In the earth of Pokemon , Stone-types are all-time known for their sturdy concrete defence and natural bulk. They can also brand great physical attackers who pack a punch, but the pool of Rock-type attacks is really quite small-scale compared to more prolific types, similar Water and Normal.

That beingness said, there are notwithstanding a off-white enough number of moves for Rock Pokemon to take advantage of that e'er-glorious Same-Type Assail Bonus (STAB). Sure Rock moves are even considered essential for non-Rock Pokemon to behave on their move sets due to how perennially constructive they've proven to be in competitive battling.

Updated February 9th, 2022 by Quinton O'Connor: Information technology tin can't be overstated just how handy several Rock-type moves continue to exist in the online meta. Some, similar Rock Slide, are obvious — you volition run into them left and right. Others, like Wide Guard and Rock Smoothen, are situational plenty that many players haven't given them the chance they then richly deserve. Cheque out our updated list for more than.

16 Broad Guard

crustle in the anime

Wide Guard is a fantastic back up motility. It doesn't really piece of work in Single Battles, but Broad Guard shows off its true power is in Double Battles (and fifty-fifty Triple Battles).

Wide Guard will protect all Pokemon on the field from moves that hit more than than one target. In Doubles (and Triples), these kinds of moves are quite common, with Earthquake existence one of the best and almost common moves in the game. Having protection to moves like this is fantastic due to its power to essentially negate an opposing Pokemon's assault.

15 Stone Tomb

Aerodactyl ready to attack pokemon lets go screenshot

Stone Tomb is a decent Rock-type move with a solid accuracy of 95 and a passable base power of 60. Luckily, plenty of Rock-type Pokemon accept a high Set on stat to plough that iffy 60 into something deceptively good.

While the power behind Stone Tomb is nothing to write home near, it has the bonus effect of lowering the opposing Pokemon's Speed in the process. Not merely is Speed a pivotal aspect of contesting on its own, but since about Rock-types aren't exactly swift by blueprint, a unmarried successful awarding of Rock Tomb tin can help even the odds.

xiv Sandstorm

Tyranitar with its arms stretched out in the Pokemon anime

Ever since its introduction, atmospheric condition has been a pretty large role of Pokemon. Every kind of Weather Condition has a team that goes with it, and sand is among the most prolific fo them all. Sandstorm is the move that sets upwardly, equally the name implies, the Sandstorm Conditions Condition.

Is Sandstorm a good move? Spending a plow on setup can be risky. Merely while Sandstorm is happening, all Pokemon lose a sixteenth of their health at the end of every plow (with exceptions fabricated for Rock, Ground, and Steel-type Pokemon). Information technology too boosts the Special Defense of all Stone-Type Pokemon. Plenty of Pokemon accept Abilities that get boosts during Sandstorm equally well, making it all the meliorate.

13 Accelerock

Lycanroc's midday form uses Accelerock in the in the Pokémon anime

Accelerock has a rather depression base power of just 40, and nevertheless information technology's still ane of the best Rock-type moves. Plenty of Pokemon would love to take Accelerock, however, only two Pokemon in the game can learn information technology, both being Lycanroc (one being the Midday Form and the other its Sunset Form).

What makes Accelerock and then good is that information technology's a Priority Movement. Priority Moves are always guaranteed to get commencement (unless information technology goes upwards against some other Priority Move in which case it'south calculated every bit normal). This makes Acceleorck so practiced for closing out battles before the opposing Pokemon tin can turn the tables, especially when y'all're going up against an opponent with attacks your Rock-type friend is weak against.

12 Shooting star Beam

The Pokémon Armaldo in the anime

Stone-blazon moves are mostly more than focused on physical attacks, but Meteor Beam is i of the strongest special-based Rock-type moves in the game. The large, obvious downside for Falling star Beam is that it takes a plough to charge upwardly.

However, on the first plough, dissimilar other two-plow moves, it grants the user a heave to their Special Set on stat. The adjacent plough, it will bargain a devastating 120 base power, ramped up courtesy of the previous turn. Nether the right atmospheric condition, this tin can lead to a full team sweep.

eleven Stealth Rock

While Stealth Rock is not an assail that deals direct damage to the opponent, it sets up a long-term trap that tin slowly dwindle downward the other team'due south wellness. Afterwards rocks are scattered around the opponent'southward side of the field, each Pokemon that is swapped in will suffer an injury.

This is peculiarly crucial in longer six-on-six battles where swapping out Pokemon happens nigh oftentimes. In improver, Pokemon who are defensively weak against Stone will suffer even more damage. For example, the Fire/Flying Charizard will immediately take its health cut in half upon entering the battlefield due to the advantage Rock-type moves have against both Fire- and Flying-type Pokemon.

x Rollout

Rollout may come off equally a weak move with a listed base of operations power of only 30. Still, it has the potential to be one of the strongest moves around thanks to its unique event.

