QC Approvals: PK Gaming, ShootinStarmie, Plus
GP Checks: Electrolyte
Overview
########
With the introduction of Mega Evolutions, Lucario was one the few Pokemon to be given a Mega Evolution. Its Mega Evolution sports offensive stats of 145 Attack, 140 Special Attack and 112 Speed, Lucario is one of the most dangerous and feared Pokemon of this generation. Mega Lucario's ability, Adaptability, turns all its STAB moves insanely powerful and very difficult to switch into.
Lucario has all the tools to be the most threatening Pokemon in the game with a new ability and more powerful stats to abuse its large movepool. A Nasty Plot set is now more viable due to the speed tier the Mega Lucario is in, being able to outspeed many of the Pokemon that would have given the set issues. Other sets such as Agility or a Mixed Attacker are good options but are more difficult to pull of successfully. The major downside with Lucario is it possesses one of the worst cases of four moveslot syndrome. Lucario just can't beat enough with just four moves there will be always be something that will pose to be an issue. Because of this is Lucario can be checked or countered by scouting for it's coverage moves.
Mega Nasty Plot
########
name: Mega Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Aura Sphere
move 3: Flash Cannon
move 4: Dark Pulse / Vacuum Wave
ability: Inner Focus
item: Lucarionite
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
========
This set is meant to be used late game to sweep teams once some ground work has been done. Nasty Plot is your boosting move for this particular set, letting Lucario be able to take advantage of a forced switch and secure KOs at +2 that you wouldn't without the boost. Aura Sphere is used as one of your main STAB moves to take advantage of Adatability. Flash Cannon will hit everything that that resists Fighting, such as Gliscor, Landorus-T and Fairy type Pokemon, all of which are all hit very hard by it. Dark Pulse is the preferred last move to be able to deal with Ghost-types, Latias, Latios and Aegislash, all of which are not hit hard enough by Flash Cannon or Aura Sphere. Vacuum Wave can be used over Dark Pulse if the previously mentioned Pokemon are handled by the rest of the team to give you a way to hit Sand Rush Excadrill in the Sand and Choice Scarf users that try to revenge kill Lucario.
Set Details
========
The EVs are meant to maximize Lucario's offensive power and sweeping abilities. With 252 Speed EVs and a Timid nature, you outspeed everything that is between base 100- and base 110 Speed that poses a threat to you. Garchomp, Landorus-I, Keldeo, Terrakion (if you lack Vacuum Wave), Latios and Latias can either OHKO you with the appropriate move or heavily damage you. Lucarionite is the item used here to take advantage of Adaptability, the speed and the Special Attacking stat. Running Justified as Lucario's ability is an option here as well to bluff a physical SD set and to lure in physical walls.
Usage Tips
========
Generally, Lucario should be sent out late game against something that it can immediately threaten out and can set up a Nasty Plot against. To achieve a sweep, you will want to have Stealth Rock up to get some chip damage to wear down opponents and bring them into a range where Lucario can clean with little resistance. Spikes are also useful for this job as the consistent damage against opponents will rack up very quickly and make Lucario's sweeping job much easier.
Before attempting to set up with Lucario, you must take down or weaken problematic Pokemon from the opposing team. Things like Mandibuzz, Zapdos, and Mega Venusaur need to be severely weakened for Lucario to be able to take them out at +2 with the appropriate move. Common Scarfers such as Diggersby, Keldeo, Terrakion, and Garchomp all need to be either taken out or removed depending on whether or not you chose to use Vacuum Wave over Dark Pulse. If you don't have Dark Pulse, Aegislash and most Ghost-types need to be weakened or taken out. If Lucario lacks priority, opposing Choice Scarf users need to be removed.
Due to its less-than-desirable bulk, getting Lucario in safely is important to avoid taking unnecessary damage. Pairing Lucario with VoltTurn users is a great way to do this, as they keep up offensive pressure to prevent opponents from removing hazards and also force switches and wear down the opponent with entry hazard damage.
