In the Attacking Moves Discussion, CAP18 was already given the exact tools and coverage he needs to deal with our threatlist offensively, so further damage dealing options such as Super Fang or Counter Coat are redundant and only risk messing with our counters, therefore they should be disallowed.
When choosing our Non-Attacking Moves, we should be focused on covering up gaps in the defensive department, especially considering our weakness to Stat Boosters and Scarfers.
Thunder Wave should be allowed. As a member of an offensive core, we want CAP18 to be countered mainly by Pokemon that can threaten it defensively, namely Water and Dragon types which resist both of its STABs. However, the problem with that is that Dragon types such as Latias (and more so Latios) can also pose a huge offensive threat to our core, as we have nothing to take their strong attacks or even revenge kill them reliably. This puts us into a difficult situation: we have limit the offensive potential of Dragons, while retaining them as defensive threats. Our best bet to achieve this is to lower their speed, making them much more manageable for the rest of our core, and paralysis seems the most effective way to do so. Infiltrator allows us to hit Dragon Dancers such as Mega-Charizard-X and Dragonite even behind a substitute, so they can't use CAP18 to set up and proceed to sweep our team.
Although Glare has the benefit of also hitting threatening Ground types such as Scarfed Garchomp, Excadrill or Landorus-T, those are already covered sufficiently between our STAB moves and Will-O-Wisp, and Glare is one of those moves that can be used without much thought and consequences, unlike Thunder Wave which always involves the small risk of giving said Ground types a free switch in.
Sacrificial Support Moves should be allowed. The cost of using these moves are very high, but what they provide is almost unrivaled momentum, which is something Lucario needs very desperately compared to other set-up sweepers. Although Healing Wish is normally more useful for bulkier Pokemon, it gives Lucario the chance to shine in its niche as late game sweeper with Extreme Speed, while also healing it from potential burns.
All Boosting Moves should be disallowed. Besides boosts to Special Attacks, I don't think any of these moves would be too powerful on CAP18, especially with the lack of reliable recovery. They do, however, lead us into the wrong direction, as stat boosting moves discourage the user from pivoting and supporting, roles that we want CAP18 to take up in order to facilitate Lucario's sweep.
Allow Stealth Rock. Disallow Spikes, Toxic Spikes and Sticky Web. Lucario really enjoys having entry hazards up when attempting a sweep, as this is the best way for offensive teams to get prior damage on the opponent. However, since Latias will commonly be using Defog, the most effective way to keep the own hazards up throughout the match is to have access to it within the core itself. The type of hazard that works together the best with Defog is of course Stealth Rock, as it only needs one turn to set up. The danger when using Spikes is that a Rapid Spinner would end up being much more preferable over Latias.
Toxic Spikes does not help Lucario too much during his sweep, as the damage will only kick in at the end of each turn. Also, it is dangerous in that it allows CAP18 to wear down its defensive counters, especially in combination with Substitute, making it less reliant on Lucario and Latias.
Finally, Sticky Web, not unlike Parting Shot, provides incredible benefits for just about any team, many of which can take better advantage of them then Lucario and Latias. It would be way to defining for CAP18 and overshadow the traits we gave it to fit it into our core.
Topsy Turvy should be allowed. This is probably the best way to punish all those Stat Boosters that trouble our core, most importantly Dragon Dancers such as Gyarados and Dragons, Belly Drum Azumarill and Calm Mind Clefable. Although Clear Smog already deals with them to a certain extend, this goes a step further and will actively deter them from even trying. Of course, we have to be wary of combining it with Overheat, but overall I see this move as very beneficial for our concept.
When choosing our Non-Attacking Moves, we should be focused on covering up gaps in the defensive department, especially considering our weakness to Stat Boosters and Scarfers.
Thunder Wave should be allowed. As a member of an offensive core, we want CAP18 to be countered mainly by Pokemon that can threaten it defensively, namely Water and Dragon types which resist both of its STABs. However, the problem with that is that Dragon types such as Latias (and more so Latios) can also pose a huge offensive threat to our core, as we have nothing to take their strong attacks or even revenge kill them reliably. This puts us into a difficult situation: we have limit the offensive potential of Dragons, while retaining them as defensive threats. Our best bet to achieve this is to lower their speed, making them much more manageable for the rest of our core, and paralysis seems the most effective way to do so. Infiltrator allows us to hit Dragon Dancers such as Mega-Charizard-X and Dragonite even behind a substitute, so they can't use CAP18 to set up and proceed to sweep our team.
Although Glare has the benefit of also hitting threatening Ground types such as Scarfed Garchomp, Excadrill or Landorus-T, those are already covered sufficiently between our STAB moves and Will-O-Wisp, and Glare is one of those moves that can be used without much thought and consequences, unlike Thunder Wave which always involves the small risk of giving said Ground types a free switch in.
Sacrificial Support Moves should be allowed. The cost of using these moves are very high, but what they provide is almost unrivaled momentum, which is something Lucario needs very desperately compared to other set-up sweepers. Although Healing Wish is normally more useful for bulkier Pokemon, it gives Lucario the chance to shine in its niche as late game sweeper with Extreme Speed, while also healing it from potential burns.
All Boosting Moves should be disallowed. Besides boosts to Special Attacks, I don't think any of these moves would be too powerful on CAP18, especially with the lack of reliable recovery. They do, however, lead us into the wrong direction, as stat boosting moves discourage the user from pivoting and supporting, roles that we want CAP18 to take up in order to facilitate Lucario's sweep.
Allow Stealth Rock. Disallow Spikes, Toxic Spikes and Sticky Web. Lucario really enjoys having entry hazards up when attempting a sweep, as this is the best way for offensive teams to get prior damage on the opponent. However, since Latias will commonly be using Defog, the most effective way to keep the own hazards up throughout the match is to have access to it within the core itself. The type of hazard that works together the best with Defog is of course Stealth Rock, as it only needs one turn to set up. The danger when using Spikes is that a Rapid Spinner would end up being much more preferable over Latias.
Toxic Spikes does not help Lucario too much during his sweep, as the damage will only kick in at the end of each turn. Also, it is dangerous in that it allows CAP18 to wear down its defensive counters, especially in combination with Substitute, making it less reliant on Lucario and Latias.
Finally, Sticky Web, not unlike Parting Shot, provides incredible benefits for just about any team, many of which can take better advantage of them then Lucario and Latias. It would be way to defining for CAP18 and overshadow the traits we gave it to fit it into our core.
Topsy Turvy should be allowed. This is probably the best way to punish all those Stat Boosters that trouble our core, most importantly Dragon Dancers such as Gyarados and Dragons, Belly Drum Azumarill and Calm Mind Clefable. Although Clear Smog already deals with them to a certain extend, this goes a step further and will actively deter them from even trying. Of course, we have to be wary of combining it with Overheat, but overall I see this move as very beneficial for our concept.
