Lucario
- For fighter info, seeLucario (SSBB),Lucario (SSB4), andLucario (SSBU).
| Lucario | |
|---|---|
  Official artwork of Lucario fromPokémon Diamond andPearl Versions. | |
| Universe | Pokémon |
| Debut | Pokémon Diamond andPearl Versions (2006)[1] |
| Smash Bros. appearances | Brawl SSB4 Ultimate |
| Most recent non-Smash appearance | Pokémon Legends: Z-A (2025) |
| Console/platform of origin | Nintendo DS |
| Species | Lucario |
| Gender | Varies |
| Place of origin | Sinnoh |
| Englishvoice actor | Bill Rogers (Brawl) Sean Schemmel (Smash 4/Ultimate) |
| Japanesevoice actor | Daisuke Namikawa |
| Frenchvoice actor | Unknown (Brawl) Jean-Marc Delhausse (Smash 4/Ultimate) |
| Germanvoice actor | Unknown (Brawl) Gerhard Jilka (Smash 4/Ultimate) |
| Spanishvoice actor | Carlos Lobo |
| Italianvoice actor | Luigi Fantino |
| Koreanvoice actor | Shin Yong-woo |
| Article on Bulbapedia | Lucario (Pokémon) |
Lucario (ルカリオ,Lucario) is the Aura Pokémon from thePokémon series. It debuted in the series'fourth generation, and is present as a playable character inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl,Super Smash Bros. 4, andSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Origin[edit]
Lucario is a bipedal canine Pokémon, and is categorized within the Pokédex at #448 as the "Aura Pokémon". Lucario is a dual Fighting/Steel-type Pokémon and the evolved form ofRiolu; in thePokémon core series, Riolu evolves when it gains a level while having a sufficiently high amount of friendship rating and only during morning, daytime, and afternoon hours. Lucario is able to detect and wieldAura, a spiritual energy that surrounds every living thing.
According to the Pokédex, by picking up on the Aura emanating from others, it can read their thoughts and movements; a well-trained Lucario, in particular, can sense and read the feelings of creatures over half a mile away. Lucario also understands human speech, and is even capable of communicating telepathically in human languages.
Prior to its official debut in the main series, Lucario made its first appearance in the eighthPokémon movie,Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, and subsequently appeared in a non-playable cameo inPokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team andBlue Rescue Team. Despite being one of the most prominently marketed fourth generation Pokémon in the lead-up to the release ofPokémon Diamond andPearl Versions, it has no prominent plot significance in those games. Rather, Lucario is only available as a Riolu that is hatched from aPokémon Egg gifted to the player byRiley during their visit toIron Island. In addition,Riley's Lucario is his signature Pokémon, while bothMaylene andCynthia each have a Lucario on their respective teams as well.
However, Lucario is notable within Kalos, the setting ofPokémon X andY, the first games within the series'sixth generation. In Kalos, Lucario is renowned as the first Pokémon to have achievedMega Evolution in the region. This is reflected by its significance to the plot ofX andY: it is the first Pokémon the player initiates Mega Evolution with, and a very large statue of its Mega Evolution, Mega Lucario, is a centerpiece within theTower of Mastery. Additionally, in theMega Dimension DLC ofPokémon Legends: Z-A, Lucario received an additional Mega Evolved form known as Mega Lucario Z.
Several Lucario have made appearances in the anime, such as theLucario who starred in the eighth movie;Korrina'sLucario, who was trained to use its Mega Evolution form after initial difficulty;Ash Ketchum'sLucario, who evolved from a Riolu that Ash received as an Egg; andRoy'sLucario, which is aShiny Pokémon.
Lucario has high Attack and Special Attack stats and average Speed, but low defenses; in particular, its Special Attack statistic is unusually high for a Fighting type, reflecting its mastery over the control of Aura, further evidenced by its access to moves likeAura Sphere. Lucario's high offenses make it a versatile and slightly unpredictable Pokémon, as it can effectively run physical, special or mixed movesets. Its three abilities reflect its stoic and brave character:Inner Focus prevents it from flinching or (starting with Gen VIII) having its Attack dropped byIntimidate,Steadfast raises its Speed if it flinches, andJustified raises its Attack after it is hit by a Dark-type move.
While holding a Lucarionite, Lucario can undergo Mega Evolution to become Mega Lucario, whereas holding a Lucarionite Z results in it becoming Mega Lucario Z. As Mega Lucario, its already impressive offensive and speed statistics are boosted considerably, and it gainsAdaptability as itsability, which further supplements its offenses by powering up its Fighting and Steel type attacks.