Because turn order is decided before both players pick their moves, a Pokemon retains his initial speed on the turn he Mega Evolves. This is especially important to note for Lucario because of the many threats that reside between his initial base 90 speed and the base 112 speed of his Mega Evolution. Thus, it is recommended to send Lucario in on slower Pokemon who cannot do much damage to him as he boosts up and Mega Evolves. Be warned, though, that many of these slower defensive Pokemon often carry status moves such as Thunder Wave or Will-O-Wisp which may prematurely end your sweep. In particular, Pokemon who are weak to Lucario's STAB attacks, such as Tyranitar or Blissey, are good for Lucario to set up on, as they will often switch out in fear of being OHKOed.
Team Options
========
Mega Lucario is easily fit on any offensive or balanced team, acting as the primary sweeper or the wallbreaker for another Pokemon to clean up what is the left of the opposing team. Good teammates for Mega Lucario are those who are able to remove its checks. Partners such as Tyranitar and Rotom-W are able to beat and check threats like Gyarados, Talonflame, and Zapdos. A trapper such as Gothitelle is an excellent choice as it's able to trap Pokemon like Keldeo and Terrakion if they have locked themselves into a move that cannot knock out Gothitelle before they are knocked out first. Mixed Aegislash is a good partner as it can work with Lucario to break down each other's checks, such as Zapdos and Hippowdon. Thundurus-I is able to switch in on predicted Earthquakes aimed at Lucario from the likes of Excadrill or Garchomp and be able to threaten both with an OHKO. Thundurus is also able to provide paralysis support to slow down Choice Scarf users, notably Genesect and Keldeo.
Mega Swords Dance
########
name: Mega Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Crunch / Ice Punch
move 4: Extreme Speed / Bullet Punch
ability: Justified
item: Lucarionite
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
========
Close Combat is Lucario's strongest STAB move, with Adaptability anything that isn't bulky and resist fighting will appreciate taking one. Crunch is a good option if you need to have coverage on Ghost-types that will prevent you from spamming Close Combat at will. If Ghost-types are handled by the rest of the team, Ice Punch can be considered over Crunch to be able to hit Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Zapdos. The last moveslot is used on a priority move in either ExtremeSpeed or Bullet Punch. ExtremeSpeed will allows you to out prioritize Talonflame who come in to revenge kill or check you. Bullet Punch is the other option to hit Terrakion, Fairies and Choice Scarf Gengar.
Set Details
========
The EVs are very straight forward since there really isn't much different to do with Lucario in terms of EV spreads. Running 252 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature will let you outspeed everything from base 100 to base 110 Speed while speed tying other Mega Lucarios. 252 Atk EVs will maximize your attacking power to make the most of Lucario's base 145 Attack stat. Justified is the prefered ability for this set as you can switch in on Dark-type moves and get a boost, making you even more dangerous if you set up a Swords Dance following the Justified boost.
Usage Tips
========
Lucario thrives on offensive teams, but can easily function on slower, bulkier teams, acting as a late game cleaner. When trying to find something to set up on, look for things like Blissey, Forretress, and even Tyranitar. Tyranitar is a bit trickier as you have to be sure that it will switch out, otherwise you risk losing Lucario to an Earthquake or Fire Blast. To ensure that Lucario can sweep without too many hiccups, having Pokemon like Gliscor, Landorus-T, and Mega Venusaur weakened to where Lucario can take them down cleanly and avoid unnecessary damage is extremely beneficial. VoltTurn users such as Rotom-W and Genesect force switching, rack up damage, and find more opportunities for Lucario to try and set up and sweep, and are therefore great partners.
