As a baby Pokemon, Riolu is mostly a stepping stone. It eventually becomes Lucario, and that's where you want to end up. The Emanation Pokémon — cute, but not battle-ready. Only weak to Flying, Psychic, and Fairy.
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.
It can discern the physical and emotional states of people, Pokémon, and other natural things from the shape of their aura waves.
It’s tough enough to run right through the night, and it’s also a hard worker, but it’s still just a youngster.
Riolu Weakness
AvgRiolu's Fighting typing leaves it vulnerable to Flying, Psychic, and Fairy moves. 3 weaknesses is about average, nothing too hard to play around.
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.
How to Evolve
One guaranteed turn is all Riolu needs. Focus Sash buys it, max Attack without Speed EVs make it count, and Prankster adds something extra. The goal: deal early damage and deal damage with Copycat. Utility options gives it play beyond just the lead turn.
Best Build
Best Riolu Moveset
- Copycat
- Unknown
- Roar
- Detect
Recommended Teammates
The natural movepool does the job, but Agility and Bite from the egg pool give Riolu something extra. Pair those with High Jump Kick and Focus Blast for STAB and coverage across 9 types for reach, and the kit fills out nicely.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
moderate rates across 2 locations for Riolu in endgame routes. Scroll the sorted list below and pick whichever spot sits closest to your current route. The rate differences between locations are worth comparing.
Best Locations
Riolu isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Lucario to unlock its full potential. At 285 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.
Riolu evolves into Lucario by leveling up. Riolu is the base form of this evolutionary line.
Run Prankster on Riolu. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Riolu also gets Steadfast and Inner Focus, but they don't compare.
Riolu fills the balanced role. It's a physical attacker with base 70 Attack. At base 60 Speed, it won't be moving first often. And it's fragile — can't afford to take many hits.
Riolu appears in 14 games, including Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver, and Diamond & Pearl.
Riolu first appeared in Diamond & Pearl and has been available in 14 games across 6 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A