Riolu, the adorable Fighting-type Pokémon, is a fan favorite known for its powerful potential. But unlocking that potential requires understanding how to evolve it into the mighty Lucario. This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough on how to evolve Riolu in Pokémon Y, covering the essentials and ensuring you successfully add Lucario to your team.
Understanding Riolu's Evolution: Friendship is Key
Unlike many Pokémon that evolve through leveling up or using specific stones, Riolu's evolution hinges on 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 displayed; instead, you need to focus on activities that increase your Pokémon's happiness.
Methods to Increase Riolu's Friendship:
- Battling: Winning battles consistently boosts your Pokémon's happiness. However, be mindful not to let Riolu faint frequently, as this can negatively impact friendship.
- Using Vitamins: Vitamins like Carbos, Protein, and Calcium provide a significant friendship boost. These can be purchased at various Pokémon Centers throughout the game.
- Walking: Carry your Riolu in your party as you explore the Kalos region. The more steps you take together, the stronger your bond becomes.
- Grooming: Using items like the Soothe Bell significantly increases friendship levels. This bell can be obtained relatively early in the game, making it a valuable tool in your evolution strategy.
- Feeding Rare Candies: While not as effective as the other methods, feeding your Riolu rare candies will slightly increase its friendship.
Pro Tip: The Soothe Bell is your best friend in this process. Equip it to your Riolu and let it be in your party as you explore.
The Evolution: Leveling Up at High Friendship
Once you believe you've fostered a strong friendship with your Riolu, the next step is leveling up. This is the final trigger for the evolution. You'll need to level Riolu up to level 35 while its friendship is high.
If the evolution doesn't occur at level 35, it signifies that your Riolu's friendship level isn't high enough. Continue using the methods described above to increase friendship and try leveling up again.
Troubleshooting: Why Isn't My Riolu Evolving?
If you've leveled your Riolu to level 35 and it hasn't evolved into Lucario, double-check the following:
- Friendship: Ensure you've invested sufficient time and effort in boosting your Riolu's friendship. Use the Soothe Bell consistently and engage in all the activities mentioned above.
- Level: Make absolutely sure Riolu is level 35. Even one level short can prevent the evolution.
- Game Version: Confirm you are playing Pokémon Y. Evolution requirements can sometimes differ slightly between games.
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to welcoming the powerful Lucario to your team! Remember, patience and consistent effort are key to successfully evolving your Riolu. Good luck, trainer!
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