Rockruff (Pokémon)

For Pokémon GO information on this species, see the game's section.
← #0743: Ribombee	Pokémon	#0745: Lycanroc →
This article is about the species. For a specific instance of this species, see Rockruff (disambiguation).

Rockruff Puppy Pokémon イワンコ Iwanko #0744 Images on the Bulbagarden Archives
Type Rock Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Abilities Keen Eye or Vital Spirit Cacophony Cacophony Steadfast Hidden Ability Cacophony Hidden Ability Cacophony Cacophony Own Tempo Own Tempo Rockruff
Gender ratio Unknown 50% male, 50% female	Catch rate 190 (35.2%)
Breeding Egg Group Field Hatch time 15 cycles
Height 1'08" 0.5 m Rockruff 0'0" 0 m {{{form2}}} 0'0" 0 m {{{form3}}} 0'0" 0 m {{{form4}}}	Weight 20.3 lbs. 9.2 kg Rockruff 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form2}}} 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form3}}} 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form4}}}
Mega Stone [[|]] [[|]]
Base experience yield Unknown Gen. IV Unknown IV 56	Leveling rate Medium Fast
EV yield Total: 1 Rockruff 0 HP 1 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed
Shape	Footprint {{{form2}}}
Pokédex color   Brown	Base friendship 70
External Links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Rockruff (Japanese: イワンコ Iwanko) is a Rock-type Pokémon introduced in Generation VII.

It evolves into Lycanroc starting at level 25. The form of Lycanroc that it evolves into depends on the time, as well as its Ability, which corresponds to one of Rockruff's two visually indistinct forms.

• Rockruff with the Abilities Keen Eye, Vital Spirit, or Steadfast evolve into:
  • Midday Form Lycanroc when leveled up during the day.
  • Midnight Form Lycanroc when leveled up at night.
• Rockruff with the Ability Own Tempo evolve into Dusk Form Lycanroc when leveled up during the evening.

(Specifics may differ in past games. Refer to Game data→Evolution data for these details.)

Biology

Concept art from Pokémon Sun and Moon

Rockruff is a quadrupedal, canine Pokémon. It is primarily light brown with a darker brown muzzle, paws, and ear tips. It has large blue eyes, button ears, a short muzzle with a triangular pink nose, and a short tuft of fur on each cheek. Around its neck is a ruff of grayish-white fur stubbed with dark brown pebbles. The dark brown markings on its paws extend to a thin point on each wrist and ankle. It has a grayish-white tail that curls tightly over its back and is covered in fluffy fur.

Rockruff has an excellent sense of smell and will never forget an odor after smelling it once. There are tales of it reuniting with its Trainer after becoming lost by following the faintest traces of scent. It has lived with humans since ancient times. Rockruff is often recommended as a good Pokémon for beginner Trainers due to its friendly nature and ability to bond with Trainers easily. However, Rockruff is said to be a challenging Pokémon to raise, to the point where some Trainers abandon it due to being unable to handle it. This Pokémon is very sociable and will greet others by rubbing them with the rocks around its neck. As it ages, Rockruff becomes wilder and more independent. Once it is close to evolving, it will begin to howl when the sun goes down. It has been said to leave its Trainer's side and return once it has evolved. Despite becoming more vicious as it matures over time, Rockruff never forgets its master's kindness. Wild Rockruff travels in packs until it evolves. A persistent Pokémon, it will keep going until it outlasts foes that are even more powerful.^[1] Rockruff intimidates opponents by using the rocks on its neck to hit the ground. As mentioned in Rocking Clawmark Hill!, Rockruff trains itself by running around. It attacks foes the moment they flinch. It has been known to fight with Growlithe over territory.

Evolution

Rockruff can evolve into Midday Form, Midnight Form, or Dusk Form Lycanroc.

(For specifics on this Pokémon's Evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)

Unevolved Rockruff  Rock	→	First Evolution Lycanroc Midday Form  Rock
	→	First Evolution Lycanroc Midnight Form  Rock
	→	First Evolution Lycanroc Dusk Form  Rock

Game data

Pokédex entries

Rockruff in the Alola PokédexSM Rockruff in the Alola PokédexUSUM

Rockruff in the Paldea Pokédex Rockruff in the Kitakami Pokédex

Game locations

In side games

In events

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Events*		Focus Band (100%)

