How to Find Riolu and Evolve into Lucario in Pokémon Legends Z-A (February 2026) Complete Guide

When I first started my journey through Lumiose City, I was determined to get my hands on a Riolu and evolve it into Lucario ASAP. But let me tell you, it wasn’t as straightforward as I initially thought. After hours of trial and error (and way too many café visits), I’ve figured out the absolute best methods to find this elusive little fighting pup and evolve it into the majestic Lucario we all know and love.

So grab a seat, maybe a Fresh Water from Nouveau Café (trust me, you’ll understand why later), and let me walk you through everything you need to know about finding Riolu and evolving it into Lucario in Pokémon Legends Z-A.

Why Lucario is Worth the Effort?

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of finding Riolu, let me just take a moment to gush about why Lucario is such an amazing addition to any team. I’ve been playing Pokémon games since I was a kid, and Lucario has always been one of those Pokémon that just hits different.

First off, its typing is incredible. Fighting and Steel might not sound like the most glamorous combination, but let me tell you – it’s a defensive powerhouse. I’ve had my Lucario tank hits that would normally one-shot other Pokémon, and then turn around and dish out some serious damage. Plus, with access to moves like Aura Sphere and Close Combat, you’ve got coverage for days.

But here’s the real kicker – Mega Evolution. Yeah, you heard that right. Later in the game, you can get your hands on Mega Lucario, and let me tell you, it’s an absolute game-changer. I’ve cleared so many tough battles thanks to my Mega Lucario that I’ve lost count. The Attack and Speed boosts are just insane.

Where to Find Riolu?: The Complete Guide

Alright, let’s get to the good stuff. Finding Riolu in Pokémon Legends Z-A can be a bit tricky if you don’t know where to look. Unlike most Pokémon that just wander around in Wild Zones, Riolu is a bit of a special case. This little guy likes to hang out up high – way up high.

Method 1: The Rooftop Spawn (My Personal Favorite)

This is actually how I found my first Riolu, and I’ve got to say, it’s pretty reliable once you know the trick. Riolu spawns on rooftops around Lumiose City, but there’s one specific spot that seems to be the most consistent.

Location: Head over to the Rouge Sector 4 Shopping Center. You’ll want to look for the building near the Looker Bureau – it’s pretty hard to miss once you’re in the area. There are a couple of ladders that lead up to the roof, and that’s where the magic happens.

Weather Conditions: This is super important – Riolu will only spawn during the day when it’s sunny. I learned this the hard way after spending way too much time searching during cloudy weather. If it’s not sunny out, just rest at a nearby bench and try again. The weather changes pretty frequently, so you shouldn’t have to wait too long.

Spawn Mechanics: Once you’re up on the roof, Riolu can spawn pretty much anywhere up there. The exact location seems to be random, but it’s always on that mall rooftop. I’ve found it near the edges, in the middle, pretty much everywhere up there. Just take your time and explore the entire roof area.

Pro Tip: If you don’t see Riolu right away, don’t panic! Just head back down to a nearby bench, rest for a bit, then climb back up. The spawn resets when you rest, so this is a great way to “reroll” for Riolu without having to wait for weather changes.

Method 2: The Wild Zone 3 Alternative

Some of my friends have had better luck with this method, so I wanted to include it too. Head over to Wild Zone 3 and look for the holovator on the left side. Take it up to the roof, then use your Roto-Glide to reach the longer rooftop area nearby.

I’ve personally found Riolu here a few times, though not as consistently as at the Rouge Sector 4 location. Still, it’s worth checking out if you’re having trouble with the first method, or if you just happen to be in the area.

Method 3: The Side Mission Guarantee

If you’re not into the whole “searching and hoping” thing (and honestly, I get it – sometimes you just want guaranteed results), then this method is for you. There’s a side mission called “An Abra Playmate” (Side Mission 24) that will net you a Riolu every single time.

How to Unlock: This side mission becomes available after you complete Main Mission 9. Once you’ve done that, head over to Academie Etoile in the Rouge District and look for a student named Bond.

The Trade: Bond will trade you a level 25 Riolu for any Abra you have. Now, I know what you’re thinking – “But I don’t have an Abra!” Don’t worry, they’re pretty common in the early game areas. Just spend a bit of time catching one, then head back to Bond for the trade.

