Lucario, the Flame Pokémon. Its wings can carry this Pokémon close to an altitude of 4,600 feet. It blows out fire at very high temperatures.
Overview
After generations of missing its Mega Evolution, Lucario can finally celebrate not only the return of its Mega Evolution, but a brand-new Z Mega Evolution as well. That being said, every Mega Evolution starts with a base and Lucario grants a solid one deserving of its massive prominence and popularity. Base 110 Attack and 115 Special Attack are quite usable with the right moveset and Lucario does not fail to deliver. With Swords Dance, Nasty Plot, Bulk Up, and Calm Mind, Lucario has plenty of options to boost its offenses to considerable levels of power. That power is complemented by an amazingly diverse coverage pool, not of least is Lucario’s slightly synergistic STABs, leaving few safe answers to its assault. On top of all this is the sheer number of priority options Lucario has, both physical and special, allowing it to safely clean up weakened foes regardless of Lucario’s Speed.
The issue is that Lucario struggles to find the opportunity to use this power. Base 70 HP and defenses across the board are far from sufficient to take many hits, leaving the good number of resistances from Lucario’s Steel subtyping moot. In light of such frailty, base 90 Speed is far from sufficient as Lucario is outsped by too many offensive staples to make use of its offense. Furthermore, while Lucario’s offenses are viable, they are far from peerless with many non Mega Evolutions like Archaludon, Sneasler, Kingambit and Scizor possessing far greater power accompanied by better bulk or Speed making them far more applicable in a wider range of situations. The latter two and Dragonite possessing their own stronger priority options further lessens Lucario’s worth by subsuming niches it could fill. This lacking power and speed also makes it hard for Lucario to invest in its defenses to account for its fragility. In the end, Lucario remains a relic of its time, its good traits having been long since left in the dust.
Positives
Good Attack and Special Attack enable Lucario to hit hard on either side of the spectrum.
Incredible movepool, with numerous coverage options, boosting and priority makes Lucario a fantastic attacker.
Fighting Steel typing grants a myriad of resistances giving Lucario some defensive utility.
Negatives
If it wasn’t for its abysmal defenses rendering any defensive utility moot with even resisted hits doing serious damage.
Base 90 Speed is not sufficient with such poor defenses, leaving Lucario easy to remove by most attackers.
Movesets
Sash Gordon
-Swords Dance
-Extreme Speed
-Close Combat
-Iron Head
Ability: Inner Focus
Item: Focus Sash
Stat Points and Nature:
2 HP / 32 Atk /32 Spe
Jolly Nature
If there is one thing that could be said for Lucario over its Mega form is its greater ease in setting up thanks to Focus Sash. With Focus Sash, Lucario is relatively assured in setting up safely, able to survive any one hit, getting the Swords Dance up safely and able to start applying pressure. Extreme Speed synergizes wonderfully with Swords Dance, its excellent speed tier allowing Lucario to threaten even opposing priority users, either forcing them out or risk the knock out, opening a window to setup safely as well as threaten nominally faster Pokémon once set up. Close Combat is Lucario’s strongest reliable STAB option and invaluable for its wide coverage into otherwise difficult to remove threats like Archaludon, Kingambit, Umbreon, Empoleon, Snorlax, Hisuian-Goodra and Tyranitar. Meteor Mash is secondary STAB and is invaluable for handling Fighting resists, especially Fairy types like Sylveon, Mega Meganium and Primarina, as well as Mimikyu. Inner Focus is recommended as the ability so that Intimidate users like Gyarados can’t sink Lucario’s Attack and prevents Mega Kangaskhan and Mega Lopunny from freely breaking Lucario’s Focus Sash with Fake Out.
Stat Points and Items:
Max Attack and Speed are recommended for this set. Lucario’s base 90 speed is decent and with full investment and a speed boosting nature can even outrun neutral natured base 102s like Garchomp and Mega Floette. Conversely, dropping to Adamant means Lucario no longer outruns Archaludon, Ceruledge, and Kommo-o, forcing it to rely more on its priority. Attack investment is necessary for Lucario to get the most out of Swords Dance and muscle past walls like Corviknight that can tank even boosted Close Combats on top of reaching higher damage thresholds with Lucario’s priority. If running a special set, then investment should go to Special Attack instead. Focus Sash is strongly recommended as the item, giving Lucario some semblance of defensive utility and reliability. If unavailable, Chople, Occa Shuca berries can work for Lucario surviving one blow to setup safely. Life Orb can be great for a flexible power boost but do note that Life Orb Lucario pales in comparison to Mega Lucario.
Partners:
Since this Lucario set is not running coverage for Steel resistant Ghost types and Psychic types, allies that can answer them are preferred. Dark types immediately come to mind, due to their ability to check both offensively and defensively. Mega Absol Z immediately comes to mind, its sheer power and speed handling most Ghost and Psychic types and able to compromise physical walls for Lucario to pick off later. Mega Gyarados is also a standout pick for its strong matchup into Fire types that also give Lucario trouble. For non-Mega options, there is Scarf Hydreigon whose Dark STAB and high speed handle many of the threats that Lucario struggles against while boasting levitate for the physically defensive Hippowdon that is likely called to stop Lucario. In turn Lucario services these Dark types by fending off Fairy and opposing Dark types with its own STABs, allowing their coverage to by used much more freely..
