Lucario

"Watch the power of Aura!"

- Lucario

Lucario is a Fighting/Steel-type Pokémon from the Pokémon series. It originates from the fourth Generation Pokémon games: Pokémon Diamond, Pokémon Pearl, and Pokémon Platinum Versions, is the evolved form of Riolu, and as of Generation VI can Mega Evolve into Mega Lucario.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Lucario appears as an unlockable playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It can be unlocked by playing 100 Brawl matches, completing every level of Target Smash with one character, or by having it join the party in The Subspace Emissary by clearing The Glacial Peak. Its voice clips in this game are provided by in the English release, who voices Lucario for the television series, and  in Japanese, who provided the voice of the Lucario in the movie Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew and the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl seasons of the animated series.

Lucario's attacks and abilities mostly revolve around Aura, which increases in power the more damage Lucario takes (though this only applies to attacks that use its Aura). Its standard special move is Aura Sphere, in which Lucario charges and throws a ball of Aura energy. Its side special move is Force Palm, in which Lucario thrusts its hand forward to attack with a burst of energy. Its down special move is Double Team, in which Lucario counterattacks an opponent that attacks it. Its up special move is ExtremeSpeed, in which Lucario flies in the direction the player inputs. Its Final Smash is Aura Storm, in which Lucario leaps into the air and fires a beam down onto the stage.

The Subspace Emissary
Lucario is first encountered in The Subspace Emissary at the top of The Glacial Peak, where it is balanced on the peak when Meta Knight and the Ice Climbers arrive. Lucario and Meta Knight battle (the player able to control either character), and the loser is turned into a trophy. The winner revives the loser, and the two shake hands, now allies. However, in its battle with the Great Fox, the Halberd smashes the Great Fox into the mountain, allowing Lucario and Meta Knight to climb aboard the Halberd.

As the two are traveling through the Halberd, Lucario senses Solid Snake's Aura from inside his Cardboard Box and exposes him. His cover blown, Snake and Meta Knight are about to fight, but Lucario stops them, sensing the Aura of some nearby Primids which they fight instead. As the three travel on they find a room where the trophies of Peach and Zelda are being held in cages. Shadow Bugs then appear and take the form of the princesses, which Lucario, Meta Knight and Snake battle. After the clones are defeated the actual Peach and Zelda are freed and left in the room while the group travels on. They arrive at the bridge, where they find multiple Mr. Game & Watches controlling the ship. Snake knocks them all onto the main deck, where they dissolve into Shadow Bugs and reform into Duon. Snake and Lucario leap down onto the deck, teaming up with Sheik, Peach, Fox, and Falco to fight. After it is defeated, Duon dissolves to reveal the actual Mr. Game & Watch's trophy, which Peach restores.

The Halberd lands in the desert, where most of the cast units. They all then fight against the Subspace Gunship and make it to Subspace. Inside, the team stand against Tabuu, but are all instantly turned into Trophies. However, they are all eventually restored and head to face Tabuu. After he is defeated, everyone returns to the real world, the Subspace portals all closed.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
Lucario returns as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. In English, it is now voiced by, who voiced the Lucario in the English version of Lucario and the Mystery of Mew. It retains all of its special moves, as well as the Aura mechanic, which has been made more powerful and now affects all of its attacks. Its Final Smash is now Mega Evolution, in which Lucario temporarily Mega Evolves, increasing the power of its Aura to maximum.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Lucario returns as an unlockable playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Its Final Smash has reverted to Aura Storm from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, although Lucario now Mega Evolves into Mega Lucario before performing the move. Like all other characters, Lucario's mobility is improved, having faster walking, dashing, and air speeds, as well as higher air acceleration, while his short hop timing is reduced. However, Lucario's Aura mechanic sees some adjustments, being less effective at low damage, yet more effective at high damage.

