QC: all falls down / Lax / scpinion
GP: GatoDelFuego / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
**Fighting:**
With a great offensive typing that provides Steel-type STAB, Lucario is one of Fighting's best offensive checks to Fairy-types. It has decent Attack and Special Attack stats and access to both Swords Dance and Nasty Plot, making its set quite unpredictable. Further, thanks again to its Steel typing, Lucario is able to take neutral damage from Flying-type moves. This combined with its Inner Focus ability allows Lucario to survive and avoid flinches from Togekiss's Air Slash, making it a great check to Choice Scarf Togekiss. Lucario is also blessed with Extreme Speed, which has +2 priority, allowing Lucario to beat most priority users. Lucario is also one of the few special attackers on Fighting and can serve as a check to common problems such as Doublade and Jellicent. Unfortunately, Lucario is lacking in Speed and will suffer from severe four-moveslot syndrome regardless of whether it chooses to run a physical or special set. The physical set also is forced to use the inaccurate Iron Tail to check Fairy-types and if it doesn't run Crunch as coverage will find itself walled by physically defensive Pokemon that resist its STAB moves such as Jellicent and Doublade. The special set is forced to use relatively low-Base Power attacks, and Vacuum Wave is quite weak in particular, making Lucario more easily revenge killed and reliant on setting up.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance (Fighting)
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Extreme Speed
move 4: Iron Tail / Crunch
item: Life Orb
ability: Inner Focus
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance is used to boost Lucario's Attack to make it both a strong wallbreaker and a sweeper. Close Combat is Lucario's most powerful and accurate STAB attack to wallbreak with. In spite of its low accuracy, Iron Tail is used to hit Fairy-types super effectively and also gives Lucario an option to hit Ghost-types such as Sableye. Extreme Speed is powerful priority that covers up Lucario's low Speed and can protect Lucario from +1-priority moves such as Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave. Bullet Punch is an option to be used over Extreme Speed to hit Pokemon that resist Normal such as Mega Diancie and Terrakion, but it makes Lucario weaker in most matchups. Crunch can be used to beat Slowbro, but one of Lucario's main niches is to beat Fairy-types, which now wall its set, so it is rarely worth using without significant team support, and the special set uses Dark-type coverage better.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack EV investment, an Adamant nature, and Life Orb make Lucario as powerful as possible, giving it the best chance to OHKO Clefable and the potential to OHKO Skarmory at +2 and after Stealth Rock. Life Orb also helps Lucario deal meaningful damage without boosting, notably helping it revenge kill targets such as weakened Hawlucha and Gardevoir with Extreme Speed. With maximum Speed investment, Lucario is faster than Timid Heatran and can also outspeed Adamant Dragonite in order to use Extreme Speed first. Inner Focus is used to avoid flinches from Togekiss, which is OHKOed by +2 Extreme Speed after Stealth Rock damage, and Jirachi, which cannot even 2HKO Lucario with Heart Stamp, so that they can both be set up on. Steadfast might be tempting to sweep with a Speed boost, but it is simply not reliable in most cases, as Choice Scarf Jirachi requires two Steadfast activations to be outsped and Togekiss cannot be set up on without Inner Focus. While the Attack boost from Justified might benefit Lucario, Dark attacks are almost never used against Fighting teams, making it almost impossible to use.
Usage Tips
========
Lucario should be preserved until late-game, as Life Orb recoil and entry hazard damage will slowly chip away its health. That being said, do not hesitate to use Extreme Speed to revenge kill weakened foes such as Thundurus and Victini safely. As Lucario's bulk is quite poor, it should avoid being switched into any attack that isn't resisted. It will primarily set up Swords Dance against passive Pokemon like Forretress or Ferrothorn that cannot threaten Lucario. While bulky Water-types can be set up on and KOed with Close Combat, Scald can potentially cause a burn, ending Lucario's sweep, so they must be played around with caution. In general, burns and paralysis should be avoided, as they both spell the end of Lucario's sweep by halving its Attack or quartering its Speed. Because Lucario can at worst 2HKO most walls including even Mega Venusaur and Mandibuzz after a Swords Dance, setting up as the opponent sends out a defensive switch-in can allow Lucario to break its checks. Inner Focus should be taken advantage of to allow Lucario to set up Swords Dance against Choice Scarf Jirachi safely. Weakened Choice Scarf Togekiss can be used to set up a Swords Dance, as Extreme Speed will be able to take out Togekiss after one boost and Stealth Rock damage, although Iron Tail will always OHKO Togekiss even if no prior damage was dealt. If Lucario is running Crunch, it should not reveal it before the primary target, namely Slowbro, Doublade, or Jellicent, is switched in expecting a different coverage move.
