Ash's Lycanroc

From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
Jump to navigationJump to search
Ash's Lycanroc
サトシのルガルガン Satoshi's Lugarugan
Bag Poké Ball SV Sprite.png
Ash Lycanroc.png
Ash's Lycanroc
Debuts in The Guardian's Challenge!
Caught in Rocking Clawmark Hill!
Caught at Melemele Island
Evolves in Rising from the Ruins!
Gender Unknown
Ability Unknown
Current location With Ash
HOME744.png File:HOME???.png
This Pokémon spent 35 episodes as Rockruff.
Voice actor Japanese English
As Rockruff Megumi Hayashibara Haven Paschall
As Lycanroc Keiichi Nakagawa N/A

Ash's Lycanroc (Japanese: サトシのルガルガン Satoshi's Lugarugan) is the second Pokémon that Ash obtained in the Alola region, and his forty-eighth overall. Before being caught by Ash, it lived together with Professor Kukui, although it was never officially Kukui's Pokémon.

History

Under Professor Kukui's care

As a Rockruff

Lycanroc, as a Rockruff, was a wild Pokémon that one day stumbled across Professor Kukui's house. It was starving and left confused from another Pokémon's Teeter Dance. Professor Kukui gave it some Pokémon food, which made Rockruff decide to stay at Kukui's house. From then on, Rockruff lived with Kukui, although he never caught it in a Poké Ball.

Rockruff first appeared in The Guardian's Challenge!, where it had dinner and played with Ash and Pikachu. It was later seen the following day with Professor Kukui, watching the welcoming party Ash's classmates had prepared for him. Kukui had planned to battle Ash and Pikachu with Rockruff, but the party was interrupted by Tapu Koko, who challenged Ash to a battle instead.

In Rocking Clawmark Hill!, Rockruff came home injured, causing Ash and Professor Kukui to investigate the reason behind its injuries. This led them to Clawmark Hill, where they discovered that Rockruff had been fighting with other wild Pokémon, including a Magmar. With Ash's help, Rockruff was able to master Rock Throw, which helped it defeat Magmar. At the end of the episode, Professor Kukui encouraged Ash to catch Rockruff after seeing the bond the two had developed.

With Ash

In A Guardian Rematch!, Lycanroc, as a Rockruff, was used in its first official battle, in which it faced Hiroki and his Mudbray. During the battle, Rockruff performed Breakneck Blitz for the first time, which was able to defeat Mudbray.

In A Glaring Rivalry!, Rockruff was seen training with Ash's Rowlet and Litten. Later, it witnessed its evolved form Lycanroc winning a battle against a Blastoise, which greatly impressed it. Ash later used Rockruff in his battle against Gladion in which it battled Lycanroc. Rockruff got quickly overwhelmed by Lycanroc's great speed and fierce moves, but was still able to battle. The battle was then interrupted by Team Rocket, who captured Pikachu and Lycanroc.

In Trials and Determinations!, Rockruff was used in the Akala Island grand trial alongside Rowlet, battling Olivia's Lycanroc and Probopass. Despite their opponents giving them tough times with their combination tactics, Rowlet eventually managed to defeat Probopass with Bloom Doom. Unfortunately, Rockruff, who was acting aggressively, was so desperate to battle Lycanroc by itself that it impulsively used Bite against Rowlet, accidentally knocking it out. Despite this setback, Ash encouraged Rockruff to use its fighting spirit, allowing it to outspeed and defeat Lycanroc, earning Ash a Rockium Z. Professor Kukui and Olivia then revealed to Ash that Rockruff's behavior was a sign that it was going to evolve soon.

Lycanroc and Ash

In Rising from the Ruins!, Rockruff went off by itself to train after remembering the aggression it demonstrated during Olivia's grand trial. While training, it encountered Tapu Lele, who challenged it to a battle. Rockruff was no match for the guardian deity, however, and was easily beaten. When Ash found Rockruff, he tried to stop it from running away again, but failed. The next day, Rockruff was walking on a cliffside when it got startled by a Fearow, causing it to fall down into a river. The injured Puppy Pokémon was later found by Olivia and Gladion's Lycanroc, who brought it to the Ruins of Life, where Tapu Lele resided. When Ash, Professor Kukui, and Olivia arrived at the ruins, Tapu Lele used Draining Kiss to drain Ash and the two Lycanroc's energy, which it then used to heal Rockruff's wounds. Afterwards, Rockruff went to the edge of a cliff and began to howl as the setting sun turned green. It then evolved into Dusk Form Lycanroc, after which it got happily embraced by its Trainer and the rest of Ash's party.

In Mimikyu Unmasked!, Ash had Lycanroc use Continental Crush against Team Rocket, but the attack failed. After another attempt, Professor Kukui gave him some advice, which led to Ash training with Kiawe and his Turtonator. When Team Rocket showed up again and Jessie challenged Ash to a battle with her Mimikyu, Lycanroc mastered Continental Crush and sent Team Rocket blasting off, much to their surprise.

