Rockruff (Japanese: イワンコ Iwanko) is a Rock-type Pokémon introduced in Generation VII.
It evolves into Lycanroc starting at level 25. The form of Lycanroc that it evolves into depends on the time, as well as its Ability, which corresponds to one of Rockruff's two visually indistinct forms.
- Rockruff with the Abilities Keen Eye, Vital Spirit, or Steadfast evolve into:
- Midday Form Lycanroc when leveled up during the day.
- Midnight Form Lycanroc when leveled up at night.
- Rockruff with the Ability Own Tempo evolve into Dusk Form Lycanroc when leveled up during the evening.
(Specifics may differ in past games. Refer to Game data→Evolution data for these details.)
Biology
Rockruff is a quadrupedal, canine Pokémon. It is primarily light brown with a darker brown muzzle, paws, and ear tips. It has large blue eyes, button ears, a short muzzle with a triangular pink nose, and a short tuft of fur on each cheek. Around its neck is a ruff of grayish-white fur stubbed with dark brown pebbles. The dark brown markings on its paws extend to a thin point on each wrist and ankle. It has a grayish-white tail that curls tightly over its back and is covered in fluffy fur.
Rockruff has an excellent sense of smell and will never forget an odor after smelling it once. There are tales of it reuniting with its Trainer after becoming lost by following the faintest traces of scent. It has lived with humans since ancient times. Rockruff is often recommended as a good Pokémon for beginner Trainers due to its friendly nature and ability to bond with Trainers easily. However, Rockruff is said to be a challenging Pokémon to raise, to the point where some Trainers abandon it due to being unable to handle it. This Pokémon is very sociable and will greet others by rubbing them with the rocks around its neck. As it ages, Rockruff becomes wilder and more independent. Once it is close to evolving, it will begin to howl when the sun goes down. It has been said to leave its Trainer's side and return once it has evolved. Despite becoming more vicious as it matures over time, Rockruff never forgets its master's kindness. Wild Rockruff travels in packs until it evolves. A persistent Pokémon, it will keep going until it outlasts foes that are even more powerful.[1] Rockruff intimidates opponents by using the rocks on its neck to hit the ground. As mentioned in Rocking Clawmark Hill!, Rockruff trains itself by running around. It attacks foes the moment they flinch. It has been known to fight with Growlithe over territory.
Evolution
Rockruff can evolve into Midday Form, Midnight Form, or Dusk Form Lycanroc.
(For specifics on this Pokémon's evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)
Game data
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VII.
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Generation VII
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Alola S M : #103
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Alola US UM : #126
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Kanto #—
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This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.
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Sun
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It's considered to be a good Pokémon for beginners because of its friendliness, but its disposition grows rougher as it grows up.
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Moon
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This Pokémon has lived with people since times long ago. It can sense when its Trainer is in the dumps and will stick close by its Trainer's side.
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Ultra Sun
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As they develop, their disposition grows more violent and aggressive. Many Trainers find them too much to handle and abandon them.
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Ultra Moon
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When it rubs the rocks on its neck against you, that's proof of its love for you. However, the rocks are sharp, so the gesture is quite painful!
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Generation VIII
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Galar Isle of Armor #157
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Sinnoh #—
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Hisui #—
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This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, and Legends: Arceus.
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Sword
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This Pokémon can bond very strongly with its Trainer, but it also has a habit of biting. Raising a Rockruff for a long time can be challenging.
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Shield
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This Pokémon intimidates opponents by striking the ground with the rocks on its neck. The moment an opponent flinches, Rockruff attacks.
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Generation IX
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Paldea #89
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Kitakami #70
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Blueberry #—
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Scarlet
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This Pokémon is very friendly when it's young. Its disposition becomes vicious once it matures, but it never forgets the kindness of its master.
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Violet
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This Pokémon travels in a pack with others until it grows up. When its mood turns sour, it starts striking the ground with the rocks on its neck.
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Game locations
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VII.
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In side games
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VII.
