In recent years, the Pokémon franchise has gotten bigger and bolder with its new creature designs and its latest entry, Scarlet and Purple is no exception. From the animal-themed Loyal Three (Ogidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti) to the simple yet charming designs like Brambleghast, the new Pokémon are beloved by fans of all ages. However, one type of Pokémon hasn't received much love from Gamefreak in recent titles, as Fossil has been forgotten.
Fossil Pokémon originated in the first Pokémon series and have been a mainstay up until Pokemon Sword and Shieldsince typing rarely skipped entries. With Scarlet and Purpletyping is gone, as there are 0 Fossil-type Pokémon in the game. Despite this, Fossil is still one of the most intriguing Pokémon types, and there are many that fans should give a second chance.
Armaldo is an incredible evolution of an unassuming Pokémon.
Pokédex Entry: #348 – The Plate Pokémon
Pokémon Name |
Pokedex |
Type(s) |
---|---|---|
Armando |
The Flat Pokémon |
Rock/Insect |

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Many Pokémon often have modest stage 1 forms, and this is also true for Armaldo. Armaldo's first stage is Anorith, a cute but weak little insect with wings. When Armaldo evolves, not much of its previous evolution is visible in its design, except for a few feather-like objects on its neck and red markings on its head.
First appeared in the third generation, Armaldo is a Rock/Bug-type Pokémon that stands 4'11'' tall and weighs 150.4 lbs.. Although this Pokémon resembles a dinosaur more than other Fossil Pokémon, it is thought to resemble ancient flying insects and their enormous size. While Armaldo may not be as iconic as other Fossil Pokémon, it stands out among Bug-type Pokémon for its simple yet unique design.
Kabutops is an old Pokémon design that still holds up
Pokédex Entry: #141- The Shellfish Pokémon
Pokémon Name |
Pokedex |
Type(s) |
---|---|---|
Kabutopo |
The Crustacean Pokémon |
Rock/Water |
Some of the earliest Pokémon designs are still valid to this day, and early Fossil designs are no exception. Generation I featured 3 Fossil Pokémon, and 2 of them are some of the most recognizable Pokémon among the first 151 Pokémon released. Kabutops is one of those 3 Fossil Pokémon, and its simple yet elegant design stands out.
Kabutops evolves from the base form of Kabuto, which closely resembles a real-life creature known as a horseshoe crab. As the evolution loses all resemblance to this animal, more than makes up for it with its elegant arm bladeswhich are used to deadly effect in battle. Kabutops may not be as colorful as other Pokémon, but there's no doubt that its design is iconic.
Bastiodon's medieval-style design is immensely creative.
Pokédex Entry: #411 – The Pokémon Shield
Pokémon Name |
Pokedex |
Type(s) |
---|---|---|
Bastidon |
The Pokémon Shield |
Rock/Steel |
Pokémon designs are phenomenally different from one another, and very rarely does one Pokémon look exactly the same. This is best demonstrated in earlier Fossil Pokémon, as Bastiodon is one of the most unique designs from Generation IV. While newer designs better capture the aesthetics of weapons (example: Aegislash), Bastiodon's design still holds up.
Bastiodon, the Shield Pokémon, evolves from Shieldon, a much smaller form that looks a bit like a Triceratops, but with a shield on its face instead of a horn. Bastiodon gets the best of both worlds, as the shield on its face is equipped with blades for defenseWhile this Pokémon may not be the most popular, it is a great addition to any Pokémon trainer's collection.
Aurorus is the most regal fossil Pokémon
Pokédex Entry: #699 – The Pokémon of the Tundra
Pokémon Name |
Pokedex |
Type(s) |
---|---|---|
Auroras |
The Tundra Pokémon |
Rock/Ice |

