Groudon (Japanese: グラードン Groudon) is a Ground-type Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation III.

While it is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon, Groudon can undergo Primal Reversion and become Primal Groudon if it holds the Red Orb.

Groudon possesses the ability to expand continents. In ancient times it came in conflict with Kyogre, a Pokémon with the ability to expand the oceans. In Pokémon Ruby, Emerald, and Omega Ruby, Groudon is sought after by Team Magma as a major part of their plot to create more habitats for land Pokémon by lowering the sea level.

Groudon is the game mascot of Pokémon Ruby and its remake, Pokémon Omega Ruby, appearing on the boxart of both games in its normal and Primal forms respectively.

Along with Kyogre and Rayquaza, Groudon is one of the super-ancient Pokémon.

Table of Contents

Biology

Groudon is a massive, bipedal, dinosaur-like Pokémon covered in red, segmented plates of thick, lava-resistant skin that act as armor. It has a gray underside and large white spikes that run along the sides of its head, body, and tail. Groudon has four claws on each hand, four dozer-like blades on the end of its large tail, and three claws on each foot with gray markings under its feet. It also has blue stripes inside the seams of its armor plating which can only be seen when Groudon is glowing with power.

Groudon is believed to be the personification of the land itself, and is also described in mythology as the creator of world's continents. Groudon is an immensely powerful Pokémon, having control over the land and being capable of creating a sweltering heat wave that'd spread out to the whole world, eventually burning it up completely. As Groudon slumbers, it is incased in a layer of rock that'll be shattered away if it is awakened by the Red Orb. Groudon was hailed as a savior for evaporating flooded areas of the world. Groudon is normally calm and helpful, but if it encounters its rival, Kyogre, Groudon will engage in a cataclysmic battle against it. Said battle can only be stopped by the intervention of Rayquaza. Groudon can travel on water by using its magma to form a path beneath its feet. Groudon can attack its foes by manifesting the power of the land in fearsome blades of stone. It sleeps underground in large magma chambers. Groudon loves Groudon Treats made by Snacksworth, who once encountered and waved to it in the past.

Groudon is the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Precipice Blades. Prior to Generation V, Drought was its signature Ability.

Forms

Groudon can undergo Primal Reversion and become Primal Groudon.

Primal Groudon's appearance is similar to Groudon, but larger in size. Its skin color changes from dark red to deep crimson with its underside, spikes, and teeth turning black. The blades on its tail are more separated from one another. The Ω symbol is now shown on its arms. Its eyes, the inside of its mouth, and the now-enlarged openings between its armor plating glow bright yellow, and its irises are now red.

The primal form of Groudon is said to be Groudon's true and original form and is at its full power when in the Primal state. In the Mega Evolution Pokédex Short, Primal Groudon is said to create new land with every step it takes. The energy that fills Primal Groudon pours forth as magma, and it burns with such an extreme temperature that its body is always shimmering with the haze of its heat.[1] With its weather-manipulating powers, it can nullify Water-type moves. Primal Groudon was formed from the natural primal energy that existed in Hoenn's ancient past. It has to feed on that same energy so it can maintain its primal form in the present day, after it was undone in the past by Mega Rayquaza. Due to the lack of Primal energy in the surface, it is forced to find a source underground, such as the stones in the Cave of Origin, allowing it to undergo a Primal Reversion. Primal Groudon along with Primal Kyogre have the power to disrupt the planet's balance, with the risk of it being destroyed.

Primal Groudon is the only known Pokémon with Desolate Land as its Ability.

