Building Mega Lucario

Ranked season is right around the corner! I’m still torn on the new changes to the ladder - since you cannot lose points prior to hitting Masterball, my starting position in Ultraball will feel more like a warm-up period before the real game of ranked begins when I hit purple, likely within the first hour or so of the release. I’m expecting that the low tiers of MB will be filled with lots of nonsense; I too will play a few casual decks on the way up. When it’s time to get serious, though, the best path forward is to become well acquainted with one, proven deck. For me, that’s Mega Lucario EX.

Mega Lucario EX

Mega Lucario EX has become a staple archetype in the game since its release in Pulsing Aura. Fighting needed a new kit, and Lucario led the way for my favorite type to be relevant again.

Lucario has a simple gameplan: lead with another fighter while you build up energy in the active. the 90 damage with two energy is great if you’re facing a deck that needs an immediate answer, however the extra 50 from the third attach is what makes this mega so great. With this scalable attack, you have flexibility on when to bring your finisher to the active.

The single retreat cost also helps for when you’re in a pinch, like being gusted up with Cyrus or Sabrina. According to the metagame data, 99% of the 2,800 decks piloted in the past week had at least one copy of X Speed to help with rough starts or for Cyrus plays.

There are two good Riolus to choose from: one that does a set 20 damage, and one that does a base 10 with +30 against an EX(pictured above). What I’ve seen in current decks is that most are running one of each basic. Honestly, go with your gut. I don’t see the appeal of running one over the other as they both have 60 HP, but it depends on what you see most on the ladder. If you’re facing a ton of Hoopa EX, then Fighting Fist Riolu may make more sense. Starting with Riolu isn’t ideal, though - you have much better Pokemon to run with.

The newest trend is worth taking note of: every deck this season has made room for a single Fighting Coach Lucario. This was a one-of when Pulsing Aura was first released, but died down to make room for tech cards. What we are seeing now is that the breakpoints in our opposition have increased, so having an extra way to hit an HP threshold is helpful.

Tools of the Trade

The most appealing part of running Mega Lucario to me is how easy it is to change the deck. Some archetypes, like Blaziken Greninja, are set in their ways and have few if any tech slots. Lucario, however, has a very small footprint: 75% of the deck is swappable.

Fighting is a toolbox type in that you have a set of “tools” at your disposal in the form of one-energy basics and a unique stadium/supporter. There are plenty of really great decks out there that have won or topped a tournament this past week, but each has a different set of tools to help face the developing meta. The best way to build Lucario is to read the meta well - include certain cards and exclude others depending on what you’re facing the most of.

There are staples, of course - Every deck that performed well this week had both a copy of Korrina and Arena of Antiquity in their deck. You can opt for one over the other, but there is versatility in having both. they, like most other lists, ran two copies of Research and Poke Ball, and most have two copies of Copycat. X Speed made every top cut this week. With that as our shell, we have:

We have room to play around with whatever we see fit. Two of the next cards are our potential starters, while the rest are our choice of trainers.

Never Go Solo

Choosing your ideal lead comes down to both personal preference and your opposition. There are three main inclusions that I’ve seen in RotS:

Hitmontop was the staple for a few months with Lucario - dealing 20 damage to both the active and a benched opponent is nothing to scoff at. 80 HP helps it survive a turn 1 sleep, which I expect we will see more of on the ladder than we have in tournaments. Its biggest downside is the two-cost retreat, however this is also the reason we run an X Speed.

What we see in ppitopin8’s first place finish at PMPT #41 is also the inclusion of Bonsly. This is the perfect inclusion against a swathe of Hoopa EX’s, as Bonsly’s -30 damage reduction affects both its main attack and the 20 damage to the bench, making the card effectively useless against you. There are ways around it, of course, but it’s such a strong start it’s worth considering. 

It cannot be overstated that Hitmonlee’s 30 damage to the bench is useful in this meta. As long as you’re not seeing Protective Poncho this can punish the opponent for carelessly emptying their hand. This was essential in PGX | LikoUnite’s road to second place in the TCGPocket Community Series this past weekend.

Sawk is the best one-pointer direct damage for this deck. 90 HP, 30 damage is nothing to scoff at. Though not played this week, I’ve seen a few decks choose the promotional Zygarde instead, however with Vespiquen and Mega Sceptile running amok I do not think that’s wise. If you just want to start punching out the gate, this is your best bet. Sawk is also better than the previously-used Hitmonchan.

Finally, Hitmonchan EX is a powerhouse. It has its drawbacks; it cannot hit for weakness against Heliolisk/Manectric nor Miraidon and it’s a two-pointer lead with only 130 hp. What makes up for this is its speed - 50 damage that’s boostable by Korrina, Arena, and Fighting Coach Lucario, as well as a one-cost retreat that plays well with the already-included X Speed. If you just want to beat down your opponents, this is the way. The 130 hp does help keep your Lil Mac alive long enough for you to build up your Mega Lucario. Knowing when to switch out the active is the most important part of running this deck, especially if you play out the one-point Lucario for increased damage. This is what led 𝗠𝗲𝗴𝗮 Alana 𝗘𝗫 and others this week to victory.

Conclusion

Mega Lucario remains to be a tour de force with plenty of options to build the deck your way. Don’t be afraid to make changes as you go from one game to another. See you on the ladder soon!