Because turn order is determined before players chose their moves, Pokemon retain their initial speed as they Mega Evolve. This is important because of the many threats between base 90 and base 112 speed tier. With this in mind, Lucario should be set out against slower Pokemon who can't do much damage to him as he boosts up and Mega Evolves. However many of the slower Pokemon often have a status move that will put an end to Lucario's sweep before it even begins. Pokemon who are weak to Lucario's STAB attacks, such as Tyranitar or Blissey, are good for Lucario to set up on, as they will often switch out in fear of being OHKOed.
Team Options
========
When picking teammates and team playstyles that include Lucario, you will likely tend to want to play an offensive or more balanced playstyle. This allows Lucario to have the necessary teammates around him to be able to succeed. Rotom-W and Tyranitar are two prime teammates for Lucario as they can both keep Talonflame, Gyarados, and Zapdos in check or weaken them for Lucario. If you go the Hyper offense route, Deoxys-Defense and Deoxys-Speed have to be considered as they are the best entry hazard setters in the game at the moment.
Strong physical attackers such as Terrakion, Conkeldurr, and Garchomp are all able to lure in Lucario's common checks and wear them down. Sticky Web users are also good options as they make Lucario's revenge killers slower than it so Lucario doesn't fear them nearly as much while trying to sweep. Keldeo, Genesect, and Garchomp are the main targets of Sticky Web for your team, as all three pose a threat. Teammates that can beat the likes of Mega Venusaur, Sableye, and Klefki should also be considered, as those threats either make sweeping more difficult or can cripple Lucario with a burn or a paralysis. Lastly, Gothitelle is yet another great option in order to trap and kill off some of Lucario's checks, such as Skarmory, Hippowdon, and Slowbro.
Swords Dance
########
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Crunch / Ice Punch
move 4: Extreme Speed / Bullet Punch
ability: Justified
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 Def / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
========
Much like the Mega Swords Dance set, the moves on Lucario's regular Swords Dance set are all the same. Close Combat is still your main form of STAB, hitting everything that isn't Flying-type, Fairy-type, or Poison-type for neutral damage. Crunch will give you a way to combat Ghost-type that prevent you from being able to Close Combat. With Crunch, you can catch Gengar on the switch and OHKO it. Crunch will also hit Aegislash, but you do need to be careful of King's Shield as Lucario will lose its boosts or drop down to -2 Attack. If you choose Ice Punch, it will be your primary way of taking out both Landorus-T and Gliscor as you outspeed them and avoid their Earthquake. Since Talonflame is faster and makes a good check to Lucario, Extreme Speed is great to out prioritize its Brave Bird and give you a good chance to OHKO if Talonflame is not running HP investment. Bullet Punch can be used over Extreme Speed if you don't need to hit Talonflame. Bullet Punch will also give you coverage on Terrakion, Choice Scarf Tyranitar, and Fairy-types.
Set Details
========
Once again, the EVs are nothing too special here. You should invest fully in both Attack and Speed to optimize your sweeping potential. Running an Adamant nature will give you will give you the necessary power to sweep when coupled with Life Orb. Due to Lucario's low Speed for an offensive Pokemon, running Adamant doesn't really hurt it in the long run as you can still outpace the immediate slower threats to you such as Dragonite, who is generally also running an Adamant nature. Faster threats are generally dealt with by using Extreme Speed.
Usage Tips
========
Even though Mega Lucario is often better to run in most cases, Lucario's base form is still very viable, especially if you have already used your Mega slot on another Pokemon. In that case, Lucario can play the role of a secondary sweeper, where it would set up and dent the opposing team for another sweeper such as Mega Pinsir . Like all Lucario sets, using it mid-game to late-game is usually the best time for him to be sent out to either wallbreak or attempt a sweep. Setting up on a vulnerable Pokemon such as against a Tyranitar that doesn't carry Earthquake or Fire Blast is the best time to get this done. Lucario in this scenario is safe to be able to set up a Swords Dance. Another example would be Blissey or Chansey that don't have Thunder Wave and will give you and opportunity to set up.
