Lucario, The Aura Pokémon. Not only does it perceive auras, but it has also gained the power to control them. It employs them in battle. They can detect the species of a living being— and its emotions—from over half a mile away. They control auras and hunt their prey in packs.
Overview
Lucario has been a strong Pokémon since its release in DPP, being a dominate sweeper with its massive movepool and coverage. While Lucario has fallen from its glory days, it's still a very strong Pokémon in UU where it doesn't have to compete with Keldeo and Terrakion, maintaining its unpredictable nature making it a hard Pokémon to counter.
Positives
+ Very flexible with access to Swords Dance, Nasty Plot, and Agility
+ Wide movepool that's easy to use, including 3 priority moves
+ Steel typing gives neutrality to Fairy typing
Negatives
- 70/70/70 is really bad, making it hard to use any of Lucario's abilities due to the need to be hit
- 90 base Speed is rough, further compacting Lucario's subpar defensive stats
- Abilities are overall average, neither hindering or helping Lucario a lot
Abilities
Inner Focus - Prevents flinching - Pretty alright but not great
Steadfast - Raises Pokémon's by 1 stage when flinched - Similar to Inner Focus, flinching isn't common outside of a handful of Pokémon.
Hidden Ability (Available ):
Justified - Raises Attack by 1 stage when hit with a Dark type move - Overall the best ability, not as good as it used to be with the Steel nerf
Movesets
Judo Moves
-Agility
-Close Combat
-Iron Tail
-Ice Punch/Stone Edge/Crunch
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Justified
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spd
Adamant/Jolly Nature
With Agility Lucario can bypass its average speed and look for a sweep. This allows Lucario to handle its 4 moveslot syndrome a lot easier than the other builds due to lack of priority. Close Combat is the main stab move of the build, plowing through most things that resist it with ease. Iron Tail is a nice secondary Stab move hitting Fairies hard as well as Ghost threats for neutral, but can be given up for coverage. Ice Punch is nice to break Gliscor really easily who walls this set easily, Crunch breaks through Latias who is more of a problem for this build than the others, and Stone Edge hits all Flying-types for more damage than Ice Punch.
Dr. Jackal
-Nasty Plot
-Aura Sphere
-Vacuum Wave
-Flash Cannon/Dark Pulse/Psychic
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus/Steadfast
EVs and Nature:
4 Def/252 SpAtk/252 Spd
Modest/Timid Nature
Nasty Plot gives Lucario a more counter build, getting around common counters like Gliscor with its massive special damage. Aura Sphere is the primary Stab move of the build, dealing a lot of damage to anything that doesn't resist it. Vacuum Wave is the next main move, giving Lucario an out for its average speed with priority as well as being a Fighting Stab, but has lower power than Extreme Speed making it harder to compete with the Swords Dance build. Flash Cannon is another Stab, hitting Psychic and Ghosts as well as Fairies hard, Dark Pulse does the same but harder, while Psychic destroys Poison types that resist Aura Sphere
Mr. Hyena
-Swords Dance
-Extreme Speed/Bullet Punch
-Close Combat
-Ice Punch/Stone Edge/Thunder Punch
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Justified
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spd
Adamant/Jolly Nature
The flagship set lf Lucario, Swords Dance is a powerful boosting move due to Lucario's movepool geared toward the physical side. Extreme Speed is the main thing however that makes it strong, 80 power and priority, allowing Lucario to get around its average speed. An argument can be made for Bullet Punch however but is less power. Close Combat is the main Stab move of the build dealing a ton of damage after Swords Dance. Ice Punch is really strong for countering Gliscor, while Stone Edge hits all Flyings harder, while Thunder Punch breaks through bulky Waters.