Other Options:
Earthquake is Lucario’s best answer into Fire types, especially Ceruledge as well as Ghost Steel types like Aegislash and Gholdengo.
Crunch handles most Ghost and Psychic types attackers, being extremely synergistic with Fighting and Steel.
Bullet Punch is an alternate priority option that hits Ghost types, but the power drop and easily resisted Steel typing make it weaker than Extreme Speed in many cases.
Stone Edge handles ungrounded Fire types well, especially Mega Charizard Y as well as the ground neutral Volcarona, though all of these natively outspeed Lucario.
Ice Punch threatens prominent Dragons like Salamence, Dragonite and Garhcomp, though the latters Rough Skin will break Focus Sash or finish off Lucario if Sash was triggered.
Bulk Up is an alternative boosting option that sacrifices explosive power for some defensive utility, but runs contrary to Close Combat.
As noted, Lucario can viably run a special set to similar effect, with Nasty Plot, Aura Sphere, Flash Cannon, Steel Beam, Shadow Ball and Psychic as options.
Countering Lucario
While Lucario’s diverse coverage and good offenses defy easy answers, its poor bulk and unimpressive Speed greatly limit the damage it can do.
Offensively checking Lucario is highly recommended, bypassing the issue of handling its varied offenses, though boosted Extreme Speeds, Bullet Punches and Vacuum Waves mandate these checks be healthy. Scarf Basculegion can all but ignore priority, resisting both STABs and immune to extreme Speed while always OHKOing with Wave Crash. Garchomp is a nightmare for physical Focus Sash sets given that Rough Skin recoil will always break Focus Sash or finish Lucario off, while outspeed with Earthquake but still takes 45-54% from Extreme Speed. Mega Delphox easily outspeeds and OHKOs while taking pittance from STABs but a boosted Extreme Speed deals 69-82%. Mega Charizard Y and Mega Starmie are similar, taking 64-76% and 57-67% from Extreme Speed respectively. Mega Staraptor takes 51-60% from +2 Extreme Speed, while Mega Salamence with its massive Defense only takes 38% while resisting Vacuum Wave. Mega Metagross is so bulky as to ignore priority with even a +2 Vacuum Wave capping out at 22%. Frailer attackers like Pawmot, Volcarona, Cinderace and Sneasler take horrific damage from +2 Extreme Speed, (74-88%, 70-83%, 65-77%, 77-91%) their STABs ensure a quick OHKO in turn.
Defensively checking Lucario is tricky, though not impossible. Skeledirge can all but avoid 2HKOs with either boosted Shadow Ball or Earthquake with 32 HP/32 Def/2+ Special Defense spread and Leftovers while OHKOing with Torch Song. 32 HP Toxapex abhors Earthquake and Psychic, but tanks anything else comfortably, and can wipe boosts with Haze though only 4HKOs Lucario with Scald.
Swords Dance Lucario can be softly checked by Hippowdon who still takes a whopping 54-64% from Close Combat, but OHKOs with Earthquake. If lacking Earthquake or Curnch, Aegislash, and Gholdengo completely wall Lucario and can take it out at their leisure. Ceruledge can perform similarly though must be wary of Stone Edge. Otherwise crippling it with Mega Scovillain (who is OHKOd by a +2 Close Combat), or Will-O-Wisps from Mimikyu and Mega Bannette are enough to hinder Lucario’s assault.
For Nasty Plot sets 32 HP/32+ Special Defense Mega Dragalge and Mega Slowking can both tank +2 STABs, though the latter will be 2HKOd by a +2 Shadow Ball or Dark Pulse without Sitrus Berry, though the former only 3HKOs with Thunderbolt.
Mega Lucario, the Aura Pokémon. Black streaks all over its body show where its auras and the energy of Mega Evolution intermingled and raced through it.
Overview
Coasting on popularity power and one of the stars of X and Y, Mega Lucario pushes the mixed offensive prowess of base Lucario to new heights. Base 145 Attack and 140 Special Attack are incredible and would allow any Pokémon to hit obscenely hard regardless of investment. Mega Lucario does not stop there however, with access to Nasty Plot and Swords Dance can push its offenses to ludicrous heights. This becomes exceptionally terrifying considering Mega Lucario was gifted the absurd Adaptability. This pushes Mega Lucario’s STABs beyond the pale allowing Mega Lucario to OHKO even neutral targets with its sheer power. The Fighting and Steel STAB combination is not the easiest to resist either, with Steel covering for the Fairy types that could otherwise soak up Mega Lucario’s blows. Power is not all Mega Lucario is packing either. Base 112 Speed is fantastic, getting the jump on already fast Pokémon like Mega Raichu X, Mega Metagross and Mega Staraptor allowing Mega Lucario to reliably apply its offense even in the face of other attackers. Even when faced with faster attackers, Mega Lucario’s plentiful priority options ensure such attackers aren’t removing Mega Lucario unscathed.