Team Options
========
Things to consider when building a team that has Lucario would be to have Pokemon that account for Talonflame, as Lucario will not be able to operate fully with it lurking in the wings. RestTalk Gyarados handles physical Lucario without too much of an issue and can threaten it with Waterfall or phaze it out with Dragon Tail. To deal with those Pokemon, Rotom-W, Thundurus-I, and Tyranitar can be used to check the previously mentioned threats. Rotom-W gives support with Volt Switch by wearing down the opposing team by forcing switches. Thundurus-I can provide Thunder Wave support to slow down certain threats to allow Lucario to be faster. Thundurus-I can also take a Brave Bird from Talonflame and OHKO with a Thunderbolt after the Brave Bird recoil. Tyranitar keeps Talonflame in check and can set up Stealth Rock to limit Gyarados and Talonflame's entries.
Other Options
########
Since Lucario is very versatile, you can run more sets than those listed here. For example, you could run an Agility set for late game cleaning against weakened offensive teams. After an Agility you would be the fastest Pokemon that is left in the battle. With this set you can't hope to try and break through stall teams, though, as you lack power to do the necessary damage for that job.
Another option would be running a Substitute set with three attacks. This will protect you from faster Pokemon as the Substitute will take the hit and you can then attack them afterwards without losing your Lucario. This set works best with a specially offensive Lucario as there are fewer things that can reliably check it.
Running a mixed set is also viable with Mega Lucario. This set is more focused on wallbreaking rather than sweeping. A moveset of Close Combat, Vacuum Wave, Dark Pulse and Flash Cannon is optimal for this role.
Checks & Counters
########
**Status**:Paralysis is a huge pain for Lucario to try and overcome due to its amazing Speed tier. Without that Speed, Lucario can be easier to revenge kill and deal with. Because of this, things like Thundurus-I and Klefki can be used as checks as they can Thunder Wave Lucario and neuter its sweeping abilities. Burns are also another thing you need to be wary of, especially with the physical sets. Sableye and Scald users are the main ones you need to be careful with, as if you try to set up at the wrong time you could get hit with a Scald burn or a Will-o-Wisp that will render Lucario useless. The specially offensive set doesn't mind the burn but it does put Lucario on a timer and hurts its longevity.
**Choice Scarf users**: Choice Scarf users such as Keldeo, Garchomp, Landorus, Landorus-T, and Genesect are all able to revenge kill Lucario with their respective moves being Secret Sword, Earthquake, or Flamethrower. However, all of these need to be wary of avoiding getting too low on health to avoid being in a range where one of Lucario's priority moves is able to kill them.
**Powerful Priority users**: Talonflame gets a mention as a check due to its priority Brave Bird. Choice Banded Brave Bird does 93.2 - 109.9% (56% chance to OHKO) to 4/0 Mega Lucario, which is an OHKO on regular Lucario. Conkeldurr poses an issue as it's has a chance to OHKO if Lucario has previously used Close Combat. Life Orb Breloom can OHKO Lucario with a Mach Punch
**Bulky Tanks** Zapdos, Moltres, Volcarona, Mega Venusaur and Gyarados are solid checks to Lucario. Zapdos and Moltres are able to wall both the Swords Dance and Nasty Plot sets and are able to take it out with 2 Heatwaves, in the case of Zapdos, or a Flamethrower, in the case of Moltres. RestTalk Gyarados is able to take a +2 Close Combat and OHKO with Earthquake after the Defense drop. While able being handle the Nasty Plot however it cannot KO with Earthquake without some previous damage. Bulkier variants of Volcarona are able to take any hit and set up in front Lucario and threaten with a Fiery Dance or Fire Blast. Mega Venusaur makes a decent check to the both sets, but only if Lucario is unboosted. Without a Swords Dance under its belt, Mega Lucario can only deal 32.6 - 38.7% to Mega Venusaur with a Close Combat, while Mega Venusaur is able to 2HKO back with Earthquake or put Lucario to sleep with Sleep Powder. Aegislash is also another check to Lucario as it forces it into a guessing game to avoid attacking on a King's Shield. With this guessing game, Lucario isn't able to safely set up and risks taking a Sacred Sword and then a dying to a Shadow Sneak.
