Fossil Pokémon are prehistoric Pokémon which can be obtained through reviving their specific Fossils. All of these Pokémon (with the exception of the Galar Fossil Pokémon) are part Rock-type Pokémon.
Quick Answers
What is the process to obtain a Fossil Pokémon in the game?
Which Fossil Pokémon are not part Rock-type?
What are the different versions of Pokémon games where Fossil Pokémon can be found?
Who do you hand the Fossil over to in order to obtain a Fossil Pokémon?
Generation I Fossil Pokémon[]
These Pokémon can be obtained in Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version, Pokémon Yellow Special Pikachu Edition, in Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version and Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! by handing their Fossil over to the weird scientist at the Lab on Cinnabar Island.
Kabuto and Kabutops[]
Kabuto is based on a Horseshoe crab and is the shellfish Pokémon. It is a Rock/Water-type Pokémon revived from a Dome Fossil. It evolves into Kabutops.
Omanyte and Omastar[]
Omanyte is based on an Ammonite and is the spiral Pokémon. It is a Rock/Water-type Pokémon revived from a Helix Fossil. It evolves into Omastar.
Aerodactyl[]
Aerodactyl is based on the Pterodactylus and is the Fossil Pokémon. It is a Rock/-type Pokémon revived from an Old Amber. While it cannot evolve into any other Pokémon, it receives a Mega Evolution form in Pokémon X and Pokémon Y.
Generation III Fossil Pokémon[]
These Fossils can be found in the desert area east of Lavaridge Town in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Version. They are in the Crumbling Tower which requires a Mach Bike to get to the top. They can be brought back to life by a Devon worker in Rustboro City. You can get the Fossil you did not choose after beating the Elite 4 and going to the Fossil maniac's house.
Anorith and Armaldo[]
Anorith is based on an Anomalocaris and is the old shrimp Pokémon. It is a Rock/Bug-type Pokémon revived from a Claw Fossil. It evolves into Armaldo.
Lileep and Cradily[]
Lileep is based on a Sea Lily and is the sea lily Pokémon. It is a Rock/Grass-type Pokémon revived from the Root Fossil. It evolves into Cradily.
Generation IV Fossil Pokémon[]
You can bring these Pokémon back to life at the Oreburgh Museum.
Cranidos and Rampardos[]
Cranidos is based on a Pachycephalosaurus and is the head-butt Pokémon. It is a Rock-type Pokémon revived from a Skull Fossil. It evolves into Rampardos.
Shieldon and Bastiodon[]
Shieldon is based on a Protoceratops the shield Pokémon. It is a Rock/Steel-type Pokémon revived from an Armor Fossil. It evolves into Bastiodon.
Generation V Fossil Pokémon[]
These Fossil are found inside the Relic Castle the player can bring these Pokémon back to life at the Nacrene Museum.
Tirtouga and Carracosta[]
Tirtouga is based on a Protostega and is the prototurtle Pokémon. It is a Water/Rock-type Pokémon revived from a Cover Fossil. Carracosta is the evolved form of Tirtouga.
Archen and Archeops[]
Archen is based on a Archaeopteryx and is the first bird Pokémon. It is a Rock/-type Pokémon revived from a Plume Fossil. Archeops is the evolved form of Archen.
Genesect[]
Genesect is based on a Unknown Paleozoic Insect and is the Paleozoic Pokémon. It is a Bug/Steel-type Pokémon revived from an unknown fossil and made by Team Plasma.
Generation VI Fossil Pokémon[]
Tyrunt and Tyrantrum[]
Tyrunt based on an Tyrannosaurus Rex and is the royal heir Pokémon. It is a Rock/Dragon-type Pokémon that is revived from the Jaw Fossil. Tyrantrum is the evolved form of Tyrunt.
Amaura and Aurorus[]
Amaura is based on an Amargasaurus and is the tundra Pokémon. It is a Rock/Ice-type Pokémon that is revived from the Sail Fossil. Aurorus is the evolved form of Amaura.
Mega Aerodactyl[]
Mega Aerodactyl is the Mega Evolution of Generation I's Aerodactyl. It keeps the type but its stats are greatly increased. It turns into this form by its Trainer using the Aerodactylite. While in its Mega Evolved form, Aerodactyl's skin grows slightly darker as large pointed stones emerge from around its body.
Generation VIII Fossil Pokémon[]
Dracozolt, Arctozolt, Dracovish, and Arctovish[]
Dracozolt, Arctozolt, Dracovish, and Arctovish are based on the 'Fusion Fossils' made during the Bone Wars. Scientists often put mixed up dinosaurs fossils together, hoping they would look normal. This led to some inconsistencies in Fossils, like putting their heads on tails, flipping their heads upside down, or giving them bigger or smaller limbs which makes the fossils look and appear incorrectly. However, they resemble a Velociraptor, Dacentrurus, Dunkleosteus, and Mosasaurus. They are the first Fossil Pokémon to not have the Rock type, are Genderless, can't breed, and require more than one Fossil to revive them.
Due to being made up of more than one unrelated Fossil, their bodies feature many abnormalities that make it difficult for these Pokémon to live well. It's unknown what they looked like when they were alive in their proper forms.
