lucario
Generation IV · #0448 — Aura Pokémon
Lucario, known as the Aura Pokémon, is a dual-type Fighting/Steel Pokémon introduced in Generation IV that represents a remarkable fusion of martial prowess and mystical ability. As the evolved form of Riolu, Lucario stands as one of the most distinctive and capable Pokémon in the National Pokédex at position #448. Its most defining characteristic is its supernatural ability to sense and manipulate auras—invisible emanations of energy that all living things possess. According to Pokédex entries, a well-trained Lucario can detect these auras from over half a mile away, allowing it to identify creatures it cannot otherwise see and even understand human speech. This aura-sensing ability makes Lucario virtually impossible to hide from in battle, as no foe can remain invisible to this remarkable Pokémon. Beyond its mystical talents, Lucario combines impressive offensive stats with balanced defenses, featuring an Attack stat of 110 and a Special Attack of 115, making it equally formidable whether relying on physical or special moves.
Base Stats
Height
1.2m
Weight
54.0kg
Category
Aura Pokémon
Gender
Male 87.5% / Female 12.5%
Color
blue
Shape
upright
Abilities
Raises Speed one stage upon flinching.
Prevents flinching.
Raises Attack one stage upon taking damage from a dark move.
Lucario Biology & Physical Characteristics
Lucario is a bipedal, canine-like Pokémon with a striking blue and black coloration scheme complemented by piercing red eyes that seem to glow with inner intensity. Standing 1.2 meters tall and weighing 54 kilograms, Lucario presents a compact yet powerful frame built for combat efficiency. Its most distinctive physical features are the round spikes protruding from the back of each forepaw and a prominent spike on its chest, which are believed to be energy focal points connected to its aura-sensing abilities. Perhaps most notably, two pairs of aura sensors hang from the back of its head like long appendages, functioning as biological antennae through which it perceives the invisible aura spectrum that surrounds all living things. The Fighting/Steel typing reflects both its martial nature and its inherent metallic composition, granting it notable defensive properties against a variety of attack types. Its base stat total of 525 distributes favorably toward offensive capabilities, with both its Attack and Special Attack stats sitting comfortably above 110, while its Speed stat of 90 ensures it can often act before opponents in battle.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Lucario Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Lucario exhibits a notable gender distribution skewed significantly toward males, with approximately 87.5 percent of the species being male and only 12.5 percent female, a ratio that reflects the species' somewhat masculine aesthetic and martial focus in its design and characterization. This skewed distribution has interesting implications for breeding, as obtaining female Lucario or Riolu requires considerably more effort and luck than acquiring males, making female specimens somewhat more desirable among collectors and competitive trainers. Both genders belong to the Field and Human-Like egg groups, enabling Lucario to breed with a diverse range of Pokémon partners and allowing trainers to pass down valuable moves and traits through careful breeding strategies. The base happiness of 70 indicates that Lucario requires moderate effort to achieve maximum friendship for evolution from Riolu, a reasonable requirement that prevents the evolution from feeling trivial while remaining accessible to dedicated trainers willing to invest in their relationship with their Pokémon. The medium-slow growth rate means that Lucario progresses at a measured pace, reaching higher levels somewhat more slowly than average Pokémon, which subtly reinforces the theme that mastering Lucario's full potential requires patience and dedication. With 25 egg cycles and a catch rate of 45, breeding Lucario is a moderately time-consuming but achievable goal, and the investment required to obtain bred specimens often results in better trained and more powerful individuals than those caught in the wild.