GP Checks: Electrolyte
Overview
########
With the introduction of Mega Evolutions, Lucario was one the few Pokemon to be given a Mega Evolution. Its Mega Evolution sports offensive stats of 145 Attack, 140 Special Attack and 112 Speed, Lucario is one of the most dangerous and feared Pokemon of this generation. Mega Lucario's ability, Adaptability, turns all its STAB moves insanely powerful and very difficult to switch into.
Lucario has all the tools to be the most threatening Pokemon in the game with a new ability and more powerful stats to abuse its large movepool. A Nasty Plot set is now more viable due to the speed tier the Mega Lucario is in, being able to outspeed many of the Pokemon that would have given the set issues. Other sets such as Agility or a Mixed Attacker are good options but are more difficult to pull of successfully. The major downside with Lucario is it possesses one of the worst cases of four moveslot syndrome. Lucario just can't beat enough with just four moves there will be always be something that will pose to be an issue. Because of this is Lucario can be checked or countered by scouting for it's coverage moves.
Mega Nasty Plot
########
name: Mega Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Aura Sphere
move 3: Flash Cannon
move 4: Dark Pulse / Vacuum Wave
ability: Inner Focus
item: Lucarionite
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
========
This set is meant to be used late game to sweep teams once some ground work has been done. Nasty Plot is your boosting move for this particular set, letting Lucario be able to take advantage of a forced switch and secure KOs at +2 that you wouldn't without the boost. Aura Sphere is used as one of your main STAB moves to take advantage of Adatability. Flash Cannon will hit everything that that resists Fighting, such as Gliscor, Landorus-T and Fairy type Pokemon, all of which are all hit very hard by it. Dark Pulse is the preferred last move to be able to deal with Ghost-types, Latias, Latios and Aegislash, all of which are not hit hard enough by Flash Cannon or Aura Sphere. Vacuum Wave can be used over Dark Pulse if the previously mentioned Pokemon are handled by the rest of the team to give you a way to hit Sand Rush Excadrill in the Sand and Choice Scarf users that try to revenge kill Lucario.
Set Details
========
The EVs are meant to maximize Lucario's offensive power and sweeping abilities. With 252 Speed EVs and a Timid nature, you outspeed everything that is between base 100
Usage Tips
========
Generally, Lucario should be sent out late game against something that it can immediately threaten out and can set up a Nasty Plot against. To achieve a sweep, you will want to have Stealth Rock up to get some chip damage to wear down opponents and bring them into a range where Lucario can clean with little resistance. Spikes are also useful for this job as the consistent damage against opponents will rack up very quickly and make Lucario's sweeping job much easier.
Before attempting to set up with Lucario, you must take down or weaken problematic Pokemon from the opposing team. Things like Mandibuzz, Zapdos, and Mega Venusaur need to be severely weakened for Lucario to be able to take them out at +2 with the appropriate move. Common Scarfers such as Diggersby, Keldeo, Terrakion, and Garchomp all need to be either taken out or removed depending on whether or not you chose to use Vacuum Wave over Dark Pulse. If you don't have Dark Pulse, Aegislash and most Ghost-types need to be weakened or taken out. If Lucario lacks priority, opposing Choice Scarf users need to be removed.
Due to its less-than-desirable bulk, getting Lucario in safely is important to avoid taking unnecessary damage. Pairing Lucario with VoltTurn users is a great way to do this, as they keep up offensive pressure to prevent opponents from removing hazards and also force switches and wear down the opponent with entry hazard damage.
