Board 8 > Favourite middle stage primary* ground pokemon?

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/7/0/1/AANyLIAADDul.jpg
Yes, Piloswine still has secondary ground typing, and it's still here. It's middle stage day! Middle stages tend to get less love than their prevos and evos, but I wonder if today might be different.

Previous results
Basic early rodent: Zigzagoon > Bidoof >> Sentret
Evolved rodent: Furret >> Raticate > Linoone
Basic early bird: Starly > Pidgey > Hoothoot
Middle bird: Pidgeotto > Fletchinder > Corvisquire
Fully evolved bird: Corviknight > Staraptor > Talonflame
Larval bug: Caterpie > Venipede > Sewaddle
Middle bug: Swadloon > Charjabug > Whirlipede
Fully evolved 3-stage bug: Scolipede > Butterfree > Beedrill
Basic early 2-stage bug: Cutiefly > Spinarak > Combee
Evolved 2-stage bug: Shedinja > Ribombee > Centiskorch
Pikaclone: Mimikyu >> Emolga > Pachirisu
Basic 2-stage primary ghost: Misdreavus > Drifloon > Pumpkaboo
Evolved 2-stage primary ghost: Mismagius > Trevenant > Cofagrigus
Basic 2-stage pure grass: Skiddo > Tangela >> Petilil
Evolved 2-stage pure grass: Lilligant > Gogoat > Lurantis
Basic 2-stage primary fire: Vulpix > Growlithe >>> Slugma
Evolved 2-stage primary fire: Arcanine > Ninetales >> Alolan Marowak
Basic crustacean: Dwebble > Krabby > Clauncher
Evolved crustacean: Clawitzer > Golisopod > Kingler
Basic 2-stage pure ground: Cubone > Sandshrew > Phanpy
Evolved 2-stage pure ground: Sandslash > Marowak > Mudsdale
2-stage baby: Riolu > Mantyke > Munchlax
3-stage baby: Elekid > Pichu > Togepi
Basic fossil: Tyrunt > Omanyte > Archen
Evolved fossil: Kabutops > Tyrantrum > Archeops
Chimeric fossil: Dracovish > Arctozolt > Dracozolt
Basic human-like: Abra > Ralts > Machop
Middle human-like: Kadabra > Electabuzz > Machoke
Fully evolved human-like: Gardevoir > Alakazam > Gallade
Basic 2-stage primary ice: Alolan Vulpix > Snom > Cubchoo
Evolved 2-stage primary ice: Froslass > Alolan Ninetales > Glalie
Basic mollusc: Shellos > Shellder > Inkay
Evolved mollusc: Cloyster > Gastrodon > Octillery
Basic 2-stage primary fighting: Pancham > Galarian Farfetch'd > Mienfoo
Evolved 2-stage primary fighting: Lucario > Pangoro > Mienshao/Sirfetch'd
Basic pseudo-legendary: Goomy > Dratini > Larvitar
Middle pseudo-legendary: Dragonair >>>> Drakloak > Gabite
Fully evolved pseudo-legendary: Tyranitar > Metagross > Garchomp
Basic pure poison: Koffing > Ekans > Trubbish
Evolved pure poison: Arbok > Garbodor > Muk
Basic 2-stage primary electric: Blitzle > Yamper > Voltorb
Evolved 2-stage primary electric: Toxtricity > Zebstrika > Electrode
Single stage rock: Shuckle > Corsola > Relicanth
Single stage flying: Hawlucha > Skarmory > Aerodactyl
Basic primary fairy: Flabb > Snubbull > Spritzee
Middle fairy: Jigglypuff >> Clefairy > Togetic
Fully evolved fairy: Togekiss > Alcremie > Clefable
Basic 2-stage pure normal: Meowth > Wooloo > Teddiursa
Evolved 2-stage pure normal: Snorlax >> Ursaring/Cinccino
Basic 2-stage primary dark: Houndour > Sneasel > Zorua
Evolved 2-stage primary dark: Houndoom > Weavile > Bisharp
Ultra Beast: Buzzwole > Guzzlord > Nihilego/Kartana
Basic 2-stage land-based water: Wooper > Slowpoke > Buizel
Evolved 2-stage land-based water: Araquanid > Quagsire > Dewgong
Basic primary steel: Aron > Honedge > Magnemite
Middle steel: Lairon > Magneton >> Doublade
Fully evolved steel: Aegislash > Aggron > Steelix
Basic 3-stage primary grass: Bellsprout > Oddish >> Hoppip
Middle primary grass: Roselia > Weepinbell > Steenee
Fully evolved 3-stage primary grass: Bellossom > Roserade > Shiftry
Version A cover legendary: Ho-Oh > Groudon > Zacian
Version B cover legendary: Lugia > Kyogre > Zekrom
3rd major legendary: Rayquaza >> Giratina >> Zygarde
Basic 2-stage primary psychic: Galarian Ponyta > Espurr > Spoink
Evolved 2-stage primary psychic: Meowstic > Wobbuffet >> Chimecho
Basic 2-stage primary poison: Salandit > Croagunk > Mareanie
Evolved 2-stage primary poison: Galarian Weezing > Salazzle > Toxicroak
Basic pure water 'fish': Magikarp > Staryu > Wailmer
Evolved pure water 'fish': Milotic > Wailord >> Barraskewda
Basic dual type 'fish': Chinchou > Frillish > Carvanha
Evolved dual type 'fish': Gyarados > Lanturn > Starmie
Regi: Regice > Registeel > Regigigas
Basic primary ground: Sandile > Rhyhorn > Trapinch/Drilbur

