For a general Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet story playthrough, the best Ground-type Pokémon are the ones that combine useful battles with a role your team actually needs—not simply the highest raw power. This is an editorial ranking for ordinary play, not an official list or a competitive tier chart. Availability, version differences, and whether a Pokémon needs DLC or a trade can change which pick is practical for you.
How this Ground-type ranking works
The order weighs story-play usefulness, Ground-type contribution, secondary typing, abilities and stats, and how straightforward a Pokémon is to fit into a typical team. A type or stat listing can help compare candidates, but it cannot decide whether a Pokémon suits your party. The Pokémon Scarlet and Violet roster and stat reference is available from Serebii’s Scarlet and Violet Ground-type listing.
Scarlet and Violet are Nintendo Switch games set in Paldea, where Terastallization can alter a battle’s tactical choices. Nintendo explains that a Pokémon’s Tera Type matching a move’s type boosts that move’s power; that flexibility is a useful option, not a reason by itself to rank a Pokémon higher. See Nintendo’s Pokémon Scarlet and Violet overview and its August 3, 2022 announcement.
Version matters: Nintendo gives Larvitar as an example associated with Scarlet and Bagon with Violet. That does not establish the availability or acquisition route of every Pokémon below in both games. Check each species’ in-game location and evolution requirements before building a team around it, especially if you have not confirmed whether it depends on a version, DLC, trade, or transfer.
#1 Best Overall
- New Pokémon to Discover - Learn new details about Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly—the three Pokémon from which you’ll choose your first partner—along with other wonderful new Pokémon, including the Legendary Pokémon Koraidon and Miraidon!
- The World of Pokémon Has Evolved - Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet offer an open-world experience that only the Pokémon series can deliver—one welcoming even to newcomers to the series.
- You can experience a new style of adventure, with a world that you’re free to explore at your leisure and not in an order dictated by the story. You will, of course, journey to hone your skills as a Pokémon Trainer, but many more discoveries and stories await you. Meet a variety of people and Pokémon, and adventure in the world of Pokémon the way you want to.
- A Deeper Experience with Multiplayer* Gameplay - Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet allow multiplayer gameplay with up to four players. Along with series staples, such as trading and battling Pokémon, you will be able to explore the various locations of the region in these games with other players. You can discover new Pokémon and explore unfamiliar areas with your friends and family, opening the door to an adventure more precious and fun than ever!
- Meet the characters - As one of the main characters, you’ll set off on your adventure. Your outfit will vary depending on whether you play Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet. Who knows what kind of story awaits you? For the first time in the series, one of two different professors will appear in your game depending on the version you choose to play.
What are the best Ground-type Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?
1. Clodsire
Clodsire is a strong all-purpose story choice because it adds a sturdy, distinctive presence to a team without asking to be the party’s only source of damage. Its Poison/Ground typing gives it a different profile from a pure Ground attacker, so it can complement teammates that already cover the same offensive role. It is particularly appealing if you want a Pokémon that can absorb pressure while contributing Ground-type attacks.
2. Garchomp
Garchomp is the most straightforward recommendation for players who want a powerful Ground-type attacker with a useful Dragon secondary type. It can serve as a major physical offensive threat and remain relevant through much of a playthrough. Its dual typing also brings liabilities, so avoid treating it as a universal answer to every opponent; build the rest of the team to cover matchups that trouble it.
3. Great Tusk
Great Tusk stands out for its Ground/Fighting combination, which gives it a more specialized offensive identity than a conventional Ground type. It can help cover opponents that a team’s Ground attacks alone do not address and offers a compelling choice for players who want an aggressive role. Its availability and acquisition context should be checked for the specific game and playthrough rather than assumed from its place in a general ranking.
Rank #2
![Pokémon Scarlet/Pokémon Violet Expansion Pass: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (Retail Version) Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51n-a8y2QXL._SL160_.jpg)
- Only one code for a Hisuian Zoroark can be used in either the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. Upon purchase of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, an email with your code will be sent to the email address registered to your Nintendo Account. From the in-game menu, go to the Poké Portal, then select Mystery Gift, select Get with Code/Password, and then enter your code.
- The Mystery Gift option can be found within the Poké Portal menu option in the X menu after you unlock the feature in the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. (This occurs after about 1 to 1.5 hours of gameplay, though individual gameplay time may vary.) An internet connection and a Nintendo Account is required to redeem the item in game. A Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required. Each item can only be redeemed once.
