Ash's Lucario

Ash's Lucario was the third Pokémon that Ash caught in *Pokémon Journeys: The Series*, and his seventy-sixth overall.

## Personality

Lucario, like every other member of his species, responds to Aura. As such, he developed a subconscious connection to Ash before he even hatched. After hatching, he displayed a very headstrong personality, attacking wild Pokémon and even Ash, as if he had something to prove. Lucario, as a Riolu, would hold onto Ash's hand or leg as well as mimicking his Trainer's actions. He has also become very friendly and supportive since he hatched from an egg thanks to Ash's influence. Lucario has picked up traits from both Ash and Pikachu such as eating massive amounts of food, helping Pikachu to Ash's side when he was defeated during Bea's battle, and being bummed out that Ash didn't have him participate in the battle, soon getting over it and choose to cheer his Trainer on. He also has an eagerness to battle, as seen when he let himself out of his Poké Ball on his own to battle a Galarian Farfetch'd. As a Riolu, Lucario would often train with Mimey to help his moves get stronger, but also became fast training partners with Ash's Farfetch'd.

Despite being a baby Pokémon, he displays dislike towards being cared for and generally seems very independent. This personality trait mellowed once Riolu evolved into Lucario. At the same time, he appears to respect Ash as a Trainer, and he can be seen following him and Pikachu around Cerise Laboratory. In addition, Lucario admires Ash's courage, kindness, and determination as he shows to have warmed up to him. Lucario also likes being with Ash and doesn't usually leave his side and stays outside of his PokéBall.

Through their Aura abilities, Lucario and Ash formed a close bond with each other. After evolving, Lucario's control of Aura improved, as seen when he used his Aura to tell Ash he had learned Aura Sphere. After Ash received a Key Stone from Korrina, Lucario's Aura abilities increased significantly, allowing him to find his trainer from a great distance. He also tends to meditate with Ash using Aura as part of his training to get better control over it. They have also established a strong connection of Aura between them to the point where Ash doesn't need to verbally shout out commands to Lucario during a battle, but just sends them to Lucario by using Aura.

## History

### Prior to Series

Ash received an egg from Nurse Joy that did not hatch that came from Sinnoh and eventually did hatch the night Ash received it. Riolu then hatched from the egg and eventually evolved into a Lucario.

## Gallery

Riolu's EggAs a RioluUsing Force PalmUsing Double TeamUsing ReversalUsing Steel BeamUsing Bullet PunchUsing Extreme SpeedUsing Dragon PulseInner Focus activatedLucario and AshLucario using his Aura visionLucario training with Greninja to strengthen his AuraLucario's LucarioniteUsing Force Palm as Mega LucarioUsing Double Team as Mega LucarioUsing Reversal as Mega LucarioUsing Aura Sphere as Mega LucarioUsing Steel Beam as Mega LucarioUsing Bullet Punch as Mega Lucario
## Trivia

* As the first Egg shown in *Pokémon Journeys: The Series*, Riolu's Egg was the debut of a new standard for the series. These Eggs more closely resemble the generic Egg designs from the core series games with spots related to the main color of the Pokémon that will be hatched. In particular, the pattern of spots seen on Riolu's Egg matched the one seen on all types of Egg in Pokémon GO at the time of its appearance.
* As a Riolu, Lucario was Ash's first:
	+ Baby Pokémon.
	+ Capture of a Generation IV Pokémon since Gible in *Gotta Get a Gible!*, 483 episodes earlier.
	+ Pokémon in *Pokémon Journeys: The Series* to not be obtained in its fully evolved form.
	+ Pokémon in *Pokémon Journeys: The Series* that did not originate from Generation I.
	+ Pure Fighting type since Primeape, who was caught in *Primeape Goes Bananas*, 1,081 episodes earlier.
	+ Pokémon to evolve outside of the region it was obtained in since Quilava, who was caught as a Cyndaquil in Johto and evolved in Sinnoh in *An Old Family Blend!*, 482 episodes earlier.
* If Pokémon that cannot evolve are not counted, then Lucario is Ash's first fully evolved Fighting-type Pokémon since Infernape, who reached his final form in *Fighting Ire with Fire!*, 501 episodes earlier.
* Lucario spent only 24 episodes as a Riolu after hatching, making it the fastest evolved hatched Pokémon out of all the protagonists.
* Lucario is the first of Ash's Pokémon to Mega Evolve.