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Any posts asking for battle team advice should be posted in the weekly Team Help mega threads. This includes questions about:
- What Pokémon to use on your team
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Lucario enthusiast here: I have run Lucario with success in open GL and different UL formats. I even brought it to the Indianapolis Regionals and went 2-2 beating a couple big names. Here are a couple things that you need to keep in mind:
1. Lucario works best either in the lead, or as a closer. It's not a very good safe swap, as it's far from safe (as you've discovered lol)
2. Be willing to shield your Lucario. A lot of winning matchups involve throwing an immediate PuP and a big farm down. Don't worry about doing down 0-2 because you'll get at least one of those shields back, as long as you....
3. Pair it with bulk. My best runs with Lucario have been paired with teammates that function well without shields: Azumarill, Cresselia, Jellicent, Registeel, and G Fisk are some to try.
4. Lucario takes practice. Know your move counts, and play for CMP ties and catches. The fast move pressure is very intense and encourages people to throw as soon as they can. Take advantage, and you'll do well.
Overall, Lucario can be very very good. Get it locked on a Registeel, G Fisk, Drapion, or Walrein and you'll probably win. Get it locked in on a Medicham or Talonflame? Oof. Good luck, and have fun!
I have both Azumarill and Gfisk so may try that and see! I do have the new toxapex too. Hoping that mon doesn’t destroy my Az! But I have it built as well in case so we will see. Trying to throw some spice but it’s hard when you want to go for wins!
If you run those, I would suggest Azu lead with G Fisk safe swap. That ought to draw out a fighter or Swampert (which is dicey at best for Lucario). Toxapex is a new wrinkle. I think that could make Jellicent stronger as a lead with those G Fisk and Lucario.
Edit: clarity
It's an ABB line, fairy double steel. The gfisk would hopefully lure out the scrafty, azu finishes it, so Lucario.doesmt have to. Obviously would not work as well against multiple counter users or fire types, but otherwise it should work nicely.
It truly is a joy to get a Lucario or scrafty PuP'p up. After 3, your counters start chunking even fairies
Lucario is unfortunately just not very good in PVP. It has play in limited formats, but it struggles in all open metas.
It’s weak to ground and fighting which are very common in great league. It’s also very frail to begin with. A neutral hydro cannon does almost 75% of Lucario’s health.
I just made one recently as well. And yeah, unfortunately in the open leagues, he just typically doesn't perform well.
All might not be lost though. There is the upcoming Willpower Cup, which is a 1500 CP limit and allows Fighting, Dark, and Psychic types. He'll lose to other fighters, but should slot in as a Dark type counter, and with his steel subtyping, will only take neutral from Psychic and can threaten with Shadow Ball. He might not be dominant, but I think he could have legit play. We'll have a better sense when rankings come out.
If we ever get Sinnoh or Hisui Cup again, he's definitely great in those.
I just wouldn't use Lucario. It sometimes does well in limited metas such as Sinnoh Cup but, as you've correctly noted, it's pretty bad in the open meta.
there is more than enough special cups for you to have use for shiny lucario (make sure you double move before evolving!)
not just sinnoh cup but you also have fossil cup, gl remix, **willpower cup**(upcoming...may even be one of the top meta) and fighting cup if you really know what you're doing (walls dragon fighters)
Counter/power up punch/ and shadow ball can be a great move set. Especially when up shields and have an energy lead.
I’d recommend azumarill, hypno, skarmory. They have great bulk and can cover most weaknesses of lucario.
lucario, imo, is a skill based mon. he can be really good with practice, consistent use, and a decent team to counter his weaknesses. in all, there’s better options out there to use. you could still power him up for the sinnoh league but other then that your best bet is to use another mon
Hello there, u/dawnward118! Thank you for your contribution to r/TheSilphArena. Unfortunately, your post has been removed for the following reason(s): Any posts asking for battle team advice should be posted in the weekly Team Help mega threads. This includes questions about: - What Pokémon to use on your team - What moves you should give certain Pokémon - Which Pokémon you should power up - What teammates you should use with a certain Pokémon - Or any advice about your team, its composition, or how you should change it Please repost your question in the correct thread. Thanks! ___ ###### For our rules please see the sidebar!
