Rock Head (Ability)

If you were looking for the Rock Head Pokémon, see Bagon.

Rock Head (Japanese: いしあたま Rock Head) is an Ability introduced in Generation III. Nineteen Pokémon can have this Ability.

Effect

In battle

Rock Head prevents recoil damage from moves, but not from use of a Life Orb, Jaboca Berry, or Rowap Berry or the move Struggle. Recoil damage is still received if Jump Kick or Hi Jump Kick miss.

In Pokémon Colosseum, Pokémon with this Ability still receive recoil damage from Shadow Rush. In Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness Pokémon with this Ability still receive recoil damage from Shadow End.

Affected moves

The Ability affects the following moves:

Move Type Cat. Pokémon learned by* Brave Bird  Flying  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Double-Edge  Normal  Physical *** {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Flare Blitz  Fire  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Head Charge  Normal  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Head Smash  Rock  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Submission  Fighting  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Take Down  Normal  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Volt Tackle  Electric  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Wood Hammer  Grass  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Wild Charge  Electric  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}

Outside of battle

Rock Head has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Rock Head

#	Pokémon		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
0074		Geodude	Rock	Ground	Rock Head	Sturdy	Sand Veil
0075		Graveler	Rock	Ground	Rock Head	Sturdy	Sand Veil
0076		Golem	Rock	Ground	Rock Head	Sturdy	Sand Veil
0095		Onix	Rock	Ground	Rock Head	Sturdy	Weak Armor
0104		Cubone	Ground		Ground	Rock Head	Lightningrod	Battle Armor
0105		Marowak	Ground		Ground	Rock Head	Lightningrod	Battle Armor
0111		Rhyhorn	Rock	Ground	Lightningrod	Rock Head	Reckless
0112		Rhydon	Rock	Ground	Lightningrod	Rock Head	Reckless
0142		Aerodactyl	Rock	Flying	Rock Head	Pressure	Unnerve
0185		Sudowoodo	Rock		Rock	Sturdy	Rock Head	Rattled
0208		Steelix	Steel	Ground	Rock Head	Sturdy	Sheer Force
0304		Aron	Steel	Rock	Sturdy	Rock Head	Heavy Metal
0305		Lairon	Steel	Rock	Sturdy	Rock Head	Heavy Metal
0306		Aggron	Steel	Rock	Sturdy	Rock Head	Heavy Metal
0369		Relicanth	Water	Rock	Swift Swim	Rock Head	Sturdy
0371		Bagon	Dragon		Dragon	Rock Head	None	Sheer Force
0372		Shelgon	Dragon		Dragon	Rock Head	None	Overcoat
0438		Bonsly	Rock		Rock	Sturdy	Rock Head	Rattled
550B	Basculin	Basculin	Water		Water	Rock Head	Adaptability	Mold Breaker
Please note that abilities marked with a superscript are only available in the stated generation or later. For Generation III and IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.

• In Pokémon White, Blue-Striped Basculin with Rock Head instead of Reckless as an Ability can only be obtained in a trade. However, they can be obtained in the wild in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2.

In the anime

Aggron Sudowoodo Onix
When the user uses an attack that inflicts recoil damage, it doesn't get hit with recoil.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	When Sudowoodo uses an attack that inflicts recoil damage, it doesn't get hit with recoil.
Brock's Sudowoodo	Leave it to Brocko!		Debut First mentioned in Wild in the Streets!
	When Onix uses an attack that inflicts recoil damage, it doesn't get hit with recoil.
Roark's Onix	Shapes of Things to Come!		None
	When Aggron uses an attack that inflicts recoil damage, it doesn't get hit with recoil.
Paul's Aggron	Familiarity Breeds Strategy!		None

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Aerodactyl
When the user uses an attack that inflicts recoil damage, it doesn't get hit with recoil.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	When Aerodactyl uses an attack that inflicts recoil damage, it doesn't get hit with recoil.
Red's Aero	Activate: The Ultimate Move		Debut
	When Onix uses an attack that inflicts recoil damage, it doesn't get hit with recoil.
Roark's Onix	A Conk on Cranidos's Cranium		None

Trivia

• Every Pokémon that can obtain Rock Head as an Ability can learn Double-Edge.

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 石頭 Shí​tou​ Dutch Rotshoofd Finnish Kivipää French Tête de Roc German Steinhaupt Indonesian Kepala Batu Italian Testadura Korean 돌머리 Dol Meori Portuguese Cabeça de Pedra Romanian Capul de Piatră Spanish Cabeza Roca

This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.