Updated at: 02-02-2023 - By: Leo Hall

You probably remember finding a Fossil in your early Pokémon games. In the first generation of games—Blue, Red, Green, and Yellow—the process of acquiring items was relatively simple for many players. However, Fossils are revealed to be extremely important items from the Generation I games all the way up to the Generation VII games. Fossil Pokémon are so rare that even Gym Trainers want them, and very few people actually have any, so knowing the steps and understanding the various locations in the games where you can find and evolve Fossils will immediately improve your Pokédex.

Learning more about these Fossil Pokémon will put you on the path to becoming a Pokémon master. In any game you play today, you can count on us for the latest and greatest information because we have it for the last seven generations.

Pokémon: 15 Things You Didn’t Know About Fossil Pokémon

Devon Corporation Invented The Techniques For Reviving Fossil Pokémon

Even though the company’s headquarters are in Rustboro City, Hoenn, the idea to bring Fossils back to life as Pokémon was developed by Devon Corporation, ostensibly in one of their research laboratories on Cinnabar Island, Kanto Region, south of Pallet Town.

How to Get All Fossil Fusions in Pokémon Sword and Shield! - YouTube

The Pokémon Producer Machine can be seen and explored in the Hoenn headquarters of the Generation VI games. The DNA extracted from the fossil is collected by the machine and stored in a capsule with orange Creation Fluid. The company then uses the blueprint it generated from the Pokémon’s DNA to grow a new Pokémon in a lab.

Visiting the Devon Corporation lab on Cinnabar Island is the only way to resurrect your Fossils in Generations 1 and 3. The player learns that the island’s volcano has erupted, the original Gym has moved to the Seafoam Islands, and the once-famous tech haven is no more in Generations II and IV.

Fossil Pokémon Are Always Part Rock-Type

Knowing that all Fossil Pokémon are either part Rock-type or fully Rock-type will come in handy once you have captured a living Fossil Pokémon.

There are two competing hypotheses as to why this is the case. One holds that the original Pokémon that evolved into the Fossil possessed Rock-type DNA. The alternative explanation is that being resurrected from a Fossil automatically assigns you a Rock-type.

No matter the cause, it will be primarily or entirely of the Rock variety. Grass and Water-type Pokémon can easily take advantage of the weak defenses of Rock-type Pokémon. On the offensive, however, they are second to only the Fighting type, the Ground type, and the Steel type. Furthermore, if it is only partially a Rock-type Pokémon, the drawbacks of being a Rock-type Pokémon may be mitigated by its other type. In contrast to its original Rock type, Kobuto, having been resurrected from a Dome Fossil, is now a Water type.

Cranidos Is The Only Fossil Pokémon That Is Pure Rock-Type

In all games, Cranidos is the only Fossil Pokémon to return as a pure Rock type (after evolving into Rampardos at Level 30).

There are benefits and drawbacks to this. The benefit is that Cranidos is that much more rare of a Pokémon because of it. Obtaining the Skull Fossil that triggers Cranidos’ resurrection requires a trip to Eterna City, where an explorer kit can be purchased from a man who lives in a house next to the bike shop. Your next step is to head underground and start mining the walls for the Skull fossil, which is only available if your trainer ID is an odd number.

The drawbacks of Rock-type Pokémon have already been discussed; however, acquiring Cranidos will have its share of benefits, including its rarity, incredible strength, and excellent offensive moves.

Cranidos, a Pokémon not seen until Generation IV games, is well-known for its ability to smash through obstacles like rocks and trees with its enormous, iron-hard skull.

Fossil Pokémon Are Really Rare And Hard To Catch

It takes a long time and a lot of effort to find a Pokémon’s Fossil and then revive it, and the exact steps required to do so vary widely between games, so Fossil Pokémon are extremely uncommon.

Due to their status as Key Items rather than mere Items, Fossils are even more difficult to come by in the Generation I games. Because of how rare they are, the only way to get a Fossil Pokémon in Generation II is to trade for a Chansey with a Kanto NPC. In exchange for an Aerodactyl.

From the first generation to the seventh, only eleven fossils have been discovered. There are some minor drawbacks to being a Rock-type Pokémon, but their rarity more than makes up for it. Because of this, very few Pokémon trainers actually own any Fossil Pokémon, which only increases their value.

Before Generation IV, Fossils Were Key Items

Fossils are considered Key Items in both Generations I and III, making them one-time-use and non-transferable. (Obviously, this doesn’t apply to Generation II, where Fossils can’t be obtained).