When a Pokemon uses Rollout, they will be locked into it for 5 turns unless information technology is interrupted. Each time information technology hits, its power is doubled. By its third hit, Rollout will already be a threat for which to lookout man out. Additionally, the ability of Rollout can be increased further with the assistance of Defence Gyre.

9 Aboriginal Power

Every bit nosotros've previously established, there are precious few special-based Rock-type moves in Pokemon. That alone puts Ancient Power in the "noteworthy" pile, just its slim adventure to score some terrific perks puts information technology on the list regardless.

Aboriginal Power'southward base of operations power is only sixty, but it can come in clutch if its effect comes into play on a 10 percent gamble. That effect volition raise all the user's stats by 1 phase, which may be more beneficial than the bodily damage it puts out.

8 Stone Blast

At first glance, Rock Blast appears to be one of the weakest Rock moves effectually with its base power listed at a deplorable 25. Upon further review, all the same, it is a multi-strike attack that can hit up to five times in a row.

If Stone Blast happens to striking five times, information technology is practically a 125 base ability motion. Though at that place is merely a 17 pct risk of that happening, Pokemon like Cinccino with the Ability, Skill Link, will hit five times guaranteed. Suddenly, some of the smallest and most adorable critters in the series can turn into real pests.

vii Rock Slide

Stone Slide is one of the virtually usually seen Rock-type moves in VGC contesting due to a combination of its 75 base ability, its ability to hitting both opponents, and its 30 per centum chance of flinching the foes.

Thanks to that flinching potential, many trainers volition opt to teach Stone Slide to non-Stone Pokemon such as Excadrill, Conkeldurr, and Landorus who tin all make good utilise out of it as physical threats.

6 Power Gem

special rock type move xy anime goodra clemont bonnie florges

Like Aboriginal Power, Power Precious stone hits on the special side. As a 100 pct authentic move with an admirable base ability of 80 and no drawback, Power Gem is one of the well-nigh reliable and consistent options for Rock-types moves.

Yet, because Power Gem is special rather than physical, very few Stone-types can really brand use out of this movement. Ironically, not-Rock Pokemon might detect more use out of information technology for coverage.

v Rock Polish

Golem in the Pokemon Anime Cropped

Speed isn't what Rock Pokemon tend to be known for, and on the surface, it might seem empty-headed to waste a turn attempting to amend that. Stick to your strengths and all. But Stone Polish can exist worth the wait.

If your opponent needs a turn to gear up their own strategy, or (amend yet) they kickoff the fight with something weak to Stone-types and need to switch out posthaste, they've effectively allowed you to shore upwardly Rock'due south greatest weakness. That kind of turnabout is fair play, transforming Pokemon similar Golem into rapid sweepers from thereon out.

four Diamond Storm

Diamond Storm is the signature move of the mythical Rock/Fairy Pokemon, Diancie. On top of having a base of operations power of 100, Diamond Storm also has a 50 pct chance of sharply raising Diancie's Defense.

That boost goes hand in hand with Diancie'southward naturally high Defense stat, making it an even bulkier Rock-type than information technology already was. Such a stellar combination of raw output and loftier-probability assistance tends to become locked to specific species for a reason.

three Stone Edge

Ash's Krookodile using Stone Edge in the Pokemon Anime

Rock Border is some other Stone motion that is commonly establish in VGC movement sets. Compared to Rock Slide, Stone Edge has a higher base ability of 100 at the price of 80 percent accuracy.

It likewise has a higher chance of landing critical hits. This means that hard-hitting concrete attackers like Tyranitar and Rhyperior will surely deal some serious impairment, aso long every bit they hit their target. Rock Slide loses its luster quickly when accuracy reductions come up into play, merely under ordinary circumstances it's ofttimes chosen "the Fire-blazon slayer," a championship that'southward besides-earned as it is terrifying.

ii Rock Wrecker

Stone Wrecker has ane of the highest base powers of Rock-type moves at 150. It acts as the Rock-type version of the classic Hyper Beam.

This means that while Rock Wrecker'south damage output is very high, the user will unfortunately have to waste material a turn to recharge before moving again. That leaves the user extremely vulnerable, which is why Rock Wrecker is non commonly used in competitive battling. In the campaigns, however, it more than than earns its proper noun.

one Head Smash

Head Nail shares the highest base power of 150 with Rock Wrecker, although their drawbacks are very unlike. While Rock Wrecker requires recharging, Head Smash inflicts hefty recoil damage on the user.

At the same fourth dimension, Caput Boom'south recoil harm tin be avoided past sure Rock-types like Aggron and Tyrantrum, who both carry the Ability called Rock Caput. In that way, they can go all out on the damage without any repercussions. The perks therein are and then dandy that you tin can exist bodacious virtually every Aggron and Tyrantrum you'll meet in the competitive scene will accept this packaged into their arsenal.

Next: Pokemon: The Best Stone-Blazon Pokémon From Every Generation, Ranked

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