Lucario

Articles about Lucario	Games • Mystery of Mew

• Riolu
• Lucario
• Mega Lucario

	“	Though infantile in appearance, it has the mysterious ability to read the minds of humans. The pure of heart are met with Riolu approval, while those of ill nature earn only its loathing.	„
		~ Legends: Arceus Pokédex entry

	“	A most gallant-looking creature. It emits energy waves and controls them with precision, using them to sense even faraway beings. I have given the name “aura” to this power.	„
		~ Legends: Arceus Pokédex entry

“	It readies itself to face its enemies by focusing its mental energies. Its fighting style can be summed up in a single word: heartless.	„
	~ Pokémon Moon Pokédex entry

Summary

Lucario (Japanese: ルカリオ Lucario) is a Fighting/Steel-type canine-like Pokémon introduced in Generation III, but became usable in Generation IV.

Lucario's name seems to be based on the mythical metal Orichalchum and oracle (note how the first syllables phonetically have "aura" in it) reversed in its Japanese transliteration. It can possibly also come from the Greek word for wolf (Lykos) lupaster, a subspecies of Canis aureus, Cairo or pharaoh due to its Egyptian appearance, or the Latin word lucareus (meaning one of light or a luminary), alluding to its aura powers. Its appearance is based on a jackal, even going so far as to be reminiscent of the Egyptian god Anubis, and might also be based on Egyptian boxers. The orichalcum is presumably what makes it Steel- type, and it's likely what makes up the spikes growing out of it (along with likely more of its body).

It has the strange ability to sense the aura of other living beings, allowing it to track their movements without any of its other senses. It is a rather noble Pokémon, with fists and nerves of steel. Lucario has also shown to fully understand human speech and languages, and often communicates with people through telepathy. Lucario evolves from the baby Pokémon Riolu (making Riolu the only baby Pokémon to have an evolution that can Mega Evolve) once it has maxed out its friendship with its trainer and grows stronger during the day. If given Lucarionite to hold, it can Mega Evolve into Mega Lucario, heightening its already powerful aura, with the black streaks on its body showing the passage of aura and Mega Evolution energy throughout its body. However, it becomes heartless and cruel in battle in the process. Up until Gen VI Lucario was the only Pokémon who could have learned all of the aura moves.

All of Riolu and Lucario's Pokédex entries can be seen here and here

Powers and Stats

Tier: 8-C | 6-C, higher when Mega evolved

Key: Riolu | Lucario

Name: Riolu | Lucario

Origin: Pokémon

Gender: Varies, has a gender ratio of 87.5% male and 12.5% female

Age: Varies

Classification: Emanation Pokémon, Fighting-type Pokémon | Aura Pokémon, Fighting- and Steel- type Pokémon

Powers and Abilities:

• Riolu
• Lucario

• Superhuman Physical Characteristics
• Small Size (Type 0; Riolu is 0.7 meters tall)
• Aura, Extrasensory Perception, and Telepathy (Riolu can produce an aura from its body which intensifies to alert others if it is afraid or sad and can communicate with other Riolu using their auras. Riolu can see emotions such as joy and rage in the form of waves and discern the physical and emotional states of people, Pokémon, and other natural things from the shape of their aura waves)
• Martial Arts (As a fighting type Riolu can use various fighting-Type moves. Riolu can fight other Fighting-Types like Machop who train to master all martial arts)
• Statistics Amplification (Riolu can increase their own stats with moves such as Work Up, Metal Claw, and Swords Dance. Helping Hand boosts an allies attack power by 50%. Reversal gets stronger depending on how much damage the user has taken)
• Statistics Reduction and Sound Manipulation (Via Rock Smash which may lower the target’s Defense stat, and Screech which harshly lowers the target's Defense stat by unleashing an earsplitting screech)
• Air Manipulation (Can whirl it's fists to send a wave of pure vacuum at the target via Vacuum Wave)
• Forcefield Creation (Via Quick Guard which protects itself and its allies from priority moves)
• Paralysis Inducement (Force Palm has a 30% chance of paralyzing the target)
• Power Mimicry (Via Copycat which copy's the last move the opponent has used in battle)
• Minor BFR (Circle Throw throws the target out of battle which instantly ends wild battles)
• Precognition (Via Detect which allows the user to completely evade an attack by predicting it beforehand and via Mind Reader which Senses the target's next moves to ensure the users next attack does not miss the target)
• Minor Social Influencing (Follow Me draws all attention to the user, making all opposing Pokémon take aim only at the user)

Resistance to:

• Earth Manipulation (Only takes 1/2 damage from Earth-Type attacks)
• Darkness Manipulation(only takes 1/2 damage from Dark-Type moves)
• Bug-Type (Only takes 1/2 damage from Bug-Type moves)

All previous abilities excluding Small Size;

