Pokémon of the Week #80: Rockruff & Lycanroc
James Stevens
Published Apr 08, 2026
I can't say that I'm a fan, with me being more of a cat person irl.
-How is this Pokémon in-game?
Never really gotten to try them since I only have Ultra Moon but don't like the stat distribution of Midnight.
-How is this Pokémon in competitive play? Are there any interesting strategies you like to use for them?
Dusk is the only one I've heard about in competitive teams. Midnight's Stone Edge with No Guard... Ahh, I love that combo!
-Do you like this Pokémon's representation in the anime? Are there any moments or qualities in particular you enjoy/dislike?
Ash's Lycanroc, well... nearly lost me when that neat freak side began to rear its ugly head. I can't help but feel as though it's an unsubtle attempt to show off the "special snowflake" status of Dusk in general. Otherwise, I like the dog, especially the sparring with Litten.
Olivia and Gladion's Lycanroc, I'm ok with, but my issues are with the status of their trainers within the series. I'll continue that train of thought in another question.
-If given the power to, would you change anything about this Pokémon and if so, what would you change?
I'm satisfied with Midday and Dusk but the elephant in the room is their bulky wannabe of a brother. The speed drop here is just not worth the cost if you ask me, especially when you still have lower Defense and Sp. Defense than Corsola.
Keeping in line with the original idea, I would push up those two stats further by taking points from the Sp. Attack that nobody would miss, and then give it Sturdy (obviously) and Sandstorm (for the Rock type buff to Sp. Defense). Maybe Metal Burst too, but I'm not certain about that one.
-Midday, Midnight or Dusk?
I really want to like Midnight more, but I'll have to go with Midday. +10 to your HP and defenses don't instantly make you a fat tank like Snorlax.
-Do you think this evolution line is getting too much or too little focus?
Many say this Pokémon is the Greninja of its generation and I do agree with them where Dusk is concerned, but the distribution of anime screentime specifically between Midday and Midnight is starting to remind me more of Charizard and how the physically imposing one of its two Mega Evolutions totally took more than its fair share of focus and left the slender one with table scraps. Gladion will be showing up more often than Olivia as he's a current rival to Ash, and naturally we'll be seeing more of his Midnight Lycanroc than her Midday Lycanroc. I do wish they'd stop playing favourites when it comes to popular pairs like these.
Overall, I do believe Lycanroc is overexposed, but not entirely in a Greninja-esque way. We'll have to wait and see how the rest of Gen VII goes.
-How does this Pokémon compare to other dog-based Pokémon?
None of them come close to beating Houndoom, my chosen Fire type and Mega Evolver in UM. It won't happen.
