The Pokémon franchise has grown to be larger than anyone likely expected. When a property gets as large as Pokémon is you get to see portions of the fan base create niche interest groups pertaining to some of the most minute aspects of the given franchise. For instance, many players tie their fandom to a specific typing in the game.
One typing that's way more niche than the others are Rock-types. These sturdy creatures are often overlooked, sadly. Let's take the time to rank the 10 best shiny Rock-type Pokémon through Pokémon: Sword & Shield.
10 Omastar
The Pokémon franchise has a set of templates they often fall back on when it comes to making a shiny version of a Pokémon. One of these patterns is when they make light blue coloration a violet-pink in the shiny version.
Omastar is a victim of this but somehow makes it work. Omastar is generally the type of fossil Pokémon trainers acquire then stuff in their boxes. Its shiny form doesn't make it completely appealing, but it at least helps it stand out against the numerous other blue Water-types.
9 Magcargo
Though it's often overlooked and underrated, Magcargo has a solid standard design that's vastly superior to its shiny form. Its shiny form takes the red magma and makes it a magenta, while its shell goes from charcoal black to something warmer and closer to a rusty brown.
It's neat for a shiny version of a Pokémon, but Magcargo doesn't rank high on this list simply because its standard form is so good. If you like the color pink though it's understandable why the shiny form of Magcargo may be something you'd pursue.
8 Crustle
Crustle from a design perspective did something really neat with its Rock-typing. It happens to resemble the layers of the Earth and does it in a neat little living package. Normally it gives off magma vibes as its standard form is full of warmer colors. Its shiny form, on the other hand, trades out those warmer tones for lots of greens.
This form makes it feel much more like a jungle-dwelling creature as opposed to one that calls hotter locations home. In some ways it also makes Crustle feel a lot more welcoming and approachable.
7 Rhyperior
Rhyperior was a new addition in the 4th generation of games and was part of the line of evolutions meant to spice up previous Pokémon from prior generations. It seemed like a concentrated effort to breathe new life into creatures such as Rhydon, Electabuzz, and Magmar.
Rhyperior took the simply Rock-type design philosophies and added some personality via unorthodox armor plating. Its standard coloring is great and superior to its shiny form, which turns the orange armor plating a golden yellow. You can't go wrong with either form considering how sturdy Rhyperior is.
6 Probopass
You'll often find in the franchise that the Pokémon whose shiny forms see the slightest or subtlest of changes are often the ones that pop and make a mark. Probopass to many is a joke Pokémon make to poke fun at the weird hobby shop glasses that come with a nose and mustache attached to them.
Battle wise, it's a solid partner and can hold its own. Its shiny form swaps its blue coat for one that's a hue of yellow most similar to that of bananas. The jury's still out on whether or not it makes Probopass funnier or not.
5 Gigalith
In many ways, Gigalith is the post child for Rock-types. It has a strong body of what looks to be compressed rocks that make up its odd shape. Gigalith also has a flurry of what look to be stalagmites covering its body.
The standard form of Gigalith showcases a purplish black base with red accenting stalagmites. If you happen to come across its rare shiny form you'll be surprised to find that the stalagmites are no longer red, but are a rich light blue color similar to that of turquoise.
4 Aerodactyl
Early on in the franchise many of the Pokémon recovered from fossils suffered from similar design pitfalls. Most of them were colored with grays and purples meant to evoke ancient periods and historical significance but left them feeling muted and less exciting.
With Aerodactyl its shiny form thankfully injects the dinosaur Pokémon with a spark of colorful personality. It trades in its brownish gray scales for a coat of bright pink. The wings also go from a dark purple to a navy blue that complements the new shade of its fossilized body.
3 Onix
What's cooler than a giant snake made of boulders? Well, that would be a giant snake made of boulders that happens to be green. Though Onix's shiny appearance doesn't communicate it wholeheartedly, the headcanon for many fans is that its shiny form resembles an Onix covered in moss.
It happens to be a Pokémon whose standard form and shiny form both present a strong enough case as to why you should choose them. If Brock's Onix was shiny it could have color-coordinated with that hiking vest he always wore in the anime.
2 Pupitar
In its regular standard form, Pupitar looks like a silver armored cocoon. It's named after the pupa stage that caterpillars experience via the metamorphic process, so its appearance is pretty spot on. The shiny version of Pupitar trades in the silver for a coat of metallic purple.
It makes the Pokémon pop off of the screen and has it feeling more distinct and unique. When looking at its purple coloring, that's also a neat choice as bright purple isn't a color used too often when looking at the standard forms of Pokémon throughout the series.
1 Tyrantrum
The tyrannosaurus rex is often considered the coolest dinosaur to ever exist and most would argue that it's an objective fact. Pokémon fans lost their mind when the series finally committed and unveiled a Pokémon inspired by the T-Rex, which they named Tyrantrum.
This Pokémon is normally red with a mix of white and gray throughout its design. It also happens to have a golden crown on its head. When found in its shiny form though it trades in the crimson scales for those of glimmering sapphire. The rich blue coloring of its body helps its crown-like headpiece pop.