Lucario Guide: Best Moveset, Counters & Pokemon GO Tips
Lucario is a popular Fighting/Steel-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO. With a maximum CP of 2,703, Lucario is a solid choice for Ultra League battles and various raid encounters.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Lucario in Pokemon GO, including its stats, best moveset, counters, and tips for using it effectively in both PvE raids and PvP battles.
π Table of Contents
π Lucario Base Stats & Overview
Lucario (#448) is a Fighting/Steel-type Pokemon from Generation 4.
| Base Stats | |
|---|---|
| Attack | 236 |
| Defense | 144 |
| Stamina | 172 |
| Total Stats | 552 |
| Max CP | 2,703 |
| Buddy Distance | 3 km |
With 236 Attack, 144 Defense, and 172 Stamina, Lucario has a total stat product of 552. While not the highest in any single stat, Lucario’s balanced stats make it versatile in various battle situations.
βοΈ Best Moveset for Lucario
Choosing the right moveset is crucial for maximizing Lucario’s potential in Pokemon GO. The optimal moveset varies depending on whether you’re using Lucario for raids, gym battles, or PvP.
Best Raid & Gym Moveset
For PvE content like raids and gym battles, you want moves that maximize DPS (Damage Per Second). The best Fighting/Steel-type moves will benefit from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), increasing damage by 20%.
β’ Fast Move: Best Fighting-type fast move
β’ Charged Move: Best Fighting-type charged move
Best PvP Moveset
In PvP battles, energy generation and coverage moves become more important. You’ll want a fast move that charges energy quickly and charged moves that provide good type coverage.
β’ Fast Move: High energy generation move
β’ Charged Move 1: STAB move for consistent damage
β’ Charged Move 2: Coverage move for countering weaknesses
π― Lucario Type Effectiveness
Understanding type effectiveness is crucial for both using Lucario effectively and knowing how to counter it. As a Fighting/Steel-type Pokemon, Lucario has specific strengths and weaknesses.
β οΈ Weaknesses (Takes Super Effective Damage From)
Lucario is weak to: Fire, Fighting, Ground-type moves. When battling against Lucario, use Pokemon with these types to deal 1.6x (or 2.56x for double weaknesses) damage.
- Fire – Deals increased damage
- Fighting – Deals increased damage
- Ground – Deals increased damage
π‘οΈ Resistances (Takes Reduced Damage From)
Lucario resists: Bug, Rock, Dark, Normal, Grass, Ice, Flying, Psychic, Dragon, Steel, Fairy, Poison-type moves. This means Lucario takes reduced damage (0.625x or less) from these attack types.
- Bug – Reduced damage
- Rock – Reduced damage
- Dark – Reduced damage
- Normal – Reduced damage
- Grass – Reduced damage
- Ice – Reduced damage
- Flying – Reduced damage
- Psychic – Reduced damage
- Dragon – Reduced damage
- Steel – Reduced damage
- Fairy – Reduced damage
- Poison – Reduced damage
π Lucario PvP Analysis
Lucario can be used in Pokemon GO’s GO Battle League PvP battles. Here’s how it performs in each league:
Great League (1500 CP Limit)
With a max CP of 2,703, Lucario would need to be under-leveled for Great League. Check if the stats at 1500 CP are competitive before investing resources.
Ultra League (2500 CP Limit)
Lucario can be used in Ultra League but won’t reach its full stat potential due to the 2500 CP cap.
Master League (No CP Limit)
Lucario is generally not recommended for Master League due to its lower max CP (2,703). Focus on other leagues instead.
βοΈ Lucario Raid Guide
Lucario is primarily used as a raid attacker rather than a raid boss. Here’s how to use it effectively in raids:
Using Lucario in Raids
When using Lucario as a raid attacker:
- Best against raid bosses weak to Fighting-type moves
- Power up to at least level 30-35 for decent performance
- Ensure you have the optimal moveset for maximum DPS
π― Best Counters for Lucario
Whether you’re battling Lucario in raids, gyms, or PvP, knowing the best counters is essential for victory. Here are the top Pokemon to use against Lucario:
Top Counter Pokemon
The best counters exploit Lucario’s weaknesses to Fire, Fighting, Ground-type moves:
| Pokemon | Type | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Reshiram | Dragon/Fire | Top Fire attacker with Fire Fang + Overheat |
| Chandelure | Ghost/Fire | High Fire DPS with Fire Spin + Overheat |
| Moltres | Fire/Flying | Legendary Fire attacker |
| Machamp | Fighting | High DPS with Counter + Dynamic Punch |
| Lucario | Fighting/Steel | Counter + Aura Sphere deals massive damage |
| Conkeldurr | Fighting | Excellent attack stat with Fighting moves |
Counter Strategy Tips
- Prioritize Type Advantage: Use Pokemon with moves that are super effective against Lucario
- Consider Bulk: Tankier counters can survive longer and deal more total damage
- Watch for Coverage Moves: Lucario may have moves that counter its own counters
- Weather Boost: Take advantage of weather conditions that boost your counter’s attacks
π How to Get Lucario in Pokemon GO
There are several ways to obtain Lucario in Pokemon GO:
- Wild Encounters: Lucario can spawn in the wild, especially in areas matching its type
- Eggs: May hatch from 3km eggs
- Evolution: Evolve from its pre-evolution using Candy
- Raids: Occasionally appears in raid battles
- Research Tasks: Complete field research for a chance to encounter
- Trading: Trade with friends
Shiny Lucario
Yes, Shiny Lucario is available in Pokemon GO! The shiny variant has a different coloration and is highly sought after by collectors. The shiny rate for wild encounters is approximately 1 in 500, though this can be boosted during special events like Community Days or Spotlight Hours.
