“Pokémon Diamond: Get Lucario Easily” is a quest many trainers embark on, driven by the sheer power and cool design of this Aura Pokémon. If you’re looking to swiftly add Lucario to your Sinnoh team, you’re in luck! While Lucario doesn’t appear in the wild in Pokémon Diamond, there are well-established methods to acquire one without an unreasonable amount of grinding or complex trading. This guide will walk you through the most straightforward path to obtaining this coveted Fighting/Steel-type powerhouse.
The Primal Key: Obtaining Riolu
The first and most crucial step to get Lucario in Pokémon Diamond is to obtain its pre-evolution, Riolu. Riolu is the only way to get Lucario in the game, as Lucario cannot be found naturally roaming the Sinnoh region. Fortunately, there’s a specific, albeit slightly time-consuming, way to get your hands on this adorable (and eventually formidable) Pokémon.
Where to Find Riolu
Riolu can be found exclusively on Iron Island. This is a special area accessible later in the game, after you’ve obtained the National Pokédex and the ability to surf. Iron Island is primarily known for its role in a side quest involving Riley, a mysterious trainer who will aid you in exploring the caves.
To reach Iron Island, you’ll need to head to the dock in Canalave City. Speak to the sailor there, and he’ll offer to take you to the island. Once you arrive, you’ll be able to explore the caves. Riolu appears in the various caves on Iron Island, but it’s not a guaranteed encounter. You’ll need to walk around in the tall grass and enter and exit caves repeatedly to increase your chances. Be prepared for some patience; Riolu can be a bit elusive, so keep at it!
From Riolu to Lucario: Evolution
Once you’ve successfully caught a Riolu, your next challenge is to evolve it into Lucario. This is where get Lucario in Pokémon Diamond truly comes into play. Lucario evolves from Riolu through friendship. This means your Riolu needs to develop a strong bond with its trainer before it can transform.
Building Friendship with Riolu
Evolving through friendship in Pokémon Diamond requires a specific condition: Riolu must have a high friendship level and level up during the daytime.
Here’s how to effectively build that friendship:
Keep Riolu in your party: The simplest way to increase friendship is by having Riolu actively participate in your team. It gains friendship just by being with you.
Walk around: The more you walk with Riolu in your party, the higher its friendship will grow.
Battles (and winning): Having Riolu participate in battles, especially making it deliver the finishing blow, significantly boosts friendship. Make sure it doesn’t faint too often, as that can decrease friendship.
Use Soothe Bells: If you happen to have a Soothe Bell item, equip it to Riolu. This item doubles the friendship points gained from most actions. You can obtain a Soothe Bell from a woman in a house in Eterna City if you show her a Pokémon with a high happiness level.
Berries: Certain berries, like Pomeg, Weap, Hondew, Grepa, Kelpsy, and Tamato, can increase happiness when used on a Pokémon (though they also affect EVs, so be mindful if you’re EV training).
Avoid detrimental actions: Don’t leave Riolu in the PC box for extended periods, and avoid using items that lower happiness.
Crucially, Riolu will only evolve into Lucario when it levels up during the day and has a high enough friendship level. “Daytime” in Pokémon Diamond refers to the period between 4 AM and 8 PM. Make sure you’re not trying to level it up late at night.
The Power of Lucario
Once your Riolu finally evolves, you’ll have your very own Lucario! This dual-type Fighting/Steel Pokémon boasts an impressive base stat total, making it a formidable offensive threat. Its high Attack and Special Attack stats mean it can dish out damage with both physical and special moves. Its Speed is also respectable, allowing it to outspeed many opponents.
Lucario’s unique typing gives it strengths against Rock, Ice, Steel, Normal, and Dark-type Pokémon, while it’s weak to Fighting, Ground, and Fire-type attacks. Its signature move, Aura Sphere, is a powerful special Steel-type attack that never misses, making it a reliable tool in your arsenal. Other excellent moves it can learn through leveling up or TMs include Close Combat, Psychic, Extreme Speed, and Shadow Ball, offering a wide coverage of offensive options.
Why Lucario is Worth the Effort
Adding Lucario to your team in Pokémon Diamond is a strategic advantage. It’s one of the best offensive Pokémon available in the Sinnoh Pokédex, capable of handling numerous challenges throughout the game, including Gym Leaders and the Elite Four. Its unique design and powerful presence on the battlefield also make it an incredibly satisfying Pokémon to train and use.
So, while there’s no direct wild encounter for Lucario, the method of obtaining Riolu on Iron Island and then evolving it through friendship during the day is a clear and achievable path. With a bit of exploration and dedicated bonding, you’ll soon get Lucario in Pokémon Diamond and have a powerful ally ready to take on the Sinnoh League!