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A weekly Pokédex Podcast from Bald Man in Japan Luke Summerhayes. A different Pokémon family every week.
I’m Luke Summerhayes and I love Rockruff.
Wolves, ancestors to man’s best friend, are interesting creatures culturally. In modern parlance, widely discredited ideas like the “alpha male” and the “lone wolf” still permeate. Historically, wolves were menaces for farmers, hence phrases like “wolf in sheep’s clothing” or “boy who cried wolf”. In mythology, we get legendary beasts like Fenrir and scary monsters like the werewolf.
In Japan, though, meat was a much smaller part of most people’s diet, and so pests that attacked crops were the real villains. In such a climate, the pest-killing wolf was a guardian. Wolves are linked to the gods, used in spells to dispel demons and kitsune, and appear in myths assisting legendary heroes like Yamato Takeru. Yes, this semi-mythical prince did lend his name to two brothers in Digimon Adventure, and yes, Yamato’s Digimon is a big wolf.
Rockruff is a wolf pup, a rock-type pokemon with brown fur, and a shaggy ruff with stones embedded inside. It resembles a modern, domesticated dog more than a wild wolf.
Moon
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.
Of course, dogs and wolves are separated by only the smallest difference, and what may appear one way as a puppy could be quite different on evolution.
Ultra Sun
As they develop, their disposition grows more violent and aggressive. Many Trainers find them too much to handle and abandon them.
Japanese wolves home outside of human civilization meant they were associated with the rocky, mountainous interiors – perhaps the source of Rockruff’s rock typing. Another reason for the rock type may be that, although Japanese wolves are culturally celebrated, they are, along with Hawaii’s native Poi dogs, extinct.
Ultra Moon
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!
The name Rockruff refers to this rocky ruff around the neck, while also sounding like a dog’s woofing call. The Japanese name, Iwanko, combines iwa, rock, with wanko, dog, and wanko itself comes from wan wan, the Japanese onomatopoeia for a dog’s bark, and ko, or child.
Of course it doesn’t stay a child forever. At level 25, Rockruff can evolve into one of three forms of Lycanroc.
The name Lycanroc combines rock with Lycanthrope, one who suffers from lycanthropy, a werewolf. The Japanese name is Lugarugan. Garu is the sound a wolf makes in Japanese – hence Yamato’s partner Garurumon – and the Lougarou is also a cajun version of the werewolf, combining French and native American myths.
Evolved during the day, Rockruff will evolve into Lycanroc Midday form. This Pokemon keeps Rockruff’s color scheme and simply expands it from a cute little puppy to a large, lithe wolf.
Moon
When properly raised from a young age, it will become a trustworthy partner that will absolutely never betray its Trainer.
Ultra Sun
The sharp rocks in its mane can cut like knives. Lycanroc wears its prey down by degrees before finishing them off.
Evolved at night, however, Rockruff will evolve into Midnight form.
This version has a red fur and lumbering, bipedal gait, closer to a classic werewolf than a real-life wolf.
Ultra Moon
They live alone without forming packs. They will only listen to orders from Trainers who can draw out their true power.
Sword
This form of Lycanroc is reckless. It charges headlong at its opponents, attacking without any care about what injuries it might receive.
Both forms of Lycanroc have equally high physical attack. For Midday form, this is complimented by high speed but brittle defences. Midnight form is slower, but makes up for it with slightly healthier bulk.
Inititally, these were the only two forms of Lycanroc. From Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, however, we were introduced to a new form. A Rockruff with the ability Own Tempo will, if levelled up in the evening, evolve into Lycanroc Dusk form.
This form is as shaggy as midnight but quadrupedal like Midday, with an orange sunset fur color.
Ultra Moon
This strange form is the result of its evolving at dusk. It's very rare in Alola.
Dusk Form
Scarlet
Normally this Pokémon doesn't even bark, but once it enters battle, it will relentlessly drive the opponent into a corner.
Violet
These Pokémon have both calm and ferocious qualities. It's said that this form of Lycanroc is the most troublesome to raise.
In Dusk form, Lycanroc has the ability Tough Claws, boosting the damage of contact moves. It also sacrifices even more defence, and a slight amount of speed, for an even higher attack stat.
Dogs, and their ancestors the wolves, are wonderful creatures. Whether feared or celebrated today, we cannot forget the act of inter-species friendship that united us so many millenia ago.
Music for Luke Loves Pokemon was composed by Jonathan Cromie. Artwork for the show is by Katie Groves. Funding is by supporters at patreon.com/podcastiopodcastius.
I love hearing from listeners! Get in touch on youtube, social media or email and let me know about your favorite monsters. Coming up next are Wishiwashi and Mareanie, so let me know your thoughts about those or any other monsters.
Even if you don’t feel like doing any of that, thank you so much for listening.
I love Cutiefly. And remember, I love you too.