Is Rhyhorn Good in Sword & Shield Playthrough?
Rhyhorn appears in the Wild Area and Route 10. Ground/Rock with solid physical stats leads to Rhydon and eventually Rhyperior through trade with Protector. Handles Kabu and Piers without trouble. The evolution chain rewards investment.
Milo's team hits Rhyhorn's weaknesses hard.
Rhyhorn trades roughly evenly with Nessa's team.
Rhyhorn has the type edge here and should clean up Kabu's team.
Bea's team hits Rhyhorn's weaknesses hard.
Rhyhorn trades roughly evenly with Opal's team.
Rhyhorn has the type edge here and should clean up Gordie's team.
Rhydon has the type edge here and should clean up Piers's team.
Rhydon trades roughly evenly with Raihan's team.
Rhydon trades roughly evenly with Bede's team.
Rhyperior trades roughly evenly with Leon's team.
Catch Rhyhorn on Bridge Field (walking, Lv 26-28). Sandstorm.
Your Rhyhorn should hit Level 42 before you reach Piers, at typical leveling pace.
Most players are ready to trade before reaching Leon.
How to Get Rhyhorn in Sword & Shield
Rhyhorn's 3-stage chain starts with Rhyhorn, which appears in the wild in the locations below. Level through 3 stages while you find a trade partner. Everything except the trade step is solo.
Where To Catch Rhyhorn in SwSh
Rhyhorn is your first catch on the way to Rhyhorn. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 10-52 across 58 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Rhyhorn ✓Potbottom DesertLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 32%OvercastPotbottom DesertLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 32%SandstormPotbottom DesertLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 32%ThunderstormPotbottom DesertLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 32%Normal WeatherPotbottom DesertLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 32%RainingPotbottom DesertLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 32%Intense SunPotbottom DesertLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 32%SnowstormPotbottom DesertLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 32%Heavy FogPotbottom DesertLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 32%SnowingGiant's MirrorLv.28-30OverworldRate 50%SandstormMotostoke RiverbankLv.26-28OverworldSwordRate 40%Intense SunStony WildernessLv.26-28GrassSwordRate 40%SandstormMotostoke RiverbankLv.26-28GrassRate 35%Intense SunMotostoke RiverbankLv.26-28GrassRate 35%SandstormPotbottom DesertLv.19-24OverworldSwordRate 32%SandstormPotbottom DesertLv.19-24OverworldSwordRate 32%ThunderstormPotbottom DesertLv.19-24OverworldSwordRate 32%Normal WeatherPotbottom DesertLv.19-24OverworldSwordRate 32%RainingPotbottom DesertLv.19-24OverworldSwordRate 32%Intense SunPotbottom DesertLv.19-24OverworldSwordRate 32%SnowstormPotbottom DesertLv.19-24OverworldSwordRate 32%Heavy FogPotbottom DesertLv.19-24OverworldSwordRate 32%SnowingPotbottom DesertLv.19-24OverworldSwordRate 32%OvercastBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 30%SandstormMotostoke RiverbankLv.26-28OverworldSwordRate 25%SandstormMotostoke RiverbankLv.28-30OverworldShieldRate 25%SandstormStony WildernessLv.26-28GrassShieldRate 20%SandstormMotostoke RiverbankLv.28-30OverworldShieldRate 5%Intense SunGiant's Cap - GroundLv.31-34OverworldRate 60%ThunderstormGiant's Cap - GroundLv.31-34OverworldRate 60%RainingGiant's Cap - GroundLv.31-34OverworldRate 60%SnowstormGiant's Cap - GroundLv.31-34OverworldRate 60%SnowingGiant's Cap - GroundLv.31-34OverworldSwordRate 30%OvercastGiant's Cap - GroundLv.31-34OverworldSwordRate 30%SandstormGiant's Cap - GroundLv.31-34OverworldSwordRate 30%Normal WeatherGiant's Cap - GroundLv.31-34OverworldSwordRate 30%Intense SunGiant's Cap - GroundLv.31-34OverworldSwordRate 30%Heavy FogRoute 8Lv.38-40GrassRate 20%All WeatherGiant's Cap - GroundLv.31-34OverworldShieldRate 10%OvercastGiant's Cap - GroundLv.31-34OverworldShieldRate 10%SandstormGiant's Cap - GroundLv.31-34OverworldShieldRate 10%Normal WeatherGiant's Cap - GroundLv.31-34OverworldShieldRate 10%Intense SunGiant's Cap - GroundLv.31-34OverworldShieldRate 10%Heavy Fog
Step 2Catch or Evolve into RhydonDusty BowlLv.40-45GrassRate 58%Intense SunRoute 10 - Near StationLv.43-46GrassSwordRate 25%All WeatherRoute 10 - Near StationLv.44-49GrassShieldRate 25%All WeatherLake of OutrageLv.50-52GrassShieldRate 35%Intense SunLake of OutrageLv.50-52GrassSwordRate 33%Intense Sunor evolve from Rhyhorn (Step 1)
Step 3Evolve into RhyperiorBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Rhyperior egg.
