Ash's Lycanroc: Difference between revisions

=====''[[Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon]]''=====

======Under Professor Kukui's care======

Lycanroc, as a Rockruff, was a [[wild Pokémon]] that stumbled across {{an|Professor Kukui}}'s house one day. It was starving and left {{status|Confusion|confused}} from another Pokémon's {{m|Teeter Dance}}. Professor Kukui gave it some [[Pokémon food]], which made Rockruff decide to stay at Kukui's house. From then on, Rockruff lived with Kukui, although he never {{pkmn2|caught}} it in a [[Poké Ball]].

Rockruff first appeared in ''[[SM002|The Guardian's Challenge!]]'', where it had dinner and played with Ash and {{AP|Pikachu}}. It was later seen the following day with Professor Kukui, watching the welcoming party {{ashcl|Ash's classmates}} had prepared for him. Kukui had planned to battle Ash and Pikachu with Rockruff, but the party was interrupted by {{DL|Guardian deities (anime)|Tapu Koko}}, who challenged Ash to a battle instead.

In ''[[SM015|Rocking Clawmark Hill!]]'', Rockruff came home injured, causing Ash and Professor Kukui to investigate the reason behind its injuries. This led them to [[Clawmark Hill]], where they discovered that Rockruff had been fighting with other wild Pokémon, including a {{p|Magmar}}. With Ash's help, Rockruff was able to master {{m|Rock Throw}}, which helped it defeat Magmar. At the end of the episode, Professor Kukui encouraged Ash to catch Rockruff after seeing the bond the two had developed.

======With Ash======

In ''[[SM019|A Guardian Rematch!]]'', Lycanroc, as a Rockruff, was used in its first official battle, in which it faced [[Hiroki]] and his {{p|Mudbray}}. During the battle, Rockruff performed {{m|Breakneck Blitz}} for the first time, which was able to defeat Mudbray.

In ''[[SM027|A Glaring Rivalry!]]'', Rockruff was seen training with [[Ash's Rowlet]] and {{AP|Litten}}. Later, it witnessed its evolved form {{TP|Gladion|Lycanroc}} winning a battle against a {{p|Blastoise}}, which greatly impressed it. Ash later used Rockruff in his battle against {{an|Gladion}} in which it battled Lycanroc. Rockruff got quickly overwhelmed by Lycanroc's great speed and fierce moves but was still able to battle. The battle was then interrupted by {{TRT}}, who captured Pikachu and Lycanroc.

In ''[[SM036|Trials and Determinations!]]'', Rockruff was used in the [[Akala Island]] grand trial alongside Rowlet, battling [[Olivia's Lycanroc]] and {{p|Probopass}}. Despite their opponents giving them tough times with their combination tactics, Rowlet eventually managed to defeat Probopass with {{m|Bloom Doom}}. Unfortunately, Rockruff, who was acting aggressively, was so desperate to battle Lycanroc by itself that it impulsively used {{m|Bite}} against Rowlet, accidentally knocking it out. Despite this setback, Ash encouraged Rockruff to use its fighting spirit, allowing it to outrun and defeat Lycanroc, thus earning Ash a [[Rockium Z]]. Professor Kukui and Olivia then revealed to Ash that Rockruff's behavior was a sign that it was going to [[evolution|evolve]] soon.

In ''[[SM038|Mimikyu Unmasked!]]'', Ash had Lycanroc use {{m|Continental Crush}} against Team Rocket, but the attack failed. After another attempt, Professor Kukui gave him some advice, which led to Ash training with {{an|Kiawe}} and his {{TP|Kiawe|Turtonator}}. When Team Rocket showed up again and [[Jessie]] challenged Ash to a battle with her {{TP|Jessie|Mimikyu}}, Lycanroc mastered Continental Crush and sent Team Rocket blasting off, much to their surprise.

In ''[[SM047|A Masked Warning!]]'', Ash discovered while washing Lycanroc that it was so proud of its appearance that it would fly into a rage and attack if its fur got dirty. Lycanroc attacked {{AP|Litten}} and Litten fought back, with Ash placing himself between his two errant Pokémon. This helped Lycanroc to calm down, and it was very apologetic towards Ash. Later, Ash used Lycanroc to battle Gladion's {{p|Type: Null}}, nicknamed Silvally, where it was outmatched by its opponent's sheer power. During the battle Lycanroc was thrown into a nearby lake which drenched its fur, causing another rage during which it refused to listen to Ash's commands. Despite this, Silvally was still the stronger opponent and Lycanroc was easily held at bay before it could regain control of itself. After Lycanroc recovered, Ash and Gladion decided to continue the battle, but despite its best efforts, Lycanroc couldn't stand up to the power of Silvally's {{m|Crush Claw}} and was defeated.

In ''[[SM105|Showdown on Poni Island!]]'', Ash used Lycanroc during his battle against Gladion and his own Lycanroc. Gladion's Lycanroc was able to withstand Splintered Stormshards before defeating Ash's Lycanroc with {{m|Devastating Drake}}.

In ''[[SM139|Enter the Champion!]]'', Ash used Lycanroc as his final Pokémon against Gladion and his own Lycanroc during the finals of the [[Manalo Conference]]. Ash's Lycanroc's attempts to get close to Gladion's Lycanroc were repeatedly intercepted by Counter and Stone Edge. After powering itself up with {{m|Swords Dance}}, Gladion's Lycanroc got close enough to attack with {{m|Outrage}}, only to get confused and bite its left arm. Ash had his Lycanroc take this opportunity to attack, only for Gladion's Lycanroc to retaliate with Counter, revealing it bit itself to snap itself out of the confusion. Ash had his Lycanroc rush in with Accelerock, hoping to land one final blow. Gladion had his Lycanroc intercept with one more Counter, but just as it connected, Ash had his Lycanroc use Counter as well. This sent Gladion's Lycanroc flying into the wall and subsequently knocking it out, thus winning Ash the battle and the championship.

====Personality and characteristics====

[[File:Ash Lycanroc red eyes.png|thumb|250px|Lycanroc in full control of its red-eyed state]]

Lycanroc is normally a playful, affectionate Pokémon that gets along well with both Ash and its previous caretaker, Professor Kukui. The first night Ash stayed with the Professor, Rockruff, Pikachu, and Ash were quickly able to befriend each other. As a Rockruff, like other members of its species, it likes to greet and show affection to others by rubbing up against them with the rocks on its neck, although it doesn't seem to be aware that it stings the recipient. Its affectionate personality was also shown in ''[[SM045|Now You See Them, Now You Don't!]]'', where, despite the fact that {{AP|Litten}} was angry toward it whilst eating and whilst relaxing at home, it continued to eat and smiled back at Litten respectively. Lycanroc appears to take its failures rather personally. As a Rockruff in ''[[SM036|Trials and Determinations!]]'', after knocking out {{AP|Rowlet}} in a fit of anger, it immediately came to its senses and regretted what it had done, and, despite ultimately winning against [[Olivia]], was still visibly upset in [[SM037|the next episode]]. At the end of ''[[SM074|Tough Guy Trials!]]'', Lycanroc was seen sulking in the corner of [[Acerola]]'s house after losing its battle with [[Nanu]]'s {{p|Krookodile}}, prompting Ash to give it a pep talk.

[[File:Ash Lycanroc Litten sparing.png|thumb|250px|Lycanroc and Litten sparring]]

====Moves used====