Best Fossil Pokemon In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

The Pokemon world is as ancient as the real world, from a lore perspective. This means that some species of Pokemon have sadly gone extinct in a time long before the games are set. Thankfully, technology in the modern world is advanced enough that scientists can bring some of these extinct Pokemon back to life. They just need trainers to go out and find their fossils.

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl has seven different fossil Pokemon available. These fossils are found by digging around in the Grand Underground, then taking them to Oreburgh City. Once they have been restored, players will find that all of these Pokemon are quite different. They all share the Rock typing, but their designs and secondary types can change the usefulness significantly.

Updated July 15th, 2022 by Russ Boswell: There have been a lot of amazing Fossil Pokemon introduced throughout the series and players can get their hands on quite a few of them in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. The inclusion of the Grand Underground and the National Pokedex makes it possible for players to transform a number of discovered fossils into some truly captivating ancient Pokemon, adding the powerhouses to their team. But some Fossil Pokemon are much better than others. To better showcase the best fossil Pokemon in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the following list has been updated to now reflect their stats and abilities.

7 Lileep/Cradily - Root Fossil

While Lileep isn't exactly a bad Pokemon, they don't have a lot to offer that other fossil Pokemon can't do better. Its design is unique, looking like an ancient plant, although its evolved form Cradily takes it a bit too far and grows a face.

Unfortunately, Rock/Grass isn't all that great of a typing. It does save it from having any 4x weaknesses, but it has a whole bunch of 2x weaknesses, and it barely resists anything. Some of its stats are worthwhile, with Cradily having 107 in Special Defence, but with such an abysmal Speed, it can't hang with its peers.

Lileep & Cradily's Stats

Abilities: Suction Cups - Immunity from forced switch-out moves. / Storm Drain - Absorbs Water-type moves to increase Special Attack.

Lileep's Stats

HP: 66
Attack: 41
Special Attack: 61
Defense: 77
Special Defense: 87
Speed: 23
Total Base Stats: 355

Cradily's Stats

HP: 86
Attack: 81
Special Attack: 81
Defense: 97
Special Defense: 107
Speed: 43
Total Base Stats: 495

6 Cranidos/Rampardos - Skull Fossil

Cranidos is one of the most disappointing fossil Pokemon. It had some features that gave it incredible potential. Unfortunately, its drawbacks stop it from being able to use that potential. It's not the most interesting design-wise, and unfortunately, Tyratrum would come along in later Generations and be a much cooler-looking Dinosaur Pokemon.

Its stats have one "killer app", so to speak, in the form of 165 in Attack for the evolved form, Rampardos. The problem is, there is absolutely nothing to back it up and make it usable. The combination of abysmal Defense and Speed, alongside a solo Rock typing, means that it will almost certainly be KO-ed before it can put such a monstrous attack to use.

Cranidos & Rampardos' Stats

Abilities: Mold Breaker - The user can use moves against an opponent regardless of its abilities. / Sheer Force - Removes any additional effects to increase attack power.

Cranidos' Stats

HP: 67
Attack: 125
Special Attack: 30
Defense: 40
Special Defense: 30
Speed: 58
Total Base Stats: 350

Rampardos' Stats

HP: 97
Attack: 165
Special Attack: 65
Defense: 60
Special Defense: 50
Speed: 58
Total Base Stats: 495

5 Anortih/Armaldo - Claw Fossil

Armaldo is an interesting case. It has some pretty significant flaws, but it has just enough going for it that clever trainers can put it to good use. From a design perspective, it's one of the better Fossil Pokemon. The armor layers on the body invoke an Armadillo, while the claws and eyes make it clear it's an insect. It's one of the franchise's better examples of animal hybrids.

On the battlefield, it can perform well if handled carefully. Rock/Bug is alright, but not perfect. It has fewer weaknesses than Cradily but no more resistance. Additionally, it has a much narrower movepool than the other Fossil Pokemon. That said, it has an Attack stat of 125 and a Defense stat of 100. Its Speed is still awful, at just 45, but it has enough staying power to make a difference if it comes in at the right moment.

Anorith & Armaldo's Stats

Abilities: Battle Armor - Prevents critical hits from connecting. / Swift Swim - Raises Speed stat in Rain.

Anorith's Stats

HP: 45
Attack: 95
Special Attack: 40
Defense: 50
Special Defense: 50
Speed: 75
Total Base Stats: 355

Armaldo's Stats

HP: 75
Attack: 125
Special Attack: 70
Defense: 100
Special Defense: 80
Speed: 45
Total Base Stats: 495

4 Shieldon/Bastiodon - Armor Fossil

While Cranidos underwhelmed as a Fossil Pokemon, Shieldon and Bastiodon do a lot of the heavy lifting for Sinnoh in this department. Shieldon has quite a cute look to it, essentially being a dog with a wok strapped to its face, but that all turns into raw power when it evolves in Bastiodon. It looks fantastic with its body like a rhino and face like a bulldozer.

