Murdock's Lycanroc

	; Murdock's Lycanroc
Debuts in	The Pendant That Starts It All (Part Two)
Caught at	Unknown
Evolves in	Prior to HZ098
Gender	Unknown
Ability	Unknown
Current location	With Murdock
	This Pokémon spent between 90 and 97 episodes as Rockruff.

Murdock's Lycanroc (Japanese: マードックのルガルガン Murdoch's Lugarugan) is Murdock's partner and his first known Pokémon. It helps Murdock in finding various people or lost objects for the Rising Volt Tacklers. It is often seen outside its Poké Ball.

In animation

History

Lycanroc first appeared as a Rockruff in The Pendant That Starts It All (Part Two), when it greeted Liko and her Sprigatito when they arrived onboard the Brave Olivine. After greeting the Grass Cat Pokémon, Rockruff joined in a game with Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Pawmi.

In For Sure! 'Cause Sprigatito's with Me!, Rockruff joined in the search for Liko's Sprigatito after it had been taken as a hostage by the Explorers. By using its great sense of smell, Rockruff spotted Onia when she was out shopping and alerted the other members of the Rising Volt Tacklers who gave chase. Whilst Friede distracted Amethio by battling his Ceruledge with Captain Pikachu, Rockruff helped Liko find and free Sprigatito.

Rockruff and Mollie's Chansey ready to battle

In Found You, Fuecoco!, Murdock used Rockruff to battle the Explorers when they confronted the Rising Volt Tacklers. It battled against Zirc and his Rhydon. However, despite holding its own, Rockruff couldn't beat Zirc's Rhydon and was carried back to the ship by Murdock.

In The Bittersweet Truth, Rockruff stayed on the airship to get groomed by Mollie when Murdock, Liko, and Roy went to Motostoke to get supplies.

In Slip and Crash! A Mystery Pokémon?!, Rockruff heard a noise as it got Liko and her Sprigatito attention, but the three didn't know where the noise was coming from. However, after Captain Pikachu and the Pokémon living on the Brave Olivine found out that a wild Polteageist was behind the purple goo and the noise, Rockruff joined them and Terapagos in watching a battle between the Black Tea Pokémon and Shuckle. Although the battled was called off, Rockruff joined its friends in welcoming Polteageist to the group with Liko's Sprigatito, Roy's Fuecoco, and Dot's Quaxly joining them.

In Lapras's Feelings for its Friends, Rockruff and Mollie's Chansey joined forces to fend off the attacking Pokémon sent by Lucius's Lapras who were trying to steal their supplies. While intimidated at first, Rockruff and Chansey nevertheless pushed through to defend their airship, with Chansey focusing on Octillery while Rockruff battled Barbaracle.

In Roar of the Black Rayquaza, Rockruff and Terapagos got together to hold a meeting with the other Pokémon inside Brave Olivine. The party continued until the group was interrupted by Quaxly and soon after by Dot, who caught all the mess the Pokémon made in Murdock's kitchen.

In HZ098, Liko, Roy, and Dot arrived in Cortondo to find Murdock, discovering that Rockruff had evolved into Lycanroc during the one year timeskip. Murdock stated that after working for Katy, he began experimenting recipes, with Rockruff being his taste tester. Eventually, during one of these taste tests, Rockruff inexplicably evolved into Lycanroc. Due to the heavy consumption of sweets, Lycanroc became obese. Lycanroc played with the group and their Pokémon before seeing them off.

In HZ100, Lycanroc appeared alongside Murdock when he returned to the Rising Volt Tacklers. By this point, Lycanroc has slimmed down, making it appear more in-line with its species' general appearance.

Personality and characteristics

Lycanroc, while it was a Rockruff, is shown to be a playful Pokémon, as seen in The Pendant That Starts It All (Part Two) when it played with Liko's Sprigatito and a few of the other Pokémon seen on the Brave Olivine. Despite its playful personality, Lycanroc is a serious Pokémon, as seen in For Sure! 'Cause Sprigatito's with Me!, when it joined in the search for Sprigatito. It is very eager and cannot help but restrain itself without command. Rockruff also likes to get groomed, as shown in The Bittersweet Truth, when it stayed on the Brave Olivine to get brushed by Mollie.

Lycanroc has a great relationship with Murdock as it enjoys hanging out with him. It is also shown to have a sweet tooth. Due to its heavy consumption of sweets following Murdock's employment with Katy, Lycanroc was larger and more obese than others of its kind, having a chubby face, large stomach and legs.

Whenever Murdock was cooking something or someone was snooping around the kitchen, Lycanroc would make sure its Trainer wasn't disturbed and get them to leave, as seen in The Treasure After the Storm!, as well has protecting the food supply, that would usually be sneakly eaten by Roy's Fuecoco. Like its spe cies, Lycanroc has a great sense of smell and has use it to help its Trainer and friends find something or someone. Despite being a Rock-type, Lycanroc isn't bothered by water, as seen in HZ105, when it went surfing with Murdock.

Appearance

As a Rockruff

Moves used

Using Rock Tomb
as a Rockruff

Move	First Used In
Rock Tomb	Found You, Fuecoco!

A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Gallery

Artwork


July 2023 Calendar by mojacookie^[1]	June 2025 Calendar by mojacookie

Eyecatch

In the manga

Pocket Monsters ~Pucchigumi SP~

Rockruff appeared in PGSP01 playing with Sprigatito.

Pocket Monsters ~The Detouring Volt Tacklers!!~

Rockruff appeared in a cameo alongside Alcremie and Murdock in Pocket Monsters ~The Detouring Volt Tacklers!!~.

In the games

Pokémon GO

On March 5, 2024, as part of Pokémon GO's Pokémon Horizons: The Series Celebration Event, which was based on Pokémon Horizons: The Series, several Pokémon based on those encountered in the animated series appeared more frequently in the wild, in raids, from Eggs, from Field Research tasks, and during surprise encounters, with Rockruff appearing in level 1 raids and from Field Research tasks. The event ran from March 5, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., to March 11, 2024, at 8:00 p.m. local time.

References

↑ https://twitter.com/anipoke_PR/status/1674945918456696833

Murdock's Pokémon
On hand:		Alcremie
Traveling with:	Rotom Phone