Go Back   Smogon Community > Pokémon > Smogon Metagames > OverUsed
Register FAQ Social Groups Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old Sep 19th, 2010, 10:36:24 PM   #1
Ditto
Aegisthus
is a Tournament Directoris a Forum Moderatoris a Community Contributoris a Contributor to Smogon
 
Ditto's Avatar
 
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,749
Default Lucario


#448 - Lucario
-----------
Typing
-----------


Weaknesses/Resistances
Immunity:
x0.25:
x0.50:
x1.00:
x2.00:

While Lucario has 3 very common attacking types as a weakness, it also has a plethora of resistances to use. Along with resistances to a fair number of different types, Lucario also boasts immunity to Toxic Spikes, which can greatly shorten of other Set Up Sweepers like it. Lucario also has a strong offensive STAB in its Fighting-type that can allow it to tear through many Pokemon.

--------
Stats
--------
Base Stat Total: 525
Base Stats: | 70 | 110 | 70 | 115 | 70 | 90 |

While Lucario's defenses are nothing to write home about, coupled with its resistances Lucario can often find a way to switch in and use its marvelous offensive stats. Lucario's speed is not bad, but it is also not too great. While Lucario is able to outspeed a fair number of Pokemon, its lackluster defenses can often hurt it when opponent's switch in faster Pokemon. Luckily for Lucario, its offensive stats along with a couple well placed priority moves give it a fighting chance against Pokemon that outspeed it.

-------------
Abilities
-------------
Steadfast: When this Pokemon is flinched its Speed raises 1 stage.
Inner Focus: This Pokemon cannot be flinched. This does not include flinching as a Focus Punch.
Justice Heart [Dream World]: When this Pokemon is damaged by a Dark-type attack its Attack raises 1 stage.

Neither of its non-Dream World abilities are too stunning as not many Pokemon will try to flinch Lucario, so you can really choose either. While Steadfast may look appealing because of the possibility of raising Lucario's average speed, it will also cause Lucario to lose a valuable turn that could have been spent using Swords Dance or Nasty Plot. While Justice Heart does not grant a Dark-type immunity, Lucario's resistance to Dark allows it to switch into most Dark-type moves without taking too much damage and while still getting the Attack boost.

-----------------------
Moves Learned
-----------------------
Physical Moves
Ankle Sweep (TM47): Fighting | 60 BP | 20 PP | 100% | Decreases opponent's Speed by 1 stage.
Bite (Egg Move)
Blaze Kick (Egg Move)
Bone Rush (Level 19)
Brick Break (TM31)
Bullet Punch (Egg Move)
Close Combat (Level 55)
Cross Chop (Egg Move)
Crunch (Egg Move)
Dig (TM28)
Earthquake (TM26)
Extremespeed (Level 65)
Facade (TM42)
Feint (Level 15)
Fling (TM56)
Force Palm (Level 11)
Frustration (TM21)
Giga Impact (TM68)
Hi Jump Kick (Egg Move)
Low Kick (Egg Move)
Metal Claw (Level -)
Overhead Throw (Egg Move): Fighting | 60 BP | 10 PP | 90% | Forces the target to switch.
Payback (TM66)
Poison Jab (TM84)
Quick Attack (Level -)
Retaliation (TM67): Normal | 5 PP | 70 BP | 100% | BP increases if an ally was KOed the previous turn.
Return (TM27)
Reversal (Riolu Level 19)
Rock Smash (TM94)
Rock Tomb (TM39)
Shadow Claw (TM65)
Sky Uppercut (Egg Move)
Smooth Over (TM78): Ground | PP | 60 BP | 100% | Lowers the opponent's speed.
Stone Edge (TM71)
Strength (HM04)

Special Moves
Aura Sphere (Level 51)
Dark Pulse (Level -)
Desperation (Riolu Level 55): Fighting | --- BP | 5 PP | 100% | KOs the user and deals damage to the opponent equal to the HP lost by using this move.
Dragon Pulse (Level 60)
Flash Cannon (TM91)
Focus Blast (TM52)
Hidden Power (TM10)
Hyper Beam (TM17)
Psychic (TM29)
Shadow Ball (TM30)
Troll (TM48): Normal | 60 BP | 15 PP | 100% | Power increases when allies also use Troll.
Vacuum Wave (Egg Move)

