Evolving Riolu into Lucario in Pokémon X is a popular goal for many trainers. This guide breaks down the key concepts, ensuring you successfully add this powerful Pokémon to your team. We'll cover the requirements, strategies, and common pitfalls to avoid.
Understanding Riolu's Evolution
Unlike many Pokémon that evolve through leveling up, Riolu's evolution hinges on a specific condition: high friendship. This isn't simply about leveling it up; it's about building a strong bond with your Riolu.
What is Friendship in Pokémon?
Friendship, or affection, is a hidden mechanic representing your bond with a Pokémon. Several actions increase friendship:
- Winning battles: Especially effective battles where Riolu contributes significantly.
- Using Vitamins: Items like Carbos, Protein, etc., boost stats and friendship.
- Using Evolutions Items: Certain items, though not directly required for Riolu's evolution, can increase friendship.
- Using the Pokémon frequently: Having Riolu in your party, even if not battling, slowly increases friendship.
- Grooming: Using items to keep your Pokémon healthy and happy.
Key Actions to Increase Riolu's Friendship:
- Frequent use in battles: Ensure Riolu participates actively, even if it's not the strongest Pokémon.
- Winning battles consistently: Avoid challenging battles Riolu may struggle with to maintain high win rates.
- Giving Riolu items: Vitamins and similar items can considerably improve friendship levels.
- Walking with Riolu: In games that feature this (not explicitly stated in this context as it's specific to Pokémon X), increasing the friendship significantly.
- Using a Friendship Checker: While not available directly in-game in Pokémon X (Some games include specific items or NPCs that help), there are online calculators that estimate your Pokémon's friendship level based on your actions.
Recognizing the Signs of High Friendship
There are subtle in-game indications that Riolu's friendship level is improving. While there's no precise friendship meter in Pokémon X, the following points might suggest progress:
- Increased affection during the battle: Riolu's behaviour might be more positive in battles.
- Responding to your commands more quickly: This is especially noticeable for moves.
Leveling Up for Evolution
Once Riolu's friendship is sufficiently high, it will evolve into Lucario upon leveling up. Note: This evolution is triggered only after the friendship requirement is met. Simply leveling up Riolu without high friendship will not result in evolution.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Neglecting Riolu: Don't keep Riolu in the PC for extended periods without interaction.
- Overtraining: While battling is important, avoid battles that might lead to fainting, as this reduces friendship.
- Using Rare Candies: While convenient, Rare Candies are not known for increasing friendship and may impede progress.
Successfully evolving Riolu into Lucario requires patience and attention. Focusing on the strategies detailed above will significantly increase your chances of success. Remember, it's about building a bond, not just about meeting a numerical level requirement. Happy training!
