Rockruff is the Puppy Pokemon introduced in Pokemon Sun and Moon. It shares this category with Puppy Pokemon from previous Pokemon generations such as Growlithe, Lillipup, and Yamper. Rockruff differs from the previous generation Puppy Pokemon in its various evolutions depending on which game it evolves in. When Rockruff is evolved in Pokemon Sun and Ultra Sun, it evolves into Midday Form Lycanroc when leveled up during the day. When Rockruff is evolved in Pokemon Moon and Ultra Moon, it evolves into Midnight Form Lycanroc when leveled up at night. Finally, in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Rockruff can evolve into Dusk Form Lycanroc if Rockruff has the ability to Own Tempo in Pokemon Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon when it is leveled up from 7 PM to 7:59 PM in real-time or from 5 PM to 5:59 PM in-game time. These three separate forms dependent on time and game version make Rockruff and its evolutions unique from other Puppy Pokemon in a way reminiscent of the Generation VII games as a whole.
About Rockruff
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Series: Sun and Moon |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Sun and Moon |
| Region | Alola |
| Evolution | -->Lycanroc |
| 1st Evo level | 25 (Midday Form Lycanroc when leveled up during the day in Pokemon Sun and Ultra Sun, Midnight Form Lycanroc when leveled up at night in Pokemon Moon and Ultra Moon, Dusk Form Lycanroc when leveled up from 7 PM to 7:59 PM in real-time or 5 PM to 5:59 PM in in-game time with the ability Own Tempo) |
| 2nd Evo level | N/A |
| Pokedex Entry | This Pokémon has lived with people since times long ago. It can sense when its Trainer is in the dumps and will stick close by its Trainer's side. It's considered to be a good Pokémon for beginners because of its friendliness, but its disposition grows rougher as it grows up. |
Rockruff Base Stats
| HP | 45 |
| ATTACK | 65 |
| DEFENCE | 40 |
| SP. ATTACK | 30 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 40 |
| SPEED | 60 |
| TOTAL | 280 |
Appearance of Rockruff
Rockruff resembles a light brown puppy with a darker brown muzzle, paws, and ear tips with the dark paw markings extending to a thin point on each wrist and ankle. Rockruff has large blue eyes with bent ears and a short muzzle with a light pink nose. Rockruff has tufts of fur extending from each cheek and a ruff of white fur with dark brown embedded into it. Rockruff also has a fluffy white tail that curls tightly over its back.
Behavior of Rockruff
Rockruff, like most Puppy Pokemon, is known to be extremely loyal, friendly, and sociable. When it gets older, Rockruff becomes wilder and more independent, a trait which makes it difficult to raise, despite its friendly nature which can make it work well for beginner trainers. This can lead to some Rockruffs being abandoned by their trainers shortly before they evolve. When Rockruff is about to evolve it will begin to howl when the sun goes down and will often leave its Trainer's side and return once it has evolved. Rockruff greets other people and Pokemon by rubbing them with the rocks around its neck. Rockruff will also use these rocks to intimidate opponents by using the rocks on its neck to hit the ground. Rockruff has a great sense of smell and has been known to use this smell to track down its Trainer from even the faintest smell, with Rockruff being rumored to have never forgotten a smell. Finally, Rockruff is known for its persistence, in order to outlast more powerful Pokemon and Rockruff running around in order to train itself. Rockruff are known to been known to fight with another Puppy Pokemon, Growlithe over territory
Strengths and Weaknesses
The strongest stats of Rockruff are its attack and speed, though all of its stats are lowered due to it not being fully evolved. Despite its attack stat being its strongest, Rockruff has underwhelming offensive stats and a disappointing movepool, with Rockruff also being frail.l As a rock-type Pokemon, Rockruff is weak to fighting, ground, water, grass, and steel-type attacks and is resistant to normal, fire, poison, and flying-type Pokemon.
Shiny Rockruff
Shiny Rockruff is a version of Rockruff in which the light brown fur color is replaced with a light blue. The main way to get a Shiny Rockruff is to continuously breed either Rockruff or Lycanroc until getting a Shiny Rockruff.
Evolving Rockruff
When evolving Rockruff, it is important to determine the direct criteria for each evolution form in each game. All evolutions can be reached starting after level 25. In the Pokemon Sun and Ultra Sun games, Rockruff evolves into Midday Form Lycanroc when leveled up during the day. In the Pokemon Moon and Ultra Moon games, Rockruff evolves into Midnight Form Lycanroc when leveled up at night. Finally, evolving Rockruff into Dusk Form Lycanroc requires Rockruff to have the ability to Own Tempo in Pokemon Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon and to be leveled up from 7 PM to 7:59 PM in real-time or from 5 PM to 5:59 PM in-game time. This time frame changes depending on the game being played, equating to 5 PM to 5:59 PM in real-time for the Ultra Sun game and 5 AM to 5:59 AM in real-time for the Ultra Moon game.
Best Moveset
Due to Rockruff being generally frail, it is best to use Rockruff as a wall breaker by using Rockruff's coverage moves. Stone Edge is Rockruff’s STAB (same-type attack bonus) move, with Stomping Tantrum serving as ground-type coverage, Zen Headbutt serving as psychic-type coverage, and sucker punch serving as Dark-type coverage. All of these moves serve to allow Rockruff to take down troublesome Pokemon via type advantages.
| Stone Edge | Stomping Tantrum |
| Zen Headbut |
How to catch Rockruff in Pokemon Go?
Rockruff is not yet available in Pokemon Go.
Video Guide
Trivia
- Rockruff shares its category as a Puppy Pokemon with the Pokemon Growlithe, Lillipup, and Yamper
- Rockruff is likely based on the spitz breed of dog
- Rockruff is tied with Roggenrola for the lowest base stat total of all rock-type Pokemon, with both being the first Pokemon in evolution chains
- Rockruff is tied with Cranidos for the lowest base defense stat of any rock-type Pokemon
- A Rockruff with the ability, Own Tempo cannot be traded on Wonder Trade
- Rockruff is the only rock-type Pokemon incapable of learning Sandstorm
FAQs
Q. Can any Rockruff evolve into dusk?
Evolving Rockruff into Dusk Form Lycanroc requires Rockruff to have the ability to Own Tempo in Pokemon Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon.
Q. Is Rockruff a good Pokemon?
Rockruff is not particularly strong, with Rockruff being tied with Roggenrola for the lowest base stat total of all rock-type Pokemon and being tied with Cranidos for the lowest base defense stat of any rock-type Pokemon. The strongest stats of Rockruff are its attack and speed, though all of its stats are lowered due to it not being fully evolved as an early game Pokemon.
Q. What is the best nature for Rockruff?
The best nature would likely be Adamant or Jolly since an Adamant nature will gain more attack, but less special attack and a Jolly nature will gain speed but have a lowered special attack.
Q. Which ability is best for Rockruff?
Rockruff can evolve into Dusk Form Lycanroc if Rockruff has the ability to Own Tempo in Pokemon Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon, which makes this ability special for Rockruff. Another useful ability for Rockruff would be Vital Spirit since it causes a Pokemon to be unable to fall asleep.
Conclusion
Rockruff is not a particularly strong Pokemon when compared to other rock-type Pokemon, though its status as another Puppy Pokemon makes Rockruff charming, with its separate evolution forms adding to this charm.
