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Rockruff is a Rock-type Pokemon that was introduced back in Generation 7. At the right level, Rockruff would evolve into Lycanroc, but this evolution's appearance and base stats would be different between Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon. In 2017, Pokemon received a third form of Lycanroc: Dusk Form. Evolving Rockruff into Dusk Form Lycanroc in Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet can be tricky for newcomers to the franchise.
While there are brand new Rock-type Pokemon in Pokemon Scarlet & Pokemon Violet, trainers looking for a fast and hard-hitting Pokemon may want to consider one of the Lycanrocs for their team. A well-trained Lycanroc can easily take on other trainers and Titan Pokemon. Fortunately, there are a few ways of getting this unique Pokemon in Scarlet/Violet.
Requirements for Evolving Rockruff into Dusk Form Lycanroc
While Rockruff can be spotted pretty much all around Paldea (with a few exceptions), trainers hoping to get the Dusk Form Lycranoc will need patience. Rockruff can evolve into any of its three forms in Scarlet/Violet, but getting the Dusk Form has a catch. Here are two things players will absolutely need to know:
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Rockruff can only evolve into Dusk Form if it has its Special Ability: Own Tempo.
- A Rockruff with its regular Ability (ie: Keen Eye or Vital Spirit) will evolve into Midday or Midnight Form depending on the in-game time of day.
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Rockruff evolves at level 25, but an Own Tempo-Rockruff can only evolve during the late evening in Scarlet/Violet. This doesn't mean 5:00-5:59 pm in real-time. Players will know the exact time that Rockruff needs to reach level 25 (or higher) by looking at the sky in-game. When the sun starts setting, give Rockruff a Rare Candy to evolve it into the Dusk Form Lycanroc.
- This is very easy to miss, and players are only given a few minutes to evolve it. If the sun goes down, then Own Tempo-Rockruff will not evolve, requiring players to wait for the evening again.
Where to Find Rockruff with Own Tempo
As mentioned, Rockruff is an easy Pokemon to find in the wild. In fact, players can get their own as early as South Province (Area 1). However, remember that this Rockruff needs to have Own Tempo. This entails catching multiple Rockruff and checking their Ability on the Summary page.
An easier way to check a Rockruff's Ability is to get a Pokemon that has the Trace Ability, such as Ralts. Have it as the lead Pokemon, and it will "trace"/copy Rockruff's Ability. If Ralts traces "Vital Spirit" or "Keen Eye" on Rockruff, then players will know the Rockruff won't evolve into Dusk Form Lycanroc.
Terastallized Pokemon are more likely to have their Hidden Ability than non-Terastallized Pokemon. Players can battle and catch Terastallized Pokemon in Tera Raids, or they may stumble upon a Tera Pokemon in the wild. These Pokemon have a bright, golden aura that can be seen from miles away.
Unlike normal Pokemon, Terastallized Pokemon will need to be defeated first (or get their HP down to yellow/red for those found in the wild) before trainers can throw a Poke Ball at it.
If Scarlet/Violet trainers go a bit northeast of Cascarrafa, they will find a Psychic-type Terastallized Rockruff at level 25 (Refer to the flag marker on the above image). Psychic types are weak to Dark and Bug-type moves, but Rockruff being a Rock-type Pokemon means it may have Rock-type moves. So, try not to send out a Pokemon that has a Type Weakness to Rock-types (such as Ice-type) - especially if trainers intend on using a Bug-type to battle the Terastallized Rockruff.
Once it's caught, check its Ability on the Summary page, and see if it has Own Tempo. Since it's already level 25, Rockruff only needs to level one more time to evolve into Dusk Form Lycranroc. Remember that it needs to be evening in-game for the evolution to work. If it's day or night, then Rockruff won't evolve.
Where to Find Wild Lycanroc (Dusk Form)
Players that don't have the patience to search for and evolve an Own Tempo-Rockruff can instead catch a wild Dusk Form Lycanroc. This wild Pokemon is in the North Province (Area 1), far northeast of Grusha and Ryme's gym. Unlike the Terastallized Rockruff near Cascarrafa, the wild Lycanroc will be level 50. Players will want to make sure they have at least 6 gym badges before confronting it (refer to the above image for the exact location).
Also, there is a catch to the wild Lycanroc in North Province (Area 1). Depending on the time of day, players will either see a Midday, Midnight, or Dusk Lycanroc. If players go too early, they'll see Midday Lycanroc, and if they go too late, Midnight Lycanroc will be prowling around instead. Players will need to go to North Province (Area 1) at exactly evening (in-game, of course) if they want to catch a wild Lycanroc (Dusk Form).
Finally, the third method of getting a Dusk Form Lycanroc is to catch it in a Tera Raid Battle. Unlike its Midday and Midnight counterparts, Dusk Form can only be found in 6-Star Tera Raids. This means players will need to have done the following:
- Completed the three main story quests.
- Win the post-game tournament.
Ultimately, it depends on how early players want to get their Dusk Form Lycanroc. Those that want it for the duration of the Scarlet/Violet's campaign should catch the Terastallized Rockruff near Cascarrafa. Those that don't mind waiting can get the level 50 Lycanroc in North Province (Area 1), or they can try their luck with a 6-star Tera Raid Battle.
Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet are available on Nintendo Switch.