Other Options
Z-Crystals - A strong option, this allows Lucario to hit something really hard with a boosted priority move, but overall suffers from a power drop
Expert Belt - A substitute for Life Orb, it's not exceptionally strong due to Lucario just trying to break through everything
Choice Band - With access to 2 physical priority moves, a Choice Band is an option but competes with other Pokémon such as Zygarde 10% who's faster, and the newly dropped Scizor
Partners
Pursuit Trappers - Lucario struggles with Psychic and Ghost Pokémon, namely Latias. This makes a Pursuit user a strong partner for Lucario as they can force a KO or cripple the target Pokémon. Good options are Scizor and Krookodile
Latias - Similar to the Amoonguss below, Latias pivots really well into Water types as well as Fires that pressure Lucario out. Latias also checks most Fighting types such as Conkeldurr that can beat Lucario with Mach Punch, but needs to be wary of Knock Off
Amoonguss - A solid defensive pivot, Amoonguss can beat bulky Waters that are hard for Lucario to break while spreading paralysis and Spore, making it easier for Lucario to sweep
VGC, Double, & Triple Battle Options
Lucario has not been a common Pokemon traditionally in the VGC circuit. VGC 2017 is no different, as Lucario has failed to make a lasting impact. With bad defenses and a speed stat that comes up just short of being an actual threat, Lucario has been relegated mostly to a gimmicky Choice Scarf and Final Gambit set on some Trick Room teams. Too many common threats, such as Arcanine, Garchomp, Tapu Koko, and Tapu Lele, give Lucario issues. Even with Z moves giving Lucario more potential (such as a strong physical steel move other than Iron Tail), the Aura Pokemon is a tough choice to have success with in doubles.
Aura like an Egyptian!
-Close Combat
-Flash Cannon
-Extreme Speed / Bullet Punch
-Follow Me / Protect
Item Attached: Focus Sash
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
Without a (reliable) strong physical steel move, Lucario should probably run a mixed set. Its defenses aren't great anyway, so sacrificing a little defense to run a mixed set does not hurt much. A Focus Sash makes this even less of a problem, as Lucario can survive any one hit from full health. Inner Focus is the most useful of Lucario's three abilities, allowing it to be immune to Fake Out or Rock Slide flinches. Maximum speed investment is necessary for Lucario to get off as many attacks as it can. Max attack powers up Lucario's strongest attack, Close Combat, as well as either physical priority move. A bit of special attack investment lets Flash Cannon hit for reasonable damage. A Hasty nature lets Lucario run a mixed set, while also giving opposing Download Porygon2 an attack boost should you not be able to OHKO it (more on that later).
Close Combat is Lucario's strongest move and gives good coverage (Hi Jump Kick is generally inferior due to how common Protect is in doubles). Flash Cannon gives a strong steel option since Iron Tail's accuracy is terrible (and it is not VGC17 legal since it is an ORAS move tutor move), and Intimidate can weaken Close Combat's power. Extreme Speed is probably the best priority move for non-mega Lucario, as it has the highest base power, even factoring in the STAB boost to Bullet Punch. The latter option can still be useful, but steel does not have the best coverage. Follow Me has seen a lot of popularity on Focus Sash sets and the aforementioned Choice Scarf sets. Follow Me is great with the Focus Sash, or can protect a teammate like one of the Tapus from a poison move. Protect is still a great move to keep Lucario safe from attacks or stall out opposing speed control.
Other Options & Team Ideas
-The Choice Scarf with Final Gambit set can be considered to help set up Trick Room or other strategies. Maximum HP is typically used, and Follow Me and Close Combat are two of the other common moves on the set.
-Fightinium Z turns either Close Combat or Focus Blast into an incredibly strong fighting move. Either move has the possibility to OHKO Porygon2 depending on its spread, but Lucario faces stiff competition from Pheromosa in this role. Steelium Z used with Iron Tail gives Lucario a strong physical move with perfect accuracy, but steel is not the greatest offensive type, so it may be tough to justify using it.
-Steadfast and Justified both have reasonable uses. If you do not mind flinching, and instead getting a speed boost, Steadfast can be used, but the opponent likely will not purposely try to make your Lucario flinch if they think you might have Inner Focus still. Justified can be awesome in getting the attack boost, but dark-type attacks are not particularly common this year.