Stats

Base stats

Type effectiveness

Learnset

By leveling up

By TM

Generation IX Other generations: VII - VIII

TM   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  TM001 TM001 Take Down Normal Physical 09090 085}}85% 20 TM002 TM002 Charm Fairy Status 0000— 100}}100% 20 TM005 TM005 Mud-Slap Ground Special 02020 100}}100% 10 TM006 TM006 Scary Face Normal Status 0000— 100}}100% 10 TM007 TM007 Protect Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM008 TM008 Fire Fang Fire Physical 06565 095}}95% 15 TM009 TM009 Thunder Fang Electric Physical 06565 095}}95% 15 TM020 TM020 Trailblaze Grass Physical 05050 100}}100% 20 TM025 TM025 Facade Normal Physical 07070 100}}100% 20 TM028 TM028 Bulldoze Ground Physical 06060 100}}100% 20 TM030 TM030 Snarl Dark Special 05555 095}}95% 15 TM036 TM036 Rock Tomb Rock Physical 06060 095}}95% 15 TM047 TM047 Endure Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM051 TM051 Sandstorm Rock Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM055 TM055 Dig Ground Physical 08080 100}}100% 10 TM059 TM059 Zen Headbutt Psychic Physical 08080 090}}90% 15 TM063 TM063 Psychic Fangs Psychic Physical 08585 100}}100% 10 TM066 TM066 Body Slam Normal Physical 08585 100}}100% 15 TM070 TM070 Sleep Talk Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM084 TM084 Stomping Tantrum Ground Physical 07575 100}}100% 10 TM085 TM085 Rest Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 5 TM086 TM086 Rock Slide Rock Physical 07575 090}}90% 10 TM087 TM087 Taunt Dark Status 0000— 100}}100% 20 TM088 TM088 Swords Dance Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM099 TM099 Iron Head Steel Physical 08080 100}}100% 15 TM103 TM103 Substitute Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM104 TM104 Iron Defense Steel Status 0000— 00—}}—% 15 TM108 TM108 Crunch Dark Physical 08080 100}}100% 15 TM116 TM116 Stealth Rock Rock Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM117 TM117 Hyper Voice Normal Special 09090 100}}100% 10 TM127 TM127 Play Rough Fairy Physical 09090 090}}90% 10 TM130 TM130 Helping Hand Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM133 TM133 Earth Power Ground Special 09090 100}}100% 10 TM150 TM150 Stone Edge Rock Physical 100100 080}}80% 5 TM171 TM171 Tera Blast Normal Special 08080 100}}100% 10 TM172 TM172 Roar Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM204 TM204 Double-Edge Normal Physical 120120 100}}100% 15 TM205 TM205 Endeavor Normal Physical 0000— 100}}100% 5

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Rockruff Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution or an alternate form of Rockruff Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Generation IX Other generations: VII - VIII

Parent   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  Endeavor Normal Physical — 100% 5 Last Resort Normal Physical 140 100% 5 Thrash Normal Physical 120 100% 10

Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Rockruff Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Rockruff Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Rockruff

Special moves

Side game data

Pokémon Shuffle Rock Attack Power: 40 - 115 15 #729 Rockify Sometimes turns two non-Support Pokémon into rocks. Swappable Skill(s): Unity Power

Pokémon Rumble Rush Walking Speed: 1.55 seconds Base HP: 46 Base Attack: 67 Base Defense: 45 Base Speed: 60

New Pokémon Snap Photodex entry #226 Rockruff is really good at making friends, which we saw when it was playing happily with some other Pokémon. But it’s also brave enough to protect its friends if something were to threaten them.

Pokémon GO Base HP: 128 Base Attack: 117 Base Defense: 78 Egg Distance: 10 km Buddy Distance: 5 km Evolution Requirement: 50 + → 50 + → 50 + → * Fast Attacks: Tackle, Rock Throw Charged Attacks: Stone Edge, Rock Tomb, Crunch, Trailblaze*

Form data

While Rockruff does not have visually distinct forms, Rockruff with the Abilities Keen Eye, Vital Spirit, and Steadfast are internally considered to be a distinct form from Rockruff with the Ability Own Tempo.

Rockruff with Own Tempo cannot be traded on Wonder Trade, likely due to Pokémon Sun and Moon not being programmed with Rockruff's alternate form. Due to being a separate form, Rockruff with Own Tempo behave according to form inheritance rules when bred, rather than Ability inheritance rules. Rockruff with Own Tempo and Dusk Form Lycanroc can breed to produce more Rockruff with Own Tempo. After initially being event-exclusive, Own Tempo Rockruff and Dusk Form Lycanroc were later made accessible within normal gameplay starting in Generation VIII.

In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Rockruff with Own Tempo will not have its Pokédex number displayed when viewed from the Boxes, similar to species not found in the Paldean Pokédex. This quirk doesn't occur for all visually indistinct forms or forms without separate Pokédex entries. For example, Scatterbug and Spewpa each have 20 separate forms internally (one for each Vivillon pattern), but will display their Pokédex number regardless if they would evolve into a form other than Fancy Pattern Vivillon, which is the only form native to Paldea.

Evolution data

Rockruff evolves into Lycanroc starting at level 25. The form Rockruff evolves into depends on the time, as well as its Ability, which corresponds to one of Rockruff's two visually indistinct forms.

Rockruff with the Abilities Keen Eye, Vital Spirit, or Steadfast evolve into Midday Form Lycanroc when leveled up during the day, and Midnight Form Lycanroc when leveled up at night. In Generation VII, Rockruff only evolves into Midday Form Lycanroc in Pokémon Sun and Ultra Sun, and Midnight Form Lycanroc in Pokémon Moon and Ultra Moon.