Offense is all that Mega Lucario brings to the table. Despite having the Steel subtyping which is famous for its defensive utility, Mega Lucario’s defenses are barely improved from its base form, and it falls just as quickly, to say nothing of potential Close Combat defense drops or Steel Beam recoil. This means Mega Lucario is predicated on getting knock outs to succeed and struggles to find the moment to setup to facilitate such knockouts. This is worsened by Mega Lucario’s own issues with power. While Fighting and Steel is certainly a strong offensive combination, it does have its gaps. Gaps that are occupied by several of the most prominent Pokémon available, like Mega Charizard Y, Basculegion, Gholdengo, Aegislash, Mega Starmie, Mega Delphox, Toxapex and Ceruledge and Mega Lucario struggles to fit all the necessary coverage and boosting. Furthermore, despite Mega Lucario’s great Special Attack, such sets struggle to get the necessary knock outs. Aura Sphere and Flash Cannon are fear weaker than Close Combat and Meteor Mash, and their stronger alternatives in Focus Blast and Steel Beam have severe reliability and downside issues making them unattractive. Furthermore, while Shadow Ball is fantastic for neutral coverage, it does not change the fact that Mega Lucario’s Special movepool is far lest robust than its physical, making it more predictable. These issues don’t detract from the fact that Mega Lucario has weathered the test of time and is as fierce an attacker as ever, deserving of the fame it wrought when first introduced.
Positives
Phenomenal Base 145 Attack and 140 Special Attack allows Mega Lucario to hit very hard on either side of the spectrum.
Adaptability grants an absurd power boost leaving little that isn’t naturally 2HKOd by Mega Lucario’s STABs.
Base 112 Speed is fantastic, getting the jump on base 110s and leaving only a small club that is able to safely out speed it.
Incredible movepool, with numerous coverage options, boosting and priority makes Lucario a fantastic attacker.
Negatives
Average HP and Defense and below average Special Defense make Mega Lucario easy to knock out.
Struggles with bulky Water and Ghost types, especially those that resist Fighting and Steel respectively.
Movesets
Close Combat Master
-Close Combat
-Meteor Mash
-Crunch
-Extreme Speed
Ability: Inner Focus -> Adaptability
Item: Lucarionite
Stat Points and Nature:
2 HP / 32 Atk / 32 Spe
Jolly Nature
This Mega Lucario set is a deadly attacker and cleaner, wielding its wide coverage and excellent speed to full effect. Adaptability Close Combat is terrifying, dealing obscene damage to even nominally bulky Pokémon like 32 HP/32+ Def Corviknight and 2 HP Mega Metagross who still take a solid 50-60% and 67-80% respectively, to say nothing targets like 32 HP/32 Def Archaludon who is still OHKOd. Meteor Mash is secondary STAB and invaluable for its ability to efficiently dispatch fighting resistant Fairies like Mega Floette, Mega Meganium, Sylveon as well as Mega Glimmora and Mega Froslass. Crunch is invaluable Dark coverage for the odd Steel resistant Ghost types like Basculegion, Ceruledge, Gholdengo and Aegislash, giving Mega Lucario a clean out to threats that can and will come in to endure its STABs. Extreme Speed rounds out the set as a clean up tool able to pick off impossibly fast threats hanging on by a threat or Focus Sash like Unburden Sneasler, Scarf Garchomp (28-33%), Mega Swampert (25-31%), Mega Blaziken (38-45%), and Shell Smash Mega Blastoise (41-48%). Extreme Speed’s higher priority bracket only increases its value, preventing even opposing priority users like Kingambit, Hisuian-Samurott, and Mega Starmie, preventing them from getting free damage or preemptively knocking out Mega Lucario. Inner Focus is recommended as the pre-Mega Evolution ability, preventing Gyarados or Staraptor from sinking Mega Lucario’s Attack with Intimidate pre Mega Evolution.
Stat Points and Nature:
Standard attacker array of max Speed and Attack are recommended. Lucario’s speed tier is excellent eeking out just above the popular base 110s, but as a result it needs full Speed investment to reliably outspeed such targets. Going for Adamant over Jolly drops Mega Lucario’s speed to under that of Timid Hydreigon, opening Mega Lucario up not only to the base 110 crowd, but the many base 100s and Pokémon that speed creep them like Garchomp, and Mega Excadrill. This is hard to stomach given Mega Lucario’s frailty. Everything else going into Attack is only natural. Even with Mega Lucario prodigious power, bulky targets like Corviknight, Mega Metagross and Hippowdon can stomach its blows. Full Attack investment is necessary for Mega Lucario to overwhelm them as a result. Item is locked to the Lucarionite.
Partners:
Given this Mega Lucario set lacks the boosting to overwhelm traditional walls, it must instead rely on its partners to lure in and compromise them for Mega Lucario to finish off. Life Orb Garchomp with Fire Fang is an example, dealing 34-40% to Corviknight or 65-78% after a Swords Dance, pushing Corviknight into easy KO range, while boasting Ground STAB for Fire types like Ceruledge and Mega Blaziken. Or Stone Edge to handle Mega Charizard Y and Mega Delphox. In turn, Mega Lucario destroys the Fairy types that can give Garchomp pause, especially Mega Meganium.