The Rock/Steel type combination is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it offers a lot of resistance and almost no weaknesses; on the other, the few weaknesses it has are 4x weaknesses. Unfortunately, Bastiodon has the opposite problem to Rampardos. It has brilliant Defense, at 168, but almost no attacking power to back it up. It can stick around in battle for a while, but it can't really do much while it's there.

Shieldon & Bastiodon's Stats

Abilities: Sturdy - Prevents One-Hit KO attacks. / Soundproof - Impervious to sound-based moves.

Shieldon's Stats

HP: 30
Attack: 42
Special Attack: 42
Defense: 118
Special Defense: 88
Speed: 30
Total Base Stats: 350

Bastiodon's Stats

HP: 60
Attack: 52
Special Attack: 47
Defense: 168
Special Defense: 138
Speed: 30
Total Base Stats: 495

3 Omanyte/Omastar - Helix Fossil

A Pokemon that became infamous thanks to the original Twitch Plays Pokemon, it's arguable whether or not Omanyte lives up to the godly status many attributes to it. It's one of the better designs from Generation 1, being instantly recognizable just from a silhouette, especially once it has evolved.

Rock/Water is a decent typing but gives about as many weaknesses as resistances. Unlike so many other Fossil Pokemon, Omanyte has a bit of a balance between Attack and Defense, hitting hard with 115 Special Attack but taking hits with 125 Defense. Its biggest downside is the same as almost every Fossil Pokemon: terrible speed.

Omanyte & Omastar's Stats

Abilities: Swift Swim - Raises Speed in rain. OR Shell Armor - Negates critical hits. / Weak Armor - Physical attacks will lower Defense but raise Speed.

Omanyte's Stats

HP: 35
Attack: 40
Special Attack: 90
Defense: 100
Special Defense: 55
Speed: 35
Total Base Stats: 355

Omastar's Stats

HP: 70
Attack: 60
Special Attack: 115
Defense: 125
Special Defense: 70
Speed: 55
Total Base Stats: 495

2 Kabuto/Kabutops - Dome Fossil

While many players choose Omanyte in Kanto thanks to the meme, they're overlooking a fantastic Pokemon in the form of Kabutops. Its original form isn't much to look at, but once it evolves, it becomes a killing machine. Easily one of Generation 1's best designs, Kabutops has a major intimidation factor.

Surprisingly, it has the same typing as Omanyte in Rock/Water, despite having no outwardly-watery traits. That means when comparing the two, the stats are the way to go. Kabutops takes Omanyte's 115 Special Attack and puts it in Physical Attack instead. Its Defense is the same, but what puts it over the top is some investment in Speed. It's still not amazing, but with 80 in Speed, it actually stands a chance of going first some of the time and doing some real damage before the opponent can take it out.

Kabuto & Kabutops' Stats

Abilities: Swift Swim - Raises Speed in rain. OR Battle Armor - Negates critical hits. / Weak Armor - Physical attacks will lower Defense but raise Speed.

Kabuto's Stats

HP: 30
Attack: 80
Special Attack: 55
Defense: 90
Special Defense: 45
Speed: 55
Total Base Stats: 355

Kabutops' Stats

HP: 60
Attack: 115
Special Attack: 105
Defense: 65
Special Defense: 70
Speed: 80
Total Base Stats: 495

1 Aerodactyl - Old Amber

A Pokemon many often forget is a Fossil Pokemon, Aerodactyl stands out among the pack. It hits the sweet spot of Generation 1 design philosophies. There's not so much detail to overcomplicate it, but it has a unique silhouette which makes it a draw in and of itself.

Rock/Flying is a great type combination. It comes with a fair few 2x weaknesses, but there are just as many resistances and complete immunity to Ground-type attacks. It has two noteworthy stats. The first is Attack, which sits pretty at 105, meaning it can hang with some of the stronger attackers out there. What puts it a tier above the rest of the Fossil Pokemon, though, is the 130 in Speed. Almost all the other Fossil Pokemon can be wiped out before they even get a chance to attack, but not Aerodactly, which consistently has control over the pace of a battle.

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl is currently available for Nintendo Switch.

Aerodactyl's Stats

Abilities: Rock Head - Prevents any recoil damage. OR Pressure - Increases opponent's PP usage. / Unnerve - Makes the opponent nervous and unable to eat Berries.

HP: 80
Attack: 105
Special Attack: 60
Defense: 65
Special Defense: 75
Speed: 130
Total Base Stats: 515

MORE: Pokemon Ash's Strongest Companions, Ranked