Game data

NPC appearances

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Generation III Hoenn#199 Kanto#—
Ruby Groudon has long been described in mythology as the Pokémon that raised lands and expanded continents. This Pokémon took to sleep after a cataclysmic battle with Kyogre.
Sapphire Groudon has the power to scatter rain clouds and make water evaporate with light and heat. It came as a savior to people who had been suffering from terrible floods.
Emerald Groudon has appeared in mythology as the creator of the land. It sleeps in magma underground and is said to make volcanoes erupt on awakening.
FireRed This legendary Pokémon is said to represent the land. It went to sleep after dueling Kyogre.
LeafGreen
Generation IV Sinnoh#— Johto#—
Diamond It had been asleep in underground magma ever since it fiercely fought Kyogre long ago.
Pearl
Platinum
HeartGold Said to have expanded the lands by evaporating water with raging heat. It battled titanically with Kyogre.
SoulSilver
Generation V Unova#—
Black It had been asleep in underground magma ever since it fiercely fought Kyogre long ago.
White
Black 2 It had been asleep in underground magma ever since it fiercely fought Kyogre long ago.
White 2
Generation VI Kalos#— Hoenn#208
X Said to have expanded the lands by evaporating water with raging heat. It battled titanically with Kyogre.
Y This legendary Pokémon is said to represent the land. It went to sleep after dueling Kyogre.
Omega Ruby Groudon is said to be the personification of the land itself. Legends tell of its many clashes against Kyogre, as each sought to gain the power of nature.
Alpha Sapphire Through Primal Reversion and with nature's full power, it will take back its true form. It can cause magma to erupt and expand the landmass of the world.

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Generation III
Generation IV
Generation V
Generation VI
Generation VII
Generation VIII
Generation IX

In side games

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Generation III
Generation IV
Generation V
Generation VI
Generation VII
Generation VIII
Cross-Generation

In events

Games Event Language/Region Location Level Distribution period
BW Pokémon Center Fukuoka Groudon Japanese Japan 80 March 17 to April 15, 2012
B2 Ruby Anniversary Groudon Japanese Japan 100 November 21, 2012 to January 10, 2013
XYORAS Dahara City Groudon All Japan 100 June 20 to August 31, 2015
XYORAS Dahara City Groudon Korean region Online 100 November 20, 2015 to January 31, 2016
XYORAS Dahara City Groudon All South Korea 100 December 23 to 27, 2015
UM Ultra Shiny Groudon Japanese region Online 60 January 13 to March 19, 2018
UM Winter Korean League Shiny Groudon All South Korea 60 January 27 to 28, 2018
UM Ultra Shiny Groudon Korean region Online 60 February 14 to March 14, 2018
M Legendary Pokémon Celebration Groudon American region Online 60 August 3 to November 28, 2018
UM Legendary Pokémon Celebration Groudon American region Online 100 August 3 to November 28, 2018
M Legendary Pokémon Celebration Groudon PAL region Online 60 August 3 to November 28, 2018
UM Legendary Pokémon Celebration Groudon PAL region Online 100 August 3 to November 28, 2018

Held items

Stats

Groudon

Primal Groudon

Pokéathlon stats

Power
5/5 ★★★★★
Skill
5/5 ★★★★★

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
Damagednormally by:
Immune to:
Resistant to:

Primal Groudon

Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
Damagednormally by:
Immune to:
Resistant to:

Learnset

By leveling up

Generation IX
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Groudon
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Groudon
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations

By TM

Generation IX
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Groudon
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution or an alternate form of Groudon
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Generation IX
  • Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Groudon
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Groudon
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Groudon
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

Side game data

<Groudon

Pokémon Ranger
Group: Poké Assist: Field move: None
Loops: 17 Min. exp.: 600 Max. exp.: -
Browser entry R-209
Groudon appears deep in an ancient relic. Its roars trigger huge earthquakes!
Pokémon Rumble Rush
Walking Speed: 1.17 seconds Base HP: 59
Base Attack: 87 Base Defense: 62 Base Speed: 60

Primal Groudon

Form data

Primal Groudon

Primal Groudon is an additional form for Groudon that is the result of undergoing Primal Reversion. If Groudon is sent into battle while holding a Red Orb, it will change into Primal Groudon; it only loses its form when the battle ends.

