Let's be real for a second. Lucario is basically the "cool kid" of the Pokémon world, but as soon as you sit down with a pencil, that cool factor turns into a massive headache. You’ve seen the official Ken Sugimori art. It looks sleek. It looks effortless. Then you try to replicate it, and suddenly you’re looking at something that resembles a blue dog with severe posture issues and ears that don't know where they're going.
The truth is, learning how to draw Lucario isn't about just copying lines. It’s about understanding a weird, hybrid anatomy that blends canine features with a bipedal, almost human-like stance. It’s tricky. If you mess up the proportions of the "shorts" or the snout length by even a few millimeters, the whole thing falls apart.
Most people start with the head. That's usually the first mistake. If you want this to actually look like the Aura Pokémon and not a weird fan-fiction sketch, you have to build the skeletal foundation first.
The Secret to Lucario’s Proportions
Stop thinking of Lucario as a dog. Seriously.
While Lucario is clearly inspired by Anubis—the Egyptian god of the dead—its skeletal structure in the games (like Pokémon Legends: Z-A or the classic Diamond and Pearl) is much more akin to a digitigrade human. This means it walks on its toes. If you draw the legs like a human’s, it’ll look stiff. If you draw them too much like a German Shepherd, it won’t be able to stand upright convincingly.
Start with a simple gesture line. One long, fluid curve from the top of the head down to the heels. This captures the "S" shape of Lucario’s spine. You’ve gotta get that lean right. Lucario is rarely standing perfectly straight; it’s usually in a slight crouch, ready to launch an Aura Sphere.
Those Weird Thighs and "Shorts"
One of the most defining features of this Pokémon is the blue "fur" that looks like baggy shorts. It sounds silly, but if you don't treat these as 3D volumes, your drawing will look flat. Think of them as two thick cylinders.
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A common pitfall? Making the midsection too long. Lucario has a very short torso. The distance between the bottom of the ribcage and the start of the hips is minimal. If you stretch this out, you end up with a "Longcat" version of a Pokémon, which is definitely not the vibe we're going for.
Mastering the Head and the "Mask"
The head is where most artists lose their minds. It’s a complex mix of a pointed snout, large ears, and those four fleshy appendages (sensors) hanging off the back.
- The Snout: It’s shorter than you think. If you make it too long, it’s a wolf. Too short, and it’s a weird cat. Look at the profile view in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The snout has a slight bridge and then drops off.
- The Mask: The black "mask" area isn't just a flat color. It wraps around the eyes and extends back into the sensors. When you’re learning how to draw Lucario, pay attention to the negative space between the ears and the sensors.
- The Eyes: Lucario’s eyes are sharp and triangular. They sit high on the face. If you put them too low, you lose that intense, focused expression that makes Lucario, well, Lucario.
The sensors—those four "dreadlock" looking things—are actually tied to its ability to sense Aura. They shouldn't just hang limp. If Lucario is in motion, they should be flailing or streaming behind it. They react to the wind and the energy around it.
The Spikes and the Hands
Let’s talk about the spikes. You’ve got one on the back of each hand and one in the center of the chest. These aren't just stuck on top of the fur; they emerge from the anatomy.
For the hand spikes, draw the fist first. The spike sits right on the metacarpal area. It’s a simple cone, but the shading is what makes it look dangerous. Use hard edges. Lucario is a Steel/Fighting type, so these spikes should look like cold, hard metal, not soft cartilage.
The chest spike is often drawn too high. It should sit right on the sternum. If you place it too close to the neck, it looks like a bowtie. Keep it centered and pointing slightly upward if Lucario is puffing its chest out.
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The Tail: Don't Forget the Fluff
Lucario has a bushy, blue tail that’s often forgotten in the shadow of its ears and spikes. It’s not a thin whip. It’s thick at the base and tapers slightly, but it maintains a lot of volume. When you’re sketching the final silhouette, use the tail to balance out the forward lean of the torso. It acts as a visual counterweight.
Shading for that Steel-Type Shine
Since Lucario is a Steel-type, its blue and black fur often has a slight sheen in official 3D renders. You don't want it to look like a plush toy—unless that's your goal.
Use high-contrast shading. The cream-colored fur on the torso should have softer shadows, while the black mask and blue limbs can handle sharper, darker values. This creates a texture contrast that tells the viewer's brain "this part is soft fur" and "this part is hard muscle/metal."
If you’re working digitally, try using a rim light. A faint, light-blue or white line along the edge of the silhouette can make Lucario pop against any background. It mimics the glow of Aura, which is a nice thematic touch.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Honestly, I’ve seen thousands of Lucario fan arts, and the same three mistakes pop up every single time.
First: The feet. Lucario doesn't have "paws" in the traditional sense. It has three distinct toes on each foot, and they are quite large. If you draw small, dainty feet, the character will look top-heavy.
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Second: The "waist" connector. There is a yellow/cream section that connects the torso to the legs. It’s very narrow. Most people make this too wide, losing that athletic, agile "fighter" silhouette.
Third: Ear placement. The ears don't sit on top of the head like a dog; they are angled further back. They follow the line of the mask.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Sketchbook
You aren't going to get this right on the first try. Nobody does. Even the pros at Game Freak probably have a "bad Lucario" pile.
- Start with Silhouettes: Spend ten minutes just drawing the black shape of Lucario. Don't worry about the eyes or spikes. If the silhouette is recognizable, your proportions are correct.
- Study Canine Leg Anatomy: Look at how a dog’s "ankle" (which is actually its heel) sits high off the ground. Apply that to Lucario’s bipedal stance.
- The "Aura Ball" Hack: If you’re struggling with the hand poses, draw a circle between the palms first. Then, wrap the fingers around that circle. It’s much easier to draw hands when they have an object to interact with.
- Reference the 3D Models: Use sites like Model Resource to look at the Pokémon GO or Scarlet/Violet models from different angles. Seeing how the snout looks from underneath is a game-changer.
Once you’ve nailed the basic standing pose, try something more dynamic. Have it mid-kick or jumping. Because Lucario’s design is so segmented (the shorts, the torso, the mask), it actually handles extreme foreshortening really well once you understand the basic volumes. Keep your lines loose, stay patient, and stop erasing so much—the mess is where the learning happens.
Focus on the weight of the character. Lucario is a fighter. Every line should suggest tension and readiness. When you finally hit that perfect balance between the ears and the tail, you'll know. It just clicks. Now, get your tablet or your sketchbook and start with that "S" curve for the spine. Everything else follows that one line.