How to Evolve Rockruff in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet offers players different experiences when it comes to evolving their Pokémon. With standard levelling-up, boosting the happiness of your Pokémon, walking 1000 steps and evolving depending on the time of day as just some of the few ways of Pokémon evolution. The Generation 7 Pokémon, Rockruff is a Rock-Type Pokemon which has a requirement to evolve which determines what form you will get in the evolution. Rockruff evolves into Lycanroc but depending on a crucial criteria players must hit, will alter the form of Lycanroc. So, where can players find Rockruff in Scarlet and Violet. How do we evolve Rockruff after catching them?

Rockruff Forms

Rockruff can evolve into 3 variations of the Lycanroc form. Each form represents a different time of day: Midday, Midnight and Dusk. These Pokémon also have different abilities which can determine a player’s choice when deciding when to evolve their Rockruff. However, players looking to get all three forms for the purpose of completing the Paldea Pokédex will require multiple Rockruff Pokémon to evolve. The abilities each variation of Lycanroc form has are:

• Midday – Keen Eye and Sand Rush (Speed increase in a Sandstorm)
• Midnight – Keen Eye and Vital Spirit (Inability to be feel drowsy as a result of a Pokémon move)
• Dusk – Tough Claws (30% damage increase on moves that physically hit the opponent)

Where to Find Rockruff

Rockruff is located in various provinces as shown in the highlighted yellow spots in the Paldea map. Players can find Rockruff very early in the game in West Province, very close to the Pokémon Centres. This Pokémon will appear as Levels 15-20, so they are easily obtainable. The two spots we recommend players to visit to find Rockruff are:

• West Province (Area One) Central Pokémon Centre, head South from the Centre.

• West Province (Area One) West Pokemon Centre, North of Cortondo.

How to Evolve Rockruff

After obtaining Rockruff players are required to level this Pokémon up normally until reaching Level 24. When Level 24 is achieved, players now need to figure out which Lyranoc form they want as a result of the evolution. To evolve Rockruff into Lyranoc, players need to level up Rockruff to Level 25, the form is determined by the time of day this Pokémon hits Level 25.

• Midday Lyranoc – hit Level 25 during the day
• Midnight Lyranoc- hit Level 25 during the night
• Dusk Lyranoc – hit Level 25 at dusk

Players can check the time of day by opening the map. You will see a circular icon in the middle of the white bar at the top (look at the Habitat screenshot above as an example). This will tell players the time of day during the game. You will also have visual changes to clearly tell players the time of day. Dusk will appear with an orange hue across the sky. As players cannot change the time of day in Scarlet and Violet, each day cycle lasts 30 minutes. Therefore, players need to patiently wait for dusk to come.

Players should look out for the orange sky and the icon at the top of the map –

Related: How to Easily Get a Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.