Team Options
========
A second Swords Dance sweeper such as Hawlucha or Mega Gallade can work with Lucario to put huge pressure on shared checks. Choice Specs Keldeo is a fantastic wallbreaker capable of taking on most of Lucario's checks such as Gyarados, if Keldeo carries Hidden Power Electric; Skarmory; and Doublade. Substitute + Calm Mind Keldeo is an alternative set, as Lucario and Keldeo can set up on each other's defensive checks. As a physical wallbreaker, Mega Medicham can be a good partner to open up holes in the opposing team for Lucario to sweep late-game. Crunch Lucario can also be a great help for Mega Medicham, handling Doublade nicely. Stealth Rock support is necessary for getting many KOs, such as against Skarmory and Flying-type Pokemon in general. In addition to providing Stealth Rock, Cobalion is also useful for its Volt Switch and Thunder Wave support, both of which make Lucario's job much easier by giving it safe switches and easing the burden of its low Speed, respectively. Infernape, on the other hand, is a more offensive Stealth Rock user capable of checking Doublade, Mega Scizor, and Skarmory that can also run Grass Knot to heavily damage Slowbro and Gastrodon. Breloom is a great partner thanks to its Grass-type STAB moves making it easy to handle certain walls such as Slowbro and Jellicent, both of which Lucario has trouble with when it lacks Crunch. Breloom's Technician Mach Punch can be used to revenge kill Excadrill and in conjunction with Lucario's Extreme Speed can take out weakened threats such as Unburden Hawlucha and Swift Swim Kingdra. Finally, Breloom's unique access to Spore gives Lucario free turns and switches, helping it find chances to set up in spite of its lack of bulk.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot (Fighting)
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Flash Cannon
move 3: Dark Pulse
move 4: Aura Sphere / Vacuum Wave
item: Life Orb
ability: Inner Focus
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot is used to boost Lucario's Special Attack, making it a formidable sweeper. Flash Cannon is Lucario's most powerful special Steel-type STAB attack, capable of KOing Fairy-types. Dark Pulse is useful for hitting the Psychic- and Ghost-types that naturally threaten Fighting teams. Aura Sphere is the most reliable Fighting-type attack and deals great damage to anything that doesn't resist Fighting. Vacuum Wave is an alternative to Aura Sphere, giving Lucario priority to patch up its Speed. Focus Blast is a final option with huge power, capable of OHKOing Skarmory after breaking Sturdy and potentially OHKOing Klefki that don't predict the Lucario set correctly and use Reflect instead of Light Screen, but lacks accuracy.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack EV investment, a Modest nature, and Life Orb make Lucario as powerful as possible, giving it the best chance to OHKO physically defensive Clefable and allowing +2 Lucario to OHKO Mew after Stealth Rock damage. In addition to being needed for certain KOs, Life Orb is necessary to give Lucario enough damage output to sweep, as its moves are quite lacking in Base Power. Maximum Speed EV investment makes Lucario faster than Timid Heatran and Excadrill out of sand. A Timid nature can also be used to outspeed certain threats such as Adamant Entei, Jolly Mamoswine, and Timid Chandelure without losing too much power. Inner Focus is used to avoid flinches from Togekiss and Jirachi so that Lucario can KO them in return with the appropriate move.
Usage Tips
========
Lucario should be saved for late-game so that it can sweep after its checks have been removed. Variants that lack Vacuum Wave should generally avoid being sent out early, as Life Orb recoil and entry hazard damage can slowly chip away at its health, putting it in more danger of being revenge killed. Nasty Plot is almost necessary to deal meaningful damage, so Lucario should be brought in safely against passive Pokemon to set up while generally not attacking before getting a boost. Due to its poor bulk, Lucario shouldn't be switched into even most resisted attacks, as any amount of damage can hurt Lucario's sweeping potential. Variants with Vacuum Wave can attempt to use it to revenge kill for their team, but generally setting up Nasty Plot on a retreating foe is more beneficial, as Vacuum Wave does very little damage. Lucario can bait defensive switch-ins that expect a physical set such as Skarmory, Doublade, and Slowbro and surprise them with the appropriate coverage. Lucario must avoid paralysis at all costs, as it cannot afford to be any slower than it already is.
