Is Rockruff Good in Sword & Shield Playthrough?
Rockruff appears on Route 7 and the Wild Area. Rock type evolving into Lycanroc at level 25 during the day (Midday) or night (Midnight). AbilityVital Spirit prevents sleep. Midday form is faster, Midnight is stronger. Both work for the story.
Milo's team hits Rockruff's weaknesses hard.
Rockruff trades roughly evenly with Nessa's team.
Rockruff has the type edge here and should clean up Kabu's team.
Bea's Pokemon outpace and outclass Rockruff here.
Opal's typing presses Rockruff's defenses.
Rockruff trades roughly evenly with Gordie's team.
Piers's team hits Rockruff's weaknesses hard.
Raihan's Pokemon outpace and outclass Rockruff here.
Bede's team hits Rockruff's weaknesses hard.
Lycanroc trades roughly evenly with Leon's team.
Catch Rockruff on Challenge Road (overworld, Lv 10-15). Snowstorm.
Usually ready to evolve before you reach Leon, at typical party pace.
How to Get Rockruff in Sword & Shield
moderate rates across 18 encounter spots for Rockruff. That's the kind of hunt where you pick one location and settle in. Sort by Best below to see where the odds are highest.
Where To Catch Rockruff in SwSh
The path to Rockruff starts with Rockruff at Lv. 10-21 via walking encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Rockruff ✓Challenge RoadLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 5%SnowstormChallenge RoadLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 5%Heavy FogChallenge RoadLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 5%SnowingChallenge RoadLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 5%OvercastChallenge RoadLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 5%SandstormChallenge RoadLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 5%ThunderstormChallenge RoadLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 5%Normal WeatherChallenge RoadLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 5%RainingChallenge RoadLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 5%Intense SunChallenge RoadLv.16-21OverworldSwordRate 5%RainingChallenge RoadLv.16-21OverworldSwordRate 5%Intense SunChallenge RoadLv.16-21OverworldSwordRate 5%SnowstormChallenge RoadLv.16-21OverworldSwordRate 5%Heavy FogChallenge RoadLv.16-21OverworldSwordRate 5%SnowingChallenge RoadLv.16-21OverworldSwordRate 5%OvercastChallenge RoadLv.16-21OverworldSwordRate 5%SandstormChallenge RoadLv.16-21OverworldSwordRate 5%ThunderstormChallenge RoadLv.16-21OverworldSwordRate 5%Normal WeatherAvailable in-game· 3 pathsPick one
Rockruff Weakness
Rockruff is weak to Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, and Steel. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. That's a lot of weak spots to cover so team support is important.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, Steel |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Fire, Poison, Flying |
What is Rockruff Weak Against
FragileBest Pokemon Against Rockruff
 Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Excadrill builds →Dig 2x191-226%KO Metal Claw 2x122-145%KO | ||
 Hippowdon Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Hippowdon builds →Dig 2x163-192%KO Revenge 2x82-97% | ||
 Sawk Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Sawk builds →Brick Break 2x169-199%KO Dig 2x120-142%KO | ||
 Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Pangoro builds →Vital Throw 2x157-185%KO Dig 2x120-142%KO Bullet Punch 2x61-72% | ||
 Hitmonlee Fighting | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Hitmonlee builds →Close Combat 2x261-307%KO | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Excadrill builds →Dig 2x191-226%KO Metal Claw 2x123-145%KO | ||
Hippowdon Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Hippowdon builds →Dig 2x165-194%KO Revenge 2x82-97% | ||
Sawk Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Sawk builds →Brick Break 2x170-200%KO Dig 2x120-142%KO | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Pangoro builds →Vital Throw 2x158-187%KO Dig 2x120-142%KO Bullet Punch 2x61-73% | ||
Hitmonlee Fighting | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Hitmonlee builds →Close Combat 2x257-303%KO | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Excadrill builds →Dig 2x187-221%KO Smart Strike 2x165-194%KO Brick Break 2x118-139%KO | ||
 Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Passimian builds →Brick Break 2x160-188%KO Bulldoze 2x84-100%KO | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Pangoro builds →Brick Break 2x165-194%KO Dig 2x117-137%KO Bullet Punch 2x60-71% | ||
 Mudsdale Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Mudsdale builds →Earthquake 2x220-259%KO Low Sweep 2x96-114%KO | ||
Hippowdon Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Hippowdon builds →Dig 2x162-191%KO Revenge 2x81-96% | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Excadrill builds →Dig 2x191-224%KO Smart Strike 2x166-196%KO Brick Break 2x119-140%KO | ||
Hippowdon Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Hippowdon builds →Earthquake 2x202-238%KO Revenge 2x82-97% | ||
 Hitmonchan Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Hitmonchan builds →Focus Punch 2x288-339%KO Bulldoze 2x78-92% Bullet Punch 2x52-62% | ||
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Passimian builds →Brick Break 2x162-191%KO Bulldoze 2x87-103%KO | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Pangoro builds →Brick Break 2x166-196%KO Dig 2x117-138%KO Bullet Punch 2x60-71% | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Excadrill builds →Dig 2x193-228%KO Smart Strike 2x169-199%KO Brick Break 2x120-141%KO | ||
