Every Fossil Pokemon, Ranked

In nearly every Pokemon game since the Kanto region, players have been able to choose from a small list of Fossils to rejuvenate and transform back into living Pokemon. The originals were Omastar, Kabutops, and Aerodactyl, but since then, Game Freak has released 12 more, each based on ancient creatures (or living things in Cradily’s case).

Related

Gen 10 Needs To Do Right By Fossil Pokemon

After inconsistent representation for three generations of Pokemon, Gen 10 ought to either restore or revamp the tradition of Fossil Pokemon.

Posts

By  Martin Wood

While these Pokemon may be extinct in the everyday world, their unique designs and themes let them all stand out; often more than their actual strength. There are a few of these Pokemon that don’t have much to offer outside the novelty of being spawned from their ancient fossils.

Updated June 24, 2024 by Stephen LaGioia: With each Pokemon release, whether the charming anime or gripping video games, the lore continues to grow even more vast and rich. This has culminated with Violet & Scarlet (and supplemental DLC The Teal Mask and Indigo Disk), which offers tons of compelling content.

Among this huge list of 10,025 Pokemon are the more exclusive and rare Fossil types, which number well over two dozen. In fact, these ancient Pokemon are so rare, that Scarlet and Violet players have no way to access them other than transferring them via Pokemon Home. Given their complexity and rarity, we thought we'd revisit and carve some more detail into this list highlighting each Fossil Pokemon, ranking them in terms of strength and usefulness.

16 Anorith And Armaldo

Generation 3

Anorith:

Armaldo:

The unfortunate position of last (relatively speaking) falls on Armaldo, and particularly its meager unevolved form Anorith. First introduced as emerging from the Claw Fossil in the Gen 3 Hoenn Region, Armaldo and Anorith were fairly underwhelming. Anorith may be called the Old Shrimp Pokemon, but these two look more like creatures made straight out of the space-sim Spore.

To many, their designs come across as rather haphazard. Further, as Rock and Bug-types, they don't bring much to the table, as Bug was often seen as the worst type in the game before its buff in Gen 7.

There is no legitimate way to obtain, and thus regenerate, the Claw Fossil in the Cinnabar Lab in Gen 3, but players in Gen 4 may obtain them via trading.

15 Genesect

Generation 5

While the large robotic insect may look pretty intimidating, it's rather outmatched even by many in its own Fossil category, being of the fairly weak Bug-type. It has few strong, specialized moves, and its base HP is on the low side.

Still, as far as Bug-types go, Genesect can pack a punch offensively, slotting in as a sort of beefier version of Scizor in many respects. It's useful that Genesect is resistant to many types, though it's also vulnerable to more elements than the average Fossil.

The Pokemon is also quite exclusive, coming from an unknown Fossil and crafted by Team Plasma.

14 Tirtouga And Carracosta

Generation 5

Tirtouga:

Carracosta:

The sea turtle from Gen 5’s Unova region can be described as a mega-charged, upright-standing turtle. The Pokemon world is already full of turtles, and to take up a coveted Fossil spot with another one just seems disappointing.

Stat-wise, Carracosta is just fine, with lots of power and indestructibility, though most everything else is downhill from there, culminating in a rough 32 Speed. Decent abilities fall flat on this underwhelming design, which leads this unfortunate turtle to sink rather than swim.

The tank-like Carracosta can be revived by way of a Cover Fossil, by visiting the Nacrene Museum (Black and White version 2).

13 Lileep And Cradily

Generation 3

Lileep:

Cradily:

Classified as the Barnacle Pokemon, Cradily is Gen 3’s ancient plant Pokemon; and a stout one. The ancient tropical plant as one of the Hoenn region’s two Fossils was an excellent design and every time the strange plant makes its way onto the field trumpets blare.

Related

10 Rare Pokémon Cards That You've Never Heard Of

While Pokémon cards can be purchased online and at retailers in packs, finding the rares cards requires a fair bit of research. And cash.

Posts

Unfortunately for Cradily, it just isn’t that powerful. All-around decent stats don’t hold Cradily back, but they don’t do it any favors either. Better defenses give Cradily the option of a stall Pokemon, but its miserable 43 Speed Stat leaves quite a lot to be desired.

Players must revive it from the Root Fossil, with the Devon Corporation in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald.

