[OVERVIEW]
Fighting
========
Lucario's great secondary Steel typing, access to Swords Dance, and access to strong priority moves in Bullet Punch and Extreme Speed make it a decent offensive option for Fighting teams. Its typing gives Lucario a neutrality to all of Fighting's weaknesses and allows it to become effective in matchups such as Fairy and Psychic. Additionally, it offers utility in matchups like Dragon thanks to its numerous resistances and immunities. Lucario is the only Pokemon in the metagame with access to both Swords Dance and Extreme Speed, compensating for its average Speed stat and allowing Lucario to wallbreak while potentially avoiding revenge killers such as Greninja after a boost. However, it is often very difficult to successfully set up with Lucario, as its average Speed, bad bulk, and dependency on Life Orb in order to wallbreak make it extremely easy to wear down. Lucario's typing, despite offering many useful resistances, leaves it weak to very common offensive types like Fighting, Ground, and Fire, allowing revenge killers such as Garchomp and Infernape to easily check it. Lastly, it is often very difficult to fit Lucario on teams, as it shares a typing with Fighting's best entry hazard setter, Cobalion. Other setup sweepers such as Breloom also give Lucario competition, taking on threats that Lucario cannot, such as Swampert.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance (Fighting)
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Extreme Speed
move 4: Meteor Mash / Bullet Punch
item: Life Orb
ability: Inner Focus
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance allows Lucario to become a dangerous wallbreaker in tandem with its STAB move combination, breaking past problematic Pokemon such as Skarmory after a boost. Close Combat is Lucario's strongest and most spammable move, hitting Steel-types that resist its other moves such as Mega Scizor. Extreme Speed is used to give Lucario a strong form of priority, giving it the ability to clean weakened teams late-game after a boost and revenge kill weakened faster Pokemon throughout the battle. Meteor Mash allows Lucario to mainly hit problematic Fairy-types such as Tapu Bulu while offering great neutral coverage, being able to hit Pokemon that resist Close Combat such as Mega Venusaur as well as threaten them with a decent chance to raise its Attack by one stage. Bullet Punch, although much weaker than Meteor Mash, is another priority move that most notably OHKOes Mega Diancie while still dealing with threats like the aforementioned Tapu Bulu after a Swords Dance.
Set Details
========
252 Attack EVs, an Adamant nature, and Life Orb all combine to make Lucario as strong as possible, compensating for its average Attack stat and threatening many defensive Pokemon like Celesteela. The rest of the EVs are invested into Speed, which, even with a neutral nature, allow Lucario to outspeed Pokemon such as Heatran and Tapu Bulu. All of Lucario's abilities are very situational, but Inner Focus is chosen in order to avoid flinches from Pokemon such as Togekiss.
Usage Tips
========
Lucario can be used as both a strong wallbreaker with its STAB moves and a late-game cleaner and revenge killer thanks to Extreme Speed. To expand on this, Lucario depends on a boost from Swords Dance in order to perform either of these roles, and it can usually only find setup opportunities by forcing switches. Switch-ins such as Mega Venusaur can be taken care of if Lucario uses Swords Dance on the predicted switch, eliminating many of its potential counters. When dangerous Pokemon such as Latios and Alolan Raichu are present, it is wise to preserve Lucario in order to revenge kill them once they have been weakened. It is especially important to play carefully with Lucario in the Fairy matchup, as it is Fighting's best Pokemon in the matchup, threatening almost any potential switch-in. Furthermore, Lucario's frailty allows it to be easily checked by Pokemon like Tapu Koko, so it is important to bring it out late-game when these Pokemon have been put in range of its priority moves. Lucario should be used as a late-game sweeper in other matchups such as Dragon, as most Pokemon are susceptible to its priority moves once weakened, especially after a Swords Dance. Furthermore, it is generally recommended to not bring out Lucario on any strong attack, as even resisted moves from the likes of Tapu Bulu will heavily damage it due to its poor bulk. Lucario should avoid getting worn down as much as possible altogether, as the recoil from Life Orb combined with its poor bulk makes it not difficult to revenge kill. Although Lucario's immunity to poison can be taken advantage of, it still heavily dislikes all other forms of status, as getting burned will remove its offensive presence while getting paralyzed allows it to be easily outsped.
