Is Riolu Good in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Playthrough?
Wild Fighting-type on Poni Grove. Friendship during the day produces Lucario. The Fighting/Steel typing handles Molayne and the Dragon trial. One of the best friendship evolution targets available.
Riolu resists most of Ilima's coverage and hits back hard.
Riolu trades roughly evenly with Hala's team.
Riolu trades roughly evenly with Lana's team.
ElectricSteelReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Moon only)
BugElectricReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Sun only)
GrassReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Sun only)
GhostFairyReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou...
Riolu trades roughly evenly with Kiawe's team.
Riolu has the type edge here and should clean up Mallow's team.
Riolu resists most of Olivia's coverage and hits back hard.
Riolu has the type edge here and should clean up Sophocles's team.
Riolu trades roughly evenly with Acerola's team.
Riolu has the type edge here and should clean up Nanu's team.
Mina's team hits Riolu's weaknesses hard.
Hapu's typing presses Riolu's defenses.
Lucario has the type edge here and should clean up Molayne's team.
Lucario has the type edge here and should clean up Olivia's team.
Lucario trades roughly evenly with Acerola's team.
Lucario trades roughly evenly with Kahili's team.
Lucario has the type edge here and should clean up Kukui's team.
Catch Riolu on Poni Grove (walking, Lv 52-55).
Friendship is usually high enough before you reach Molayne.
How to Get Riolu in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
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.
Where To Catch Riolu in USUM
The path to Riolu starts with Riolu at Lv. 52-55 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Riolu ✓Poni GroveLv.52-55GrassRate 10%
Step 2Catch or Evolve into LucarioPoni GroveLv.52-55GrassSOS from Rioluor evolve from Riolu (Step 1)
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Flying, Psychic, Fairy |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Bug, Rock, Dark |
What is Riolu Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Riolu
 Espeon Psychic | B | |
 Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Riolu View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x225-265%KO Extrasensory 2x90-107%KO | ||
 Salamence Dragon | B | |
 Kadabra Psychic | B | |
 Jynx IcePsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Riolu View Jynx builds →Psyshock 2x170-200%KO Draining Kiss 2x70-83% | ||
Espeon Psychic | B | |
 Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Riolu View Gardevoir builds →Dream Eater 2x239-282%KO Draining Kiss 2x123-145%KO | ||
 Drifblim Ghost | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Drifloon (Route 1 Interact Encounter) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Riolu View Drifblim builds →Fly 2x149-177%KO Dream Eater 2x123-145%KO | ||
 Toucannon Normal | C | |
 Honchkrow Dark | B | |
Obtain MethodPoke Pelago Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Riolu View Honchkrow builds →Fly 2x214-253%KO Dream Eater 2x139-164%KO | ||
Espeon Psychic | B | |
Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Riolu View Gardevoir builds →Future Sight 2x279-329%KO Draining Kiss 2x117-138%KO | ||
Drifblim Ghost | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Drifloon (Route 1 Interact Encounter) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Riolu View Drifblim builds →Fly 2x147-174%KO Dream Eater 2x118-139%KO | ||
 Primarina WaterFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Riolu View Primarina builds →Moonblast 2x222-262%KO Acrobatics 2x56-67% | ||
Toucannon Normal | C | |
 Lunala PsychicGhost | S | |
Obtain MethodMahalo Trail Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Riolu View Lunala builds →Dream Eater 2x254-300%KO Moonblast 2x161-190%KO Air Slash 2x128-151%KO | ||
 Hawlucha Fighting | A | |
Espeon Psychic | B | |
Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Riolu View Gardevoir builds →Future Sight 2x281-332%KO Draining Kiss 2x120-141%KO | ||
Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Lunala PsychicGhost | S | |
Obtain MethodMahalo Trail Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Riolu View Lunala builds →Dream Eater 2x258-304%KO Moonblast 2x164-193%KO Air Slash 2x129-152%KO | ||
 Mewtwo Psychic | S | |
Obtain MethodUltra Space Wilds Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Riolu View Mewtwo builds →Future Sight 2x343-404%KO Aerial Ace 2x86-102%KO | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | A | |
Espeon Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Riolu View Espeon builds →Future Sight 2x297-349%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x131-155%KO | ||
 Azelf Psychic | B | |
Obtain MethodUltra Space Wilds Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Riolu View Azelf builds →Future Sight 2x286-337%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x127-150%KO Acrobatics 2x88-103%KO | ||
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, Salamence can KO Riolu with Outrage (186-219%). Alakazam threatens a KO with Psychic (279-329%). Clefable's Moonblast also KOs at 181-213%.
Salamence Dragon | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMoxie ItemFlyiniumz NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Riolu View Salamence builds →Earthquake103-122%KO Outrage186-219%KO | ||
 Alakazam Psychic | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagic Guard ItemFocus Sash NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Riolu View Alakazam builds →Psychic 2x279-329%KO Focus Blast124-146%KO Energy Ball93-110%KO Shadow Ball82-97% | ||
 Clefable Fairy | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagic Guard ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Riolu View Clefable builds →Moonblast 2x181-213%KO | ||
Riolu Evolutions
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
Breeding
USUM Riolu Best Moveset
Fighting at 70 Attack with AbilityPrankster giving priority to status moves as a hidden ability. The moveset at pre-evolution stats has no competitive function. Lucario one evolution away earns A-tier through 110/115 mixed offenses and Mega access.
Best Build
Riolu best EVs are Attack and Sp. Atk
Mixed Attacker Moveset
- Copycat
- Roar
- Detect
- Reversal
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
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. Focus Punch and High Jump Kick anchor the STAB core.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
It knows how people and Pokémon feel by looking at their auras. It doesn’t approach dangerous opponents.
It uses waves called auras to communicate with others of its kind. It doesn’t make any noise during this time, so its enemies can’t detect it.
Riolu Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Guide
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, 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
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves