Pokemon Sword and Shield

Lucario - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Lucario.png

Lucario Movesets in Other Games
Pokemon Scarlet LogoSV Pokemon SWSH LogoSWSH

This is a strategy guide for using Lucario in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, Builds, and Held Items to use with Lucario, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Lucario - Related Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Lucario Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SWSH - Lucario Best BuildBuild for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Lucario

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Fighting Type Pokemon Sword and Shield - Steel Type
Abilities
Inner Focus The Pokemon is protected from flinching.
Steadfast Raises Speed each time the Pokemon Flinches.
Justified (Hidden) Raises Attack when hit by a Dark-type move.

Lucario Weaknesses and Resistances

Type
Takes 4x damage
-
Takes 2x damage
Pokemon Fire Image Pokemon Fighting Image Pokemon Ground Image
Takes 0.5x damage
Pokemon Normal Image Pokemon Grass Image Pokemon Ice Image Pokemon Dragon Image Pokemon Dark Image Pokemon Steel Image
Takes 1/4x damage
Pokemon Bug Image Pokemon Rock Image
Takes 0x damage
Pokemon Poison Image

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP Attack Defense Sp. Atk Sp. Def Speed
70 110 70 115 70 90

Best Nature for Lucario

Best Natures
Jolly
(+Spd, -SpAtk)
Adamant
(+Atk, -SpAtk)
Timid
(+Spd, -Atk)
Modest
(+SpAtk, -Atk)
Naive
(+Spd, -SpDef)

What are Natures?

How to Learn Lucario's Egg Moves

Bullet Punch Inherit from Hitmonchan (learns at Lv. 1) or Pangoro (learns at Lv. 1)
Vacuum Wave Inherit from Hitmonchan (learns at Lv. 1)

Singles Movesets for Lucario

Physical Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Physical Attacker Lucario.png

Nature Jolly (+Spd, -SpAtk)
EV Spread HP 4 / Atk. 252 / Spd. 252
Final Stat Values HP 146 / Atk. 162 / Def. 90 / Sp. Def. 90 / Spd. 156
Ability Inner Focus
Held Item Focus Sash
Moveset Close Combat
Meteor Mash
Extreme Speed
Ice Punch

This moveset focuses on Lucario's high Attack and Speed to maximize its potential as a Physical attacker. It can learn moves from a variety of types, so you can configure his moveset to handle the types you want to counter and match him easily with other Pokemon in your party.

Other Viable Moves

Counter Effective against physical attackers. Can return double the damage taken by an attack, enough to defeat most Pokemon.
Thunder Punch Can be used against Water-type Pokemon.
Bullet Punch A STAB Fighting-type move.
Swords Dance Thanks to Focus Sash, it can definitely be used at least once. With Lucario's high base Speed, it's easy to hit back even after hanging on with Focus Sash.
Stone Edge Rock-type move effective against Fire and Flying-types. As it won't take damage from the Sandstorm created by Max Rockfall, it's easy to use without worrying about timing.

Special Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Special Attacker Lucario.png

Nature Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread HP 4 / Sp. Atk. 252 / Spd. 252
Final Stat Values HP 146 / Def. 90 / Sp. Atk. 167 / Sp. Def. 90 / Spd. 156
Ability Inner Focus
Held Item Focus Sash
Moveset Aura Sphere
Flash Cannon
Vacuum Wave
Dark Pulse

As its Special Attack is slightly higher than its Attack, Lucario is also highly capable as a Special Attacker. Although it only learns moves from a few types, it can learn moves with high power in its own types, allowing to deal heavy STAB damage.

Other Viable Moves

Nasty Plot Thanks to Focus Sash, it can definitely be used at least once. With Lucario's high base Speed, it's easy to hit back even after hanging on with Focus Sash.
Counter Effective against physical attackers. Can return double the damage taken by an attack, enough to defeat most Pokemon.
Psychic Fewer opportunities to use than Dark Pulse, but when Dynamaxed, it can set up Psychic Terrain with Max Mindstorm. This will prevent Lucario from being knocked out by priority moves after holding on with Focus Sash.
Steel Beam Powerful Steel-type move, though it cuts your HP in half, so it's important to time its usage well.

