Ash's Lycanroc

This Rockruff is a -type Pokémon owned by Ash and the second Pokémon he obtained in the Alola region.

Personality
In its debut, Rockruff is a very playful and affectionate Pokémon that gets along really well with Ash, Pikachu, and Professor Kukui. Whenever it shows its affections to anyone, it would tend to rub the rocks on its neck against them. Nonetheless, it also has a determined and courageous side that it won't give up even if it gets defeated by a stronger opponent like Gladion's Lycanroc. Rockruff has a strong admiration for its evolved form and wants to be strong just like it someday.

On the other hand, Rockruff is shown to have a strong sense of smell and would use it to track down anything or anyone that's missing.

Biography
Prior to its debut, Rockruff was a wild Pokémon who stumbled upon Professor Kukui's house. It was very hungry and was confused by Teeter Dance during one of its battles with other Pokémon. Kukui gave Rockruff food and healed it from its injuries. Since then, Rockruff has been living with Kukui in his house, but was never actually caught by him.

While having dinner with Kukui, Ash watched as Rockruff played with his Pikachu. After he ate the meal, Ash let Rockruff approach it, who rubbed its face to Ash, showing its affection, then did the same to Pikachu. Kukui was going to give away Rockruff at the welcome party as the fifth surprise for Ash, until Tapu Koko interrupted.

Rockruff watched as the Professor typed in the computer to activate Ash's Pokédex. Lights started to flicker, which made Rockruff scared, until a Rotom appeared and entered Ash's Pokédex, activating it. Thus, Rotom introduced itself and took pictures of Ash's Pikachu and Kukui's Rockruff to update itself.

Pikachu and Rockruff had a race on their forelegs until they fell down. Both of them laughed and were approached by Ash, who rubbed Rockruff's chin. Ash, Pikachu and Rotom left, while Kukui went to feed Rockruff. Rockruff went with the professor to the lab, leaving Ash and his Pokémon at the house. It also went with the professor to the mall, where they met up with Ash and Sophocles. Pikachu and Rockruff ate a meal until they were fed up. Soon, Ash, Pikachu and Kukui went off to meet Hala, the latter asking of Rockruff to watch over the house. The next day, Rockruff and Pikachu were waiting as Ash was pouring the Pokémon food into the bowl. As they started eating, Pikachu and Rockruff were happy how tasty the food was, though they clashed heads with each other by accident. During the night, Rockruff was at the party to celebrate Ash and his Pokémon's Grand Trial of Melemele Island victory. Rockruff watched as Ash practiced the Z-Move with Rowlet before the group met up with Kiawe.

Kukui and Rockruff spent a day on the beach with the class.

One night when Ash, Kukui, Rotom, and Pikachu arrived home, they found Rockruff injured from a fight somewhere, and it shouted in pain when Kukui sprayed some medicine onto it. Kukui decided to investigate on how Rockruff ended up in such critical condition by installing cameras in his house. In the footage, he discovered Rockruff becoming aggressive when it was chewing up on a Substitute toy. Suddenly, Rockruff senses something and runs out. The group followed Rockruff to Clawmark Hill where random Pokémon go to test their strength and abilities. During the training session, Rockruff went up against a Magmar and lost. But after its training with Ash (though it experienced getting its tail burnt by Kiawe's Turtonator), it successfully learned Rock Throw and defeated Magmar, which surprised the two Lycanroc and shared a victory howl. Upon celebrating its victory, Kukui allowed Ash to catch Rockruff after he saw the way they bonded together and told him that he didn't catch Rockruff after all. As Rockruff gradually accepted Ash to catch it, it naturally joined as a new member of his team. Then it ran with the others on the beach under the moonlight happily. Later, it recognized Rowlet quickly and Ash complimented it, much to Rowlet's displeasure.

Rockruff then tried to use its sense of smell to find Rowlet and Popplio when the two got separated and again when trying to find Ash's lost Z Crystal.

Rockruff was later used during a battle against Hiroki and his Mudbray. During the battle, it performed the Z-Move, Breakneck Blitz, and defeated Mudbray. It later got knocked onto the ground with Rowlet by Tapu Koko, who was determined to battle Pikachu and then it watched them battled as well as Tapu Koko left by flying up into the sky.

