Ash's Lycanroc

Ash's Lycanroc サトシのルガルガン Satoshi's Lugarugan

Ash's Lycanroc

Debuts in The Guardian's Challenge! Caught in Rocking Clawmark Hill! Caught at Hau'oli Outskirts Evolves in Rising from the Ruins! Gender Unknown Ability Unknown Current location With Ash

→ This Pokémon spent 35 episodes as Rockruff.

Voice actor Japanese English As Rockruff Megumi Hayashibara Haven Paschall As Lycanroc Keiichi Nakagawa Michael Liscio Jr.‎‎

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

In the anime

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.

Lycanroc and Ash

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 outrun and defeat Lycanroc, thus 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.

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.

Lycanroc going berserk after discovering its fur is dirty

In A Masked Warning!, 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. After Lycanroc recovered, Ash and Gladion decided to continue the battle, but despite its best efforts, Lycanroc couldn't stand up to the power of Silvally's Crush Claw and was defeated.

In Rescuing the Unwilling!, Lycanroc fought alongside Lillie's Vulpix, Snowy, against Lusamine's Clefable, which was under Nihilego's control. It saved Lillie from Clefable's Moonblast with an Accelerock. After Lycanroc knocked back Clefable with a Rock Throw, Lillie reminded Clefable of the Clefairy doll they used to play with together, in order to free it from Nihilego's command. When Clefable began powering up a move, Lillie gestured Lycanroc and Snowy not to attack before freeing Clefable with a simple embrace.

In Tough Guy Trials!, Lycanroc was used to battle Nanu, going up against his Krookodile. During the battle, Nanu had Krookodile deliberately anger Lycanroc, even going so far as to make it go berserk by dirtying its fur with Mud-Slap. Despite the furious attacks in its angered state, Lycanroc was defeated after Krookodile used Counter to send it flying before finishing it off with Crunch. Afterwards, at Acerola's library, Lycanroc sulked over its defeat. It was cheered up after Ash asked Acerola to help him find a place where he could train for a rematch with Nanu.

In Some Kind of Laziness!, Acerola took Ash to see Tapu Bulu at the Ruins of Abundance so it could help him train. After some time, the duo managed to meet with Tapu Bulu and convince it to help them. At one point during their stay, it began raining, so Tapu Bulu decided to knock Lycanroc into a nearby pond, dirtying its fur and making it go berserk. By reminding Lycanroc of its time as a Rockruff and the bond they share, Ash finally managed to calm Lycanroc down. Impressed by this act, Tapu Bulu decided to battle Lycanroc. Though Tapu Bulu proved to be a powerful opponent, Lycanroc learned Stone Edge during the battle, after which Tapu Bulu called the battle off.

In Guiding an Awakening!, Ash faced Nanu in a grand trial battle, but was only allowed to use Lycanroc against all three of Nanu's Pokémon. After managing to defeat Nanu's Krookodile and Sableye, it went up against Nanu's Alolan Persian. Throughout the battle, Nanu used his previous strategy of angering Lycanroc so that it would go into its red-eyed state. Ash, worried that Lycanroc could go berserk again, kept telling it to keep calm throughout the battle. Nanu, realizing the truth of the situation, decided to anger Ash himself by mocking his skill as a Trainer. In order to calm its Trainer down, Lycanroc chose to tackle Ash, revealing that it was in complete control of itself the entire time. Realizing that he let his anger and frustration from Nanu's insults go to his head, Ash apologized to Lycanroc and continued the battle. After an exchange of Z-Moves with Persian as well as its newly learned Counter, Lycanroc won the battle, allowing Ash to win a Lycanium Z.

In Twirling with a Bang!, while on the group's third Ultra Guardians mission, Ash decided to use Lycanroc's new Z-Move to weaken the Ultra Beasts they were facing, Blacephalon and Xurkitree, while they were distracted by the performance provided by the group's other Pokémon. After the successfully executed Splintered Stormshards had left the two Ultra Beasts momentarily vulnerable, Lana and Lillie were able to catch them and thus complete the mission.

In Securing the Future!, Lycanroc joined the rest of Alola in showering Necrozma with light so it could return to its normal form.

In Showdown on Poni Island!, Ash used Lycanroc during his battle against Gladion and his own Lycanroc. Gladion's Lycanroc was able to withstand Splintered Stormshards before defeating Ash's Lycanroc with Devastating Drake.

