Root Fossil

The Root Fossil (Japanese: ねっこのカセキ Root Fossil) and Claw Fossil (Japanese: ツメのカセキ Claw Fossil) are Fossils which can be regenerated into Lileep and Anorith, respectively.

In the games

In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Root and Claw Fossils are key items found on Route 111; in these games, there is only one chance to acquire one of the Fossils, as when the chosen one is picked, the other Fossil will sink into the sand forever. However, in Pokémon Emerald, one can be selected in Mirage Tower, and the other one can later be found at the end of the Desert Underpass. If brought to the Devon Corporation in Rustboro City, the Root and Claw Fossils can be regenerated into Lileep and Anorith, respectively.

In Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, they are no longer key items, being demoted to simply items. They can be found by mining in the Underground after obtaining the National Pokédex. Claw Fossils are more common in Diamond while Root Fossils are more common in Pearl. If brought to the Oreburgh Mining Museum, the Root and Claw Fossils can be regenerated into Lileep and Anorith, respectively.

In HeartGold and SoulSilver, the Root and Claw Fossils can be found randomly by smashing rocks in Cliff Cave; however, these rocks do not appear until after obtaining the National Pokédex. The Root Fossil is exclusive to SoulSilver while the Claw Fossil is exclusive to HeartGold. If brought to the Pewter Museum of Science, the Root and Claw Fossils can be regenerated into Lileep and Anorith, respectively.

In Black and White, a Worker in the Ice Rock room of Twist Mountain hands out a random Fossil from previous generations, including the Root and Claw Fossils, once per day. If brought to the Nacrene Museum, the Root and Claw Fossils can be regenerated into Lileep and Anorith, respectively.

Rocks purchased in Antique Shops of Black 2 and White 2's Join Avenue may contain Root or Claw Fossils.

Both Root and Claw Fossils can be found via Rock Smash in the Glittering Cave, but they are exclusive to Pokémon X.

Flavor text

Root Fossil

Games	Description
RS E	A fossil of an ancient, seafloor-dwelling Pokémon.
FRLG	A fossil of an ancient, seafloor-dwelling Pokémon. It appears to be part of a plant root.
	A fossil of an ancient Pokémon that lived in the sea. It appears to be part of a plant root.
	A fossil from a prehistoric Pokémon that once lived in the sea. It looks as if it could be part of a plant's root.

Claw Fossil

Games	Description
RS E	A fossil of an ancient, seafloor-dwelling Pokémon.
FRLG	A fossil of an ancient, seafloor-dwelling Pokémon. It appears to be part of a claw.
	A fossil of an ancient Pokémon that lived in the sea. It appears to be part of a claw.
	A fossil from a prehistoric Pokémon that once lived in the sea. It appears to be a fragment of a claw.

In the anime

Although not seen live, images of Root and Claw Fossils were seen in Where's Armaldo?, when Professor Proctor explained Ash and his friends how he had restored several Lileep and Anorith back to life from Root and Claw Fossils.

In the TCG

The following is a list of cards named Root Fossil or Claw Fossil.

Related cards Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card	Type	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Root Fossil	T	EX Sandstorm		92/100	Miracle of the Desert		048/053
		EX Legend Maker		80/92	Mirage Forest		079/086
		EX Holon Phantoms		93/110
		EX Power Keepers		86/108	World Champions Pack		088/108
		Legends Awakened		139/146	Cry from the Mysterious
Root Fossil Lileep	I	Plasma Blast		87/101	Megalo Cannon		065/076
Claw Fossil	T	EX Sandstorm		90/100	Miracle of the Desert		047/053
		EX Legend Maker		78/92	Mirage Forest		077/086
		EX Holon Phantoms		91/110
		EX Power Keepers		84/108	World Champions Pack		086/108
		Legends Awakened		138/146	Temple of Anger