Pokemon Go Lucario: How to Catch, Counters & Best Moveset

Lucario, the fan-favorite Fighting and Steel-type Pokemon has recently returned to Pokemon Go 3-Star Raids. Known for its power and versatility in battles, Lucario is a valuable addition to any trainer's team. To maximize Lucario's potential, it is essential to equip it with the best movesets for PvP and Raid battles, understand its counters, and know how to obtain it in the game. 

How to Obtain Lucario in Pokemon Go

There are currently two ways to obtain Lucario in Pokemon Go:

1. Raid Battles: Lucario occasionally appears as a Tier 3 Raid Boss. Trainers can team up with others to defeat Lucario in Raids and have a chance to catch it after the battle.
2. Special Research: Lucario can also be obtained as a reward for completing the Special Research task "A Ripple in Time" at the end of Step 4.

Shiny Lucario is available in Pokemon Go, and it has a distinct yellow color scheme that sets it apart from its regular form. The chances of encountering a Shiny Lucario are the same as any other Shiny Pokemon in the game, which is approximately 1 in 450. Shiny Lucario can be obtained through Raid Battles and Special Research tasks, just like its non-Shiny counterpart.

Lucario's Move Pool in Pokemon Go

Lucario can learn two Fast Moves and six Charged Moves in Pokemon Go. The Fast Moves include:

The Charged Moves include:

Best Moveset for Lucario in PvP & Raid Battles

For PvP encounters, the best moveset for Lucario is Counter as a Fast Move and Power-Up Punch as a Charged Move. Both moves benefit from the Same Type Attack Bonus (STAB), but Counter deals more damage and has a lower energy cost compared to Bullet Punch, resulting in a higher damage per second (DPS).

Power-Up Punch is the cheapest Charged Move for Lucario, allowing it to bait the opponent's shields while applying an attack buff. However, it does not deal significant damage on its own. If possible, pair Power-Up Punch with a second Charged Move, such as Shadow Ball, to increase Lucario's coverage and damage output.

In Raid battles, the optimal moveset for Lucario is Counter as a Fast Move and Aura Sphere as a Charged Move. 

Counter outperforms Bullet Punch, especially when paired with a Fighting-type Charged Move like Aura Sphere. Aura Sphere is a powerful nuke that deals massive damage for a relatively low energy cost, making it an excellent choice for Raid battles.

Counters for Lucario in Pokemon Go

Despite its strength, Lucario has several weaknesses that can be exploited by certain types of Pokemon. Lucario is vulnerable to Fighting, Fire, and Ground-type moves. Some of the best counters for Lucario include:

Pokemon	Image
Machamp (Fighting)
Conkeldurr (Fighting)
Blaziken (Fire/Fighting)
Charizard (Fire/Flying)
Groudon (Ground)

When facing Lucario in battles, trainers should consider using Pokemon with these types and powerful moves to gain an advantage.