Lucario [QC: 0/3]

Status
Not open for further replies.

hs

Banned deucer.
[OVERVIEW]

*Mega Lucario's high and good base attack, good ability in form of Adaptability and an excellent offensive typing make it a powerfull threat in the metagame, threatening Pokemon such as Xerneas, Arceus-Fairy and Gothitelle with ease.

*A good base speed in 121 makes it capable to outspeed Pokemon such as Primal Groudon, Xerneas and Yveltal. Though, Mega Lucario is still outplaced by fast Support Arceus formes, Marshadow, common Scarfers, such as Xerneas and Yveltal, and Marshadow.

* One of the reasons why Mega Lucario is chosen over Mega Salamence is because of its ability to revenge kill Geomancy Xerneas, and this is something that very few wallbreakers are capable of.

*Its typing also makes it immune to Poison, which helps a lot against Toxic users, such as Lugia, Giratina and much others.

*Lucario's access to Swords Dance helps it to increase its high base Attack, being able to OHKO most of the metagame after a boost.

*Mega Lucario performs its role much better against bulkier teams, since there is a lot of pokémon that easily becomes setup fodder from Lucario, such as Chansey and Blissey, so it's easier to found a setup opportunity.

*However, Mega Lucario's poor defensive stats makes it very vulnerable to faster common offensive threats, such as Choice Scarf Yveltal, Marshadow and Ultra Necrozma.

* Fraility keeps Lucario from safely setting up even against Pokemon it naturally threatens. Also it has hard time making good use of Justified, as it takes over 50% from any Dark-type moves from Yveltal, and this forces Lucario to have some team support despite its wallbreaking.

[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Meteor Mash
move 4: Bullet Punch
item: Lucarionite
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

*Swords Dance boosts Lucario's Attack, and makes it able to OHKO most of the tier with its STABs.
*Close Combat is Lucario's main STAB, and KOes almost the entire unboosted tier after a boost.
*Meteor Mash is Lucario's Steel-type STAB, and it's most reliable than Iron Tail, and is enough to deal with Fairy-types, such as Arceus-Fairy and Xerneas. It also can hit stuff like Giratina-Origin that resist or are immune to Close Combat.
*Bullet Punch gives to Lucario a priority move that helps it to revenge kill some faster offensive threats, notably Deoxys-Attack, Xerneas, Mega-Gengar and Marshadow after some prior damage, allowing it to potentially sweep in late-game.
*Stone Edge is an option to hit Ho-Oh, which otherwise take any hit without Stealth Rock, and back OHKOing with Sacred Fire.
*Ice Punch can be used to surprise Mega Salamence, OHKOing it after a Swords Dance boost. It also can OHKO Zygarde or does a huge damage at +2.
* Earthquake is useful in events when you are against Toxapex, which otherwise could wall it for days. But +2 Close Combat KOes Toxapex after Stealth Rock and some prior damage.

Set Details
========

*Maximum investment in Attack and Speed is used to maximize Mega Lucario's damage output, while hitting as fast as possible.
*A Jolly Nature is more preferred, helping Lucario to outspeed pokémon such as Adamant Mega Salamence, Xerneas and Yveltal.
*However, Adamant can be used to guarantee the OHKO in Giratina-Origin with Meteor Mash after Stealth Rock damage, but overall it's just useful for this, and facilitates the revenge kill to Mega Lucario, so an Adamant Nature only should be used on a Sticky Web team, for example.
*Justified allows it to potentially switch in Dark-type moves before Mega-evolving and boosting its Attack.
*Lucarionite is required for mega evolving Mega Lucario.

Usage Tips
========

*Be sure that you have weakened Mega Lucario's checks before setup, and even more if they are faster than it and have enough bulk to take a Bullet Punch from +2 and OHKOing back.
*Keep in mind that Mega Lucario can be used as a revenge-killer to stuff like Deoxys-Attack and a weakened boosted Xerneas.
*Don't try to switch Mega Lucario directly into opposing's pokémon moves, as Mega Lucario has a poor bulk and may can fall to powerfull neutral moves, except if it's a Arceus-Dark or Tyranitar, then it's recommended that you switch into them in non-mega evolved form, to gain Justified's Attack boost.
*Mega Lucario must be used as a late game sweeper only against less offensive teams, as it doesn't have enough bulk to find a lot of setup opportunities, then use it as a strong wallbreaker, dealing the most damage it can to weaken the opponent's Pokemon to its teammates.
*Try to setup in Pokemon that doesn't deal a huge damage, and can't threaten Mega Lucario, such as Celesteela,

Team Options
========

*If you are lacking Stone Edge, Primal Groudon can be a good team partner for it, as it can check Ho-Oh if running Stone Edge, and can threaten Toxapex, which can prevent a potential sweep from Mega Lucario. Back, Mega Lucario can threaten Support Arceus formes for Primal Groudon, and can use they as a setup fodder.

