In the world of Pokemon, many trainers choose a favorite type and raise creatures exclusive to that variety. You see this most notably through Gym Leaders, whose occupation involves testing one's worthiness in pursuing the Pokemon League Challenge. But from the games to the anime, plenty of trainers follow the same monotype trend.

Related: The Best Dark-Type Pokemon

Deciding which type to raise can be difficult, but if you want to build a team with a rock-hard defense and killer attack power, Ground-types provide everything you need and more. That said, there are many to choose from, and most of them are excellent. Whether you're playing through a campaign or competing online, these are the best Ground-type Pokemon to bring with you.

Updated on June 4, 2023 by Kyle Chamaillard The last time we updated this list, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl and Pokemon Legends: Arceus were the hot new thing. Since then, the arrival of the ninth generation came in the form of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, which introduced more Ground-type Pokemon to the National Pokedex. Our approximation of the best Ground-type Pokemon has shifted to accommodate these newcomers and a few others from previous generations that deserve a spot on this list.

20 Golurk (Ground/Ghost)

Golurk stretches its arms in a dark colosseum in the Pokemon Anime.

Statistic

Base Value

HP

89

Attack

124

Defense

80

Special Attack

55

Special Defense

80

Speed

55

Introduced in Pokemon Black and White, Golurk can be a valuable member of your team when facing the right opponent. It's a Ghost and Ground-type, which makes it immune to Normal, Fighting, and Electric-type attacks but also vulnerable to Ghost, Water, Dark, Ice, and Grass-type moves.

Golurk makes up for its multiple weaknesses by having a high Attack stat and a variety of deadly moves like Phantom Force, Earthquake, and Hammer Arm. Its attacks are even more effective if Golurk has the Iron Fist Ability that increases how much damage punching-based moves deal.

19 Clodsire (Poison/Ground)

Clodsire lays down by murky water at night

Statistic

Base Value

HP

130

Attack

75

Defense

60

Special Attack

45

Special Defense

100

Speed

20

Like Sun and Moon and Sword and Shield, Paldea introduced regional variants for a handful of fan-favorite creatures, including Wooper. If you're just starting a new adventure in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, it's best to catch a Paldean Wooper as quickly as possible to secure a Clodsire for your party.

This evolution might be slow, but Clodsire's high HP and Special Defense stats make it an essential ally for any trainer. Its unique typing provides Clodsire with a handful of resistances, and it can learn powerful moves like Slam and Poison Jab before it reaches level 25.

18 Palossand (Ghost/Ground)

Palossand stretches outside on a sunny day

Statistic

Base Value

HP

85

Attack

75

Defense

110

Special Attack

100

Special Defense

75

Speed

35

This haunted sandcastle is one of the odder Pokemon around, as its typing, moveset, and strategies are pretty different from anything else around it. Palossand is a Ghost and Ground-type like Golurk, but it ends up having a bit more viability due to its better defenses and movepool.

Your main goal is going to be setting up Stealth Rocks or status moves like Toxic, Trick, Rock Polish, or Curse. While slow, Palossand's bulkiness and Water-type immunity with its ability, Water Compaction, can make it pretty difficult to take down. For offense, its decent Special Attack stat enables reasonably effective use of moves like Scorching Sands and Shadow Ball.

17 Toedscruel (Ground/Grass)

Toedscruel floats over a field of yellow grass

Statistic

Base Value

HP

80

Attack

70

Defense

65

Special Attack

80

Special Defense

120

Speed

100

Toedscruel might look like the Water and Poison-type Tentacruel, but it couldn't be more different. This Pokemon was introduced in Scarlet and Violet with the strange type combination of Ground and Grass, which gives it immunity to Electric-type attacks but also makes it extremely vulnerable to any Ice-type moves.

While Toedscruel might not have the best Defense or Attack stats, it makes up for it during battles with decent Speed and Special Defense. Toedscruel and its pre-evolution — Toedscool — are the only Pokemon that can have the Mycelium Might Ability, which makes status moves circumvent enemy abilities that would prevent certain stats like Defense or Speed to drop.