Team Options
========
Stealth Rock support is necessary to chip away at foes to put them in range of Lucario's attacks. Cobalion can set up Stealth Rock, and its Volt Switch and Thunder Wave support is incredibly important for Lucario, which has a hard time switching in. Infernape can also set up Stealth Rock for Lucario, and with its Fire-type STAB moves it can handle Mega Scizor. A wallbreaker is important to help set up Lucario's sweep, so Choice Specs Keldeo, which wears down specially defensive switch-ins such as Zapdos, is a perfect teammate. Mega Medicham can also break walls and appreciates Lucario's ability to take out Pokemon such as Doublade and Slowbro, which wall Mega Medicham completely. Mega Gallade and Lucario pair up nicely, as they can set up easily on each other's checks, making it more likely that one of them can sweep late-game. Breloom can help Lucario find setup opportunities with its Spore support while providing more powerful priority in the form of Technician-boosted Mach Punch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
**Fighting:**
The Swords Dance set can use Ice Punch over Iron Tail or Crunch to hit Dragonite, but it is generally a far inferior coverage option and not worth running. A Jolly nature can be considered for the Swords Dance set, but without the boost in damage from Adamant, Lucario lacks the power to easily break Clefable and many other physical walls, and thanks to Extreme Speed, physical Lucario rarely needs the extra Speed. The Nasty Plot set can use Psychic to catch Mega Venusaur off guard, as a +2 Lucario will always OHKO it, or it can try using Hidden Power Ice to hit Dragonite, which can be OHKOed after Multiscale is broken, but losing one of its standard moves is a huge blow to its sweeping abilities. Steadfast can be used on a special set with a Timid nature to outspeed Choice Scarf Togekiss after one flinch, but it is incredibly unreliable and does not assist Lucario against Choice Scarf Jirachi, which Lucario needs boosts to KO with Dark Pulse. The Nasty Plot set can also potentially use Choice Specs and replace Nasty Plot with an additional coverage move. This will give it enough damage to always OHKO Togekiss and almost always OHKO physically defensive Clefable with Flash Cannon, but the loss of sweeping potential is a huge blow. While it is tempting to use Focus Sash to help Lucario set up either Swords Dance or Nasty Plot, neither set can afford the severe drop in power that losing Life Orb results in, making it a generally very poor item to use.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting:**
**Defensive Pokemon**: Depending on the set, Lucario is frustrated by the corresponding walls, such as Doublade for physical sets and specially defensive Gastrodon for special sets. Pokemon that cannot directly damage Lucario should be careful of being set up on, however.
**Revenge Killers**: Lucario is very slow, making it an easy target for revenge killers when it lacks boosts for its priority. Faster Pokemon such as Victini, Landorus-T, and Mega Pinsir while healthy or those that resist Extreme Speed such as Mega Diancie and Terrakion can take even a +2 Extreme Speed and OHKO Lucario.
**Zapdos**: Zapdos can generally beat most special Lucario, since it resists Lucario's STAB moves and Dark Pulse does very little, with even Discharge if it lacks Heat Wave. However, Zapdos cannot safely switch into physical sets, as Close Combat after a Swords Dance will 2HKO.
**Ground-types**: Most Ground-type Pokemon are naturally bulky, such as Garchomp and Landorus, and those that are faster than Lucario can switch into one unboosted hit to OHKO Lucario back with super effective STAB moves.
**Flying-types**: Although sometimes unable to switch into physical Lucario, Flying-type Pokemon such as Thundurus and Mega Charizard Y can generally check unboosted Lucario with their powerful STAB attacks.
**Fire- and Fighting-types**: Although they must be wary of boosted Extreme Speed and cannot switch into even resisted attacks, faster Fire- or Fighting-type Pokemon can easily revenge kill Lucario with their STAB attacks.