Support Moves
Agility (Egg Move)
Attract (TM45)
Bulk Up (TM08)
Calm Mind (Level 47)
Calm Mind (TM04)
Cheer Up (TM83): Normal | 30 PP | ---% | Raises user's Attack and Special Attack 1 stage.
Claw Sharpen (TM01): Dark | 15 PP | ---% | Raises user's Attack and Accuracy 1 stage.
Copycat (Riolu Level 29)
Counter (Level 6)
Detect (Level -/Egg Move)
Double Team (TM32)
Endure (Riolu Level -)
Fast Guard (Level 33): Fighting | 15 PP | ---% | Protects your team from priority moves. Will fail if used in succession.
Follow Me (Egg Move)
Foresight (Level -)
Heal Pulse (Level 42): Psychic | 10 PP | ---% | Restores 50% of an ally's HP.
Iron Defense (Egg Move)
Me First (Level 29)
Metal Sound (Level 24)
Mind Reader (Egg Move)
Nasty Plot (Riolu Level 47)
Protect (TM17)
Rain Dance (TM18)
Rest (TM44)
Roar (TM05)
Rock Slide (TM80)
Screech (Riolu Level 24)
Substitute (TM90)
Sunny Day (TM11)
Swagger (TM87)
Swords Dance (Level 37, TM75)
Toxic (TM06)

Lucario has several different options given its movepool and stat distribution. While Lucario does not has the biggest variety in terms of move typing, it does get good coverage with either special or physical attacks. On the physical side Lucario possesses STAB Close Combat to tear through teams and a powerful Crunch to help with coverage. Lucario also has Extremespeed or STAB Bullet Punch for priority that allows Lucario to deal with faster Pokemon. On the special side Lucario has STAB Aura Sphere and Dark Pulse to use as alternates to Close Combat and Crunch respectively. It also has a special priority move in its STAB Vacuum Wave. It also has 4 good set up moves, Swords Dance, Nasty Plot, Cheer Up, and Agility to boost its already good offensive stats.

-----------------
Sets Ideas
-----------------
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat / High Jump Kick
move 3: ExtremeSpeed / Bullet Punch
move 4: Crunch
item: Life Orb
ability: Justice Heart / Inner Focus
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly / Adamant

Will Edit Later

name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Aura Sphere
move 3: Dark Pulse
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Vacuum Wave
item: Life Orb
ability: Inner Focus
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid / Modest

Will Edit Later

Other Set to maybe consider
- Mixed Cheer Up set
- Agility set (either Physical or Special)
__________________

Last edited by Ditto; Sep 28th, 2010 at 4:17:28 AM.
Ditto is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 19th, 2010, 10:41:23 PM   #2
giggity69
 
giggity69's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 361
LA, with gangsters, dragons, and mad fat cactuses
Default

I can still see an agility set working, and cheer up has potential too.

Edit : His dreamworld ability can really come in handy, too; with all the new ghosts around tyranitar will be throwing crunches out left and right, so if you manage to get an attack boost from that and agility on the switch, that could be dangerous.
__________________
Gengar has a pedismile, deal with it.

Screw "___" All (Hella!) RMT
giggity69 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 19th, 2010, 10:44:54 PM   #3
DDRMaster
 
DDRMaster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,481
Mystery Zone
Default

I could see a mixed Cheer Up set working. It would probably use something like Close Combat, Shadow Ball, and Extremespeed/HP Ice. I'm not sure it would really be any better than the two sets you posted, though. It's nice to see Lucario being able to use a pure Special set that's not Choice Specs as well. It might not end up being as good as the SD set but we'll have to see.

The real thing that could really help Lucario is Justice Heart. It was already able to switch in on Dark attacks with some prediction but now it will be able to get a +1 Atk boost as well. It's too bad that we probably won't be able to use it with Crunch and Agility.
__________________
My Trick Room team peaked at 6th out of 2668 in the Wi-Fi ladder on Pokemon Online.
Porygon2/Dusclops/Rankurusu/Zuruzukin/Scizor/Latios

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat Squid Ninja View Post
EDIT: Ninja'd.
DDRMaster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 19th, 2010, 10:52:05 PM   #4
DR809
 
DR809's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 480
Brooklyn, New York
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat giggity69 View Post
I can still see an agility set working, and cheer up has potential too.

