Pokemon GO Lucario: Best moveset, counters, and is it any good?

Pokemon GO Lucario best moveset
Pokemon GO Lucario PvP and PvE guide (Image via TPC)

Pokemon GO Lucario's best moveset, counters, and overall competitive viability will be of interest to players. It was released in September 2018 alongside the main cast of Sinnoh-region Pocket Monster. It had its shiny release in February 2020, and Mega Lucario was added to the game in July 2024.

Lucario is a popular and powerful critter in the anime. Therefore, players might be wondering what Pokemon GO Lucario's best moveset is and whether it is worth using at all. This article covers these details and highlights its best counters, should you face it on the other side of the battlefield.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the author's opinions.


Check out the current Pokemon GO raid bosses that you can encounter in-game

Pokemon GO Lucario best moveset

Lucario in the anime (Image via TPC)
Lucario in the anime (Image via TPC)

Lucario's best moveset in Pokemon GO depends on the format you are using it in. Here is a detailed breakdown:

Pokemon GO Lucario best PvP moveset

  • Fast Attack: Counter
  • Charged Attacks: Thunder Punch and Shadow Ball

Pokemon GO Lucario best PvE moveset [Also applicable for Mega Lucario]

Fighting-type attacker

  • Fast Attack: Force Palm
  • Charged Attacks: Aura Sphere

Steel-type attacker

  • Fast Attack: Bullet Punch
  • Charged Attacks: Flash Cannot

Also read: Is Lucario with Force Palm good in Pokemon GO PvP and PvE?


Is Lucario good in Pokemon GO PvP and PvE?

Lucario in Pokemon GO PvP

In Pokemon GO PvP, Lucario can participate in the Great League and Ultra League formats with ease. However, it only does well as a closer, when shields are up. Given its poor defenses, it cannot stand the slew of Ground, Fighting, and Fire-type attacks thrown at it, considering all three of these are extremely common.

However, given its raw strength, it can exert sufficient offensive pressure against all types that don't resist its Fighting-type Fast Attack (whether you go for Force Palm or Counter). This can give it play in situations where shields are up, but that also makes it extremely alignment-dependent and tricky to use.


Lucario (and Mega Lucario) in Pokemon GO PvE

Both Lucario and Mega Lucario are powerful Fighting-type attackers in Pokemon GO PvE—especially when equipped with the new Fast Move, Force Palm. In fact, Mega Lucario is the best possible Fighting-type attacker until Mega Mewtwo X enters the scene with a Fighting-type Fast Move or Aura Sphere.

Given its prowess in raids, it also shines as a Gym attacker and defender in Pokemon GO.


Pokemon GO Lucario: All moves and stats

Mega Lucario in the anime (Image via TPC)
Mega Lucario in the anime (Image via TPC)

Fast Attacks

  • Counter
  • Force Palm (might require an Elite Fast TM)
  • Bullet Punch

Charged Attacks

  • Aura Sphere
  • Close Combat
  • Power-Up Punch
  • Flash Cannon
  • Shadow Ball
  • Blaze Kick
  • Thunder Punch

Base Stats

  • Attack: 236
  • Defense: 144
  • Stamina: 172
  • Max CP: 3,056

Also read: Pokemon GO Mega Lucario raid guide


Pokemon GO Lucario strengths and weaknesses

Lucario in Pokemon GO resists the following types:

  • Bug (39.1%)
  • Poison (39.1%)
  • Rock (39.1%)
  • Steel (62.5%)
  • Dragon (62.5%)
  • Grass (62.5%)
  • Ice (62.5%)
  • Normal (62.5%)
  • Dark (62.5%)

Lucario has the following weaknesses:

  • Ground (160.0%)
  • Fire (160.0%)
  • Fighting (160.0%)

The types that Lucario can hit with STAB super-effective damage are:

  • Dark
  • Normal
  • Rock
  • Steel
  • Ice
  • Fairy

Also read: How to get Armored Mewtwo in Pokemon GO, and can it be shiny?


Pokemon GO Lucario best counters

Great league counters: Annihilape, Shadow Gligar, Shadow Whiscash, Azumarill, Vigoroth

Ultra League counters: Virizion, Talonflame, Pliwrath, Giratina (Altered), Cresselia

PvE counters:

  • Mega or Shadow Blaziken with Fire Spin and Blast Burn
  • Mega Charizard Y or X with Fire Spin and Blast Burn
  • Shadow Ho-Oh with Incinerate and Sacred Fire
  • Reshiram with Fire Fang and Fusion Flare
  • Primal or regular Groudon with Mud Shot and Precipice Blades
  • Mega or Shadow Garchomp with Mud Shot and Earth Power
  • Therian Forme Landorus with Mud Shot and Sandsear Storm
  • Shadow Mamoswine with Mud-Slap and High-Horsepower
  • Mega Blaziken with Counter and Focus Blast
  • Mega Lucario with Force Palm and Aura Sphere
  • Terrakion with Double Kick and Sacred Sword
  • Mega Heracross with Counter and Close Combat

Check out our other Pokemon GO guides:

🚨 Calculate the Pokemon type effectiveness to win battles with our newly launched Pokemon GO Type Calculator 🚨

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Edited by Anirudh Padmanabhan
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