Lucario, The Aura Pokémon. It controls waves known as auras, which are powerful enough to pulverize huge rocks. It uses these waves to take down its prey. It can tell what people are thinking. Only Trainers who have justice in their hearts can earn this Pokémon's trust.
Overview
With unique typing in Steel and Fighting and strong offensive stats, Lucario has been a potent threat since its release in generation 4. Held back by its middling Speed however, Lucario is a powerful wall breaker due to its immense flexibility and access to 3 different priority options to allow it to revenge kill with ease. This makes it a top tier threat in UU as it can fill many holes in a team but still requires decent team support to truly shine.
Positives
Access to a wide movepool allows Lucario to flex into many options with options including the elemental punches, Blaze Kick, Earthquake, and Dragon Pulse
Access to 110 base Attack and 115 base Special Attack means Lucario hits really hard and in combination with its wide movepool makes it an immense threat
Negatives
In Singles 2 of Lucario's abilities are sub par and Justified isn't great due to Lucario having sub par defensive stats
Having 70/70/70 for defensive stats means Lucario is very soft and even with its Steel typing makes it hard to consistently get in or abuse Justified
90 base Speed has fallen since DPP and has really hurt Lucario making it ease to revenge kill
Removal of Mega Evolution has hurt it a little
Abilities
Inner Focus - Prevents Flinches - It's alright. Flinches are rare in singles however
Justified - When hit with a Dark move the pokemon gains +1 Attack - Strong as Lucario likes to pivot into Dark types and helps with its ability to break threats
Steadfast - If the pokemon flinches it gains +1 Speed - Not great as flinches are rare in singles
Movesets
Life Orb
-Close Combat
-Meteor Mash
-Dark Pulse
-Extreme Speed/Ice Punch
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus / Justified
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk/4 SpAtk/252 Speed
Naive Nature
Close Combat is the primary STAB of the set having a huge 120 base pre STAB bonus allowing it to threaten many threats. Meteor Mash is a new gift to Lucario with the generation shift and is a great move as it has a 20% chance to raise its Attack. Dark Pulse allows Lucario to break Doublade in 2 hits which is huge as it walls both STABs. Last slot is open for Extreme Speed to pick off weakened threats or Ice Punch for Noivern and Flygon.
Partners
Incineroar is an excellent partner as it can easily beat Doublade, which is an issue for Lucario while baiting in threats such as Gigalith that Lucario can easily get in on.
Rhyperior brings pressure with Stealth Rocks that can help Lucario break threats easier. Rhyperior can also pivot into things that check Lucario such as Darmanitan and Noivern with ease and force them out.
Justified Life Orb
-Swords Dance
-Close Combat
-Meteor Mash/Earthquake
-Extreme Speed
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Justified
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk/4 Def/252 Speed
Jolly Nature
With access to Swords Dance Lucario can become a devastating late game sweeper. Close Combat is the primary move for slower teams as at +2 Close Combat will hit like a truck. Extreme Speed is the main move of the set however as it has +2 priority allowing Lucario to bypass its middling Speed. Meteor Mash is a nice final option as it can help boost Lucario more and hit Galarian Weezing but Earthquake can be used to hit threats such as Toxtrixity.
Partners
Hazards are a big boon to Lucario so pokemon that can set up some are nice options. Araquanid is particularly nice as it can set up Sticky Web and give Lucario an effective +1 Speed. Roserade is also a nice option with access to Spikes and Toxic Spikes plus can pivot into Toxtricity and Galarian Weezing
Rotom is an excellent option as Lucario will struggle with Mantine and Golispod as they resist both STABs as well as Earthquake. Rotom can also provide an easy way in with Volt Switch or hinder a wall with Trick.
Countering Lucario
Noivern can check Lucario quite easily and threaten to KO it back with Fire Blast or Flamethrower. Noivern can also just force a switch from Lucario and just U-Turn out for momentum
Toxtricity is another good answer to Lucario as it resists both primary STAB options and without Earthquake Lucario lacks the ability to hit back for super effective damage. This combined with Dark Pulse, Ice Punch, or Extreme Speed being the only other option makes it hard for Lucario to muscle through Toxtricity before it gets KOed in return.
Doublade counters the second set if Lucario doesn't carry Earthquake as it's just immune to half its moves and hits back with Sacred Sword.
Galarian Weezing also counters Lucario if it doesn't take Meteor Mash and can still threaten Will-O-Wisp to prevent its sweep.
Mantine resist both STABs and Earthquake while threatening a burn through Scald and healing off damage from Roost
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:
Evolve Riolu
Gift in Shalour City
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!:
Not in game
Sword/Shield:
North Lake Miloch
Max Raid Battles: Dusty Bowl, Giant's Seat, Hammerlocke Hills, North Lake Miloch, Rolling Fields, Stony Wilderness (Sword)
Max Raid Battles: Dusty Bowl, Giant's Seat, Hammerlocke Hills, North Lake Miloch, Rolling Fields (Shield)
Anime Appearences
