Pokémon Wiki

Don't like the ads? Then create an account! Users with accounts will only see ads on the Main Page and have more options than anonymous users.

READ MORE

Pokémon Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Rockruff (Japanese: イワンコ, HepburnIwanko) is a rock-type Pokémon introduced in Generation VII.

Biology[]

Physiology[]

Rockruff is a small Pokémon that resembles a slightly plump dog. It has a fluffy tail, brown paws (with a small triangle on their end of the legs), a white neck decorated with brown fragments, a somewhat fatty beige underbelly, a brown mouth with a pink nose, two blue eyes and a pair of brown lowered ears. Ears are similar to those of a fox when they stand up.

Behavior[]

Rockruff concept

Concept artwork of Rockruff.

Rockruff like to show their affection by hitting the rocks onto their Trainers. Unfortunately, this may make their Trainers feel painful. However, they usually become fierce during the time they grow older, and howl at evenings when they are going to evolve into Lycanroc. When they know that they will evolve, they might leave their Trainers for a while until their evolutions are completed. 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 beginner due to its friendly nature. It can bond with Trainers easily. However, Rockruff is said to be a challenging Pokémon to raise especially when they are reaching closer to evolution; as mentioned, they will become more volatile and aggressive, to the point where some Trainers abandon them due to being unable to handle theirs.

This Pokémon is very sociable and will greet others by rubbing them with the rocks around its neck, although still maintaining a territorial nature. A Rockruff normally intimidates opponents by using the rocks on its neck to hit the ground. As mentioned in the anime, Rockruff trains itself by running around. It attacks foes the moment they flinch. It has also been known to fight with Growlithe over territory.

Natural abilities[]

Rockruff has an excellent nose that makes it won't forget the smell it sniffed before.

Evolution[]

At level 25 or over, Rockruff evolves into Lycanroc Midday Form during the daytime, and into Lycanroc Midnight during the nighttime.

If a Rockruff has Own Tempo as its Ability, it can also evolve into Lycanroc Dusk Form during the Evening Twilight time (7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.)

Game info[]

Locations[]

Locations
Version(s) Area(s) Rarity
Sun and Moon Ten Carat Hill Uncommon
Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Route 1, Ten Carat Hill Uncommon
Sword and Shield Trade None
SWSH
The Isle of Armor
Challenge Road, Fields of Honor, Loop Lagoon
Max Raid Battles: Challenge Road, Fields of Honor, Potbottom Desert, Training Lowlands
Uncommon

Pokédex entries[]

  • Sun

    It’s considered to be a good Pokémon for beginners because of its friendliness, but its disposition grows rougher as it grows up.

  • Moon

    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.

  • Ultra Sun

    As they develop, their disposition grows more violent and aggressive. Many Trainers find them too much to handle and abandon them.

  • Ultra Moon

    When it rubs the rocks on its neck against you, that’s proof of its love for you. However, the rocks are sharp, so the gesture is quite painful.

  • Sword

    This Pokémon can bond very strongly with its Trainer, but it also has a habit of biting. Raising a Rockruff for a long time can be challenging.

  • Shield

    This Pokémon intimidates opponents by striking the ground with the rocks on its neck. The moment an opponent flinches, Rockruff attacks.

  • Scarlet

    This Pokémon is very friendly when it’s young. Its disposition becomes vicious once it matures, but it never forgets the kindness of its master.

  • Violet

    This Pokémon travels in a pack with others until it grows up. When its mood turns sour, it starts striking the ground with the rocks on its neck.


Stats[]

Stats
HP
45
Attack
65
Defense
40
Sp. Atk
30
Sp. Def
40
Speed
60
Total
280

Learnset[]

Leveling[]

LevelingGeneration VII
Level Move Power Accuracy PP Type Cat.
1 Tackle 40 100% 35 Type Normal HOME Normal Physical
1 Leer 100% 30 Type Normal HOME Normal Status
4 Sand Attack 100% 15 Type Ground HOME Ground Status
7 Bite 60 100% 25 Type Dark HOME Dark Physical
12 Howl —% 40 Type Normal HOME Normal Status
15 Rock Throw 50 90% 15 Type Rock HOME Rock Physical
18 Odor Sleuth —% 40 Type Normal HOME Normal Status
23 Rock Tomb 60 95% 15 Type Rock HOME Rock Physical
26 Roar —% 20 Type Normal HOME Normal Status
29 Stealth Rock —% 20 Type Rock HOME Rock Status
34 Rock Slide 75 90% 10 Type Rock HOME Rock Physical
37 Scary Face 100% 10 Type Normal HOME Normal Status
40 Crunch 80 100% 15 Type Dark HOME Dark Physical
45 Rock Climb 90 85% 20 Type Normal HOME Normal Physical
40 Stone Edge 100 80% 5 Type Rock HOME Rock Physical
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.
Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

TM[]

