For a physical Lucario running Swords Dance in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Jolly is the nature Smogon’s set analysis recommends. For a special Lucario running Nasty Plot in the Scarlet and Violet Monotype format, Smogon lists Modest or Timid instead. The right nature depends on whether your Lucario attacks with its Attack stat or its Special Attack stat, so the answer is never one nature for every Lucario.
How a nature fits into a Lucario build
A nature raises one stat by 10% and lowers another by 10%. Choosing a nature is therefore a decision about which stats you want to sacrifice. A nature that boosts a stat your Lucario never uses is wasted, and a nature that lowers a stat you do use costs damage. The practical question is which attacking stat the set relies on, and whether extra Speed is worth giving up something else.
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Lucario is a Fighting and Steel type. The official Pokédex lists Fire, Ground, and Fighting as its weaknesses. Type matchups do not change which nature to pick, but they do affect how much a Lucario can survive long enough to use its nature-boosted stats, so they matter for the build as a whole.
Physical Swords Dance: Jolly
Smogon’s Scarlet and Violet Swords Dance set recommends Jolly, paired with 252 Attack, 4 Special Defense, and 252 Speed EVs. Jolly raises Speed by 10% and lowers Special Attack by 10%.
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The lowered Special Attack costs nothing in this set because it is built around physical attacks. Jolly therefore puts the nature’s full benefit into Speed, alongside the Attack already raised by the 252 EV investment. Smogon describes Lucario’s role in this set as a setup sweeper, and notes its limited bulk and an awkward Speed tier. In practice, that means a Lucario using this set depends on moving first and attacking hard before it is worn down, which is why Jolly’s Speed boost is the priority here.
Special Nasty Plot: Modest or Timid
Smogon’s Scarlet and Violet Monotype analysis presents a special Lucario running Nasty Plot, with 252 Special Attack, 4 Special Defense, and 252 Speed EVs. For this build, Smogon lists two natures.
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- Modest raises Special Attack by 10% and lowers Attack by 10%. It matches the stat that Nasty Plot and the special attacks in this build depend on, so it is the nature that adds damage.
- Timid raises Speed by 10% and lowers Attack by 10%. It gives up the Attack a special set does not use, in exchange for an additional Speed boost on top of the 252 EVs.
The choice between them is a trade-off between extra damage and extra Speed. Modest is the stronger pick when the goal is to hit harder, while Timid is the option when the build needs to move first more consistently.
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Comparison of the recommended natures
| Build (Scarlet and Violet) | Recommended nature | Stat raised | Stat lowered | What the set prioritizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Swords Dance | Jolly | Speed | Special Attack | Attack and Speed (252 Atk, 252 Spe, 4 SpD) |
| Special Nasty Plot, Monotype | Modest | Special Attack | Attack | Special Attack and Speed (252 SpA, 252 Spe, 4 SpD) |
| Special Nasty Plot, Monotype | Timid | Speed | Attack | Special Attack and Speed (252 SpA, 252 Spe, 4 SpD) |
The table lists the natures exactly as Smogon’s sets specify them. The explanation of each trade-off is an interpretation of those choices rather than a separate test result.
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How to choose for your own Lucario
- Count the attacking moves in your moveset. If most of them are physical, you are building a physical Lucario and the Jolly logic applies.
- If most attacks are special, choose Modest to add damage. Choose Timid if your team needs Speed more than the extra damage.
- Do not pick a nature that boosts a stat your moves never use. A boost to Special Attack on a physical set, or to Attack on a special set, is wasted.
- Check that your EV spread matches the nature. Jolly and Modest both assume 252 EVs in the stat being used and 252 in Speed.
Limits of this guidance
- Scope. These recommendations cover Pokémon Scarlet and Violet only, including Smogon’s Monotype format for the special set. They do not extend to other Pokémon games or to other tiers and formats.
- No universal best nature. The right nature depends on the attacking role and moveset. Smogon’s analysis does not establish a single nature that works for every Lucario build.
- Analysis changes over time. Competitive sets are revised as the metagame shifts, so check Smogon’s current Scarlet and Violet pages before building a team around these spreads.
- Official source scope. The Pokédex information on Lucario’s typing and weaknesses comes from the official Pokémon Pokédex. Its entries vary by game version, so the typing context here applies to Scarlet and Violet.
Sources
- Official Pokémon Pokédex entry for Lucario, Scarlet and Violet.
- Smogon’s Scarlet and Violet analysis: the physical Swords Dance set (Jolly) and the Scarlet and Violet Monotype special Nasty Plot set (Modest or Timid).
Analysis and interpretation of the nature trade-offs in this article are our own explanation of the sets listed above.
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