Meowscarada stands out as a more direct check to several of Mega Lucario’s issues. Flower Trick does horrific damage to Hippowdon, Basculegion and Mega Starmie while Dark STAB handles most Fighting resistant/immune Psychic and Ghost types respectively. In turn, Mega Lucario destroys the Steel types Meowscarda struggles with. Mega Gyarados also stands out as a secondary Mega Evolution for matches where Mega Lucario fares poorly like against Mega Delphox, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Starmie, etc, while Mega Lucario does well against the Fairy types that give Mega Gyarados trouble.
Other Options:
Bullet Punch is an alternative priority option that thanks to Adaptability does not lose to Extreme Speed in power. Its main benefit is hitting Ghost types like Mega Bannette and Mega Gengar.
Earthquake is Mega Lucario’s strongest coverage option for Ceruledge, Gholdengo and Aegislash.
Stone Edge threatens Mega Delphox, Mega Charizard Y, and base Gyarados.
Ice Punch clobbers Garchomp and (Mega) Dragonite, who can otherwise tank Mega Lucario’s blows well.
Swords Dance is a powerful boosting option that allows Mega Lucario to muscle through threats, but requires specific team support to setup safely.
As noted, Mega Lucario can viably run a special set to similar effect, with Nasty Plot, Aura Sphere, Flash Cannon, Steel Beam, Shadow Ball and Psychic as options.
Doubles and VGC Options
Despite Mega Lucario’s accolades for speed and power, it has not made the same impact in Doubles formats as it has in Singles. Mega Lucario’s frailty all but torpedoes any consistent play it could have in doubles. It is such a volatile Pokémon where one misplay or straight up miss can lead to Mega Lucario’s removal without it having contributed. This is highly undesirable, especially for a Mega Evolution given they are supposed to be a team’s powerhouse, whether offensively or defensively. Lack of spread damage hurts Mega Lucario as well given its frailty thus mandating team support to handle what Mega Lucario can’t or endure Mega Lucario’s premature removal. That is not to say Mega Lucario is without merit. Special Fighting attacks are a rarity and there is none that hit harder than Mega Lucario. With Fighting and Steel STABs handling common threats like Incineroar, Kingambit, (Mega) Tyranitar, Archaludon, Mega Froslass, Mega Floette, Sylveon, Whimsicott, Grimmsnarl and more, Mega Lucario is adept at handling troublesome support pieces and Mega Evolutions. Add in a wide and varied coverage pool and Mega Lucario can act akin to Mega Greninja, a targeted attacker meant to dispatch meta staples to enable its teammates. Furthermore, having Inner Focus pre Mega Evolution is quite the boon for physical Mega Lucario, preventing opening Intimidate users like Incineroar and Staraptor from hindering its assault.
Targeted Combat
-Aura Sphere
-Meteor Mash
-Stone Edge
-Bone Rush
Ability: Inner Focus -> Adaptability
Item: Lucarionite
Stat Points and Nature:
18 Atk / 23 SAtk / 25 Spe
Hasty Nature
Mega Lucario can perform as an anti-meta-attacker, packing moves to take care of staple threats and open the way for its teammates. Aura Sphere is a major reason to use Mega Lucario, given it is rare special Fighting coverage allowing it to not only annihilate Kingambit, but also Archaludon regardless of Stamina boosts on the latter. It also deals a large amount of damage to Incineroar, dealing 77-93% to 31 HP/20+ SDef or a 1/4 chance to OHKO 32 HP/14 SDef Incineroar, at the very least compromising it and making it vulnerable to focus fire or a spread attack from an ally. Meteor Mash is secondary physical STAB namely for the naturally specially bulky Mega Floette and Sylveon, where Mega Lucario's power is enough that even 32 HP/32 Def Mega Floette almost always one shotted, and Sylveon too regularly cannot survive Meteor Mash even if Mega Lucario is Intimidated. Stone Edge is primarily for Mega Charizard Y, a Pokémon that otherwise walls Mega Lucario's STABs and the most dominant Mega Evolution in regulations M-A and M-B. The ability to threaten the similarly problematic Ceruledge and Mega Delphox is a nice bonus, though Stone Edge will only deal 64-76% to 31 HP/18 Defense Ceruledge. Bone Rush is more niche, but important for its ability to OHKO Sneasler, Hisuian-Arcanine and Glimmora through their Focus Sashes, ending a few troublesome threats before they can begin.
This set is focused on both offenses and speed. The 23 Special Attack in particular is to guarantee the OHKO on Chople Berry Kingambit. 25 Speed and the Hasty nature ensure that Mega Lucario outruns Jolly Garchomp as well as those trying to speed creep Garchomp on top of Speed tying with Adamant Sneasler and other neutral natured base 120s. The remainder goes into Attack to fuel Mega Lucario's other moves. More traditional sets going all in on Special Attack or Attack can implement a standard 32 offense/32 Speed spread. With the inclusion of Mega Metagross and Mega Staraptor, investing more in speed is recommended if not wanting to rely on Speed control. 31 Speed with a Speed boosting nature is unfortunately the absolute minimum to outrun the Base 110s if they are Jolly.