Sandile dominated a pretty strong day all round. Trapinch and Drilbur tie in the four-way race for third, at the expense of Golett and Swinub.

Krokorok is one of my favourite mons, easily. Probably the second best in the whole of Gen 5.

Krokorok > Rhydon > Piloswine > Vibrava

all right, start the next day

Krokorok > Piloswine > Vibrava > Rhydon

My opinion of Piloswine went way up when I saw the cute beady eyes under that fur.

eh

Eviolite Rhydon is lol. He gets a pass for being gen 1 because he was basically reinvented in gen 5 (much like my other favorite "honorary gen 5 Pokemon", Nidoking).

Krokorok isn't bad but still suffers from "watered down version of the final form" like most middle evos.

It's always Sandile line

I didn't know even Sandile and Krokorok are popular.

Krokorok is one of the few middle evos I like

Vibrava evolves into my favorite Pokemon so it gets it on that association.

like just look at Krokorok and try not to vote for him

you can't do it

all the ones cast were misclicks

I like Vibrava and Piloswine but Krokorok is too cool. I actually think Krookodile is a step down from Krok but we'll get to that tomorrow!

Rhydon
Vibrava
Piloswine
Krokorok

Rhydon's one I'll never forget: Standing, arguably, as the "quintessential ground-type" to me, and ascending from his predecessor and inspiration through the two simple strokes of setting him upright and making a drill out of his horn - what's not to like? If Rhyperior was where things were headed, they should have left it at that.
Vibrava's a curious one, but one I've grown fond of - not better than its successor, but improving off of the base stage (I went at least one playthrough without even realizing Trapinch was related to the latter two!), and accomplishing the rare feat of being a distinguished middle evolution: This is an intermediate form that does not look incomplete, like it's a creature that could exist on its own even separated from the other forms. Then throw in that it's a "backdoor addition" to the Dragon family. Subtle, but recognizable. A fine line.
The swines I've never used, nor been any big fan of, but they have their charms: Namely, the Bambi effect, which is doubled where concerns extinct Bambis, and the fact that they're blind. Combine these, and I do feel bad for the little fellows.
Finally, the attitudes of the members of the last line and how tacky the "sunglasses" are sabotage, for me, much of the appeal of having a crocodile Pokmon. In the case of Krokorok, it's just buffoonish.

krok definitely > krook

Rhydon is a cool dude. It's like the quintessential Pokemon. There's a reason half the Pokedex was represented by the little Rhydon symbol in RBY.

I had (have?) a really cool Rhydon TCG card, so I have a soft spot for it (on top it just being cool). I do like all the others as well though.

Rhydon was the first Pokemon ever created. It's pretty notable.

Krokorok just looks like a rejected Kremling from Donkey Kong tbh

These are all great. Piloswine is pretty easily the least good in its line though, and Krokorak is indeed a bit watered down from its amazing evolution. The last two are the most unique, but only Rhydon is the best of its line.

Krokorok is a baller.

Good category. I like all four! Krokorok walks away with it though.

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