Primal Groudon is only available in Pokémon Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon. It was removed in Generation VIII along with Mega Evolution.

Primal Groudon differs from Groudon in its base stats, Ability, cry, and type.

Evolution data

Sprites

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Generation III
Generation IV
Generation V
Generation VI
Generation VII
Cross-Generation

In the anime

Primal Groudon in the anime

Main series

Major appearances

Meta Groudon

In Jirachi: Wish Maker, a former Team Magma scientist named Butler, working as a magician at the Millennium Festival, wished to use Jirachi to bring forth a Groudon. However, what he ended up with was not a Groudon, but a manifestation of pure evil that simply had the appearance of a Groudon. At the end, Jirachi used Doom Desire to destroy Meta Groudon.

Groudon (Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire)

Groudon made its physical main series debut in Gaining Groudon. Team Aqua had captured Groudon but did not have the correct orb to control it, so they planned to make a trade with Team Magma, who had captured Kyogre. The trade was about to be made when Archie decided to use Kyogre to destroy everyone, including his fellow henchmen. The battle between Kyogre and Groudon occurred in The Scuffle of Legends.

Groudon (Pokémon the Series: XY)

In Mega Evolution Special II, a Groudon was awakened by the presence of the Giant Rock. In Mega Evolution Special III, it was shown in its primal state, fighting with Primal Kyogre over the Giant Rock.

Other

In Malice In Wonderland!, a Groudon showed up as an illusion created by a Mismagius.

In the beginning of Hoopa and the Clash of Ages, a Groudon was summoned by Hoopa to defeat it in the past. A Primal Groudon was later one of six Legendary Pokémon summoned and hypnotized by the shadow Hoopa Unbound as its reinforcements. It and its teammates engaged in a battle against the Latios, Latias, and Shiny Rayquaza summoned to protect the real Hoopa in Dahara City. Eventually, after the shadow Hoopa was sealed in a Prison Bottle, the hypnosis on Primal Groudon and the other Legendary Pokémon was lifted, and Primal Groudon departed for its home.

Minor appearances

Groudon debuted in the opening sequence of Jirachi: Wish Maker, where it was seen rising out of the lava in a volcanic area while being monitored by Team Magma.

A Groudon appeared in a fantasy in The Spheal of Approval.

A Groudon appeared in a fantasy in Unfair Weather Friends.

A Groudon appeared in the opening sequence of Destiny Deoxys.

In the opening sequence of The Rise of Darkrai, a Groudon exploded out of a makeshift, mountain-based battlefield.

A Groudon appeared in the opening sequence of Arceus and the Jewel of Life.

A Groudon appeared in the opening sequence of Zoroark: Master of Illusions.

A silhouetted Groudon appeared in a fantasy in Healing the Healer!.

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Animated Trailer

Primal Groudon in the animated trailer

In the Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Animated Trailer, a Primal Groudon rose from the ground and battled a Primal Kyogre with its Precipice Blades.

Pokémon Generations

In The Vision, Courtney had a vision in which a Primal Groudon destroyed a chain of islands before attacking Maxie and Tabitha. While she was puzzled by the vision's meaning, this ultimately did not deter her from carrying on Team Magma's plans.

GOTCHA!

A Groudon briefly appeared as a silhouette in GOTCHA!.

Pokémon Evolutions

A Primal Groudon appeared in a fantasy in The Wish. It was shown battling Primal Kyogre before being defeated by Rayquaza as Zinnia told the story of the Draconid people to May.

In the manga

Movie adaptations

Main article: Meta Groudon

An evil creature resembling a Groudon was the result of Butler's failed experiment in the manga adaptation of Jirachi: Wish Maker by Oouchi Suigun.

Pocket Monsters Platinum: Aim to Be Battle King!!

Groudon appeared in PBK4.