In SM047, Ash discovered while washing Lycanroc that it was so proud of its appearance that it would fly into a rage and attack if its fur got dirty. Lycanroc attacked Litten and Litten fought back, with Ash placing himself between his two errant Pokémon. This helped Lycanroc to calm down, and it was very apologetic towards Ash. Later, Ash used Lycanroc to battle Gladion's Type: Null, nicknamed Silvally, where it was outmatched by its opponent sheer power. During the battle Lycanroc was thrown into a nearby lake which drenched its fur, causing another rage during which it refused to listen to Ash's commands. Despite this, Silvally was still the stronger opponent and Lycanroc was easily held at bay before it could regain control of itself.

Personality and characteristics

Lycanroc is a playful, affectionate Pokémon that gets along well with both Ash and its previous caretaker, Professor Kukui. The first night Ash stayed with the Professor, Rockruff, Pikachu, and Ash were quickly able to befriend each other. As a Rockruff, like other members of its species, it likes to greet and show affection to others by rubbing up against them with the rocks on its neck, although it doesn't seem to be aware that it stings the recipient. Its affectionate personality was also shown in SM045, where despite the fact that Litten was angry toward it whilst eating and whilst relaxing at home, it continued to eat and smiled back at Litten respectively.

Although Rockruff lived with Professor Kukui before being caught by Ash, it was actually a wild Pokémon that Professor Kukui was taking care of. When Ash revealed this to his classmates at the Pokémon School, his Rotom Pokédex added that Rockruff readily bond with humans even if they are not captured by a Trainer.

Lycanroc has been shown to have a strong sense of smell as a Rockruff which has been used to help find Rowlet and Popplio, Ash's missing Electrium Z and DJ Leo's Dugtrio. In SM047, it has shown to have a temper whenever its fur gets dirty and lashes out at whomever is responsible. When it gets like this, its eyes turn red.

Moves used

Ash Rockruff Rock Throw.png
Using Rock Throw
as a Rockruff
Move First Used In
Tackle Rocking Clawmark Hill!
Bite Rocking Clawmark Hill!
Rock Throw Rocking Clawmark Hill!
Accelerock Alola, Kanto!
A shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Z-Moves used

Picture Z-Move First Used in Base Move
Ash Rockruff Breakneck Blitz.png Breakneck Blitz A Guardian Rematch! Tackle
Description: Rockruff strikes a series of synchronized poses with its Trainer to build Z-Power. It then charges at the target with a full-speed tackle.
Ash Lycanroc Continental Crush.png Continental Crush Mimikyu Unmasked! Rock Throw or Accelerock
Description: Lycanroc strikes a series of synchronized poses with its Trainer to build Z-Power. It then jumps into the air and summons multiple rocks from the ground, forming a huge boulder. It then hurls the boulder at the opponent. When the boulder hits the opponent, it explodes.

In the games

Rockruff is used by Professor Kukui in Pokémon Sun and Moon to help with the capture, Z-Move, and Battle Royal tutorials.

Pokémon Sun and Moon
Capture tutorial
Route 1
Z-Move tutorial
Route 2
Battle Royal tutorial
Battle Royal Dome
744Rockruff.png
Type:
Rock Unknown
Ability:
Unknown
Held item:
None.png None None.png
Rockruff Lv.7
Tackle
Normal Physical
Leer
Normal Status
Sand Attack
Ground Status
Bite
Dark Physical
744Rockruff.png
Type:
Rock Unknown
Ability:
Unknown
Held item:
Bag Normalium Z Sprite.png Normalium Z
Rockruff Lv.19
Tackle
Normal Physical
Leer
Normal Status
Sand Attack
Ground Status
Bite
Dark Physical
744Rockruff.png
Type:
Rock Unknown
Ability:
Vital Spirit
Held item:
None.png None None.png
Rockruff Lv.19
Rock Throw
Rock Physical
Bite
Dark Physical
Protect
Normal Status
  --  
   

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Rockruff first appeared in PASM04 under the ownership of Professor Kukui. It was first used to battle Sun's En at the Iki Town festival tournament. Initially, Rockruff had the advantage over En due to Sun lacking the motivation to battle. Once Sun was given the proper motivation, he and En easily defeated Rockruff, forcing Kukui to switch for Munchlax.

Moves used

Kukui Rockruff Rock Throw Adventures.png
Using Rock Throw
Move First Used In
Rock Throw PASM04
A shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

In the TCG

Ash's Rockruff is featured in the TCG as of one Ash's Pokémon. The following is a list of cards featuring Rockruff.

Rockruff
Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format.
Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card Type English
Expansion
Rarity # Japanese
Expansion
Rarity #
Rockruff Fighting       Ash vs Team Rocket Deck Kit   011/026
 


Related articles

For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Rockruff and Lycanroc.




Project Anime logo.png This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.