[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Thunder Punch
move 3: Ice Punch
move 4: Crunch / Copycat / Swords Dance
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Inner Focus
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Lucario's resistance to residual damage, fantastic coverage, and good Speed tier make it a strong revenge killer. Close Combat does solid damage to most offensive Pokemon, always OHKOing Tyranitar and pressuring Heatran and Empoleon. Thunder Punch and Ice Punch are solid coverage moves: Thunder Punch OHKOes offensive Gyarados without a Wacan Berry or considerable bulk, and Ice Punch does the same to Dragonite unless it has an Yache Berry as well as hitting Gliscor, Latias, and Zapdos hard.
As these three moves have perfect coverage for what it needs to revenge kill, Lucario has a number of options in the last slot. Crunch is the most prominent of these, as it OHKOes Gengar after Stealth Rock and a turn of sand and 2HKOes Rotom-A. Lucario is also the best user of Copycat in the tier, having the speed to use helpful moves such as U-turn, Explosion, and Spikes before the foe can interrupt it. Note that it no longer repeatedly uses the last used move and fails if it copies the same move twice. As Lucario is ineffective against defensive teams, another option is Swords Dance. As Lucario is an excellent switch-in against Knock Off Clefable, it can take advantage of losing its item to set up a Swords Dance and threaten defensive teams with its coverage.
Set Details
========
Lucario needs near-maximum Speed and Attack EVs and a Jolly nature to always outspeed and threaten +1 Gyarados and +1 Dragonite, Rotom-A, and neutral-natured faster Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Jirachi and Flygon. It can run an Adamant nature, but being outsped by these Pokemon is not worth the marginal extra attacking power.
Usage Tips
========
Lucario should generally avoid switching in on attacks unless it 4x resists them, as it very frail, and taking a lot of damage switching leaves it vulnerable to priority from Scizor, opposing Lucario, and Dragonite. Try to switch Lucario in as a threat such as Tyranitar and Gyarados use Dragon Dance, as it will outspeed and threaten them out. Note that Lucario OHKOes Tyranitar through Chople Berry after Stealth Rock but only OHKOes Wacan Berry Gyarados after two rounds of Stealth Rock. Against more offensive teams, Lucario can make a lot of progress just using Close Combat with Stealth Rock up if the opponent doesn't have a Ghost-type. Typical Fighting-type switch-ins on these teams often don't have recovery and are weak to Stealth Rock. However, against more defensive teams, Lucario doesn't have a lot to do besides switching into Clefable, as it is easily walled. Try to be very aggressive in these scenarios, using its health to weaken walls or potentially using Copycat to copy Explosion.
Team Options
========
Choice Scarf Lucario needs heavy support to be worth it, as its attacks other than Close Combat don't hit very hard. Lucario's teammates need to be strong against defensive teams, as it struggles even more than most Choice Scarf Pokemon. Taunt + Dragon Dance Tyranitar, entry hazards, and stallbreakers such as Taunt + Will-O-Wisp Gengar are helpful to neuter bulky Pokemon such as Skarmory and Hippowdon. Gengar is an especially good partner, as it often forces in Clefable to use Knock Off and get rid of Lucario's Choice Scarf. Other good Spikes partners such as Choice Specs Latias and Jirachi are also welcome. Latias and Gengar also draw in Dark-types, which gives Lucario a chance to switch in.
Lucario's prowess against very offensive teams facilitates teammates that invite in opposing setup sweepers. Roserade is a good example, as it struggles to deal with Dragon Dance sweepers and can support Lucario with Spikes. Despite this, Lucario does appreciate some backup against specifically Gyarados, as Wacan Berry variants survive Thunder Punch and KO it back. Defensive Rotom-A, Suicune, and Skarmory and good back up answers to Gyarados. Lucario also enjoys support from Tyranitar in removing Ghost-types to use Close Combat more effectively.
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Thunder Punch
move 3: Ice Punch
move 4: Crunch / Copycat / Swords Dance
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Inner Focus
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Lucario's resistance to residual damage, fantastic coverage, and good Speed tier make it a strong revenge killer. Close Combat does solid damage to most offensive Pokemon, always OHKOing Tyranitar and pressuring Heatran and Empoleon. Thunder Punch and Ice Punch are solid coverage moves: Thunder Punch OHKOes offensive Gyarados without a Wacan Berry or considerable bulk, and Ice Punch does the same to Dragonite unless it has an Yache Berry as well as hitting Gliscor, Latias, and Zapdos hard.
As these three moves have perfect coverage for what it needs to revenge kill, Lucario has a number of options in the last slot. Crunch is the most prominent of these, as it OHKOes Gengar after Stealth Rock and a turn of sand and 2HKOes Rotom-A. Lucario is also the best user of Copycat in the tier, having the speed to use helpful moves such as U-turn, Explosion, and Spikes before the foe can interrupt it. Note that it no longer repeatedly uses the last used move and fails if it copies the same move twice. As Lucario is ineffective against defensive teams, another option is Swords Dance. As Lucario is an excellent switch-in against Knock Off Clefable, it can take advantage of losing its item to set up a Swords Dance and threaten defensive teams with its coverage.
Set Details
========
Lucario needs near-maximum Speed and Attack EVs and a Jolly nature to always outspeed and threaten +1 Gyarados and +1 Dragonite, Rotom-A, and neutral-natured faster Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Jirachi and Flygon. It can run an Adamant nature, but being outsped by these Pokemon is not worth the marginal extra attacking power.
Usage Tips
========
Lucario should generally avoid switching in on attacks unless it 4x resists them, as it very frail, and taking a lot of damage switching leaves it vulnerable to priority from Scizor, opposing Lucario, and Dragonite. Try to switch Lucario in as a threat such as Tyranitar and Gyarados use Dragon Dance, as it will outspeed and threaten them out. Note that Lucario OHKOes Tyranitar through Chople Berry after Stealth Rock but only OHKOes Wacan Berry Gyarados after two rounds of Stealth Rock. Against more offensive teams, Lucario can make a lot of progress just using Close Combat with Stealth Rock up if the opponent doesn't have a Ghost-type. Typical Fighting-type switch-ins on these teams often don't have recovery and are weak to Stealth Rock. However, against more defensive teams, Lucario doesn't have a lot to do besides switching into Clefable, as it is easily walled. Try to be very aggressive in these scenarios, using its health to weaken walls or potentially using Copycat to copy Explosion.
Team Options
========
Choice Scarf Lucario needs heavy support to be worth it, as its attacks other than Close Combat don't hit very hard. Lucario's teammates need to be strong against defensive teams, as it struggles even more than most Choice Scarf Pokemon. Taunt + Dragon Dance Tyranitar, entry hazards, and stallbreakers such as Taunt + Will-O-Wisp Gengar are helpful to neuter bulky Pokemon such as Skarmory and Hippowdon. Gengar is an especially good partner, as it often forces in Clefable to use Knock Off and get rid of Lucario's Choice Scarf. Other good Spikes partners such as Choice Specs Latias and Jirachi are also welcome. Latias and Gengar also draw in Dark-types, which gives Lucario a chance to switch in.
Lucario's prowess against very offensive teams facilitates teammates that invite in opposing setup sweepers. Roserade is a good example, as it struggles to deal with Dragon Dance sweepers and can support Lucario with Spikes. Despite this, Lucario does appreciate some backup against specifically Gyarados, as Wacan Berry variants survive Thunder Punch and KO it back. Defensive Rotom-A, Suicune, and Skarmory and good back up answers to Gyarados. Lucario also enjoys support from Tyranitar in removing Ghost-types to use Close Combat more effectively.
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