Talk:Rockruff (Pokémon)

Iwanko

Since I can't add the info, I'll say here what Iwanko's name means. Iwa = Rock, Wan = Woof, Ko = Child. It's name is Rock-woof child, and that's adorable. Me, Hurray! (talk) 03:41, 11 June 2016 (UTC)

Grammar

Iwanko appears to be based on a domestic dog, most likely a spitz-type breed. Could someone fix this? --Raltseye 15:59, 12 June 2016 (UTC)

Fixed. --Carmen★ (Talk | contribs) 16:06, 12 June 2016 (UTC)

Origin

Iwanko is probably based on the Hawaiian Poi. Historically (though it may be legend, I'm no expert), Pois were raised alongside children; if they outlived the child, the dog was killed and buried with them. Otherwise when the poi died the child would be given a charm necklace made from its teeth, as poi teeth are thought to be good luck charms.

Given Alola is obvious Hawaii, this is likely Iwanko's design basis - notice the ruff around its neck looks like a necklace of teeth. Drake Clawfang (talk) 20:24, 30 June 2016 (UTC)

That's a very possible source of inspiration, but I think we still need more information before we put that in the page. Paᗧ•••ᗣck 15:04, 2 July 2016 (UTC)

While Rockruff does seem to borrow inspiration from the Hawaiian Poi regarding its collar, it is not primarily based off of it. Rather, it is based off of the Kurī, a dog that is sometimes confused for the Poi dog. Rockruff has perky, folded ears and a fluffy tail like the Kurī, whereas the Poi (going off of the one photograph I could find of it) has a slender tail (and shorter hair in general), and somewhat flopped but perky ears.

Alola is based in Hawaii, and contrary to popular belief, pit bulls aren't banned in Japan & have a following. Lycanroc is based off a werewolf, yes, but Rockruff is largely based off a pitbull among other breeds, I think. Alola is based off an American state, it's ears are floppy, and two descriptions fit the pit's disposition perfectly, the descriptions in sword, sun, and most the TCG. (And pits in Japan are usually grouped with wolf/canid hybrids, the chow, rottweilers, and pinschers in foreign bases abroad.) Source: Iwakuni Vet Treatment facility (https://www.mcasiwakuni.marines.mil/Portals/112/Docs/welcome/Iwakuni%20VTF%20Welcome%20Packet.pdf?ver=2018-01-22-230948-583)

I think the design is based off a combination, and not the poi or pure spitz types. It's based off a combination banned on many bases abroad. The large head, floppy ears, and body type are a pitbull puppy, the tail is the chow, and the rock 'collar' is based off the spike collar seen in many illustrations of dobermans. The disposition is based off all those breeds. KBcactus (talk) 01:40, 16 October 2020 (UTC)

Russian name

Could someone please add this to the in other languages section?

|ru=Рокрафф Rokraff|rumeaning=Transcription of English name

--Raltseye prata med mej 16:12, 1 July 2016 (UTC)

Name Origin

I know this is minor but a "ruff" is also a collar/frill around the neck on both clothing and animals so the meaning fits Rockruff too. Zeb (talk) 21:02, 1 July 2016 (UTC)

I think that should be added. Since that meaning makes perfect sense. And I think that this meaning fits more than the dog sound one too, since 'Wuff' and 'Woof' are comparatively more popular than 'Ruff' as dog sound. But both the meanings should be added for the sake of clarity. The legendary PkmnTrainerV is Here! (talk) 11:10, 22 September 2016 (UTC)

Trivia question

Just noticed that Lycanroc's forms are version-exclusive. Does that make Rockruff the only Pokemon whose evolutionary method (day or night) and result (midday/midnight Lycanroc) is game-dependent? (Aside: I haven't completed Pokemon Sun yet, there are still more Pokemon I don't know.) --Stratelier 02:57, 8 December 2016 (UTC)

They're not technically version-exclusive, since both forms can be found rarely in the grass late in the game. As for the second part of your question, no, Rockruff isn't the only one. There's another, but in case you want to avoid spoilers, I won't say it here. If you want to know what it is, click here; if not, don't click or hover over that link. :) Pumpkinking0192 (talk) 03:19, 8 December 2016 (UTC)

Breeding the Event Rockruff

Is it possible/legal to do so? I'm legitimately curious...--BlisseyandtheAquaJets (talk) 20:23, 15 January 2018 (UTC)

Yes, it can be bred and pass down the Own Tempo Ability (and the capability to evolve into Dusk Lycanroc). The only limitation on Own Tempo Rockruff, to my knowledge, is that it can't be Wonder Traded, because that could lead to it accidentally ending up in a copy of the original Sun/Moon. Pumpkinking0192 (talk) 20:38, 15 January 2018 (UTC)

Yeah the games prevent the Event Rockruff from being Wonder Trade, GTS on the other hand, no idea.--Jacob Kogan (talk) 06:11, 16 January 2018 (UTC)

Number of abilities

Is it the only Pokémon with 4 possible abilities? Also, is it the only Pokémon with an event ability different from the hidden one? --FDN 22:55, 14 June 2020 (UTC)

Technically Basculin as well, Scoliopede and the Litwick family. -Spriteit (talk) 02:24, 15 June 2020 (UTC)

Basculin only in generation V and Scolipede and Litwick never had 4 possible abilites in one game.--Rocket Grunt (Report To Me) 09:37, 15 June 2020 (UTC)

At this stage it's the same for Rockruff too. Also in response to your second question, Greninja qualifies. --Spriteit (talk) 05:21, 16 June 2020 (UTC)

Form

Is Own Tempo Rockruff a different form from regular Rockruff, I mean is changing ability by hacking enough to make it "the other one"? And can Own Tempo Rockruff evolve into midday/midnight Lycanroc?--Rocket Grunt (Report To Me) 16:32, 4 July 2020 (UTC)

I've read somewhere that the Own Tempo Rockruff is considered by the game to be an entirely different species, but I can't find the source right now. SaniOKh (talk) 19:09, 6 July 2020 (UTC)

Own Temp Rockruff can only Evolve into Dusk Form Lycanroc and no other forms. I believe that was Game Freak's intention to make the third form more distinct. But Rockruff is not really different from other Rockruff, just a different ability only it can have the case with Zygarde that can access it complete from--Jacob9594 (talk) 19:12, 6 July 2020 (UTC)

I doubt this is sufficient as a source, but PKHEX marks Rockruff as having two forms: a "normal" form with Keen Eye/Vital Spirit/Steadfast as an HA, and a "dusk" form with Own Tempo as its Ability. It seems that rather than the game checking Rockruff's Ability, it's checking its form for evolution, but both forms are identical apart from Ability. --celadonk (talk) 15:42, 8 July 2020 (UTC)