyArmaldoRhydonNosepass

    Full fight

  3. Aggron+9 more

    Team

    1. GlalieLv 50Ice
    2. SealeoLv 50IceWater
    3. SealeoLv 52IceWater
    4. GlalieLv 52Ice
    5. WalreinLv 53IceWaterAce

    Does well (11)AggronMoves: Rock TombRegirockMoves: Ancient PowerArmaldoMoves: Ancient PowerRelicanthMoves: Ancient PowerCradilyMoves: Ancient Power and Solar BeamSolrockRuby onlyMoves: Rock SlideLunatoneSapphire onlyMoves: Rock TombMagcargoMoves: Overheat and Rock SlideNosepassMoves: Rock SlideRhydonMoves: Rock TombGolem Trade to evolveMoves: Rock Tomb

    No clear edge (1)Corsola

    Full fight

  4. AggronRuby +2 moreSapphire +3 more

    Team

    1. ShelgonLv 52Dragon
    2. AltariaLv 54DragonFlying
    3. FlygonLv 53GroundDragon
    4. FlygonLv 53GroundDragon
    5. SalamenceLv 55DragonFlyingAce

    Does well (4)AggronMoves: Dragon Claw and BlizzardLunatoneSapphire onlyMoves: Ice BeamRelicanthMoves: BlizzardCorsolaMoves: Blizzard

    No clear edge (7)RegirockArmaldoRhydonSolrockRuby onlyCradilyGolem Trade to evolveNosepass

    Has trouble (1)Magcargo

    Full fight

  5. Closest: Relicanth

    Team

    1. SkarmoryLv 57SteelFlying
    2. ClaydolLv 55GroundPsychic
    3. AggronLv 56SteelRock
    4. CradilyLv 56RockGrass
    5. ArmaldoLv 56RockBug
    6. MetagrossLv 58SteelPsychicAce

    No clear edge (11)RelicanthMagcargoAggronArmaldoRegirockCradilyLunatoneSapphire onlyRhydonGolem Trade to evolveSolrockRuby onlyCorsola

    Has trouble (1)Nosepass

    Full fight

Lunatone, Solrock and move stats: what differs for a Rock team?

Ruby gets an answer at Wallace from Solrock, and Sapphire gets an answer at Drake from Lunatone; every other fight is the same in both.

Lunatone loses nothing with Psychic moves, which run on Sp. Atk, its strong side.

Each card is one thing that can change a Rock team before you commit: the two versions, move stats and link trades.

  • 2 fights where versions differ
    RubySapphire
    Only hereSolrockLunatone
    Same open fights in both versions
  • Rock moves use Attack
    • LunatoneAttack 55, used by Rock movesSp. Atk 95, used by Psychic moves
  • Needs a link tradeGolemFrom Graveler
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