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Lucario isPokemon TCG Pocket’s new rising star, boasting powerful synergies with other Fighting-type cards. If you’re wondering what the best Lucario decks are in the current meta, you’ve come to the right place. This guide covers the most consistent and best-performing Lucario decks inPocket’s metagame, along with tips on how to maximize its potential—and a brief overview of Lucario’s performance in tournaments. Here’s everything you need to know about this bipedal Fighting-type Pokemon!
Lucario Card Overview
Lucario is one of the best cards to joinPokemon Pocket’s roster due to its sheer utility. ThisFighting-type Pokemonhas an ability called Fighting Coach, which boosts all other Fighting-type Pokemon’s attack by 20 as soon as it’s played (whether to the Bench or Active Spot).
Lucario helps counter the typicalweakness of Fighting-types against Psychic Pokemon, as its buff allows them to deal more damage against the fast-paced Psychic decks that exploit Gardevoir’s ability.
The Best Deck for Lucario
A consistent deck for Lucario can be built usingthe Primeape-Mankey shell. With Genetic Apex’s Mankey and Mythical Island’s Primeape, you have two cards capable of dealing 40 and 70 damage, respectively, in the presence of Lucario—both for just one Energy. To reinforce the deck, include Marshadow in case one of your early damage-dealers gets knocked out.
If you have two Lucario cards on the Bench, your Fighting-type Pokemon’s damage—along with the damage from the two Lucario cards—will be boosted by 40, not 20. (Lucario’s ability stacks up with its copies.)
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Lucario Deck’s Synergies
Alternative Deck for Lucario
One of the best-performing Lucario decks in the current meta features Rampardos. This Stage 2 Pokemon evolves from Cranidos, which comes from a Skull Fossil. The strategy is to buff Rampardos’s attack with Lucario, enabling a 150-damage attack with just one Energy. For added consistency, you’re able to include Marshadow and Hitmonchan as supporting Pokemon.
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The problem with this deck is twofold: 1) Rampardos is a self-damaging Pokemon and can be knocked out after just a few attacks. 2) Rampardos’s evolution line is difficult to trigger sinceit starts with an Item Card(Skull Fossil).
How to Counter Lucario
Lucario’s decks are primarily weak to Psychic-type lineups. AMewtwo ex and Gardevoir setup, boosted with Giant Cape, is a powerful counter to Lucario. With this deck, Mewtwo ex—boosted to 170 HP thanks to Giant Cape—can sit in the Active Spot and absorb attacks while Gardevoir accelerates its setup. After a round or two, you may start dealing 70 damage with just two Psychic Energy, enough to disrupt most attackers in Lucario decks.
Lucario’s Performance in the Metagame
An analysis of tenrecentPokemon TCG Pockettournamentswith over 100 players reveals the following stats about Lucario decks:
While an average ranking of 33.5 might not seem impressive, especially when compared to Space-Time Smackdown’s star,Darkrai ex decks, Lucario decks are steadily climbing the meta. Lucario’s universal synergy with all Fighting-type Pokemon makes it a meta-relevant card likely to see a surge in popularity whenever a Fighting-type card dominates the PvP.
