#338: Solrock

Being based on the sun rather than the moon, Solrock is Lunatone's more physically oriented version counterpart, even though it's stylistically very different. While I do love Lunatone, I think Solrock has a better design overall, as it's busier and more colorful. Also, Solrock looks like it's chronically suspicious and that's an attitude I can stand behind at all times.

Solrock (above) and Lunatone (under).

Whereas Lunatone extracts its power from the light of the full moon, though, Solrock thrives on solar energy, which it absorbs in groups during the light of day. That energy is then used by rotating its body at high velocity to generate intense heat and a blinding light, which is probably the reason why this Pokémon is able to learn a plethora of fire-type moves - to such an extent, even, that it is among the few Pokémon that are not ghost or fire types to learn Will-O-Wisp. This characteristic, along with its ability to learn moves like Stealth Rock and Morning Sun and its relatively high HP and defense, is the reason why Solrock is most commonly used as a physical wall or screen setter (Reflect and Light Screen and the like) in competitive play, although it's not a fantastic competitive Pokémon in the first place. Like Lunatone, Solrock is a rock/psychic type and that means that it doesn't receive STAB from the many fire-type moves it can learn. What's more, most of them are special moves. Only Flare Blitz - which it got as a level-up move only recently, in Pokémon Sun and Moon - is physical and, on top of that, it deals recoil damage. Also, it doesn't have access to any physical psychic-type move, unless you breed for a perfect Solrock on Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire and take it to one of the Move Tutors at the Battle Resort to teach it Zen Headbutt (or Iron Head, but Solrock doesn't really need that move). Fortunately, this Pokémon is a great asset in a playthrough, being able to learn great moves like Rock Slide, Stone Edge, Flare Blitz, Acrobatics (works best when Solrock isn't holding an item) and, strangely enough, even the much-valued Earthquake.

It's a rock that floats, though. How can a levitating meteorite make the ground shake?

Pretty cool drawing of Solrock.

Frankly, I've never even used a Solrock in any playthrough, ever. It's a shame, really, because I've come to love Solrock's alien design and emotionless expression. Too bad its flavor isn't anything special: even though it looks like it's perpetually expressionless, it is able to sense the emotions and thoughts of others, but this is a trait I've seen in other Pokémon as well and I can't say I'm very impressed by it. Gardevoir does this whole sense-of-emotion thing better, anyway. Still, it's weird and interestingly designed Pokémon like Solrock that give Gen. III some redemption, because it looks like Game Freak wanted to annoy us more than ever, giving us dumb and atrocious Pokémon like Pelipper, Spinda, Luvdisc, Castform and even more useless baby Pokémon such as Azurill and Wynaut. And not only did Game Freak do nothing special with Lunatone and Solrock in Pokémon Sun and Moon - the celestial bodies these Pokémon are based on are in the names of the new games - they weren't even available until after Sun and Moon's compatibility with Pokémon Bank almost two months later. Well, then.

Rating: 5/5