12 Omanyte And Omastar

Generation 1

Omanyte:

Omastar:

The Helix Fossil has always been a staple among Pokemon Fossils. Omastar is the classic killer sea snail that is described as being so slow and weak that it went extinct because it couldn’t catch food. Despite this description, it actually has 55 Speed which is faster than both Cradily and Carracosta — although it still has a long way to go.

As a Water and Rock-type with a powerful Special Attack stat of 115, If it manages to land an attack on a target, Omastar is sure to rock some boats.

Awaken this ancient Pokemon via the Cinnabar Lab in Red, Blue, and Yellow.

11 Cranidos And Rampardos

Generation 4

Cranidos:

Rampardos:

This is the big and stout fella of Gen 4; the pure Rock-type, Rampardos. The Sinnoh Region was the first in the Pokemon world to finally give fans their first dinosaur Fossils and truly, it was a little underwhelming.

Rampardos is a pure Rock-type, which has advantages, it can’t be hit by Fighting or Grass for quadruple damage like some of the other Fossils, but it also means it doesn’t have secondary typing to use as a threat. Compared to every other Fossil, that just doesn’t hold up.

This spiked beast can be revived by using a Skull Fossil, and going to the Oreburgh Mining Museum in Diamond and Pearl, Platinum, as well as Brilliant Diamond and Pearl.

10 Arctovish

Generation 8

The relatively new bulky ice fish monster from the Galar Region, Arctovish combines the Fossilized fish and the Fossilized Dino brought to life by science! Overall, Arctovish is a decent but underwhelming Pokemon, at least more than its beastly appearance lets on. With Galar Fossils losing their Rock typing, Arctovish is left as a Water and Ice-type, which isn’t exactly the best combination.

While its stats are just average, it does have access to the devastatingly powerful Fishious Rend attack, which is at least one good aspect that it can boast. The combo concept that the Galar Fossils use is pretty cool, unfortunately, this big fish got the short end of the stick.

9 Amaura And Aurorus

Generation 6

Amaura:

Aurorus:

The Ice and Rock-type sauropod, Aurorus was first introduced in the Kalos Region of Gen 6. With fairly unique typing and an interesting design, the Sail Fossil is one of the first that really might be worth using. A truly massive Pokemon, Aurorus has an incredibly high HP stat and a powerful ability with its signature move, Refrigerate.

Related

Pokemon: Every Mythical & Legendary Pokemon

A complete list of every mythical and legendary Pokemon, including their types, base stat totals and the games in which players can catch them.

Posts

By  Tom Bowen

Plus, Amaura has one of the cuter aesthetics — and it's a blast to evolve! The Tundra Pokemon is one worth considering for this reason alone, but for those min-maxing fans out there, it's not the best of the best.

Aurorus can be revived from a Sail Fossil by way of the Ambrette Town Fossil Lab in Pokemon X and Y.

8 Arctozolt

Generation 8

This sniveling little velociraptor Ice hybrid puts Pokemon design on a whole new level. While ice typing may not be of a huge benefit for this Electric-type (as it doesn’t lose its Ground weakness and instead gains weakness to Fire, Fighting, and Rock-types) it does pose an excellent opportunity for this Pokemon’s icy-cool look.

Unfortunately for Arctozolt, it can’t monopolize on its signature move, Bolt Beak, as its base 55 Speed stat is "lukewarm" to say the least.

It's only resurrected by combining a Fossilized Bird and a Fossilized Dino.

7 Archen And Archeops

Generation 5

Archen:

Archeops:

Archen and Archeops are the Flying Rock-type Fossils of the Unova Region. Based on the archeopteryx, these Pokemon are jam-packed with power. With a whopping 140 Attack stat and respectable 112 Special Attack, this Pokemon can really pack a punch. Unfortunately, it’s majorly held back by its truly awful ability, Defeatist.

At half-health Archeops Attack and Special Attack, stats are cut in half, meaning its powerful offense becomes mediocre at best. This makes the colorful bird Fossil much more effective at hit-and-run tactics. It certainly has its place, but its strategy means other Pokemon are going to take a beating.

Use the Plume Fossil starting at level 37 to get the hostile Archeops, from the Nacrene Museum (Pokemon Black and White).