In SM138, Lycanroc was the final Pokemon Ash sent out to battle Gladion and his Lycanroc in the finals of the Manalo Conference. The two trainers reminicsed about the history of the rivalry both they and their Lycanroc shared, and then opened the battle by having both Lycanroc use Stone Edge, with the two moves colliding in the middle of the field. Ash had Lycanroc try and get in close multiple times with Bite and Accelrock, with one hitting its mark, only to be blown back by Counter or Stone Edge. After taking a major blow, it struggled to its feet and the exchanges continued. Gladion's Lycanroc then powered up with Swords Dance and launched a barrage of Outrages, with the first striking head on and the rest breaking through Ash's Lycanroc's Stone Edge that it used to try and defend itself. The resulting confusion set in just as Gladion's Lycanroc approached to strike Ash's a second time, and it surpised everyone by biting its left hand. Ash thought it was safe to retaliate and ordered a Bite, but little did he know that biting its own hand was a method Gladion and his Lycanroc developed to snap out of confusion, and it sent it flying with another powerful Counter before Ash's Lycanroc could react. After it recovered, Ash had Lycanroc charge through two incoming Stone Edge attacks, the first with Bite and the second with Accelrock, hoping to score a final blow. Gladion had his Lycanroc fire off one final Counter-boosted uppercut to intercept, but just as it connected, Ash finally ordered his Lycanroc to use its own Counter, which caused its stone horn to glow green and clip Gladion's Lycanroc under its chin, sending it flying into the wall and knocking it out, winning Ash the battle and the championship.

Personality and characteristics

Lycanroc in full control of its red-eyed state

Lycanroc is normally 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 Now You See Them, Now You Don't!, 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. Lycanroc appears to take its failures rather personally. As a Rockruff in Trials and Determinations!, after knocking out Rowlet in a fit of anger, it immediately came to its senses and regretted what it had done, and, despite ultimately winning against Olivia, was still visibly upset in the next episode. At the end of Tough Guy Trials!, Lycanroc was seen sulking in the corner of Acerola's house after losing its battle with Nanu's Krookodile, prompting Ash to give it a pep talk.

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, Rotom added that Rockruff readily bond with humans even if they are not captured by a Trainer. After evolving, Lycanroc started taking great pride in its fur, as shown in A Masked Warning!, and is shown to enjoy being groomed and taking baths despite being a Rock-type, as observed by Rotom. However, if angered enough, such as when its fur gets dirty, Lycanroc's eyes turned red, and it would fly into a rage, lashing out at whomever it thought was responsible. When this happened, Lycanroc became disobedient and ignored Ash's commands. This weakness caused problems later during Ash's battle with Gladion and Silvally, and was later the cause of its defeat at the hands of Nanu and his Krookodile in Tough Guy Trials!. In Some Kind of Laziness!, Lycanroc was able to overcome this destructive habit with the help of Ash and the bond the two shared, remembering a memory it had when it played in the mud happily with Ash and Pikachu when it was still a Rockruff. After this, Lycanroc no longer goes berserk when its fur is dirtied, as seen in A Battle Hand-Off!, where it got a bit of mud on its face and only reacted with disappointment. In Guiding an Awakening!, Lycanroc was revealed to have gained full control of its red-eyed state, allowing it to use it as a boost of power.

Lycanroc has 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 the Poké Problem segment of A Masked Warning!, it is revealed that Ash and Pikachu had to rely on Lycanroc's nose to guide them back from Ten Carat Hill after Nebby had fallen asleep. In Night of a Thousand Poses! and Mission: Total Recall!, Lycanroc is shown to spar with Litten on occasion, even when it is separated from its Trainer.

Moves used

Using Rock Throw Using Bite	Move First Used In Tackle Rocking Clawmark Hill! Bite † Rocking Clawmark Hill! Rock Throw Rocking Clawmark Hill! Accelerock † Alola, Kanto! Stone Edge † Some Kind of Laziness! Counter † Guiding an Awakening!
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
	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.
	Continental Crush	Mimikyu Unmasked!	Rock Throw, Accelerock, or Stone Edge
	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.
	Splintered Stormshards	Twirling with a Bang!	Stone Edge
	Description: Lycanroc strikes a series of synchronized poses with its Trainer to build Z-Power. It then breaks the ground around it, causing shards of rocks to get thrown into the air and fly upwards. Lycanroc jumps up with the shards as they stop and then point towards the opponent before shooting towards them. Lycanroc lands on the ground behind the opponent as the shards strike them behind it.

In the games

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

Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon
Capture tutorial (Route 1)	Z-Move tutorial (Route 2)	Battle Royal tutorial (Battle Royal Dome)
Type: Rock Unknown Ability: Unknown Held item: None Rockruff♂ Lv.7 Tackle Normal Physical   --       Leer Normal Status   --       Sand Attack Ground Status   --       Bite Dark Physical   --	Type: Rock Unknown Ability: Unknown Held item: Normalium Z Rockruff♂ Lv.19 Tackle Normal Physical   --       Leer Normal Status   --       Sand Attack Ground Status   --       Bite Dark Physical   --	Type: Rock Unknown Ability: Vital Spirit Held item: None Rockruff♂ Lv.19/20 Rock Throw Rock Physical   --       Bite Dark Physical   --       Protect Normal Status   --       Curse Unknown Status   --

