Lucario (Super Smash Bros. Brawl)

''This article is about Lucario's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. For other uses, see Lucario.''

Lucario (, Rukario) is a character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It is said to have replaced Mewtwo, though their fighting styles are different.

While primarily a Fighting/Steel-type Pokémon, most of Lucario's moves are augmented with its innate ability to use "Aura", in a style very similar to Mewtwo's Psychic augmented fighting style, but with different techniques similar to martial arts. Like Mewtwo, its voice acting attributed to its telepathic abilities demonstrated in the movie Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, except it seems to speak more than Mewtwo did, especially when announcing its Final Smash, and during its victory poses. Lucario is unique among the fighters in that its attacks that rely on Aura become more powerful as it takes damage, capping at 200%. Its power also increases slightly if it is behind in a match, effectively meaning that it is more powerful if fighting at a "disadvantage".

The current tier ranks Lucario 9th (high tier) in the list due to its Aura properties with long ranged, long lasting attacks and the ability to build up damage through various combos and juggling as well as good balance in power and speed.

How to Unlock
Complete one of the following:
 * Play 100 matches in Brawl, then defeat Lucario.
 * Complete the Target Test on all difficulty levels (this can be done on 1 or 2 player mode), then defeat Lucario.
 * Get Lucario to join your party in The Subspace Emissary.

Attributes
Lucario in general is well balanced in both power and speed. However, due to its "high risk, high return" property, it is very difficult to pull off a good KO and is too reliant on Directional influence and kills near the Blast lines. Regardless, Lucario is very useful when it comes to initiating combos in order to rack up damage.

One of the most popular combo starters is the use of neutral attack combo or dash attack and one could follow the combo up with strong up attack, which has good juggling capacities and can be spammed easily. Its trademark ability, the Aura Sphere is a very powerful projectile with decent knockback and damage when fully charged as well damaging incoming foes behind Lucario while charging. Lucario's side special, Force Palm has a good Wavebounce and can serve as excellent Chain grab against in low percentage damage. Lucario currently has the highest Wall jump in the game and the longest Wall cling as well as a very low crawl. Its up special, ExtremeSpeed, serves as a powerful recovery move and can "bend" and even cling into walls, although it deals no damage compared to Quick Attack (which ironically in the Pokemon games, ExtremeSpeed has very high priority and deals more damage than Quick Attack).

Lucario's down aerial, can serve as a good killing move, catch jugglers by surprise, and even can aid recovery because it stops all momentum for Lucario. Another killing move, its down smash, uses aura and can serve as a good horizontal killer when Lucario has taken medium to high damage (which covers both sides simultaneously). Two of Lucario's smash attacks, his forward and up smash, leaves a large aura residue that can catch approaching opponents by surprise.

Lucario is a character that, rather simply, relies on building and maintaining momentum throughout the match until it can safely kill the opponent. It has all the right tools and tricks for the job, but falling behind can prove problematic for the Lucario player.

Aura
Lucario is unique among the fighters in that its attacks that rely on Aura become more powerful as it takes damage, capping at around 170% (when attacks are twice as strong). Its power also increases if it is behind in a match (and decreases once it pulls ahead), effectively meaning that it is more powerful if fighting at a "disadvantage". Many players would try and attempt to KO Lucario before it has taken over 100% because of the aura "high risk, high return" property. This is because Lucario's attacks will become very powerful when it has taken that much damage while consequently being vulnerable to powerful smash attacks. In scenarios when Lucario has taken heavy damage, it is good idea to preform a hit-and-run strategy. If one is good enough, one can survive over 180% and can pull off deadly attacks from its Aura.

As a general idea, Lucario's power is increased by about 1% (from the base damage) for every 2% on its damage meter, up to 170%. It also gets an additional multiplier based on its current stock standing in stock matches (80% at a 2-stock advantage, 90% if ahead by 1 stock, 120% if behind by 1 stock, and 140% if at a 2-stock disadvantage).

Moveset
Note: Lucario's Aura-powered attacks gain power and knockback at higher damages.

