Mixed
Cannon
525High
90Moderate
BTier

High risk, high reward with Lucario. The offense is outstanding but the bulk won't survive much — 70 base HP is the weak link. Poison moves can't touch it, and only 3 types hit it super-effectively. Known as the Aura Pokemon.

The stat budget goes to damage. Sp. Atk and Attack carry the offense, HP doesn't even come close. An Aura Pokemon on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve, worth 2 Attack and Sp. Atk EVs per KO.

Base Stats
525High
HP70
C
Attack110
B
Defense70
C
Sp. Atk115
B
Sp. Def70
C
Speed90
B
Total525
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Lucario yields +1 Atk, +1 SpA
HPAtk+1DefSpA+1SpDSpe
Details
Catch45ChallengingMedium Slow1.06M XP1.2m / 3'11"54kg / 119 lbs184Base XP
Pokedex Entries

It controls waves known as auras, which are powerful enough to pulverize huge rocks. It uses these waves to take down its prey.

Sword

It can tell what people are thinking. Only Trainers who have justice in their hearts can earn this Pokémon’s trust.

Shield

Lucario Weakness

Excellent

Lucario is weak to Fire, Fighting, and Ground-type moves. On the flip side, it's immune to Poison-type moves entirely. With 8 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Lucario leans offensive (base 110 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.

4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
0xImmunei
3Weak
8Resist
1Immune
Scorei+7
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Abilities
SteadfastRaises Speed one stage upon flinching.
Inner FocusPrevents flinching.
JustifiedHARaises Attack one stage upon taking damage from a dark move.

Evolved from Riolu. Lucario is the final form in this two-stage line. A massive partner pool for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are average hatch time. Sp.Atk grew the most through evolution (+80 over Riolu), and Lucario peaks at 525 total stats.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Riolu
#447Riolu
High Friendship (Day)
Lucario
#448Lucario
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Riolu
Fighting
Lucario
FightingSteel
HP
40
70+30
ATK
70
110+40
DEF
40
70+30
SP.ATK
35
115+80
SP.DEF
40
70+30
SPE
60
90+30
BST
285C-Tier
525B-Tier+240
ROLE
Balanced
Cannon
TYPE
Physical
Mixed
Breeding
Moderate

Breed with Lucario to get Riolu eggs using 138 partners from the Ground and Humanshape egg groups. Notable egg moves include Bite, Bullet Punch, Circle Throw and 6 more.

Egg Groups
GroundHumanshape
Gender
87.5%12.5%
Hatch Time
25 cycles·6,425 steps
Moderate~6 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
9moves
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckgardevoirgalladehawluchacinderacegrimmsnarlrhydonshiftryexploud

Lucario runs a standard physical attacker set. Adamant nature with Defense and Sp. Def investment EVs shapes the build, while Life Orb brings extra damage on every hit for a health trade. Justified supports the kit from the background.

Best Build

Bulky Support
Ability
Justified
Item
Life OrbPOWER
Nature
Adamant+ATK
EVs

Best Lucario Moveset

  • Bullet PunchSTAB
  • ProtectFAST +4
  • Aura SphereSTAB
  • Extreme Speed

Recommended Teammates

The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 11 types means almost nothing walls Lucario cleanly, with High Jump Kick and Close Combat anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Aura Sphere
8020Fighting
Lv 1
Copycat
20Normal
Lv 1
Detect+4
5Fighting
Lv 1
Feint+2
3010010Normal
Lv 1
Final Gambit
1005Fighting
Lv 1
Force Palm
6010010Fighting
Lv 1
Helping Hand+5
20Normal
Lv 1
Life Dew
10Water
Lv 1
Metal Claw
509535Steel
Lv 1
Nasty Plot
20Dark
Lv 1
Quick Attack+1
4010030Normal
Lv 1
Reversal
10015Fighting
Lv 1
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
Lv 1
Screech
8540Normal
Lv 1
Work Up
30Normal
Lv 12
Counter-5
10020Fighting
Lv 16
Laser Focus
30Normal
Lv 20
Power-Up Punch
4010020Fighting
Lv 24
Calm Mind
20Psychic
Lv 28
Metal Sound
8540Steel
Lv 32
Quick Guard+3
15Fighting
Lv 36
Bone Rush
259010Ground
Lv 40
Swords Dance
20Normal
Lv 44
Heal Pulse
10Psychic
Lv 48
Meteor Mash
909010Steel
Lv 52
Dragon Pulse
8510010Dragon
Lv 56
Extreme Speed+2
801005Normal
Lv 60
Close Combat
1201005Fighting

TM Moves

Src
TR12
Agility
30Psychic
TM31
Attract
10015Normal
TR56
Aura Sphere
8020Fighting
TR41
Blaze Kick
859010Fire
TM43
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TR48
Bulk Up
20Fighting
TM81
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TR49
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TR53
Close Combat
1201005Fighting
TR32
Crunch
8010015Dark
TR58
Dark Pulse
8010015Dark
TM15
Dig
8010010Ground
TR62
Dragon Pulse
8510010Dragon
TM63
Drain Punch
7510010Fighting
TR10
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TR26
Endure+4
10Normal
TM39
Facade
7010020Normal
TR70
Flash Cannon
8010010Steel
TM59
Fling
10010Dark
TR64
Focus Blast
120705Fighting
TR13
Focus Energy
30Normal
TM09
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM41
Helping Hand+5
20Normal
TM08
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM04
Ice Punch
7510015Ice
TR46
Iron Defense
15Steel
TR31
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
TR07
Low Kick
10020Fighting
TM75
Low Sweep
6510020Fighting
TM01
Mega Kick
120755Normal
TM
Mega Punch
808520Normal
TR68
Nasty Plot
20Dark
TM57
Payback
5010010Dark
TR57
Poison Jab
8010020Poison
TM25
Protect+4
10Normal
TR11
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM33
Rain Dance
5Water
TM21
Rest
10Psychic
TM79
Retaliate
701005Normal
TM42
Revenge-4
6010010Fighting
TR21
Reversal
10015Fighting
TM22
Rock Slide
759010Rock
TM48
Rock Tomb
609515Rock
TM76
Round
6010015Normal
TM26
Scary Face
10010Normal
TM16
Screech
8540Normal
TR33
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TM65
Shadow Claw
7010015Ghost
TR27
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM24
Snore
5010015Normal
TR75
Stone Edge
100805Rock
TR20
Substitute
10Normal
TM34
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM40
Swift
6020Normal
TM
Swords Dance
20Normal
TM05
Thunder Punch
7510015Electric
TR85
Work Up
30Normal
TR69
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Bite
6010025Dark
Egg
Bullet Punch+1
4010030Steel
Egg
Circle Throw-6
609010Fighting
Egg
Cross Chop
100805Fighting
Egg
Detect+4
5Fighting
Egg
High Jump Kick
1309010Fighting
Egg
Howl
40Normal
Egg
Mind Reader
5Normal
Egg
Vacuum Wave+1
4010030Fighting

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Coaching
10Fighting
Tutor
Terrain Pulse
5010010Normal

Can't catch Lucario directly. Start with Riolu at moderate rates from the locations below, then evolve with high friendship. The 2-stage line from Riolu to Lucario is where the leveling time goes.

How to Obtain Lucario in Sword & Shield

The path to Lucario starts with Riolu at Lv. 28-65 via walking encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Riolu
    Step 1Catch Riolu
    Giant's Cap
    ShieldOverworldLv.28-305%MidSnowstorm
    MODERATE
    Giant's Cap
    SwordOverworldLv.28-305%MidSnowstorm
    MODERATE
    Giant's Cap - 2
    ShieldOverworldLv.28-305%MidSnowstorm
    MODERATE
    Giant's Cap - 2
    SwordOverworldLv.28-305%MidSnowstorm
    MODERATE
    Giant's Cap - 3
    SwordOverworldLv.29-325%MidSnowstorm
    MODERATE
    Giant's Cap - 3
    ShieldOverworldLv.29-325%MidSnowstorm
    MODERATE
    Roaring-Sea Caves
    SwordOverworldLv.60-655%PostCaveAll Weather
    MODERATE
    Roaring-Sea Caves
    ShieldOverworldLv.60-655%PostCaveAll Weather
    MODERATE
  2. Lucario
    Step 2Lucario
  • We rate Lucario B-Tier — a solid choice for the right team. At 525 BST, it fits the cannon role. Base 115 Sp. Atk stands out.

  • Lucario's biggest threats include Charizard (Fire), Hitmonlee (Fighting), and Swampert (Ground), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.

  • Riolu evolves into Lucario by leveling up. Lucario is the fully evolved form. At 525 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.

  • Steadfast is the go-to ability for Lucario. It raises Speed one stage upon flinching. Its hidden ability Justified can work in specific setups. Inner Focus is the other option — pick based on what your team needs.

  • Base 90 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Lucario is a mixed attacker — base 110 Attack and 115 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a cannon.

  • Lucario appears in 14 games, including Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver, and Diamond & Pearl.

Since debuting in Diamond & Pearl, Lucario has appeared in 14 titles over 6 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.