With its new approach to open-world design,Pokemon ScarletandViolethad an ideal opportunity to include Rockruff and its evolution Lycanroc, but its rarest Dusk form and shiny counterpart add new complexity for Pokedex completion. When it was first introduced inPokemon SunandMoon, Rockruff quickly became a fan favorite, so much so that whenPokemon Ultra SunandUltra Moonreleased it received a third additional form. But while its Midday and Midnight forms are easily obtainable, Lycanroc’s Dusk form is a bit more difficult to find inPokemon ScarletandViolet.
Rockruff’s evolution method is one many players will be familiar with as it was first introduced inPokemon GoldandSilverwhen the games first became able to keep real-time. But while most other Pokemon appear or evolve either during the day or at night,Dusk Form Lycanroc’s evolutionand its appearance in the wild occurs between the two making it much more time-sensitive. So even with the benefits of sandwich recipes to boost Rock-type encounters and shiny rates, players are at the mercy of limited time and probability as they hunt for shiny Rockruff and Dusk Form Lycanroc.
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Finding Dusk Form Lycanroc Requires Perfect Timing
Unlike the majority of previousPokemongames which tracked day-night cycles in real-time,ScarletandVioletintroduced a fixed day-night cyclesimilar toPokemon Legends: Arceus.Therefore, as Lycanroc is available in the wild, players will have no trouble finding and catching both its Midday and Midnight forms with almost half an hour of in-game time for each. However, as Dusk Form Lycanroc only appears in Area One’s North Province during the evening, players will have just three minutes to find it, and if they happen to be shiny hunting for one then they’re facing even rarer odds.
WhileScarletandViolet’sfixed day-night cycle improves players' access to time-dependent Pokemon and evolutions, the restrictive timing for the evening is unusual. For example,ScarletandViolet’slong nights could easily sacrifice a few minutes from their 33-minute duration to give players a better chance of finding Dusk Form Lycanroc. Though more experienced players might be able to maximize their chances of encountering Dusk Form Lycanroc such as withScarletandViolet’sshiny sandwiches, casual players might be discouraged by the unnecessary complexity, ultimately tarnishing what was a smart design choice for day-night cycles on Game Freak’s behalf.
Alternative Options For Dusk Form Lycanroc Aren’t Much Better
Finding Lycanroc in the wild isn’t the only way players can catch each of its various forms, as the option to evolve Rockruff is always available. However, once again, not only would this be limited to the same three-minute window as a wild encounter, but to successfully evolve Rockruff into Dusk Form Lycanroc it must have the ability Own Tempo. DespiteScarletandViolet’sproblematic shiny hunting relationship, finding a shiny Rockruff may be initially easier, but requiring a particular ability increases the odds against the player. Between wild encounters, evolution, and Tera Raids, Dusk Form Lycanroc remains persistently difficult to obtain.
Ultimately, players are left with only a few options available in their search for arare Dusk Form Lycanroc, all of which have their own difficulties to overcome from gaming the odds to racing the clock. But withLegends: ArceusandScarletandVioletstarting a new trend ofPokemongames that forego real-time day-night cycles to improve the player’s experience, Pokemon like Lycanroc shouldn’t be left behind. Whether it’s achieved by carefully altering Lycanroc’s evolution method or by restructuring the day-night cycle itself, future games can do better for iconic Pokemon from older generations.
Pokemon ScarletandVioletare available now for Nintendo Switch.
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