Why This is Awesome: The Riolu you get from this trade is already level 25, which means you’re that much closer to evolving it into Lucario. Plus, it’s guaranteed – no weather conditions, no spawn rates, just a straight-up trade.

Catching Riolu: Tips and Tricks

Once you’ve found your Riolu, you’ll want to catch it. The good news is that Riolu is actually pretty easy to catch compared to some other Pokémon in the game. Here are some tips I’ve picked up:

Don’t Worry About It Fleeing: Unlike some other rare Pokémon, Riolu won’t run away if you fail to catch it on the first try. This means you can take your time, wear it down, and use whatever Poké Balls you prefer.

Best Poké Balls: I’ve had the most success with standard Poké Balls or Great Balls. Riolu doesn’t seem to have any particular preferences, so just use whatever you have plenty of.

Status Conditions: Paralysis or sleep can make the catch easier, but honestly, I’ve caught plenty of Riolus without needing to use status moves. It’s really up to you and your playstyle.

Level Considerations: Riolu spawns at relatively low levels (usually around level 10-15), so you shouldn’t have too much trouble weakening it without knocking it out. Just be careful with your stronger moves!

Understanding Friendship Evolution

Now we get to the really interesting part – evolving Riolu into Lucario. This isn’t your standard “level up and evolve” situation. Oh no, it’s much more interesting than that. Riolu evolves through friendship, which is one of my favorite evolution mechanics in the entire Pokémon series.

What is Friendship? Friendship (sometimes called happiness) is a hidden stat that represents how close your Pokémon is to you. The higher the friendship, the more your Pokémon likes you, and for Riolu, that’s the key to evolution.

Why I Love This Mechanic: I’ve always been a sucker for friendship evolutions. There’s something really satisfying about knowing that your Pokémon evolves because it genuinely likes you, not just because it reached some arbitrary level. It makes the bond feel more real, you know?

The Daytime Requirement: Here’s something super important – Riolu will only evolve into Lucario during the daytime. I learned this the hard way after maxing out my Riolu’s friendship at night, only to wonder why it wasn’t evolving. Make sure you’re trying to evolve it during the day!

How to Max Out Friendship Fast My Proven Methods?

Okay, so you’ve got your Riolu, and you want to evolve it ASAP. I’ve tested pretty much every friendship-raising method in the game, and I’m going to share with you the ones that actually work.

Method 1: The Café Strategy (Fastest Results)

This is, without a doubt, the fastest way to max out friendship in Pokémon Legends Z-A. I’ve evolved multiple Riolus using this method, and it’s never failed me.

Which Café: Head over to Nouveau Café – it’s the most efficient for friendship building.

What to Order: Buy either Fresh Water or Sparkling Water. Both cost $100 each and give the same friendship boost. I usually go with Fresh Water because it’s first on the menu, but honestly, it doesn’t matter.

The Process: Here’s exactly what I do:

1. Make sure Riolu is the only Pokémon in your party
2. Go to Nouveau Café
3. Buy a Fresh Water/Sparkling Water
4. After the café scene, check your menu to see if Riolu has an arrow next to its picture
5. Repeat until you see the arrow

How Many Drinks: In my experience, it usually takes about 4-5 drinks to get Riolu ready to evolve. That’s only $400-500, which is pretty reasonable for a guaranteed evolution method.

Method 2: The Soothe Bell Boost

If you want to make the friendship process even faster, you’ll want to get your hands on a Soothe Bell. This item dramatically increases the rate at which your Pokémon’s friendship grows.

How to Get It: Complete the side mission “Some Friendly Competition.” You can find this quest between Wild Area 9 and Wild Area 10 at Café Rouleau. Talk to Chou to start the mission.

Why It’s Awesome: The Soothe Bell makes every friendship-building activity more effective. Whether you’re battling, using items, or visiting cafés, everything works better with this item equipped.

Method 3: Battle and Bond

This is the classic friendship-building method, and it still works great in Legends Z-A. I love this method because it feels more organic – you’re actually building friendship through shared experiences.

How It Works: Simply keep Riolu in your party and use it in battles. Every battle you win together increases friendship, and if Riolu levels up during the battle, that’s even better.

Pro Tips:

• Don’t let Riolu faint in battle – this can actually decrease friendship
• Use Riolu against Pokémon it has an advantage against for easier wins
• Give Riolu the Exp. Share to ensure it gets experience even if it doesn’t participate in every battle

Method 4: Item-Based Friendship

Certain items can boost friendship when given to Pokémon. I’ve found this method particularly useful when I’m trying to raise friendship while doing other things.

Which Items Work:

• Stat-boosting items (Protein, Iron, HP Up, etc.)
• Berries (Pomeg, Kelpsy, Qualot, etc.)
• Vitamins

How to Use Them: Simply give the items to Riolu through the menu. Each item will give a small friendship boost, so you’ll need to use quite a few to see significant results.

Cost Consideration: This method can get expensive if you’re buying items from shops. I usually only use this method if I have extra items from exploring or if I’m trying to max out multiple stats anyway.

The Evolution Process: Step by Step

Once you’ve maxed out Riolu’s friendship, it’s time to evolve it into Lucario. Here’s exactly how I do it every time:

Step 1: Check Friendship Level Before you try to evolve, make sure Riolu is actually ready. Open your menu and look for an arrow next to Riolu’s picture. If you see it, you’re good to go!

Step 2: Make Sure It’s Daytime I can’t stress this enough – Riolu will only evolve during the day. If it’s nighttime, either rest at a bench until morning or change the time in your settings if your game allows it.

Step 3: Level Up Riolu This is the moment of truth! Get Riolu into a battle and have it gain a level. You can do this by winning a battle, using a Rare Candy, or even just having it gain experience through the Exp. Share.

Step 4: Watch the Magic Happen If everything is right (high friendship + daytime), you’ll see the evolution animation, and congratulations – you now have a Lucario!

What If It Doesn’t Work? If Riolu doesn’t evolve when it levels up, don’t panic. This usually means either:

• Friendship isn’t high enough yet
• It’s not daytime
• There’s some other condition you’re missing

Just double-check these things and try again!

Post-Evolution: Making the Most of Your Lucario

Congratulations! You’ve evolved your Riolu into Lucario. But the journey doesn’t end there – now you have an incredibly powerful Pokémon that you’ll want to train properly. Here are my tips for getting the most out of your new Lucario:

Move Set Recommendations

I’ve experimented with a lot of different move sets for Lucario, and these are my favorites:

Physical Attacker Set:

• Close Combat
• Bullet Punch
• Swords Dance
• Earthquake

Special Attacker Set:

• Aura Sphere
• Flash Cannon
• Dark Pulse
• Nasty Plot

Mixed Attacker Set:

• Close Combat
• Aura Sphere
• Extreme Speed
• Swords Dance/Nasty Plot

Training Tips

EV Training: Lucario benefits most from Attack and Speed EVs. I usually focus on getting 252 EVs in Attack and 252 in Speed, with the remaining 4 in HP.

Nature Choice: Adamant or Jolly nature works best for physical sets, while Modest or Timid is better for special sets. I personally prefer Adamant for that extra punch.

Item Choices: Life Orb for maximum damage, Focus Sash for survival, or Lucarionite if you’re planning to Mega Evolve.

Mega Evolution Guide

Once you’ve progressed far enough in the game, you’ll be able to Mega Evolve your Lucario. This is a game-changer, and I highly recommend working toward it.

How to Unlock: You’ll need to collect Mega Shards throughout the game. Once you have enough, you can craft the Lucarionite.

When to Use: Mega Lucario is incredibly powerful, but it’s best saved for tough battles or when you need to sweep through a team. The Attack and Speed boosts are just too good to waste on easy fights.

Strategy: Mega Lucario’s Adaptability ability makes its STAB moves even more powerful. I usually lead with Aura Sphere or Close Combat to take advantage of this.

Common Problems and Solutions

Even with all this information, you might run into some issues. Here are some common problems I’ve seen (and experienced myself) and how to solve them:

“Riolu Won’t Spawn!”

This is probably the most common issue I hear about. Here are some things to check:

Weather Conditions: Make sure it’s daytime and sunny. Riolu won’t spawn in cloudy or rainy weather.

Location: Double-check that you’re in the right spot. The Rouge Sector 4 Shopping Center rooftop is the most reliable location.

Reset Method: Try resting at a nearby bench and then returning to the spawn location. This resets the spawn.

“Friendship Isn’t Increasing!”

