Stats & Training
Defense leads and Speed gets almost nothing. That's Golem's stat line in a nutshell. 3 stats sit in respectable range, but the spread is brutal. Tough to catch and yields 3 Defense EVs.
It is said to live in volcanic craters on mountain peaks. Once a year, it sheds its hide and grows larger. The shed hide crumbles and returns to the soil.
Golem Weakness
Golem is weak to Water, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Ground, and Steel. Watch out for Water and Grass attacks, those deal 4x damage. On the flip side, it's immune to Electric-type moves entirely. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Golem's physical bulk (base 130 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Water, Grass |
| 2x (Weak) | Ice, Fighting, Ground, Steel |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Fire, Flying, Rock |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Poison |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
In Emerald, Starmie threatens a KO with Surf (192-226%). Claydol deals 51-60% with Earthquake.
 Magneton ElectricSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagnetpull ItemMagnet NatureModest Moves View Magneton builds →
| ||
 Starmie WaterPsychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Golem View Starmie builds →Rapid Spin3-3% Ice Beam 2x64-75% Surf 4x192-226%KO | ||
 Claydol GroundPsychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Golem View Claydol builds →Rapid Spin4-5% Earthquake 2x51-60% Explosion21-25% Psychic26-31% | ||
 Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySwarm ItemSalacberry NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Golem View Heracross builds →Megahorn42-49% Rock Slide9-10% | ||
 Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityEffect Spore ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Golem View Breloom builds →Mach Punch 2x29-35% | ||
Emerald Evolution
Getting Golem requires a trade, not just grinding levels. The chain starts at Geodude. Breed this form to get Geodude eggs (quick to hatch). HP grew the most through evolution (+40 over Geodude), and Golem peaks at 485 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Golem to get Geodude eggs easily using 23 partners from the Mineral egg group. Notable egg moves include Block, Mega Punch, Rock Slide.
Emerald Golem Best Moveset
You commit to a move every time Golem comes in. Choice Band gives raw power at the cost of move flexibility, and Rockhead adds to that. Max HP and Attack EVs make sure the locked move actually hurts. Normal coverage covers the rest.
Best Build
Golem best EVs are HP and Attack
Physical Wallbreaker Moveset
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Explosion
- Double Edge
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Egg moves make a real difference. Golem gets Block and Mega Punch exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Normal and Fighting coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Earthquake and Dig.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Golem in Emerald
A trade step sits in Golem's 3-stage chain from Geodude. The step cards below map each stage with catch locations and evolution methods. Geodude shows up at solid rates, so the starting catch is the easy part.
How to Obtain Golem in Emerald
The path to Golem starts with Geodude at Lv. 5-40 via rock smash and walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch GeodudeRoute 111 - SouthSmashing rocks Lv.5-20 Route100%EarlyRoute 114Smashing rocks Lv.5-20 Route100%EarlyGranite Cave - B2FSmashing rocks Lv.5-20 Cave70%EarlySafari Zone - NortheastSmashing rocks Lv.5-30 FacilityCommonEarlyGranite Cave - 1FGrass Lv.6-9 Cave10%EarlyTeam Magma/Aqua HideoutGrass Lv.27-30 Volcano55%MidVictory Road - B1FSmashing rocks Lv.30-40 Cave30%Mid- Step 2Catch or Evolve GravelerVictory Road - B1FSmashing rocks Lv.30-40 Cave70%MidTeam Magma/Aqua HideoutGrass Lv.30-33 Volcano15%Midor evolve from Geodude (Step 1)
Step 3Golem ✓
Golem Guide
For Emerald, we rate Golem C-Tier: a niche pick in Emerald's meta. At 485 BST, it fits the tank role. Earthquake with Choice Band is the standard set.
In Emerald, Golem's biggest threats include Gyarados (Water), Venusaur (Grass), and Lapras (Ice), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Gyarados is the most dangerous since Water moves deal 4x damage. Fighting, Ground, and Steel-type attackers are also a problem. With 6 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.
Rock Head is the go-to ability for Golem. It protects against recoil damage. Its hidden ability Sand Veil can work in specific setups. Sturdy is the other option. Pick based on what your team needs.
Base 45 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Golem is a physical attacker with base 110 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a tank.
For Emerald, the core moveset is Earthquake, Rock Slide, Explosion, and Double Edge. Earthquake leads at 23% usage. Earthquake provides reliable STAB damage.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Red & Blue, Golem has appeared in 20 titles over 10 generations. Along the way, it received an Alolan form in Generation 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SMAlolan
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves