Since the release of Pokemon GO in 2016, fans have eagerly awaited the slow addition of Pokemon across various Generations in this mobile Pokemon experience, with 2022 finally being the year when players could enjoy the likes of Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup alongside the rest of their Gen 4 companions from Pokemon Diamond, Black, and Pearl. Interestingly enough, fans and Gen 4 loyalists who want to complete their slate of Generation 4 Pokemon should also consider getting Shieldon, the iconic Fossil Pokemon with a shield-looking guard around its head.
Despite its cute nature, Shieldon - after it evolves into Bastiodon - may easily become one of the best combative Pokemon in a player’s slate in both Gym Battles and Raid Battles of Pokemon GO. With the right setup and evolution, Shieldon can become a formidable asset in anyone’s team. However, just how can players secure this somewhat enigmatic Pokemon?
Shieldon In The Original Games
The first appearance of Shieldon makes its way to the Generation 4 slate of games. This means Shieldon appears not just in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl as well as Platinum, but also remakes Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Shieldon itself is a Rock/Steel Fossil Pokemon, boasting a reptilian appearance akin to a member of the ceratopsid group, making this Pokemon fit its Steel Pokemon Typing based on visuals. They’re described as having yellow skin with white bumps for toes, with an elliptical grayish face with white rims.
In the games’ lore, Shieldon existed in dense forests where they developed a habit of polishing their grey faces on tree trunks. The defensible nature of their faces made them unideal opponents to predators. Thankfully, Shieldon are largely herbivorous as they eat Berries, tree roots, and grass.
Bastiodon In The Original Games
Shieldon isn’t planning to stay as Shieldon forever, especially at the hands of the right player. Since its appearance in Generation 4, Shieldon is a Pokemon that possesses a unique Evolution mechanic. When using the Armor Fossil while knocked out, Shieldon can finally evolve into Bastiodon. This can only be done if Shieldon is at least Level 30. The Evolution process is a spin on the discovery of bones furthering the understanding of fossilized creatures, with Shieldon Evolving into Bastiodon becoming the counterpart of Cranidos transforming into Rampardos via the Skull Fossil.
In both the games and the lore, Bastiodon appears to be a bulkier and more armored version of Shieldon - making this Pokemon more fit for battles. This time around, its face is rectangular and significantly more angular, giving it the appearance of a cross between a ceratopsian and a castle wall. Tusks now protrude from its beginning, and more giant bones appeared on its back. Based on fossilized evidence, Bastiodon and Rampardos are believed to have inhabited similar areas together.
Pokemon GO: What Is Shieldon?
As with most other Pokemon in the franchise, Pokemon GO has become the host to a wide variety of Pokemon across the years. Thanks to its more straightforward take on Pokemon Training, players now have the option to acquire even the likes of Shieldon and raise it in a less technical manner than the original games. However, Shieldon carries over a lot of its original traits in Pokemon GO, giving Sheldon quite the close resemblance to its original counterpart.
When Shieldon first appeared in Pokemon GO, it took the same appearance as its original counterpart, with its Shiny variant boasting a brighter yellow color and a bluer face mask. Acquiring Shieldon from Research Tasks allows it to gain as much as 381 CP at Level 15, whereas getting it via Raid at Level 20 can garner as high as 509 CP. Its highest possible CP is achieved at Level 50, where it can achieve as high as 1,007 CP.
The Process: Just Candy
Shieldon retains its Rock/Steel Typing as the Types of its original counterpart in the Pokemon games, boasting Tackle and Iron Tail as its Fast Moves while also having Rock Tomb, Ancient Power, and Heavy Slam as its Charge Moves. As fans may observe from Shieldon’s overall stats, it doesn’t boast as many numbers compared to other more powerful Pokemon. However, a well-raised Shieldon can ensure its Rock/Steel Typing can contend with Bug, Fairy, Fire, Flying, Ice, and Rock Pokemon.
Interestingly enough, Shieldon doesn’t have complicated Evolution mechanics when transforming it into Bastiodon in Pokemon GO. Players simply need 50 Shieldon Candy, making the process significantly more bearable than when players had to get the Armor Fossil.
Pokemon GO: Enter Bastiodon
When Shieldon becomes Bastiodon, the Evolved form in Pokemon GO gameplay still shares the Rock/Steel Typing as that of its pre-Evolved counterpart. Its colors remain largely the same, with the Shiny variant having dark blues replace the gray bones, and brighter yellow skin. This iteration of Shieldon can get as high as 1,539 CP and shares an inherent weakness against Ground, Fighting, and Water Types.
Its primary movesets include Iron Tail and Smack Down for Quick Moves, all representing its heavier nature. Interestingly enough, Bastiodon gains Flamethrower, Stone Edge, and Flash Cannon as its Charge Moves, hinting that the robustness of Bastiodon’s Evolved Form also gave it access to quite literally more firepower.
The Best Bastiodon Moveset
When players aim to use Bastiodon as a part of their major teams in either Pokemon GO Gym Battles or Raid Battles, they need to ensure Bastiodon is outfitted with the best Pokemon Moves to ensure its performance. Being a rather average Pokemon compared to more attack-oriented and more defense-leaning counterparts, Bastiodon is best setup as a “palate cleanser” of sorts designed to gauge the enemy’s overall power so the rest of the team can adapt.
In that regard, Iron Tail and Stone Edge are easily its best Moves with regard to offense, with Iron Tail offering the best possible DPS at the highest speed. Meanwhile, Smack Down and Stone Edge are a great pair for defense, considering Smack Down as a Rock Move can easily counter the more common Bug, Fire, and Ice contenders among Top Attackers. Stone Edge is easily the highest-rated Charge Move for both setups, as it has the best DPS rating among the Pokemon’s moves.
Pokemon GO is available on the iOS and Android.