Team Options
========
Lucario's teammates appreciate its wallbreaking and setup ability in matchups such as Fairy. Keldeo is an essential teammate that benefits Lucario and the rest of the team alike by providing a much-needed special wallbreaker, able to deal with threats like Mega Sableye while Lucario can revenge kill threats like Greninja in return. Choice Scarf Terrakion's ability to keep faster foes in check is very appreciated, as Lucario's lackluster Speed stat prevents it from breaking past faster Pokemon like Blacephalon. Mega Gallade forms a deadly wallbreaking core with Lucario, being able to break past troublesome Poison- and Water- types like Toxapex and Mantine while Lucario can threaten offensive playstyles with priority and Fairy-types with its super effective STAB moves. Due to Lucario's shared typing with Cobalion, other teammates that can provide Stealth Rock support are appreciated. Infernape is a decent suicide lead, and Kommo-o can compress a Stealth Rock role while posing as another dangerous special sweeper. Pokemon that can aid Lucario in the troublesome Psychic matchup make for good teammates. Heracross and Buzzwole are both great Choice Scarf users that can easily sweep when combined with Lucario's ability to revenge kill foes like Latios. Breloom is another user of priority that can provide utility with its unique access to Spore, allowing it to become a dangerous setup threat while also giving Lucario safe opportunities to switch in and set up as well. Although Lucario generally isn't bothered by most entry hazards, Defog support from Hawlucha is appreciated, as it prevents Lucario from getting worn down as quickly. Additionally, Defog helps Lucario heavily in the Fairy matchup by removing Klefki's Reflect.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Fighting
--------
A Jolly nature may be useful for outspeeding certain Pokemon such as Nidoking and Suicune, but this generally isn't worth the loss of wallbreaking power that comes with an Adamant nature and loses out on important OHKOs on Pokemon like Skarmory after Swords Dance and Stealth Rock. Justified is usable as an ability to allow Lucario to steadily take on Foul Play and Knock Off users, but that role is usually occupied by other Pokemon with the ability such as Terrakion and Keldeo.
Checks and Counters
===================
Fighting
--------
**Super Effective Attackers**: While unboosted, Lucario usually lacks the power to OHKO opposing Ground-, Fire-, and Fighting-types such as Landorus-T, Volcarona, and Keldeo, which can all KO it in return with their super effective STAB moves.
**Defensive Pokemon**: Lucario struggles to break past bulky walls such as Slowbro and Mantine, as they take minimal damage from its moves and can threaten Lucario by means of status and Haze.
**Toxapex**: Toxapex's fantastic physical bulk and resistance to both of Lucario's STAB moves make it an excellent defensive counter to Lucario. Additionally, Toxapex can burn Lucario with Scald and clear its Swords Dance boosts with Haze.
**Flying-types**: In a similar vein, Flying-types like Mega Charizard Y resist Lucario's Fighting-type STAB attacks and can easily beat it with their coverage moves.
**Revenge Killers**: Even with Lucario's access to priority, it is unable to make use of its lackluster Speed to handle revenge killers like Latios without heavy chip damage or prior Swords Dance boosts.
**Status**: Although it is immune to poison, Lucario's sweeping ability is disabled by burns and paralysis.
Fighting
========
Lucario's great secondary Steel typing, access to Swords Dance, and access to strong priority moves in Bullet Punch and Extreme Speed make it a decent offensive option for Fighting teams. Its typing gives Lucario a neutrality to all of Fighting's weaknesses and allows it to become effective in matchups such as Fairy and Psychic. Additionally, it offers utility in matchups like Dragon thanks to its numerous resistances and immunities. Lucario is the only Pokemon in the metagame with access to both Swords Dance and Extreme Speed, compensating for its average Speed stat and allowing Lucario to wallbreak while potentially avoiding revenge killers such as Greninja after a boost. However, it is often very difficult to successfully set up with Lucario, as its average Speed, bad bulk, and dependency on Life Orb in order to wallbreak make it extremely easy to wear down. Lucario's typing, despite offering many useful resistances, leaves it weak to very common offensive types like Fighting, Ground, and Fire, allowing revenge killers such as Garchomp and Infernape to easily check it. Lastly, it is often very difficult to fit Lucario on teams, as it shares a typing with Fighting's best entry hazard setter, Cobalion. Other setup sweepers such as Breloom also give Lucario competition, taking on threats that Lucario cannot, such as Swampert.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance (Fighting)
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Extreme Speed
move 4: Meteor Mash / Bullet Punch
item: Life Orb
ability: Inner Focus
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance allows Lucario to become a dangerous wallbreaker in tandem with its STAB move combination, breaking past problematic Pokemon such as Skarmory after a boost. Close Combat is Lucario's strongest and most spammable move, hitting Steel-types that resist its other moves such as Mega Scizor. Extreme Speed is used to give Lucario a strong form of priority, giving it the ability to clean weakened teams late-game after a boost and revenge kill weakened faster Pokemon throughout the battle. Meteor Mash allows Lucario to mainly hit problematic Fairy-types such as Tapu Bulu while offering great neutral coverage, being able to hit Pokemon that resist Close Combat such as Mega Venusaur as well as threaten them with a decent chance to raise its Attack by one stage. Bullet Punch, although much weaker than Meteor Mash, is another priority move that most notably OHKOes Mega Diancie while still dealing with threats like the aforementioned Tapu Bulu after a Swords Dance.
Set Details
========
252 Attack EVs, an Adamant nature, and Life Orb all combine to make Lucario as strong as possible, compensating for its average Attack stat and threatening many defensive Pokemon like Celesteela. The rest of the EVs are invested into Speed, which, even with a neutral nature, allow Lucario to outspeed Pokemon such as Heatran and Tapu Bulu. All of Lucario's abilities are very situational, but Inner Focus is chosen in order to avoid flinches from Pokemon such as Togekiss.