If you’ve been trying to raise friendship but nothing seems to be happening:

Check Your Methods: Are you using the café method? That’s the fastest way. If you’re just battling, it will take much longer.

Soothe Bell: Make sure you have the Soothe Bell equipped if you’ve obtained it.

Party Composition: Some friendship methods work better if Riolu is the only Pokémon in your party.

“Riolu Won’t Evolve!”

This is frustrating, but usually easy to fix:

Time of Day: I can’t say this enough – it MUST be daytime for Riolu to evolve.

Friendship Level: Double-check that you see the arrow next to Riolu’s picture in the menu.

Level Up Method: Make sure you’re actually leveling up Riolu, not just gaining experience.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

For those of you who want to go above and beyond, here are some advanced strategies I’ve developed:

Speed Running the Process

If you want to get Lucario as fast as possible (maybe for a challenge run or just because you’re impatient like me), here’s the fastest method I’ve found:

1. Start the “An Abra Playmate” side mission as soon as it’s available
2. Catch an Abra (they’re common in early areas)
3. Complete the trade to get a level 25 Riolu
4. Head straight to Nouveau Café with only Riolu in your party
5. Buy 4-5 Fresh Waters
6. Level up during the day

This method can get you a Lucario in under an hour if you’re efficient!

Competitive Battling Prep

If you’re planning to use your Lucario for competitive battles, you’ll want to pay attention to:

IV Breeding: Try to get a Riolu with perfect or near-perfect IVs in Attack and Speed.

Hidden Ability: Riolu’s hidden ability is Prankster, which can be useful for support sets.

Egg Moves: If you’re breeding, consider egg moves like Bullet Punch or Vacuum Wave.

Shiny Hunting

For the shiny hunters out there (you brave, brave souls), here are some tips:

Masuda Method: Breed a Riolu with a foreign Pokémon to increase shiny odds.

Soft Resetting: Save before encountering Riolu in the wild, then reset if it’s not shiny.

Shiny Charm: Complete the Pokédex to get the Shiny Charm, which increases shiny encounter rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to evolve Riolu into Lucario?

From my experience, it usually takes about 30-60 minutes if you’re using the café method. If you’re just battling, it can take several hours of gameplay.

Can Riolu evolve at night?

No, Riolu can only evolve during the daytime. This is a hard requirement, so make sure it’s day when you try to evolve it.

What’s the best nature for Lucario?

It depends on your playstyle, but I prefer Adamant for physical sets and Modest for special sets. Jolly and Timid are also good if you want more speed.

Do I need to complete the main story to find Riolu?

Not at all! You can find Riolu relatively early in the game, once you’ve unlocked more parts of Lumiose City.

Can I get multiple Riolus?

Absolutely! You can find wild Riolus as often as you want, and you can complete the “An Abra Playmate” mission multiple times if you have multiple Abras.

What level does Riolu evolve at?

Riolu doesn’t evolve at a specific level – it evolves when it has high friendship and levels up during the day. This can happen at any level, though I usually find it evolves around level 20-30.

Is Lucario good for competitive battles?

Yes! Lucario is a solid choice for competitive battles thanks to its great typing, movepool, and Mega Evolution. I’ve used it successfully in many online battles.

Can I Mega Evolve Lucario immediately after getting it?

No, you’ll need to progress further in the game and collect Mega Shards before you can Mega Evolve your Lucario.

Final Thoughts

Finding and evolving Riolu into Lucario in Pokémon Legends Z-A is one of the most rewarding experiences in the game. I’ve done it multiple times now, and it never gets old. There’s just something special about building that friendship and watching your little Riolu transform into the powerful Lucario.

Whether you’re a casual player looking to strengthen your team or a competitive trainer wanting the best possible Lucario, I hope this guide has helped you on your journey. Remember, the key is patience and persistence – don’t get discouraged if things don’t work out on the first try.

I’d love to hear about your experiences with Riolu and Lucario in Pokémon Legends Z-A! Feel free to share your stories, tips, or questions in the comments below. And don’t forget to bookmark this guide for future reference – you never know when you might need to help a friend find their own Riolu!

Happy hunting, trainers! May your friendship levels be high and your Lucarios be mighty!

Want more Pokémon Legends Z-A content? Check out our other guides on WebComicsWeekend.com for tips on finding other rare Pokémon, mastering the battle system, and completing every side mission in the game!