16 Donphan (Ground)

Statistic

Base Value

HP

90

Attack

120

Defense

120

Special Attack

60

Special Defense

60

Speed

50

Donphan has historically slid under the radar in terms of perceived Pokemon popularity. Despite it — and its evolutionary predecessor, Phanpy — being the only elephantine species until Sword & Shield introduced Cufant and Cooperajah, there just wasn't much widespread appeal.

Related: The Best Rodent Pokemon, Ranked

That's a shame, because not only is its unique design worth celebrating, but it's also a pretty good Ground-type Pokemon to sport in battle. Sure, Donphan's Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed are all kind of terrible, but Ground monotype is a pretty great thing in the overall meta. Donphan's high Attack stat supports the eponymous attack, Earthquake, which you'll be seeing on this list quite often.

15 Hippowdon (Ground)

Hippowdon roars before battle

Statistic

Base Value

HP

108

Attack

112

Defense

118

Special Attack

68

Special Defense

72

Speed

47

Sandstorm-centric teams should always have a slot for Hippowdon, who can seize the advantage from such weather conditions or even support stronger companions after whipping up a storm via Sand Stream. It's not the fastest Pokemon, but the high Defense and Attack stats make this creature an absolute tank during battles.

Thus, it might be said that Hippowdon is more of a helper than a harmer, especially since the move Slack Off heals 50 percent of its HP and pairs perfectly with Leftovers held item. If it has the Hidden Ability, Sand Force, you can increase the damage output of Hippowdon's Ground and Rock-type moves by 30 percent.

14 Krookodile (Ground/Dark)

Krookodile prepares to strike in a battle

Statistic

Base Value

HP

95

Attack

117

Defense

80

Special Attack

65

Special Defense

70

Speed

92

With a high Attack stat, damaging moves, and the ability Intimidate, switching into Krookodile can give your opponent a pretty hard time. Ground and Dark is a strong defensive typing, which helps offset its less-than-stellar Defense and Special Defense stats.

With an item like a Choice Scarf, Krookodile becomes a scarily fast sweeper that helps both itself and other Pokemon by lowering the enemy's Attack on switch-in. Though Krookodile is immune to Electric and Psychic-type attacks, it has a handful of weaknesses to look out for. Overall, Krookodile provides solid offensive potential and works well on a variety of teams.

13 Diggersby (Normal/Ground)

Diggersby prepares to attack in a dark room

Statistic

Base Value

HP

85

Attack

56

Defense

77

Special Attack

50

Special Defense

77

Speed

78

Diggersby has some pretty strange functionality, but it's actually quite a good option as a wallbreaker. While it needs to use its ability, Huge Power, to gain any kind of formidable attacking power, boosting it further with an item like a Choice Band can give it some serious potential.

Related: The Cutest Rabbit Pokemon

Since it's a Normal and Ground-type, Diggersby can be used as a great counter to many Ghost and Electric Pokemon, namely Aegislash, which has a weakness to Ground. Since its stats aren't anything to write home about, that role as a counter is Diggersby's single major purpose, but it can be really helpful during dire situations.

12 Runerigus (Ground/Ghost)

Runerigus stands on a dirt path

Statistic

Base Value

HP

58

Attack

95

Defense

145

Special Attack

50

Special Defense

105

Speed

30

Galarian Yamask's evolution into Runerigus really turned some heads when Sword and Shield came out in 2019. It was an unexpected endgame for this regional variation, and while Runerigus won't win any offensive awards, its tight defenses and Ground and Ghost-type combination make it an excellent utility vehicle for moves like Will-O-Wisp, Toxic Spikes, and Stealth Rock.

Runerigus can be a powerful party member, but getting one requires an extremely unusual evolution method. After catching a Galarian Yamask, you must travel to a specific location in Galar after it's received at least 49 HP in damage without fainting. It's a head-scratcher, but it's definitely worth it to get Runerigus to join your team.

11 Flygon (Dragon/Ground)

Flygon in the Pokemon anime

Statistic

Base Value

HP

80

Attack

100

Defense

80

Special Attack

80

Special Defense

80

Speed

100

Flygon may have missed a trick by not being a Dragon and Bug-type. It has the look for it, and not many Pokemon can claim the same. On the other hand, skipping Bug in favor of a Dragon and Ground-type combination means Flygon is, potentially, much more feasible in combat.

By the time you obtain a Flygon at level 45, you should have a solid set of Ground and Dragon-type moves that will help you in the tougher battles towards the end of your adventures. From a trainer's perspective, Flygon is a solid pick to have on your team provided you're not battling its biggest weakness, Ice-type Pokemon.

10 Seismitoad (Water/Ground)

Seismitoad in the Pokemon anime

Statistic

Base Value

HP

105

Attack

95

Defense

75

Special Attack

85

Special Defense

75

Speed

74

Seismitoad is what some like to call a specialist — a Pokemon known for doing one thing quite well at the expense of utility. It excels as a 'Rain Wallbreaker', which includes summoning the weather condition, Rain, and then blasting through your opponents with a deadly Attack stat and the wonderful Swift Swim ability.

Swift Swim is an excellent ability, as it doubles Seismitoad's Speed during the rain. Its base — 74 — is fine. At 148, however, those walls pitted up against you might just croak. Once you've mastered this play style, Seismitoad may be a staple in your future team compositions.

9 Rhyperior (Ground/Rock)

Rhyperior in the Pokemon anime

Statistic

Base Value

HP

115

Attack

140

Defense

130

Special Attack

55

Special Defense

55

Speed

40

While Ground and Rock-type dual combinations usually have sky-high Attack and Defense stats, it tends to come at the cost of inferior Special Defense and Speed. Rhyperior and its evolution line is a prime example of this. They have some fantastic damage output, but it's abysmal Special Defense makes Special Water-type moves even deadlier with a quadruple weakness against them to boot.

Related: Pokemon: The Best Dual Types

That being said, Rhyperior can more than earn its place on your roster. There are few better straight-up Earthquake strikers, and the same can be said for Stone Edge, one of Rock-type's greatest offensive moves. Suit it up with Swords Dance and any opponent without much Special-based coverage is guaranteed to have a bad day.

8 Excadrill (Ground/Steel)

Excadrill in the Pokemon anime

Statistic

Base Value

HP

110

Attack

135

Defense

60

Special Attack

50

Special Defense

65

Speed

88

Excadrill's a bit quirky, with a slightly higher Special Defense than Defense despite its Steel typing. That's okay though, as most Steel-types do, indeed, thrive on their bulk. But Excadrill's got a separate ambition: beating up its rivals, and beating them up good. It's also a nigh-flawless trap setter, with Electric immunity to boot.

For that purpose, consider using one to set Stealth Rock and debilitate big threats with Toxic. Iron Head's 30 percent chance to make the target flinch, combined with a nice 80 base, should be your go-to attack.

7 Swampert (Water/Ground)

Swampert in the Pokemon anime

Statistic

Base Value

HP

100

Attack

110

Defense

90

Special Attack

85

Special Defense

90

Speed

60

Fantastic typing, access to moves like Stealth Rock and Yawn, and the ability to hit hard, albeit slow, with Earthquake and Liquidation makes Swampert the all-star dual Water and Ground-type competitor.

Swampert is a winner in most scenarios, but absolutely dominates early into the online scene thanks to the relatively low rate at which players tend to snag Grass-types. Add in the fact that Swampert's Ground-typing nullifies its weakness to Electric-type moves, and you've got a fantastic addition to any team.

6 Mamoswine (Ice/Ground)

Mamoswine in the Pokemon anime

Statistic

Base Value

HP

110

Attack

130

Defense

80

Special Attack

70

Special Defense

60

Speed

80

Mamoswine isn't only one of the best Ground-type Pokemon available, it happens to also be one of the best Ice-types as well. This gargantuan beast has an ancient history in the franchise and wall paintings from over 10,000 years ago showcase this tusked mammoth in its prime.

It is a defensive powerhouse that can stand its ground and pack a punch as well. This unlikely dual typing allows it to learn a wide variety of moves which also include the typings of Rock, Steel, Psychic, Normal, and Fighting. Mamoswine is the very definition of a powerhouse Pokemon partner.

5 Zygarde Complete Forme (Dragon/Ground)

Zygarde floats in the air on a gloomy night

Statistic

Base Value

HP

216

Attack

100

Defense

121

Special Attack

91

Special Defense

95

Speed

85

Zygarde is one of the most complex Pokemon out there, but obtaining one and raising it to its Complete Forme is certainly worth it. This creature has three separate forms — 10 percent, 50 percent, and Complete — and each one is a dual Dragon and Ground-type that can hold its own in battle in most situations.

Related: The Best Dragon-Type Legendary Pokemon, Ranked

It takes a ton of work, but the sooner you secure Zygarde in its Complete Forme, the better. All of its stats are through the roof, especially its HP. Its unique typing lessens the damage from Fire, Poison, and Rock-type moves, but like usual, you'll need to watch out for deadly Ice-type moves to keep Zygarde from fainting.

4 Steelix (Steel/Ground)

Steelix in the Pokemon anime

Statistic

Base Value

HP

75

Attack

85

Defense

200

Special Attack

55

Special Defense

65

Speed

30

With a base Defense stat of 200, Steelix is easily one of the best physical walls in the game. Stealth Rock and Toxic are great additions to its move pool, with Earthquake being a staple. Tack on Gyro Ball, which does damage relative to the user's Speed — the lower, the better — and you've got a sturdy set to take out physically weaker teams.

Although it has no function in modern online play, Steelix's Mega Evolution elevates its already outrageous 200 Defense to an even wilder 230. At that point, the only Pokemon with a higher Defense is Eternatus in its Eternamax form, which isn't catchable and therefore not something you need to worry about.

3 Garchomp (Dragon/Ground)

Garchomp in the Pokemon anime

Statistic

Base Value

HP

108

Attack

130

Defense

95

Special Attack

80

Special Defense

85

Speed

102

Ground-type Pokemon aren't always the most popular choice, so the best way to introduce them to trainers to them is to pair them with something they love. This is where Garchomp serves as something of an entry point thanks to its crowd-pleasing Dragon-type.

It's a common theme with Ground-types to prefer Attack over Special Attack, but a whopping 130 base Attack is anything but common, and its Speed is nothing to laugh at either. Garchomp embodies both its types well, with moves like Dragon Claw and Earthquake both serving it incredibly well. If your opponent sends this big fellow out to greet you, it's not a bad idea to go on the defensive.

2 Landorus (Ground/Flying)

Landorus is slammed against a wall

Statistic

Base Value

HP

89

Attack

125

Defense

90

Special Attack

115

Special Defense

80

Speed

101

Landorus strikes fear into the hearts of competitive players in any region that it makes an appearance, sitting comfortably at the top of the charts since Black and White. Landorus is amazing for a multitude of reasons, including its excellent typing, offensive capabilities, and diverse moveset. Its stats vary between its normal and Therian forms, but they're quite good across the board in both instances.

With Sheer Force, Landorus' attacks do 1.3 times damage at the expense of their secondary effects, which makes it pretty difficult to survive against. A Life Orb has the same effect at the expense of losing 1/10 HP after attacking, making Landorus hit unreasonably hard. With all of that on the table, it's difficult to find competitive players without this Pokemon in their arsenal.

1 Groudon (Ground)

Groudon raises from the ground covered in sand

Statistic

Base Value

HP

100

Attack

150

Defense

140

Special Attack

100

Special Defense

90

Speed

90

Groudon is known as the Pokemon that created the lands and expanded continents. According to the Pokedex, it's the personification of the land itself, which is exactly why it's one of the best Ground-type Pokemon out there. Introduced as the Legendary Pokemon for Pokemon Ruby, this beast will shake your opponent's team to their core after a single move.

As a pure Ground-type with a fantastic Attack stat, Groudon can annihilate most of its foes easily unless they're using Water, Ice, or Grass-type moves. To circumvent this issue, Pokemon Omega Ruby introduced a new form for the creature — known as Primal Groudon — that changes its type to Ground and Fire. This removes its weaknesses to Ice and Grass-type attacks, but makes Primal Groudon incredibly weak to Water-type moves. Just avoid getting wet, and both versions of Groudon can carry you wherever you need to go.

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