Let’s take a closer look at the extremely rare line of Grass/Rock Pokemon!
Dual typing has given us some of the coolest and most powerful Pokemon in the entire franchise. From bulky tanks and heavy hitters to status specialists and immunity abs.
Dual types give Pokemon access to a wider offensive arsenal while also diversifying their weaknesses, ultimately making them much more interesting.
But there’s a microscopic dual-type group that was left in the corner for so long—the Grass/Rock types.
In this article, we’ll analyze these rarities and take a look at what they bring to the Poke’table.
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Table of Contents
The Resilient Grass/Rock Pokemon
Grass/Rock Pokemon are an extremely rare dual-type group. Currently, there are only two real species of Grass/Rock Pokemon in Lileep and Cradily.
The other one is Ogerpon Cornerstone Mask, but it’s only a temporary form and not an actual species.
Strengths
The unique and rare combination of Grass and Rock types brings life to a type combo with new strengths and weaknesses.
Grass types are known for their healing abilities and status moves, while Rock types are famous for their sturdiness and hard-hitting moves. They also resist Normal and Electric-type moves.
Weaknesses
Rock and Grass are known for a plethora of counters, and when you add them all up, it comes to a total of 10 weaknesses. But surprisingly, they cancel each other’s weaknesses out.
Rock can easily take down Fire, Flying, Bug, and Ice types since it’s super effective against them. Grass is weak to Poison, but Rock is very resistant to it, canceling it out.
On the other hand, Grass types take care of Water and Ground types. This type combination doesn’t have a 4x weakness, unlike many popular dual types.
This leaves Fighting, Bug, Steel, and Ice as the only 2x weaknesses.
The Only Grass/Rock Pokemon – Lileep and Cradily
Now, let’s get to know the only pure Grass/Rock types in the game—the Lileep line:
Lileep – The Sea Lily Pokemon
Lileep is a plant Pokemon inspired by Crinoids. These are marine invertebrates found all over the ocean floor and are sometimes called sea lilies.
It is a Pokemon that can be revived from a fossil, and this is shown through its prehistoric underwater flora design.
Despite its Grass typing and plant-like appearance, Lileep is a creature that came from the ocean based on its biological structure.
But being a plant/fossil at the same time explains its Grass/Rock typing as well.
| Lileep Stats | Attributes |
|---|---|
| HP | 66 |
| Attack | 41 |
| Defense | 77 |
| Special Attack | 61 |
| Special Defense | 87 |
| Speed | 23 |
| Total | 355 |
Abilities
- Suction Cups (Primary) – prevents Lileep from being forced to switch out by any move or item.
- Storm Drain (Hidden Ability) – makes Lileep immune to any water-type move. When hit by one, it raises its special attack stat by one stage.
Suggested Moveset
- Lileep @ Eviolite
- Ability: Storm Drain
- EVs: 68 HP / 220 Def / 108 SpA / 60 SpD / 12 Spe
- Bold Nature
- Recover
- Giga Drain
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
Lileep is a defensive Pokemon with its Defense and Special defense being its highest attributes. Its attack could be better, and it suffers very slow speed.
On the other hand, its ability Suction Cups prevents forced switches from moves like Roar, Whirlwind, Circle Throw, or Dragon Tail.
This stat spread and moveset lets Lileep fill the role of a tank that takes hits and cripples enemies with status moves and Stealth Rock. But personally, I can’t say I’d use it in any competitive battle.
Let’s take a look at its evolved form.
Cradily – The Barnacle Pokemon
When Lileep evolves, it becomes Cradily, featuring a more menacing appearance with long, flexible tentacles and a protective body structure.
While it’s still the same Crinoid-inspired plant Pokemon, Cradily has grown body parts similar to barnacles.
Its Pokedex entry states, “Cradily roams around the ocean floor in search of food. This Pokemon freely extends its tree trunk-like neck and captures unwary prey using its eight tentacles.”
Its appearance and description sound more like an underwater creature rather than a Grass/Rock Pokemon.
Nevertheless, its evolution brings out more of that prehistoric look and makes Cradily a bit more formidable in battle.
| Cradily Stats | Attributes |
|---|---|
| HP | 86 |
| Attack | 81 |
| Defense | 97 |
| Special Attack | 81 |
| Special Defense | 107 |
| Speed | 43 |
| Total | 495 |
Abilities
- Suction Cups (Primary) – Cradily cannot be forced to switch out with any move or item.
- Storm Drain (Hidden Ability)- This hidden ability makes Cradily immune to any water-type move. When an opponent uses a single-target Water-type move, Cradily will force the attacker to target Cradily itself with 100% accuracy. Once hit by a Water-type move, Cradily raises its special attack stat by one stage with zero.
Suggested Moveset
- Cradily @ Leftovers
- Ability: Suction Cups
- EVs: 252 HP / 164 Atk / 92 SpD
- Adamant Nature
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Recover
Cradily’s stats and moveset make it an ideal tank and status inflictor. Its typing and moves make the life of Electric Pokemon completely miserable.
Send Cradily out on a special attacker, and let it act as a sea sponge, absorbing all those special hits. Then, use Toxic on all your foes and regain health using Recover.
However, Cradily is often overshadowed by a better alternative in Gastrodon, and its spot is often left for more bulky tanks in the metagame.
Ogerpon – The Impostor Grass/Rock Pokemon
While this last Pokemon is not technically a Grass/Rock Pokemon species, one of its forms is worth checking out.
Ogerpon is a Grass-type Legendary Pokemon from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. It can swap between different masks, and each mask gives it a new typing and a unique Terastallized state.
Its Cornerstone Mask form gives Ogerpon the dual-type Grass/Rock, which also boosts its Defense.
| Ogerpon Stats | Attributes |
|---|---|
| HP | 80 |
| Attack | 120 |
| Defense | 84 |
| Special Attack | 60 |
| Special Defense | 96 |
| Speed | 110 |
| Total | 550 |
Abilities
- Defiant – This ability raises Ogerpon’s attack by two stages when hit by a stat-lowering move.
- Embody Aspect – Ogerpon gains a stat boost depending on its form. For Cornerstone Mask or Grass/Rock form, it gets a defense boost.
Suggested Moveset
- Ogerpon (F) @Cornerstone Mask
- Ability: Defiant
- EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
- Jolly Nature
- Ivy Cudgel
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Encore
Ogerpon’s high attack and speed stats and access to Defiant ability make it a great pivot Pokemon who can destroy defensive Pokemon.
Its signature move, Ivy Cudgel, is awesome visually, and it’s a hard-hitting grass-type move.
With moves like Encore and Knock Off, Ogerpon can get rid of those pesky tanks and walls, so your sweepers can switch in safely.
Conclusion
Overall, Grass/Rock Pokemon can have great sustain and defense with decent offense.
These Pokemon have the potential to become a real powerhouse and a significant cornerstone in competitive play.
However, we only have three of them at the moment. This means that we’re far from seeing the full power of this dual typing.
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