Normal

 * Neutral attack - Lucario slashes forwards, does a palm thrust, and then kicks high. Each hit has blue aura accompanying it and moves Lucario a fair bit forward. A good combo starter.
 * Dash attack - Lucario slides one leg forward on the ground, hitting low. Aura is not involved in this attack.
 * Strong Down - Sweeps one leg out along the ground. Paws flare with aura when it does this. Hits in front and in back.
 * Strong Side - Puts its paws together in front of itself with two small blasts of blue aura. Quicker and shorter ranged than its Forward smash. Can be aimed up or down a bit.
 * Strong Up - Swings its leg in an arc over its head. Quick and can juggle. Aura trails behind its foot. Similar to Marth's up-tilt.

Smash

 * Side Smash - Lucario places its paws together in front of itself and shoots a blast of blue aura energy, which extends outwards a little bit. This attack has a tipper effect, doing more damage and knockback if only the tip of the attack hits the enemy
 * Down Smash - Lucario brings its paws down to either side of it in a downwards slapping motion, similar in appearance to Sheik's Up Smash, except with blue aura around the hands.
 * Up Smash - Lucario holds its paw above its head, with a large burst of blue aura from it, and spins in place. Damages enemies in front and behind of Lucario while lasting for a very long time

Other
Ledge Attack-Lucario quickly gets back on the stage,attacking with a burst of Aura,which has good range

Over 100% Ledge Attack-Lucario brings its feet over its head(a semi-flip) and kicks, releasing aura.

Floor attack-Spins around while getting up, kicking on one side, and punching on the other.

Trip attack-Kicks forwards, then backwards.

Aerial Attacks

 * Neutral Aerial - Lucario extends both of its hands with blue energy, and spins. The end effect is similar to Mewtwo's Neutral aerial, except with blue aura bursts instead of psychic sparks and much more knockback. Note that after doing this move, Lucario will be unable to perform another aerial for a short duration unless it lands.
 * Forward Aerial - Lucario kicks forward with a slight upwards tilt. The end has a small burst of blue aura energy, like most of Lucario's moves. It can also hit twice in one short hop and can always hit another time if an enemy is hit with the first one. This is a good combo move.
 * Up Aerial - Lucario kicks similarly to its forward aerial, but higher, hitting in front of its head.
 * Down Aerial - Lucario pauses in the air, thrusts its feet together downwards, and lets out a fairly large burst of aura energy. Fairly long duration, and has unique properties that make it an incredibly powerful move. When it starts the move, all of its momentum is immediately canceled. This allows it to be used as an aid for recovery (stopping horizontal or vertical knockback to keep from going off the edge). It can also be used to perform a "pseudo-SHFFL": if used immediately after jumping, Lucario will cease to jump and immediately use the attack, making it one of the lowest possible attacking aerial moves. There is also no landing lag when doing this, as the entirety of the move is performed stationary in midair.
 * Back Aerial - Lucario slams one paw backwards, similar in appearance to Ganondorf's Back aerial. Accompanied by standard little burst of blue aura.

Grabs and Throws

 * Pummel: Sends an instant pulse of Aura into its opponent with little lag (if any).
 * Forward Throw: Uses aura to blast opponent forward after twirling them once.
 * Down Throw: Slams opponent straight into the ground in front of Lucario. Aura is not used in this attack
 * Back Throw: Turns and slams the opponent behind itself. Aura is not used in this attack.
 * Up Throw: Uses aura to hit the opponent upwards with its paw.

Taunts
Up: Rises into the air, yells, and blue aura is emitted from its body.

Side: Moves its paws and puts one forward, and blue aura is emitted from that paw.

Down: Takes a martial arts stance similar to Link's taunt from the original.

Use In Training Mode
Since charging Aura Sphere causes enemies that touch the charging spere to be hit, it is possible to create a stage that bounces a large character, in Training Mode, back to the sphere, creating the ability to get extortionate combos which unlock the required trophies.

Role in The Subspace Emissary
Meta Knight is making his way up a snowy mountain with the Ice Climbers in pursuit. Meta Knight is trying to catch the Halberd which has flown overhead. At the top, he encounters Lucario in a meditative stance on the peak of the mountain. Lucario challenges Meta Knight and the two fight, as the Ice Climbers nervously watch on. After the battle, the victor revives the other from his trophy state. The pair deem each other worthy and shake hands, making an alliance. Suddenly the Halberd slams the Great Fox into the mountain, and Lucario and Meta Knight board it. After managing to get onto the Halberd, the two pass by Snake, who is hidden in his box. Lucario, being the only one who notices something suspicious about the box, uses its aura to peer into it. Seeing Snake huddled inside, Lucario removes it, and Snake realises that his cover is blown. Meta Knight draws his sword, but just as he and Snake prepare to fight, Lucario steps in, having sensed a mass of Primids approaching, and the three team up to fight through.

Not long after, the trio meets up with Zelda and Peach as their trophies are cloned by the Shadow Bugs. Once the clones are taken care of, Snake, Lucario and Meta Knight discover that the Halberd bridge is being piloted by a group of Mr. Game & Watches. They knock all of the Mr. Game & Watches out of the window, and they all land near Peach, Sheik, and Fox who have gathered on the deck of the ship. The Mr.G&Ws then revert into Shadow Bugs, which fuse into Duon. Lucario and Snake leap from the bridge to the aid of the trio already there, and they are joined by Falco, skydiving from his Arwing. They battle and defeat the monster, who collapses into wrecked metal, Shadow Bugs and Mr. Game & Watch's trophy. Peach revives him so he can join your party. Meta Knight, with the Halberd once again in his control, steers his vessel into brighter skies.

Lucario is later selectable in the Entrance to Subspace level, and is present when Tabuu turns all characters back into trophies. You must find its trophy in one of the Subspace levels, then you may choose it as part of your team for the Great Maze and for the fight against Tabuu himself.

Exclusive Stickers
The following stickers can either only be used by Lucario, or can only be used by a select few, including Lucario:
 * Charizard: [Arm, Leg] Attack +10
 * Deoxys: [Slash] Attack +10
 * Entei: [Flame] Attack +20
 * Goldeen: [Leg] Attack + 4
 * Gulpin:[Electric] Attack +16
 * Jigglypuff: [Body, Spin] Attack +31
 * Jirachi: [Arm, Leg] Attack + 7
 * Meowth: [Slash] Attack + 5
 * Metagross: Launch Resistance +23
 * Mew: [Body, Spin] Attack + 4
 * Moltres: [Flame] Attack +20
 * Pokémon Trainer: [Arm, Leg] Attack +13
 * Staryu: [Specials: Direct] Attack + 3
 * Togepi: [Body, Spin] Attack +11
 * Torchic: [Flame] Attack + 8
 * Box Boxer: [Aura] Attack +26
 * Chikorita: [Aura] Attack +13
 * Chozo Statue: [Aura] Attack +25
 * Dry Bones: [Aura] Attack +17
 * Lakitu: [Aura] Attack + 6
 * Lucario: [Aura] Attack +41
 * Munchlax : [Aura] Attack +13
 * Rachel: [Aura] Attack +11
 * Rayquaza: [Aura] Attack +24
 * Starman: [Aura] Attack + 6

Trivia

 * Lucario's telepathic Aura ability in Brawl is unique to the Lucario in "Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew". It also does not come from a Pokéball during its on-screen appearance like all other Pokémon, and it is referred to as "he" instead of "it" in Snake's Codec Message and the description for Event 25: The Aura is with Me. These facts have promted some to speculate that the Lucario in Brawl is the specific Pokémon who appeared in the movie.
 * Although implied to just be communicating with a form of telepathy, Lucario's mouth moves in sync with its victory quotes.
 * With its first appearance in 2007, Lucario is the "youngest" fighter in Brawl. But ironically if this Lucario is indeed the same one as in the film as stated above, he should be one of the oldest characters by literal means.
 * If Lucario uses Double Team with a Pikmin attached to it and attacking, the Pikmin will "vanish" with Lucario.
 * Reversal, a move Lucario can learn, is very weak, but increases in power the less healthy the user is. The Aura property may come from this.
 * Lucario's Pummel actually takes more than one hit to do 1% damage