Sprites
TMs & HMs
tm00
sword shield
tm01
yellow
tm01
red blue
tm01
platinum
tm01
emerald
tm01
diamond pearl
tm01
firered leafgreen
tm01
ruby sapphire
tm01
black white
tm01
black 2 white 2
tm01
xd
tm01
colosseum
tm01
heartgold soulsilver
tm01
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm01
ultra sun ultra moon
tm01
omega ruby alpha sapphire
tm01
sun moon
tm01
x y
tm01
blue japan
tm01
red green japan
+852 more TMs/HMs
lucario's Evolution Chain
Lucario Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Lucario evolves from Riolu when leveled up with high friendship during the daytime, a requirement that emphasizes the bond between trainer and Pokémon and rewards player investment in their partnership. This evolution represents a dramatic transformation, as Riolu's potential crystallizes into Lucario's fully realized fighting prowess and aura mastery. Beyond standard evolution, Lucario can undergo Mega Evolution, achieving two distinct forms through different Mega Stones that dramatically enhance its capabilities. Mega Lucario, accessed via the Lucarionite, gains the Adaptability ability which doubles the effectiveness of moves that match its Fighting or Steel typing, transforming its already potent attacks into devastating forces. In its Mega form, Lucario's Attack stat surges to 145, representing a substantial 32-point increase, while its Special Attack climbs to 140, and its Speed increases to 112, creating a balanced physical and special sweeper that maintains respectable defensive stats despite focusing on offense. The Mega Lucario Z form, introduced in the Mega Dimension DLC for Pokémon Legends: Z-A, represents an even more extreme evolution, though detailed specifications for this form suggest it represents the ultimate expression of Lucario's aura-based power. Both Mega forms emphasize Lucario's role as an elite combatant, enabling it to compete effectively in high-level competitive play and providing trainers with strategic flexibility in their battle approach.
Where to Find
tower of mastery
kalos
poni grove
alola
+1 more
Lucario Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Lucario exhibits intelligence and composure befitting its status as a master of aura manipulation, displaying a temperament that suggests deep spiritual awareness and emotional maturity beyond most Pokémon. The Pokédex indicates that Lucario understands human speech and can read the thoughts and movements of other creatures by catching the auras they emit, suggesting a sophisticated level of cognitive function and empathic ability. This capacity to sense the feelings of creatures grants Lucario an almost supernatural awareness of its surroundings, making it an ideal companion for trainers who value bond and understanding between human and Pokémon. In terms of habitat, Lucario appears to thrive in varied environments across multiple regions, from the mountainous terrain of Sinnoh where many trainers encounter it, to the diverse ecosystems featured in later generations. Its adaptability to different environments likely stems from its reliance on aura-sensing rather than visual perception, allowing it to navigate and hunt effectively regardless of terrain complexity. The species demonstrates a preference for training and self-improvement, often seen meditating or practicing martial techniques in canonical appearances, suggesting Lucario possesses an almost monastic dedication to perfecting its craft.
Pokedex Entries
It has the ability to sense the auras of all things. It understands human speech.
By catching the aura emanating from others, it can read their thoughts and movements.
A well-trained one can sense auras to identify and take in the feelings of creatures over half a mile away.
It’s said that no foe can remain invisible to LUCARIO, since it can detect auras. Even foes it could not otherwise see.
A well-trained one can sense auras to identify and take in the feelings of creatures over half a mile away.
By reading the auras of all things, it can tell how others are feeling from over half a mile away.
By catching the aura emanating from others, it can read their thoughts and movements.
By reading the auras of all things, it can tell how others are feeling from over half a mile away.
By catching the aura emanating from others, it can read their thoughts and movements.
By reading the auras of all things, it can tell how others are feeling from over half a mile away.
Not only does it perceive auras, but it has also gained the power to control them. It employs them in battle.
It concentrates its mental energy and fires off mysterious waves called auras, which can crush boulders of large size to dust.
They can detect the species of a living being— and its emotions—from over half a mile away. They control auras and hunt their prey in packs.
Lucario reads its opponent’s feelings with its aura waves. It finds out things it would rather not know, so it gets stressed out easily.
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.
A most gallant-looking creature. It emits energy waves and controls them with precision, using them to sense even faraway beings. I have given the name ”aura” to this power.
Lucario Name Origin & Design Inspiration
Lucario's design draws heavily from the mythical Egyptian figure of Anubis, the jackal-headed god of mummification and the afterlife, explaining the canine features and the somewhat mystical aura that surrounds the Pokémon's entire conceptual framework. The name 'Lucario' itself appears to derive from a combination of 'Luca' and 'Mario,' though the deeper etymology connects to concepts of light and aura—'Luc' relating to luminescence and 'ario' suggesting a suffix of sophistication or mastery. The blue coloration echoes spiritual and mystical themes across multiple cultures, while the black accents provide visual balance and suggest sophistication and martial discipline. The aura sensors hanging from its head deliberately invoke sensory apparatus found in various animals, reimagined as mystical organs that perceive invisible energies beyond the normal spectrum. The spikes on its forepaws and chest serve both aesthetic and functional purposes, appearing as energy focal points and lending Lucario a somewhat intimidating presence while suggesting stored power ready for release. The overall design achieves a remarkable balance between the animalistic and the humanoid—Lucario occupies the 'Human-Like' egg group despite its canine appearance—creating a Pokémon that feels simultaneously wild and civilized, instinctive and intellectual, a theme that resonates throughout its Japanese name ルカリオ (Rukario) and all official depictions across media.