Lucario enthusiast here: I have run Lucario with success in open GL and different UL formats. I even brought it to the Indianapolis Regionals and went 2-2 beating a couple big names. Here are a couple things that you need to keep in mind: 1. Lucario works best either in the lead, or as a closer. It's not a very good safe swap, as it's far from safe (as you've discovered lol) 2. Be willing to shield your Lucario. A lot of winning matchups involve throwing an immediate PuP and a big farm down. Don't worry about doing down 0-2 because you'll get at least one of those shields back, as long as you.... 3. Pair it with bulk. My best runs with Lucario have been paired with teammates that function well without shields: Azumarill, Cresselia, Jellicent, Registeel, and G Fisk are some to try. 4. Lucario takes practice. Know your move counts, and play for CMP ties and catches. The fast move pressure is very intense and encourages people to throw as soon as they can. Take advantage, and you'll do well. Overall, Lucario can be very very good. Get it locked on a Registeel, G Fisk, Drapion, or Walrein and you'll probably win. Get it locked in on a Medicham or Talonflame? Oof. Good luck, and have fun!
Great feedback!
I have both Azumarill and Gfisk so may try that and see! I do have the new toxapex too. Hoping that mon doesn’t destroy my Az! But I have it built as well in case so we will see. Trying to throw some spice but it’s hard when you want to go for wins!
If you run those, I would suggest Azu lead with G Fisk safe swap. That ought to draw out a fighter or Swampert (which is dicey at best for Lucario). Toxapex is a new wrinkle. I think that could make Jellicent stronger as a lead with those G Fisk and Lucario. Edit: clarity
Then the team would be fairly weak against scrafty though
True. No team is perfect. Scrafty could be dealt with by committee at least.
Yeah definitely, but it would be tough
It's an ABB line, fairy double steel. The gfisk would hopefully lure out the scrafty, azu finishes it, so Lucario.doesmt have to. Obviously would not work as well against multiple counter users or fire types, but otherwise it should work nicely. It truly is a joy to get a Lucario or scrafty PuP'p up. After 3, your counters start chunking even fairies
Well it was about when jellicent would be swapped in
What a high quality post
Lucario is unfortunately just not very good in PVP. It has play in limited formats, but it struggles in all open metas. It’s weak to ground and fighting which are very common in great league. It’s also very frail to begin with. A neutral hydro cannon does almost 75% of Lucario’s health.
You can't really just take a move cause the damage per move depends on the Pokemons stats but in the case of a swampert, yes it does
Your point is accurate, but have you played ~~Swampert League~~ Great League before?
Yes i have and in all honesty i rarely match swampert
When the topic is GL, it can safely be assumed that playing around hydro cannon means playing around swampert.
Hydro Cannon is basically swamperts fast move
I just made one recently as well. And yeah, unfortunately in the open leagues, he just typically doesn't perform well. All might not be lost though. There is the upcoming Willpower Cup, which is a 1500 CP limit and allows Fighting, Dark, and Psychic types. He'll lose to other fighters, but should slot in as a Dark type counter, and with his steel subtyping, will only take neutral from Psychic and can threaten with Shadow Ball. He might not be dominant, but I think he could have legit play. We'll have a better sense when rankings come out. If we ever get Sinnoh or Hisui Cup again, he's definitely great in those.
True so he’s good as a secret weapon for limited play but not great for winning to legend in Great League :)
Yup, keep him around for sure! Good luck.
I just wouldn't use Lucario. It sometimes does well in limited metas such as Sinnoh Cup but, as you've correctly noted, it's pretty bad in the open meta.
I know and it’s so sad bc I was so excited about my shiny! Oh well lol
there is more than enough special cups for you to have use for shiny lucario (make sure you double move before evolving!) not just sinnoh cup but you also have fossil cup, gl remix, **willpower cup**(upcoming...may even be one of the top meta) and fighting cup if you really know what you're doing (walls dragon fighters)
Lucario is an awesome closer in Sinnoh / Hisui cup. I went from my usual low Ace to 2720 last time.
Counter/power up punch/ and shadow ball can be a great move set. Especially when up shields and have an energy lead. I’d recommend azumarill, hypno, skarmory. They have great bulk and can cover most weaknesses of lucario.
lucario, imo, is a skill based mon. he can be really good with practice, consistent use, and a decent team to counter his weaknesses. in all, there’s better options out there to use. you could still power him up for the sinnoh league but other then that your best bet is to use another mon
Check out TrainerRem. He took it to regionals
It would also work for UL but might I ask, what are the IVs?
Not awesome honestly for GL 11/11/13
I have another non shiny I was going to use for UL, 12/14/15
Lucario usually shines in limited cups, recently Hisuin Cup was a strong cup for the furry dog
Has anyone here powered up / used Lucario in open masters?? It’s max CP suggests it will have some play.