*Sticky Web users, more notably Shuckle and Smeargle, can be good teammates for Mega Lucario, as it can outspeed a plethora of pokémon with Sticky Web, such as Ultra Necrozma, Marshadow and Mega Gengar, improving Mega Lucario's performance against offense teams.

*Dark-types, such as Yveltal and Tyranitar, that can threaten Ghost- and Psychic-types that can threaten Mega Lucario, are very appreciated, as if they are weakened or aren't in the opponent's field, Mega Lucario can easily spam its Fighting STAB with ease. Also, Mega Lucario can revenge kill a potential weakened Geomancy Xerneas, and these Dark-types enjoy the fact that Mega Lucario can pressure Fairy-types.

*Strong wallbreakers, such as Primal-Kyogre or Rayquaza, can weaken bulky Pokemon like Primal Groudon and Support Arceus formes for Mega Lucario, making the potential sweep in the late game easier.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

*Nasty Plot in a special set can be used with Focus Blast/Aura Sphere, Vacuum Wave and Flash Cannon, but it's tremendously worse than the Swords Dance set.
*Crunch can be used to pass through Ghost- and Psychic-types that resist to Close Combat, such as the rare Aegislash and Mega Slowbro. It also can OHKO Lunala after Stealth Rock damage and Necrozma-Dawn-Wings at +2.
*High Jump Kick is an alternative over Close Combat, hits harder, and OHKOes Zygarde and Primal-Groudon after a Swords Dance boost. However, it comes with the cost of losing 50% if misses, if it hits a Ghost-type or a Pokemon with Protect. Also, the lack of defense drops, means you won't progressively be vulnerable to priority moves as you click Close Combat multiple times.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon, more notably those which can take a Bullet Punch from +2, such as Choice Scarf Yveltal, Marshadow and Ultra Necrozma are all able to OHKO Mega Lucario in back, due to its poor defenses.

**Toxapex**: Toxapex resists to Lucario Mega's STABs and can take one hit at +2, and can reset its stats with Haze, but it can be 2HKOed if Stealth Rock are in the field, so it needs to be careful.

**Ground-types**: Faster Ground-types, such as Arceus-Ground can outspeed Mega Lucario, take a Bullet Punch with ease, and back OHKO with Judgment. If Jolly, a defensive Primal Groudon can take a +2 Close Combat from full and back OHKO with Precipice Blades or Lava Plume. Zygarde-Complete's high Defense and HP helps it to take one hit from Mega Lucario at +2, and phaze it with Dragon Tail or OHKO with Thousand Arrows after Close Combat's Special Defense drop or some chip damage.

**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh resists to both of Mega Lucario's STABs, and can take any hit without Stealth Rock, and back OHKOing with Sacred Fire. However, Ho-Oh needs to be careful with the uncommon Stone Edge, that will always OHKO at +2.

**Marshadow**: Marshadow can take a +2 Bullet Punch from full HP, outspeed Mega Lucario and OHKO back with Close Combat or steal its boosts with Spectral Thief.

**Ghost- and Psychic-types**: Ghost-types, such as Marshadow and Arceus-Ghost are naturally immune to Close Combat, being very threatening to it, as they have enough power to OHKO Lucario with one hit, forcing it to switch out , and Psychic-types, such as Mega Slowbro, resists to both of Mega Lucario's STABs and can beat it in 1v1 with Iron Defense + Slack Off.
 
Last edited:

charizard8888

Catch The Wave
is a Forum Moderator Alumnus
Not QC, just a few suggestions (As Mega Lucario is one of my favorite Pokemon :P)

Overview
- I'd say you should start with the good attack stat, ability, typing line as that makes it easier to follow.
- You can also state its good speed which lets it outspeed common threats like Pdon, Xerneas and all. Though still outsped by Arceus formes, Marshadow, Scarfers. 112 isn't bad.
- Immunity to Poison is pretty good too, helps against Toxic Lugia, Giratina (regular forme) and such Pokemon.

Moves
- Meteor Mash: Rather than the new STAB I think Steel-type STAB would be more informative.
- Xerneas should be mentioned in +2 Bullet Punch's range maybe

Set Details
- I think the ability Justified (And Adaptability? don't know) should be mentioned.

