Fossil Pokemon are a curious bunch. They’ve existed since the very first generation of the games. They’re always in super short supply, generally in the one-or-the-other sense to further push the trading aspect of Pokemon. An exclusive and unusual band of creatures all around.
From the moment an irate scientist demanded that we choose between the Helix and Dome Fossils, that aura of prehistoric mystery has enchanted us. That aura makes them all neat to one extent or another, but neatness alone won't win any popularity awards. Today we're separating the best from the rest.
Updated August 12, 2022, by Quinton O'Connor: We won't deny it — updating these sorts of lists can be a ton of fun. Looking back at past choices whilst considering newcomers to the Pokemon scene keeps it all informative, or at least, as informative as opinion-based scribbles can be. Take a gander at our favorite Fossil Pokemon, if you'd be so kind.
14 Omastar
The so-called ‘Lord Helix’ can be a force to be reckoned with. Typically, Rock-types are far more inclined towards Attack than Special Attack, but the Spiral Pokemon is one exception.
It’s let down by its mediocre Speed and incredible weakness to Grass moves, but it has the Swift Swim Ability to double its Speed in rain, a very potent base 115 Special Attack, and the potentially devastating Shell Smash to allow it to set up a sweep in a second. In the rain, those Hydro Pumps are going to be smart.
13 Tyrunt
Tyrunt's a little terror, isn't it? The pre-evolved form of massive mayhem-inducing Tyrantrum, Tyrunt is almost perpetually addicted to guarding its territory and hunting for its next meal. When people swing by this little guy, itsr oars are a legitimate threat.
12 Tirtouga
Another fossil Pokemon with a high base Defense stat of 103, Tirtouga is a Gen 5 turtle that players easily ignore. That's unfortunate, because in Black & White especially, the games really push players to experiment, seeing as the main adventure consists entirely of Unovan natives. (The direct sequels, Black & White 2, offer a diverse enough roster to make Tirtouga perhaps a bit less compelling.)
With Hydro Pump and Aqua Tail as part of its arsenal, Tirtouga can easily damage foes susceptible to water all while bettering its own defense stats with Iron Defense. These moves combined easily offset any speed Tirtouga lacks against its opponents. Moreover, a carefully looked after Tirtouga can evolve into a Carracosta with high stats and damaging moves.
11 Kabutops
It would be easy to underestimate Kabutops. Its pre-evolved form looks relatively harmless, after all. Before you realize it, though, it's evolved, Rain has been set up, Kabutops has managed a sneaky Swords Dance, and it’s brandishing its horrifying claws in opponents' faces with its doubled Attack and Speed.
It’s a Pokemon that seems decent but nothing special on paper, but in the right situation, it's lethal. Rock/Water is a terrific type combination. Plus, look at that thing. Kabutops clearly means business.
10 Amaura
The Kalos games, X & Y, were quite good for fossil Pokemon. You have Tyrunt and Tyrantrum, apex predators, and then Amaura and Aurorus, gorgeously cute sauropods.
Did Amaura just blitz past nearly half our list on account of being cute alone? Yes, yes it did. Look at that long and graceful neck. Look at that stubby little tail. We want to cuddle it. You can't have it, it's ours.
9 Rampardos
Rampardos is a simple Pokemon with simple tastes. All it wants to do is hit its opponents so far out of the battlefield that they won’t make it back to their Poke Balls for seven to 12 business days. If we're being honest, that's probably how Pachycephalosaurus, the dinosaur it's based upon, would have handled the modern world as well.
As its ferocious appearance suggests, this pure Rock Pokemon is a real powerhouse. Base 165 Attack? That really is absurd. A lot of Mega and Legendary Pokemon don’t reach those numbers. To compensate, of course, all of its other stats are completely sub-par. Nevertheless, if you can support it and keep it firing off attacks, it will punch major holes in opposing teams.
8 Carracosta
Emerging from the Cover Fossil of Gen 5, Carracosta often suffers its pre-evolved form Tirtouga's penchant for being overlooked. But consider this: if you have one with the Hidden Ability Swift Swim, its bulk will get a mighty speed boost that can loop into moves like Aqua Jet and Shell Smash.
Bulky and brutish, Carracosta's move pool is respectable as well, so it can accomplish a fair number of things.
