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. The species first appeared in the Nintendo DS games, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, released in Japan in 2006. 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.

Lucario is a Pokémon that displays canid features and is nearly four feet in height. The coloration of Lucario's fur is predominantly blue and black, although its chest features fur that is slightly bushier than the rest of its body and is colored buff. Its feet and paw-like hands have three digits each, while its chest and the exterior of its wrists each feature a single, white spike. Lucario has a large snout and ears, red irises with vertical slit pupils, four small appendages on the back of its head, and thighs shaped like baggy shorts. It has the ability to sense the Aura in all living things, and the one featured in the film is capable of telepathic human speech, similarly to Legendary Pokémon of past films. It can read the thoughts and movements of other beings by sensing the aura that they emit. A trained Lucario is able to sense aura and identify the feelings of creatures up to half a mile away. Because of its ability to sense auras, Lucario can see otherwise invisible foes. Lucario has a pre-evolution, Riolu, which evolves when it reaches a certain point of happiness during daytime.

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 certain point of happiness. Riolu is obtainable in Pokémon HeartGold, SoulSilver, Black 2,White 2, X and Y, Sun and Moon. 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; and by Bruno, an Elite Four member of Johto. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Lucario is seen as the greatest rescue leader of all time, and his adventures have become legendary. After reaching a certain amount 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. Lucario appears as a boss Pokémon in Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, as the guardian of the Blue Gem. Lucario is one of several Pokémon in Pokémon X and Y that can use the new Mega Evolution mechanic after obtaining the "Lucarionite", becoming Mega Lucario. Lucario also appears as an NPC in PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure and its sequel, PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond.

Lucario is featured as an unlockable playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii. He is unlocked by being encountered in the story mode at The Glacial Peak, or through other special means. Lucario can use moves such as Aura Sphere, Force Palm, ExtremeSpeed, Double Team, and his "Final Smash", Aura Storm. When using his Final Smash, he launches a powerful beam of Aura in which the player can change the direction of. Lucario's fighting style revolves around Aura manipulation and the concept of "high risk, high return"; The more damage Lucario has taken, the stronger he and his attacks become. Lucario was confirmed to be a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl due to an unintentional leak. The leak, which took place on Nintendo's official smashbros.com, detailed that certain stickers could only be applied to certain characters, Ness, Jigglypuff and Lucario. Lucario returns as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, with the Aura mechanic enhanced, and his Aura Storm Final Smash replaced with his Mega Evolution form. Lucario also makes an appearance as a playable fighter 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 in February 2015 in North America.

In the anime

Lucario's main role in the anime is his appearance in the eighth Pokémon movie, Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew. In the movie, Lucario is a servant to a nobleman named Sir Aaron in a Renaissance-themed city called Cameron Palace. Aaron had trained this Lucario to manipulate Aura. Lucario thinks of Sir Aaron as both his master and close friend, although after Aaron traps him in a magic staff at the film's outset, Lucario begins questioning any Pokémon-human relationship. The Lucario in the movie, voiced by Sean Schemmel, can speak human languages with telepathy. Lucario sacrificed himself in order to save the Tree of Beginning, though the credits showed him with Sir Aaron eating a chocolate bar.

Maylene, the third Sinnoh Gym Leader, has a Lucario and it was seen in four different episodes of the Diamond and Pearl: Battle Dimension series. It was first seen battling with Maylene in their training. Lucario used Aura Sphere to stop the battle of Electabuzz, Piplup, and Pikachu, and is seen battling Paul's Pokémon in a flashback. Lucario was seen again where it battled in Dawn's gym battle with Maylene, where it defeated Dawn's Piplup. Then, in the next episode, it battled in Ash's gym battle against Maylene. It defeated Ash's Staravia and Chimchar, but was knocked out along with Ash's Buizel, resulting in a tie. Finally, Lucario was seen when it helped Ash and the others defeat Saturn and Team Galactic. A different Lucario appears on Iron Island, owned by a trainer named Riley. Lucario protects Ash from Pokémon on the island that are fighting against each other.

Lucario appeared in BW107 and BW108, under the ownership of Cameron. As a Riolu, it was used against Ash's Snivy, Unfezant, and Pikachu, where it evolved while battling Snivy. It was able to defeat all three, giving Cameron the victory. However, in Cameron's battle with Virgil, Lucario was defeated by Virgil's Flareon, eliminating Cameron from the tournament.

Lucario's most recent appearance was in XY030-034 and XY043-044, under the ownership of the 3rd gym leader of the Kalos region, Korrina. In XY031, Korrina and her Lucario attempted to retrieve a Lucarionite, but it was guarded by a Blaziken. Due to its type weakness, Lucario proved to be no match for Blaziken, but under the encouragement of Ash and his friends, it finally attempted to immobilize Blaziken. Before it gave the final blow, the Blaziken was revealed to be owned by Gurkinn, Korinna's father. They retrieved the Lucarionite, allowing it to mega evolve.

In episode XY032, Korinna used her Mega Lucario to battle Ash, but due to lack of control over its transformation, it soon ran out of control until it was finally stopped by Gurkinn's Lucario. In XY034, Lucario finally gained full control of its transformation and successfully defeated Team Rocket, who were attacking Ash and his friends.

In other media

In the Pokémon Adventures manga, like in games, it appears under the ownership of Riley who was on a boat heading to the Battle Frontier. Diamond meets Riley at Iron Island, and Byron asks Riley to help Diamond sharpen his Pokémon battle skills before Diamond goes to Lake Verity. In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! the main character, Hareta, gains an egg from Riley which hatches into a Riolu; it later evolves into Lucario. Phantom Thief Pokémon 7 is centered on a boy and his Lucario who take back stolen items from thieves.

Promotion and reception

Since it appeared in the Pokémon series, Lucario has had a generally positive reception. It has been featured in several forms of merchandise, including figurines, plush toys, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Lucario is featured on a collector's tin which contains one Lucario card as well as 4 booster packs from the Diamond and Pearl series. Beckett Pokémon Unofficial Collector editor Sean Cooper stated that Lucario had grown popular in recent years due to his starring role in Lucario and the Mystery of Mew and his appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

UGO described Lucario as "a new breed of Pokémon" citing its "cooler, more dangerous look". They called it an "attractive choice as an underdog fighter" for Super Smash Bros. Brawl due to its quick movement and powerful attacks. IGN called its presence in Super Smash Bros. Brawl "a bit on the head scratching side" in light of more familiar characters in the title such as Pikachu. Although another editor stated that it would make sense for Pokémon to be represented by a Fighting-type Pokémon, since Super Smash Bros. Brawl is a fighting game. GamesRadar described it as an "all-around bad-ass" and "the Bruce Lee of Pokémon". Game Informer stated that Lucario earned its spot in Smash Bros. from being one of the most popular Pokémon of the Diamond and Pearl generation.

When Zorua and Zoroark were revealed, they were often compared to Riolu and Lucario, with GamesRadar stating "Zorua and Zoroark are in some ways the Riolu and Lucario of this generation". In a poll conducted by IGN, it was voted as the 32nd best Pokémon, where the staff commented "Lucario is really, really cool, and a complete badass", further stating that "It also doesn’t hurt that he looks like some sort of awesome Egyptian god".