masterpiece by my good friend Haok
[OVERVIEW]
By virtue of its access to the rare Extreme Speed paired with Swords Dance and a decent offensive typing, Lucario carves out a small niche as a setup sweeper that can revenge kill faster threats like Galarian Zapdos and Maushold. Its ample coverage also makes it difficult for defensive staples like Galarian Weezing and Slowbro to handle it reliably. However, Lucario's poor bulk and mediocre initial power make it difficult to find setup opportunities, especially if it forgoes Air Balloon for Life Orb's extra power. It also struggles with an awkward Speed tier, causing it to rely heavily on Extreme Speed; as such, faster Ghost-types like Gengar and Mimikyu are able to revenge kill it with ease. Additionally, it often has to choose between a secondary STAB move to hit Fairy-types like Galarian Weezing and Fezandipiti and Crunch to hit Psychic- and Ghost-types like Slowbro, Reuniclus, and Basculegion-F. Lucario also faces competition from other physical setup sweepers, especially those that have priority; Mimikyu has a better typing and defensive utility with Disguise, while Bisharp has superior bulk and power.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Meteor Mash / Crunch
move 4: Extreme Speed
item: Life Orb / Air Balloon
ability: Inner Focus
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Normal
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Lucario's access to the elusive combination of Swords Dance and Extreme Speed makes it a terrifying sweeper and revenge killer in the right circumstances. Meteor Mash serves as a powerful, if somewhat inaccurate, STAB move that targets Fairy-types like Galarian Weezing and Fezandipiti, with the occasional Attack boost being a nice bonus that can further bolster Lucario's power. Crunch is a reliable coverage option that can be used to hit Psychic-types like Slowbro and Cresselia as well as Basculegion-F, which otherwise walls it. Life Orb further bolsters Lucario's power at the cost of gradually wearing it down throughout the game; after a Swords Dance, it enables Lucario to guarantee a OHKO on Volcanion and Jirachi with Close Combat as well as Nasty Plot Mew with Crunch after chip damage. Air Balloon can instead be used as a means to set up against Gastrodon, Hippowdon lacking Whirlwind, and Krookodile lacking Close Combat as well as momentarily taking on Mamoswine. It also provides Lucario temporary protection from Spikes and Sticky Web. Inner Focus is used to block Intimidate from Salamence and Krookodile while also blocking flinches from Jirachi's Iron Head. Tera Normal bolsters Extreme Speed's power; with a Life Orb, this lets Lucario OHKO Galarian Zapdos and Noivern with the move after a Swords Dance.
Lucario provides offensive structures, particularly hyper offense teams, with a potent revenge killer and setup sweeper. Other physically offensive threats, like Salamence, Gyarados, Mimikyu, and Maushold, can help Lucario wear down shared checks like Gastrodon and Hippowdon. Maushold in particular can remove entry hazards with Tidy Up, which is especially appreciated by Life Orb variants due to their tendency to get worn down. Life Orb Lucario also appreciates entry hazard setters with Taunt, such as Mew and Terrakion, as they can help wear down the opposing team with the entry hazards they set while preventing the opponent from getting hazards up. Lucario makes for a great partner with Armarouge due to its ability to take on the likes of Assault Vest Cyclizar, Hisuian Goodra, and Umbreon while also taking care of opposing priority users like Feraligatr with Extreme Speed. In return, Armarouge is able to exploit and eliminate physically defensive Pokemon like Slowbro and Registeel. Other specially offensive threats like Gardevoir and Gengar can dent and possibly cripple the physical walls that Lucario struggles with while also appreciating Lucario's ability to take care of opposing revenge killers.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Lucario's solid Special Attack and wide special movepool makes a Nasty Plot set with Vacuum Wave a usable option. However, it faces stiff competition from other special setup sweepers, like Mew and Armarouge, while the lacking power of Vacuum Wave makes it less effective at revenge killing. A Choice Band set can be used for more immediate power while letting Lucario fit an extra attacking move. Justified can be used over Inner Focus in order to punish Knock Off from the likes of Cyclizar and Krookodile. Bullet Punch is significantly weaker than Extreme Speed but lets Lucario revenge kill Ghost-types like Mimikyu and Gengar, though both need to have been worn down to be KOed by the move.
Checks and Counters
====
**Ground-types**: Hippowdon, Gastrodon, and Gligar have the bulk to take even a boosted hit from Lucario before retaliating with a super-effective STAB Move or, in the case of Hippowdon, force it out with Whirlwind. Quagsire is also able to completely ignore Lucario's Swords Dance boosts and KO it with Earthquake, though it is completely walled if Lucario's Air Balloon is intact.
**Ghost-types**: Gengar and Mimikyu are immune to Extreme Speed and naturally outspeed Lucario, letting them revenge kill it with their powerful attacks. Basculegion-F walls non-Crunch variants and can run Choice Scarf to outspeed and revenge kill Lucario. Additionally, Tera Ghost from defensive Pokemon like Registeel can prevent Lucario from sweeping.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: If running Meteor Mash, Lucario is completely walled by Slowbro, which can cripple it with Thunder Wave or Scald burns. Galarian Weezing can stop Crunch variants in their tracks with its high bulk and Will-O-Wisp. Chesnaught is able to take even a boosted Close Combat from Lucario before KOing it with Body Press.
**Status**: Talonflame can survive a non-Tera Normal Extreme Speed and punish Lucario with either Will-O-Wisp or Flame Body. Paralysis from Jirachi's Body Slam as well as Thunder Wave from the likes of Cresselia and Slowbro can also annoy Lucario, forcing it to rely more on Extreme Speed.
**Chip Damage**: Lucario is prone to being worn down by a combination of Life Orb recoil, Spikes, and Rocky Helmet held by defensive Pokemon like Galarian Weezing, Slowbro, and Hippowdon. When combined with its poor bulk, the residual damage leaves Lucario vulnerable to being picked off by even defensive Pokemon like Amoonguss and Cresselia.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bice.236507/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/heatranator.647728/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rarelyme.513635/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
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