Lucario Evolution
Check the PokΓ©dex for complete evolution information including candy costs and special evolution requirements.
β Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lucario good in Pokemon GO?
Lucario is a solid Pokemon in Pokemon GO. With a max CP of 2,703, it can perform well in various battle scenarios, especially when its typing provides an advantage.
What is Lucario’s best moveset?
The best moveset for Lucario depends on your use case. For raids and gyms, prioritize high DPS Fighting-type moves for STAB bonus. For PvP, focus on moves with good energy generation and coverage options.
What are Lucario’s weaknesses?
Lucario is weak to Fire, Fighting, Ground-type moves. When battling Lucario, use Pokemon with these attack types for maximum effectiveness.
Can Lucario be shiny in Pokemon GO?
Yes, Shiny Lucario is available in Pokemon GO. Keep catching Lucario for a chance at the shiny variant!
What is Lucario’s max CP?
Lucario’s maximum CP is 2,703 at level 50 with perfect 15/15/15 IVs. At level 40, the max CP is approximately 2,459.
π‘ Pro Tips for Using Lucario
Here are some advanced strategies and tips to maximize Lucario’s potential in Pokemon GO:
1. IV Optimization
For raids and gym battles, prioritize Lucario with high Attack IVs (15 Attack is ideal). The Attack stat contributes most to damage output in PvE content.
For PvP battles, the ideal IVs depend on the league:
- Great League: Look for low Attack, high Defense and HP (0/15/15 is often ideal)
- Ultra League: Similar to Great League, optimize for stat product under 2500 CP
- Master League: Perfect 15/15/15 IVs are best since there’s no CP cap
2. Power Up Priority
Before investing Stardust and Candy into Lucario, consider:
- Do you have enough resources? (Powering to level 50 costs 296,000 Stardust and 296 Candy)
- Will this Pokemon fill a gap in your battle team?
- Are there better alternatives for the same role?
- Do you have the optimal moveset or need Elite TMs?
3. Team Composition
Lucario works best when paired with Pokemon that cover its weaknesses. As a Fighting/Steel type weak to Fire, Fighting, consider adding team members that resist these types.
4. Weather Considerations
Take advantage of weather boosts:
- When catching: Weather-boosted Lucario spawns at higher levels (up to 35)
- When battling: Weather that boosts Fighting moves increases your damage output
- When raiding: Spawn weather-boosted counters by raiding in appropriate weather
π Lucario in the Pokemon Franchise
Lucario first appeared in Generation 4 of the main Pokemon series. For more detailed lore and information about Lucario’s origins, check out Bulbapedia.
In Pokemon GO, Lucario was introduced as part of the Generation 4 Pokemon rollout. It became available to catch after Niantic released the Generation 4 Pokemon update.
π How Lucario Compares
Let’s see how Lucario stacks up against other Fighting-type Pokemon:
| Stat | Lucario | Type Average | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attack | 236 | ~180 | βββ |
| Defense | 144 | ~160 | β |
| Stamina | 172 | ~170 | ββ |
| Max CP | 2,703 | ~2,500 | ββ |
π― Conclusion
Lucario is a versatile Fighting/Steel-type Pokemon that can be a valuable addition to your Pokemon GO roster. With a max CP of 2,703 and solid base stats (236/144/172), it performs well in Ultra League PvP and can serve as a reliable raid attacker against appropriate targets.
Remember to:
- Optimize IVs based on your intended use (PvP vs PvE)
- Use the recommended moveset for maximum effectiveness
- Build a team that covers Lucario’s weaknesses
- Take advantage of weather boosts when possible
For more Pokemon guides and the complete Pokedex, visit our Pokemon GO Database. Check out our PvP Rankings for the current meta and Raid Guides for battle strategies.
Last updated: January 2026. Information based on the latest Pokemon GO game data.