7 Genesect
Genesect is a 300 million-year-old mythical Pokemon brought back to life from a fossil courtesy of Team Plasma. Generally speaking, anything that happens "courtesy" of an evil team is morally dicey at best. Genesect's revival is no exception, but if we flick ethics out of the window, we can appreciate that Plasma brought back an amazing Pokemon.
Competitively, it's very solid, with Attack and Special Attack stats both hitting 120 to craft a diverse offensive cannon. But aesthetically, as well as lore-wise? Even cooler.
6 Archeops
Fun fact: Archaeopteryx, which Archen and Archeops are based upon, is paleontology's longstanding go-to when scientists seek the earliest links between dinosaurs and avians. The jury's out on whether it's the first-ever bird; that's one of those things we may never know. But hey. Still neat.
Archeops represents the famous Archaeopteryx quite nicely and from a gameplay perspective, its sky-high (heh) Attack of 140 and appreciable 110 Speed essentially make it a more colorful Aerodactyl with a slightly lesser move pool.
5 Tyrantrum
It took until Gen 6 before fans got the Tyrannosaur-based fossil Pokemon we'd been waiting for, and boy, Tyrantrum doesn't disappoint. Its design evokes power and regality in equal measure, truly a "Rex" for the ages.
Yes, it has unfortunate weaknesses and average Speed, but the power of a recoil-free Head Smash (thanks to Rock Head) really can’t be overstated. If battlers can support it with speed control, Tyrantrum can be as terrifying competitively as it is everywhere else.
4 Aurorus
Pokemon is nearing 1,000 species. In fact, with Scarlet & Violet this November quite likely to buzz past that mark, it may have already done so by the time you read this. In all those hundreds of Pokedex placements, a proud few earn the title of "cutest of them all." It's a tough field, you know?
Aurorus not only pulls it off with aplomb, but it nails the mystical vibe as well. Game Freak did sauropod dinosaur lovers complete justice with this Rock/Ice role model, and we dare you not to fall in love.
3 Dracozolt
We won't mince words. Dracozolt looks bizarre. But that's the whole idea behind Sword & Shield's unique Fossil system; there are four potential combinations to reanimate Galar's prehistoric representative, and they all involve splicing together DNA from two separate species. Or something.
First, Electric/Dragon is a sweet type combination. Dracozolt and its brethren bypass the traditional "must be Rock-type" approach, allowing for more creative and innovative ideas.
Dracozolt's stats are deceptive, ranging from 70 to 100 for an unimpressive cumulative 505. Don't let that get you down. Its signature move, Bolt Beak, doubles its 85 Base Power to a terrifying 170 if it goes first,. Set up a Sandstorm to take advantage of Dracozolt's ability, Sand Rush, and its 75 Speed is doubled to 150. All of a sudden... dang. Just dang.
2 Dracovish
So, uh, Dracovish has got to be up there with the ugliest Pokemon in existence. Like Dracozolt, it's one of the four possible combinations in Sword & Shield's unique Fossil mechanic. Unlike Dracozolt, which simply looks weird, Dracovish manages to look entirely unnerving.
In the anime, Ash's Dracovish has gotten him out of several major binds. That suits it well; as messed-up as it may be, it's also incredibly powerful. Smogon, Pokemon's foremost competitive website, has it ranked as an Uber even with stats that mirror Dracozolt's (albeit in a different order).
But Dracovish has the Strong Jaw ability, which increases the strength of jaw-based attacks like Crunch and Psychic Fangs, turning them downright deadly. And its signature move, Fishious Rend, operates like Bolt Break, doubling if it goes first. We can't pin the first-place medal on Dracovish due to its off-putting nature, but it sure does come close.
1 Aerodactyl
Some Pokemon diehards swear by Gen 1's designs as the strongest batch by far. We happen to think there are plenty of fantastic looks in every generation. Still, that fact alone won't stop us from ranking Aerodactyl as the best fossil Pokemon around. They really did hole-in-one it with Kanto's fearsome pteranodon.
Swift Speed and high Attack paint an immediate picture as to what Aerodactyl is designed to do — quickly and cleanly obliterate the opposition with moves like Stone Edge and Crunch. Is Aerodactyl the single most powerful fossil Pokemon on our list? Maybe not, but it's close. Factor in just how amazing it looks and we have our winner.