It’s often said that if something sticks around for long enough, then people will get used to it no matter what. This must be the reason why no one ever seems confused as to why Rock and Ground are two separate Pokémon types. Sure, there is a bit of a separation, but most Rock-types could pass as Ground-types and vice versa. It’d be like having a Poison and a Venom-type. They’re technically different, but that’s outweighed by their similarities.
Still, by and large, Ground Pokémon tend to have a bit more variety than Rock-types. It seems most of the best Ground-types don’t actually look like it in any major way. For most types, this would be a bad thing, but brown is a boring colour for Pokémon so it’s actually for the better. We’ve picked out the very best Ground-types and we’ll tell you why they’re great.
If you’re looking for more Pokémon action, then check out our rankings of the best Grass-types, best Electric-types, and best Dark-types.
Marowak
A healthy dose of the Generation 1 simplicity hasn’t gone to waste with Marowak. It’s an angry thing with a bone, and it’ll destroy you if you step in its path. It abandons Cubone’s cuteness, but replaces it with something just as great, turning the whole head into a skull, which has some creepy implications for Cubone’s lore.
Palosand
People complain about Pokémon that are just inanimate objects with faces, but Palosand is one that proves they have worth. The way this sandcastle moves like it’s breathing consumes everything around it and can possess anyone who touches it makes it a force to be reckoned with. Not to mention it can pack quite the punch.
Zygarde
While it can never be the king of Ground-type Legendary Pokémon (we’ll get to that shortly), Zyagrde is undoubtedly one of the most underrated Legendaries of all time. Since we never got a Pokémon Z game for Zygarde to shine, it’s extra forms are basically glorified easter eggs, and points of frustration for anyone who faces it in a Dyamax Adventure. Still, it looks very cool in it’s regular form, fitting in perfectly with Xerneas and Yveltal, while having the 100% form to destroy all challengers.
Dugtrio
Diglett’s cute, but what if there were three of them? And thus, Dugtrio was born. There’s very little to say about it, it’s just good because it’s good. Some things don’t have to be complicated.
Oh, plus the Alolan form with its spectacular hair.
Groudon
Legendaries come in many different shapes and sizes, but sometimes you want something that looks (and plays) like an unstoppable monster. Groudon is one of the most intimidating designs in the whole series, with a bright red body bearing down on you with claws and sharp points all over its body. It’s no wonder Kyogre can’t help but fight this thing – it’s terrifying.
Nidoking/Nidoqueen
It’s impossible to separate these two, bringing genders to Pokémon before it was cool. These two monsters are worthy of the titles king and queen. Whether it’s the regal purple coating Nidoking or the calm grey of Nidoqueen, everything about these designs just feels right. They build on their previous evolutions in the best way possible and would be a great choice for alternate Starter Pokémon in Generation 1.
Gliscor
Also ranked as one of the best Flying Pokémon, Gliscor manages to embody both of these seemingly opposing types. As it glides gracefully through the air like a bat, it can shovel up hunks of dirt and use them as powerful weapons. Not to mention his adorable attitude, seemingly so full of himself, with a big grin to match.
Flygon
A dragonfly that is a literal dragon is the most obvious Pokémon design in the world, and we’re pleased to say that Flygon does not disappoint. The light green makes it stand out from the sea of Ground-types while still packing a bit of visual punch thanks to the red outline. Then there’s the power it holds in such a bulky body. As other Pokémon we’ve yet to cover prove, Dragon/Ground-types are hard to dent.
Landorus
While the genie design may not be the most appealing. If you’ve ever played competitive Pokémon, you’ll know that Landorus is unequivocally one of the all-time greats. Ever since it was introduced it has been an unstoppable force in every season it’s been allowed to compete in. The Therion form helps with the design problems too, giving it a nice unique design compared to the other genies.
Garchomp
It simply couldn’t be anything else. Whether you met it for the first time when Cynthia destroyed you with hers, or you trained up a Gible into this monster, Garchomp has it all. The colour scheme is really appealing and it radiated a threatening aura – it is a land shark, after all. It can move lighting-quick and hit you just as hard, so there’s no reason not to get one on your team if you have the opportunity.
Written by Ryan Woodrow on behalf of GLHF.