Pokémon Adventures

Main article: Groudon (Adventures)

Groudon's first appearance was in Assaulted by Pelipper I. Awakening Groudon was the main mission of Team Magma, so they could expand the land. Groudon was finally awakened when Team Magma and Team Aqua formed a temporary truce to be able to go underwater. Wallace, Brawly, and Roxanne tried to stop the Pokémon's advance but failed due to the interventions of Blaise, Courtney, and Tabitha. Eventually, it reaches its destination: Sootopolis City, to battle Kyogre, which it did for days on end until Ruby, with the aid of a reformed Courtney and his own, Rayquaza-controlling father, managed to quell it. Afterwards, it cut its ties with Kyogre and went to resume its slumber at the bottom of Mt. Chimney. It is shown afterwards that this restored the volcanic activities that Team Aqua had earlier annulled. In the Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire arc, Blaise and Amber tricked Hoopa into summoning Groudon and Kyogre from their resting places, with Maxie and Archie making them both undergo Primal Reversion so that they could help defend the planet from the giant meteoroid that was due to impact it in several days.

A Primal Groudon appeared in a fantasy in Beedrill Prepares.

Pokémon Battrio: Aim to be Battrio Master!

Ryū Tendō owns a Groudon, which debuted in ABM10.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team

Groudon appeared in Why I Became a Pokémon. The Answer Finally Revealed!! and Tears and Emotions - It's the Final Chapter!.

In the TCG

Main article: Groudon (TCG)

In the TFG

One Groudon figure has been released.

Other appearances

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Groudon is obtainable as a Poké Ball Pokémon. It uses Overheat to immolate itself in a fiery aura, causing anyone (except the summoner) who comes into contact with it to be knocked back and receive damage, similar to the attack of Moltres, though it lasts longer. Due to its tremendous size, it takes up a lot of the stage, making its attack almost inescapable. However, Groudon's attack is significantly weaker than Moltres', as it deals less knockback and damage; making it very hard to directly KO an opponent until they reach a very high damage percentage.

Trophy information

"A Continent Pokémon. In ancient times, it brought down droughts to save people who had suffered from floods. It is normally found in the profound depths of the earth, where it slumbers in magma. With a mighty roar, it uses Earthquake to mow down enemies. In battle, it summons sunlight to bathe the area. It once had an epic battle with Kyogre."

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Groudon appears as a trophy.

Trophy information

NA: Groudon is called the Continent Pokémon, and that's not just because it lives on them. Legend has it that Groudon actually created the continents. It has a rivalry with Kyogre, said to have created the oceans, and they apparently had an epic battle long ago. Perhaps our world was born from this great battle between land and sea.

PAL: Groudon is called the Continent Pokémon, and that's not just because it lives on them. Legend has it that Groudon actually created the continents. It has a rivalry with Kyogre, said to have created the oceans, and they apparently had an epic battle long ago. Perhaps it was this battle of land and sea that created the world as we know it.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Both Groudon and Primal Groudon appear as Spirits.

Trivia

Early Groudon design

Origin

Groudon may be modeled after the Earth's land and volcanoes and may be a personification of the land. Its conflict with Kyogre is similar to that of Behemoth and Leviathan of Hebrew legend, who at the end of time would start a battle that would kill them both. Like Groudon, Behemoth is associated with the land. However, while Behemoth is usually depicted as a warthog/hippopotamus-like creature, Groudon resembles a therapod dinosaur, with spikes resembling various species of Ankylosauria.

The patterns on Groudon and Primal Groudon's legs and arms appear similar to the last letter of Greek alphabet, omega, which might signify the end of life, believed to happen with cataclysmic events such as volcano eruptions. It might also signify the opposition to Kyogre's alpha.

Name origin

Groudon may be a combination of ground and don (Spanish for lord) or -don (common suffix in dinosaur names derived from the Ancient Greek word for tooth). It may also involve 土 do (earth) or ドン don (onomatopoeia for booming or crashing sound).

In other languages

References