How to Use Lucario Effectively

Can either be a Physical Attacker or Special Attacker

Lucario with its high Speed can either be a Physical Attacker or a Special Attacker. Its move pool supports both roles, and can learn corresponding STAB moves, whether physical or special.

Handle with care as Lucario is durable

Even though Lucario resists damage from a couple of types due to its Steel typing, its Defense and Special Defense is not that high. Keep this in mind when assigning the main attacker role to Lucario.

Counters for Lucario

Lucario
Weakness Pokemon Fire Image Pokemon Fighting Image Pokemon Ground Image

Use Pokemon with effective type matchups

Lucario's HP and defensive stats are rather middling, which gives an opening for a powerful super effective move to faint it in one hit. As long as you have a Pokemon who can weather Lucario's hits, you won't have too much trouble taking Lucario out.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Zapdos ImageZapdos Ranking: ★★★★★
・Can resist Steel- and Fighting-type moves by half.
・Generally an excellent attacker against Lucario.
Moveset & Best Build for Zapdos
Pokemon SWSH - Aegislash ImageAegislash Ranking: ★★★★★
・Its Ghost typing makes it immune to Lucario's Fighting-type moves.
・Can use Fighting-type moves to hit Lucario's weak spot.
Moveset & Best Build for Aegislash
Pokemon SWSH - Chandelure ImageChandelure Ranking: ★★★★
・Its Ghost typing makes it immune to Lucario's Fighting-type moves.
・Can use Fire-type moves to hit Lucario's weak spot.
Moveset & Best Build for Chandelure
Pokemon SWSH - Heat Rotom ImageHeat Rotom Ranking: ★★★
・Can use Will-o-Wisp to cripple Attack-focused Lucarios.
・Can use Overheat to hit Lucario's weak spot.
Moveset & Best Build for Heat Rotom

Use a defensive Pokemon to wall it

When attempting to wall Lucario, be sure to use a Pokemon which is both Physically and Specially defensive, as Lucario is capable of either style of attack. However, as Lucario is typically seen as a Physical attacker, having a Pokemon who can handle Physical attacks well will be most important for dealing with Lucario.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Galarian Corsola ImageGalarian Corsola Ranking: ★★★★★
・Its Ghost typing makes it immune to Lucario's Fighting-type moves.
・Can use Will-o-Wisp to cripple Attack-focused Lucarios.
Moveset & Best Build for Galarian Corsola
Pokemon SWSH - Cresselia ImageCresselia Ranking: ★★★★
・High Defense and Special Defense.
・Fighting-type moves are resisted by half.
Moveset & Best Build for Cresselia
Pokemon SWSH - Toxapex ImageToxapex Ranking: ★★★★
・It can take most of Lucario's attacks with reduced damage
・Can use Scald to inflict heavy damage with the chance of a Burn
Moveset & Best Build for Toxapex
Pokemon SWSH - Quagsire ImageQuagsire Ranking: ★★★
・Can wall with high defensive stats.
・Can use Scald to inflict heavy damage with the chance of a Burn.
Moveset & Best Build for Quagsire
Pokemon SWSH - Gastrodon ImageGastrodon Ranking: ★★★
・Can wall with high defensive stats.
・Can use Scald to inflict heavy damage with the chance of a Burn.
Moveset & Best Build for Gastrodon

Related Links

Pokemon Sword and Shield - Best Builds for Ranked Battle

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Tier ListTier List Pokemon SWSH - Best BuildsBest Builds Pokemon Sword and Shield - Ranked Battle Series 10 Contenders.pngSeries 10 List of Contenders
Pokemon SWSH - Doubles Tier ListDoubles Tier List Pokemon SWSH - Competitive Team BuildingTeam Building Pokemon SWSH - Rental TeamsRental Teams

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Comment

3 Anonymousover 3 years

What should i do for whimsicott beat up and lucorio do i just do normal attack evs and speed evs

2 WilderBlade over 4 years

Same as physical lucario but switch out Atk for Satk...

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