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Many Fossil Pokémon do not have bright colors in their designs, as they are often based on simple dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex and Brachiosaurus. While Aurorus may be based on the latter, it is far from boring, as its design is one of the more colorful of the Fossil Pokémon.
Aurorus evolves from Amaura, a smaller but equally colorful base form. The evolved form is one of the largest fossil Pokémon, as he is 8'10″ tall and weighs nearly 500 poundsIts size only adds to its regal nature, as every part of this Fossil Pokémon is covered in bright blue, purple, and yellow colors, all of which make the creature stand out from the rest of its Fossil brethren.
Tirtouga is a perfect base form with a mediocre evolution.
Pokédex Entry: #564 – The ProtoTurtle Pokémon
Pokémon Name |
Pokedex |
Type(s) |
---|---|---|
Turtle |
The ProtoTurtle Pokémon |
Water/Rock |
Pokémon are no stranger to iconic turtle designs. From Squirtle to Turtwig, turtles have always played an important role in the Pokémon franchise.and continues to do so today. While Tirtouga is less well-known than its starter Pokémon counterparts, it still deserves just as much praise.
Tirtouga is one of the few Fossil Pokémon that gets worse when it evolves, as its evolution loses all of the charm and semi-realistic nature of its base form. Tirtouga is distinguished from other Turtle Pokémon by the turtle type it is based on, the Leatherback Turtle. While its evolution may lose the charm of its base form, Tirtouga is still an underrated Fossil type that deserves a second look from many Pokémon trainers.
Tyrantrum is an iconic fossil
Pokédex Entry: #697 – The Despot Pokémon
Pokémon Name |
Pokedex |
Type(s) |
---|---|---|
Tyrant |
The Despot Pokémon |
Rock/Dragon |
The Pokémon franchise has regularly used puns in the names of its creatures over the years, and Fossil Pokémon are no exception. Tyrantrum and its corresponding Pokédex entry utilize some of the best puns in the franchise, only adding to the dinosaur-inspired Pokémon's charm.
Tyrantrum stands a whopping 8'2'' tall and weighs nearly 600 pounds, making it by far one of the largest Fossil Pokémon.. Its base form, Tyrunt, is significantly smaller, standing just 3 feet tall. Tyrantrum's color scheme is simplistic, but it makes the important parts of the design, such as its sharp claws and teeth, stand out. Overall, Tyrantrum is the closest thing the Pokémon franchise has to a traditional Tyrannosaurus Rex, and this design is a fitting tribute to the king of dinosaurs.
Arctozolt is a surprising new fossil addition
Pokédex Entry: #881 – The Fossil Pokémon
Pokémon Name |
Pokedex |
Type(s) |
---|---|---|
Arctozolto |
The Fossil Pokémon |
Electric/Ice |

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The newest Fossil Pokémon have some of the most intriguing Pokédex entries, as they are all called Fossil Pokémon. While this does a disservice to the existing Fossil Pokémon, it is an apt description of each of the 4 hybrid Fossil Pokémon. The best of these Pokémon is Artozolt, as its design is the least elaborate and also the most charming.
Unlike most Fossil Pokémon, Arctozolt does not evolve from a base form and does not have an evolutionWhile its design is rather strange, its bright colors help it stand out from other fossils, and the ice it emerges from makes it quite attractive compared to many other Fossil Pokémon.
Archeops is the flying fossil friend of Pokémon
Pokédex Entry: #567 – The First Bird Pokémon
Pokémon Name |
Pokedex |
Type(s) |
---|---|---|
Archeope |
The first Bird Pokémon |
Rock/Fly |
Pokémon has a wide array of flying creatures, and some of them are among the most recognizable faces of the franchise. From Honchkrow to Talonflame, birds are some of the most influential Pokémon designs. Perhaps one of the most unique flying Pokémon is the Fossil Pokémon, Archeops.
Archeops evolves from Archen, a small but colorful bird. Archeops is a vibrant Pokémon with many different colors in its design that help it stand out from the other bland bird designs in the Pokédex. Overall, while Archeops is a great design, it isn't the most iconic flying Fossil Pokémon.
Aerodactyl is the best representation of the flying dinosaur from Pokémon
Pokédex Entry: #142 – The Fossil Pokémon
Pokémon Name |
Pokedex |
Type(s) |
---|---|---|
Aerodactyl |
The Fossil Pokémon |
Rock/Fly |
Aerodactyl is easily one of the most recognizable flying Pokémon of all time, and it’s not hard to see why. This Fossil Pokémon is one of the best representations of a dinosaur in the franchise, as it’s a semi-accurate representation of a Pterodactyl.
Unlike its first-generation counterparts, Aerodactyl does not have a base form, as It is the main Fossil Pokémon of the first chapter of the seriesWhile other Flying-type Pokémon have made their mark on the franchise, Aerodactyl is still the most recognizable flying Fossil Pokémon.
Rampardos is an underrated but superb fossil Pokémon
Pokédex Entry: #409 – The Headbutt Pokémon
Pokémon Name |
Pokedex |
Type(s) |
---|---|---|
Ramparts |
The Header Pokémon |
Rock |
Rampardos is unique among Fossil Pokémon in that it is the only evolution that has only one type. This Fossil Pokémon is only a Rock type and its design is iconic among Pokémon.
While this Fossil Pokémon has a rather simplistic design, Its spikes along with its red eyes help it stand out from the packAdditionally, Rampardos is featured in one of the most difficult boss encounters in Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almiamaking it one of the most recognizable fossils in the history of the Pokémon franchise.