Rockruff with the Ability Own Tempo is a separate form that can only evolve into Dusk Form Lycanroc. It evolves into this form when leveled up during the evening: from 5:00 to 5:59 PM in in-game time in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (equating to 5:00 to 5:59 PM in real-time in Ultra Sun and 5:00 to 5:59 AM in real-time in Ultra Moon), from 7:00 to 7:59 PM in real-time in Sword and Shield, and for a period lasting 3 minutes out of the 72-minute day/night cycle in Scarlet and Violet.

Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon run a third check due to Own Tempo Rockruff being event exclusive: if the byte 0x1D doesn't match to 0B (Fateful Encounter, Own Tempo "form"), then it will pretend it's a normal Rockruff, and it won't evolve into Dusk Form.

Unevolved Rockruff  Rock	+ Level 25 during the day →	First Evolution Lycanroc Midday Form  Rock
	+ Level 25 at night →	First Evolution Lycanroc Midnight Form  Rock
	+ Level 25 during the evening if its Ability is Own Tempo →	First Evolution Lycanroc Dusk Form  Rock

Sprites

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VII.
Generation VII Sun Moon Ultra Sun Ultra Moon Front Back Front Back
Cross-Generation HOME

For other sprites and images, please see Rockruff images on the Bulbagarden Archives.

In animation

Main series

Rockruff in Pokémon Horizons: The Series

Major appearances

Ash's Rockruff

Rockruff debuted in The Guardian's Challenge!, under the care of Professor Kukui. In Rocking Clawmark Hill!, Ash officially caught Rockruff. It evolved into a Dusk Form Lycanroc in Rising from the Ruins!.

Murdock's Rockruff

Murdock owns a Rockruff, which first appeared in The Pendant That Starts It All (Part Two).

Minor appearances

A Trainer's Rockruff appeared in They Might Not Be Giants!.

A Trainer's Rockruff appeared in Crystal-Clear Sleuthing!.

Two Trainers' Rockruff appeared in A Young Royal Flame Ignites!.

Two Trainers' Rockruff appeared in I Choose Paradise!, where they were among the Pokémon seen at the Pokémon Paradise Resort.

A Trainer's Rockruff appeared in Turning the Other Mask!.

A Trainer's Rockruff appeared in a flashback in Battling the Beast Within! as a resident of what is now the Ultra Ruin.

A Trainer's Rockruff appeared in Secrets of the Jungle.

Pokédex entries

Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer

Rockruff with Paulo in the Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer

A Rockruff briefly appeared in the Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer, under the ownership of Paulo.

In the manga

Rockruff in Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Adventures

Main article: Professor Kukui's Rockruff

Rockruff debuted in The Decision and the Tournament of Six with its Trainer in Iki Town.

A Rockruff first appeared in The Decision and the Tournament of Six, under the ownership of Professor Kukui. It was used to battle Sun at an Iki Town festival tournament.

A Rockruff appeared in a video in Homecoming and the Brilliant Professional Golfer.

A Rockruff appeared in Unleashing the Incredible Z-Move, where it starred in a commercial for the Aether Foundation.

Pokémon Horizon

Akira, the protagonist of Pokémon Horizon, has a Rockruff. It has the unique ability to evolve into Lycanroc and then devolve into Rockruff again, thanks to the strange red stone on its neck. It also has the ability to change in between its Midday and Midnight Forms while being evolved.

In the TCG

Main article: Rockruff (TCG)

Trivia

• Rockruff shares its category with Growlithe, Lillipup, Yamper, and Fidough. They are all known as the Puppy Pokémon.
• Rockruff is tied with Cranidos for the lowest base Defense stat of all Rock-type Pokémon.
• Rockruff is tied with Roggenrola and Nacli for the lowest base stat total of all Rock-type Pokémon.

Origin

Rockruff appears to be based on the spitz breed of dogs. It may also be based on the Japanese wolf, which is often associated with rocks and mountains. The fur with rocks around its neck may be based on a dog collar.

Name origin

Rockruff may be a combination of rock, ruff (onomatopoetic word for barking, or the fur around its neck), and rough.

Iwanko may be a combination of 岩 iwa (rock), ワン wan (onomatopoetic word for barking), わんこ wanko (doggy), and 子 ko (young animal).

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese イワンコ Iwanko From 岩 iwa, ワン wan, わんこ wanko, and 子 ko French Rocabot From roc and cabot Spanish Rockruff Same as English name German Wuffels From wuff and Fels Italian Rockruff Same as English name Korean 암멍이 Ammeong-i From 암 (岩) am, 멍멍 meong-meong, and 이 i Mandarin Chinese 岩狗狗 Yángǒugǒu From 岩 yán and 狗狗 gǒugǒu Cantonese Chinese 岩狗狗 Ngàahmgáugáu From 岩 ngàahm and 狗狗 gáugáu

More languages Hindi पपरॉक Puprock From pup or puppy and rock Russian Рокрафф Rokraff Transcription of English name Thai อิวังโค Iwangkho Transcription of Japanese name

Related articles

• Ash's Rockruff
• Professor Kukui's Rockruff
• Olivia's Rockruff
• Murdock's Rockruff

References

External links

← #0743: Ribombee

Pokémon

#0745: Lycanroc →

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.