Edit : His dreamworld ability can really come in handy, too; with all the new ghosts around tyranitar will be throwing crunches out left and right, so if you manage to get an attack boost from that and agility on the switch, that could be dangerous.
If a tyranitar comes in on a ghost pursuit is almost guaranteed to be the move he'll use to trap the ghost. So Lucario can't really come in to a pursuit since it'll already have done damage to the previous pokemon.
__________________
White 2: 0691 4637 8235
DR809 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 19th, 2010, 11:15:26 PM   #5
PI-Dimension
 
PI-Dimension's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 255
North Carolina
Default

Cheer Up/Agility/Close Combat/Dark Pulse ftw
__________________
(Trade Thread) ☁ Cake & Pi's PokčPastry Palace ☁
Black FC: 1034 3149 5382
PI-Dimension is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 19th, 2010, 11:26:45 PM   #6
greg3064
 
greg3064's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 348
Connecticut
Default

It should probably be noted, as well, that Extremespeed has +2 priority this gen, allowing Lucario to do something to faster things carrying Vacuum Wave or Mach Punch (such as Infernape).
greg3064 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 20th, 2010, 12:01:01 AM   #7
WarriorPrince
 
WarriorPrince's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 503
In the worst of your nightmares.
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat DR809 View Post
If a tyranitar comes in on a ghost pursuit is almost guaranteed to be the move he'll use to trap the ghost. So Lucario can't really come in to a pursuit since it'll already have done damage to the previous pokemon.
I agree. This is also a perfect opportunity to add +2 to either of your attacking stats. I don't think Justice Heart makes too much difference in the end. Pursuit is the move that will be thrown around more, and Lucario won't be getting hit by many Dark attacks.
__________________
As short lived as our existence is we are purely,
The key to the future, a part in our peoples story,
Living unevenly privileged, yet equally-cursed,
Each one of us are the same when we sleep-in-a-hearse,
Don't ever let a mans wealth speak-for-his-worth,
Rather how he's remembered by the people-on-Earth.
WarriorPrince is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 20th, 2010, 12:56:50 PM   #8
norelationstojfk
 
norelationstojfk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 48
Iowa
Default

I was thinking maybe a mixed Nasty Plot set would be viable, with Aura Sphere, Dark Pulse, and Extremespeed for clean up.

Edit: Scratch the Vacuum wave alternative. Then it wouldn't be a mix.
norelationstojfk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 20th, 2010, 1:06:52 PM   #9
thewetmop
 
thewetmop's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 49
Austin Tx
Default

If it wasn't for Zoroark getting flamethrower, justice heart Luke would make a good switch into him.
thewetmop is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 20th, 2010, 4:13:40 PM   #10
Thorhammer
 
Thorhammer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,303
Pennsylvania
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat thewetmop View Post
If it wasn't for Zoroark getting flamethrower, justice heart Luke would make a good switch into him.
That would require knowing you were facing a Zororak, though.
Thorhammer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 20th, 2010, 5:16:18 PM   #11
Farukon_o_miru
 
Farukon_o_miru's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 76
Default

Now Lucario with Nasty Plot, Claw Sharpen and Cheer Up will be even more unpredictable, and with Justice Heart it is going to be a better counter of Dark type Pokémon, but IMO things like Heal Pulse and Fast Guard will not be too used with Lucario (because it is mainly offensive). With its new boosting moves and ability i´m sure that Lucario will be a even more threatening opponent in the B&W metagame than in DPP.
__________________
English isn't my first language, but I make the effort to write it well. Please excuse my gramatical errors.
Farukon_o_miru is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 20th, 2010, 5:32:30 PM   #12
Limewire
Back from the dead.
is a Contributor to Smogon
 
Limewire's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 730
New York City
Default

Will Lucario use Swords Dance, Nasty Plot or Cheer Up? One wrong switch and it's game over.