Usage Tips
- Some emphasis on that it acts as an effective attacker after SD and clue on when to set up with SD

Other Options
- For the Special set, I wouldn't say outclassed by just that the physical set is tremendously better.
- Close Combat hits harder than Earthquake against Magearna so it doesn't need it for Magearna specifically. Same for Giratina-O and Arceus-Ghost as Meteor Mash hits harder than Crunch, after factoring in the Adaptability boost.
- Maybe High Jump Kick? Hits harder, comes at the cost of accuracy -50 on miss, has a better chance of OHKOing Zygarde at +2, Primal Groudon at +2, Arceus-Water at +2

+2 252 Atk Adaptability Lucario-Mega Close Combat vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Groudon-Primal: 374-442 (92.8 - 109.6%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO
+2 252 Atk Adaptability Lucario-Mega High Jump Kick vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Groudon-Primal: 406-478 (100.7 - 118.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

+2 252 Atk Adaptability Lucario-Mega Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Zygarde: 358-422 (85.2 - 100.4%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO
+2 252 Atk Adaptability Lucario-Mega High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Zygarde: 386-456 (91.9 - 108.5%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
+2 252 Atk Adaptability Lucario-Mega High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Zygarde: 386-456 (91.9 - 108.5%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

+2 252 Atk Adaptability Lucario-Mega Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 132+ Def Arceus-Water: 396-466 (89.1 - 104.9%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO
+2 252 Atk Adaptability Lucario-Mega High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 132+ Def Arceus-Water: 428-504 (96.3 - 113.5%) -- 75% chance to OHKO


Checks and Counters
- For Marshadow, it should also be added that it outspeeds Mega Luke
 
Adding onto cool AM QC above,

* Fraility keeps Lucario from safely setting up even against Pokemon it naturally threatens; it is not like it can set up on Pogre / Xerneas without a risk, Ferrothorn / Ceelsteela seeds you and the former may have Thunder Wave, and I keep seeing some Lucario getting memed by offensive Tyranitar. Also it has hard time making good use of Justified, as it takes over 50% from any Dark-type moves from Yveltal, and this forces Lucario to have some team support despite its wallbreaking potency.

* One of the reasons why Mega Lucario is chosen over other things like Mega Salamence is because of its ability to revenge kill Geomancy Xerneas, and this is something that very few wallbreakers are capable of. Meaning, it performs well against hyperoffensive teams in events where it won't really get opportunities to set up.

* Earthquake is useful in events when you are against Toxapex but that's about it. Also +2 Close Combat KOes Toxapex after Stealth Rock and some prior damage I believe.

* The real perk of High Jump Kick is not only the additional power that provides some benchmarks listed above but lack of defense drops, meaning you won't progressively be vulnerable to priority moves as you click Close Combat multiple times. After two Close Combat, Mega Lucario falls into OHKO range from Life Orb Marshadow's Shadow Sneak but this doesn't happen if you carry High Jump Kick.
 
I think the ideal way to handle Lucario's set is to simply de-slash Stone Edge and add the more viable coverage options (Ice Punch, Earthquake) to Moves alongside it. None of the moves stand out enough to be slashes, but they are viable options depending on what balance threat Lucario wants to better handle. The standard 4 moves covers things decently well as it is and is generally fine to leave them all unslashed.

Implement the above am QC as well, that is good information. I'll stamp after reviewing the implementation.
 

hs

Banned deucer.
Implemented! And sorry for the delay, but I've been really busy these days, lol.
 
I'd remove the spacing between the points in the Overview and Team Options to be more consistent with other analyses and even sections in this analysis itself. The spacing in Checks and Counters is fine.
threatening Pokemon such as Xerneas, Arceus-Fairy and Gothitelle with ease
Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy do have methods around Lucario (being faster and hitting it hard via various methods mainly), and Gothitelle isn't exactly something that Lucario is really tailored to fight. Other Steels are Lucario's main stomping grounds, as they usually cant touch it.
*A good base speed in 121
Base 112, not 121. Typo?
*Be sure that you have weakened Mega Lucario's checks before setup, and even more if they are faster than it and have enough bulk to take a Bullet Punch from +2 and OHKOing back.
Note what needs weakened into BP range.
*Try to setup in Pokemon that doesn't deal a huge damage, and can't threaten Mega Lucario, such as Celesteela,
some stuff missing at the end here
**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon, more notably those which can take a Bullet Punch from +2, such as Choice Scarf Yveltal, Marshadow and Ultra Necrozma are all able to OHKO Mega Lucario in back, due to its poor defenses.
This also applies to Arceus formes that invest in Speed for Lucario, which is a rather common thing to do for teams that appear weak to it. Any Arceus that does this will have a move that hits Lucario pretty hard. Add this stuff in along with common Arceus formes that do this (Water, Ground, Fairy)

I'll take a final look afterwards.

edit: the writer tells me time is too pressing to finish this. moving
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 1, Guests: 0)

Top