Preferred Partners & Other Options:
Despite Mega Lucario’s fantastic speed, it isn’t the fastest around, and thus Speed control to make up the difference is vital. Talonflame and Whimsicott fit this role nicely with their priority Tailwinds. Both can also offer defensive utility between Talonflame’s Will-O-Wisp and Whimsicott’s Light Screen keeping Mega Lucario around longer. Aerodactyl also works well its high speed generally assuring that Tailwind is setup first, while offering Wide Guard in case of Earthquake and Heat Wave, while opening another coverage option aside from Stone Edge for Mega Lucario. Salamence can also work as a Tailwind setter and Intimidate user, addressing Mega Lucario’s physical bulk while providing its own offensive pressure.
Mega Lucario is meant to thrive on aggressive teams that can bury opposing offense. Scarf Garchomp with Stomping Tantrum for the Steel Ghost types, and Meowscarada for opposing Garchomp, Mega Starmie, and Basculegion are both excellent examples in covering Mega Lucario’s blind spots.
Detect is always worth consideration, invaluable for all the utility that protection moves provide in Doubles while preventing Imprison strategies from locking this option out from Mega Lucario.
Priority options like Bullet Punch, Vacuum Wave and Extreme Speed are invaluable for picking low HP Pokémon off, especially the numerous Focus Sash users. Bullet Punch is generally preferred since nothing is immune to it.
Ice Punch is valuable for handling the numerous Dragons endemic to the format, such as Garchomp, Salamence and (Mega Dragonite).
Countering Mega Lucario
While Mega Lucario’s offense is fearsome, if its targets can survive or outstrip its blows, it is rather easy to handle.
Mega Lucario struggles greatly against bulky targets that can withstand its blows, as few as they may be. Boosted Mega Lucario is nearly unmanageable, though there are a few that do rise to the occasion. Skeledirge avoids the 2HKO from both physical and special +2 Mega Lucario, but it needs to fully invest in the appropriate defense to survive Shadow Ball or Crunch and for physical Mega Lucario to not carry Earthquake. Skeledirge does not OHKO back with Torch Song without a defense drop (but deals 82-99% so very little is needed to push into KO range). 32 HP/32+ Def Hippowdon excels against physical sets with not even +2 Close Combat being a favored OHKO while Hippowdon always OHKOs back with Earthquake. Against Special sets, 32 HP/32 Special Defense Toxapex avoids the 2HKO from any of Mega Lucario’s attacks and can wipe away boosts with Haze, but only 4HKOs with Scald. Against physical sets, +2 Close Combat still 2HKOs Toxapex even with 32 HP/32+ Def, to say nothing of Earthquake which has a 1/16 chance to OHKO, though a Scald burn is more ruinious.
Pokémon that resist Mega Lucario’s STABs in general should be considered given that the bulk of its offense comes from Adaptability and there is a chance that Mega Lucario isn’t even running coverage instead opting for priority. Steel resistant Ghosts and Psychics like Mega Starmie, Basculegion, Mega Delphox, Ceruledge, Aegislash and Gholdengo abhor Shadow Ball and Crunch but can survive any boosted STAB and save for Gholdengo (64-76% with Shadow Ball) can OHKO back with STAB. Gyarados needs Intimidate for Close Combat and can’t handle Stone Edge but also works well. Mega Charizard Y can’t stand Stone Edge and is OHKOd by +2 Close Combat, but if it survives, will OHKO in return.
Otherwise for boosted Mega Lucario, Pokémon that are guaranteed to survive a blow like Mimikyu, (Mega) Dragonite, and Focus Sash users can use such capabilities to survive and OHKO back (or cripple in the case of Mimikyu).
Checking Mega Lucario offensively can be simpler but with the major caveat that such checks must be healthy lest they get run down by Mega Lucario’s priority options. Mega Delphox and Mega Sceptile for example take 84-100% from a +2 Extreme Speed, making them a shakier check in such scenarios. Mega Starmie takes 69-81% from +2 Extreme Speed, Sneasler has a 68.75% chance to be OHKOd, Mega Greninja can’t withstand a +2 Vacuum Wave and needs Low Kick to finish the job. Ironically enough, Mega Lucario Z is also a consistent offensive check thanks to its own Vacuum Wave with its immaculate Speed, preventing reprisal.
Mega Lucario Z, the Aura Pokémon. By completely cloaking itself in its aura, Mega Lucario Z can parry all manner of attacks, battling as if it were gracefully dancing.