Not until Generation IV do Fossils become slightly more accessible, though the hoops you must jump through to acquire them still seem far more complicated. Fossils, formerly Key Items, are now simply Items, making them easier to acquire and trading partners outside of the game.

Rare as they are, Fossils are not something you should throw away, even in games set after Generation III. Therefore, you can free up more room in your pack thanks to the fact that Fossils are now Items rather than Key Items.

Although this change isn’t hugely significant, it does reflect the fact that, beginning with Generation IV, Fossils and Fossil Pokémon will be more diverse.

The First Three Fossils Were Introduced Simultaneously In Generation I

Unlike later Generations, it is only Generation I of the Pokémon games that three, rather than two, Fossils are introduced. These are the Helix, Dome, and Old Amber Fossils.
Omanyte, which is created from a Helix Fossil, is a Pokémon with a mixed type makeup (half Rock, half Water) that, when it reaches Level 40, evolves into Omastar. Kabuto, which evolves into Kabutops at Level 40, is a Pokémon with a dual type of Rock and Water that was created from the Dome Fossil. Aerodactyl evolves from the Old Amber Fossil, becoming a Rock/Flying type that can Mega Evolve into Mega Aerodactyl.

Pokemon X & Y - All Fossil Pokemon Evolves From Gen (1-6) - YouTube

A Fossil Pokémon makes its first appearance in these games when you face the dragon-obsessed Trainer Lance in the final match of the Elite Four. He is in possession of an Aerodactyl that is Level 60.

At the very tip of Moon Mountain, under the watchful eye of a Super Nerd, you’ll discover the Helix and Dome Fossils. Unfortunately, the player can only keep one of the Fossils. Meanwhile, the Old Amber can be found within the Pewter Museum of Science. To enter, you must have HM01 Cut.

In The Anime, Fossil Pokémon Have Just Been Hibernating For Millions Of Years

The original Pokémon anime television series was the most successful spinoff of the Pokémon franchise, even more so than the card games or the video games themselves. Interestingly, these adaptations deviate from the video games in how the Fossils are brought back to life.

Fossils haven’t been using the Pokémon Production Machine; they’ve just been dormant for millions of years. The Pokémon has started a “new life,” but it still has some attachments to its “old” self. ”

Revitalizing Fossils in the show to create Fossil Pokémon is a lot more haphazard than it is in the games. In one episode, Musharna’s “dream energy” was used to bring an Archen back to life. In other episodes, the process by which the Fossil evolves into a Pokémon is not made clear. This ambiguity would be annoying in the games, but the anime is free to do whatever it wants, and “dream energy” actually sounds pretty neat.

Aerodactyl Is The Only Fossil Pokémon That Can Mega Evolve

Aerodactyl is the only Fossil Pokémon with its own distinct evolutionary history. Aerodactyl never changes throughout the games, unlike the other Fossil Pokémon, which all undergo an evolutionary change sometime around Level 40.

After the introduction of Mega Evolution in the Generation VI games, however, Aerodactyl was the only Fossil Pokémon that could undergo this type of evolution. Aerodactyl has a unique ability, as only 46 types of Pokémon can fly.

Your Pokémon’s base stat will always increase by 100 points after a mega evolution, no matter what its original total was. If you want your Aerodactyl to Mega Evolve, you’ll need to have two things on hand: the Pokémon’s own Mega Stone and a Key Stone. Mega stones are incredibly elusive and typically appear as sparkling objects rather than Items.

In Generation III, You Need A Mach Bike To Get Fossil Pokémon

In the Generation III game series (Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald) two more fossils are added to the existing collection: the Root Fossil and the Claw Fossil, which respectively turn into Lileep (part Rock-type, part Bug-type) and Anorith (part Water-type, part Rock-type).
These games make gathering fossils significantly more difficult than it was in Generation I games. The Crumbling Tower can be found in a desert area east of Lavaridge Town in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. Fossils are on the top floor of the tower, accessible only by mach bike. After all that, just like in Generation I, you’ll need to travel to Rustboro City in order to revive the Fossils.

There’s only room on your shelf for one of these fossils: the Root or the Claw. However, once you’ve fought and defeated the Elite 4, the other will reappear at the Fossil maniac’s home.

In Generation IV, There Are Several Ways Of Finding Fossils

Each game in the Generation IV series introduces Fossils in its own way; Diamond introduces the Skull Fossil (Cranidos), while Pearl introduces the Armor Fossil (Shieldon). Meanwhile, in Platinum, the type of Fossil you unearth is determined by whether or not your Trainer ID is an even number.