Usage Tips
========
Lucario can be used as both a strong wallbreaker with its STAB moves and a late-game cleaner and revenge killer thanks to Extreme Speed. To expand on this, Lucario depends on a boost from Swords Dance in order to perform either of these roles, and it can usually only find setup opportunities by forcing switches. Switch-ins such as Mega Venusaur can be taken care of if Lucario uses Swords Dance on the predicted switch, eliminating many of its potential counters. When dangerous Pokemon such as Latios and Alolan Raichu are present, it is wise to preserve Lucario in order to revenge kill them once they have been weakened. It is especially important to play carefully with Lucario in the Fairy matchup, as it is Fighting's best Pokemon in the matchup, threatening almost any potential switch-in. Furthermore, Lucario's frailty allows it to be easily checked by Pokemon like Tapu Koko, so it is important to bring it out late-game when these Pokemon have been put in range of its priority moves. Lucario should be used as a late-game sweeper in other matchups such as Dragon, as most Pokemon are susceptible to its priority moves once weakened, especially after a Swords Dance. Furthermore, it is generally recommended to not bring out Lucario on any strong attack, as even resisted moves from the likes of Tapu Bulu will heavily damage it due to its poor bulk. Lucario should avoid getting worn down as much as possible altogether, as the recoil from Life Orb combined with its poor bulk makes it not difficult to revenge kill. Although Lucario's immunity to poison can be taken advantage of, it still heavily dislikes all other forms of status, as getting burned will remove its offensive presence while getting paralyzed allows it to be easily outsped.
Team Options
========
Lucario's teammates appreciate its wallbreaking and setup ability in matchups such as Fairy. Keldeo is an essential teammate that benefits Lucario and the rest of the team alike by providing a much-needed special wallbreaker, able to deal with threats like Mega Sableye while Lucario can revenge kill threats like Greninja in return. Choice Scarf Terrakion's ability to keep faster foes in check is very appreciated, as Lucario's lackluster Speed stat prevents it from breaking past faster Pokemon like Blacephalon. Mega Gallade forms a deadly wallbreaking core with Lucario, being able to break past troublesome Poison- and Water- types like Toxapex and Mantine while Lucario can threaten offensive playstyles with priority and Fairy-types with its super effective STAB moves. Due to Lucario's shared typing with Cobalion, other teammates that can provide Stealth Rock support are appreciated. Infernape is a decent suicide lead, and Kommo-o can compress a Stealth Rock role while posing as another dangerous special sweeper. Pokemon that can aid Lucario in the troublesome Psychic matchup make for good teammates. Heracross and Buzzwole are both great Choice Scarf users that can easily sweep when combined with Lucario's ability to revenge kill foes like Latios. Breloom is another user of priority that can provide utility with its unique access to Spore, allowing it to become a dangerous setup threat while also giving Lucario safe opportunities to switch in and set up as well. Although Lucario generally isn't bothered by most entry hazards, Defog support from Hawlucha is appreciated, as it prevents Lucario from getting worn down as quickly. Additionally, Defog helps Lucario heavily in the Fairy matchup by removing Klefki's Reflect.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Fighting
--------
A Jolly nature may be useful for outspeeding certain Pokemon such as Nidoking and Suicune, but this generally isn't worth the loss of wallbreaking power that comes with an Adamant nature and loses out on important OHKOs on Pokemon like Skarmory after Swords Dance and Stealth Rock. Justified is usable as an ability to allow Lucario to steadily take on Foul Play and Knock Off users, but that role is usually occupied by other Pokemon with the ability such as Terrakion and Keldeo.
Checks and Counters
===================
Fighting
--------
**Super Effective Attackers**: While unboosted, Lucario usually lacks the power to OHKO opposing Ground-, Fire-, and Fighting-types such as Landorus-T, Volcarona, and Keldeo, which can all KO it in return with their super effective STAB moves.
**Defensive Pokemon**: Lucario struggles to break past bulky walls such as Slowbro and Mantine, as they take minimal damage from its moves and can threaten Lucario by means of status and Haze.
**Toxapex**: Toxapex's fantastic physical bulk and resistance to both of Lucario's STAB moves make it an excellent defensive counter to Lucario. Additionally, Toxapex can burn Lucario with Scald and clear its Swords Dance boosts with Haze.
**Flying-types**: In a similar vein, Flying-types like Mega Charizard Y resist Lucario's Fighting-type STAB attacks and can easily beat it with their coverage moves.
**Revenge Killers**: Even with Lucario's access to priority, it is unable to make use of its lackluster Speed to handle revenge killers like Latios without heavy chip damage or prior Swords Dance boosts.
**Status**: Although it is immune to poison, Lucario's sweeping ability is disabled by burns and paralysis.
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