Fossil Pokémon of every region, from Kanto to Galar
Almost every region has its fossil Pokémon: ancient creatures that in the games are brought back to life from a find. In the crossword they are a small and very recognisable family, because nearly all of them share a type. Nearly all, that is: the exception is the most interesting part.
The common thread: Rock type
From Kanto to Kalos, every fossil Pokémon has the Rock type, almost always with a second type. If a clue describes a Rock type with an unusual second type, such as Water, Grass or Bug, it is worth thinking about fossils. Here is the list, region by region.
Kanto
- Omanyte and its evolution Omastar: Rock and Water.
- Kabuto and its evolution Kabutops: also Rock and Water.
- Aerodactyl: Rock and Flying, and it does not evolve.
Omanyte and Kabuto share their types: the evolutions named in the clues and, when present, the measurements tell them apart.
Johto: no fossils
The second region has no new fossil Pokémon. If a clue mentions Johto, you can rule this family out.
Hoenn
- Lileep and Cradily: Rock and Grass.
- Anorith and Armaldo: Rock and Bug.
Sinnoh
- Cranidos and Rampardos: Rock only.
- Shieldon and Bastiodon: Rock and Steel.
Unova
- Tirtouga and Carracosta: Water and Rock.
- Archen and Archeops: Rock and Flying, like Aerodactyl.
Kalos
- Tyrunt and Tyrantrum: Rock and Dragon.
- Amaura and Aurorus: Rock and Ice.
Alola: no new fossils
Like Johto, Alola adds no fossil Pokémon.
Galar, the exception
The four Galar fossils break the rule: none of them is Rock type. They are creatures rebuilt by joining two different halves, and their types show it:
- Dracozolt: Electric and Dragon.
- Arctozolt: Electric and Ice.
- Dracovish: Water and Dragon.
- Arctovish: Water and Ice.
The names help: “Draco” goes with Dragon, “Arcto” with Ice, “zolt” with Electric and “vish” with Water. If a Galar clue combines two of these types, the answer is one of the four. None of the four evolves.
How to use them in the crossword
- Rock plus a sea or sky type: think of fossils first. Rock and Water, in Kanto, narrows down to Omanyte, Kabuto and their evolutions.
- Pairs to remember: Rock and Bug, Rock and Dragon, Rock and Ice are rare, and fossils take a good share of them. The guide to the rarest dual types helps with the rest.
- Two-stage lines: every fossil that evolves has only one further stage. If the clue says “final form”, you are looking for the second name of the pair.
Want to test yourself? Open today’s crossword: with a bit of luck, one of the answers is a fossil.