Lucario is basically the "cool kid" of the Pokémon world. Since it first showed up in the Lucario and the Mystery of Mew movie, it’s been a staple in almost every competitive team, from the early days of Diamond and Pearl to the current 2026 VGC Regulation sets. But here is the thing: for a Pokémon that looks like a disciplined martial arts master, it is surprisingly fragile. If you don’t know exactly what Lucario is weak against, you’re going to get swept by a stray Meteor Mash or a Close Combat. But if you do know its Achilles' heel? It folds like a lawn chair.
Honestly, Lucario’s typing is its greatest strength and its most annoying liability. It’s a Fighting/Steel-type. On paper, that sounds amazing. Steel is the best defensive typing in the game, and Fighting is a top-tier offensive one. But in practice, it creates a specific set of vulnerabilities that modern meta-relevant threats love to exploit.
What is Lucario Weak Against? The Core Vulnerabilities
At its most basic level, Lucario has three primary weaknesses. These apply whether you are playing the mainline Switch games like Scarlet and Violet, grinding Raids in Pokémon GO, or even looking at its TCG matchups.
- Fire: This is the big one. Because of that Steel sub-typing, Fire-type moves deal $2\times$ damage.
- Fighting: Irony at its finest. Despite being a master of the fist, Lucario’s Steel side makes it weak to other Fighting-types.
- Ground: The bane of all Steel types. Earthquake is everywhere, and Lucario hates it.
In 2026, the competitive landscape has shifted a bit. We are seeing a lot more specialized Fire-types like Iron Moth and Ceruledge. If a Ceruledge clicks Bitter Blade, your Lucario is gone. Period. The math just doesn't work in its favor because Lucario’s base defensive stats sit at a measly 70 for both Physical and Special Defense. That is... not great. You can't really "tank" a super-effective hit with those numbers.
The Problem With Speed and "Glass Cannon" Syndrome
People often think Lucario is fast. It feels fast because of moves like Extreme Speed. But its base Speed is actually 90. In the current 2026 meta, 90 is "mid-tier" at best. You have threats like Flutter Mane or Chien-Pao that will outspeed and delete it before it can even think about using Aura Sphere.
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If you aren't running a Choice Scarf or getting some kind of Speed boost from a teammate, Lucario is basically a sitting duck. It’s a glass cannon that sometimes forgets to bring the cannon part if it gets flinched or outmaneuvered.
The Counter-Meta: Who Actually Beats Lucario?
If you're staring down a Lucario in a VGC match or a high-level ladder game, you don't need a miracle. You just need a plan.
Landorus-Therian remains the gold standard for Lucario counters. It has the Intimidate ability to drop Lucario’s Attack stat, and it carries Earthquake to hit that Ground weakness. Plus, Landorus resists Lucario's Fighting moves. It is a total nightmare for any Lucario user.
Then there's Gholdengo. While Gholdengo is also a Steel type, its Ghost typing makes it immune to Lucario’s Fighting STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) moves. If Lucario isn't carrying Dark Pulse or Shadow Claw, it literally can't touch a Ghost-type. This is a massive blind spot that a lot of players overlook.
- Aegislash: Another Ghost/Steel threat. It can use King's Shield to tank hits and drop Lucario's Attack even further.
- Entei or Arcanine: High-speed Fire types that can capitalize on Lucario's low physical bulk.
- Great Tusk: A Ground/Fighting powerhouse. It hits two of Lucario's weaknesses at once.
Lucario in Pokémon GO: The Raid Perspective
If you’re hunting a Mega Lucario in a 2026 Raid, the strategy changes slightly. You aren't worried about "mind games"—you just need raw DPS (Damage Per Second).
Because Mega Lucario has an absurdly high Attack stat but very thin defenses, you want to bring "hard counters." Primal Groudon is the king here. With Mud Shot and Precipice Blades, it shreds through Lucario’s health bar. If you don't have a Primal Groudon, Mega Blaziken is your next best bet. It’s a Fire/Fighting type, meaning it resists Lucario’s Steel moves while hitting back with super-effective Fire and Fighting damage.
In the GO Battle League, things are trickier. Lucario is often used as a "closer" because of Power-Up Punch. If you let it get two or three Attack boosts, it can win even losing matchups. The trick is to force it to use its shields early or swap into a "wall" like Toxapex or Jellicent that can soak up the damage.
The TCG Factor: 2026 Standard Rotation
In the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Lucario's weaknesses depend heavily on which "Era" the card is from, but generally, it leans toward a Psychic or Fire weakness.
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The 2026 Standard Rotation has actually been kind to Lucario ex decks. With some of the heavy-hitting Psychic types rotating out, Lucario has more room to breathe. However, any deck running Gardevoir ex is still an auto-loss most of the time. The ability to stack damage counters quickly means Lucario’s 260-270 HP (depending on the card) disappears in one turn.
How to Actually Beat a Lucario (Actionable Strategy)
Stop trying to out-muscle it. That’s Lucario’s game. It wants you to stay in and trade blows because it has access to priority moves like Bullet Punch and Vacuum Wave.
Instead, use Status Effects. Lucario hates being burned. A burned Lucario has its physical attack cut in half, making it essentially useless. Since most Lucario sets are physical-heavy (relying on Close Combat or Meteor Mash), a simple Will-O-Wisp from a bulky Ghost-type like Skeledirge ends its career immediately.
Also, look at Terrain and Weather. If you can set up Sun, your Fire moves are going to one-shot it through almost any defensive investment. If you are using a Ground-type, make sure you have a way to deal with a potential "Air Balloon" item, which Lucario players often use to temporarily ignore their Ground weakness. Pop the balloon with a weak move first, then go for the Earthquake.
Basically, Lucario is a high-risk, high-reward Pokémon. It can sweep your whole team if you're careless, but it only takes one well-placed Fire, Fighting, or Ground move to send it back to its Pokéball. Don't let the "cool factor" intimidate you; its defenses are its true weakness.
Your Next Steps:
Check your current team's "Type Coverage" in a team builder tool. If you don't have at least two ways to deal Fire or Ground damage, you are vulnerable to a Lucario sweep. Swap out your weakest utility Pokémon for a fast Fire-type or a bulky Ground-type like Ursaluna-Bloodmoon to ensure you aren't caught off guard on the ladder.