So, you've got a Riolu in Pokémon Black and White 2 and you're ready to evolve it into the powerful Lucario? Excellent! But evolving Riolu isn't as simple as leveling up. There's a crucial element involved that many trainers overlook. This guide will break down the foundational elements you need to understand to successfully evolve your Riolu.
Understanding Riolu's Evolution Requirement
Unlike many Pokémon that evolve simply by reaching a certain level, Riolu requires a specific condition to be met in addition to leveling up. This condition is high friendship. You can't just power level your Riolu and expect a Lucario. You need to build a strong bond with your Pokémon.
What Constitutes "High Friendship"?
Determining the exact friendship level required isn't precisely defined in-game with a numerical value. However, there are several indicators that suggest you're getting close:
- Heart Scales: If you use a Heart Scale on your Riolu, you'll see a reaction. The closer you are to evolving, the more significant this reaction will be.
- Pokémon's Behavior: Pay attention to your Riolu's in-game behavior and dialogue. Certain actions or phrases from the Pokémon suggest high friendship.
- Using items to Increase Friendship: Items like vitamins, soothe bells, and other friendship-boosting items are crucial in this process.
Methods to Increase Friendship
Several methods effectively boost your Riolu's friendship level. Here are some of the most effective strategies:
Battle and Victory:
Winning battles is an excellent way to increase friendship, but it's not enough on its own. Winning easily is less effective than winning a challenging battle. It's the effort and the struggle together that counts.
Using Vitamins:
Vitamins, though expensive, offer significant boosts. Consider using them sparingly but strategically, focusing on increasing one stat at a time. This focuses the effort, increases friendship, and increases strength.
Soothing Bells:
Equipping a Soothing Bell greatly speeds up friendship increase. Every step taken with the Soothing Bell equipped builds that friendship bond.
Leveling up:
Leveling up increases friendship, but the amount of increase depends on several factors including how much effort you put into the battle. Easy victories have a minimal effect.
The Evolving Moment:
Once you've dedicated the time and effort to build a strong bond with your Riolu and leveled it up enough, the evolution will occur automatically. There's no special item or location required; it is triggered purely by reaching the correct friendship level and level requirement.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Over-relying on level-ups: Don't neglect friendship-building activities. Leveling up alone won't guarantee an evolution.
- Ignoring your Riolu's health: Keep your Riolu healthy! Using items or letting it faint significantly affects friendship levels.
- Ignoring in-game signals: Pay attention to your Riolu's behavior. It often hints at its current happiness level.
By following these steps and understanding the importance of friendship, you'll soon be the proud trainer of a powerful Lucario! Remember to be patient and consistent in your efforts – the rewarding result is well worth it.
