Rockruff's evolution is one of the best rock-types in the entire franchise, making Lycanroc a must-own for budding trainers who need a strong buddy to dish out some damage. An interesting thing about Lycanroc is that it has three variations, one of which is very difficult to get due to the slim window you have. Luckily for you, we're here to talk you through each form and how you can get them all.
Before we explain how you can evolve Rockruff into the Lycanroc of your choice, you might want to know what other Rock Pokémon from the Pokédex can kick some ass.
Here's what you need to know about Rockruff's evolution.
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
Without question, the midday form is the most common one you'll meet, while dusk is the rarest, and midnight is arguably the most sought-after, given its resemblance to a werewolf. One thing is certain: regardless of which Lycanroc you get, you have a very powerful rock-type on your team.
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. You can also find the midday form out in the wild throughout the day, eliminating the need to evolve Rockruff.
How do I get Lycanroc's midnight form?
You need to evolve Rockruff between 18:00 and 06:00 in order to get Lycanroc's midnight form. Let's be honest, appearance-wise, this is the best iteration of Lycanroc with the whole werewolf thing it's got going on. You don't even need to go to the effort of evolving Lycanroc at night if you want one, as you can find them out in the wild when the moon is in the sky.
How do I get Lycanroc's dusk form?
You need to reach level 25 with Rockruff between 17:00 and 18:00 and have the 'own tempo' ability to get Lycanroc's dusk form. The sky is orange (as is the circle icon on your map), but it only lasts a couple of minutes, so it's best to make sure you have a rare candy on you to ensure you evolve Rockruff within that short time.
Which Rockruff evolution is better?
Besides looking different, there are a couple of differences when it comes to stats for the Lycanroc variants. The midday version is fastest, the dusk form is the best for attack, while the midnight variant is defensively better than the other two.
So, each Lycanroc has different strengths; the best one, therefore, is entirely subjective and comes down to which one suits your needs better. Personally, I'm a fan of the Midnight variant, though I'll be honest and say that's more due to its appearance. Regardless, it still kicks butt in a battle.
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. You may also be waiting a while for the chance to evolve Rockruff even once, as there are hundreds of creatures in the mobile game, so it might be some time before you catch enough of them to get 150 candies for all three Lycanroc variants.