Learnable Moves
Lucario can learn 115 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aerial ace | flying | Physical | 60 | — | 20 |
| agility | psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| attract | normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| aura sphere | fighting | Special | 80 | — | 20 |
| bite | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| blaze kick | fire | Physical | 85 | 90 | 10 |
| body slam | normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| bone rush | ground | Physical | 25 | 90 | 10 |
| brick break | fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| bulk up | fighting | Status | — | — | 20 |
| bulldoze | ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| bullet punch | steel | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| calm mind | psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| captivate | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| close combat | fighting | Physical | 120 | 100 | 5 |
| coaching | fighting | Status | — | — | 10 |
| confide | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| copycat | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| counter | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| crunch | dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| dark pulse | dark | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| detect | fighting | Status | — | — | 5 |
| dig | ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| double team | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| dragon pulse | dragon | Special | 85 | 100 | 10 |
| drain punch | fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| dual chop | dragon | Physical | 40 | 90 | 15 |
| earthquake | ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| extreme speed | normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 5 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| feint | normal | Physical | 30 | 100 | 10 |
| final gambit | fighting | Special | — | 100 | 5 |
| flash cannon | steel | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| fling | dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| focus blast | fighting | Special | 120 | 70 | 5 |
| focus energy | normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| focus punch | fighting | Physical | 150 | 100 | 20 |
| force palm | fighting | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| foresight | normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| frustration | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| fury cutter | bug | Physical | 40 | 95 | 20 |
| giga impact | normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| headbutt | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| heal pulse | psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| helping hand | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| hidden power | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| hone claws | dark | Status | — | — | 15 |
| hyper beam | normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| ice punch | ice | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| iron defense | steel | Status | — | — | 15 |
| iron tail | steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 |
| laser focus | normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| life dew | water | Status | — | — | 10 |
| low kick | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| low sweep | fighting | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| mach punch | fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| magnet rise | electric | Status | — | — | 10 |
| me first | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| mega kick | normal | Physical | 120 | 75 | 5 |
| mega punch | normal | Physical | 80 | 85 | 20 |
| metal claw | steel | Physical | 50 | 95 | 35 |
| metal sound | steel | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| meteor mash | steel | Physical | 90 | 90 | 10 |
| metronome | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| mud slap | ground | Special | 20 | 100 | 10 |
| nasty plot | dark | Status | — | — | 20 |
| natural gift | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| payback | dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| poison jab | poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| power up punch | fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| psych up | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| psychic | psychic | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| quick attack | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| quick guard | fighting | Status | — | — | 15 |
| rain dance | water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| retaliate | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 5 |
| return | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| revenge | fighting | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| reversal | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| roar | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rock climb | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| rock slide | rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| rock smash | fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| rock tomb | rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 |
| role play | psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| round | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| scary face | normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| screech | normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| secret power | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| shadow ball | ghost | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| shadow claw | ghost | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| steel beam | steel | Special | 140 | 95 | 5 |
| stone edge | rock | Physical | 100 | 80 | 5 |
| strength | normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sunny day | fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| swift | normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| swords dance | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| take down | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| tera blast | normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| terrain pulse | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| thunder punch | electric | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| toxic | poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| trailblaze | grass | Physical | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| upper hand | fighting | Physical | 65 | 100 | 15 |
| vacuum wave | fighting | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| water pulse | water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| work up | normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| zen headbutt | psychic | Physical | 80 | 90 | 15 |
Lucario Competitive Battle Guide
Lucario has established itself as a staple of competitive Pokémon battling across multiple generations, valued for its versatile movepool, balanced offensive stats, and access to both physical and special moves through its 110 Attack and 115 Special Attack ratings. Its Steel typing provides numerous resistances and immunity to poison, making it surprisingly durable despite modest defensive stats of 70 in both Defense and Special Defense, allowing it to function as a mixed attacker that still survives unexpected hits. The availability of powerful moves like Aura Sphere, Flash Cannon, Close Combat, and Extreme Speed from its expansive movepool enables Lucario to address virtually any threat it encounters, while its Speed stat of 90 ensures it can act first against many common opponents. Lucario's hidden ability Justified proves particularly valuable in competitive formats, as it boosts Attack whenever the Pokémon takes damage from Dark-type moves, potentially turning defensive plays into offensive opportunities against threats utilizing Dark-type coverage moves. In Mega Evolution formats, Lucario transforms into an elite threat with the Adaptability ability amplifying its same-type attack bonus, enabling Mega Lucario to achieve knockout potential against most threats when properly trained and configured. The combination of excellent coverage moves, reasonable bulk, favorable typing, and available tools for team synergy has maintained Lucario's position in competitive viability across Sword and Shield, Scarlet and Violet, and other recent competitive environments, with many professional trainers maintaining Lucario on their tournament teams.
