So, you've got yourself a Riolu in Pokémon X and you're ready to evolve it into the powerful Lucario? This guide will walk you through the simple, yet sometimes confusing, process. Let's get started!
Understanding Riolu's Evolution Requirements
Unlike many Pokémon that evolve based on level-ups, Riolu's evolution to Lucario requires a specific condition: high friendship. This means you need to build a strong bond with your Riolu before it's ready to evolve. There's no specific friendship level number displayed in the game, so we'll focus on the actions that boost friendship.
Boosting Your Riolu's Friendship
Here's how to maximize your Riolu's happiness and pave the way for that Lucario evolution:
1. Battling with Riolu:
- Regular Battles: Using Riolu in battles is crucial. Winning battles increases friendship significantly, even more so if Riolu is a key player. Don't let it faint frequently, though – that can lower friendship.
- Strategic Battles: Consider using Riolu in battles where it's effective against the opposing Pokémon. This boosts its performance and further increases friendship.
2. Using Items:
- Friendship-Boosting Items: Items like Soothe Bells significantly speed up the friendship-building process. Equip a Soothe Bell to your Riolu and let it accompany you on your journey. Various vitamins can boost stats that may also passively increase friendship.
- Rare Candies: While not directly boosting friendship, Rare Candies allow you to level Riolu up quickly, which, in turn, helps with the overall friendship build-up.
3. Affectionate Actions:
- Talking to Riolu: Regularly interact with your Riolu in your party. Select it and check its summary screen; this minor action shows affection.
- Using the Pokémon-Amie (X): If you have access to the Pokémon-Amie feature in Pokémon X, spend time interacting with Riolu. Play mini-games and shower it with attention! This is an extremely effective method for improving friendship.
The Evolution Trigger: Level Up with High Friendship
Once you've spent significant time battling with Riolu, using items, and showing it affection, it's time for the final step. Simply level Riolu up to level 30 or higher. As long as its friendship is sufficiently high, it will evolve into Lucario upon leveling up.
Troubleshooting: Riolu Not Evolving?
If your Riolu hasn't evolved after reaching level 30, it likely hasn't reached a high enough friendship level. Continue utilizing the methods outlined above for a while longer, focusing on using a Soothe Bell and spending lots of time playing with Riolu in the Pokemon-Amie feature if available.
Conclusion: Embrace the Power of Lucario!
Following these steps diligently should guarantee the smooth evolution of your Riolu into a mighty Lucario. Remember, patience and consistent effort are key to building that crucial friendship level! Good luck, Trainer!
