Rhyperior has basically the same build as its predecessor, Rhydon, although it is taller, heavier, and has an additional horn. Rhyperior has a club-like tail and its hide is partially covered by orange, rocky plates. Rhyperior has blade-like protrusions on its elbows and has holes in the palms of its hands. Rhyperior's body is a brownish-gray as opposed to just regular gray. It also appears to have two thick, rectangular rocks above its eyes, resembling heavy eyebrows.
Gender differences
The upper horn on a female Rhyperior is smaller than a male's.
Special abilities
Rhyperior can insert rocks and boulders into its arms through holes in its hands and then fire them like bullets. However, it will occasionally insert and fire Geodude by accident. They are monstrously powerful and are massively difficult to take down without a Water or Grass move.
Behavior
It puts rocks in holes in its palms and uses its muscles to shoot them, although Geodude may be shot at rare times.
Habitat
Rhyperior live far up in the mountains. Finding a wild one can be difficult.
A Rhyperior owned by Forrest appeared in SS025, where it was used to battle against Nurse Joy and her Latias. However, the Drill Pokémon was defeated by the Eon Pokémon.
Rhyperior, the Drill Pokémon and the evolved form of Rhydon. Rhyperior can throw rocks at its enemies by tightening its arm muscles and launching them from the holes in its palms.
In the manga
In the FireRed and LeafGreen series of Pokémon Adventures, Blue has a book on Ground-type Pokémon written by Giovanni, acquired from when he was inducted the new Gym Leader of Viridian. It mentions that Rhydon can possibly evolve further through trading. Blue asks Silver if he could help figure it out because Pokémon trading is his specialty. Before this can be accomplished, they are turned to stone by Sird's attack meant for Deoxys. Years afterward, Silver is once again seen after they were revived with a Rhyperior, apparently evolved from Blue's Rhydon at his request. The latest round confirmed its origins as one of Blue's team members as it once again fought with Chuck's Hitmontop, reminding them both of their old experience at the opening ceremonies of the Pokémon League several years earlier, where Hitmontop was defeated by the Ground-type. Later, Silver is revealed to have a Rhyperior, which was originally Blue's Rhydon.
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia: Rhyperior is used by Heath to protect the yellow circuit ball. Ice later borrows it to use in a three-way boss battle with Ice's Gallade and Lavana's Magmortar in the trio's efforts to thwart the player.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
Rhyperior only learns Physical and Status moves by level-up.
Even though its Pokédex entry in HeartGold and SoulSilver says that it can withstand volcanic eruptions, it still takes damage from Fire-type moves.
Origin
It appears to draw much of its inspiration from a rhinoceros, aspects of various dinosaurs (such as the triceratops) and a tank. It may also have connections with an Ankylosaurus, hence the clubbed tail and many defensive plates.
Name origin
Dosydon's name is deceptively complex. The Do part that is at the beginning may be from the word 土 do, which is Japanese for ground/soil, or 怒 do, which means anger, or ど do, the Japanese prefix that makes a noun sound stronger; サイ sai, Japanese for rhinoceros; and don, a Greek word meaning tooth, commonly used in the names of dinosaurs. "Rhyperior" comes from the "Rhy" of its pre-evolutions and "superior", because it is much more powerful than its pre-evolutions.
In other languages
German: Rihornior - From Rihorn (Rhyhorn's German name) and ior (Latin suffix for "more").
French: Rhinastoc - From Rhinocéros (rhinoceros) and Estoc, a word that designs a "critical hit" or a powerful hit with a sword, or from the colloquial mastoc which means bulky and muscular.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
For other sprites and images, please see Rhyperior images on Bulbagarden Archives.
