Lucario

## Concept and creation

The design and art direction for Lucario was provided by Ken Sugimori, a friend of the creator of the *Pokémon* games, Satoshi Tajiri.[2][*failed verification*] The species first appeared in the animated film *Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew*, released in Japan in 2005. In an interview, *Pokémon Diamond* and *Pearl* director Junichi Masuda noted Lucario's name as one of the most difficult to create, due to an effort to make it appealing to both Japanese and American audiences.[3]

Lucario is a canid-like Pokémon that is a bipedal digitigrade with finger-like digits on its forepaws. Its chest and the exterior of its wrists each feature a single, white spike. It also has a large snout and ears, red irises with vertical slit pupils, a voluptuous, "hourglass"-shaped figure with thighs significantly thicker than the rest of his body, iron rings incorporated into its shoulders and waist, and a raccoon's "mask" that loosely resembles a khakkhara with four small dreadlock-like appendages on the back of its head that are used to sense Aura. The coloration of Lucario's fur is predominantly blue and black, although its torso features buff-colored fur slightly shaggier than the rest of its body. When it opens its mouth wide enough, sharp fangs can be seen.

Lucario can sense and manipulate aura, a form of energy emitted by all living things, and understand human speech.[4] As a result, Lucario can read the thoughts and movements of other beings by sensing the Aura that they emit,[5] to the point that it can even see otherwise invisible foes.[6] When properly trained, it can identify the feelings of others even if they are over half a mile away.[7] Lucario has a pre-evolution called Riolu, which is a pure Fighting-type Pokémon rather than a Fighting/Steel-type Pokémon and cannot manipulate Aura as capably as Lucario.

As Mega Lucario, its appearance undergoes a few noticeable changes. Its body gains rigid, black streaks on its arms, legs and face which are created by the energy generated by Mega Evolution intermingling with its Aura, the latter of which is significantly heightened.[8] The buff-colored fur on its torso becomes shaggier and envelopes its tail, its thighs become thicker and bulkier, a prominent bulge in the crotch region is sported, and its Aura-sensing appendages grow considerably longer. Lucario also gains additional spikes on its torso, forepaws, and hind paws. Lastly, its paws and Aura-sensing appendages are colored crimson. Although Mega Lucario possesses significantly greater offense and speed, the energy of Mega Evolution also brings about a drastic change to its mentality, causing it to face opponents with an aggressive, menacing fighting style.

## Appearances

### In the video games

Lucario's first video game appearance is in *Pokémon Diamond* and *Pearl*, where its pre-evolved form, Riolu, can be obtained as an egg from Riley. Riolu evolves into Lucario when it reaches a sufficiently high level of happiness. Lucario is used by notable trainers Maylene, the third Sinnoh Gym Leader; a tag team partner known as Riley; Cynthia, Sinnoh's Elite Four Champion;[9] and by Bruno, an Elite Four member of Johto.[10] In *Pokémon Mystery Dungeon* Lucario is perceived as the greatest rescue leader of all time, and his adventures have become legendary. After reaching a certain number of points, a Lucario statue will be displayed outside the rescue base. While the player never meets Lucario, Alakazam tells the player that his goal is to become closer to Lucario's greatness.[11] Lucario can be found and befriended in Lost Wilderness dungeon in *Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time and Darkness,* but it has no particular main role. However, in *Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Sky* and *Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon*, its pre-evolution form Riolu may be played as the main character or be chosen as the partner Pokemon. Lucaio appears as a boss Pokémon in *Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia*, as the guardian of the Blue Gem.[12] Lucario is one of the few Pokémon in *Pokémon X* and *Y* that can use the new Mega Evolution mechanic while holding Lucarionite, its Mega Stone; doing so results in it Mega Evolving into Mega Lucario in the process.[13][14] Lucario also appears as an NPC in *PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure* and its sequel, *PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond*.[15]

Due to an unintentional leak on Nintendo's official *Super Smash Bros.* website, which detailed how certain stickers could only be applied to certain characters, Lucario was indirectly confirmed as a playable character for *Super Smash Bros. Brawl*.[16] In *Brawl*, Lucario is unlocked upon being encountered in the story mode at The Glacial Peak, or through other special means.[17] Lucario's special moveset consists of Aura Sphere, Force Palm, ExtremeSpeed, and Double Team, each of which it can learn within the *Pokémon* games. Its "Final Smash", Aura Storm, consists of launching a powerful beam of Aura, which the player can adjust in a slow, fanning motion.[18] Lucario's fighting style revolves around a mixture of martial arts, predominately Shaolin Kung Fu, and Aura manipulation. Aura itself is also a game mechanic unique to Lucario: its attacks become stronger as it continues to receive damage.[17]

Lucario returned as a playable character in *Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS* and *Wii U* and again in *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*, now being voiced by Sean Schemmel as in *Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew*. Additionally, its Aura mechanic now affects the entirety of its moveset and has made Lucario's attacks riskier, yet more rewarding, due to the mechanic's damage multipliers being adjusted. In *Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS* and *Wii U*, Lucario's Mega Evolution, Mega Lucario, replaced Aura Storm as its Final Smash, reflecting the form change introduced in *Pokémon X* and *Y*.[19][20] In *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*, its Final Smash consists of it Mega Evolving into Mega Lucario before performing Aura Storm. In addition to the *Super Smash Bros.* series, Lucario appears as a playable character in *Pokkén Tournament*.

Lucario has also been a part of the third wave of amiibo, with its figure having been released on January 22, 2015 in Japan, and as a Toys "R" Us-exclusive beginning in February 2015 in North America.