#0447 · Sinnoh · Generation 4 · baby

Riolu

Emanation Pokémon · Fighting-type

Riolu is a Fighting-type Pokémon, the Emanation Pokémon, number 447 (#0447) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 4 and comes from the Sinnoh region. It is 0.7 m tall and weighs 20.2 kg.

Riolu is the Emanation Pokémon, a baby Fighting type that gives off aura waves it uses to talk without making a sound. The Pokédex says it has the stamina to run all night.

How to pronounce Riolu

Riolu is pronounced ree-OH-loo. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Riolu said out loud:

In Japanese it is リオル.

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Riolu is a small blue canine, 0.7 m tall and 20.2 kg, with a black torso and legs, a yellow collar, a black mask around red eyes and a rounded bump on the back of each forepaw. It stands on its toes. Two black appendages hang from its head and rise when it reads aura, and Bulbapedia says the aura it gives off strengthens when it is scared or upset.

Behaviour

Riolu is playful, loyal and hard-working, and the Pokédex warns that taking one for a walk can be a challenge. It uses aura to sense how others feel and to talk to its own kind silently, so enemies cannot hear. Bulbapedia, citing Pokémon Sleep, says it sleeps sitting up without lying down, in the way Lucario does.

Habitat

The Pokédex gives no habitat. In Scarlet and Violet it is found in Paldea's North and South Provinces and across Kitakami, and in Legends: Z-A in several districts of Lumiose City.

Powers

Its Abilities are Steadfast and Inner Focus, with Prankster hidden. It learns Quick Attack and Counter early, then Force Palm, Swords Dance and Reversal, and Final Gambit as its last gamble. Base Attack 70 and Speed 60 make it quick but frail.

Name origin

Bulbapedia reads Riolu as Lucario's letters rearranged with the 'ca' dropped. The Japanese name is also Riolu (リオル).

Design inspiration

Riolu appears to share Lucario's jackal inspiration, but its mask-like face markings and small pointed ears may also suggest a raccoon or tanuki. These are fan readings, not official statements.

Evolution notes

Levelling it up in the daytime with high friendship turns it into Lucario.

In the games

On Iron Island in Diamond and Pearl, where Riolu debuted, Riley gives you a Riolu Egg, the only source Bulbapedia lists there. In Scarlet and Violet it appears in the wild and in 3-star Tera Raids. In Legends: Z-A it can be found in Lumiose districts, or got by trading during a side mission.

In the anime

Debuted in the two-part episode 'Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu!', where Ash helps return a powerful Aura Sphere Riolu to its home. Ash later hatched his own Riolu from an Egg in 'Caring for a Mystery!'.

Fun facts

• In Pokémon Sleep, Bulbapedia lists Riolu as evolving after 150 hours of sleep logged with it.
• Of the possible hero Pokémon in the Explorers games, Bulbapedia says Riolu is the only one you cannot recruit in a different Explorers game without a Wonder Mail code.
• Bulbapedia says Riolu reacts to aura even before it hatches.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Riolu (Pokémon) · Serebii: Riolu (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 40
• Attack: 70
• Defense: 40
• Sp. Atk: 35
• Sp. Def: 40
• Speed: 60

Riolu’s base stat total is 285. Its highest stat is Attack.

Type matchups

What is Riolu weak to?

Riolu takes extra damage from Flying (2×), Psychic (2×), Fairy (2×) moves.

It resists Bug (½×), Rock (½×), Dark (½×).

Evolution

How does Riolu evolve?

Riolu evolves into Lucario (Friendship, during the day).

The whole family: Riolu, Lucario.

Abilities

• Steadfast: Raises Speed one stage upon flinching.
• Inner Focus: Prevents flinching.
• Prankster (hidden ability): Raises non-damaging moves' priority by one stage.

Moves

Moves Riolu learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

TM moves (43)

Riolu can learn 43 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Agility, Protect, Low Kick, Trailblaze, Facade, Aerial Ace, Bulldoze, Metal Claw, Swift, Rock Tomb, Low Sweep, Fling, Endure, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Dig, Brick Break, Zen Headbutt, Shadow Claw, Bulk Up, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, Sleep Talk, Drain Punch, Poison Jab, Rest, Rock Slide, Swords Dance, Substitute, Crunch, Helping Hand, Reversal, Nasty Plot, Earthquake, Focus Blast, Close Combat, Tera Blast, Vacuum Wave, Focus Punch, Psych Up, Coaching, Upper Hand.

Egg moves (7):Bite, Bullet Punch, Circle Throw, Cross Chop, Detect, High Jump Kick, Howl.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 87.5% male, 12.5% female.
• Egg groups: Undiscovered.
• Egg cycles: 25 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 3,200).
• Catch rate: 75 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
• Growth rate: Medium Slow (1,059,860 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 1 Attack effort value.
• Base experience yield: 57.

Pokédex entries

Though infantile in appearance, it has the mysterious ability to read the minds of humans. The pure of heart are met with Riolu's approval, while those of ill nature earn only its loathing. (Legends: Arceus)

It can use waves called auras to gauge how others are feeling. These same waves can also tell this Pokémon about the state of the environment. (Shield)

It's exceedingly energetic, with enough stamina to keep running all through the night. Taking it for walks can be a challenging experience. (Sword)

It uses waves called auras to communicate with others of its kind. It doesn't make any noise during this time, so its enemies can't detect it. (Ultra Moon)

It knows how people and Pokémon feel by looking at their auras. It doesn't approach dangerous opponents. (Ultra Sun)

It's tough enough to run right through the night, and it's also a hard worker, but it's still just a youngster. (Moon)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Lightest Fighting type in Gen 4: 20.2 kg.
• Shortest Fighting type in Gen 4: 0.7 m, shared with 1 other.
• Lowest base stat total among Fighting types in Gen 4: 285.
• Taller than 34% of all Pokémon (0.7 m).
• Heavier than 43% of all Pokémon (20.2 kg).
• Base stat total 285, ranked #907 of 1,025.
• One of 73 Fighting-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
• One of 170 blue Pokémon.
• Number 61 of 107 Pokémon introduced in Generation 4 (Sinnoh).
• Part of an evolution family of 2 Pokémon.
• Can learn 60 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 75: about 9.8% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Appears in 12 distinct Pokédex entries.

Sources and fact-checking

• Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
• Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Riolu (Pokémon), Serebii: Riolu (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (ree-OH-loo): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Fighting-type Pokémon · Riolu vs Lucario · Sinnoh region guide · Steadfast ability · Inner Focus ability · Prankster ability · Compare Riolu · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

Browse similar Pokémon

Gen 4 Fighting-type Pokémon · Gen 4 Pokémon list · Blue Pokémon list · No Eggs Discovered egg group · Pokémon that start with R · Dog Pokémon

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