Back in 2007, when Pokémon Diamond and Pearl first hit the shelves, everyone wanted a Lucario. It was the face of the generation. It was cool. It had that cinematic "Aura" vibe. But if you look back at the early forums or your old save files, most of us were actually using a lucario moveset gen 4 builds that were, frankly, kind of terrible. We’d slap on Aura Sphere, Close Combat, Dragon Pulse, and maybe Bone Rush, then wonder why it kept getting knocked out by a single Earthquake from a Garchomp.
Lucario is a glass cannon. Honestly, it’s paper-thin. With 70/70/70 defensive stats, it’s not taking hits from anything substantial. But in Gen 4—which encompasses Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver—Lucario was a top-tier threat for one reason: it was the ultimate "pick your own counter" Pokémon.
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Depending on your moveset, you could decide exactly which "unbeatable" wall you wanted to ruin.
The Physical Sweeper (The "Standard" for a Reason)
Most competitive players eventually realized that Swords Dance was the move that made Lucario terrifying. You’ve got a base 110 Attack, which is great, but after one Swords Dance, you're looking at a Pokémon that can OHKO almost the entire metagame.
The core of this build is Close Combat. It’s high risk because it drops your defenses, but let’s be real—Lucario was going to die to the next hit anyway.
- Move 1: Swords Dance
- Move 2: Close Combat
- Move 3: Extreme Speed
- Move 4: Crunch or Ice Punch
Extreme Speed is the secret sauce here. In Gen 4, priority was everything. Since Lucario’s base Speed is only 90 (which is sort of "mid-tier" fast), it gets outsped by things like Gengar or Starmie. A +2 priority Extreme Speed lets you pick them off before they can touch you.
Why Crunch or Ice Punch in that fourth slot? Basically, it’s about what you’re scared of. Crunch lets you smash through bulky Ghost-types like Rotom-A or Psychic-types like Celebi. Ice Punch is specifically for Gliscor. If you didn't have Ice Punch, Gliscor would just sit there, laugh at your Close Combat, and Earthquake you into oblivion.
The Special Surprise (Nasty Plot)
Here’s where things get interesting. Lucario actually has a higher base Special Attack (115) than Physical Attack. While everyone was busy breeding for Swords Dance, the real "pro gamers" were using Nasty Plot.
Imagine your opponent switches in a Skarmory or a Hippowdon, expecting to wall a physical Lucario. You hit Nasty Plot on the switch. Suddenly, you’re firing off +2 Aura Spheres.
Why the Special Set Often Worked Better
- Aura Sphere Never Misses: In a generation where Bright Powder and Sand Veil were everywhere, having a move that ignores accuracy was a godsend.
- Vacuum Wave: This is the special version of Mach Punch. It’s priority STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus). It’s how you dealt with an incoming Weavile or a weakened Heatran.
- Better Coverage: Dark Pulse and Dragon Pulse provided almost perfect neutral coverage alongside Aura Sphere.
If you were running this, you usually went with a Timid nature to outspeed as much as possible, though Modest was tempting for the sheer raw power.
The "MixCario" Wallbreaker
Sometimes you didn't want to sweep; you just wanted to make the opponent's life miserable. This is the Mixed Attacker. It doesn't use a setup move. Instead, it uses a Life Orb or an Expert Belt to hit whatever comes in for super effective damage.
A common MixCario would look like this: Close Combat, Dark Pulse, Hidden Power Ice, and Bullet Punch.
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It sounds messy. It is messy. But it works because it's unpredictable. You hit a Blissey with Close Combat, then you stay in and hit the incoming Dragonite with a Hidden Power Ice. It was the ultimate "toolbox" Pokémon.
Common Mistakes People Still Make
I still see people trying to use Lucario as a "tank" because it’s a Steel-type. Don’t. Just because it resists Rock, Bug, and Dark doesn't mean it can take a hit. If you’re not attacking, you’re losing.
Another mistake? Using Inner Focus over Steadfast (or vice versa) without thinking. In Gen 4, Inner Focus was usually better because it prevented flinching from Fake Out or Togekiss's Air Slash. Steadfast gives you a speed boost when you flinch, but if you’re flinching, you’re probably already half-dead.
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Actionable Tips for Your Next Gen 4 Playthrough
If you’re booting up a copy of Pokémon Platinum or playing on a simulator, keep these three things in mind to make your Lucario actually viable:
- Focus on Speed: Always go for a Jolly or Timid nature. That base 90 Speed is right on the edge. If you don't maximize it, you’ll get outsped by base 100s like Jirachi and Celebi, and they will ruin your day.
- Stealth Rock Support: Lucario loves entry hazards. Because it often leaves enemies with like 5% HP after a hit, having Stealth Rock on the field ensures those "near-KOs" become actual KOs.
- Get the TMs Early: If you’re playing the story, don't wait for level-up moves. Get the Earthquake TM or use the Move Tutor for the elemental punches as soon as you hit Pastoria City.
Lucario isn't just a mascot. In the right hands, it was the most versatile threat in Sinnoh. Just remember: hit first, hit hard, and never expect to survive the counterattack.