In Pokémon X, your first fossil comes from Glittering Cave, north of Route 9, and it’s a choice: the Jaw Fossil (Tyrunt) or the Sail Fossil (Amaura). The story gives you only one of the two. Take it to the Fossil Lab in Ambrette Town and it comes back as a level 20 Pokémon. Smash rocks with Rock Smash in the deep cave for Old Amber, and after the Hall of Fame you can get Root or Claw in Pokémon X (Helix or Dome in Pokémon Y), plus Skull, Armor, Cover and Plume in both.
Pokémon X fossils at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where do fossils come from? | Glittering Cave, north of Route 9. Old Amber and the post-game fossils come from rocks in the deep cave |
| How many can I get in one save? | One of Jaw or Sail, from the story. Rock fossils have no limit, so keep smashing rocks |
| Where are they revived? | The Ambrette Fossil Lab in Ambrette Town. The revived Pokémon is level 20 |
| Do I need a Gym Badge for Rock Smash? | No. Rock Smash is TM94 in Pokémon X and Y, and you can use it at any time |
| Where do I get TM94? | Speak to the girl outside Ambrette Aquarium, next to the Pokémon Center |
| When do the post-game fossils appear? | After you enter the Hall of Fame. Root and Claw are for Pokémon X, Helix and Dome for Pokémon Y |
Getting to Glittering Cave
Glittering Cave is north of Route 9. You cross Route 9 on a Rhyhorn, and the entrance is at the top of the route. Inside, the cave is one long, narrow tunnel with several side passages. They all end in dead ends, but two of them have items: a Hard Stone at the end of the second passage and TM65 (Shadow Claw) at the end of the third. The main tunnel takes you to the deep cave.
The Team Flare fight and the fossil choice
The first time you go deep, Team Flare is there trying to steal fossils from the scientists. Four Grunts block the way. The first two fight alone: one with a Houndour and a Zubat, the other with a Gulpin and an Electrike, all level 18. The last two fight together with a Scraggy and a Croagunk, both level 20.
Your neighbour, Calem or Serena, joins you for the last fight, a Multi Battle against the final two Grunts. Afterward a scientist from the Fossil Lab offers you the Jaw Fossil or the Sail Fossil. You can take only one.
Pokémon X and Pokémon Y give the same choice and the same scene.
Jaw or Sail: which one to take
| Fossil | Revives as | Types | Ability | Evolves into |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Jaw Fossil |  Tyrunt, Lv. 20 | Rock / Dragon | Strong Jaw (hidden: Sturdy, not from reviving) |  Tyrantrum at Lv. 39 or higher, leveled up in the daytime |
 Sail Fossil |  Amaura, Lv. 20 | Rock / Ice | Refrigerate (hidden: Snow Warning, not from reviving) |  Aurorus at Lv. 39 or higher, leveled up at night |
Tyrantrum and Aurorus have the same total base stats, 521, but they’re built differently. Tyrantrum has more Attack and Defense. Aurorus has more HP and Special Attack and Defense.
| Base stat | Tyrantrum | Aurorus |
|---|---|---|
| HP | 82 | 123 |
| Attack | 121 | 77 |
| Defense | 119 | 72 |
| Sp. Attack | 69 | 99 |
| Sp. Defense | 59 | 92 |
| Speed | 71 | 58 |
Take the Jaw Fossil if you want the stronger physical attacker. Tyrantrum has much higher Attack and Defense, and Speed. It takes double damage from Ice, Fighting, Ground, Dragon, Steel and Fairy. Take the Sail Fossil if you want the sturdier special Pokémon. Aurorus has the higher HP, Special Attack and Special Defense, and it resists Ice. Fighting and Steel both do four times the damage to it, because it’s Rock and Ice. Tyrunt evolves in the daytime and Amaura at night, both at level 39 or higher. The choice is the only one you get in this save, unless you trade for the other fossil.
Reviving the fossil at the Fossil Lab
The lab is in Ambrette Town. Talk to the researcher at the counter and pick the fossil you want revived. Every fossil comes back as a level 20 Pokémon.
| Fossil | Revives as (Lv. 20) | Where you get it |
|---|---|---|
| Jaw Fossil | Tyrunt | Glittering Cave, from the story (your choice) |
| Sail Fossil | Amaura | Glittering Cave, from the story (your choice) |
 Old Amber |  Aerodactyl | Rock Smash in the deep cave, any time |
 Root Fossil |  Lileep | Rock Smash, Pokémon X only, after the Hall of Fame |
 Claw Fossil |  Anorith | Rock Smash, Pokémon X only, after the Hall of Fame |
 Helix Fossil |  Omanyte | Rock Smash, Pokémon Y only, after the Hall of Fame |
 Dome Fossil |  Kabuto | Rock Smash, Pokémon Y only, after the Hall of Fame |
 Armor Fossil |  Shieldon | Rock Smash in the deep cave, after the Hall of Fame |
 Skull Fossil |  Cranidos | Rock Smash in the deep cave, after the Hall of Fame |
 Cover Fossil |  Tirtouga | Rock Smash in the deep cave, after the Hall of Fame |
 Plume Fossil |  Archen | Rock Smash in the deep cave, after the Hall of Fame |
A scientist in the Fossil Lab gives you Aerodactylite once you’re back from Glittering Cave, so you can Mega Evolve Aerodactyl after you get the Mega Ring. The whole Old Amber route, rock by rock, is on the Aerodactyl page.