Aura Sphere


Aura Sphere is Lucario's standard special move. Pressing the special move button causes Lucario to begin charging its Aura energy into a ball, and then release it in front of itself by pressing the button again. While charging it, the sphere deals small damage to opponents who touch it. Once it is fully charged, Lucario can immediately release it or hold it for later by rolling to the side or shielding. Fully-charged shots fly perfectly straight, while shots that are less charged move in a wavy pattern. A fully-charged Aura Sphere travels farther and deals more damaged than an uncharged Aura Sphere.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, the move has two variants: Snaring Aura Sphere and Piercing Aura Sphere. Snaring Aura Sphere flies much slower than the regular Aura Sphere, but it also drags opponents closer to it after being shot. It also travels farther the less it has been charged. Piercing Aura Sphere charges faster and travels farther and faster than the regular Aura Sphere, as well as pierces through enemies and other projectiles, but it is much weaker and deals less knockback.


 * Names in other languages

Force Palm


Force Palm is Lucario's side special move. The effect of the attack changes depending on how close Lucario is to the opponent: if an opponent is within grabbing range, it grabs them and punches them back. Otherwise, it releases a blast of Aura in front of itself. Regardless, the move's power and knockback increases accordingly to the damage Lucario has taken. It cannot jump while performing the move unless hit.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, the first custom variant for this move is Advancing Force Palm, in which Lucario dashes forward while using Force Palm, though it also leaves it open to attacks afterwards. The second variant is Long-Distance Force Palm, which has more range but less damage.


 * Names in other languages

Extreme Speed


Extreme Speed (written as ExtremeSpeed in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as it was in the Pokémon games at the time due to text limitations) is Lucario's up special move, and is based on the Normal-type move in the Pokémon series. When used, Lucario launches high into the air. The move can be aimed while shooting up, making a sharp curve to the right or to the left. As it is capable of clinging to walls and jumping off of them, the move lets Lucario easily jump to a wall. It also lets it easily grab ledges. However, Extreme Speed only damages opponents at its peak (not doing any damage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl) and lightly knocks them back. If this move ends in mid-air, Lucario is put into a helpless state. In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, this move is affected by Lucario's Aura mechanic, increasing the distance Lucario travels the more damage it takes.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U has two variants to Extreme Speed: Ride the Wind and Extreme Speed Attack. Ride the Wind allows Lucario to more easily control its direction as well as travel farther, but makes it move slower and deal no damage. Extreme Speed Attack removes the sweetspot and knockback, but makes the move an attack that consistently hits multiple times.


 * Names in other languages

Double Team


Double Team is Lucario's down special move. When the attack is used, Lucario stands on one leg and split into two copies of itself. This, however, does not do any damage unless an opposing player performs any sort of attack on it shortly after the move is used, in which case Lucario disappears, reappears behind the attacker, and slide kicks into them, countering the move. However, it only works if the attack is used just before being attacked, as it will not work if kept in action for too long. The power of the counter attack is increased according to the damage Lucario has taken. Using the move in the air briefly slows its descent.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, Double Team has two variants: Glancing Counter and Stunning Double Team. Glancing Counter deals less damage and knockback, but still lets Lucario attack even if it is not attacked in return, while Stunning Double Team replaces its slide kick with a teleport, making it discharge electricity that stuns nearly opponents and deal minor damage.


 * Names in other languages

Aura Storm


"Watch the power of Aura!"

- Lucario

Aura Storm is Lucario's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Once Lucario breaks the Smash Ball and the player presses the special move button, Lucario jumps above the center of the stage and fires a large beam of energy downward. The beam can be angled using the control stick and pass through floors, walls, and other obstacles. If an opponent gets caught in the beam, they take repeated damage and are launched once the beam ends after approximately five seconds. As Lucario takes damage, Aura Storm becomes more powerful and launches opponents farther; at full power, it deals 78% damage and is a one-hit KO against most characters. Once Aura Storm ends, Lucario falls back to the ground.