GP: GatoDelFuego / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
**Fighting:**
With a great offensive typing that provides Steel-type STAB, Lucario is one of Fighting's best offensive checks to Fairy-types. It has decent Attack and Special Attack stats and access to both Swords Dance and Nasty Plot, making its set quite unpredictable. Further, thanks again to its Steel typing, Lucario is able to take neutral damage from Flying-type moves. This combined with its Inner Focus ability allows Lucario to survive and avoid flinches from Togekiss's Air Slash, making it a great check to Choice Scarf Togekiss. Lucario is also blessed with Extreme Speed, which has +2 priority, allowing Lucario to beat most priority users. Lucario is also one of the few special attackers on Fighting and can serve as a check to common problems such as Doublade and Jellicent. Unfortunately, Lucario is lacking in Speed and will suffer from severe four-moveslot syndrome regardless of whether it chooses to run a physical or special set. The physical set also is forced to use the inaccurate Iron Tail to check Fairy-types and if it doesn't run Crunch as coverage will find itself walled by physically defensive Pokemon that resist its STAB moves such as Jellicent and Doublade. The special set is forced to use relatively low-Base Power attacks, and Vacuum Wave is quite weak in particular, making Lucario more easily revenge killed and reliant on setting up.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance (Fighting)
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Extreme Speed
move 4: Iron Tail / Crunch
item: Life Orb
ability: Inner Focus
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance is used to boost Lucario's Attack to make it both a strong wallbreaker and a sweeper. Close Combat is Lucario's most powerful and accurate STAB attack to wallbreak with. In spite of its low accuracy, Iron Tail is used to hit Fairy-types super effectively and also gives Lucario an option to hit Ghost-types such as Sableye. Extreme Speed is powerful priority that covers up Lucario's low Speed and can protect Lucario from +1-priority moves such as Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave. Bullet Punch is an option to be used over Extreme Speed to hit Pokemon that resist Normal such as Mega Diancie and Terrakion, but it makes Lucario weaker in most matchups. Crunch can be used to beat Slowbro, but one of Lucario's main niches is to beat Fairy-types, which now wall its set, so it is rarely worth using without significant team support, and the special set uses Dark-type coverage better.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack EV investment, an Adamant nature, and Life Orb make Lucario as powerful as possible, giving it the best chance to OHKO Clefable and the potential to OHKO Skarmory at +2 and after Stealth Rock. Life Orb also helps Lucario deal meaningful damage without boosting, notably helping it revenge kill targets such as weakened Hawlucha and Gardevoir with Extreme Speed. With maximum Speed investment, Lucario is faster than Timid Heatran and can also outspeed Adamant Dragonite in order to use Extreme Speed first. Inner Focus is used to avoid flinches from Togekiss, which is OHKOed by +2 Extreme Speed after Stealth Rock damage, and Jirachi, which cannot even 2HKO Lucario with Heart Stamp, so that they can both be set up on. Steadfast might be tempting to sweep with a Speed boost, but it is simply not reliable in most cases, as Choice Scarf Jirachi requires two Steadfast activations to be outsped and Togekiss cannot be set up on without Inner Focus. While the Attack boost from Justified might benefit Lucario, Dark attacks are almost never used against Fighting teams, making it almost impossible to use.
Usage Tips
========
Lucario should be preserved until late-game, as Life Orb recoil and entry hazard damage will slowly chip away its health. That being said, do not hesitate to use Extreme Speed to revenge kill weakened foes such as Thundurus and Victini safely. As Lucario's bulk is quite poor, it should avoid being switched into any attack that isn't resisted. It will primarily set up Swords Dance against passive Pokemon like Forretress or Ferrothorn that cannot threaten Lucario. While bulky Water-types can be set up on and KOed with Close Combat, Scald can potentially cause a burn, ending Lucario's sweep, so they must be played around with caution. In general, burns and paralysis should be avoided, as they both spell the end of Lucario's sweep by halving its Attack or quartering its Speed. Because Lucario can at worst 2HKO most walls including even Mega Venusaur and Mandibuzz after a Swords Dance, setting up as the opponent sends out a defensive switch-in can allow Lucario to break its checks. Inner Focus should be taken advantage of to allow Lucario to set up Swords Dance against Choice Scarf Jirachi safely. Weakened Choice Scarf Togekiss can be used to set up a Swords Dance, as Extreme Speed will be able to take out Togekiss after one boost and Stealth Rock damage, although Iron Tail will always OHKO Togekiss even if no prior damage was dealt. If Lucario is running Crunch, it should not reveal it before the primary target, namely Slowbro, Doublade, or Jellicent, is switched in expecting a different coverage move.