Later, it was briefly used when Ash sent it out along with his Litten and Rowlet to find a Charjabug and give it to Sophocles for a present.

Rockruff then witnessed a trainer named Gladion, who was the brother of Lillie, and his Midnight Form Lycanroc battling against sailor and his Blastoise. Rockruff was super impressed with Lycanroc's power and always wanted to battle against its evolved form while in hopes of evolving. During the battle, Rockruff was completely overwhelmed by Lycnaroc's speed and power, but it was still able to hold its own strength. The battle was interrupted when Team Rocket snatched Lycanroc and Pikachu in a net. Team Rocket attempts to drive away with the captured Pokémon. But, with the help from Gladion's Umbreon, Rockruff caught up with Team Rocket and saved Lycanroc and Pikachu. Lycanroc then patted Rockruff's head, much to the latter's pleasure.

Rockruff played baseball with its friends.

Rockruff went camping with Ash and the others. For the rest of the camping, it was seen snoozing with Litten and Rowlet. It then saw the revived tree the following morning.

Rockruff, along with Rowlet and Litten, befriended Snowy when Pikachu was having a temporary stay at Lillie's home.

Rockruff and the other Pokémon met Olivia, the kahuna of Akala Island. It was being held by Olivia after she noticed it wanting to become her Lycanoc's apprentice and it licked her affectionately in return.

Rockruff was sent out by Ash to search their way in the cave by telling Ash and Mallow the directions they could go after sniffing a Diglett's hair.

Then, Ash used Rockruff along with Rowlet in his Grand Trial against Olivia who was using her Lycanroc and Probopass. He commands Rockruff to use Rock Throw and Rowlet to use Leafage but both attacks are overpower by Lycanroc's Rock Slide. Then, the two are surrounded by Probopass's Stealth Rock, Rockruff hastily attacks the stones and takes damage. Ash has Rockruff lifted into the air but the pair become surrounded by Probopass's mini noses, the Puppy Pokémon uses Rock Throw to take out two of them but gets knocked out of the sky by the third one landing on the Stealth Rock. Rockruff is carried by Rowlet again using Leafage as a cover to escape by is stopped by Olivia's Lycanroc (anime) who uses Accelerock and seeing Rowlet in trouble Rockruff kicks one of Probopass's mini noses to defend the Grass Quill Pokémon from a Zap Cannon.

Rowlet tries to thank Rockruff but it turns aggressive towards Rowlet, soon the two are surrounded again so Lycanroc can use it Z-Move Contiental Crush but the two avoid the attack. Next, Rockruff tries to use Bite on Lycanroc but is smashed into the rocks by Probopass's Giga Impact, refusing to give up Rockruff climbs over the Compass Pokémon to continue it's attack on Lycanroc.

After Probopass was defeated Rockruff wanted to continue the battle against Olivia's Lycanroc (anime) by itself. When Rowlet tried to help, Rockruff used Bite causing to knock it out of the match; the Puppy Pokémon realized what it had done to it's friend and sadly walked back to Ash believing it was going to get a scolding for him. But Ash understood that this is what Rockruff wanted and the two continue the battle.

Then, Rockruff used Rock Throw on Lycanroc who attacked with Accelerock and moved in with a Bite attack. To finish the match, Rockruff used the stones from Lycanroc's Rock Slide to jump higher than it's evolved form finishing it with one final Rock Throw earning Ash the Rockium Z Crystal. Ash praised Rockruff for a great job but the Puppy Pokémon wasn't to thrilled after what it did to Rowlet. But Olivia assured it that Rockruff's behavior during the battle was understandable because it was going to evolve soon.

Voice actors

 * Megumi Hayashibara (Japanese)
 * Haven Paschall (English)

Trivia

 * Rockruff is the second -type Pokémon Ash has caught.
 * Rockruff marks the first time Ash's second regional capture has not been either the regional -type or Starter Pokémon.
 * Rockruff is the sixth of Ash's Pokémon to defeat it's evolved form during a battle, following Ash's Pikachu, Snivy, Pignite and Oshawatt and Fletchinder.