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

As a Rockruff in Pokémon Adventures

Lycanroc in Pokémon Adventures

Rockruff first appeared in The Decision and the Tournament of Six under the ownership of Professor Kukui. It was first used to battle Sun's Dollar at the Iki Town festival tournament. Initially, Rockruff had the advantage over Dollar due to Sun lacking the motivation to battle. Once Sun was given the proper motivation, he and Dollar easily defeated Rockruff, forcing Kukui to switch for Munchlax. Sometime later, it evolved into a Midday Form Lycanroc, and was used to try and prevent a Celesteela and Guzzlord from reaching Hokulani Observatory, only to be defeated.

Moves used

Using Rock Throw as a Rockruff	Move First Used In Rock Throw The Decision and the Tournament of Six
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					Ash vs Team Rocket Deck Kit		011/026

Trivia

• Lycanroc's gender was hinted at in the Japanese version of Pikachu's Exciting Adventure!. In the narrator's translation, it refers to itself as おいら oira, a pronoun typically used by males with a rural background.

Related articles

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

Ash's Pokémon
On hand:	Pikachu
Traveling with:	Rotom Phone
At Oak's/In rotation:	Pidgeot	Bulbasaur	Charizard	Kingler	Muk	Tauros (×30)
	Snorlax	Heracross	Bayleef	Quilava	Totodile	Noctowl
	Donphan	Swellow	Sceptile	Corphish	Torkoal	Glalie
	Staraptor	Torterra	Infernape	Buizel	Gliscor	Gible
	Unfezant	Oshawott	Pignite	Snivy	Scraggy	Leavanny
	Palpitoad	Boldore	Krookodile	Talonflame	Hawlucha	Noivern
	Dragonite	Gengar	Lucario	Sirfetch'd	Dracovish
With Kukui/In rotation:	Rowlet	Lycanroc	Incineroar	Melmetal
At home:	Mr. Mime
In training:	Squirtle	Primeape
Released:	Butterfree	Lapras	Larvitar	Greninja	Goodra	Nebby
	Naganadel
Temporarily owned:	Seaking	Buzzwole	Stakataka	Pheromosa	Rowlet
Traded away:	Raticate	Aipom
Given away:	Beedrill
Traveled with:	Haunter	Azelf	Meowth	Meloetta	Rotom Pokédex	Latias
The Power of Us only:	Ekans	Sentret
EToP only:	Fearow	Oddish	Mankey	Slowpoke
Newspaper Strip only:	Starmie	Clefairy
For a list of Pokémon Ash has temporarily owned, used, or commanded, see here

Professor Kukui's Pokémon
On hand:	Braviary	Incineroar	Lucario	Venusaur	Empoleon	Unknown
At home:	Luvdisc	Corsola	Rowlet	Lycanroc	Incineroar	Melmetal
Temporary:	Naganadel	Tapu Koko
Ride Pokémon:	Wailmer
Befriended:	Rockruff	Trevenant
Professor Kukui's Pokémon in other media
Games only:	Rotom	Lycanroc	Incineroar	Pokémon at lab
Adventures only:	Litten	Rowlet	Popplio	Rotom	Snorlax	Lycanroc

Recurring wild Pokémon in the animated series
Fearow	Ho-Oh	Pink Butterfree	Haunter	Jigglypuff	Clefairy
Mewtwo	Slowking (M02)	Lapras	Suicune	Pichu Posse	Articuno (OS)
Lugia (OS)	Silver	Wynaut	Larvitar	Loudred	Spoink
Kyogre and Groudon (RS)	Articuno (RS)	Deoxys	Lake guardians	Marill	Hippopotas
Zekrom	Forces of nature	Carracosta	Meloetta	Reshiram	Malamar
Super-ancient Pokémon (XY)	Wooper	Florges	Squishy	Z2	Guardian deities
Bewear	Toucannon's flock	Stoutland	Exeggutor	Oranguru	Nebby
Lunala	Necrozma	Stufful	Ultra Beasts	Grandpa Forest	Melemele Greens
Mantine	Zeraora	Meltan	Shaymin	Magearna	Celebi
Wingull	Mew	Lugia (JN)	Thievul trio	Drednaw	Slowking (JN)
Legendary heroes	Mewtwo's friends	Cresselia	Darkrai	Dialga	Palkia
Heatran	Latias	Terapagos
Recurring wild Pokémon that have been caught
Caterpie	Gyarados	Aipom	Gible	Krokorok	Dedenne
Goodra	Litten	Rockruff	Mimikyu	Mareanie	Poipole
Eevee	Greedy Rapooh	Meltan	Scorbunny	Gengar	Sobble
Eternatus	Morpeko	Fuecoco	Wattrel	Quaxly

This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.