Anyone thinking of a mixed Calm Mind set? That might help Lucario take special hits more efficiently.

Lucario @ Life Orb
252 SpA/252 Spe Timid
~ Calm Mind
~ Extremespeed
~ Dark Pulse
~ Aura Sphere
__________________
Jolteon DW [GP 1/2]

ASB Profile

Last edited by Limewire; Sep 20th, 2010 at 5:47:30 PM.
Limewire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 20th, 2010, 5:39:30 PM   #13
AlphaJolt
 
AlphaJolt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,674
Minnesota
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat Limewire View Post
Will Lucario use Swords Dance, Nasty Plot or Cheer Up? One wrong switch and it's game over.

Anyone thinking of a mixed Calm Mind set? That might help Lucario take special hits more efficiently.

Lucario @ Life Orb
252 SpA/252 Spe Timid/Modest
~ Calm Mind
~ Extremespeed
~ Dark Pulse
~ Aura Sphere
Why would you use Modest? It takes away from ExtremeSpeed's damage.
__________________
ASB Profile

[19:35:22] <@Charmander> alphajolt just has the worst luck
[19:35:22] <@Charmander> like
[19:35:35] <@Charmander> his luck is worse than prem's lc abilities

[03:49:23]<toshimelonhead> jolteon's shiny looks like gf pissed on the normal one
AlphaJolt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 20th, 2010, 5:43:54 PM   #14
Crashman
 
Crashman's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 71
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat thewetmop View Post
If it wasn't for Zoroark getting flamethrower, justice heart Luke would make a good switch into him.
Actually, if Lucario switches in on a dark attack and gets the justice heart boost he can OHKO Zoroark with rocks up at the very least with a +1 Extremespeed. I ran a damage calc on an Absol with a +1 extremespeed who has similar stats but better HP and it came out as 92.6% - 109.2%, meaning that these figures would be even higher for Zoroark unless it runs some kind of bulky spread most of the time, which would be counter productive.
Crashman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 20th, 2010, 5:47:58 PM   #15
Limewire
Back from the dead.
is a Contributor to Smogon
 
Limewire's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 730
New York City
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat AlphaJolt View Post
Why would you use Modest? It takes away from ExtremeSpeed's damage.
Oops, my bad. Fixed.
__________________
Jolteon DW [GP 1/2]

ASB Profile
Limewire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 20th, 2010, 5:50:22 PM   #16
AlphaJolt
 
AlphaJolt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,674
Minnesota
Default

But what if he doesn't come in on a Dark attack, then he does much less damage with ExSpeed. This set pretty much requires him to get the attack boost to be effective. Something such as Vacuum Wave would be better for priority, but that would defeat the purpose of using Justice Heart.

Edit: Timid has the same problem as Modest (forgot to say that earlier), you would want either Hasty or Naive so that niether of your attacks are dropped.
__________________
ASB Profile

[19:35:22] <@Charmander> alphajolt just has the worst luck
[19:35:22] <@Charmander> like
[19:35:35] <@Charmander> his luck is worse than prem's lc abilities

[03:49:23]<toshimelonhead> jolteon's shiny looks like gf pissed on the normal one
AlphaJolt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 20th, 2010, 5:53:04 PM   #17
Yogi Bear.
 
Yogi Bear.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 113
New Jersey
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat Limewire View Post
Oops, my bad. Fixed.
Doesn't a Timid Nature still lower the power of ExtremeSpeed? I would think Modest would be better than Timid since if Luke wants Speed it can just Extremespeed.
Yogi Bear. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 20th, 2010, 6:03:58 PM   #18
Limewire
Back from the dead.
is a Contributor to Smogon
 
Limewire's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 730
New York City
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat AlphaJolt View Post
But what if he doesn't come in on a Dark attack, then he does much less damage with ExSpeed. This set pretty much requires him to get the attack boost to be effective. Something such as Vacuum Wave would be better for priority, but that would defeat the purpose of using Justice Heart.