Aura Storm returns as Lucario's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but it now features elements from Mega Evolution: Lucario Mega-Evolves into Mega Lucario, and retains his quote from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.


 * Names in other languages

Mega Evolution


Mega Evolution is Lucario's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, replacing its previous Final Smash, Aura Storm, from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Lucario transforms into its Mega Evolved form, increasing its Aura power and allowing its attacks to deal maximum damage and knockback regardless of its current damage percent. For the duration of the Final Smash, Lucario cannot flinch or be knocked back from any attacks, though attacking it decreases the amount of time Lucario can spend transformed.

Mega Lucario is unaffected by Metal Boxes, as it never gains a metallic appearance, even in a Metal Special Smash. However, its size can be affected by the Super Mushroom, Poison Mushroom, and Lightning, which can increase or decrease its overall attack power.

On a side note, Mega Lucario is the only Final Smash fighter who can use custom special moves, but it is not able to use any equipment, as active Final Smashes disable them until they end.


 * Names in other languages

Super Mario Maker
Lucario appears as a Costume Mario costume in Super Mario Maker. It can be unlocked by completing 100 Mario Challenge on Expert difficulty or higher, or by scanning a Lucario amiibo.

Snake's codec

 * Mei Ling: You're fighting Lucario, aren't you, Snake?
 * Snake: Mei Ling, what's that purple fire coming out of his hands?
 * Mei Ling: That's his "Aura."
 * Snake: Aura?
 * Mei Ling: I guess you could call it his life force. Lucario can use his own Aura and turn it into power. Every time Lucario's damage increases, his Aura gains strength, making his attacks more powerful. So don't think you've got him beat just because his health is down.
 * Snake: The cornered rat will bite the cat... Sounds like trouble.
 * Mei Ling: Hey! When did you become so good with proverbs?!
 * Snake: You must have rubbed off on me.
 * Mei Ling: Well, come back in one piece, and I'll teach you all the Chinese proverbs you can handle.

Trophies
Blue indicates the Trophy or description is exclusive to the Wii U version.

Palutena's Guidance

 * Viridi: What the heck is that?!
 * Pit: Oh, that's Lucario. What about it?
 * Viridi: I've never seen a creature with a life force like that! It's like a current of water. Or a whirlpool!
 * Palutena: Oh, you mean Lucario's Aura.
 * Viridi: Aura?
 * Palutena: Lucario can sense the life force—or Aura—emanating from all living things. As Lucario takes more damage, its own Aura grows stronger.
 * Viridi: Ingenious! Lucario sounds like a perfect fit for the Forces of Nature.
 * Pit: We need to focus on the fight at hand.
 * Viridi: You focus on the fight at hand. I gotta catch my new recruit.
 * Pit: No! Stop!
 * Palutena: Pit, a wounded Lucario is stronger than it looks. Be extra careful when it's taken lots of damage.

amiibo

 * Lucario can track a form of energy called an aura, given off by all living creatures. Lucario is the only known Fighting- and Steel-type Pokémon and evolves from Riolu during the day when its happiness is high enough. Lucario specializes in attacks that use aura energy, like Dark Pulse, and its can’t-miss move, Aura Sphere.

Quotes

 * "Behold, the Aura." – Super Smash Bros. Brawl
 * "Watch the power of Aura!" – Super Smash Bros. Brawl
 * "The Aura is mine." – Super Smash Bros. Brawl
 * "It's over!" – Super Smash Bros. Brawl
 * "The Aura restored!" – Super Smash Bros. Brawl (unused)
 * "The Aura is with me!" – Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
 * "Max Aura!" – Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U

Trivia

 * Lucario is one of the few fighters to only have five recolors in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The others are Pokémon Trainer, Jigglypuff, and Sonic.
 * Lucario is the only Pokémon in Super Smash Bros. Brawl to actually speak (telepathically), instead of just saying its name.

Lucario