• Greater Extrasensory Perception, Aura, and Telepathy (Lucario has the ability to sense the Auras of all things and can control Auras. By catching the Aura emanating from others, it can read their thoughts and movements as well as see invisible foes. A well-trained Lucario can sense auras to identify and take in the feelings of creatures over half a mile away. Lucario's Aura alone can crush boulders of large size to dust)
• Limited Automatic Translation (Lucario's are stated in the Pokédex to understand human speech)
• Greater Martial Arts (As a fully evolved fighting type Lucario can fight to other fully evolved Fighting-Types like Machamp)
• Weapon Creation (Can create large bones to attack foes via Bone Rush)
• Healing (Via Heal Pulse which restores the target's HP by up to half of its max HP)
• Ice Manipulation (Via Ice Punch which hits the target is with an icy punch, this may leave the target frozen)
• Fire Manipulation (Via Blaze Kick which has a 10% chance of burning the target)
• Darkness Manipulation and Statistics Reduction (Via Shadow Ball which has a chance to lower the target's Special Defense)
• Greater Power Mimicry (Can use the targets intended move before them with greater power via Me First)
  • Transformation and Statistics Amplification (While holding Lucarionite a trainer with a Key Stone can allow Lucario to Mega Evolve which transforms the Pokémon and increases their stats)
  • Berserk Mode (As Mega Lucario their fighting style is described as heartless and merciless)

Resistance to:

• Normal-Type (Only takes 1/2 damage from Normal-Type moves)
• Earth Manipulation (Only takes 1/4 damage from Rock-Type moves)
• Bug-Type (Only takes 1/4 damage from Bug-Type moves)
• Metal Manipulation (Only takes 1/4 damage from Steel-Type moves)
• Plant Manipulation (Only takes 1/2 damage from Grass-Type moves)
• Ice Manipulation (Only takes 1/2 from Ice-Type moves)
• Poison Manipulation (As a Steal-Type, Lucario is completely immune to Poison-Type moves in-game)

Attack Potency: Building level (Comparable other Baby Pokémon like Cleffa) | Island level (Comparable to other fully evolved Pokémon in X and Y such as Abomasnow who can make massive hailstorms) higher when Mega evolved

Speed: Speed of Light (Capable of avoiding Lightning and Light Based Moves) | FTL (Comparable to other fully evolved Pokémon like Golem) higher when Mega evolved

Lifting Strength: Unknown

Striking Strength: Building level | Island level, higher when Mega evolved

Durability: Building level | Island level, higher when Mega evolved

Stamina: Superhuman (The average Pokémon is hardwired for battle and can go on fighting for lots of time despite being injured. Riolu are exceedingly energetic with enough stamina to keep running all through the night. Riolu can crest three mountains and cross two canyons in one night. Inner Focus prevents Lucario from flinching in battle)

Range: Standard Melee Range normally, Extended Melee Range with Bone Rush, Hundreds of Meters with abilities and ranged attacks | Standard Melee Range, Extended Melee Range with Bone Rush, Hundreds of Meters with aura and ranged attacks

Standard Equipment: None notable

• Optional Equipment: None notable | Metal Coat, Leftovers, Persim Berry, Holowear

Intelligence: Below Average normally (Capable of coherent speech between other Pokémon, a degree of understanding of commands and social situations, and can solve minor puzzles, though still mostly driven by instinct), Above Average in battle as Riolu (Pokémon are hard-wired for battle and even in the wild can master many moves and fight a variety of Pokémon with diverse features. Riolu trains itself since childhood until it becomes stronger) | At least Gifted in battle (Should be superior to 1st and 2nd stage Pokémon and are able to consistently fight the majority of other Pokémon, each having their unique characteristics, skills and powers)

Weaknesses: Weak to Fairy-, Psychic- and Flying-Type moves | Weak to Ground-, Fire- and Fighting-Type moves. While reading aura it finds out things it would rather not know, so it gets stressed out easily.

Notable Attacks/Techniques:

• Abilities
• Level Up Moves
• Egg Moves

• Prankster: Riolu-only, allows to use status moves even faster than normal, often allowing to move first.
• Steadfast: Lucario, if made to flinch, has its speed boosted.
• Inner Focus: Lucario cannot be made to flinch in combat.
• Justified: Lucario's hidden ability. If hit with a dark attack, its attack increases.
• Adaptability: The ability of Mega Lucario. Moves that have the same type of Lucario do double damage.
• Parry: An ability in Pokémon: Conquest where Lucario becomes capable of blocking an attack, regardless of its composition, using claws or blades.
• Sprint: An ability in Pokémon Conquest that simply increases range.

Endure: Lucario braces itself, letting it survive an attack that would otherwise defeat it. This move increases in potential failing unless another move is used in between.

Force Palm: Lucario hits the opponent with a shock wave generated from its hand, releasing a short burst of energy at the end. It has a chance to paralyze.

Copycat: Lucario uses the last move used by the opponent.

Screech: Lucario emits a horrid screech, lowering defense.

Reversal: Lucario uses an attack that does more damage the worse off it is.

Nasty Plot: Lucario thinks evil thoughts, which raises its special attack.

Final Gambit: Lucario sacrifices itself to do damage based on how well off it was prior to the execution of the move.

Focus Punch: Lucario focuses its energy, and if it is not interrupted before it executes the move, it does devastating damage. Lucario can only learn this move in Gen V as a Riolu in the Dream World, though even with those requirements, it's still a naturally learned move.

Dark Pulse: Lucario releases a wave of horrid aura to damage the opponent. The amount of "evil" in this move can cause the enemy to flinch. Can only be learned naturally in Gens IV and V.

Aura Sphere: While not its signature attack, it is the move most associated with it, and was the first to use it. Lucario summons up its aura into a ball that homes onto its target. It can be charged for more power, more Aura Spheres, or for a stun effect. Lucario can also release multitude of smaller spheres.

Life Dew: Lucario spreads miracle healing water around it with enough range to heal its allies too.

Rock Smash: Lucario smashes the opponent like it would a rock. This has a chance to lower the opponent's defense.

Nasty Plot: Lucario thinks evil thoughts that allow it to sharply raise its special attack.

Laser Focus: Lucario focuses up, guaranteeing the next hit to be a critical one. Critical hits bypass physical and special defense buffs.

Helping Hand: Lucario claps for its ally, which raises their special and physical attack.

Foresight: Lucario identifies the target, making ghosts and other intangible beings able to be hit with normal attacks.

Quick Attack: Lucario attacks the opponent while moving faster than the eye can track.

Detect: Lucario predicts an attack coming, and dodges it. This move lowers in succession unless another move is used in between.

Metal Claw: Lucario slashes the opponent with claws of iron. This has a chance to raise attack.

Counter: Lucario takes a physical hit, and does double damage back.

Feint: Lucario hits the opponent, getting past barriers like Protect and precognition like Detect.

Power-Up Punch: Lucario gathers energy in its fist and hits the opponent, raising its attack in the process.

Swords Dance: Lucario does a fighting dance that sharply increases attack.

Metal Sound: Lucario creates a horrible metallic screech that lowers special defense.

Bone Rush: Lucario creates an energy bone, which it uses to beat down the opponent with earth energy.

Quick Guard: Lucario creates a barrier that prevents it from being hit solely with moves that attempt to go first (simply being faster or using a speed-boosting technique, like Pikachu's Agility, doesn't count), and nothing else. This move lowers in use unless a move is used in between.

Me First: Lucario takes the move the opponent was about to use, and uses it itself prior to the opponent's execution of it, while somehow making it stronger.

Work Up: Lucario riles itself up, raising both, its attack and its special attack.

Calm Mind: Lucario focuses itself, raising its two special stats.

Heal Pulse: Lucario fires a burst of energy that heals those that it hits.

Meteor Mash: Lucario punches incredibly hard and quickly like a meteor. This has a chance to raise its attack stat.

Close Combat: Lucario rushes the opponent with no regards to defense. It does massive damage, but lowers defense and special defense in the process.

Dragon Pulse: Lucario fires a burst of damaging draconic aura.

Extreme Speed: The Lucario charges at blinding speed blitzing the opponent before they can move.

Shadow Ball: Exclusive to Pokémon GO, Lucario throws a shadowy blob of ghostly energy. The move has a chance to lower the opponent's special defense.

Agility: Lucario relaxes and lightens its body, which sharply increases its speed.

Bite: Lucario bites the opponent with dark energy, which can cause them to flinch.

Blaze Kick: Lucario coats its foot in fire and kicks the opponent. It can potentially cause burning (which halves attack and does continuous damage) and has a high critical hit ratio.

Bullet Punch: Lucario attempts to blitz the opponent with a tough steel straight punch reminiscent of bullets. It will do its best to go first.

Circle Throw: Lucario grabs the opponent powerfully and throws the opponent as far away as it can. In the games, this ends a wild Pokémon battle or switches out the Pokémon with another party member in a trainer battle.

Cross Chop: Lucario brings its hands down in a dual karate chop in an x fashion. It has a high chance to hit critically.

Crunch: Lucario crunches down on the opponent with dark energy. It has a chance to lower the defense of the opponent.

Follow Me: Lucario draws the attention of the opponents to itself.

High Jump Kick: Lucario jumps high in the air and attempts to perform a jump kick on the opponent. If it hits, it does massive damage. If it misses, it does a good amount of damage back on Lucario.

Howl: Lucario howls, which raises its attack.

Iron Defense: Lucario hardens its body like it was iron, sharply increasing its defense.

Low Kick: Lucario kicks the opponent near the ground, causing them to trip. The heavier the opponent, the more damage the move does.

Mind Reader: Lucario looks into the opponent's mind, reading their movements, and locks on to them. Lucario's next attack will not miss, even if the opponent gets out of range.

Sky Uppercut: Lucario uses a rising uppercut and follows through to the point where he and the opponent go airborne. If the opponent is flying, it does extra damage.

Vacuum Wave: Lucario whirls its hand and sends a wave of pure vacuum to attack the opponent before it can react. This move will normally go first.

Note: As noted on the verse page, All of our Pokémon species profiles assume the Pokémon is wild, Level 100 with perfect IVs, and know every possible move and skill without being trained. However, they can only have one of their abilities at a time.

Gallery

Notable Matchups

Victories:

Ryu (Street Fighter) Ryu's Profile (SFV-VI Ryu and Lucario were used, speed was equalized and standard battle assumptions have been applied)

Losses:

Inconclusive:

Discussions

Discussion threads involving Lucario