While it is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon, it 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 version mascot of Pokémon Ruby and its remake Pokémon Omega Ruby, appearing on the boxart of both.
Groudon is a massive, bipedal, dinosaur-like creature covered in red, segmented plates of thick 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. It has four claws on each hand, four dozer-like blades on the end of its large tail, and three claws on each foot with grey 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.
As Primal Groudon, its appearance is similar to Groudon but bigger. Its skin color changes from dark red to bright red with its underside and spikes turing black. The spike on its tail are now separate from each other. The Omega symbol is now shown on its arms. Its eyes and armor plating have change to bright yellow. The eyes also have red iris around them. 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]
It is said to be the creator of land in the Pokémon world, bearing immense power over heat and light and using that to evaporate flooded lands. It sleeps underground in large magma chambers, and causes volcanoes to erupt when it awakens. If it encounters its rival, Kyogre, they will engage in a cataclysmic battle.
Groudon's first anime appearance was in Gaining Groudon. Team Aqua had captured Groudon but didn't have the correct orb to control it. Team Aqua planned to make a trade with Team Magma, who have 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 during the following episode, The Scuffle of Legends.
Awakening Groudon was the main mission of Team Magma, so they could expand the land. Groudon was finally awakened when Team Magma and 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 Pokémon Battrio: Aim to be Battrio Master! manga
Groudon is obtainable as a Poké Ball Pokémon. Due to its tremendous size, it takes up a lot of the stage, making its attack almost inescapable. It uses Overheat to immolate itself in a fiery aura, causing anyone (except the summoner) who comes into contact with it will be knocked back and receive damage. Its attack is similar to that of Moltres, except that Groudon's is much larger and lasts longer. However, Groudon's attack is significantly weaker than Moltres', as it deals a lighter knock-back and less damage; making it very hard to 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."
Game data
NPC appearances
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire: Groudon is the focus of the second Bonus Field on the Ruby Field. Groudon will throw rocks down from the ceiling to add obstacles to the field and create an eruption to surround itself in pillars of fire. The rocks take three hits to break while the fire pillars take four hits to break. During this time, Groudon will also throw fire balls at the Poké Ball to stall it further. The eruption does break any rocks still on the field. Groudon must be hit 15 times in three minutes to win. After beating the round twice, Groudon will be captured.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team: When the player completes the Mt. Freeze dungeon for the first time, after Ninetales is spoken to, an earthquake will happen, then Ninetales says that Groudon has awakened, and will wreak havoc. Team ACT will then go off and try to stop Groudon, only to be defeated, then a new team, made up of Blastoise, Golem, and Octillery. When they get defeated, the player's team have to go to Magma Cavern themselves and defeat Groudon.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Groudon shares its species name with Torterra. They are both known as the Continent Pokémon.
Primal Groudon has the highest base stat total of all Ground-type and Fire-type Pokémon.
It also has the highest Attack and Special Attack stats of all Ground-type Pokémon.
The fake Groudon in Jirachi: Wish Maker is much taller than its game height of 11' 06", being as tall as the mountainous structures in Forina. When an actual Groudon laterappeared in the anime series, it is much closer to its correct size.
On the DVD cover of Jirachi: Wish Maker, a normal Groudon is depicted, despite the Groudon in the film not being an actual Groudon.
Groudon is modeled after the Earth's land and volcanoes and is most likely based on the Hebrew legends of Behemoth, the unconquerable primal master of the land. Its counterparts were Leviathan and Ziz. Just as Groudon is in conflict with Kyogre, it was said that at the end of time, Behemoth and Leviathan would start a battle that would kill them both. However, the Behemoth is usually depicted as a warthog/hippopotamus-like creature; in the same way, Kyogre is not based on traditional depictions of the Leviathan.
Instead, Groudon is based on a dinosaur of some kind. Its appearance seems to have drawn inspiration from the Tyrannosaurus and from various species of Ankylosauria, such as Euoplocephalus.
Name origin
Groudon may be a combination of ground and don (Spanish for lord). Don also means tooth in Ancient Greek and is commonly used in dinosaur names, which Groudon somewhat resembles. It may also involve 土 do (ground) or ドン don (onomatopoeia for a very loud crashing noise).
In other languages
Language
Title
Meaning
Japanese
グラードン Groudon
From ground and don (Spanish for "lord" or "tooth" in Ancient Greek and is commonly used in dinosaur names). It may also involve 土 do (ground) or ドン don (onomatopoeia for a very loud crashing noise).
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.