Rock And Ground: The Similarities, The Differences, The Ways They Could Change (A Radical Recategorizing Of Two Well-Known Types)

 Hello, good day, and welcome to my lab! I'm Professor Umbreon, The Moonlit Professor. I'm here not to teach, but to discuss this wonderfully bizarre world in which we live.

Today, we will discuss the Types Rock and Ground. First, we will go over what they are, why they're often confused, and how they differ. Then, my suggestions for a new way to think about and separate the two.

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What Are They?

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How Are They Similar?

    Rock and Ground have a lot of overlap. Both represent minerals. Rocks, dirt, sand, mud, gemstones, dust, clay -- all are under the purview of these Types. Some Pokémon are made of minerals, some control them, some live within and have a strong connection to them.

It's easy to see why they're often confused for each other, as we might as well be describing a single Type. Let's review some Pokémon from each Type, and see how they're similar. In fact, let's see if you can guess which Type each is before I reveal it (no searching).

Runerigus, the Grudge Pokémon. This Pokémon is made up of spectral energy and clay tablets.

Geodude, the Rock Pokémon. This Pokémon is a floating rock with arms. It is often mistaken for a rock.

Glimmet, the Ore Pokémon. This Pokémon absorbs nutrients from cave walls. Its petals are made of crystalized poison.

Camerupt, the Eruption Pokémon. Its humps are made of stone and rocks, filled with molten lava.

Which are the Ground Types? Which are the Rock Types? Take a second to figure it out.

Runerigus is Ground. Geodude is both. Glimmet is Rock. Camerupt is Ground.

There are nine Rock/Ground Dual Types. Would they benefit from dropping one and getting a new secondary Type instead? If so, which Type should each lose? Does it really matter, if they're so similar? Well, it kinda does. They are very similar, but they have some important differences. Let's explore that, shall we?

How Are They Different?

    Gemstones and mud. You can hardly say they're the same thing, can you? And that is the difference. Beyond the overlap, Rock handles the solid stuff, Ground handles the not-solid stuff. Let's do a list again, shall we? This time, we'll focus on Pokémon that fit the non-overlap aspects of each Type.

Carbink, the Jewel Pokémon. It has slept underground for so long, under intense pressure, that parts of its body have become crystalized.

Hippowdon, the Heavyweight Pokémon. It lives in sand pits, storing and spewing sand from various ports on its body.

Mudsdale, the Draft Horse Pokémon. Its legs are covered in caked-on mud, which gives it an extra powerful kick. The mud is valued for making quality pottery.

Minior, the Meteor Pokémon. It has a hard outer shell, hiding a glowing crystal core within.

Go on, take a second to guess which is which Type. Got it? Good.

Carbink is Rock Type. Hippowdon is Ground Type, as is Mudsdale. Minior is Rock Type.

Sand and mud are much more likely to belong to Ground Type. Gemstones and crystals usually go with Rock Type. It's all the other things, like stones or dirt or dust, that goes in either. Which leads to our next section...

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Should They Be Renamed And Resorted?

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    It is my opinion that some Types are in dire need of a rename to avoid confusion, such as Flying Type being changed to something like Air Type, since many non-Flying Types can fly. Are Rock and Ground among the Types that need to be renamed? If so, what should they be changed to, and should their members be resorted between them? Are there any Pokémon without either Type that belong in these new categories? Let's see...

Renaming

    What new names might we give Rock and Ground? To answer that, we need to go over the differences we've established -- what makes each unique?

Rock represents solid minerals. Gemstones just aren't Ground Type things. It's the one thing that really separates it from Ground. Keeping that in mind, perhaps Rock could be called Crystal? Crystal Type would be perfect for gemstone-themed Pokémon, but it would no longer include regular stones.

Ground could handle that. While sand and mud are not Rock/Crystal things, any mineral could believably fit in Ground -- except for gemstones. Rocks, sand, dust, mud -- all of it is the stuff the earth beneath our feet is made out of. So I propose the rename of Earth Type.

What Ice is to Water, Crystal could be Earth. More specialized, obviously connected, but still easily unique. But this does lead to some issues, as now a lot of Pokémon just don't fit. The Fossils hardly belong in Crystal, after all. So what to do?

Resorting

    We won't go through every Pokémon that would need to be resorted, only a handful, plus some Pokémon from completely separate Types that could belong in our new categories. Obviously, these changes would need much more debate and study before they could gain acceptance among the general scientific community. For now, these are just my own speculations.

Mega Steelix -- While the Iron Snake Pokémon could retain the Steel/Earth Typing, its Mega Evolution undoubtedly belongs in Crystal Type, as giant crystal formations burst from its body. It is a prime example of how this rename could benefit how we see different Pokémon.

Sableye -- The Darkness Pokémon is a Dark/Ghost Type, and it is difficult to know which Type would be dropped, but it certainly fits the Crystal Type. It consumes gemstones in such quantities that parts of its body have turned to crystal, only getting more pronounced upon Evolution.

The Fossil Pokémon -- When a Pokémon is properly brought back from a fossil, it becomes part Rock Type. But as Rock is now Crystal, it no longer fits. Instead, this diverse group belongs in the Earth category, brought back from mineralized remains millions of years old. But what about Aurorus, who has crystals along its body? Those are actually ice crystals, making the Earth/Ice Type still fit.

Roggenrola, Boldore, Gigalith -- This Rock Type Evolution Line starts off as a pile of rocks, eventually gaining crystal formations along its body. Does this mean it should start off as Earth Type, becoming Crystal Type when it evolves? Well, that ignores how most of its body remains rock instead of crystal. Starting off as Earth Type, this Pokémon could then gain the Crystal Type, becoming dual Earth/Crystal.

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There you have it, my suggestions for new ways to look at two Types that have long been seen as interchangeable. Whether you agree that they should be renamed or not, even if you think the whole idea is completely ridiculous, I hope I've managed to get you think on what exactly makes Rock and Ground what they are.

Goodnight, everymon!