Introduced in generation one, with the original Pokemon Red, Blue, and Green games, Rhyhorn is a dual type rock and ground Pokemon. It is the base evolution of Rhyperior and will evolve into Rhydon upon reaching the level threshold. Rhyhorn is classified as the “Spikes Pokemon” by the Pokedex, implying its rocky and spiked exterior. This guide will showcase Rhyhorn’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Rhyhorn.
About Rhyhorn
While Rhyhorn was part of the original 151 Pokemon of the original games of generation one, its final evolution Rhyperior was only introduced into the franchise in generation four. As a generation one Pokemon, it first made an appearance in the original series with the episode Bulbasaur’s Mysterious Garden. Rhyhorn will evolve into Rhydon at level 42 and, after generation four, will evolve into Rhyperior when it is traded while holding a Protector. The Pokedex mentions that Rhyhorn has a very small brain and it will often forget why it began running.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Original Series: Bulbasaur’s Mysterious Garden |
| First appearance in game | Red/Green (Japan) Red/Blue (International) |
| Region | Kanto |
| Evolution | Base evolution of Rhyperior, evolves into Rhydon |
| 1st Evo level | 42 |
| 2nd Evo level | Evolves into Rhyperior when traded holding a Protector |
| Pokedex Entry | Rhyhorn's brain is very small. It is so dense, while on a run it forgets why it started running in the first place. It apparently remembers sometimes if it demolishes something. |
Rhyhorn Base Stats
| HP | 80 |
| ATTACK | 85 |
| DEFENCE | 95 |
| SP. ATTACK | 30 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 30 |
| SPEED | 25 |
| TOTAL | 345 |
Appearance
Rhyhorn is a gray, rhino-like Pokemon with an armored spiky exterior with an almost entirely gray body with plated and spiky rocks around it. It runs on four legs and each leg ends in two spiked claws. You can also see two pointed fangs pointing downwards in Rhyhorn’s jaw and it is a fairly short Pokemon at only 3 feet and 3 inches, or 1 meter, tall.
Behavior
There are not many depictions of Rhyhorn with a trainer in the anime. Instead, Rhyhorn is typically depicted as a wild Pokemon or a Pokemon that is used for racing. The Pokedex mentions that Rhyhorn will oftentimes start running for no particular reason and even if it destroys things in its path, Rhyhorn is not bothered at all by the collisions. It also mentions Rhyhorn’s low aptitude for intelligence and the fact that it often does not remember why it was running.
Strengths and Weaknesses
For a base evolution Pokemon, Rhyhorn has very respectable physical defense stats. However, for a Pokemon that runs often, it has an incredibly slow speed stat. Its health and physical attack are also noteworthy, but as a ground and rock type Pokemon it has many weaknesses. Rhyhorn will take 2x damage from fighting, ground, steel, and ice type moves while taking 4x damage from water and grass type moves. It is resistant to normal, flying, poison, rock, and fire type moves.
Shiny Rhyhorn
A shiny Rhyhorn is very distinct from its regular form as a Shiny Rhyhorn’s entire color palette changes from gray to a bronze color palette. While only one color changes between regular Rhyhorn and Shiny Rhyhorn, it is very easy to distinguish between the two. There is no other change but it is still a noteworthy shiny variant. Like all shiny Pokemon, Shiny Rhyhorn gains a starry animation upon entering battle.
Credit to ExoticPoke on Deviantart for the below picture.
Best Moveset
As a base evolution Pokemon, Rhyhorn’s use in competitive play is almost exclusively limited to LC (Little Cup) brackets where only base evolution Pokemon are legal for play. Its physical bulk and strong physical attack make it a strong offensive and defensive pick. Consider giving it an Eviolite, as a held item, if you want to extend Rhyhorn’s longevity. You will want to run Stealth Rock, Earthquake, Rock Blast, and Megahorn/Aqua Tail. Stealth Rock is a powerful hazard to place on your opponent’s side of the field, Earthquake and Rock Blast will benefit from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) while also functioning as its main sources of damage, and finally Megahorn and Aqua Tail can be used for type coverage options.
| Stealth Rock | Earthquake |
| Rock Blast | Megahorn/Aqua Tail |
How to Catch Rhyhorn in Pokemon Go
If you would like to catch a Rhyhorn in Pokemon Go, there are many different methods available to do so. As a base evolution, Rhyhorn is a relatively common encounter in the wild and thus you can catch a Rhyhorn easily if you are in a mountainous or rocky environment. It has also appeared as a tier one raid boss in the past which makes it a very easy Pokemon to encounter. You will need 25 Rhyhorn candies if you want to evolve into Rhydon and another 100 candies, plus a Sinnoh Stone, if you want it to evolve into Rhyperior.
Trivia
- Before generation four, both Rhyhorn and Charizard had a nearly indistinguishable cry.
- The inspiration for Rhyhorn’s design likely comes from an Indian Rhinoceros.
- The name Rhyhorn is a combination of the words rhinoceros and horn.
Video
FAQ
What level does Rhyhorn evolve?
Rhyhorn will evolve into Rhydon at level 42 which makes it a fairly late evolution. Often, a wild Rhyhorn will have a high level upon encountering and thus it makes the investment shorter than most Pokemon. If you want to evolve your Rhydon into Rhyperior you will need to trade your Rhydon while it is holding a Protector item.
Is Rhydon better than Rhyperior?
It is often the case that the final evolution is better than its prior evolutions and Rhyperior is no exception. There is almost no reason not to consider the base stat boost of evolving your Rhydon. If you do not have a Protector item or a trusted trainer to trade with, it will be the only reason why you should not consider evolving your Rhydon.
How big is Rhyhorn?
Rhyhorn is actually fairly short for a rhinoceros-like Pokemon. It is only 3 feet and 3 inches, or 1 meter tall. Despite this, it is still a 250+ pound Pokemon which makes it dangerous to encounter and as it evolves it becomes much taller.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Spikes Pokemon”. While Rhyhorn’s evolution line is often outclassed by many other options, it is unique as one of the original 151 Pokemon. As the Pokemon universe’s rhino counterpart, it is quite distinct and memorable and it is also notable that Rhyhorn only received a final evolution three generations later. Reserve a slot on your team for Rhyhorn if you want a bulky physical defender and attacker.
