Competitive Information for Riolu [Black/White]
Fighting
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Riolu? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Black/White Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Black/White generation metagame.
SkarmoryDragoniteExcadrillHydreigonForretressTogekissBreloomCloysterDarmanitanEspeon
Riolu is pretty popular Fighting-typed Pokemon. Riolu is not a Pokemon anyone usually expects sees on the battlefield. Riolu can be quite a contender in the LC tier (Little Cup). Riolu's only type-related weaknesses are Flying and Psychic.
Item: Eviolite / Focus Sash
Ability: Prankster
Nature: Careful (+SpD, -SpA)
EVs: 248 Hp / 112 Def / 96 SpD / 52 Spe
Moveset:
- Drain Punch
- Bullet Punch
- Copycat / Substitute
- Roar
Double Wall Riolu (Popular/Trending)
Riolu is an outstanding Double Wall. It's meant to have enough defenses and bulk to take both physical and special hits. Riolu is not a Pokemon anyone usually expects sees on the battlefield but Eviolite changes that. If Eviolite is held by a Pokémon that is not fully evolved, it will raises the Defense and Special Defense of that Pokemon by 50%. Focus Sash helps protect Riolu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Prankster, Riolu's non-damaging moves have their priority increased by 1.
♦ Bullet Punch is a physical priority-increased 40-base power Steel-type move (usually goes first).
♦ Copycat is a status move (uses the last move used in the battle).
♦ Substitute is a status move (Riolu takes 1/4 its max hp to put in a substitute).
♦ Roar is a status move (forces the target to switch to a random ally).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/fs10a1bf
Item: Life Orb / Black Belt
Ability: Steadfast
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- High Jump Kick / Sky Uppercut
- Return / Frustration
- Earthquake
- Crunch
Physical Sweeper Riolu (Steadfast)
Riolu is a pretty decent Physical Sweeper. This moveset is designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Riolu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Life Orb boosts the power of Riolu's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Steadfast, if Riolu flinches its speed is raised by 1 stage.
♦ Sky Uppercut is a physical STAB-boosted 85-base power Fighting-type move (can hit pokemon using bounce, fly, or sky drop).
♦ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
♦ Frustration is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at minimum happiness).
♦ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
♦ Crunch is a physical 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/fs11a1bf
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Riolu? These builds have been optimized for Black/White Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Black/White generation metagame.
SkarmoryDragoniteExcadrillHydreigonForretressTogekissBreloomCloysterDarmanitanEspeon
Item: Life Orb / Black Belt
Ability: Steadfast
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- High Jump Kick / Sky Uppercut
- Earthquake / Bulldoze
- Rock Slide
- Crunch / Return
Doubles Physical Sweeper Riolu (Steadfast)
Riolu is a phenomenal Physical Sweeper. This moveset is designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Riolu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Life Orb boosts the power of Riolu's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Steadfast, if Riolu flinches its speed is raised by 1 stage. Crunch was added to provide additional threat coverage.
♦ Sky Uppercut is a physical STAB-boosted 85-base power Fighting-type move (can hit pokemon using bounce, fly, or sky drop).
♦ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
♦ Bulldoze is a physical 60-base power Ground-type move (100% chance lower adjacent pkmn speed by 1 stage).
♦ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to flinch the foes).
♦ Crunch is a physical 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
♦ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/fd10a1bf
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Riolu learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Riolu can perform in Black/White. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive BW Move and Ability Combos for Riolu
- Moves: Swagger + Screech
- Moves: Endure + Reversal
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Moves: Substitute + Drain punch
- Moves: Substitute + Reversal
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Fling + Item: King's Rock
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Moves with Priority: Quick Attack, Detect, Endure, Protect, Follow Me, Helping Hand, Feint, Bullet Punch, Vacuum Wave
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Toxic
Moves that boost Riolu's stats
- Agility
- Bulk Up
- Iron Defense
- Nasty Plot
- Swords Dance
- Work Up
Most notable and possible best moves for Riolu
- Bullet Punch
- Copycat
- Detect
- Drain Punch
- Earthquake
- Protect
- Rest
- Roar
- Substitute
- Sunny Day
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Riolu in Black and White
- Careful Nature ( 248/0/112/0/96/52/ )
- Jolly Nature ( 252/4/0/0/0/252/ )
- Optimize Riolu's EV spread for Pokemon Black and White
Related Videos
Here are various how-to-use and competitive moveset analysis video guides for Riolu in Black/White. These featured videos will most likely contain additional strategies and combos not listed on our site. Disclaimer: All videos belong to their respective owners along with the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the videos. They belong solely to the author and not to us.
We currently do not have any competitive video guides for Riolu in Black/White
Want to have your Competitive Pokemon videos sponsored on our site? Contact us!
Some builds on this page have been hidden, click here to display them
Here are the best movesets for Riolu. Top rated Riolu Black/White movesets. You can find Riolu builds Black/White. Riolu movesets Black/White are listed here. VGC Riolu Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Riolu in Black/White along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for Lucario evolution