Edit: Timid has the same problem as Modest (forgot to say that earlier), you would want either Hasty or Naive so that niether of your attacks are dropped.
Wow, I must have been asleep while posting that set >_<. You know what, how about I just make the CM set purely special and put Inner Focus>Justice Heart and Vaccum Wave>Espeed? Hasty/Naive lowers Lucario's already pitiful defense stats.

Oh, and Luke could also run a physical counterpart with Bulk Up.
__________________
Jolteon DW [GP 1/2]

ASB Profile
Limewire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 26th, 2010, 7:18:07 PM   #19
SithLord
 
SithLord's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 162
Default

With the Rotom formes having lost their Ghost-typing, Lucario can now slaughter them with a boosted ExtremeSpeed or Close Combat. For instance, a +2 Adamant LO ExtremeSpeed does 86.36% - 102.07% on a 6 HP/0 Def Choice Scarf/Choice Specs Timid Rotom, a OHKO more than 92% of the time provided Stealth Rock is in play. Slower, more defensive Rotom sets are met with Close Combat for a swift OHKO.

Previously, thanks to Intimidate, Lucario couldn't OHKO Salamence with ExtremeSpeed, even after Stealth Rock. But now, If Lucario switches into a Choice Band/Choice Scarf Tyanitar's Crunch and gets its Justice Heart boost, it can OHKO 6 Hp/0 Def Salamence with a +2 LO ExtremeSpeed. The same goes for 6 HP/0 Def Gyarados as well (SR is need for both examples).

Checks for the SD set like Hippowdon and Scarf Heatran would be destroyed by a +2 LO Aura Sphere or Vacuum Wave, thanks to Nasty Plot. Vacuum Wave also handles Sazandora quite well.

Lucario is looking to be a fantastic Pokemon all around, much like it was in Gen. IV.
SithLord is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 27th, 2010, 1:09:58 PM   #20
Arcanite
 
Arcanite's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,252
Default

Close combat could be used as move 4 on the NP set to KO blissey after Rocks if Lucario runs naieve.
Arcanite is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 27th, 2010, 1:50:12 PM   #21
Murkglow
 
Murkglow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 220
Default

The OP might want to update that the research thread has confirmed the Justice Heart does not make you immune to Dark, you just get the boost.
Murkglow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 27th, 2010, 1:59:51 PM   #22
shipship
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 177
Default

Lucario is viable with Swords Dance, Nasty Plot, and Agility.

It should not use Cheer Up or Calm Mind.

Cheer Up is outclassed by Swords Dance and Nasty Plot. +2 in one stat is way better than +1 in both, given Lucario's huge movepool. Calm Mind is just worthless given Lucario's frailty and access to Nasty Plot.
__________________
The best poker player on smogon. Proud to be atheist and vegetarian.
shipship is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 27th, 2010, 2:06:16 PM   #23
Upstart
Copy Cat
is a Tiering Contributor
 
Upstart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 414
ROAR!
Default

Honestly they just keep making this guy more potent. Also his new sprite shows off just how BA he is.
__________________
Check Out my RMT 4th Gen RMT: Sub For Your Life
If the enemy thinks of the mountains, attack like the sea; and if he thinks of the sea, attack like the mountains.

Member of the UU and RU QC team, VM me for a check
Upstart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 27th, 2010, 2:08:42 PM   #24
Erebos
 
Erebos's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 232
Canada
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat Ditto View Post
Justice Heart will grant Lucario a second immunity as well as give it a chance to easily boost its Attack stat.
This has been proven wrong in the research thread, so it's best to edit it out.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat dbolt View Post
Also Justice Heart doesn't grant a Dark-type immunity. Attacked a Terakion with Crunch and it recieved damage. It got the attack boost though.
Erebos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 27th, 2010, 2:09:34 PM   #25
shipship
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 177
Default

I think Modest and Vacuum Wave should be the primary options on Nasty Plot.

Vacuum Wave beats way too much important stuff (Scarf-Heatran, Scarf-Tyranitar, the new Ground/Steel mole, among others).

Modest gives you maximum wall-breaking power.
__________________
The best poker player on smogon. Proud to be atheist and vegetarian.
shipship is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply Smogon Community > Pokémon > Smogon Metagames > OverUsed

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:45:00 PM.