Evolving Riolu in Pokémon Black 2 can be a bit tricky, as it requires more than just leveling up. This guide will walk you through the fundamental steps, ensuring you successfully evolve your Riolu into the powerful Lucario.
Understanding Riolu's Evolution
Unlike many Pokémon that evolve based solely on level, Riolu requires a specific condition to transform into Lucario. This condition revolves around friendship or happiness. Simply put, you need to become best buds with your Riolu!
Key Steps to Evolve Riolu
Here's a breakdown of the fundamental steps you need to take to maximize your chances of evolving Riolu:
1. Leveling Up: The Foundation
While friendship is key, Riolu still needs to reach a certain level before it can evolve. Ensure your Riolu is at least level 35. Trying to evolve before this level will be unsuccessful.
2. Boosting Friendship: Practical Methods
Increasing your Riolu's friendship requires consistent effort and attention. Here are some proven methods:
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Battle Regularly: Using Riolu in battles, even if it's not the most effective Pokémon in your team, significantly boosts friendship. Winning battles is, of course, better.
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Minimize Fainting: Avoid letting Riolu faint in battle. Each faint dramatically reduces friendship.
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Use Vitamins: Items like Protein, Iron, Calcium, Zinc, and Carbos can increase your Riolu's stats, subtly increasing friendship. Use these sparingly, as they are valuable resources.
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Affection: Use the Massage move or give Riolu Poké Puffs. These boost happiness and will help speed up the process. (In some versions of the game these methods might not exist.)
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Walking: Carry Riolu in your party as you explore the game world. Even just walking around increases friendship levels slowly but surely.
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Grooming: Certain Pokémon Centers allow you to groom your Pokémon, resulting in happiness boosts.
3. Leveling Up at the Right Time: The Final Push
Once you've significantly increased your Riolu's friendship level and it's at least level 35, level it up one more time. This final level-up, coupled with the high friendship, will trigger the evolution into Lucario. Consider using an experience share to help boost the process without risk of faint.
Troubleshooting: Why Isn't My Riolu Evolving?
If your Riolu isn't evolving even after reaching level 35 and employing the above methods, consider these points:
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Insufficient Friendship: You may need to spend more time nurturing your Riolu's friendship. Try using more of the friendship-boosting methods described above.
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Hidden Bugs: While rare, there may be a bug in your game affecting evolution. This is less common, but a game restart might be worth considering.
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Incorrect Level: Double-check your Riolu's level. It must be at least level 35 before attempting evolution.
Following these fundamental steps will significantly increase your chances of successfully evolving your Riolu into a mighty Lucario in Pokémon Black 2. Remember, patience and consistent effort are key! Happy training!
