Lucario

Mega Lucario sits at 7.27% usage and rank 25 in high-ladder singles, making it one of the premier wallbreakers in the current meta. Adaptability doubles the power of Close Combat and Flash Cannon, punishing nearly every switch-in. Multiple top-player commentaries highlight its ability to rip through Archaludon and Garchomp-paired threats. Smogon rates it A- (with a community re-rank to S-), GameWith rates it S.

Playstyle：Every set runs Lucarionite with Adaptability locked in. The dominant spread is Jolly max Attack / max Speed (53.4%). Core moves are Close Combat, Flash Cannon, and Bullet Punch; the fourth slot is Swords Dance, Vacuum Wave, or Earthquake depending on the team. Top players emphasize that Adaptability Close Combat OHKOs Archaludon, while Vacuum Wave revenge-kills weakened Mega Lopunny and Greninja. Common partners are Garchomp (entry hazard synergy), Corviknight (physical pivot), and Rotom-Wash (ground immunity).

✅ Favorable matchups5

ArchaludonUmbreonMeowscaradaKingambitGlimmora

⚠️ Unfavorable matchups4

Delphox-MegaBasculegionCeruledgeAegislash

Mega Lucario sits at just 0.52% usage and rank 96 in high-ladder doubles, making it a niche choice. Adaptability wallbreaking remains potent, but Fighting-type coverage is less universally threatening in doubles, and it lacks support utilities like Intimidate that doubles-meta staples offer. The two-active-mon rhythm also dilutes its switch-in wallbreaking role.

Playstyle：Doubles Mega Lucario runs either Jolly physical (max Atk/Spe) or Timid special (max SpA/Spe) sets. The special set uses Aura Sphere to avoid hitting allies with spread moves. Protect is a staple to secure safe Mega Evolution. Common partners are Basculegion (speed sweeper), Incineroar (Intimidate support), and Whimsicott (Tailwind). The division of labor is: partner tanks, Mega Lucario breaks.

✅ Favorable matchups2

KingambitArchaludon

⚠️ Unfavorable matchups2

IncineroarBasculegion

Lucario holds 0.23% usage (rank 137) in the 1760+ singles bracket. While its Fighting/Steel typing provides broad coverage, it is largely overshadowed by its Mega form. Non-Mega Lucario appears primarily as a Choice Scarf + Final Gambit speed-assassination tool or as the pre-Mega vessel in Mega Lucario teams. Commentary articles consistently reference it in the context of Mega Lucario, confirming that its value is nearly inseparable from the Mega decision.

Playstyle：Singles Lucario almost universally runs Choice Scarf (71.2%) with Inner Focus (79.3%) to negate flinch and Intimidate drops. The standard offensive kit is Close Combat / Final Gambit / Ice Punch / Earthquake, with Jolly max speed investment (38.7%). Final Gambit at low HP scores a guaranteed KO on a key target in exchange for Lucario's life, functioning as a cleanup sacrifice. A portion of sets pivots to special coverage — Flash Cannon (5.9%) and Steel Beam (4.3%) target Fairy-types. Commentary explicitly states that Lucario uses Sacred Sword to handle Mega Lopunny while Swords Dance + priority creates locking pressure on opponents.

Lucario sits at 0.4% usage (rank 105) in doubles 1760+, making it a genuine niche pick. Its doubles role is almost entirely built around Choice Scarf (83.9%) and Inner Focus (96.8%), using Final Gambit as a guaranteed KO sacrifice or Meteor Mash (18.6%) for Steel-type spread pressure. With 23 tournament appearances and 27 top-300 appearances, a dedicated subset of players has validated its use as a precision threat-removal tool, though it remains far behind the format's established staples.

Playstyle：Doubles Lucario is overwhelmingly Choice Scarf (83.9%) + Inner Focus (96.8%) with Jolly max Speed EVs (47.1%). The move set of Close Combat / Final Gambit / Meteor Mash / Stone Edge covers most priority targets in the meta. Final Gambit at a calculated HP value allows precise removal of a single high-value target — a uniquely doubles-viable sacrifice role that creates a 2v1 field advantage. Sinistcha (9.2%) provides Trick support and priority immunity, Farigiraf (7.1%) offers Follow Me redirection, and Torkoal (6.2%) sets Sun for additional field synergy. Commentary notes that Aura Sphere / Vacuum Wave can end Archaludon and threaten Mega Lopunny, indicating some players use a special-attacking vessel build as well.