InSuper Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
As a playable character[edit]
Lucario is unique in that the more damage it takes, the more damage, range, andknockback its own attacks have (based on the actual ability of most Lucario in the Pokémon series). This only applies to itsAura-based attacks, which are noted by bluish, flame-like wisps. A few of Lucario's attacks do not use Aura, such as its dash attack and back throw, among others. This trait makes it not particularly useful at the beginning of a stock, but by surviving to a high level of damage, it becomes considerably lethal. It possesses the ability to bothwall jump andwall cling; its wall jump in particular is by far the highest in the game, and the height gained by this scales with Aura.
Aura Sphere, its neutral special, is a chargeable ranged blast comparable toSamus'Charge Shot.Force Palm, its side special is a short-ranged blast, or at point-blank range, a throw.ExtremeSpeed, its up special, is a non-damaging recovery move and will propel Lucario in any direction aimed.Double Team, its down special, is acounterattack that is Aura-based and has a damage output that caps at about 15%.
Lucario is ranked 11th on thetier list, placing it in the C+ tier.
Trophy[edit]
- Lucario
- An Aura Pokémon. It can track energy called Aura, which is given off by all living creatures. It's a unique combination of both Fighting- and Steel-types. Lucario evolves from Riolu during the day if its happiness has reached a certain point. It specializes in attacks that use Aura energy, likeDark Pulse and a can't-miss technique, Aura Sphere.
:Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
Sticker[edit]
| Name | Game | Effect | Fighter(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucario | Pokémon series |  Attack +41 |  |
.png) Lucario (Pokémon series) |
InSuper Smash Bros. 4[edit]
As a playable character[edit]
Lucario returns as a playable character inSuper Smash Bros. 4. Physically, it has been updated to have its proportions more akin to its appearances inPokémon X andY. Lucario also has a newFinal Smash,Mega Lucario, which replacesAura Storm. Sean Schemmel, the voice actor ofSir Aaron's Lucario from the filmLucario and the Mystery of Mew, reprised his role as Lucario in the game, havingconfirmed that he would do so.
Lucario is ranked 17th out of 54, placing it in the B tier. Lucario's Aura mechanic has been strengthened in the transition fromBrawl toSmash 4, and it now affects Lucario's entire moveset. When coupled with the newrage mechanic, Lucario has the potential to KO any opponent at early percentages when its own damage percentage is high. The changes tohitstun canceling have also granted its up and down throws impressive combo potential. However, Lucario also received some nerfs. Its smash attacks in particular are slower, whileForce Palm and its neutral, forward and down aerials have worsened combo potentials.Extreme Speed also saw a large increase in endinglag if it ends in the air, leaving Lucario highly open topunishment upon landing on the ground. Regardless of the nerfs, Lucario is still viewed as a viable choice for competitive play, thanks to it achieving decent results.
Trophies[edit]
- Lucario
A Fighting/Steel-type Pokémon that excels in combat through the reading and manipulation of Aura. As Lucario takes more damage, its attacks grow in strength. At maximum power, Lucario deals triple damage and itsAura Sphere is particularly devastating! Foes won't even know what hit them!- :Pokémon Diamond & Pokémon Pearl (04/2007)
:Pokémon X & Pokémon Y (10/2013)
This Fighting- and Steel-type Pokémon can sense the movements of its enemies using its Aura abilities, and is even said to be able to see enemies when they're invisible. As it takes damage, its attacks grow in strength. At maximum power, it deals triple damage, which can make its Aura Sphere attack a real force to be reckoned with!- :Pokémon Diamond/Pearl (07/2007)
- :Pokémon X/Y (10/2013)
- Lucario (Alt.)
- Lucario's up special Extreme Speed will send this Pokémon soaring on the path you choose. Lucario flies farther the more damage it's taken. Lucario makes use of its Aura for the side special Force Palm. At extremely close range, Lucario will grab an enemy first, dealing additional damage.
- :Pokémon Diamond & Pokémon Pearl (04/2007)
- :Pokémon X & Pokémon Y (10/2013)
- The Extreme Speed up special sends Lucario rushing in your chosen direction, and you can adjust the flight path mid-air. Also, the more damage Lucario takes, the further it will go. For the Force Palm side special, Lucario attacks with its Aura. Using it while close to an enemy adds a grab to the move and deals extra damage.
- :Pokémon Diamond/Pearl (07/2007)
- :Pokémon X/Y (10/2013)
InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
As a playable character[edit]
Lucario is a playable character inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. Similar to its debut inBrawl, Lucario is an unlockable character instead of a starter like inSmash 4; however, unlike inBrawl where it was encountered later on in the unlocking process, Lucario can potentially be the first character unlocked in the game as the first character inYoshi'sClassic Mode character unlock tree.
Lucario was praised by its potential advantages in the earlyUltimate metagame, and was considered a relatively viable character. However, its weakness became clearer as time passed due to the amount of nerfs it received from the transition, making Lucario a relatively underused character in the meta. Currently, most top professional players consider Lucario a mid tier and it's ranked C- tier at 57th out of 82 in the 2nd Ultimate tier list.