Because turn order is decided before both players pick their moves, a Pokemon retains his initial speed on the turn he Mega Evolves. This is especially important to note for Lucario because of the many threats that reside between his initial base 90 speed and the base 112 speed of his Mega Evolution. Thus, it is recommended to send Lucario in on slower Pokemon who cannot do much damage to him as he boosts up and Mega Evolves. Be warned, though, that many of these slower defensive Pokemon often carry status moves such as Thunder Wave or Will-O-Wisp which may prematurely end your sweep. In particular, Pokemon who are weak to Lucario's STAB attacks, such as Tyranitar or Blissey, are good for Lucario to set up on, as they will often switch out in fear of being OHKOed.
Team Options
========
Mega Lucario is easily fit on any offensive or balanced team, acting as the primary sweeper or the wallbreaker for another Pokemon to clean up what is the left of the opposing team. Good teammates for Mega Lucario are those who are able to remove its checks. Partners such as Tyranitar and Rotom-W are able to beat and check threats like Gyarados, Talonflame, and Zapdos. A trapper such as Gothitelle is an excellent choice as it's able to trap Pokemon like Keldeo and Terrakion if they have locked themselves into a move that cannot knock out Gothitelle before they are knocked out first. Mixed Aegislash is a good partner as it can work with Lucario to break down each other's checks, such as Zapdos and Hippowdon. Thundurus-I is able to switch in on predicted Earthquakes aimed at Lucario from the likes of Excadrill or Garchomp and be able to threaten both with an OHKO. Thundurus is also able to provide paralysis support to slow down Choice Scarf users, notably Genesect and Keldeo.
Mega Swords Dance
########
name: Mega Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Crunch / Ice Punch
move 4: Extreme Speed / Bullet Punch
ability: Justified
item: Lucarionite
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
========
Close Combat is Lucario's strongest STAB move, with Adaptability anything that isn't bulky and resist fighting will appreciate taking one. Crunch is a good option if you need to have coverage on Ghost-types that will prevent you from spamming Close Combat at will. If Ghost-types are handled by the rest of the team, Ice Punch can be considered over Crunch to be able to hit Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Zapdos. The last moveslot is used on a priority move in either ExtremeSpeed or Bullet Punch. ExtremeSpeed will allows you to out prioritize Talonflame who come in to revenge kill or check you. Bullet Punch is the other option to hit Terrakion, Fairies and Choice Scarf Gengar.
Set Details
========
The EVs are very straight forward since there really isn't much different to do with Lucario in terms of EV spreads. Running 252 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature will let you outspeed everything from base 100 to base 110 Speed while speed tying other Mega Lucarios. 252 Atk EVs will maximize your attacking power to make the most of Lucario's base 145 Attack stat. Justified is the prefered ability for this set as you can switch in on Dark-type moves and get a boost, making you even more dangerous if you set up a Swords Dance following the Justified boost.
Usage Tips
========
Lucario thrives on offensive teams, but can easily function on slower, bulkier teams, acting as a late game cleaner. When trying to find something to set up on, look for things like Blissey, Forretress, and even Tyranitar. Tyranitar is a bit trickier as you have to be sure that it will switch out, otherwise you risk losing Lucario to an Earthquake or Fire Blast. To ensure that Lucario can sweep without too many hiccups, having Pokemon like Gliscor, Landorus-T, and Mega Venusaur weakened to where Lucario can take them down cleanly and avoid unnecessary damage is extremely beneficial. VoltTurn users such as Rotom-W and Genesect force switching, rack up damage, and find more opportunities for Lucario to try and set up and sweep, and are therefore great partners.
Because turn order is determined before players chose their moves, Pokemon retain their initial speed as they Mega Evolve. This is important because of the many threats between base 90 and base 112 speed tier. With this in mind, Lucario should be set out against slower Pokemon who can't do much damage to him as he boosts up and Mega Evolves. However many of the slower Pokemon often have a status move that will put an end to Lucario's sweep before it even begins. Pokemon who are weak to Lucario's STAB attacks, such as Tyranitar or Blissey, are good for Lucario to set up on, as they will often switch out in fear of being OHKOed.