 Duraludon SteelDragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Duraludon builds →Solar Beam 2x174-205%KO Brick Break 2x91-107%KO Stomping Tantrum 2x91-107%KO Metal Claw 2x92-109%KO | ||
Hippowdon Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Hippowdon builds →Earthquake 2x204-241%KO Revenge 2x83-98% | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Rhydon builds →Earthquake 2x233-274%KO Hammer Arm 2x155-183%KO Smart Strike 2x108-128%KO Whirlpool 2x24-29% | ||
Hitmonchan Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Hitmonchan builds →Focus Punch 2x290-341%KO Bulldoze 2x78-93% Bullet Punch 2x53-62% | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x247-291%KO Smart Strike 2x174-205%KO Brick Break 2x123-145%KO | ||
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Passimian builds →Close Combat 2x267-315%KO Bulldoze 2x90-106%KO | ||
 Gurdurr Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Gurdurr builds →Focus Punch 2x297-349%KO Dig 2x107-126%KO | ||
 Kommo-o DragonFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Kommo-o builds →Close Combat 2x249-293%KO Stomping Tantrum 2x104-122%KO | ||
 Gallade PsychicFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Gallade builds →Close Combat 2x276-326%KO Solar Blade 2x191-226%KO Bulldoze 2x93-110%KO | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x247-291%KO Smart Strike 2x174-205%KO Brick Break 2x123-145%KO | ||
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Passimian builds →Close Combat 2x267-315%KO Earthquake 2x148-174%KO Energy Ball 2x58-68% | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Pangoro builds →Close Combat 2x275-324%KO Earthquake 2x153-180%KO Bullet Punch 2x62-73% | ||
Gurdurr Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Gurdurr builds →Focus Punch 2x297-349%KO Dig 2x107-126%KO | ||
Kommo-o DragonFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Kommo-o builds →Close Combat 2x249-293%KO Earthquake 2x138-162%KO | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x247-291%KO Smart Strike 2x174-205%KO Brick Break 2x123-145%KO | ||
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Passimian builds →Close Combat 2x267-315%KO Earthquake 2x148-174%KO Energy Ball 2x58-68% | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Pangoro builds →Close Combat 2x275-324%KO Earthquake 2x153-180%KO Bullet Punch 2x62-73% | ||
Gurdurr Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Gurdurr builds →Focus Punch 2x297-349%KO Dig 2x107-126%KO | ||
Kommo-o DragonFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Kommo-o builds →Close Combat 2x249-293%KO Earthquake 2x138-162%KO | ||
In Sword & Shield, Garchomp can KO Rockruff with Earthquake (287-338%). Urshifu threatens a KO with Close Combat (515-606%). Machamp's Close Combat also KOs at 378-445%.
 Garchomp DragonGround | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x287-338%KO | ||
 Urshifu FightingDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnseenfist ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Urshifu builds →Close Combat 2x515-606%KO Sucker Punch150-177%KO U Turn100-118%KO | ||
 Machamp Fighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityGuts ItemFlame Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Machamp builds →Bullet Punch 2x85-100%KO Knock Off68-81% Close Combat 2x378-445%KO | ||
 Scizor BugSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Scizor builds →Bullet Punch 2x127-150%KO Knock Off68-81% | ||
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityChlorophyll ItemLife Orb NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Rockruff View Venusaur builds →Giga Drain 2x257-303%KO | ||
Rockruff Evolutions
What you see is what you get. Rockruff sits outside any evolution chain, so focus on the egg moves and a massive partner pool from one egg group. Eggs are quick to hatch. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
SwSh Rockruff Best Moveset
65 Attack and 60 Speed behind Rock typing and AbilityVital Spirit preventing sleep. Nothing competitive exists at this stat level. The moveset is purely a placeholder. Evolve into Lycanroc for 115 Attack, 112 Speed, and competitive Rock TermStab.
Best Build
Rockruff best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Protect
- Endeavor
- Earth Power
- Rock Polish
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Breeding opens up real options for Rockruff. Endeavor and Last Resort come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Stone Edge and Rock Slide and coverage across 8 types.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
This Pokémon can bond very strongly with its Trainer, but it also has a habit of biting. Raising a Rockruff for a long time can be challenging.
This Pokémon intimidates opponents by striking the ground with the rocks on its neck. The moment an opponent flinches, Rockruff attacks.
Rockruff Sword & Shield Guide
In Sword & Shield, Rockruff does the job early-game if you need a Rock type on your team. Evolve it into lycanroc before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.
Game Availability
Introduced in Sun & Moon, Rockruff has appeared in 4 games across 4 generations. Later debuts mean fewer total appearances, but it's been a consistent presence since its introduction.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SMDebut
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves