Rockruff is a fascinating and undeniably cute Pokémon that first appeared in Generation VII. Known for its dog-like appearance and distinctive Rock-typing, it quickly became a favorite among many trainers. What makes Rockruff truly intriguing is its evolution chain, which has three different forms, each with unique characteristics. Below, we’ll explore Rockruff and its evolutions, Lycanroc Midday Form, Lycanroc Midnight Form, and Lycanroc Dusk Form, looking into their moves, stats, weaknesses, and strengths. And, of course, we’ll also tell you how to get them.
Rockruff: Stats, Moves, and Location
Rockruff is a Rock-type Pokémon introduced in the seventh-generation games Pokémon Sun and Moon. It has a cute dog-like appearance and is common throughout the wild, meaning trainers should find plenty of opportunities to catch one.
In Pokémon Sun and Moon, trainers can find Rockruff in the wild at Ten Carat Hill (as well as the nearby Route 1 in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon). Rockruff was initially absent from Generation VIII games Pokémon Sword and Shield but became available in the Expansion Pass. It’s also common in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet in the South, East, and West Provinces of Paldea.
Base Stats:
- Hit Points: 45
- Attack: 65
- Defense: 40
- Special Attack: 30
- Special Defense: 40
- Speed: 60
Rockruff doesn’t have the most impressive stats, with a total of 280 stat points as a pre-evolutionary form. Nonetheless, it can still bring some solid Rock-type moves to the table, making it effective against Bug, Fire, Flying, and Ice-type opponents. It can also learn some Dark-type attacks. Here are a few of the best moves Rockruff learns through leveling as of Generation IX:
- Level 12: Rock Throw (Rock)
- Level 20: Bite (Dark)
- Level 24: Rock Tomb (Rock)
- Level 32: Rock Slide (Rock)
- Level 36: Crunch (Dark)
- Level 48: Stone Edge (Rock)
Upon reaching level 25, Rockruff can evolve into one of three forms. Which of the three forms it evolves into depends on several in-game conditions and which game you’re playing.
Lycanroc Midday Form: Stats, Moves, and How to Evolve
Lycanroc Midday Form is the Rockroff evolution. Note that in Generation VII, it’s only attainable via evolution in Pokémon Sun and Ultra Sun. However, it’s still found in the wild in all game versions. After evolving, Midday Form’s appearance becomes much more wolf-like and less puppy-like. This form stands out for its high speed and physical attack attributes.
Rockruff will evolve into a different Lycanroc form depending on its abilities and the time of day when it levels up. If Rockruff possesses the Keen Eye, Vital Spirit, or Steadfast ability and levels up during the day (typically from 4:00 AM to 5:59 PM in the in-game clock), it will evolve into the Midday Form.
Lycanroc Midday Form excels in offense and speed, making it a formidable opponent. Its Rock-type moves pack a punch against Bug, Fire, Flying, and Ice-type Pokémon. On the other hand, its Rock-typing makes Lycanroc Midday Form susceptible to Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, and Steel-type moves. Trainers should always be wary of sending Lycanroc out against these types.
Base Stats:
- HP: 75
- Attack: 115
- Defense: 65
- Sp. Atk: 55
- Sp. Def: 65
- Speed: 112
Lycanroc Midday Form’s move pool includes powerful Rock and Dark-type moves, giving it additional effectiveness against Ghost and Psychic-type opponents along with those listed earlier. Here is an updated Generation IX list of some notable moves Lycanroc Midday Form can learn from leveling up:
- Upon evolving: Sucker Punch (Dark)
- Level 20: Bite (Dark)
- Level 24: Rock Tomb (Rock)
- Level 36: Rock Slide (Rock)
- Level 42: Crunch (Dark)
- Level 54: Stealth Rock (Rock)
- Level 60: Stone Edge (Rock)
Lycanroc Midnight Form: Stats, Moves, and How to Evolve
Lycanroc Midnight Form is the second evolution of Rockruff. In Generation VII, it’s only evolvable in Pokémon Moon and Ultra Moon as the counterpart to the Midday Form from Pokémon Sun. You can still catch it in the wild, though. It takes on a more aggressive and menacing appearance than the Midday Form, reflecting its preference for nighttime battles.
Rockruff evolves into Lycanroc Midnight Form by leveling up during nighttime, typically from 6:00 PM to 3:59 AM in the in-game clock. This evolution also requires that Rockruff have one of the following abilities: Keen Eye, Vital Spirit, or Steadfast. This is the same as for the Midday Form, so only the time of day required for evolution is different.
Lycanroc Midnight Form leans more toward defense and physical strength. It has the same Attack stat as the Midday Form, more HP and Defense, but considerably less Speed. Its Rock-type moves are plenty strong against Pokémon weak to this type, and its increased defenses help it better withstand enemy attacks. Lycanroc Midnight Form is weak to Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, and Steel-type moves like its Midday counterpart. Trainers should plan their battles accordingly to mitigate these weaknesses.
Base Stats:
- HP: 85
- Attack: 115
- Defense: 75
- Sp. Atk: 55
- Sp. Def: 75
- Speed: 82
Lycanroc Midnight Form boasts a mix of Rock, Fighting, and Dark-type moves, making it a versatile battler with various strategic options. Midnight Lycanroc’s learnset is almost identical to the Midday Form, except it learns the Fighting-type move Counter upon evolving.
Lycanroc Dusk Form: Stats, Moves, and How to Evolve
Lycanroc Dusk Form is the last of the three evolved forms of Rockruff and debuted in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. This Rockruff evolution is notable for having “Tough Claws,” an ability that boosts the power of contact moves and makes its physical attacks even more potent. It has a nearly identical stat distribution to the Midday Form, although with a slightly higher Attack and lower Speed.
Base Stats:
- HP: 75
- Attack: 117
- Defense: 65
- Sp. Atk: 55
- Sp. Def: 65
- Speed: 110
It’s also the trickiest of the Rockruff evolutions to acquire. Only a Rockruff with the “Own Tempo” ability can evolve into the Lycanroc Dusk Form, and to do so, you must level it up during a very narrow time window. To evolve Rockruff into Lycanroc Dusk Form, level it up between 5:00 and 5:59 PM in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, between 7:00 and 7:59 PM in Pokémon Sword and Shield, or during the three-minute window when the sun sets in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Lycanroc Dusk Form has access to various Rock-type, Dark-type, and Normal-type moves and many others that are learnable through TMs. As of Generation IX, Dusk Form’s learnset is the same as the other Rockruff evolutions, except it learns Crush Claw upon evolving.
Rockruff and its evolutions, Lycanroc Midday Form, Lycanroc Midnight Form, and Lycanroc Dusk Form, represent one of the most unique evolutionary trees in the Pokémon series. Each form has strengths and weaknesses, but trainers looking for a solid Rock-type attacker with some Dark-type tricks up its sleeve won’t be disappointed with any of them. Understanding each form’s moves, stats, and abilities is essential for harnessing the full potential of these Rock-type canines.