bastiodon
Generation IV · #0411 — Shield Pokémon
Bastiodon, known as the Shield Pokémon, is a Rock/Steel-type fossil Pokémon introduced in Generation IV that represents one of the most defensively specialized creatures in the entire Pokédex. With a base Defense stat of 168 and Special Defense of 138, Bastiodon boasts the third-highest Defense stat among all Pokémon, making it an exceptional wall against physical attacks. This evolution of Shieldon occurs at level 30 and inherits the protective nature of its pre-evolution while gaining greater bulk and resilience. Despite its intimidating appearance and formidable defenses, Bastiodon is classified as a docile Pokémon that feeds on grass and berries, presenting an interesting contrast between its fearsome exterior and gentle temperament. Its signature ability, Sturdy, prevents it from being knocked out in a single hit, allowing it to survive attacks that would otherwise be fatal and leaving it with at least 1 HP instead.
Base Stats
Height
1.3m
Weight
149.5kg
Category
Shield Pokémon
Gender
Male 87.5% / Female 12.5%
Color
gray
Shape
quadruped
Abilities
Prevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. Protects against the one-hit KO moves regardless of HP.
Protects against sound-based moves.
Bastiodon Biology & Physical Characteristics
Bastiodon's appearance draws clear inspiration from ceratopsian dinosaurs, particularly the Chasmosaurus, merged with the geometric structure of a medieval fortress wall. Its most distinctive feature is its enormous, roughly square head composed of rock-hard bone that serves as a formidable shield, complete with four cream-yellow window-like spots that resemble castle embrasures. Three dark gray spikes crown the top of its head, while two larger spikes protrude from the upper corners, and a triangular nose pierces downward over its lips, itself penetrated by a horizontal gray spike. The creature's lower jaw is equally intimidating, featuring four downward-jutting spikes and four large, blunt tusks that protrude upward. Its cream-yellow eyes peek partially obscured behind these facial features, and its stocky, cream-yellow body is further protected by a gray ridge along its back, dark gray plating, jagged leg growths, and a plated tail. Despite its rough and intimidating appearance, Bastiodon's facial bones are so extraordinarily hard that they were initially mistaken for its spine until the species was successfully restored and studied. This creature is estimated to be roughly 100 million years old, placing it in the late Cretaceous period alongside other fossil Pokémon.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Bastiodon Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Bastiodon exhibits a significant gender imbalance with approximately 87.5% of individuals being male and only 12.5% being female, making females a considerably rarer find in the wild or through breeding. This dramatic gender ratio is shared with its pre-evolution Shieldon and suggests that female Bastiodon were inherently rarer even in prehistoric times, perhaps due to the energetic costs of producing offspring with such heavily calcified defensive structures. Breeding Bastiodon requires partners from the Monster egg group, and the species takes 30 cycles to hatch from an egg, translating to between 7,454 and 7,710 steps of walking required for a complete incubation. The base happiness for Bastiodon is set at 70, indicating a reasonably friendly disposition toward trainers who catch or breed them. The rarity of female Bastiodon adds an interesting layer to competitive breeding, as trainers seeking to build teams with this defensive wall must account for the statistical improbability of obtaining female individuals, potentially requiring more extensive breeding chains or wild encounters to secure females with optimal individual values.
Sprites
TMs & HMs
tm01
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm02
crystal
tm02
gold silver
tm02
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm03
crystal
tm03
gold silver
tm05
ruby sapphire
tm05
emerald
tm05
gold silver
tm05
crystal
tm05
diamond pearl
tm05
black white
tm05
platinum
tm05
heartgold soulsilver
tm05
firered leafgreen
tm05
black 2 white 2
tm05
omega ruby alpha sapphire
tm05
x y
tm05
xd
tm05
colosseum
+805 more TMs/HMs
bastiodon's Evolution Chain
Bastiodon Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Bastiodon evolves from Shieldon when the fossil Pokémon reaches level 30, a relatively straightforward evolution that increases the creature's overall stats while maintaining its Rock/Steel typing and defensive specialization. The pre-evolution Shieldon possesses lower Defense (89 compared to Bastiodon's 168) and Special Defense (65 compared to 138), making the evolution a significant jump in bulk. Upon reaching level 30, Shieldon transforms into the more imposing Bastiodon, gaining additional height from 0.5m to 1.3m and weight from 25kg to 149.5kg. The evolution doesn't grant access to Mega Evolution, unlike some other fossil Pokémon, but Bastiodon's base form is already optimized for defensive play. This straightforward evolution line reflects the fossil restoration mechanic that defines these Pokémon—there is no branching evolution or conditional factors, simply a level requirement that brings Shieldon to its full potential as a defensive fortress.
Where to Find
Location data not available for this Pokémon in the database.