Overview
Given the sheer power of Mega Lucario, the fact that Lucario got a second Mega Evolution in the Mega Dimensions DLC was a bit of a shock. Yet despite looking similar to Mega Lucario, Mega Lucario Z is a very different beast. Instead of the fearsome mixed offense, Mega Lucario Z goes all in on special attacking with a patently absurd base 164 Special Attack. Eclipsing even the likes of legendaries like Mewtwo and Palkia in base power, Mega Lucario Z can hit hard, even with the item being locked to the Mega Stone. Yet what is even more incredible is Mega Lucario Z’s Speed. Base 151 is the fastest available in Champions, only tied by the other Z Megas and fourth fastest in the series history. Mega Lucario Z outruns the entire unboosted roster to the point where it doesn’t even need to fully invest in Speed to outrun key targets too. This is important with Mega Lucario Z’s new ability Aura Guard. While a Fluffy without drawbacks seems wasted on a Pokémon as frail as Mega Lucario Z, the effective resistance against contact moves pays dividends for Mega Lucario Z. With Aura Guard, Mega Lucario Z can finally take advantage of the plethora of resistances its typing provides, surviving blows unthinkable by Mega Lucario such as Kingambit’s Low Kick, Mega Golisopod’s Close Combat, Rillaboom’s High Horsepower, and more. This not only gives Mega Lucario Z breathing room to setup safely, but also no longer mandates it to get OHKOs at every turn given it can be expected to tank a hit.
Aura Guard does not solve all of Mega Lucario Z’s defensive issues. Earthquake and Last Respects are not contact moves, leaving Mega Lucario Z’s poor base Defense plain to see. Furthermore, bar Grass Knot and Draining Kiss, Aura Guard does nothing for Mega Lucario Z’s Special Defense, making it as easy to remove with Special Attackers. Mega Lucario Z’s offense has issues as well. As insane as it is to say that base 164 Special Attack isn’t enough, the fact is that Mega Lucario Z is weaker than Mega Lucario when it comes to STABs due to the sheer power of Adaptability. Furthermore, Lucario’s Special offense is flawed, with its stronger STAB options in Focus Blast and Steel Beam come with heavy drawbacks causing it to miss knockouts that other similarly strong attackers like Mega Raichu Y wouldn’t. While Shadow Ball, Aura Sphere and Steel STAB do provide effectively perfect coverage, Lucario’s limited movepool means lacking super effective coverage for key threats, making it rather predictable. Still with its blend of defense, offense and speed, Mega Lucario Z one note performance still dazzles the world over.
Positives
Base 164 Special Attack goes into superlative defying levels of power ensuring any Special Attack from Mega Lucario Z has horrendous power.
Base 151 Speed is the fastest available, ensuring Mega Lucario Z goes first in just about every confrontation.
Aura Guard synergizes wonderfully with Fighting Steel typing, allowing Mega Lucario Z to stave off all sorts of physical attacks.
Negatives
Mega Lucario Z’s Special bulk is horrendous, ensuring that any Special Attack will quickly drop it.
Earthquake is everywhere, giving many physical attackers a way to bypass Aura Guard.
Low powered STABs causes Mega Lucario Z to miss knockouts without boosting.
Movesets
Aura Storm
-Nasty Plot
-Aura Sphere
-Shadow Ball
-Flash Cannon
Ability: Inner Focus -> Aura Guard
Item: Lucarionite Z
Stat Points and Nature:
5 HP / 4 Def / 32 SAtk / 25 Spe
Timid Nature
This Mega Lucario Z is a deadly setup sweeper using its peerless Speed and Nasty Plot to devastate teams with its perfect coverage. Getting the Nasty Plot off is manageable too, thanks to Aura Guard, allowing Mega Lucario Z to survive a blow from a whole host of physical attackers like Rillaboom, Kingambit, Mega Golisopod, Swords Dance Mimikyu, Meowscarada, Mega Metagross, Scizor, Hisuian Samurott and more. Once setup, Mega Lucario Z can clean up entire teams with only the bulkiest of special sponges able to manage. Aura Sphere I is Mega Lucario Z’s bread and butter a reliable Fighting STAB with great super effective coverage into the many Steel types that Mega Lucario Z likes to use to setup as well as numerous popular Dark types. Shadow Ball complements Aura Sphere wonderfully; Fighting Ghost has near perfect coverage missing only Hisuian-Zoroark for neutral damage, to say nothing of the Steel resistant Ghost and Psychic types that otherwise stave off Mega Lucario Z’s STABs. Flash Cannon rounds out the set as secondary STAB, hitting the one Pokémon immune to both Fighting and Ghost as well as threatening Fairy types like the absurdly specially bulky Mega Floette and the Unaware Clefable that would otherwise be called upon to stop such assaults.
Stat Points and Items:
Mega Lucario Z benefits from its absurd Speed in being so fast it does not mandate full investment. 25 Speed with Timid Nature is enough to outrun Jolly Scarf Basculegion as well as base 142s like Mega Greninja and Dragapult, missing out only on Mega Sceptile, Jolly Dragon Dance Gyarados, Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Alakazam as well as the other Z Mega Evolutions. These extra points can go to Mega Lucario Z’s HP and Defense allowing it to better endure attacks. 5 HP and 4 Defense points ensures Mega Golisopod cannot OHKO with Close Combat. Maxing out Special Attack is strongly recommended. Even with Nasty Plot, Mega Lucario Z does miss knockouts, but with full investment it misses as few knockouts as possible without giving up speed. Item is locked to the Lucarionite Z..