Team Options
========
When picking teammates and team playstyles that include Lucario, you will likely tend to want to play an offensive or more balanced playstyle. This allows Lucario to have the necessary teammates around him to be able to succeed. Rotom-W and Tyranitar are two prime teammates for Lucario as they can both keep Talonflame, Gyarados, and Zapdos in check or weaken them for Lucario. If you go the Hyper offense route, Deoxys-Defense and Deoxys-Speed have to be considered as they are the best entry hazard setters in the game at the moment.
Strong physical attackers such as Terrakion, Conkeldurr, and Garchomp are all able to lure in Lucario's common checks and wear them down. Sticky Web users are also good options as they make Lucario's revenge killers slower than it so Lucario doesn't fear them nearly as much while trying to sweep. Keldeo, Genesect, and Garchomp are the main targets of Sticky Web for your team, as all three pose a threat. Teammates that can beat the likes of Mega Venusaur, Sableye, and Klefki should also be considered, as those threats either make sweeping more difficult or can cripple Lucario with a burn or a paralysis. Lastly, Gothitelle is yet another great option in order to trap and kill off some of Lucario's checks, such as Skarmory, Hippowdon, and Slowbro.
Swords Dance
########
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Crunch / Ice Punch
move 4: Extreme Speed / Bullet Punch
ability: Justified
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 Def / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
========
Much like the Mega Swords Dance set, the moves on Lucario's regular Swords Dance set are all the same. Close Combat is still your main form of STAB, hitting everything that isn't Flying-type, Fairy-type, or Poison-type for neutral damage. Crunch will give you a way to combat Ghost-type that prevent you from being able to Close Combat. With Crunch, you can catch Gengar on the switch and OHKO it. Crunch will also hit Aegislash, but you do need to be careful of King's Shield as Lucario will lose its boosts or drop down to -2 Attack. If you choose Ice Punch, it will be your primary way of taking out both Landorus-T and Gliscor as you outspeed them and avoid their Earthquake. Since Talonflame is faster and makes a good check to Lucario, Extreme Speed is great to out prioritize its Brave Bird and give you a good chance to OHKO if Talonflame is not running HP investment. Bullet Punch can be used over Extreme Speed if you don't need to hit Talonflame. Bullet Punch will also give you coverage on Terrakion, Choice Scarf Tyranitar, and Fairy-types.
Set Details
========
Once again, the EVs are nothing too special here. You should invest fully in both Attack and Speed to optimize your sweeping potential. Running an Adamant nature will give you will give you the necessary power to sweep when coupled with Life Orb. Due to Lucario's low Speed for an offensive Pokemon, running Adamant doesn't really hurt it in the long run as you can still outpace the immediate slower threats to you such as Dragonite, who is generally also running an Adamant nature. Faster threats are generally dealt with by using Extreme Speed.
Usage Tips
========
Even though Mega Lucario is often better to run in most cases, Lucario's base form is still very viable, especially if you have already used your Mega slot on another Pokemon. In that case, Lucario can play the role of a secondary sweeper, where it would set up and dent the opposing team for another sweeper such as Mega Pinsir . Like all Lucario sets, using it mid-game to late-game is usually the best time for him to be sent out to either wallbreak or attempt a sweep. Setting up on a vulnerable Pokemon such as against a Tyranitar that doesn't carry Earthquake or Fire Blast is the best time to get this done. Lucario in this scenario is safe to be able to set up a Swords Dance. Another example would be Blissey or Chansey that don't have Thunder Wave and will give you and opportunity to set up.