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In events
Held items
Stats
Base stats
Stat
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Range
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At Lv. 50
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At Lv. 100
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45
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105 - 152
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200 - 294
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65
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63 - 128
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121 - 251
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40
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40 - 101
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76 - 196
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30
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31 - 90
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58 - 174
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40
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40 - 101
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76 - 196
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60
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58 - 123
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112 - 240
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Total: 280
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Other Pokémon with this total
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- Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature.
- Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.
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Type effectiveness
Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
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Learnset
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Rockruff
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Rockruff
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Rockruff
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution or an alternate form of Rockruff
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations
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- Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Rockruff
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Rockruff
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Rockruff
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Special moves
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- A superscript level indicates that Rockruff can learn this move normally in Generation IX
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Rockruff
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Rockruff
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see moves from other generations
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Side game data
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Pokémon Rumble Rush
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Walking Speed: 1.55 seconds
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Base HP: 46
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Base Attack: 67
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Base Defense: 45
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Base Speed: 60
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New Pokémon Snap
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Photodex entry #226
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Rockruff is really good at making friends, which we saw when it was playing happily with some other Pokémon. But it’s also brave enough to protect its friends if something were to threaten them.
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Form data
While Rockruff does not have visually distinct forms, Rockruff with the Abilities Keen Eye, Vital Spirit, and Steadfast are internally considered to be a distinct form from Rockruff with the Ability Own Tempo.
Rockruff with Own Tempo cannot be traded on Wonder Trade, likely due to Pokémon Sun and Moon not being programmed with Rockruff's alternate form. Due to being a separate form, Rockruff with Own Tempo behave according to form inheritance rules when bred, rather than Ability inheritance rules. Rockruff with Own Tempo and Dusk Form Lycanroc can breed to produce more Rockruff with Own Tempo. After initially being event-exclusive, Own Tempo Rockruff and Dusk Form Lycanroc were later made accessible within normal gameplay starting in Generation VIII.
In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Rockruff with Own Tempo will not have its Pokédex number displayed when viewed from the Boxes, similar to species not found in the Paldean Pokédex. This quirk doesn't occur for all visually indistinct forms or forms without separate Pokédex entries. For example, Scatterbug and Spewpa each have 20 separate forms internally (one for each Vivillon pattern), but will display their Pokédex number regardless if they would evolve into a form other than Fancy Pattern Vivillon, which is the only form native to Paldea.
Evolution data
Rockruff evolves into Lycanroc starting at level 25. The form Rockruff evolves into depends on the time, as well as its Ability, which corresponds to one of Rockruff's two visually indistinct forms.
Rockruff with the Abilities Keen Eye, Vital Spirit, or Steadfast evolve into Midday Form Lycanroc when leveled up during the day, and Midnight Form Lycanroc when leveled up at night. In Generation VII, Rockruff only evolves into Midday Form Lycanroc in Pokémon Sun and Ultra Sun, and Midnight Form Lycanroc in Pokémon Moon and Ultra Moon.
Rockruff with the Ability Own Tempo is a separate form that can only evolve into Dusk Form Lycanroc. It evolves into this form when leveled up during the evening: from 5:00 to 5:59 PM in in-game time in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (equating to 5:00 to 5:59 PM in real-time in Ultra Sun and 5:00 to 5:59 AM in real-time in Ultra Moon), from 7:00 to 7:59 PM in real-time in Sword and Shield, and for a period lasting 3 minutes out of the 72-minute day/night cycle in Scarlet and Violet.
Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon run a third check due to Own Tempo Rockruff being event exclusive: if the byte 0x1D doesn't match to 0B (Fateful Encounter, Own Tempo "form"), then it will pretend it's a normal Rockruff, and it won't evolve into Dusk Form.
Sprites
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VII.
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In the anime
Main series
Major appearances
Rockruff debuted in The Guardian's Challenge!, under the care of Professor Kukui. In Rocking Clawmark Hill!, Ash officially caught Rockruff. It evolved into a Dusk Form Lycanroc in Rising from the Ruins!.