-Aura Sphere does not have the power of Close Combat, but is the best option on a special set and will not be affected by Intimidate. Since it cannot miss, you can also ignore evasion boosts. Vacuum Wave can be considered for the priority move on such a set.
-Feint is fantastic to break an opponent's Protect.
-Earthquake, Stone Edge, Rock Slide, and Poison Jab all have good use as coverage moves. Earthquake and Rock Slide give Lucario a spread move, though Stone Edge is stronger than Rock Slide. Poison Jab hits all four of the Tapus hard, though a steel move can already hit Tapu Lele and Tapu Bulu super-effectively.
-Blaze Kick, Crunch, Dark Pulse, Shadow Claw, Shadow Ball, Psychic, and Dragon Pulse are other coverage options that generally have less use in VGC 2017.
-Brick Break is mainly for breaking through Aurora Veil or other screens.
-Low Sweep, Rock Tomb, and Bulldoze are all cool moves to lower the opponents' speed, and deserve consideration on a support Lucario set with Follow Me and Focus Sash.
-Like previously mentioned, Trick Room teams appreciate the Follow Me support or being able to take out (or severely weaken) a threat with Final Gambit, and then give a free switch to a sweeper in the back.
-Offensively-focused Lucario appreciate redirection or other moves to give it clean turns to attack. Speed control can also be key due to Lucario's low defenses and middling speed.
-Defiant or Competitive Pokemon to keep Intimidate away from Lucario is nice.
Countering Lucario
Latias - Latias resist Lucario's main stab in Close Combat or Aura Sphere and can pressure it out with its higher speed. While Crunch and Ice Punch can do a lot, Latias can KO back easily Bulky Waters - Bulky Waters are hard for Lucario to break due to the secondary typing, usually granting resistance to both of Lucario's Stab moves. Furthermore, outside of Nasty Plot, Lucario doesn't want the burn from Scald. Some options include Tentacruel, Mantine, Alomomola, and Vaporeon Gliscor - An old enemy, Gliscor is the reason Lucario runs Ice Punch, but because of that Gliscor walls all sets that don't run it.
Overview
Mega Lucario is one of the strongest Mega Evolutions, following Mega Kangaskhan into many fan tier Uber lists early in X and Y, gaining stats in both attacks and most importantly Speed, allowing Mega Lucario to outpace a lot of threats, while also gaining a new ability, Adaptability
.
Positives
+ Low competition for its typing slot, Arceus Fighting, Marshadow, and Mega Mewtwo X are the only Fightings exclusive to Ubers besides itself
+ Really high damage with Adaptability
Negatives
- Similar to Lucario 70/88/70 is weak defensive stats, even more so in Ubers
- Competes with Mega Salamence for a mega slot
Abilities
Adaptability - STAB modifier becomes 2x - A huge boost, being a top offensive ability allowing Mega Lucario to easily 2hko a lot of threats
Movesets
Jackal Deity, Anubis
-Swords Dance
-Close Combat
-Bullet Punch
-Iron Tail/Stone Edge
Item Attached: Lucarionite
Ability: Adaptability (Justified before Mega)
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spd
Adamant / Jolly Nature
With its high speed and frail nature, Mega Lucario is best off using Swords Dance to look to chunk threats with Close Combat, your main Stab move, gaining increased Stab bonus from Adaptability. Bullet Punch is the next Stab, giving priority to help with faster threats like Pheromosa and Deoxys as well as pick off weaker targets. Lastly Iron Tail is another stab to nail Ghost threats that are immune to Close Combat while Stone Edge will break Ho-Oh who resist both Stab moves as well as hit Rayquaza and Mega Salamence for solid damage still. Adamant nature is preferred due to Mega Lucario being about raw power, but Jolly allows you to outpace standard Arceus builds..