Fossils appear in a number of these games; in Sonnoh, you can track them down below ground. Besides the National Pokédex, there are other unique artifacts waiting to be discovered here. You’ll be able to track down every Fossil introduced in the Generation I and Generation III games once you’ve located this one.

The rocks near the ruins of Alph in Johto need to be smashed in order to reveal the Generation I Fossils. In the same spot inside Cliff Cave, you can find the Generation III Fossils carrying out the same task. Since they are no longer considered Key Items, the rarity of Fossils has decreased since Generation IV.

Fossils can be brought back to life at the Oreburgh Mining Museum.

In Generation V, You Find Fossils At Relic Castle & Revive Them At Nacrene Museum

Although gathering Fossils is still a complicated process, two new Fossils—the Cover Fossil, which revives into Tirtouga, and the Plume Fossil, which revives into Archen—have been introduced in the more recent Generation V game series. You can now resurrect nine different Fossils into Fossil Pokémon through trading.

In Pokémon Black and White, the first games in the fifth generation, you can only get one of the two Fossils from a person in Relic Castle. However, in their sequels, Gym Leader Lenora is your source for Fossils.

Assuming you’ve already defeated Gehtsis and Iris, a worker in Twist Mountain will sell you Generation I, III, and IV fossils.

In order to transform the Fossils into Pokémon, players must visit the Nacrene City Museum and use the Pokémon Producer Machine.

In Generation VI, Smashing Rocks Is The Key To Getting Fossils

When you reach the Glittering Cave (after defeating the Elite 4) in the Generation VI games, smashing rocks becomes the primary method of acquiring Fossils, and thus Fossil Pokémon, greatly increasing the likelihood that your collection will grow substantially. The area is rich in a variety of fossil types, including Dome, Helix, Claw, Root, Plume, Cover, Skull, and Armor Fossils.

The Jaw Fossil, which resurrects into Tyrunt, and the Sail Fossil, which resurrects into Amaura, are both introduced once more here. You can only find these fossils in the Glittering Cave, and you’ll need to visit a research facility in Ambrette Town to bring it back to life as a Pokémon.

The Old Amber returns in the Generation VI games, and the Mega Evolve that lets you turn your Aerodactyl into a Mega Aerodactyl can be found in those games as well. This is a big deal for the part Rock-type, part Flying-type Pokémon Aerodactyl, which has spent countless generations unable to evolve.

In Generation VII, You Can Just Buy Fossils

Do you long for the days when you had to go on a mission to find Fossils and then another mission to revive them into Pokémon? You need look no further!

Generation VII video games (Pokémon Sun and Moon) greatly simplify the procedure. In these games, you can easily acquire Fossils by visiting the Stone Shop in KoniKoni City. You can get Fossils whenever you want, so long as you have the cash to buy them.

However, in Pokémon Sun, only Skull and Cover Fossils can be purchased, while in Pokémon Moon, only Plume and Armor Fossils can be purchased. If you want all four, you’ll have to engage in some trading.

To find the person in the van who will revive your Fossils into Pokémon, travel to the Pokémon Center on Route 8 and turn right into the forest.

Archen/Archeops Is The Only Fossil Pokémon Without Hidden Abilities

If you are a true Pokémon fan and have played each of the aforementioned game series, you should be well-versed in the assortment of Fossil Pokémon that the Pokémon franchise has presented to us.

However, it is still surprising to find out that some Pokémon are unique. Aerodactyl seems to be the lone survivor of the Fossil Pokémon, at least for the time being. On the contrary, the opposite is true.

The only Fossil Pokémon without Hidden Abilities is Archen, which evolves from a Plume Fossil into Archeops at Level 37. The lack of Hidden Abilities isn’t a big deal for Archen/Archeops, because this Rock-Flying hybrid Pokémon is so quick and shrewd that it hardly needs them anyway. Furthermore, this may be an advantage in reviving Archen, as some Hidden Abilities can actually be a hindrance at times.

Most Fossil Pokémon Are Inspired By Real World Extinct Creatures

Playing a Pokémon game, have you ever found yourself saying, “wow, this is surprisingly insightful or accurate?” Players have always found connections between the Pokémon series and Japanese traditions of bug catching, technological advancement, and bird watching.

There have been comparisons made between the study of paleontology and Fossil Pokémon. The similarities between some of the Fossil Pokémon and long-since-extinct insects, fish, reptiles, mammals, and dinosaurs are striking.

The aquatic extinct creature Anomalocaris, for instance, has served as inspiration for Anorith/Armaldo. Trilobites, an extinct class of invertebrates, have served as an inspiration for Kabuto/Kabutops. Sea lilies, which first appeared in the Ordovician period, served as inspiration for Lileep/Cradily, and the 400 million year old Ammonite invertebrate group served as inspiration for Omanyte/Omastar. The pterosaur, now extinct, was undoubtedly a major influence on the design of Aerodactyl.