Partners:
Rillaboom is a strongly recommended as a partner thanks to its Grassy Terrain weakening Mega Lucario Z’s biggest Achilles heel in Earthquake, giving it some passive recovery and greatly expanding the number of foes it can safely setup in front of. Rillaboom is also good at drawing in the oft physical Steel types that Mega Lucario Z can use to safely setup on top of its solid matchup into Ground types in general like Hippowdon.
Given Aura Guard does almost nothing to address Mega Lucario Z’s poor special defense, a special tank for pivoting purposes can be invaluable. Primarina stands out thanks to its sheer Special bulk allowing it to stave off and compromise the likes of Mega Delphox, Scarf Hydreigon, Mega Dragonite, and to a lesser extent Mega Charizard Y. Its access to Encore also enables Mega Lucario Z to get in/set up safely. In turn, Mega Lucario Z dominates Rillaboom and Meowscarda, notable physical Grass types that give Primarina trouble, as well as absorb the odd Poison attack from Mega Dragalge or Mega Scolipede.
Other Options:
Vacuum Wave is the lone special priority option Mega Lucario Z has access to, but it allows it to clean up opposing priority users safely.
Dragon Pulse is notable for being Mega Lucario Z’s strongest option into Mega Dragalge as well as assuredly OHKOing Mega Dragonite once Multiscale is broken.
Steel Beam is a nuclear STAB option that can outright delete bulky opponents, but Mega Lucario Z will often be KOing itself in the process if it took damage during setup.
Dark Pulse is nearly identical to Shadow Ball, missing out on Fairy types (which Flash Cannon handles), but getting Indeedee, Farigiraf and Hisuian-Zoroark but is more likely to run into Colbur Berries.
Calm Mind is an alternative boosting option that does address Mega Lucario Z’s special defense, but at the cost of starting to miss OHKOs.
Terrain Pulse is notable with Rillaboom support for handling Basculegion and Primarina.
Doubles and VGC Options
Given how Mega Lucario’s frailty has held it back from Doubles play, Mega Lucario Z’s Aura Guard opens up exciting possibilities. With regulations M-A and M-B having been dominated by physical attackers like Kingambit, and Sneasler, to say nothing of the freshly arrived VGC staple Rillaboom, there is no lack of Pokémon whose blows Mega Lucario Z can withstand. Even better, with the friendly fire aspect and the near ubiquitous Rillaboom’s Grassy Terrain, Earthquake is nowhere near as prominent in Doubles as it is in Singles, meaning Mega Lucario Z has less to worry about from potential random attackers carrying Earthquake. Now with the ability to take hits, Mega Lucario Z can exercise its offense to the fullest, especially with the rare special Fighting offense for Kingambit, Archaludon and Incineroar, the former two infamous for their ability to stick around. However, Mega Lucario Z’s special bulk remains as horrendous as ever and thus requiring management to not be removed with having contributed nothing. To say nothing of how Basculegion’s Last Respects is not a contact move and thus not impacted by Aura Guard.
Doubles Aura Master
-Aura Sphere
-Steel Beam
-Dark Pulse
-Detect
Ability: Inner Focus -> Aura Guard
Item: Lucarionite Z
Stat Points and Nature:
10 HP / 5 Def / 21 SAtk / 30 Spe
Modest Nature
Mega Lucario Z functions very similarly to special Mega Lucario, though with far greater speed and Aura Guard give it distinct advantages in exchange for power. Aura Sphere is amazing in Doubles for the number of staples it threatens, annihilating Kingambit and Archaludon, while dealing severe damage that Incineroar can't ignore. Steel Beam is on the set explicitly for removing Mega Floette and Sylveon in one blow, which Flash Cannon cannot manage, as well as Mega Froslass through Aurora Veil. Dark Pulse is coverage, but incredibly important coverage directly checking Fighting immune Ghost staples like Sinistcha, Basculegion, Ceruledge, Mega Gengar, Gholdengo and Aegislash. The ability to threaten Trick Room staples like Farigiraf and Indeedee cannot be discounted either. Detect has invaluable utility in Doubles, blocking Fake Outs, stalling for allied setup, stalling out detrimental field conditions, and more. Detect is recommended over Protect to hedge against Imprison strategies which would lock the invaluable move out.
10 HP and 5 Defense allows Mega Lucario Z to avoid the 2HKO from Kingambit's Low Kick as well as the OHKO from Sneasler's Close Combat. 30 Points go into Speed so that Mega Lucario Z can outrun the base 130s like Mega Gengar, Aerodactyl and Mega Raichu Y as well as select targets like Mega Pyroar and Adamant Scarf Basculegion. Everything else goes into Special Attack to grant as much offensive power as possible. If concerned about Jolly Scarf Basculegion, Timid with 25 Speed is the bare minimum to outrun that. Otherwise, outrunning base 120s would be the next cutoff point, allowing Mega Lucario Z to outrun Mega Froslass and Sneasler. 19 Speed points with Modest nature or Timid with 2 Speed points suffices.
Preferred Partners & Other Options:
Rillaboom is highly recommended as a partner for Mega Lucario Z, its Grassy Surge weakening Garchomp and company’s Earthquakes while able to suppress troublesome Special attackers with its Fake Out. Mega Lucario Z in turn handles the Steel types that Rillaboom struggles to get past, especially Archaludon.
Mega Salamence is a strong option for dual Mega Evolution teams, with it handling the many Fire typed Mega Evolutions like the Mega Charizards, Mega Delphox, and Mega Camerupt that Mega Lucario Z struggles with. Mega Lucario Z in turn has excellent matchups against Mega Froslass, (Mega) Tyranitar, Mega Metagross and Mega Floette, that give Mega Salamence a lot of trouble. Mega Dragonite too can work given its similar defensive profile and both have solid base forms that can work if one is not wanting to run dual Mega Evolutions.
Basculegion is notable for the many positive matchups it has into Pokémon that resist Mega Lucario Z’s STABs and is excellent at cleaning up teams softened by Mega Lucario Z’s assault, while appreciating Mega Lucario Z and its excellent matchup into Kingambit and Rillaboom that Basculegion greatly struggles against.
Flash Cannon is a weaker, albeit less self-destructive Steel STAB option
Calm Mind and Nasty Plot allow Mega Lucario Z to close out games quickly if it can get the moves off.
Vacuum Wave’s priority is invaluable in handling threats hanging on by a Focus Sash like Unburden Sneasler, Kingambit, Whimsicott, etc.
Terrain Pulse is very notable with Rillaboom's support, allowing Mega Lucario Z to OHKO Basculegion even with no Special Attack investment, but exasperates poor matchups against Fire types and PsySpam teams.
Countering Mega Lucario Z
While Mega Lucario Z’s combination of Speed, Special Attack and Aura Guard is daunting, the gaps in Aura Guard and Mega Lucario Z’s offense make it much more manageable.
If Mega Lucario Z has set up, there are a few Pokémon that can take its boosted blows. 32 HP/32+ SDef Leftovers Toxapex is 3HKOd by Shadow Ball/Dragon Pulse, and can Haze away Calm Minds or Nasty Plots, but 4HKOs with Scald. Unaware Skeledirge does do well into everything but Shadow Ball and Dark Pulse, but those alone require 32 HP/32+ Special Defense with Leftovers to all but deny the 2HKO with 32 HP/23+ SDef being the minimum to make the 2HKO unlikely. In turn, Skeledirge has a Ľ chance to OHKO with Torch Song.
If one can keep their checks healthy, sacrificing a Pokémon to get the following in safely can dispatch a Mega Lucario Z that was chipped during setup. 32 HP Primarina is bulky enough to only take 77-90% from +2 Flash Cannon and dealing 79-93% back with Moonblast. Gyarados takes 62-74% from +2 Shadow Ball/Dark Pulse, and can deal 76-89% with Earthquake or OHKO after a Dragon Dance, but note that max Speed Mega Lucario Z can outspeed Gyarados. Volcarona takes 64-75% from +2 Shadow Ball, but can use the opportunity to Quiver Dance or just outright OHKO with Fire STAB. 32 HP/32+ Special Defense Galarian-Slowking deals 68-80% with Flamethrower. Mega Charizard Y only takes 61-73% from +2 Shadow Ball and easily OHKOs with any Fire STAB.
Otherwise Pokémon that cannot be taken out in a single blow like Multiscale Mega Dragonite, Sturdy Archaludon, Focus Sash users like Basculegion and Armarouge can perform a similar function.
Offensively checking Mega Lucario Z is much trickier given it is impossible to reliably outspeed with anything unboosted. Those that can modify their speed can work wonders. Weather sweepers like Venusaur, Mega Swampert, and Excadrill can outrun Mega Lucario Z. Speed Booster Mega Blaziken and Choice Scarf users like Garchomp, Cinderace, Indeedee-M, and Dragapult can also suffice. However, most of these checks must be healthy lest they get pushed into Vacuum Wave range and stopped before they can act, excepting the priority blocking Indeedee-M and Fighting immune Dragapult.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
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
Evolve Riolu
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Trade from X/Y
Sun/Moon:
Poni Grove
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Poni Grove
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Route 1, Route 2, Route 3, Route 4, Route 6, Route 7, Route 8, Route 10, Route 11, Route 12, Route 13, Route 14, Route 15, Route 16, Route 17, Route 18, Route 19, Route 21, Route 22, Route 23, Route 24, Route 25
Sword/Shield:
North Lake Miloch, Roaring-Sea Caves
Max Raid Battles: Dusty Bowl, Giant's Seat, Hammerlocke Hills, North Lake Miloch, Rolling Fields, Stony Wilderness
Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl:
Evolve Riolu
Legends: Arceus:
Alabaster Icelands: Icebound Falls, Snowfall Hot Spring or nearby, Massive Mass Outbreak
Cobalt Coastlands: Massive Mass Outbreak
Scarlet/Violet:
North Province Area One, North Province Area Two, Fellhorn Gorge, Kitakami Wilds, Oni Mountain, Timeless Woods
Fixed: Dalizapa Passage
Legends: Z-A:
Gift from AZ
Wild Zone 20
Hyperspace Lumiose - Fighting (4 Star), Steel (4 Star), Special (5 Star)
Anime Appearences
