Day 27: Lucario

Since I'm talking about a list of favorite Pokemon, and Generation 4 has probably my favorite Pokemon roster, then it would be downright heresy if I didn't talk about Sinnoh's breakout Pokemon, the Fighting-Steel type himself…

Lucario!

(Insert Lucario cry here)

(BGM: Battle! Frontier Brain from Pokemon Platinum)

We were all exposed to Lucario in many different ways. Some were exposed to him through the main series games, others watched episodes of the anime that he was featured in, others got a chance to play as him in the Super Smash Bros. games, but then you have someone like me who was first exposed to Lucario through the film, 'Pokemon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew'.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is the first time a Pokemon movie didn't have a legendary Pokemon as its main attraction. Sure, Mew is there but he already had a movie to shine. This was a brand new Pokemon with a cool appearance and here to advertise the upcoming fourth generation…and maybe giving birth to a few furries along the way.

Me: Yeah, if Digimon has Renamon, then Pokemon has Lucario. Pick your poison boys and girls.

Lyra: Fortunately for me I have a much better poison right here!

(Lyra holds up a bottle of champagne which she starts drinking from)

Me: Dude you're fifteen! You can't be drinking that!

Lyra: And who do you think you are, my mom? No, because she's dead!

Me: Lyra, you're living with me! If anyone catches you drinking that, I could go to jail!

Lyra: Take that L.

Me: I'm not gonna take that L!

Lyra: Get rekt! (Continues drinking her champagne)

Me: I'm just going to go back to talking about Lucario now. Don't get into any trouble.

Lyra: No promises. (Continues drinking)

My love for the anime's eighth movie aside, let's talk about why Lucario was such an amazing Pokemon, and still is to this day.

We first have to address its unique typing; Fighting-Steel, which is one of the most underrated type combinations out there. Sure, Lucario may be weak to Fire, Ground, and Fighting moves…but it gains an immunity to Poison, Psychic and Flying moves do neutral damage, and most other types are resisted. So, basically, thanks to being part Steel type, Lucario resists the all of the Fighting-type's weaknesses! That's pretty cool!

It also has some very useful abilities in the form of Steadfast, which raises your speed if you flinch, Inner Focus, which prevents flinching, and…hello again hidden ability of Justified. I don't know why anyone would send out a Dark-type Pokemon against Lucario, let alone use a Dark-type move against him, making Justified the weakest of Lucario's three abilities, but the other two can be pretty useful.

In short, if you try to make Lucario flinch, it'll be the last thing you do. And why's that? Just ask his 110 Physical Attack stat and 115 Special Attack stat!

With stats like that, Lucario is ready to take on most opponents. I'm serious, I remember Maylene's Lucario giving me a hard time when I first played Pokemon Pearl back in 2007…then again my newly evolved Empoleon was my strongest Pokemon and any other Pokemon I had were at least 10 levels lower than it, so Lucario kicking my ass could just be due to the fact that I kind of sucked at Pokemon back then…

…

Whoops.

As for Lucario's other stats, it's packing 90 speed and can learn Agility to move even faster, as well as 70 in HP and both defenses. Despite being a Steel type, defense isn't Lucario's strong suit, but the way I see it he hits so hard and moves fast enough that weak defenses don't even matter…

Remember this statement, it's going to come back later in this marathon.

So that begs the question. Since Lucario is packing such amazing attack and special attack power, what moves does he have at his disposal?

Well, for starters there was his, at one stage anyway, signature move, Aura Sphere; a 90 power move that's always guaranteed to hit its mark. But beyond that, his other natural moves consist of Force Palm, Bone Rush, Dragon Pulse, Extreme Speed, Close Combat, Meteor Mash, and Swords Dance in case you didn't think Lucario could pack more of a punch already!

As for egg moves, Lucario can learn High Jump Kick, Bullet Punch, Bite, Cross Chop, and Circle Throw.

And finally, his TM moves, which consist of great hits like Earthquake, Thunder and Ice Punch, Stone Edge, Focus Blast, Giga Impact, Hyper Beam, Steel Beam, Shadow Ball, Crunch, Dark Pulse, Flash Cannon, Poison Jab, Shadow Claw, Zen Headbutt, Water Pulse, and Aerial Ace! And he can even learn Iron Defense to boost his weak Physical Defense

Great coverage all around, man!

There is a very good reason why Lucario is still celebrated to this day even after other pocket monsters came to dethrone him. He has a great type combo, great power, great moves, and a cool and badass appearance.

Oh, and I almost forgot…he got himself a Mega Evolution in Generation 6 where he looks like a total BAMF, his speed and both attack stats get a significant boost, and his ability becomes Adaptability, which increases the power of STAB moves!

Truly amazing!

All we need now is for Lucario to get a regional variant and we'll be all set…maybe for a region based on Egypt?

Me: And that's really all I have to say about Lucario; easily one of the Sinnoh Region's finest!

(Next to me, Lyra finished her whole bottle of champagne, letting out a hearty belch in the process)

Lyra: Another! (Throws the bottle down on the ground for it to break)

Me: Hayato from 'School Clubbin'' was right, Lyra, you do have a screw loose.