Pokemon X & Y All Fossil Pokemon Locations - YouTube

Pokemon Legends Arceus Fossil Pokemon

The following Fossil Pokemon are available for capture in Pokemon Legends: Arceus:

  • Cranidos
  • Shieldon
  • Rampardos
  • Bastiodon

Even though the events of PLA occurred in the past, the Fossil Pokemon were not around back then. Fossil Pokemon predate the events depicted in Pokemon Legends.

If you’re like most people, you’re probably wondering why on earth you need any Fossil Pokemon in Pokemon Arceus if they don’t even come from the Hisui region. In spite of the fact that they are not originally from Hisui, these creatures can be found in the Pokedex. Therefore, you should capture these Fossil Pokemon to fill out your Pokedex.

As was the case in previous Pokemon games, you will need Fossils in order to capture a fossil Pokemon. However, Arceus and the legend of Pokemon is not one of those games.

In Pokemon Legends, the Fossil Pokemon aren’t actual fossils, so there’s no need to bother bringing them back to life. In Pokemon Arceus, Fossil Pokemon can be encountered freely roaming the world, just like any other Pokemon, so long as you know where to look.

Each different fossil Pokémon

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, you can unearth four distinct types of fossils:

  • Drake (Protector) fossils
  • Prehistoric Fish Bones (Guard)
  • Prehistoric Beast Sword
  • Prehistoric Bird Sword

All four fossils are possible to obtain in either game, though the two pairs of fossils marked above are significantly more common. If you give a fossil to a Pokémon in one version of the game and then trade that Pokémon to another version, you will obtain a fossil from the other game. The other group of fossils can be obtained from the Wild Area’s Digging Duo, but only very infrequently. Before I beat the game or traded for the other version’s fossils, I used my Digging Duo to unearth a Fossilized Bird, Fish, and Drake in Pokémon Shield.

Where to find fossils

You can find one type of your game’s fossils lying around near Cara Liss’ (the fossil restoration professor) location on Route 6. You can obtain the other variety by visiting the Poké Center in Stow-on-the-Side and speaking with one of the NPCs there.

The Digging Duo can also help you unearth fossils in the Wild Area. They’re outside the Pokémon Day Care. If you pay them 500 Watts, they’ll go digging for a few things you need. A fossil may not appear every time, but it will appear eventually. You might only get a few evolution stones if things go badly. If you have enough energy (in the form of Watts), you can do this over and over again.

How to catch Fossil Pokemon

In Pokemon Legends, the standard methods for locating and reviving extinct Pokemon are ineffective. They can be obtained through the Space-Time Distortions in the Hisui area.

Fossil Pokemon are only supposed to appear in the Space-Time Distortions of Pokemon Legends Arceus, as they do not exist in the main timeline. As a result of a wormhole created by Space-Time Disturbances, we can trace the origins of these Pokemon all the way back to antiquity.

The Space-Time Warp that is the Coronet Highlands is the only place you’ll find them, though. Then, just explore the Space-Time Distortion in the Coronet Highlands. The Fossil Pokemon will be located at some point.

Fossil Pokemon – Cranidos & Shieldon

The Coronet Highlands are home to a space-time distortion where you can find both Cranidos and Shieldon. You might happen to see them there. Simply seize the opportunity once you’ve located them.

Fossil Pokemon – Rampardos & Bastiodon

The advanced forms of Cranidos and Shieldon are Rampardos and Bastiodon. It follows that Cranidos must be evolved into a Rampardos, while Shieldon must be evolved into a Bastiodon.

At level 30, both Pokémon automatically evolve into their next forms. Just like that!

Where to restore fossils

Get back on Route 6 to meet with fossil restoration expert Professor Cara Liss. She won’t let you revive a Pokémon from its fossils unless you have two that are genetically identical. She will keep talking about prehistoric Pokémon if you do not have the necessary items.

Which fusions are created

In total, there are four possible combinations of fossils:

  • Drake the Fossilized and the Fossilized Bird, or Dracozolt.
  • Arctozolt, the Fossilized Bird and Fossilized Dinosaur.
  • The Dracovians also discovered fossils of a fish and a drake.
  • To be arctovish, you need both a fossilized fish and a fossilized dinosaur.

Conclusion

Who would have thought that playing Pokémon would be so enlightening? When discussing Fossil Pokémon, this is to be expected.