Commonly Asked Questions About Lucario
What type is Lucario?
Lucario is a fighting and steel type Pokemon.
What does Lucario evolve from?
Lucario evolved from riolu.
What are Lucario's weaknesses?
Lucario is weak to fighting, ground and fire type moves.
Where can I find Lucario?
Lucario can be found in tower of mastery (kalos) and poni grove (alola).
Lucario Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Lucario has transcended its status as a mere Pokémon to become one of the most iconic and culturally significant species in the entire franchise, appearing prominently across multiple forms of media and establishing itself as a fan favorite across diverse demographics. The character achieved particular prominence through its starring role in the eighth Pokémon film, Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, which provided extensive lore about Lucario's aura abilities and contributed significantly to its popularity among viewers worldwide. In the animated series, Lucario has received multiple memorable appearances through trainers such as Korrina, a prominent Gym Leader who specializes in Lucario and Mega Evolution, and Riley, whose Lucario serves as an important ally and character touchstone throughout the Sinnoh arc. Lucario secured perhaps its greatest cultural milestone through inclusion in the Super Smash Bros. series, initially as a Poké Ball summon in Brawl before earning playable status in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, where its aura-based mechanics influenced the entire fighting game community. The Pokémon has maintained continuous relevance through appearances in spin-off titles including Pokémon UNITE, where its diverse moveset accommodates multiple playstyles, and through TCG cards that frequently command premium prices in the collector's market. Its prominence in merchandise, from plush toys to figurines to clothing lines, demonstrates Lucario's enduring appeal to fans of all ages, cementing its position as one of the most recognizable and beloved Pokémon species worldwide.
Where to Find Lucario in Every Pokémon Game
Lucario's availability has evolved considerably across successive Pokémon generations, with the species appearing across nearly every region and offering trainers numerous methods to obtain it depending on their preferred game and playstyle. In Diamond and Pearl, Lucario was introduced as a relatively rare encounter in the postgame, with the ability to evolve Riolu obtained through breeding or finding in specific locations, establishing it as a late-game powerhouse available to dedicated players. Subsequent generations expanded Lucario's presence significantly—it appears as a catchable Pokémon in Black 2 and White 2, X and Y, Sun and Moon, Sword and Shield, and Scarlet and Violet, with varying availability depending on in-game progression and regional Pokédex assignments. The base friendship requirement for evolution sits at 70, and Lucario's base happiness value of 50 means trainers should expect to invest moderate time in bonding activities to achieve evolution from Riolu without artificial items. In modern titles like Pokémon Sword and Shield, wild Lucario can be encountered in appropriate overworld areas, dramatically increasing accessibility compared to earlier generations where evolution represented the primary acquisition method. Pokémon GO introduced Lucario to mobile players, allowing millions of casual players to experience the species through friendship-based evolution mechanics paralleling the core series' approach. The various competitive formats and official tournaments frequently permit Lucario usage, and its availability across multiple generations ensures trainers of virtually any Pokémon game released since Generation IV can obtain and train a Lucario if they desire, from casual playthrough companions to competitive tournament specialists seeking the perfectly trained specimen.