Often found in rocky terrain or caves, a ground-type Pokemon is one of the most powerful creatures in the franchise. They effectively defeat other Pokemon, including rock, fire, steel, poison, and electric types. Moreover, its weakness is only ice, water, and grass types.
We’ve rounded up the best ground-type Pokémon that deserve a spot in your team.
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Key Takeaways
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Garchomp leads the competitive meta with a 46.3% usage rate in Pokemon Champions ranked doubles and a base Speed of 102, outpacing many threats.
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Ground type moves are super effective against five types (fire, electric, poison, rock, and steel), and ground types are immune to electric type moves.
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Gen 9 additions like Great Tusk, Ting-Lu, and Clodsire have risen as some of the best ground type Pokemon alongside Landorus and Groudon.
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Earthquake is the primary damage source for most ground type Pokemon, with 100 base power and 100% accuracy since Generation I.
What Makes Ground Type Pokemon So Powerful?
Ground is one of the strongest offensive types in Pokemon and generally one of the most reliable in battle. Ground type moves are super effective against fire, electric, poison, rock, and steel types. Ground types are also immune to electric type attacks, making them natural switch ins against electric type moves.
Ground types are weak to water, grass, and ice. These three common weaknesses are generally manageable with the right team support. Ground types also resist poison and rock type moves, giving them useful resistances against physical attackers. Ground type moves cannot hit flying types at all, so pairing a best ground type pokemon with a teammate capable of handling fliers is a solid battle strategy.
Ground types are defined by high physical attack stats and immunities. Many ground type Pokemon can act as utility Pokemon due to high HP and defense, and the right ability can define a ground type's role entirely. Many ground types are reliable users of Stealth Rock or Spikes, and Pokemon like Dugtrio can trap grounded Pokemon with its Arena Trap ability, preventing the opposing team from switching out. Arena Trap, as an ability, makes Dugtrio a dangerous revenge-kill option in competitive battle formats.
Top 20 Ground Type Pokemon (Ranked)
1. Landorus
Landorus is a fantastic option for any team, which can fill multiple roles. It has Sand Force and Sheer Force, boosting Landorus attack power.
Also, its damage increases to 1.3x with the cost of secondary effects and has the ability Intimidate and Earth Power move.
2. Sandslash
First released as Pocket Monster, Sandslash is one of the original Pokemon from Generation I with ground typing [1].
Also known as Mouse Pokemon, Sandslash has the ability Sand Rush and can do Swords Dance. Its defense and attack stats are also decent.
3. Donphan
Donphan is the best ground-type Pokemon for a physical tank, boasting high attack and defense tied at 120.
This gray Armor Pokemon has a car tire-like black band from its back to its long trunk and a decent HP of 90.
4. Rhyperior
Launched in Generation IV, Rhyperior is a drill Pokemon with rock dual typing. Its horns resemble a drill, while its body is covered with rocky plates.
Rhyperior can learn Thunderbolt, Shadow Claw, Giga Impact, and Stone Edge in Pokemon Legends.
5. Groudon
From all the ground types, Groudon has fire-type moves with the ability Drought. This Generation III beast can perform Fire Blast and Precipice Blades.
Groudon is one of the best Pokemon and the strongest ground and fire type Pokemon that can surely hit hard.
6. Rhydon
Rhydon is a dual-type drill Pokemon from Generation I. While it has six weaknesses, it can withstand electric, flying, and fire-type attacks.
Rhydon also has great HP, attack, and defense but lacks speed, special defense, and special attack.
7. Palossand (Ghost/Ground)
Introduced in Generation VII, Palossand is a ghost/ground-type haunted sandcastle with a decent special attack stat and a goal to set up Stealth Rock.
Despite its oddness, Palossand is not easy to beat since it has Water Compaction ability and is immune to water type.
8. Krookodile
Boasting high attack, HP, and speed, Krookodile is certainly a difficult beast to deal with. It can learn dragon-type moves and becomes more powerful with a Choice Scarf.
When setting up Stealth Rock, Krookodile can also use Initimidate as protection.
9. Flygon
Flygon is another fan favorite that resembles a bug [2]. It has a decent attack and speed stat, and its Levitate ability makes it immune to ground-type attacks.
In Generation V, Flygon can access Dragon Dance, U-Turn, and better design.
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10. Alolan Dugtrio
One of the best ground types with steel typing, Alolan Dugtrio, is considered a feminine deity in the Alola region.
The Diglett triplets are also the best in using Stealth Rocks for protection and have an impressive speed of 120.
11. Seismitoad
Resembling an aquamarine toad, Seismitoad has balanced stats, can perform Rock Slide, and is only weak to grass type.
It’s equipped with Swift Swim and Poison Touch abilities. However, Seismitoad requires a lot of training and may not be effective in Pokemon Black.
12. Garchomp
Coming from Generation IV, Garchomp is a Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon and one of the best attackers in-game.
It can perform Swords Dance, Dragon Claw, and Dragon Rush. Garchomp also has Rough Skin hidden ability and an outstanding attack stat at 130.
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13. Mamoswine
Mamoswine is a beast with a great attack stat at 130. It can make powerful moves, like Ice Fang, High Horsepower, and Earthquake.
In Pokemon Go, Mamoswine is considered the strongest ice-type creature, looking like a hog and mammoth.
14. Hippowdon
Hippowdon is a Generation IV beast that appeared in Sleight of Sand. Aside from its special defense, special attack, and speed, it has decent stats.
This Heavyweight Pokemon has Sand Stream ability, and its Slack Off move heals 50% HP.
15. Diggersby (Normal/Ground)
Introduced in Generation VI, Diggersby is equipped with Huge Power, which doubles its average physical attack.
This digging Pokemon also has a solid move pool, like Earthquake, Swords Dance, and Mud Shot. Its weakness is steel, fire, fighting, grass, and water types.
16. Excadrill
Excadrill is a versatile choice that most players can easily learn with wide coverage and devastating attack.
Also known as the Drill King, it has a great speed stat. To boost its speed stat, pair it with the same type to take advantage of the weather condition.
Despite its mediocre special defense, it has decent speed and advances in bulk, like most steel types.
17. Quagsire
Quagsire is the best Pokemon to include in your lineup if you’re looking for an excellent HP. This Water Fish Pokemon has Damp, and Water Absorb abilities.
While it has a 35-speed stat, Quagsire only has grass type as its weakness.
18. Gastrodon
Unlike Zygarde, which transforms in its complete form, Gastrodon doesn't change since it depends on where you captured it.
You can catch a Sea Slug Pokemon in the East and West sea with a great special attack and HP.
19. Golurk
A mechanical beast sporting an armor suit, Golurk's best capacity is to set Stealth Rock. It has a superior move pool accompanied by a high attack stat at 124.
Golurks also has a decent defensive stat but is deficient in speed and special attack.
20. Steelix (Steel/Ground)
The very definition of a solid wall, Steelix boasts a remarkable 200 defense and raises to 230 in its Mega Evolution.
Even though it has no purpose in the online modern games, it remains one of the best physical walls in the franchise.
FAQs
What Is the Strongest Ground Type Pokemon in Pokemon Go?
Primal Groudon is the strongest ground type attacker in Pokemon Go. With Mud Shot and Precipice Blades, it reaches approximately 31.46 DPS with 657.3 total damage output in battle. Mega Garchomp ranks second with Earth Power as its primary charged attack.
What Is the Best Non-Legendary Ground Type Pokemon?
The best non-legendary ground type Pokemon is Garchomp. It has outstanding stats totaling 600, including a 130 base attack stat and a base Speed of 102, outpacing many threats in the metagame. Garchomp can also learn Sludge Wave for coverage against fairy types that threaten it.
What Is the Best Ground Type Pokemon Move?
Earthquake is the primary damage source for ground type Pokemon and the most dominant of all ground type moves since Generation I of the game. It carries 100 base power with 100% accuracy, and nearly every ground type Pokemon can learn it. In double battles, Earth Power or High Horsepower are preferred since Earthquake attacks hit your partner as well.
Final Thoughts
Ground type Pokemon bring offensive power and defensive utility to any battle team. With new additions from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and the competitive scene thriving in Pokemon Champions, there has never been a better time to build around the best ground type Pokemon.
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