Competitive Information for Riolu [Sword/Shield]
Fighting
Abilities:
This Pokemon cannot be made to flinch. Immune to Intimidate.
This Pokemon's Status moves have priority raised by 1, but Dark types are immune.
If this Pokemon flinches, its Speed is raised by 1 stage.
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Movesets for Singles
Looking for a competitive moveset for Riolu? These builds are optimized for Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs are designed to maximize damage against common opponents and threats in the Sword/Shield metagame. Check out the expert movesets below to boost your battle performance and dominate your opponents!
StakatakaTapu FiniGlastrierIndeedee-FHattereneKartanaTorkoalComfeyRegirockRotom-Heat
Discover Riolu, an outstanding Pokémon with Fighting attributes! Riolu is not a Pokémon anyone usually expects to see on the battlefield. In the LC tier (Little Cup), it's a fierce competitor. It is weak to Fairy, Flying, and Psychic-typed attacks. Uncover the best movesets for Riolu below and optimize your gameplay!
Item: Focus Sash / Mental Herb
Ability: Prankster
Nature: Careful (+SpD, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Moveset:
- Coaching / High Jump Kick
- Copycat
- Detect
- Protect
Riolu is an incredible Physical Wall to use for single battles. This moveset design focuses to withstand physical attacks and hit back effectively. 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 status moves have priority raised by 1 but dark types are immune. With a Mental Herb equipped to it, cures Riolu of attract, disable, encore, heal block, taunt, torment then the Mental Herb gets consumed.
◆ High Jump Kick is a physical STAB-boosted 130-base power Fighting-type move (Riolu is hurt by 50% of its max hp if it misses).
◆ Copycat is a status move (uses the last move used in the battle).
◆ Detect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Riolu this turn).
◆ Protect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Riolu this turn).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/maa1bf
Item: Focus Sash / Mental Herb
Ability: Prankster
Nature: Calm (+SpD, -Atk)
EVs: 252 Hp / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Moveset:
- Vacuum Wave
- Coaching / Final Gambit
- Copycat
- Protect
Riolu thrives as a dazzling Special Wall perfect for single battles. It is meant to handle special hits and respond with decent damage. 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 status moves have priority raised by 1 but dark types are immune. With a Mental Herb equipped to it, cures Riolu of attract, disable, encore, heal block, taunt, torment then the Mental Herb gets consumed.
◆ Coaching is a status move (raises an ally's attack and defense by 1 stage).
◆ Final Gambit is a special STAB-boosted 0-base power Fighting-type move (does damage equal to your Riolu's hp. Riolu faints).
◆ Copycat is a status move (uses the last move used in the battle).
◆ Protect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Riolu this turn).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/mba1bf
Item: Life Orb / Choice Band
Ability: Steadfast
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- High Jump Kick / Drain Punch
- Blaze Kick
- Earthquake
- Shadow Claw
Prepare for single battles with Riolu as a stupendous Physical Sweeper. This technique aims to take down the opponent's team with formidable physical moves. Choice Band will increase the damage of Riolu's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. 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.
◆ Drain Punch is a physical STAB-boosted 75-base power Fighting-type move (Riolu recovers 50% of the damage dealt).
◆ Blaze Kick is a physical 85-base power Fire-type move (high critical hit ratio. 10% chance to burn).
◆ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
◆ Shadow Claw is a physical 70-base power Ghost-type move (high critical hit ratio).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/mca1bf
Movesets for Doubles
Need a strong doubles moveset for Riolu? These builds are perfect for VGC (Pokémon Video Game Championship) and other competitive Sword/Shield Double Battles. The VGC is the ultimate test of strategy and skill, and these movesets and EVs are designed to excel against multiple opponents at once while providing essential support to your team. Dominate the Sword/Shield metagame with these expert-crafted setups!
StakatakaTapu FiniGlastrierIndeedee-FHattereneKartanaTorkoalComfeyRegirockRotom-Heat
Item: Life Orb / Choice Band
Ability: Steadfast
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- High Jump Kick / Brick Break
- Earthquake / Bulldoze
- Rock Slide
- Blaze Kick
Riolu stands out as a sensational Physical Sweeper in double battles. The objective of this moveset is to crush rivals using destructive physical moves. Choice Band will increase the damage of Riolu's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. 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.
◆ Brick Break is a physical STAB-boosted 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
◆ 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 Pokemon speed by 1 stage).
◆ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to make the foes flinch).
◆ Blaze Kick is a physical 85-base power Fire-type move (high critical hit ratio. 10% chance to burn).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/naa1bf
Movepool
Want to know what moves Riolu can learn? Check out the full list of moves available in the Pokemon Sword/Shield generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by type, category, accuracy, and power. Moves in bold get the same-type attack bonus (STAB) when used by Riolu.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Riolu can perform in Sword/Shield. 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 SS 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: Detect, Endure, Follow Me, Helping Hand, Protect, Quick Guard, Bullet Punch, Feint, Quick Attack, Vacuum Wave
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Toxic
Moves that boost Riolu's stats
- Agility
- Bulk Up
- Howl
- Iron Defense
- Metal Claw
- Meteor Mash
- Nasty Plot
- Power-Up Punch
- Swords Dance
- Work Up
Most notable and possible best moves for Riolu
- Coaching
- Copycat
- Detect
- Drain Punch
- Earthquake
- Feint
- Final Gambit
- Helping Hand
- High Jump Kick
- Howl
- Protect
- Quick Guard
- Rain Dance
- Rest
- Toxic
- Vacuum Wave
Common Effort Values for Riolu in Sword and Shield
- Careful Nature ( 252/0/252/0/4/0 )
- Timid Nature ( 252/0/0/0/0/252 )
- Optimize Riolu's Defensive EV-spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Usage Data
Explore the latest analytical usage data for this Pokémon from various VGC and online competitions. We use this data to develop our strategies and movesets. The data is categorized by competition and skill level: top-ranking trainers, mid-level players, and entry-level players.
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