Players use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon, and some can transform into stronger species, or evolve.

[3][4] Designed by Ken Sugimori as a "gym leader", a Pokémon trainer that acts as an area boss, Brock was introduced in Red and Blue.

[9] Despite them noting that they like to change up the cast in general, it was also clarified that they were worried that fans may perceive Brock as a racist stereotype by Americans, namely due to his thin eyes.

[18] Alongside his Onix, Brock also appears as a sync pair in Pokémon Masters EX near the beginning of the game.

He eventually leaves his friends in the Orange Islands series to join Professor Felina Ivy, who he is attracted to, and was replaced by Tracey Sketchit.

Brock eventually rejoins Ash, having left Ivy for unknown reasons, and travels with him and Misty to Johto.

A figure based on his depiction in Pokémon Red and Blue was released as part of the "Next VENDOR'S Innovation" series.

[24] A yearly tradition of modifying the statue of a man named Hikoichi Orita (at Kyoto University after it was repeatedly vandalized in the 1990s) lead to a modification being made to depict Brock, among other characters, instead.

[27] The book The Japanification of Children's Popular Culture described Brock's portrayal in the anime as a mentor figure, providing an authoritative voice for Ash in the series.

It additionally noted him as representing the concept of early maturity in Japanese stories, in his acceptance of a position of independence and his strong interest in women.

[31] Game Informer writer Brian Shea felt he served as a "litmus test" to measure a trainer's ability early on, while Kotaku writer felt he was a difficult battle for people who picked Charmander in Red and Blue, and also people who played Pokémon Yellow, due to Pikachu's weakness to his Pokémon.

[9] Brock's reintroduction in the Pokémon Sun and Moon anime was met with a lot of attention on Twitter, which ITmedia staff identified as indicative of his popularity.