Team Options
========
A second Swords Dance sweeper such as Hawlucha or Mega Gallade can work with Lucario to put huge pressure on shared checks. Choice Specs Keldeo is a fantastic wallbreaker capable of taking on most of Lucario's checks such as Gyarados, if Keldeo carries Hidden Power Electric; Skarmory; and Doublade. Substitute + Calm Mind Keldeo is an alternative set, as Lucario and Keldeo can set up on each other's defensive checks. As a physical wallbreaker, Mega Medicham can be a good partner to open up holes in the opposing team for Lucario to sweep late-game. Crunch Lucario can also be a great help for Mega Medicham, handling Doublade nicely. Stealth Rock support is necessary for getting many KOs, such as against Skarmory and Flying-type Pokemon in general. In addition to providing Stealth Rock, Cobalion is also useful for its Volt Switch and Thunder Wave support, both of which make Lucario's job much easier by giving it safe switches and easing the burden of its low Speed, respectively. Infernape, on the other hand, is a more offensive Stealth Rock user capable of checking Doublade, Mega Scizor, and Skarmory that can also run Grass Knot to heavily damage Slowbro and Gastrodon. Breloom is a great partner thanks to its Grass-type STAB moves making it easy to handle certain walls such as Slowbro and Jellicent, both of which Lucario has trouble with when it lacks Crunch. Breloom's Technician Mach Punch can be used to revenge kill Excadrill and in conjunction with Lucario's Extreme Speed can take out weakened threats such as Unburden Hawlucha and Swift Swim Kingdra. Finally, Breloom's unique access to Spore gives Lucario free turns and switches, helping it find chances to set up in spite of its lack of bulk.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot (Fighting)
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Flash Cannon
move 3: Dark Pulse
move 4: Aura Sphere / Vacuum Wave
item: Life Orb
ability: Inner Focus
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot is used to boost Lucario's Special Attack, making it a formidable sweeper. Flash Cannon is Lucario's most powerful special Steel-type STAB attack, capable of KOing Fairy-types. Dark Pulse is useful for hitting the Psychic- and Ghost-types that naturally threaten Fighting teams. Aura Sphere is the most reliable Fighting-type attack and deals great damage to anything that doesn't resist Fighting. Vacuum Wave is an alternative to Aura Sphere, giving Lucario priority to patch up its Speed. Focus Blast is a final option with huge power, capable of OHKOing Skarmory after breaking Sturdy and potentially OHKOing Klefki that don't predict the Lucario set correctly and use Reflect instead of Light Screen, but lacks accuracy.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack EV investment, a Modest nature, and Life Orb make Lucario as powerful as possible, giving it the best chance to OHKO physically defensive Clefable and allowing +2 Lucario to OHKO Mew after Stealth Rock damage. In addition to being needed for certain KOs, Life Orb is necessary to give Lucario enough damage output to sweep, as its moves are quite lacking in Base Power. Maximum Speed EV investment makes Lucario faster than Timid Heatran and Excadrill out of sand. A Timid nature can also be used to outspeed certain threats such as Adamant Entei, Jolly Mamoswine, and Timid Chandelure without losing too much power. Inner Focus is used to avoid flinches from Togekiss and Jirachi so that Lucario can KO them in return with the appropriate move.
Usage Tips
========
Lucario should be saved for late-game so that it can sweep after its checks have been removed. Variants that lack Vacuum Wave should generally avoid being sent out early, as Life Orb recoil and entry hazard damage can slowly chip away at its health, putting it in more danger of being revenge killed. Nasty Plot is almost necessary to deal meaningful damage, so Lucario should be brought in safely against passive Pokemon to set up while generally not attacking before getting a boost. Due to its poor bulk, Lucario shouldn't be switched into even most resisted attacks, as any amount of damage can hurt Lucario's sweeping potential. Variants with Vacuum Wave can attempt to use it to revenge kill for their team, but generally setting up Nasty Plot on a retreating foe is more beneficial, as Vacuum Wave does very little damage. Lucario can bait defensive switch-ins that expect a physical set such as Skarmory, Doublade, and Slowbro and surprise them with the appropriate coverage. Lucario must avoid paralysis at all costs, as it cannot afford to be any slower than it already is.
Team Options
========
Stealth Rock support is necessary to chip away at foes to put them in range of Lucario's attacks. Cobalion can set up Stealth Rock, and its Volt Switch and Thunder Wave support is incredibly important for Lucario, which has a hard time switching in. Infernape can also set up Stealth Rock for Lucario, and with its Fire-type STAB moves it can handle Mega Scizor. A wallbreaker is important to help set up Lucario's sweep, so Choice Specs Keldeo, which wears down specially defensive switch-ins such as Zapdos, is a perfect teammate. Mega Medicham can also break walls and appreciates Lucario's ability to take out Pokemon such as Doublade and Slowbro, which wall Mega Medicham completely. Mega Gallade and Lucario pair up nicely, as they can set up easily on each other's checks, making it more likely that one of them can sweep late-game. Breloom can help Lucario find setup opportunities with its Spore support while providing more powerful priority in the form of Technician-boosted Mach Punch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
**Fighting:**
The Swords Dance set can use Ice Punch over Iron Tail or Crunch to hit Dragonite, but it is generally a far inferior coverage option and not worth running. A Jolly nature can be considered for the Swords Dance set, but without the boost in damage from Adamant, Lucario lacks the power to easily break Clefable and many other physical walls, and thanks to Extreme Speed, physical Lucario rarely needs the extra Speed. The Nasty Plot set can use Psychic to catch Mega Venusaur off guard, as a +2 Lucario will always OHKO it, or it can try using Hidden Power Ice to hit Dragonite, which can be OHKOed after Multiscale is broken, but losing one of its standard moves is a huge blow to its sweeping abilities. Steadfast can be used on a special set with a Timid nature to outspeed Choice Scarf Togekiss after one flinch, but it is incredibly unreliable and does not assist Lucario against Choice Scarf Jirachi, which Lucario needs boosts to KO with Dark Pulse. The Nasty Plot set can also potentially use Choice Specs and replace Nasty Plot with an additional coverage move. This will give it enough damage to always OHKO Togekiss and almost always OHKO physically defensive Clefable with Flash Cannon, but the loss of sweeping potential is a huge blow. While it is tempting to use Focus Sash to help Lucario set up either Swords Dance or Nasty Plot, neither set can afford the severe drop in power that losing Life Orb results in, making it a generally very poor item to use.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting:**
**Defensive Pokemon**: Depending on the set, Lucario is frustrated by the corresponding walls, such as Doublade for physical sets and specially defensive Gastrodon for special sets. Pokemon that cannot directly damage Lucario should be careful of being set up on, however.
**Revenge Killers**: Lucario is very slow, making it an easy target for revenge killers when it lacks boosts for its priority. Faster Pokemon such as Victini, Landorus-T, and Mega Pinsir while healthy or those that resist Extreme Speed such as Mega Diancie and Terrakion can take even a +2 Extreme Speed and OHKO Lucario.
**Zapdos**: Zapdos can generally beat most special Lucario, since it resists Lucario's STAB moves and Dark Pulse does very little, with even Discharge if it lacks Heat Wave. However, Zapdos cannot safely switch into physical sets, as Close Combat after a Swords Dance will 2HKO.
**Ground-types**: Most Ground-type Pokemon are naturally bulky, such as Garchomp and Landorus, and those that are faster than Lucario can switch into one unboosted hit to OHKO Lucario back with super effective STAB moves.
**Flying-types**: Although sometimes unable to switch into physical Lucario, Flying-type Pokemon such as Thundurus and Mega Charizard Y can generally check unboosted Lucario with their powerful STAB attacks.
**Fire- and Fighting-types**: Although they must be wary of boosted Extreme Speed and cannot switch into even resisted attacks, faster Fire- or Fighting-type Pokemon can easily revenge kill Lucario with their STAB attacks.
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