Spirits[edit]
Fighter spirit[edit]
417.Lucario
Primary spirit[edit]
| No. | Image | Name | Type | Class | Slots | Base | Max | Base | Max | Base | Max | Ability | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 505 |  | Mega Lucario |  | ★★★ | 3 | 2806 | 8421 | 1655 | 4966 | 993 | 2979 | Initial Damage 30% | Pokémon Series |
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
 Japanese | ルカリオ,Lucario |
 English | Lucario |
 French | Lucario |
 German | Lucario |
 Spanish | Lucario |
 Italian | Lucario |
 Chinese (Simplified) | 路卡利欧,Lucario |
 Chinese (Traditional) | 路卡利歐,Lucario |
 Korean | 루카리오,Lucario |
 Dutch | Lucario |
 Russian | Лукарио |
 Portuguese | Lucario |
Trivia[edit]
- AsPokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew was first released four months beforePokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team andBlue Rescue Team, Lucario is the first and only fighter in the series to officially debut in non-video game media — in this case, a film.
- Pac-Man is predated by a strikingly similar toy of the same name, but their relation is disputed.
- LikeCharizard inSuper Smash Bros. 4 andMewtwo, Lucario is similar to a particular member of its species depicted in thePokémon anime. In Lucario's case, likeSir Aaron's Lucario fromLucario and the Mystery of Mew, it can speak the human language telepathically and, as ofSmash 4, it is voiced by Sean Schemmel and Daisuke Namikawa in English and Japanese, respectively; Schemmel and Namikawa portrayed that specific Lucario as well. However, the only difference is that unlikeSmash's incarnation of Lucario, the Lucario inLucario and the Mystery of Mew is completely incapable of Mega Evolving, as the Lucario species was already introduced long before the concept of Mega Evolution was even introduced.
- Lucario and Mewtwo are the only two playable Pokémon characters whose on-screen appearances do not involve them emerging from a Poké Ball.
- Lucario possesses the bestwall jump andwall cling durability in theSuper Smash Bros. series.
- It is also the only character who can activate wall clinging through their up special.
- Lucario is one of the few characters who shares the same voice actors as theannouncer in theSuper Smash Bros. series, followed byIvysaur andJoker.
- Carlos Lobo andLuigi Fantino in the Spanish and Italian versions ofBrawl onward, respectively.
- Jean-Marc Delhausse in the French version ofSuper Smash Bros., in which Lucario was not present, as well as Ivysaur and severalPoké Ball Pokémon throughout the series.
- Lucario is the only playable Pokémon that speaks a human language in all international versions.
- Despite speaking telepathically inPokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, Lucario appears to be moving its mouth during itsvictory poses.
- Lucario is the only playable character whose console of origin is the Nintendo DS, outside of cameos.
References[edit]
- ^Prior to the release ofPokémon Diamond and Pearl Versions, Lucario had its game debut asa statue, aRescue Rank, and mentioned by name inPokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team andBlue Rescue Team in 2005.
| Playable characters | |
|---|---|
| Super Smash Bros. | Captain Falcon ·Donkey Kong ·Fox ·Jigglypuff ·Kirby ·Link ·Luigi ·Mario ·Ness ·Pikachu ·Samus ·Yoshi |
| New inMelee | Bowser ·Dr. Mario ·Falco ·Ganondorf ·Ice Climbers ·Marth ·Mewtwo ·Mr. Game & Watch ·Peach ·Pichu ·Roy ·Sheik ·Young Link ·Zelda |
| New inBrawl | Diddy Kong ·Ike ·King Dedede ·Lucario ·Lucas ·Meta Knight ·Olimar (Pikmin) ·Pit ·Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle ·Ivysaur ·Charizard) ·R.O.B. ·Snake ·Sonic ·Toon Link ·Wario ·Wolf ·Zero Suit Samus |
| New inSmash 4 | (Alph) ·Bayonetta ·Bowser Jr. (Koopalings) ·Cloud ·Corrin ·Dark Pit ·Duck Hunt ·Greninja ·Little Mac ·Lucina ·Mega Man ·Mii Brawler ·Mii Gunner ·Mii Swordfighter ·Pac-Man ·Palutena ·Robin ·Rosalina &Luma ·Ryu ·Shulk ·Villager ·Wii Fit Trainer |
| New inUltimate | Banjo &Kazooie ·Byleth ·Chrom ·Daisy ·Dark Samus ·Hero ·Incineroar ·Inkling ·Isabelle ·Joker ·Kazuya ·Ken ·King K. Rool ·Min Min ·Mythra ·Piranha Plant ·Pyra ·Richter ·Ridley ·Sephiroth ·Simon ·Sora ·Steve (Alex,Zombie,Enderman) ·Terry |