Other Options
Ice Punch - A last slot option, Ice Punch allows Mega Lucario to easily break Mega Salamence on the switch in or a high risk play
Crunch - Helps with Ghost threats as well as Lunala who quad resists Close Combat
Earthquake - The weaker option, Earthquake deals with Toxapex and Aegislash only, but is worth mentioning
Partners
Yveltal - Yveltal can pressure and KO Ghost types that are immune to Close Combat and can easily KO or cripple Mega Lucario in return
Arceus - Arceus can do various things based on its type. Dark will function like Yveltal destroying Ghosts, while Rock checks Flying threats like Rayquaza and Mega Salamence and counters Ho-Oh who resists both Mega Lucario's stabs
VGC & Double Battle Options
Mega Lucario, with a good speed stat and incredible offensive power, seems like it would be much more potent than its non-mega form. Although megas are not available in VGC 2017, Mega Lucario was still not commonly seen even in previous years. Its defenses still leave a lot to be desired, and its offensive potential still has holes, especially since one of its valuable move slots should be taken up by Protect. Given the proper support though, Mega Lucario can potentially overpower some teams.
Going Super Saiyan
--Close Combat
-Bullet Punch / Flash Cannon
-Crunch / Bullet Punch
-Protect
Item Attached: Lucarionite
Ability: Adaptability (Justified before Mega)
EVs and Nature:
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe or 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Jolly or Naive Nature
Lucarionite of course makes it possible for Lucario to mega evolve. Justified is the best of the 3 abilities for a mega set before it actually evolves. Most of the time, you will want to mega evolve right now to get the power increase, but neither of the other two abilities activate if you switch Lucario in. You can, however, switch Lucario in on a dark-type move and get the attack boost. Maximum attack and speed are needed to utilize Lucario's full potential. A little special attack with a Naive nature gives Flash Cannon some power should you choose to run it, but if not, a Jolly nature is the preferred nature. Naive is chosen over Hasty on mixed sets due to the fact that Mega Lucario's Defense will be higher than Special Defense regardless of nature, so it will not change a Porygon2's Download boost (and Porygon2 is not as common in other doubles formats as it is in VGC 2017). This higher defense also helps against priority moves, which are generally physical.
Close Combat is Lucario's strongest attack, especially with the Adaptability boost. Bullet Punch is actually fairly strong with the boost as well, but Flash Cannon is very strong on a mixed set with Mega Lucario's great special attack. On a purely physical set, Crunch gives good coverage against ghost types, especially Aegislash. Protect is still basically the best move in doubles.
Other Options and Team Ideas
-Steadfast and Inner Focus can technically still be useful if you have not mega evolved yet and want to avoid a flinch from an incoming Fake Out or get a speed boost from it.
-A special set with Aura Sphere is absolutely viable. Vacuum Wave can be used as the priority move on a special set, though Dark Pulse gives good coverage.
-Extreme Speed, although having the same base power as the other priority moves, does bypass Follow Me or Rage Powder, so it still has some use.
-All of the other coverage moves previously mentioned for Lucario are viable, though Earthquake, Rock Slide, Stone Edge, and Poison Jab deserve the most consideration.
-Through the ORAS move tutors, Mega Lucario can also use attacks like Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, and Zen Headbutt. Ice Punch in particular deserves serious consideration.
-Mega Lucario does not depend on speed control quite as much, but it can still be nice to outspeed threats like Tapu Koko or Choice Scarf Pokemon.
-Redirection or Fake Out support is great to get off multiple strong attacks from Lucario.
-Again, Intimidate deterrents are nice if running a physical or mixed Mega Lucario.
Countering Mega Lucario
Ghost types - Ghost types are a pain for Mega Lucario, resisting Close Combat your main damage while Giratina can burn you or Mega Gengar can outpace and KO with Focus Blast Zygarde C - The best physical wall in Ubers, Zygarde C can just wall Mega Lucario and phase it out with Dragon Tail or KOing with Thousand Arrows, leaving little for Mega Lucario to do in return
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game
Colosseum/XD:
Not in game
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Evolve Riolu
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Evolve Riolu
Black/White:
Evolve Riolu
Black 2/White 2:
Evolve Riolu
X/Y:
Gift from Korrina
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Trade from X/Y
Sun/Moon:
Poni Wilds
Animé Appearences
