Of all the sets Lucario can run, this is perhaps the one with the most destructive potential. The power this set wields is frightening—after a single boost, many walls that don't resist Fighting can be defeated in one blow with a little help from Stealth Rock or a layer of Spikes. Damage CalculationsClose Combat vs. max HP / Def Skarmory 84.4% - 99.7% Close Combat vs. max HP / Def Bronzong: 95.2% - 100% (67% chance to OHKO) Close Combat vs. max HP / Def Hippowdon: 75.7% - 89.3% Close Combat vs. max HP / Def Forretress: 79.7% - 93.8% Close Combat vs. max HP / Def Donphan: 82.0% - 96.9% Crunch vs. max HP / Def Cresselia: 63.5% - 74.8% Crunch vs. max HP Cresselia: 85.1% - 100% (2.6% chance to OHKO) Crunch vs. max HP / Def Dusknoir: 88.4% - 100% (21% chance to OHKO) Crunch vs. max HP / Def Celebi: 78.7% - 93.1% ExtremeSpeed decimates powerful-but-frail sweepers like Azelf, Infernape, and Dugtrio, finishing them in one hit before they can touch you. Stone Edge gives you a weapon against Flying-types and scores a crucial OHKO on bulky Gyarados. Inner Focus is given a very slight preference on this set because you're usually better off getting a free turn to Swords Dance if you are expecting them to try and flinch you to death than to get +1 Speed. This is because Lucario can easily use ExtremeSpeed against a faster opponent. Bullet Punch can be used in either of the last two slots. It might seem like a poor option when compared to the more powerful ExtremeSpeed, but it allows you to hit several faster threats like Gengar, Mismagius, and Aerodactyl, dealing near-KO damage to the two ghosts (which will always be fatal when combined with Stealth Rock unless they're running more than 4 HP) and easily beating Aerodactyl.
Specs Lucario is great at breaking down walls, coming in on its plethora of resistances and smashing through near-everything with its impressive coverage of types. Aura Sphere can 2HKO Blissey if she ever gets any bright ideas about switching in and doesn't invest in Special Defense EVs. Dragon Pulse or Hidden Power Ice will smash Salamence and Garchomp—use Hidden Power Ice to destroy Gliscor and Zapdos and get more super-effective coverage, or use Dragon Pulse for an extra 20 base power and more neutrality. Use Dark Pulse if you like flinch and Normal coverage or Shadow Ball for hitting Heracross harder. Vacuum Wave nabs quick kills on weak Pokémon and Weavile. It will do a lot to Tyranitar as well.
This is the physical version of Special Lucario. It's not as powerful as the special version, thanks to Gliscor, but it still packs quite a punch. Lucario's 4x resistance to Rock and Dark let it switch in on Tyranitar Stone Edges or Crunches and deal large damage in return. Close Combat is your general attacking move with STAB. Stone Edge hits Fliers and Bugs, and Crunch hits Ghosts and Psychics, so Lucario hits everything (sans Toxicroak) at least neutral with these 3 attacks. ExtremeSpeed finishes off weakened Pokémon. You can use Bullet Punch to finish off weakened Pokemon while still hitting Gengar, Tyranitar, and Weavile harder than ExtremeSpeed could, but when both are neutral, ExtremeSpeed's higher power overcomes Bullet Punch in terms of damage.
Once your opponent's team is weak, this Lucario with a Swords Dance and a Salac Berry boost sweeps the floor with its broom of doom, outspeeding even Jolteon, Aerodactyl, and Adamant Choice Scarf Heracross. First priority moves aside from Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave will never OHKO a 25% HP Lucario without Defense falls from Close Combat. Unfortunately, Gliscor laughs at Lucario's attempts to set up. The reason for the 30 HP IV is that you want your HP to be divisible by 4. This will allow your Salac Berry to activate at 25% HP instead of 1%, meaning you can survive a hit from something like ExtremeSpeed or Quick Attack.