Bastiodon Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Bastiodon are social creatures that live in herds rather than solitary existences, and their most remarkable behavioral trait is their coordinated defensive strategy. When multiple Bastiodon line up side by side, their shield-like faces form an impenetrable wall that no frontal assault can breach, a formation they historically employed to protect their young from predators and threats. Their Pokédex entries consistently emphasize that any frontal attack is repulsed, and this reflects their evolutionary strategy as herd guardians. The species exhibits remarkable docility despite its formidable appearance, spending time grazing on grass and berries rather than engaging in aggressive hunting. However, this docile nature masks a critical vulnerability: Bastiodon is helpless when attacked from behind, as its entire defensive strategy is oriented toward frontal protection. This limitation suggests that in the wild, Bastiodon likely maintained their herds in configurations where individuals could protect each other's rear flanks, or that they inhabited environments where rear-facing threats were minimal. Ancient fossil evidence suggests they lived alongside Rampardos, and Pokédex entries note that fossils of these two species have been found together, seemingly from confrontations where they fought to the finish.
Pokedex Entries
Any frontal attack is repulsed. It is a docile Pokémon that feeds on grass and berries.
When attacked, they form a wall with their shieldlike faces to protect their young.
When they lined up side by side, no foe could break through. They shielded their young in that way.
When attacked, they form a wall. Their rock-hard faces serve to protect them from the attacks.
When they lined up side by side, no foe could break through. They shielded their young in that way.
When they lined up side by side, no foe could break through. They shielded their young in that way.
When they lined up side by side, no foe could break through. They shielded their young in that way.
Any frontal attack is repulsed. It is a docile Pokémon that feeds on grass and berries.
When they lined up side by side, no foe could break through. They shielded their young in that way.
Any frontal attack is repulsed. It is a docile Pokémon that feeds on grass and berries.
While it can guard against any sort of attack from the front, it is left without recourse when attacked from behind.
The bones of its face are huge and hard, so they were mistaken for its spine until after this Pokémon was successfully restored.
It lived in the same environments as Rampardos. Their fossils have been found together— seemingly from after they’d fought to the finish.
This Pokémon is from roughly 100 million years ago. Its terrifyingly tough face is harder than steel.
Its face is sturdy—as strong as diamond—and this hardness offers a very stable defense. Much about this species is still unknown, such as its natural habitat.
Bastiodon Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The name Bastiodon derives from two English words: 'bastion,' referring to a projecting part of a fortification, and the suffix '-don,' a common ending for dinosaur names derived from the Greek 'odous' meaning tooth. This etymology perfectly captures the Pokémon's dual nature as both a fortress-like creature and a prehistoric reptile. The Japanese name Torideps appears to combine 'tori' (bird/poultry, possibly from ceratopsian references) or alternatively references 'torque' (a type of armor), with 'deps' deriving from dinosaur naming conventions. The design language borrows heavily from ceratopsian dinosaurs, particularly the Chasmosaurus, which possessed a large bony frill and forward-facing horns similar to Bastiodon's shield-like head and facial spikes. The castle-wall aesthetic, complete with window-like spots reminiscent of arrow slits, was clearly intentional to emphasize the protective, fortification-based concept. The contrast between Bastiodon's docile herbivorous nature and its imposing defensive structure mirrors how medieval castles served to protect inhabitants rather than serve as bases for aggressive expansion, grounding the design in both paleontological and architectural symbolism.
Learnable Moves
Bastiodon can learn 88 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ancient power | rock | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 |
| attract | normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| avalanche | ice | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| blizzard | ice | Special | 110 | 70 | 5 |
| block | normal | Status | — | — | 5 |
| body press | fighting | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| body slam | normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| bulldoze | ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| captivate | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| confide | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| counter | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| curse | ghost | Status | — | — | 10 |
| dig | ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| double team | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| double edge | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| earth power | ground | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| earthquake | ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| fire blast | fire | Special | 110 | 85 | 5 |
| fissure | ground | Physical | — | 30 | 5 |
| flamethrower | fire | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| flash cannon | steel | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| focus energy | normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| foul play | dark | Physical | 95 | 100 | 15 |
| frustration | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| giga impact | normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| guard split | psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| hard press | steel | Physical | 0 | 100 | 10 |
| headbutt | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| heavy slam | steel | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| hidden power | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| hyper beam | normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| ice beam | ice | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| incinerate | fire | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| iron defense | steel | Status | — | — | 15 |
| iron head | steel | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| iron tail | steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 |
| magic coat | psychic | Status | — | — | 15 |
| magnet rise | electric | Status | — | — | 10 |
| metal burst | steel | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| metal sound | steel | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| meteor beam | rock | Special | 120 | 90 | 10 |
| mud slap | ground | Special | 20 | 100 | 10 |
