Golem

Golem in the games: the Megaton Pokémon and its Alolan form

Golem is a Rock and Ground type that evolves from Graveler when traded, one of the four trade evolutions in Red and Blue alongside Machoke, Kadabra and Haunter; Pokémon Legends: Arceus lets a Linking Cord trigger it instead. It stands 1.4 meters tall but weighs 300 kilograms, with Rock Head and Sturdy as its standard abilities and Sand Veil as its hidden ability.

Sun and Moon introduced Alolan Golem, a Rock and Electric type that evolves from Alolan Graveler the same way, by trade.

Golem and Brock: a Gym Leader line on screen and in the games

Brock's Geodude debuts in the anime's "Showdown in Pewter City" and does not evolve; it is still a Geodude when it reappears in the Sun and Moon series. In the games, Brock uses Geodude in Red and Blue, but in Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold and SoulSilver he uses a Graveler instead, and his HeartGold and SoulSilver rematch team upgrades it to a Golem.

Golem on cards: Brock's Golem to Golem ex

Golem's first card is Fossil #36 (1999), illustrated by Kagemaru Himeno. Gym Heroes (2000) printed Brock's Golem as a Rare for the Pewter City Gym Leader, and Expedition Base Set (2002) gave it a holo by Aya Kusube. EX Dragon (2003) added Golem ex, from the EX era when the mechanic was styled in lowercase.

Rising Rivals (2009) printed Golem 4, an Elite Four's Pokémon SP card for Sinnoh's Bertha, and Generations brought a Golem EX. Crimson Invasion (2017) gave the Alolan form Alolan Golem GX, including a Secret Rare numbered beyond the set total, and 151 (2023) revived Golem ex with a Double rare and a full art Ultra Rare by PLANETA Igarashi.

Why collectors follow Golem

Golem has been printed under four of the TCG's premium mechanics: EX era Golem ex, XY era Golem EX, Alolan Golem GX and Scarlet & Violet Golem ex. Its two forms and its Gym Leader and Elite Four cards give a Golem run plenty of variety for a Kanto stage 2.

Cards to know

• Golem (Fossil #36)

  Golem's first card, a 1999 Fossil Uncommon illustrated by Kagemaru Himeno.

• Brock's Golem (Gym Heroes #20)

  Brock's Golem, a Gym Heroes Rare tied to the Pewter City Gym Leader.

• Golem ex (Dragon #91)

  Golem ex from EX Dragon, from the era when Pokémon-ex were styled in lowercase.

• Alolan Golem GX (Crimson Invasion #113)

  The Secret Rare Alolan Golem GX from Crimson Invasion, numbered beyond the set total.

• Golem ex (151 #189)

  The full art Ultra Rare Golem ex from 151, illustrated by PLANETA Igarashi.

• Alolan Golem (Journey Together #046)

  A standard Alolan Golem printing from Journey Together.