[OVERVIEW]
Riolu's niche stems from its combination of Prankster and Copycat, which makes it both difficult to revenge-kill and a strong revenge-killer. Its access to powerful STAB moves and numerous options, both offensively and defensively, make it quite unpredictable. However, Riolu suffers a fair amount of competition from the more popular Fighting-types, being held back by its low statistical bulk.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Drain Punch
move 2: Copycat
move 3: Protect
move 4: Roar / Toxic
item: Eviolite
ability: Prankster
evs: 196 HP / 196 Def / 116 SpD
nature: Impish
[SET COMMENTS]
Drain Punch is a fairly powerful STAB move that lets Riolu stick around in LC. Copycat lets Riolu revenge-kill key offensive threats, while Protect helps to ease prediction with Copycat. Prankster Copycat gives priority to Roar, which, in conjunction with hazard support, allows Riolu to outright sweep certain teams. If Riolu's team lacks the hazard support to properly take advantage of priority Roar, Toxic is a decent filler move to cripple defensive threats and phaze set-up sweepers, respectively. Magnet Rise and Rain Dance let Riolu combat Sand Rush sweepers. Crunch hits Misdreavus and Drifloon but is too weak to do much else.
[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
The listed EVs and nature give Riolu the physical bulk necessary to deal with physical attackers like Drilbur and avoid the 2HKO from Misdreavus's Shadow Ball. Maximum HP allows Riolu to survive as many rounds of Sand or Hail chip damage as possible. Speed is not invested in because Riolu already has priority with Copycat, and there aren't many relevant priority users in Riolu's speed tier to interfere with Copycat.
Roar should be used with hazard support so that Riolu can repeatedly phaze enemies before they can respond and rack up hazard damage; examples of hazard setters include Ferroseed, Bronzor, and Dwebble. Spinblockers such as Misdreavus and Frillish help to keep these hazards up. Riolu can use prankster Copycat to revenge-kill threats weak to their own attacks, like Dratini; this is made easier with Protect, but the foe may simply set up as Protect is used. Other Fighting-types, such as Timburr, can wear down opposing Misdreavus for Riolu. Using pivots like bulky Chinchou to safely get Riolu into play allow it to stay healthy for what it needs to check. Riolu is best used on balance teams that can take advantage of Riolu's ability to check a variety of sweepers without losing too much momentum. If Rain Dance is used, Rain sweepers like Omanyte make for good teammates.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Copycat
move 4: Swords Dance
item: Eviolite / Life Orb
ability: Prankster
evs: 196 HP / 196 Atk / 116 SpD
nature: Adamant
[SET COMMENTS]
High Jump Kick is Riolu's primary STAB move and is strong enough to 2HKO almost anything that does not resist it. Crunch provides coverage against Ghost- and Psychic-types, most notably Misdreavus. Copycat gives Riolu its niche over other Fighting-types by making it extremely difficult to revenge-kill. Swords Dance lets Riolu break through bulkier Pokemon, allowing it to sweep late game. Eviolite gives Riolu more opportunities to set up, whereas Life Orb makes Riolu less reliant on Swords Dance to sweep and lets it break through walls such as Slowpoke more easily.
[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
The given EVs maximize Riolu's damage output to make it easier for it to sweep. The investments in bulk let Riolu survive the 2HKO from Misdreavus's Shadow Ball after switching into Stealth Rock. Speed is not invested in because Riolu will primarily be relying on Prankster Copycat High Jump Kick to sweep.
Be wary of clicking High Jump Kick when Ghost-type and Protect users are on the opposing team. Try to wait until checks such as Misdreavus and Abra are weakened before attempting a sweep. Riolu has utility earlier in the match as a revenge-killer to threats weak to their own attacks, such as Dratini, with Prankster Copycat. Teammates like Dwebble and Omanyte that can set up entry hazards so that Riolu can get around Sturdy and Focus Sash users are appreciated. Even though Riolu carries Crunch, Ghost-types can still revenge-kill Riolu without much trouble, so Pursuit users to trap them, such as Houndour, are quite helpful. Stunky is notable because its typing allows it to switch in on most of these threats. Riolu pairs well with other Fighting-types because they can wear down mutually shared checks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
============
Blaze Kick, Rock Slide, Zen Headbutt are alternative coverage options, but they don't hit Ghost-types as hard. Role Play gives Riolu a means to recover its health outside of Drain Punch against Regenerator users. A Bulk Up set with Drain Punch struggles to immediately threaten the opponent. Riolu lacks the Special Attack to put Nasty Plot to good use.
Checks and Counters
============
Regenerator and Magic Guard users do not mind being switched around by Roar due to their resilience to hazards. In particular, Slowpoke, Foongus, and Abra also have the means to stop offensive Riolu's sweep. Priority moves that go before Copycat, such as Protect, Fake Out, and Scarf Snover's Ice Shard, can get around Copycat; however, if the move used does not KO or otherwise prevent Riolu from making a move, be wary of Riolu manually using the attack that was to be copied. Passive damage from Sand and Hail limits the number of turns Riolu can abuse Roar, although Riolu will still have plenty of time to rack up damage. The biggest threats to the offensive set are Ghost-types like Misdreavus and Drifloon, as they discourage the use of High Jump Kick and can burn Riolu. Drifloon can also threaten Riolu with STAB Acrobatics. Bulky Poison-types such as Foongus are resistant to Riolu's STAB move. Hippopotas can take Eviolite Riolu's boosted High Jump Kick and whirlwind Riolu out, but has a good chance to fall to Life Orb Riolu. Sacrificing a Pokemon that forces Riolu to use Crunch or High Jump Kick can let a faster Pokemon that does not mind that attack to revenge-kill Riolu.
