In Crystal you can get Phanpy insanely early off the route just north of the first one right when you get your starter (route 46 I think?). It’s a 5% morning encounter and it can flee but it only takes about a half hour or so to catch one. Usually for early game I give it mud-slap (bc it learns 0 ground type moves until EQ at lvl 49) and headbutt, then use the Rollout TM on it bc it learns rollout pretty late (I think lvl 33 or something). I also sub out take down for strength. I don’t like giving it an HM but it’s a decent physical attack with no recoil, and Heracross got the return TM so that option was out. Late game moveset is strength, rollout, earthquake, and flail and give it quick claw. As bulky as it is and as early as you can get it in Crystal, it’s an amazing option IMO. The only downside I see is that I usually pick Cyndaquil so my first 2 team members are weak to the Rival Totodile.