Pokémon GO, the mobile game that took the world by storm, continues to captivate trainers with its vast array of Pokémon to catch and evolve. One Pokémon that often catches the eye of trainers is Riolu. This small, fighting-type Pokémon evolves into the powerful Lucario, a fan favorite. If you’re wondering how to evolve Riolu in Pokémon GO, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will walk you through the steps to evolve your Riolu efficiently and effectively.
Understanding Riolu and Lucario
Riolu is a baby Pokémon, introduced in Generation IV of the Pokémon series. It evolves into Lucario, a dual-type Fighting/Steel Pokémon known for its excellent stats and strong move set. Lucario is not only a favorite in battles but also boasts a sleek design that many trainers love.
Catching Riolu
Riolu is not the easiest Pokémon to find in Pokémon GO. It typically hatches from 10 km eggs, which you can obtain from spinning PokéStops or Gyms. As of the latest updates, Riolu can also sometimes be found in special events or through specific research tasks. To maximize your chances, ensure you are walking and hatching as many 10 km eggs as possible. Using Incubators wisely, especially during events that reduce hatch distances, can also speed up the process.
Requirements for Evolution
To evolve Riolu into Lucario in Pokémon GO, you need two main things: enough Riolu Candy and a good walking distance with Riolu as your buddy. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:
Step 1: Accumulate Riolu Candy
You need 50 Riolu Candy to evolve Riolu into Lucario. Candy can be earned in several ways:
- Hatching Eggs: Hatching Riolu from eggs gives you a significant amount of candy.
- Walking with Riolu: Set Riolu as your buddy Pokémon. You earn one Riolu Candy for every 5 km walked.
- Rare Candies: Use Rare Candies, which can be obtained from raids, research tasks, and leveling up, to convert them into Riolu Candy.
- Catching Riolu: While rare, catching Riolu in the wild or from events can also add to your candy count.
- Transferring Pokémon: Transfer any extra Riolu you hatch to Professor Willow for one candy each.
Step 2: Walk with Riolu as Your Buddy
Once you have Riolu, set it as your buddy. Walking 10 km with Riolu as your buddy is a requirement for its evolution into Lucario. This distance ensures that you and Riolu have a strong bond, mimicking the friendship level required in the main series games.
Maximizing Your Efforts
To make the process more efficient, here are some tips:
- Use Pinap Berries: When you hatch or catch Riolu, use Pinap Berries to double the amount of candy you receive.
- Participate in Events: Keep an eye on Pokémon GO events. Sometimes, special events increase the hatch rate of specific Pokémon, including Riolu.
- Adventure Sync: Turn on Adventure Sync to count your steps even when the app isn’t open. This helps accumulate distance for both hatching eggs and earning buddy candies.
- Use Incense and Lures: While Riolu is rare in the wild, using Incense and Lures during events can sometimes increase your chances of encountering it.
Evolution Time
After gathering 50 Riolu Candy and walking 10 km with Riolu as your buddy, it’s time for evolution. Go to Riolu’s profile in your Pokémon list, and you should see the option to evolve. Tap the evolve button, and your Riolu will transform into the majestic Lucario.
Final Tips
- IVs and Moves: Before evolving, consider checking Riolu’s IVs (individual values) using the in-game appraisal system. A Riolu with high IVs will become a stronger Lucario. Additionally, Lucario has access to powerful moves like Aura Sphere, so consider using a Charge TM to get the optimal move set for battles.
- Buddy Switch: After evolving Riolu, you might want to switch your buddy to another Pokémon you wish to evolve or gather candies for.