Lucario has two great things going for a Reversal set: immunity to Sand Stream and STAB on Reversal. The gist of this set is to Swords Dance, get down to 1%, and sweep. With Stealth Rock and a Swords Dance and factoring in Intimidate, Lucario OHKOs Gyarados and Salamence switch-ins with Reversal. Crunch is for—you guessed it—Ghost-types. The Substitute version is beaten by Stealth Rock. Lucario takes only 3.125% from Stealth Rock, but this ruins its Reversal—the lowest HP you get would be 63, and thus Reversal is not fully powered up. You need 8 HP or less to have Reversal at its maximum 200 base power. 63 HP gives only 80 power. Other OptionsYou can use Hi Jump Kick instead of Close Combat if you hate Close Combat's 8 PP and its lowering of your defenses, but the decreased power and accuracy makes it not worth it. For Choice Specs Lucario, you can use Psychic to hit Heracross and Toxicroak, who otherwise resist all of Lucario's moves except for Shadow Ball. It is also your best shot at breaking Tentacruel (and Muk!). Flash Cannon is a decent option to hits things neutrally, but Steel as a rule has poor type coverage, and this is made even more true with Lucario's massive movepool. Hidden Power Ice is an option on the physical sets to get rid of Gliscor. It is best used with a Life Orb. Surprisingly, there aren't many other useful options. Lucario can Calm Mind for one, but the Choice Specs set hits harder faster. Choice Scarf Lucario with Me First is a nice idea, attacking the enemy Pokémon with the same move, but with its base power multiplied by 1.5. EVsIn general, maxing Speed and whichever attacking stat you're using is the best option. A slightly bulkier spread for the Swords Dancer is 252 HP / 96 Def / 136 SpD / 24 Spe with Adamant nature and Leftovers, which makes better use of Lucario's numerous resistances and gives you some extra durability when setting up. Most of the sets can run Jolly or Timid to get 306 Speed, outspeeding threats like Salamence and Electivire who outspeed you otherwise. However, Modest is required on the Choice Specs set to have a chance to 2HKO Blissey. If it invests in Special Defense, however, you are stuck with a 3HKO regardless. OpinionIt's just like an angry child—it comes out of nowhere and gleefully kicks you in the fork of your legs. Lucario is very dangerous the first time it's out; you don't know what to expect and the wrong move might ruin you. But thankfully, once the set is revealed, Lucario is possible to counter. Its defenses are weak and it can only safely switch in on attacks it resists or after a kill. It's also not as fast as speedy threats like Garchomp, Salamence, Starmie, and Gengar. CountersGliscor walls physical Lucario completely through its resistance to Fighting and high Defense. It can use Roost to recover the damage, and has Earthquake to finish off Lucario. Hippowdon and Weezing can also switch in thanks to their abundant Defense, Slacking Off or Pain Splitting Lucario's attacks away respectively. Gyarados and Salamence are good, albeit sketchy counters, easily worn out by Choice Band Close Combat. And there's the possibility of being hit by Stone Edge. For Choice Specs Lucario, a defensive Heracross, especially with Rest and Sleep Talk, easily comes in, smirking at Aura Sphere and Dark Pulse. However, if the Lucario has Psychic, Heracross will die. Blissey is only 3HKOed by Choice Specs Lucario's Aura Sphere if you give it Special Defense EVs and a Calm nature, so it's a safe switch if you aren't sure what it's going to do. Zapdos also resists Aura Sphere, can Roost off the damage, and send Lucario to the executioner with Thunderbolt. Beware of Hidden Power Ice. If you want something that can take on physical or special Lucario, Spiritomb is immune to Aura Sphere and Close Combat and takes neutral damage from the other moves at worst. It can retaliate with Hidden Power Fighting or status. Cresselia tanks every attack but Dark Pulse and Crunch with ease, and can even take a few of those hits somewhat. A bulky Gyarados can switch in on Lucario's moves and OHKO with Earthquake. Slowking has Slack Off with its impressive Special Defense and resists Aura Sphere, while Slowbro does the same for physical versions. Celebi can come in on Aura Sphere or Close Combat, use Recover, and Psychic Lucario back, but it must be careful of Crunch, Dark Pulse, and Hidden Power Ice. Moltres resists Lucario's STAB attacks without being weak to any common moves. It can Roost of any damage, has the Defense to take on the Swords Dancer, and has STAB Flamethrower to blast Lucario. |
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