How to Find (& Catch) Rhyperior in Pokémon Sword & Shield

In Pokémon Sword & Shield, players will spend time finding, catching, and evolving Pokémon around the Galar region. While many Pokémon can be found in the wild and added to the Pokédex, some are less easily accessible and can only be found and cataloged through evolving. The evolution process often requires players find a pre-evolution form of a certain Pokémon and reach a high enough level, often through befriending them and giving them EXP Candy. Some, though, like the Galarian Darmanitan, take more work or special items or activities to evolve.

This is the case for Rhyperior. Rhyperior is a Ground and Rock-type Drill Pokémon that cannot be found in the wild in Pokémon Sword & Shield. Instead, players will need to find either of Rhyperior’s two pre-evolution forms, Rhyhorn or Rhydon, and evolve it into a Rhyperior. While not very fast or particularly high-stat, Rhyperior is a good Pokémon to have on hand whenever a player is going to participate in a Raid, especially against ice, bug, fire, and flying type Pokémon. Here’s how to find and catch Rhyperior in Pokémon Sword & Shield.

Find Rhyperior in Pokémon Sword & Shield

While Rhyperior is not available in the wild, his pre-evolutions Rhyhorn and Rhydon are fairly common. Players will most likely find Rhyhorn first, as it is a bit more common than Rhydon and available in more locations at more levels.

Rhyhorn can be found in the following places under the following conditions:

• Motostoke Riverbank: In the Overworld during Intense Sun at level 26-28 (5% spawn chance in Shield, 40% spawn chance in Sword). Non-overworld during Intense Sun or Sandstorm at level 26-28 (35% spawn chance in each weather condition).
• Bridge Field: Non-overworld during a Sandstorm at level 26-28 (30% spawn chance)
• Route 8: Non-overworld during All Weather at level 38-40 (20% spawn chance)
• Stony Wilderness: Non-overworld during a Sandstorm at level 26-28 (40% spawn chance)
• Giant’s Mirror: Overworld during a Sandstorm at level 28-30 (50% spawn chance)
• Giant’s Cap: Overworld at level 31-34 during Normal Weather, when it is Overcast or Heavy Fog, and during Intense Sun or Sandstorms (30% spawn chance each) or when it is Raining, Snowing, or during a Thunderstorm or Snowstorm (60% chance each).

Rhyhorn automatically evolves into the next phase, Rhydon, when it reaches Level 42.

Players can avoid needing to wait through two evolutions to get Rhyperior if they try to catch Rhydon first. There is a fixed encounter in the southern region of the Dusty Bowl Overworld at level 41. Players can try to battle it, and it will take time to respawn.

Rhydon can also be found in the following locations under specific conditions:

• Route 10: Non-overworld at level 43-46 during All Weather (25% spawn chance)
• Lake of Outrage: Non-overworld at level 50-52 during Intense Sun (33% spawn chance). Overworld at any level during Sandstorms.
• Bridge Field: Overworld during Intense Sun and Sandstorms
• Dusty Bowl: Overworld during Rain or Thunderstorms. Non-overworld at level 40-45 during Intense Sun (58% spawn chance)
• Giant’s Seat: Overworld during Normal weather
• Motostoke Riverbank: Overworld during Intense Sun and Sandstorms
• Stony Wilderness: Overworld during all weather conditions

In either case, to get Rhyperior, players will need to do some searching. There is also a chance to encounter a level 55-60 Rhyperior in some 5-Star Raids, but the easiest way to obtain one is through evolution.

Catch Rhyperior in Pokémon Sword & Shield

When a player finds either a Rhyhorn or a Rhydon, in the wild, they will need to engage it in battle. Rhyhorn, Rhydon, and Rhyperior are all weak against Ice, Fighting, Ground, Steel, Water, and Grass-type moves, so players will want to choose a Pokémon that specializes in these move types.

Once players have a Rhydon, they will need to evolve it before they can finally have and battle with Rhyperior. To evolve Rhydon, a player needs to find the item called Protector. The only purpose of this item is to evolve Rhydon into Rhyperior, making it somewhat rare.

Protectors are located in Route 9 on a small island in Chirchester Bay. It is also available for purchase from the Pokemon Center in Hammerlocke. It costs 10 Battle Points, which can be obtained through fights at the Battle Tower. Occasionally, the merchant in Stow-on-Side will also have one, but because his inventory changes daily, this is not the most reliable way to find a Protector.

Once players have the Protector, they will need to give it to Rhydon. They then need to trade Rhydon either locally or to another player via the Internet to trigger the evolution. To get Rhyperior back, the other player will need to transfer the Pokémon back to the original player.

Pokémon Sword & Shieldis available for the Nintendo Switch.

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