Riolu's niche stems from its combination of Prankster and Copycat, which makes it both difficult to revenge-kill and a strong revenge-killer. Its access to powerful STAB moves and numerous options, both offensively and defensively, make it quite unpredictable. However, Riolu suffers a fair amount of competition from the more popular Fighting-types, being held back by its low statistical bulk.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Drain Punch
move 2: Copycat
move 3: Protect
move 4: Roar / Toxic
item: Eviolite
ability: Prankster
evs: 196 HP / 196 Def / 116 SpD
nature: Impish
[SET COMMENTS]
Drain Punch is a fairly powerful STAB move that lets Riolu stick around in LC. Copycat lets Riolu revenge-kill key offensive threats, while Protect helps to ease prediction with Copycat. Prankster Copycat gives priority to Roar, which, in conjunction with hazard support, allows Riolu to outright sweep certain teams. If Riolu's team lacks the hazard support to properly take advantage of priority Roar, Toxic is a decent filler move to cripple defensive threats and phaze set-up sweepers, respectively. Magnet Rise and Rain Dance let Riolu combat Sand Rush sweepers. Crunch hits Misdreavus and Drifloon but is too weak to do much else.
[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
The listed EVs and nature give Riolu the physical bulk necessary to deal with physical attackers like Drilbur and avoid the 2HKO from Misdreavus's Shadow Ball. Maximum HP allows Riolu to survive as many rounds of Sand or Hail chip damage as possible. Speed is not invested in because Riolu already has priority with Copycat, and there aren't many relevant priority users in Riolu's speed tier to interfere with Copycat.
Roar should be used with hazard support so that Riolu can repeatedly phaze enemies before they can respond and rack up hazard damage; examples of hazard setters include Ferroseed, Bronzor, and Dwebble. Spinblockers such as Misdreavus and Frillish help to keep these hazards up. Riolu can use prankster Copycat to revenge-kill threats weak to their own attacks, like Dratini; this is made easier with Protect, but the foe may simply set up as Protect is used. Other Fighting-types, such as Timburr, can wear down opposing Misdreavus for Riolu. Using pivots like bulky Chinchou to safely get Riolu into play allow it to stay healthy for what it needs to check. Riolu is best used on balance teams that can take advantage of Riolu's ability to check a variety of sweepers without losing too much momentum. If Rain Dance is used, Rain sweepers like Omanyte make for good teammates.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Copycat
move 4: Swords Dance
item: Eviolite / Life Orb
ability: Prankster
evs: 196 HP / 196 Atk / 116 SpD
nature: Adamant
[SET COMMENTS]
High Jump Kick is Riolu's primary STAB move and is strong enough to 2HKO almost anything that does not resist it. Crunch provides coverage against Ghost- and Psychic-types, most notably Misdreavus. Copycat gives Riolu its niche over other Fighting-types by making it extremely difficult to revenge-kill. Swords Dance lets Riolu break through bulkier Pokemon, allowing it to sweep late game. Eviolite gives Riolu more opportunities to set up, whereas Life Orb makes Riolu less reliant on Swords Dance to sweep and lets it break through walls such as Slowpoke more easily.
[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
The given EVs maximize Riolu's damage output to make it easier for it to sweep. The investments in bulk let Riolu survive the 2HKO from Misdreavus's Shadow Ball after switching into Stealth Rock. Speed is not invested in because Riolu will primarily be relying on Prankster Copycat High Jump Kick to sweep.
Be wary of clicking High Jump Kick when Ghost-type and Protect users are on the opposing team. Try to wait until checks such as Misdreavus and Abra are weakened before attempting a sweep. Riolu has utility earlier in the match as a revenge-killer to threats weak to their own attacks, such as Dratini, with Prankster Copycat. Teammates like Dwebble and Omanyte that can set up entry hazards so that Riolu can get around Sturdy and Focus Sash users are appreciated. Even though Riolu carries Crunch, Ghost-types can still revenge-kill Riolu without much trouble, so Pursuit users to trap them, such as Houndour, are quite helpful. Stunky is notable because its typing allows it to switch in on most of these threats. Riolu pairs well with other Fighting-types because they can wear down mutually shared checks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
============
Blaze Kick, Rock Slide, Zen Headbutt are alternative coverage options, but they don't hit Ghost-types as hard. Role Play gives Riolu a means to recover its health outside of Drain Punch against Regenerator users. A Bulk Up set with Drain Punch struggles to immediately threaten the opponent. Riolu lacks the Special Attack to put Nasty Plot to good use.
Checks and Counters
============
Regenerator and Magic Guard users do not mind being switched around by Roar due to their resilience to hazards. In particular, Slowpoke, Foongus, and Abra also have the means to stop offensive Riolu's sweep. Priority moves that go before Copycat, such as Protect, Fake Out, and Scarf Snover's Ice Shard, can get around Copycat; however, if the move used does not KO or otherwise prevent Riolu from making a move, be wary of Riolu manually using the attack that was to be copied. Passive damage from Sand and Hail limits the number of turns Riolu can abuse Roar, although Riolu will still have plenty of time to rack up damage. The biggest threats to the offensive set are Ghost-types like Misdreavus and Drifloon, as they discourage the use of High Jump Kick and can burn Riolu. Drifloon can also threaten Riolu with STAB Acrobatics. Bulky Poison-types such as Foongus are resistant to Riolu's STAB move. Hippopotas can take Eviolite Riolu's boosted High Jump Kick and whirlwind Riolu out, but has a good chance to fall to Life Orb Riolu. Sacrificing a Pokemon that forces Riolu to use Crunch or High Jump Kick can let a faster Pokemon that does not mind that attack to revenge-kill Riolu.
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