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Rockruff evolution guide

Rockruff’s evolution has more to it than you might think, that’s why we’re here, so you can learn how to get Lycanroc’s various versions.

Rockruff evolution: Rockruff and all three Lycanroc types in front of a map of Alola

Rockruff’s evolution, Lycanroc, is one of the best rock-types out there. While its battle prowess is common knowledge, you might not be aware of the fact that it has three different versions. The form the majority of you will know about is the midday one, as that’s by far the most common. But what about the midnight look? Its appearance resembles a werewolf. Then there’s the illusive Lycanroc dusk variation, the hardest to get of the three forms.

Before we explain how you can evolve Rockruff into the Lycanroc of your choice, you might want to know how to evolve Primeape, How to evolve Pawmo, how to evolve Charcadet, and how to evolve Sneasel, too. Or, if you want to know what other Rock Pokémon from the Pokédex can kick some ass, check out our article, though we also have a rock Pokémon weakness guide for those that need to bring the gen 7 Pokémon Lycanroc down.

Here’s what you need to know about Rockruff’s evolution.

Rockruff evolution: Rockruff in front of a map of Alola

Does Rockruff have three evolutions?

Rockruff doesn’t have three evolutions, but there are three different forms you can get for Lycanroc, each one with its own stats.

How do I evolve Rockruff?

Rockruff evolves at level 25, but the time of day determines which version of Lycanroc you get:

  • Midday
  • Midnight
  • Dusk

While Lycanroc’s midday form is common and by far the one you’re most likely to meet, many trainers are after the midnight and dusk variations. However, we must quickly say that regardless of which form you get, its battle prowess remains consistent across all three variants with minute differences in stats.

Rockruff evolution: Lycanroc in front of a map of Alola

How do I get Lycanroc’s midday form?

To evolve Rockruff into Lycanroc’s midday variation, you just need to reach level 25 at any point between 06:00 and 17:00. This is the easiest and most likely version of Lycanroc you’ll receive when you evolve Rockruff, well, unless you like to run around the open world at night.

Rockruff evolution: midnight Lycanroc in front of a map of Alola

How do I get Lycanroc’s midnight form?

As the name indicates, you need to evolve Rockruff between 18:00 and 06:00 in order to get Lycanroc’s midnight form. This variation of the rock-type is perhaps the most cool-looking due to the fact that it heavily resembles a werewolf. Heck, this ‘mon alone gives Scarlet and Violet a good case to be on our list of the best werewolf games on Switch and mobile.

Rockruff evolution: Dusk Lycanroc in front of a map of Alola

How do I get Lycanroc’s dusk form?

To get Lycanroc’s dusk form, you need to reach level 25 with Rockruff between 17:00 and 18:00, and Rockruff needs to have the ‘own tempo’ ability. The sky is orange (as is the circle icon on your map), but this only lasts for a couple of minutes, so you need to act fast – your best bet is to have a rare candy ready to go or some EXP candies. If you miss your window, just cancel the evolution, wait for the right time, and try again.

Which Rockruff evolution is better?

Besides their appearances, there are some differences between Lycanroc’s three forms in terms of their stats. If you care the most about your attack stat (and why wouldn’t you, given offense is the best defense?), we have to say the Dusk Lycanroc is the best – it just about beats the other two with its standard attack, and it also has a 110 speed stat which is just two behind the 112 of the Middary variant.

However, if you want a defensive ‘mon, it’s the Midnight form that suits you best, as it has higher HP, defense, and special defense stats while being just behind the Dusk variant when it comes to attack. However, this does come at the cost of speed.

How do I evolve Rockruff in Pokémon Go?

You need to get 50 candies to evolve Rockruff in Pokémon Go, and just like with the main games, the time of day determines which version of Lycanroc you get. However, that only applies to the midday and midnight forms. To get the dusk variant, you need to take part in events such as Lustrous Odyssey.

Well, there you have it, all you need to know about Rockruff’s evolution. If you want to know how to make the most of Lycanroc, our dark Pokémon weakness, psychic Pokémon weakness, normal Pokémon weakness, dragon Pokémon weakness, and fire Pokémon weakness guides to see how the rock-type fares against them.