TMs, TRs, and HMs Generation VII
TM/HM/TR Move Power Accuracy PP Type Cat.
TM05 Roar —% 20 Type Normal HOME Normal Status
TM06 Toxic 90% 10 Type Poison HOME Poison Status
TM10 Hidden Power 60 100% 15 Type Normal HOME Normal Special
TM12 Taunt —% 20 Type Dark HOME Dark Status
TM17 Protect —% 10 Type Normal HOME Normal Status
TM21 Frustration 100% 20 Type Normal HOME Normal Physical
TM27 Return 100% 20 Type Normal HOME Normal Physical
TM32 Double Team —% 15 Type Normal HOME Normal Status
TM39 Rock Tomb 60 95% 15 Type Rock HOME Rock Physical
TM42 Facade 70 100% 20 Type Normal HOME Normal Physical
TM44 Rest —% 10 Type Psychic HOME Psychic Status
TM45 Attract 100% 15 Type Normal HOME Normal Status
TM48 Round 60 100% 15 Type Normal HOME Normal Special
TM49 Echoed Voice 40 100% 15 Type Normal HOME Normal Special
TM69 Rock Polish 100% 20 Type Rock HOME Rock Status
TM71 Stone Edge 80 100% 5 Type Rock HOME Rock Physical
TM80 Rock Slide 75 90% 10 Type Rock HOME Rock Physical
TM87 Swagger 85% 15 Type Normal HOME Normal Status
TM88 Sleep Talk —% 10 Type Normal HOME Normal Status
TM90 Substitute —% 10 Type Normal HOME Normal Status
TM95 Snarl 55 95% 15 Type Dark HOME Dark Special
TM100 Confide —% 20 Type Normal HOME Normal Status
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.
Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

Breeding[]

Breeding Generation VII
Move Father Power Accuracy PP Type Category
Crush Claw Sandslash, Zangoose 75 95% 10 Type Normal HOME Normal Physical
Fire Fang Arbok, Growlithe, Arcanine, Flareon, Snubbull, Granbull, Houndour, Houndoom, Donphan, Mightyena, Exploud, Manectric, Hippowdon, Stoutland, Darumaka, Darmanitan, Litleo, Pyroar, Litten, Torracat, Incineroar 65 95% 15 Type Fire HOME Fire Physical
Sucker Punch Rattata, Rattata, Raticate, Raticate, Diglett, Diglett, Dugtrio, Dugtrio, Sentret, Furret, Poochyena, Mightyena, Mawile, Spinda, Kecleon, Absol, Glameow, Stunky, Skuntank, Purrloin, Liepard, Furfrou, Meowstic, Komala 70 100% 5 Type Dark HOME Dark Physical
Thrash Nidoking, Mankey, Primeape, Tauros, Teddiursa, Ursaring, Piloswine, Mamoswine, Spinda, Blitzle, Zebstrika, Sandile, Krokorok, Darumaka, Darmanitan, Cubchoo, Beartic, Bouffalant, Litten, Torracat, Incineroar, Yungoos, Gumshoos, Stufful, Bewear, Passimian, Komala 120 100% 10 Type Normal HOME Normal Physical
Thunder Fang Arbok, Arcanine, Jolteon, Snubbull, Granbull, Houndoom, Donphan, Mightyena, Exploud, Electrike, Manectric, Shinx, Luxio, Luxray, Hippowdon, Stoutland 65 95% 15 Type Electric HOME Electric Physical

Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.
Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.
* indicates this move requires chain breeding.
◊ indicates the father must learn this move in a previous generation.
♈ indicates the father must learn this move via a TM.

Tutoring[]

Tutoring Generation VII
Move Power Accuracy PP Type Cat.
Covet USUM 60 100% 25 Type Normal HOME Normal Physical
Earth Power USUM 90 100% 10 Type Ground HOME Ground Special
Endeavor USUM 100% 5 Type Normal HOME Normal Physical
Hyper Voice USUM 90 100% 10 Type Normal HOME Normal Special
Iron Defense USUM —% 15 Type Steel HOME Steel Status
Iron Head USUM 80 100% 15 Type Steel HOME Steel Physical
Iron Tail USUM 100 75% 15 Type Steel HOME Steel Physical
Last Resort USUM 140 100% 5 Type Normal HOME Normal Physical
Snore USUM 50 100% 15 Type Normal HOME Normal Special
Stealth Rock USUM —% 20 Type Rock HOME Rock Status
Stomping Tantrum USUM 75 100% 10 Type Ground HOME Ground Physical
Zen Headbutt USUM 80 90% 15 Type Psychic HOME Psychic Physical
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.
Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

Sprites[]

Appearance[]

Anime[]

Main[]

Recurring[]

Trivia[]

  • Rockruff shares the same Pokémon species with Growlithe, Lillipup, and Yamper as they are all known as the Puppy Pokémon.
  • Rockruff is the only Rock-type Pokémon that can't learn Sandstorm.
  • Rockruff is one of the two Pokémon whose evolution differs between games. It shares this trait with Cosmoem.
    • However, this is only true in Generation VII. This factor was changed in Generation VIII so that Rockruff evolve differently depending on the time of day rather than the game version.

Origin[]

Rockruff is based on a spitz dog (or a wolf puppy) and the extinct Japanese wolf, associated with rocks and mountains.

Etymology[]

Rockruff is a portmanteau of rock, ruff (onomatopoeia for a dog barking), and rough (referring to the abrasive rocks around its neck).

Its Japanese name, Iwanko, is a portmanteau of 岩 (iwa, "rock") and ワンコ (wanko, "puppy").

Names in other languages[]

  • Chinese: 岩狗狗 means "Rock doggie".

Gallery[]

Advertisement