Rhyhorn Weakness
Rhyhorn's Ground/Rock typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Ground, and Steel. Water and Grass hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It shrugs off Electric-type attacks completely. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Lightning Rod grants an additional Electric immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Rhyhorn's physical bulk (base 95 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 |
What is Rhyhorn Weak Against
FragileBest Pokemon Against Rhyhorn
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 4x169-200%KO Ice Fang 2x41-49% | ||
 Maractus Grass | C | |
 Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
 Bronzong SteelPsychic | C | |
 Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Ludicolo builds →Solar Beam 4x380-447%KO Hydro Pump 4x348-411%KO Mud Shot 2x60-70% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 4x170-200%KO Ice Fang 2x41-48% | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
Bronzong SteelPsychic | C | |
Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Ludicolo builds →Solar Beam 4x383-450%KO Hydro Pump 4x353-415%KO Mud Shot 2x59-70% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 4x166-195%KO Ice Fang 2x39-47% Bulldoze 2x37-44% | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
 Crawdaunt WaterDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Crawdaunt builds →Razor Shell 4x131-155%KO Dig 2x47-56% Brick Break 2x43-52% | ||
 Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Golisopod builds →Razor Shell 4x139-164%KO Brick Break 2x46-55% Mud Shot 2x42-50% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Golisopod builds →Liquidation 4x155-183%KO Brick Break 2x45-54% Mud Shot 2x41-49% Icy Wind 2x41-49% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 4x162-191%KO Ice Fang 2x39-46% Bulldoze 2x37-43% | ||
Crawdaunt WaterDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Crawdaunt builds →Dive 4x140-165%KO Dig 2x46-55% Brick Break 2x44-52% Avalanche 2x36-42% | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
 Krabby Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Krabby builds →Crabhammer 4x159-187%KO Dig 2x43-51% Brick Break 2x41-48% Metal Claw 2x27-32% | ||
 Bellossom Grass | C | |
 Kingler Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Kingler builds →Dive 4x154-181%KO Hammer Arm 2x64-75% Dig 2x51-60% Metal Claw 2x33-39% | ||
 Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Golisopod builds →Liquidation 4x157-185%KO Brick Break 2x46-55% Mud Shot 2x44-52% Icy Wind 2x44-52% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 4x167-197%KO Ice Fang 2x41-48% Bulldoze 2x38-44% | ||
 Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Exeggutor builds →Solar Beam 4x512-603%KO Stomping Tantrum 2x37-44% | ||
 Leafeon Grass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Leafeon builds →Solar Blade 4x206-242%KO Dig 2x45-53% | ||
 Lilligant Grass | C | |
 Tangrowth Grass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Tangrowth builds →Solar Beam 4x460-541%KO Focus Blast 2x153-180%KO Stomping Tantrum 2x38-45% | ||
Kingler Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Kingler builds →Crabhammer 4x192-225%KO Hammer Arm 2x64-75% Dig 2x51-60% Metal Claw 2x32-38% | ||
Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Exeggutor builds →Solar Beam 4x512-603%KO Stomping Tantrum 2x37-44% | ||
Leafeon Grass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Leafeon builds →Solar Blade 4x206-242%KO Dig 2x45-53% | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Tangrowth Grass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Tangrowth builds →Solar Beam 4x460-541%KO Earthquake 2x51-60% Focus Blast 2x153-180%KO | ||
Kingler Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Kingler builds →Crabhammer 4x192-225%KO Hammer Arm 2x64-75% Dig 2x51-60% Metal Claw 2x32-38% | ||
Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Exeggutor builds →Solar Beam 4x512-603%KO Stomping Tantrum 2x37-44% | ||
Leafeon Grass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Leafeon builds →Solar Blade 4x206-242%KO Dig 2x45-53% | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Tangrowth Grass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Tangrowth builds →Solar Beam 4x460-541%KO Earthquake 2x51-60% Focus Blast 2x153-180%KO | ||
Kingler Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Kingler builds →Crabhammer 4x192-225%KO Hammer Arm 2x64-75% Dig 2x51-60% Metal Claw 2x32-38% | ||
In Sword & Shield, Garchomp can KO Rhyhorn with Earthquake (91-107%). Rillaboom's U-turn hits Rhyhorn for 34-40%. Starmie's Scald also KOs at 186-219%.
 Garchomp DragonGround | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x91-107%KO | ||
 Rillaboom Grass | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityGrassy Surge ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Rillaboom builds →Knock Off31-37% U Turn34-40% | ||
 Starmie WaterPsychic | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityAnalytic ItemPower Herb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Starmie builds →Scald 4x186-219%KO Ice Beam 2x70-82% Psyshock47-55% | ||
 Urshifu FightingDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnseenfist ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Rhyhorn View Urshifu builds →Close Combat 2x162-191%KO Sucker Punch48-56% U Turn32-37% | ||
Rhyhorn Evolutions
Rhyhorn is the start of a three-stage chain. It evolves into Rhydon first, then eventually reaches Rhyperior. For breeding, average hatch time with a massive partner pool via two egg groups. The evolved forms gain up to 190 total stats over Rhyhorn. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Rhyhorn easily with 152 breeding partners from the Ground and Monster egg groups. Pass egg moves like Counter, Curse, Dragon Rush and 4 more to offspring.
SwSh Rhyhorn Best Moveset
Ground/Rock with 85 Attack and 95 Defense provides physical presence but 25 Speed ruins any offensive moveset. AbilityRock Head prevents recoil on moves like MoveDouble-Edge, a trait wasted on something too slow to use them. Evolve into Rhydon for better Attack and Held ItemEviolite access.
Best Build
Rhyhorn best EVs are HP and Sp. Def
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Earthquake
- Crunch
- Curse
- Stealth Rock
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Breadth over depth defines this movepool. Rhyhorn won't stack one type's damage ceiling, but coverage across 10 types means it always has an effective option. Earthquake and Stone Edge anchor the STAB core.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
Strong, but not too bright, this Pokémon can shatter even a skyscraper with its charging tackles.
It can remember only one thing at a time. Once it starts rushing, it forgets why it started.
Rhyhorn Sword & Shield Guide
In Sword & Shield, Rhyhorn does the job early-game if you need a Ground/Rock type on your team. Evolve it into Rhydon before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.
Game Availability
Rhyhorn has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 21 titles across all 10 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves