Lucario

Last updated: 2026-06-03

Lucario Overview

Lucario is a Fighting/Steel-type Pokemon introduced in Generation 4 in the Sinnoh region. It evolves from Riolu when leveled up with high friendship during the day. Known as the Aura Pokemon, Lucario can sense and manipulate aura, a spiritual energy emitted by all living things. It is the signature Pokemon of Sinnoh Champion Cynthia and has become one of the most popular Pokemon in the franchise.

Lucario is a bipedal, jackal-like Pokemon with blue and black fur, a cream underbelly, and distinctive red eyes. Its design combines martial arts aesthetics with canine features. Lucario has a unique Fighting/Steel typing that gives it 9 resistances including a Rock resistance, a Poison immunity, and only three weaknesses. It can excel as both a physical and special attacker.

Battle Strategy

Lucario's versatility makes it a dangerous threat. As a physical attacker, it runs Swords Dance with Close Combat, Meteor Mash or Bullet Punch, and Extreme Speed or Earthquake. The priority from Bullet Punch and Extreme Speed lets Lucario clean up weakened teams. With Adaptability from Mega Evolution, Close Combat and Meteor Mash get a 2x STAB multiplier instead of 1.5x, making them hit incredibly hard.

Mega Lucario gains 145 base Attack, 140 base Special Attack, 112 base Speed, and Adaptability. This makes Mega Lucario one of the most powerful wallbreakers in the game. A standard Mega set runs Close Combat, Bullet Punch (priority STAB), Swords Dance, and Ice Punch or Stone Edge. The Attack boost from Swords Dance combined with Adaptability Close Combat OHKOes almost everything neutrally.

Special Lucario uses Nasty Plot with Aura Sphere (perfect accuracy Fighting STAB), Flash Cannon, Dark Pulse, or Dragon Pulse. Its 115 base Special Attack is slightly higher than its 110 base Attack. The mixed set exploits Lucario's even offensive stats, using Close Combat and Aura Sphere alongside each other to break through physical and special walls respectively.

Evolution Chain

Competitive Usage

Lucario has been a strong OU and UU threat across generations. Mega Lucario was banned to Ubers in Generation 6 due to Adaptability making its STAB moves too powerful. In Generation 9, Lucario sits in UU. Its fragility (70/70/70 bulk) is its main drawback. Common checks include Intimidate users like Landorus-T and Salamence that reduce its Attack, physically defensive Ghost-types like Gholdengo and Aegislash (immune to Fighting), and faster Fighting-resist Pokemon like Rotom-Wash and Toxapex.

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