What to know
- Riolu evolves into Lucario through friendship, not leveling.
- Friendship can be raised by taking Riolu to cafés, using it in battles, and keeping it in your active party.
- You must manually evolve Riolu from the party menu once it’s ready.
- A glowing arrow will appear beside Riolu when it’s eligible to evolve.
Evolving Riolu into Lucario in Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a friendship-based process that emphasizes bonding over time. Unlike older Pokémon games, evolutions in this title don’t occur automatically when requirements are met—you’ll need to trigger them manually through the party menu. Here’s how to get your Riolu to evolve efficiently.
How to increase Riolu’s friendship
Raising Riolu’s friendship takes consistency. The more time you spend with it in battles and exploration, the faster it grows attached to you. Here’s what you can do to speed things up.
Step 1: active party
Keep Riolu in your active party at all times. It gains friendship simply by being with you on your journey.
Step 2: take Riolu out
Take Riolu to cafés around Lumiose City or nearby zones. Having it accompany you during café interactions boosts its affection.
Step 3: use friendship enhancing items
Use friendship-enhancing items such as the Soothe Bell if available. These items multiply the friendship points earned. Avoid negative actions like storing Riolu in boxes for long periods or letting it faint repeatedly, as these can lower friendship.
How to evolve Riolu into Lucario
Once Riolu’s friendship is high enough, you’ll notice a glowing arrow next to its name in your Pokémon party screen. That’s your cue that it’s ready to evolve.
Open your party menu and locate Riolu. Check for the glowing evolution icon beside its portrait. Select Riolu, then choose the “Evolve” option when prompted.
Watch as your Riolu transforms into the powerful Lucario.
Understanding Riolu’s evolution requirement
Riolu’s evolution depends entirely on friendship, a hidden stat that measures how close your Pokémon is to you. As your bond grows stronger, Riolu’s willingness to evolve increases. Once you’ve reached the required friendship threshold, you’ll see a glowing indicator in the party menu signaling that evolution is available.
Friendship milestones and tips
| Action | Friendship Gain | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Winning a battle | Medium | Avoid fainting to keep gains high |
| Using healing items | Low | Small, steady increase |
| Café interaction | High | Quickest method early on |
| Keeping Riolu in active team | Low (passive) | Builds slowly over time |
| Using Soothe Bell | Multiplier | Boosts all gains by ~50% |
| Fainting in battle | Negative | Lowers friendship slightly |
Evolving Riolu friendship efficiently
Evolving Riolu in Pokémon Legends: Z-A is all about nurturing your bond. Focus on positive interactions—take it to cafés, use it in combat, heal it often, and avoid letting it faint. When that glowing arrow appears, evolve it manually through the party menu to unlock its next form: Lucario, a balanced powerhouse that excels in both physical and special combat.
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