Utility
Balanced
CTier
60Speed · Below Avg

Stats & Training

Riolu's spread isn't flashy. Attack leads, Sp. Atk trails, 0 stats clear the bar. Moderately hard to find and worth 1 Attack EV, on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.

Base Stats
Below
HP40
D
Attack70
C
Defense40
D
Sp. Atk35
F
Sp. Def40
D
Speed60
C
Total285
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging75 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height0.7 m
2'04"Small
Weight20.2 kg
44.5 lbsFeather
Base XP57
Low Yield
Abilities
Steadfast
Raises Speed one stage upon flinching.
Inner FocusNiche
Prevents flinching.
PranksterHAPopular
Raises non-damaging moves' priority by one stage.
EV Yield
HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training source
Pokedex Entries
No Legends Z A entries available

They communicate with one another using their auras. They are able to run all through the night.

Riolu Weakness

Riolu's Fighting typing leaves it vulnerable to Flying, Psychic, and Fairy. 3 weaknesses is about average, nothing too hard to play around.

Riolu Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Flying, Psychic, Fairy
0.5x (Resist)Bug, Rock, Dark
Type ChartAvg
3Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Score-3
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
FlyingPsychicFairy
½xResist
BugRockDark
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None
STAB (5)
NormalIceRockDarkSteel
How to Beat Riolu in Legends: Z-A (Best Counters)
Espeon
Espeon
Psychic
A
Psychic is super effective against RioluView Espeon →

Legends: Z-A Evolution

Riolu is the baby form here. It evolves into Lucario by leveling up, but you can't breed it directly. Hatch one by breeding the evolved forms instead. The evolved forms gain up to 240 total stats over Riolu. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

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 is not available in this game

Legends: Z-A Riolu Best Moveset

Still unevolved, still relevant. Riolu's Eviolite bulk with spread EVs creates a defensive profile that punches above its stage. Prankster adds passive value. Copycat gives it offensive presence.

Best Build

Experimental
Ability
Prankster
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Riolu
Adamant+ATK

Riolu best EVs are Attack and Sp. Def

EVs

Bulky Support Moveset

  • CopycatUtility
  • EarthquakeCoverage
  • Drain PunchSTAB
  • High Jump KickSTAB

Moves

Breadth over depth defines this movepool. Riolu won't stack one type's damage ceiling, but coverage across 12 types means it always has an effective option. Close Combat and Focus Blast anchor the STAB core.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Bullet Punch+1
A4010030Steel
Lv 1
Endure+4
A——10Normal
Lv 1
Quick Attack+1
D4010030Normal
Lv 8
Metal Claw
—509535Steel
Lv 16
Work Up
C——30Normal
Lv 20
Rock Smash
—4010015Fighting
Lv 24
Detect+4
B——5Fighting
Lv 24
Screech
B—8540Normal
Lv 28
Bulldoze
D6010020Ground
Lv 35
Swords Dance
S——20Normal

TM Moves

TM
TM22
Aerial Ace
D60—20Flying
TM47
Agility
C——30Psychic
TM10
Brick Break
A7510015Fighting
TM11
Bulk Up
C——20Fighting
TM78
Bulldoze
D6010020Ground
TM129
Circle Throw-6
S609010Fighting
TM107
Close Combat
B1201005Fighting
TM25
Crunch
D8010015Dark
TM28
Dig
S8010010Ground
TM131
Drain Punch
A7510010Fighting
TM69
Earthquake
A10010010Ground
TM35
Endure+4
A——10Normal
TM109
Facade
D7010020Normal
TM102
Focus Blast
D120705Fighting
TM24
Ice Punch
D7510015Ice
TM113
Low Sweep
C6510020Fighting
TM83
Nasty Plot
C——20Dark
TM77
Poison Jab
D8010020Poison
TM17
Protect+4
S——10Normal
TM12
Rock Slide
D759010Rock
TM04
Rock Smash
—4010015Fighting
TM36
Rock Tomb
D609515Rock
TM61
Shadow Claw
B7010015Ghost
TM85
Substitute
S——10Normal
TM27
Swift
D60—20Normal
TM30
Swords Dance
S——20Normal
TM23
Thunder Punch
D7510015Electric
TM115
Trailblaze
D5010020Grass
TM150
Vacuum Wave+1
D4010030Fighting
TM103
Work Up
C——30Normal
TM59
Zen Headbutt
D809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Riolu doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Riolu can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Riolu in Legends: Z-A

Riolu doesn't appear in Legends: Z-A. Transfer it from Diamond, Platinum, or Scarlet to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.

Riolu is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Catch in the wild in:

ScarletOverworld · South Province (Area Four)

Then trade to Legends: Z-A.

Also found in:

DiamondPlatinumBlackBlack 2XSun

Riolu Guide

  • Get Riolu to Lucario by leveling up. At 285 BST, Riolu is just the starting point.

  • You can find Riolu in Legends: Z-A. The Locations section has the full breakdown of routes and encounter details. It also appears in 13 other games across the series.

  • Yes, Riolu is in Legends: Z-A. It shows up in 14 games across the series.

  • In Legends: Z-A, Riolu does the job early-game if you need a Fighting type on your team. Evolve it into Lucario before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.

Game Availability

Riolu first appeared in Diamond & Pearl and has been available in 14 games across 7 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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