Rockruff

Rockruff
◄ Ribombee
◄ Ribombee
Lycanroc ►
Lycanroc ►
Information
Type	Rock
Gender	50% ♂ / 50% ♀
Abilities	Regular Keen Eye , Vital Spirit , Own Tempo  (Special) Hidden Steadfast
Species	Puppy Pokémon
Height and Weight	Height 0.5 m / 1'08" Weight 9.2 kg / 20.3 lbs.
Introduced in	Generation VII
Evolution	Evolves into Lycanroc
Body, Footprint, Color, Egg group, and Cry	Body Shape 08 Color Brown Egg group(s) Field
Pokédex
National Pokédex	0744
Kanto	N/A / N/A (PE)
Johto	N/A / N/A (HGSS)
Hoenn	N/A / N/A (ORAS)
Sinnoh and Hisui	Sinnoh N/A / N/A (Pt) Hisui N/A
Unova	N/A / N/A (B2W2)
Kalos and Lumiose	Central Kalos N/A Coastal Kalos N/A Mountain Kalos N/A Lumiose N/A Hyperspace N/A
Alola	103 / 126 (USUM)
Galar	N/A / 157 (TIoA) / N/A (TCT)
Paldea, Kitakami and Blueberry	Paldea 089 Kitakami 070 Blueberry N/A
In other languages
Japanese	Name イワンコ Iwanko
Japanese	Name イワンコ Iwanko

Rockruff (イワンコ, Iwanko?) (ROCK-ruff) is a Rock-type Pokémon introduced in Generation VII.

Quick Answers

What are the unique features of Rockruff's appearance?

Rockruff is a small Pokémon that looks like a plump dog. It has a fluffy tail, brown paws with triangular ends, and a white neck with brown fragments. Its underbelly is beige, and it has a brown mouth with a pink nose. Rockruff's eyes are blue, and its ears are brown and lowered, similar to a fox's when they stand up.

Provided by: Fandom

How does Rockruff's evolution differ in Pokémon Moon?

In Pokémon Moon, Rockruff evolves into the Midnight Form of Lycanroc at level 25 during nighttime. This evolution is unique to Generation VII, where the form depends on the time of day and game version.

Provided by: Fandom

What traits make Rockruff a rock-type Pokémon?

Rockruff, a rock-type Pokémon, is characterized by its sociable yet territorial behavior. It uses the rocks around its neck to intimidate opponents, a trait linked to its rocky environment. Rockruff's design is inspired by a spitz dog and the extinct Japanese wolf, both associated with rocks and mountains, reinforcing its rock-type classification.

Provided by: Fandom

Which generation introduced Rockruff to the Pokémon series?

Rockruff was introduced in Generation VII of the Pokémon series.

Provided by: Fandom

What is the significance of Rockruff's fluffy tail?

Rockruff, a small Pokémon resembling a plump dog, has a fluffy tail that adds to its cute appearance. The tail's fluffiness does not have a specific significance beyond enhancing Rockruff's approachable look. Known for its affectionate nature, Rockruff shows love by playfully hitting rocks onto its Trainers. As it matures, it becomes fiercer and howls in the evenings, signaling its evolution into Lycanroc.

Provided by: Fandom

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

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. However as shown by Murdock's Rockruff, not all of them act aggressive nor wander off until they evolved in "PH098: Reunion in Cortondo".

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. They also love to play in the mud.

Natural abilities

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

Evolution

Rockruff evolves into Lycanroc starting at level 25. It evolves into a different form of Lycanroc depending on the time of day. If it evolves during the day, it will become the Midday Form; whereas if it evolves during the night, it will become the Midnight Form. During the Evening Twilight, only Rockruff who has the event-exclusive ability Own Tempo will evolve into the Dusk Form during 17:00 to 17:59.

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	Normal	Physical
1	Leer	—	100%	30	Normal	Status
4	Sand Attack	—	100%	15	Ground	Status
7	Bite	60	100%	25	Dark	Physical
12	Howl	—	—%	40	Normal	Status
15	Rock Throw	50	90%	15	Rock	Physical
18	Odor Sleuth	—	—%	40	Normal	Status
23	Rock Tomb	60	95%	15	Rock	Physical
26	Roar	—	—%	20	Normal	Status
29	Stealth Rock	—	—%	20	Rock	Status
34	Rock Slide	75	90%	10	Rock	Physical
37	Scary Face	—	100%	10	Normal	Status
40	Crunch	80	100%	15	Dark	Physical
45	Rock Climb	90	85%	20	Normal	Physical
40	Stone Edge	100	80%	5	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	Normal	Status
TM06	Toxic	—	90%	10	Poison	Status
TM10	Hidden Power	60	100%	15	Normal	Special
TM12	Taunt	—	—%	20	Dark	Status
TM17	Protect	—	—%	10	Normal	Status
TM21	Frustration	—	100%	20	Normal	Physical
TM27	Return	—	100%	20	Normal	Physical
TM32	Double Team	—	—%	15	Normal	Status
TM39	Rock Tomb	60	95%	15	Rock	Physical
TM42	Facade	70	100%	20	Normal	Physical
TM44	Rest	—	—%	10	Psychic	Status
TM45	Attract	—	100%	15	Normal	Status
TM48	Round	60	100%	15	Normal	Special
TM49	Echoed Voice	40	100%	15	Normal	Special
TM69	Rock Polish	—	100%	20	Rock	Status
TM71	Stone Edge	80	100%	5	Rock	Physical
TM80	Rock Slide	75	90%	10	Rock	Physical
TM87	Swagger	—	85%	15	Normal	Status
TM88	Sleep Talk	—	—%	10	Normal	Status
TM90	Substitute	—	—%	10	Normal	Status
TM95	Snarl	55	95%	15	Dark	Special
TM100	Confide	—	—%	20	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	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	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	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	Normal	Physical
Thunder Fang	Arbok, Arcanine, Jolteon, Snubbull, Granbull, Houndoom, Donphan, Mightyena, Exploud, Electrike, Manectric, Shinx, Luxio, Luxray, Hippowdon, Stoutland	65	95%	15	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	Normal	Physical
Earth Power USUM	90	100%	10	Ground	Special
Endeavor USUM	—	100%	5	Normal	Physical
Hyper Voice USUM	90	100%	10	Normal	Special
Iron Defense USUM	—	—%	15	Steel	Status
Iron Head USUM	80	100%	15	Steel	Physical
Iron Tail USUM	100	75%	15	Steel	Physical
Last Resort USUM	140	100%	5	Normal	Physical
Snore USUM	50	100%	15	Normal	Special
Stealth Rock USUM	—	—%	20	Rock	Status
Stomping Tantrum USUM	75	100%	10	Ground	Physical
Zen Headbutt USUM	80	90%	15	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.

Appearance

Anime

• Ash's Rockruff.
• Murdock's Rockruff.

1/2

Main

• Ash's Rockruff

Recurring

• Murdock's Rockruff

Trivia

• Rockruff shares its species name with Growlithe, Lillipup, Yamper, and Fidough. 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

Concept art 1

Concept art 2

See also

• Pokémon.com Pokédex
• Legendary Pokémon data
• The Pokémon Database
• Pokémon Dream Pokédex data
• Psypokes Psydex data