Rock Smash and the deep cave rocks
For Rock Smash (TM94), speak to the girl outside Ambrette Aquarium, next to the Pokémon Center. In Pokémon X and Y it doesn’t need a Gym Badge. Use it on the cracked rocks in the deep cave. To bring the rocks back, step back into the main tunnel, then re-enter the deep room, so you can farm them.
A smash can turn up an item, start a Pokémon battle, or do nothing. When a battle starts, it’s Dwebble 65% of the time (level 15 or 17) or Onix 35% of the time (level 15 to 17).
Before the Hall of Fame
| Item | Share of item results (approx.) |
|---|---|
 Hard Stone | about 64.5% |
 Revive | about 27% |
| Old Amber | about 8.5% |
Before the Hall of Fame, Old Amber is the only fossil the rocks can give. The Jaw and Sail Fossils come from the story, not from rocks. Revive Old Amber at the lab for Aerodactyl. The shares are approximate.
After the Hall of Fame
| Item | Pokémon X (share of item results) | Pokémon Y (share of item results) |
|---|---|---|
| Old Amber | about 10% | about 10% |
| Skull Fossil | about 12.5% | about 12.5% |
| Armor Fossil | about 10% | about 10% |
| Cover Fossil | about 12.5% | about 12.5% |
| Plume Fossil | about 10% | about 10% |
| Root Fossil | shares the leftover share, see note | not from rocks in Pokémon Y |
| Claw Fossil | shares the leftover share, see note | not from rocks in Pokémon Y |
| Helix Fossil | not from rocks in Pokémon X | about 25% |
| Dome Fossil | not from rocks in Pokémon X | about 20% |
In Pokémon X, Root and Claw together make up the leftover share, about 45%. That figure is calculated from the other values, not measured, so the split between them is unknown. Pokémon Y has Helix and Dome in their place. The shares are approximate.
Why you’re not finding fossils
- You got Dwebble or Onix. That’s the Pokémon table, not the item table. Smash again, and the items show up on other rocks.
- You got Big Pearl, Ether or Pearl. Those come from the rocks along the coast in Ambrette Town, not from the cave. The cave’s rocks give Hard Stone, Revive, Old Amber and, after the Hall of Fame, the fossils.
- You’re looking for Skull or Armor before the Hall of Fame. They don’t appear until you enter it.
- You want the other story fossil. The story only lets you pick one, and the offer doesn’t come back. See the section on trading below.
Pokémon Y
The walk, the story, the choice and the lab are the same. The only difference is the post-game rock list. Pokémon Y gives Helix and Dome, and Pokémon X gives Root and Claw. Skull, Armor, Cover and Plume are in both.
Getting the other fossil in 2026
The Global Trade System and Wonder Trade ended in April 2024, when Nintendo Network shut down. Local wireless still works. Fossils are normal items, so a Pokémon holding one can move to another save with a local trade. A second copy of the game also lets you get the other story fossil, because each save gets its own choice.
If you’re searching for fossils in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, that’s a different game. Jaw and Sail are sold at the Stone Emporium in Lumiose City there.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get both the Jaw Fossil and the Sail Fossil in one Pokémon X save?
Not from the story. The scientist lets you take only one. The other one has to come from another save, by trade.
When do the other fossils appear in Glittering Cave?
Old Amber can come from the rocks before the Hall of Fame. Skull, Armor, Cover and Plume appear after you enter the Hall of Fame, along with Root and Claw (Pokémon X) or Helix and Dome (Pokémon Y).
Are Root and Claw Fossils only in Pokémon X?
Rock Smash gives them only in Pokémon X, after the Hall of Fame. Pokémon Y has Helix and Dome in their place from its rocks. Root and Claw can still reach a Pokémon Y save by trade. The other four post-game fossils are in both games.
What level are the revived fossils in X and Y?
Level 20 in both games.
Why isn’t my Tyrunt evolving?
Tyrunt evolves at level 39 or higher, when it levels up during the daytime on the 3DS clock (4:00 AM to 7:59 PM). Amaura evolves at level 39 or higher, when it levels up at night (8:00 PM to 3:59 AM). If it reaches the level outside its window, it evolves at the next level-up inside the window. For an Everstone, the Day Care and the other reasons, see how to evolve Tyrunt.
Do I need a Gym Badge to use Rock Smash in X and Y?
No. It’s TM94, and you can use it in the field at any time.
Can I still trade fossils after Nintendo Network shut down?
Global Trade and Wonder Trade are gone. Local wireless trades still work, so a friend’s 3DS can send you a Pokémon holding a fossil.
Is this the same as fossils in Pokémon Legends: Z-A?
No. This page covers Pokémon X and Y. Z-A sells Jaw and Sail at a shop in Lumiose City, and that’s a different game.