The Fossils can be revived by Cara Liss on Route 6 or found in Snowslide Slope Dens in Max Raids.
- Dracozolt is a Electric/Dragon-type Pokémon and is revived from a Fossilized Bird and a Fossilized Drake.
- Arctozolt is a Electric/Ice-type Pokémon and is revived from a Fossilized Bird and a Fossilized Dino.
- Dracovish is a Water/Dragon-type Pokémon and is revived from a Fossilized Fish and a Fossilized Drake.
- Arctovish is a Water/Ice-type Pokémon and is revived from a Fossilized Fish and a Fossilized Dino.
The Galarian Fossils' types, appearances, and names depend on whatever fossils are fused to revive them.
- Fossilized Bird is an Electric-type and consists of the top half of Dracozolt and Arctozolt's bodies.
- Fossilized Dino is an Ice-type and consists of the bottom half of Arctozolt and Arctovish's bodies.
- Fossilized Drake is a Dragon-type and consists of the bottom half of Dracozolt and Dracovish's bodies.
- Fossilized Fish is a Water-type and consists of the top half of Dracovish and Arctovish's bodies.
Other[]
- Relicanth is described as an ancient living fossil and is based on a coelacanth, a type of fish that is shown to have lived millions of years ago and is also considered a living fossil.
- While normally just a Legendary Pokémon, a Groudon Fossil is recovered by Butler in Jirachi: Wish Maker and used to resurrect it as Virus Groudon.
- Genesect were restored from Fossils of an ancient Pokémon by Team Plasma and technologically enhanced to increase their fighting power. Some believe it was once a Kabutops.
- The Ancient Paradox Pokémon are said to have been brought from a distant past through Professor Sada's Time Machine. They all appear to be ancestors of the present Pokémon. These Pokémon are Koraidon or Winged King, Great Tusk, Scream Tail, Brute Bonnet, Flutter Mane, Slither Wing, Sandy Shocks, Roaring Moon, Walking Wake, Raging Bolt and Gouging Fire. None of these Pokémon's fossils were ever found.
- Many Terapagos are said to have existed in ancient Paldea, about 2 million years ago, until they were supposedly brought to extinction by seismic shifts, with only one Terapagos known to be still alive. It is unknown if any of its fossils were found.
Appearances[]
Anime[]
Main[]
- Goh:
- Found an Old Amber that was revived into an Aerodactyl but it went on a rampage until he was able to calm it down and catch it.
- Catches a Arctozolt that was revived from combining with a Fossilized Bird and Fossilized Dino.
- Ash catches a Dracovish that was revived from combining with a Fossilized Fish and Fossilized Drake.
Recurring[]
- Nando owns a Armaldo.
- Trevor owns a Aerodactyl.
- Diantha owns a Aurorus.
- Steven owns a Cradily.
- Diantha owns a Tyrantrum.
- Sidian has a Aerodactyl.
Trivia[]
- Generation II, Generation VII and Generation IX are the only Generations not to introduce their own Fossil Pokémon.
- This makes it so that Generation II is the only even-numbered generation that didn't introduce any new Fossil Pokémon.
- There are currently no Normal-, Fire-, Fighting-, Ground-, Poison-, Psychic-, Dark-, Ghost-, or Fairy-type Fossil Pokémon.
- The Fossil Pokémon in Generation I are the only Rock-type Pokémon that aren't part Ground type introduced in that Generation.
- Most of the Fossil Pokémon have special attributes:
- Aerodactyl is the only Fossil Pokémon not capable of evolution.
- It is also the only Fossil Pokémon that has an alternate form in battle.
- Cranidos and Rampardos are the only Fossil Pokémon that aren't dual type, instead being mono-Rock-type Pokémon.
- Archen and Archeops are the only Fossil Pokémon that don't have a Hidden Ability.
- Tirtouga and Carracosta are the only Fossil Pokémon that have the Rock type as their secondary type instead of as their primary one.
- All of the Fossil Pokémon introduced in Generation VIII are the first to not have the Rock type, be genderless and be incapable of breeding.
- Aerodactyl is the only Fossil Pokémon not capable of evolution.
- The Generation V Fossils and the Generation I Fossils share their type combinations.
- The Lileep line is the only Fossil Pokémon that is based on an animal that still lives in the modern age.
- Although Fossil Pokémon exist in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, none of the returning Fossil Pokémon's Fossils are available. Instead, in the Crown Tundra, these Fossil Pokémon can be found either in the wild or via Max Raid Battles.
- One tale from the Crown Tundra states that Shadow Rider Calyrex saved a forest of Pokémon from a falling meteor strike long ago. This could possibly be inspired by the theory that dinosaurs went extinct due to a comet or meteor colliding with Earth. With Calyrex stopping a meteor, this would imply that the Fossil Pokémon did not go extinct (Excluding the Galarian Fossils: Dracozolt, Arctozolt, Dracovish and Arctovish which are artificial hybrids rather than having their original proper forms when they were alive) and continued to live in the wild, as shown by them being found in the wild or through Max Raid Battles.