4. Ting-Lu
Ting-Lu is a bulky Ground/Dark option for a player who values durability and a less conventional secondary type. It fills a different niche from fast or purely offensive Ground Pokémon, and that role can make it valuable when the rest of the party needs a Pokémon that can take hits. Because it is not simply an early, interchangeable team member, confirm when and how it becomes available in your game before planning around it.
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Sandy Shocks pairs Ground with Electric, giving it an unusual combination that can broaden a team’s coverage. It is a good pick if you want a Ground Pokémon that does not duplicate the familiar Ground-plus-Dragon or Ground-plus-Flying archetypes. Its appeal depends on having a party that benefits from that combination, and its game-specific access should be verified before you count on it during the story.
6. Gastrodon
Gastrodon’s Water/Ground typing offers a useful blend of defensive and offensive utility for a story team. It can provide a Ground move user without making the party rely exclusively on a fast physical attacker, and the Water side can add coverage the team may lack. As with any dual type, consider the matchups created by both types rather than assuming that the combination is automatically safe.
Rank #3
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7. Donphan
Donphan is a practical, uncomplicated pure Ground choice. It gives a team a recognizable physical role and avoids the extra matchup complexity of a secondary type. That simplicity can be an advantage in a playthrough: it is easy to understand what job it is meant to do and what kinds of teammates should support it.
8. Krookodile
Krookodile combines Ground and Dark, which gives it a clear offensive identity and makes it a useful alternative to a pure Ground Pokémon. It can contribute against opponents where Dark coverage is welcome, while still serving the Ground-type role that earned it a place on the list. Its ranking reflects general story utility rather than a claim that it outperforms every other dual-type option in every battle.
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9. Mamoswine
Mamoswine’s Ground/Ice combination can give a team valuable coverage, especially if it lacks an Ice-type attacker. That combination is the point: it can do something a more conventional Ground pick cannot. It also means its defensive matchups need consideration, so choose it for the coverage and role it adds rather than as a catch-all switch-in.
Rank #4
- Embark on a new Pokémon adventure
- Catch, battle, and train Pokémon in the Paldea Region, a vast land filled with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, small towns, and sprawling cities.
- Choose either Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly, to be your first partner Pokémon before setting off on your journey through Paldea.
- Embark on an independent study called the Treasure Hunt to gain new experiences, meet new people, and find your very own treasure.
10. Mudsdale
Mudsdale rounds out the ranking as a sturdy pure Ground option for players who prefer a dependable, direct role. It is less about unusual type coverage and more about bringing a resilient Ground presence to the party. It can be a sensible fit when the team needs that straightforward function and does not already have a Ground Pokémon doing the same job.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which Ground-type Pokémon should you use in Scarlet or Violet?
Choose by the gap in your team rather than by rank alone. If you need a resilient general-purpose option, consider Clodsire or Gastrodon. For a more direct offensive centerpiece, Garchomp is the clearest recommendation. Great Tusk, Ting-Lu, and Sandy Shocks offer more specialized combinations, while Donphan and Mudsdale suit players who want a simpler pure Ground role.
- Check version access: Nintendo identifies Larvitar as a Scarlet example and Bagon as a Violet example, so version exclusivity is a real consideration. Do not infer every candidate’s availability from that example; check the individual species in your version.
- Check acquisition requirements: Confirm whether the Pokémon is available in the base game or requires DLC, trading, or transfer, and whether it is accessible at the point in the story when you want it.
- Balance the team: Secondary typing can add coverage but also create vulnerabilities. Avoid stacking several Pokémon that share the same weaknesses unless other party members can cover them.
- Use Terastallization deliberately: A matching Tera Type strengthens moves of that type, according to Nintendo. Treat it as a situational battle tool rather than a permanent fix for a poor team matchup.
Is this a competitive ranking?
No. This list is for general story play, where accessibility, ease of use, and team fit matter alongside battle strength. Competitive value depends on the rules, format, and regulation in effect; a Play! Pokémon rules document dated August 31, 2024 cannot establish which Pokémon are eligible or strongest in 2026. Consult the current official rules for the specific event or format before making competitive team decisions: Play! Pokémon tournament rules and resources.
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