Team Options
========
Things to consider when building a team that has Lucario would be to have Pokemon that account for Talonflame, as Lucario will not be able to operate fully with it lurking in the wings. RestTalk Gyarados handles physical Lucario without too much of an issue and can threaten it with Waterfall or phaze it out with Dragon Tail. To deal with those Pokemon, Rotom-W, Thundurus-I, and Tyranitar can be used to check the previously mentioned threats. Rotom-W gives support with Volt Switch by wearing down the opposing team by forcing switches. Thundurus-I can provide Thunder Wave support to slow down certain threats to allow Lucario to be faster. Thundurus-I can also take a Brave Bird from Talonflame and OHKO with a Thunderbolt after the Brave Bird recoil. Tyranitar keeps Talonflame in check and can set up Stealth Rock to limit Gyarados and Talonflame's entries.
Other Options
########
Since Lucario is very versatile, you can run more sets than those listed here. For example, you could run an Agility set for late game cleaning against weakened offensive teams. After an Agility you would be the fastest Pokemon that is left in the battle. With this set you can't hope to try and break through stall teams, though, as you lack power to do the necessary damage for that job.
Another option would be running a Substitute set with three attacks. This will protect you from faster Pokemon as the Substitute will take the hit and you can then attack them afterwards without losing your Lucario. This set works best with a specially offensive Lucario as there are fewer things that can reliably check it.
Running a mixed set is also viable with Mega Lucario. This set is more focused on wallbreaking rather than sweeping. A moveset of Close Combat, Vacuum Wave, Dark Pulse and Flash Cannon is optimal for this role.
Checks & Counters
########
**Status**:Paralysis is a huge pain for Lucario to try and overcome due to its amazing Speed tier. Without that Speed, Lucario can be easier to revenge kill and deal with. Because of this, things like Thundurus-I and Klefki can be used as checks as they can Thunder Wave Lucario and neuter its sweeping abilities. Burns are also another thing you need to be wary of, especially with the physical sets. Sableye and Scald users are the main ones you need to be careful with, as if you try to set up at the wrong time you could get hit with a Scald burn or a Will-o-Wisp that will render Lucario useless. The specially offensive set doesn't mind the burn but it does put Lucario on a timer and hurts its longevity.
**Choice Scarf users**: Choice Scarf users such as Keldeo, Garchomp, Landorus, Landorus-T, and Genesect are all able to revenge kill Lucario with their respective moves being Secret Sword, Earthquake, or Flamethrower. However, all of these need to be wary of avoiding getting too low on health to avoid being in a range where one of Lucario's priority moves is able to kill them.
**Powerful Priority users**: Talonflame gets a mention as a check due to its priority Brave Bird. Choice Banded Brave Bird does 93.2 - 109.9% (56% chance to OHKO) to 4/0 Mega Lucario, which is an OHKO on regular Lucario. Conkeldurr poses an issue as it's has a chance to OHKO if Lucario has previously used Close Combat. Life Orb Breloom can OHKO Lucario with a Mach Punch
**Bulky Tanks** Zapdos, Moltres, Volcarona, Mega Venusaur and Gyarados are solid checks to Lucario. Zapdos and Moltres are able to wall both the Swords Dance and Nasty Plot sets and are able to take it out with 2 Heatwaves, in the case of Zapdos, or a Flamethrower, in the case of Moltres. RestTalk Gyarados is able to take a +2 Close Combat and OHKO with Earthquake after the Defense drop. While able being handle the Nasty Plot however it cannot KO with Earthquake without some previous damage. Bulkier variants of Volcarona are able to take any hit and set up in front Lucario and threaten with a Fiery Dance or Fire Blast. Mega Venusaur makes a decent check to the both sets, but only if Lucario is unboosted. Without a Swords Dance under its belt, Mega Lucario can only deal 32.6 - 38.7% to Mega Venusaur with a Close Combat, while Mega Venusaur is able to 2HKO back with Earthquake or put Lucario to sleep with Sleep Powder. Aegislash is also another check to Lucario as it forces it into a guessing game to avoid attacking on a King's Shield. With this guessing game, Lucario isn't able to safely set up and risks taking a Sacred Sword and then a dying to a Shadow Sneak.
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