How to evolve Rockuff into all Lycanrock forms in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet - High School of Posts and Telecommunications and Information Technology

You can evolve Rockruff into Lycanrock in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, but as Pokémon Cub fans will know, Lycanrock has three different forms it can take, depending on the time of day you evolve it.

Time-based evolution is one of several special evolution methods found in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and dates back almost to the beginning of the franchise.

Here’s where to find a Rockruff if you haven’t caught one yet, and then how to turn it into a Lycanrock in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

In this page:

7 things we liked (and 4 things we didn’t like) about Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

If you want to learn more about your adventure in Paldea, visit our Pokémon Scarlet and Violet walkthrough.

Where to find Rockruff in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Rockruff can be found early on in Scarlet and Violet; just check the mountainous areas southwest of Paldea and you will see them in force. If you haven’t caught one yet, you can find them in the locations below.

Rockruff location.

How to evolve Rockruff into all forms of Lycanrock in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Rockruff evolves into Lycanrock starting at level 25, but only if you level up at the right time of day.

This is because Lycanrock has three forms: Noon, Midnight, and Dusk. You won’t be surprised to learn that the times correspond to the game clock.

Searching the three already seems like a mission, and that’s before we talk about Dusk Form Lycanrock’s special condition. If you want to reduce the amount of work here, you can simply check out the first two forms of Lycanrock by walking near the wild Rockruff. If you want particularly high-level ones, you can find Midnight and Midday Lycanrock wandering around the Great Crater towards the end of the game.

You can catch two of the three Lycanrock quite easily.

The real trick here is to register Dusk Form Lycanrock. Not only do you need to level up your Cub Pokémon at dusk, which is a very narrow window of time, but it also needs to have the Own Tempo ability.

Own Tempo has other benefits besides preventing the Confused status.

The only way to get an Own Tempo Rockruff is to catch one, which is very rare in the wild. Fortunately, the Box system has a filter that will help you find the Pokémon you are looking for. Use these settings and if you get a result, you’re in luck.

Success!

But fear not if you are unlucky, loyal reader, for we found a Rockruff that always has its own tempo. The problem is that it’s a level 25 Tera Pokémon (psychic-type, if that helps), which means catching it can be difficult if your party is overleveled.

Head to the location on the map and look for the glowing doll below; In short, it is next to Cascarrafa, where you will find the aquatic gym:

Tempo Rockruff’s own location.

When does it get dark in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

Once you have a Rockruff with the Own Tempo ability and it is above level 25, wait until the sky turns orange (day and night cycle every half hour in the game), then use an item that gives it Pokémon experience to level up.

Don’t try to fight for XP, as you will most likely lose your window.

Look for the orange glow in the sky to evolve your own Tempo Rockruff.

Our The Teal Mask walkthrough will help you complete the first part of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, but make sure you know how to start it first. When visiting Kitakami it is a good idea to know how to get Sinistea, Dipplin and The Loyal Three. Our Pokémon Scarlet and Violet walkthrough can take you through the main campaign, including The First Day of School, Victory Road, Starfall Street, Path of Legends, and, when you’re ready, The Way Home and the final boss. Elsewhere, we can help with the normal gym test secret item menu, version differences, the best scarlet and violet starter, XP farming, shiny Pokémon, and learning to fly, swim, climb, and run. When it comes to individual Pokémon, we can help with Gimmighoul, Ditto, Bellibolt, Pawmot, Scovillain, Frigibax, Brambleghast, Annihilape, Farigiraf, Dudunsparce, Lycanrock, Armarouge, and Ceruledge.