Riolu, the adorable Fighting-type Pokémon, is a fan favorite known for its potential to evolve into the powerful Lucario. But knowing how to trigger that evolution in Pokémon Scarlet can be tricky. This guide provides a clear, accessible walkthrough, ensuring you'll have a Lucario on your team in no time!
Understanding Riolu's Evolution Requirements
Unlike some Pokémon that evolve through leveling up or using specific items, Riolu's evolution in Pokémon Scarlet hinges on friendship or happiness. This means you need to build a strong bond with your Riolu before it's ready to evolve.
What constitutes high friendship?
There's no exact numerical measure of friendship in Pokémon Scarlet. Instead, focus on these key actions to maximize your Riolu's happiness:
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Leveling Up: Regularly battling and winning increases friendship. Focus on battles that don't heavily damage Riolu, as consistently taking heavy damage can negatively impact its happiness.
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Using Riolu in Battles: Actively use Riolu in your party. Even if it faints, actively participating in battles boosts friendship.
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Giving Riolu Items: Specific items like Rare Candies or Friendship-boosting Berries (like a Pomeg Berry or similar) can significantly increase friendship. Experiment to see what works best!
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Keeping Riolu Healthy: Avoid letting Riolu faint frequently. Consistent health contributes to a positive relationship.
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Using the Picnic Feature: This new feature in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is incredibly effective. Regularly participating in picnics with your Riolu, feeding it sandwiches and playing with it, noticeably increases its happiness.
Steps to Evolve Riolu into Lucario
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Catch or Obtain Riolu: This is the first step! You'll need to acquire Riolu before you can evolve it. Remember its location or method of obtaining it! ( Consider adding specific details about where to find Riolu in Scarlet here if you're writing a more in-depth guide).
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Maximize Friendship: Follow the methods described above to boost Riolu's friendship level. Be patient; this process takes time and consistent effort.
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Level Up During the Day: This is the crucial final step. Riolu will only evolve into Lucario during the daytime after achieving sufficient friendship. Ensure the in-game time is daytime. Level up your Riolu through battling or using Rare Candies. The evolution will trigger automatically once the friendship threshold is met during the day.
Troubleshooting and Tips
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Not Evolving? Double-check that you've met the daytime requirement and that your Riolu's friendship level is sufficiently high. Continue battling and using the picnic feature.
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Patience is Key: Building friendship takes time. Don't rush the process!
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Monitor Riolu's Affection: While there's no exact meter, observe Riolu's behavior. A more affectionate Riolu is a good indicator of increasing friendship.
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Experiment with Berries: Different berries provide varying effects. Find out which ones work best for friendship building.
By following this guide and being patient, you'll be able to evolve your adorable Riolu into the powerful Lucario, expanding your Pokémon Scarlet team's strength significantly! Good luck, trainer!