| natural gift | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| outrage | dragon | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| power gem | rock | Special | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| rain dance | water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| reflect | psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| return | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| reversal | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| roar | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rock blast | rock | Physical | 25 | 90 | 10 |
| rock polish | rock | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rock slide | rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| rock smash | fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| rock tomb | rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 |
| round | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| sand tomb | ground | Physical | 35 | 85 | 15 |
| sandstorm | rock | Status | — | — | 10 |
| scary face | normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| scorching sands | ground | Special | 70 | 100 | 10 |
| screech | normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| secret power | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| shock wave | electric | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| smack down | rock | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| stealth rock | rock | Status | — | — | 20 |
| steel beam | steel | Special | 140 | 95 | 5 |
| stomping tantrum | ground | Physical | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| stone edge | rock | Physical | 100 | 80 | 5 |
| strength | normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sunny day | fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| tackle | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| take down | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| taunt | dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| tera blast | normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| thunder | electric | Special | 110 | 70 | 10 |
| thunderbolt | electric | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| torment | dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| toxic | poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| trailblaze | grass | Physical | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| wide guard | rock | Status | — | — | 10 |
Bastiodon Competitive Battle Guide
Bastiodon occupies a unique niche in competitive Pokémon as one of the most specialized physical walls available, with its exceptional Defense stat of 168 complemented by respectable Special Defense of 138 and adequate HP of 60. Its signature ability, Sturdy, grants it immunity to one-hit KO moves and prevents fainting from full health, leaving it with 1 HP instead—a mechanic that can prevent sweepers from devastating unprepared teams in a single hit. However, Bastiodon's viability is significantly hampered by its abysmal Speed stat of 30, the second-lowest base Speed in the entire Pokédex, making it slower than nearly every threat it might face. Its offensive stats are equally underwhelming, with Attack at 52 and Special Attack at 47, meaning Bastiodon struggles to threaten opponents and often functions as pure defensive support rather than a threat itself. The hidden ability Soundproof provides an alternative to Sturdy by granting immunity to sound-based moves like Boomburst, Echoed Voice, and Hyper Voice, though this is typically considered inferior to Sturdy's utility. Competitive Bastiodon sets often focus on moves like Toxic, Stealth Rock, Stone Edge, and Iron Head to maximize its defensive capabilities while still providing team support, making it a niche choice for teams built around stalling strategies or walls that can support sweepers.
Commonly Asked Questions About Bastiodon
What type is Bastiodon?
Bastiodon is a rock and steel type Pokemon.
What does Bastiodon evolve from?
Bastiodon evolved from shieldon.
What are Bastiodon's weaknesses?
Bastiodon is weak to fighting, ground and water type moves.
Bastiodon Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Bastiodon achieved notable cultural prominence through its association with Byron, the Steel-type gym leader of Canalave City in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, where it serves as his signature Pokémon and ace against challengers. Byron's Bastiodon, which can evolve into a Mega Evolution-capable form in certain media interpretations, became memorable to players as a formidable opponent whose overwhelming defense introduced many trainers to the concept of defensive walls. The Pokémon's design has resonated with fans who appreciate its unique aesthetic combining dinosaur paleontology with architectural fortress design, differentiating it from other Rock-type Pokémon that typically draw from geological formations rather than structured buildings. In the trading card game, Bastiodon has appeared in several expansions with cards emphasizing its defensive capabilities and protection mechanics, attracting players who enjoy building defensive or stall-oriented decks. The species represents an important design philosophy within Pokémon—the validation of defensive specialization as a legitimate strategic approach—showing that not every Pokémon needs overwhelming offense to be valuable or interesting. Bastiodon's enduring popularity among dedicated players and designers has ensured its continued inclusion in modern games while maintaining its core identity as an immobile but nearly impenetrable fortress.
Where to Find Bastiodon in Every Pokémon Game
Bastiodon can be obtained through the restoration of Shield Fossils, which are the primary method of accessing this species in most mainline Pokémon games since Generation IV. In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, the Shield Fossil is available in Eterna City and can be restored by the museum director in Oreburgh City, with Bastiodon appearing in the regional Pokédex as entry 0039. Subsequent remakes and generations have maintained similar fossil restoration mechanics, with Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl returning Bastiodon to the Sinnoh region via Shield Fossil restoration. The species also appears in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, where it fills a similar role as a fossil-derived Pokémon available through restoration mechanics. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Bastiodon is accessible through the Paldea region, appearing in the endgame Pokédex. Additionally, Bastiodon has been available through various Pokémon GO events and limited-time research tasks, allowing mobile players to catch this defensive wall on their phones. The rarity of female Bastiodon in wild encounters across most games makes targeted breeding from imported fossils the most reliable method for trainers seeking females with competitive individual values. Trading with other players remains an alternative for those unable to access fossil restoration facilities in their current game version.