Murdock owns a Rockruff, which first appeared in The Pendant That Starts It All (Part Two).
Minor appearances
A Trainer's Rockruff appeared in They Might Not Be Giants!.
A Trainer's Rockruff appeared in Crystal-Clear Sleuthing!.
Two Trainers' Rockruff appeared in A Young Royal Flame Ignites!.
Two Trainers' Rockruff appeared in I Choose Paradise!, where they were among the Pokémon seen at the Pokémon Paradise Resort.
A Trainer's Rockruff appeared in Turning the Other Mask!.
A Trainer's Rockruff appeared in a flashback in Battling the Beast Within! as a resident of what is now the Ultra Ruin.
A Trainer's Rockruff appeared in Secrets of the Jungle.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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SM015
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Rockruff and Lycanroc
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Rotom Pokédex
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Rockruff, the Puppy Pokémon. A Rock type. Rockruff have lived with humans since ancient times. They train themselves by running around. Rockruff evolves into Lycanroc, which has two different forms based on when it evolves. It evolves into Midday Form Lycanroc during the day and Midnight Form Lycanroc during the night. Furthermore, when it gets close to evolving, Rockruff's temperament becomes more aggressive, and it tends to act more independent. It's common for it to disappear and then return after it has evolved.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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HZ003
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Rockruff
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Liko's Rotom Phone
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Rockruff, the Puppy Pokémon. A Rock type. It has an extremely powerful sense of smell.
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Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer
A Rockruff briefly appeared in the Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer, under the ownership of Paulo.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
- Main article: Professor Kukui's Rockruff
Rockruff debuted in The Decision and the Tournament of Six with its Trainer in Iki Town.
A Rockruff first appeared in The Decision and the Tournament of Six, under the ownership of Professor Kukui. It was used to battle Sun at an Iki Town festival tournament.
A Rockruff appeared in a video in Homecoming and the Brilliant Professional Golfer.
A Rockruff appeared in Unleashing the Incredible Z-Move, where it starred in a commercial for the Aether Foundation.
Pokémon Horizon
Akira, the protagonist of Pokémon Horizon, has a Rockruff. It has the unique ability to evolve into Lycanroc and then devolve into Rockruff again, thanks to the strange red stone on its neck. It also has the ability to change in between its Midday and Midnight Forms while being evolved.
In the TCG
- Main article: Rockruff (TCG)
Trivia
Origin
Rockruff appears to be based on the spitz breed of dogs. It may also be based on the Japanese wolf, which is often associated with rocks and mountains. The fur with rocks around its neck may be based on a dog collar.
Name origin
Rockruff may be a combination of rock, ruff (onomatopoetic word for barking, or the fur around its neck), and rough.
Iwanko may be a combination of 岩 iwa (rock), ワン wan (onomatopoetic word for barking), わんこ wanko (doggy), and 子 ko (young animal).
In other languages
Language
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Title
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Meaning
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Japanese
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イワンコ Iwanko
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From 岩 iwa, ワン wan, わんこ wanko, and 子 ko
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French
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Rocabot
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From roc and cabot
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Spanish
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Rockruff
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Same as English name
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German
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Wuffels
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From wuff and Fels
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Italian
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Rockruff
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Same as English name
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Korean
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암멍이 Ammeong-i
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From 암 (岩) am, 멍멍 meong-meong, and 이 i
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Mandarin Chinese
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岩狗狗 Yángǒugǒu
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From 岩 yán and 狗狗 gǒugǒu
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Cantonese Chinese
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岩狗狗 Ngàahmgáugáu
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From 岩 ngàahm and 狗狗 gáugáu
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More languages
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Hindi
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पपरॉक Puprock
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From pup or puppy and rock
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Russian
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Рокрафф Rokraff
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Transcription of English name
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Thai
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อิวังโค Iwangkho
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Transcription of Japanese name
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Related articles
References
External links
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This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
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