Evolving Riolu into Lucario in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond is a rewarding process that requires more than just leveling up in battle. Unlike traditional evolutions, Riolu relies on a high friendship stat and a specific time of day to transform into its powerful fighting-type counterpart. Understanding these core requirements will help trainers streamline the journey and add a strong team member to their Sinnoh roster.
Obtaining Riolu in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond
Before beginning the evolution process, trainers must first obtain a Riolu egg from Riley on Iron Island. Navigating through the cave system alongside Riley concludes with him gifting you an egg as a token of appreciation. You will need an open slot in your party and enough steps walked to hatch the baby Pokémon.
Hatching the egg establishes your starting point with base friendship value. From the moment Riolu emerges, keeping it active in your lineup will naturally accelerate your progress. Avoid letting Riolu faint in combat, as defeat reduces friendship and delays evolution.
Understanding Friendship Requirements and Indicators
Riolu requires a high friendship level, specifically reaching at least 220 friendship points before it is eligible to evolve. Trainers can monitor their progress using the Friendship Checker app on the Pokétch device. When Riolu displays two large hearts upon holding down on its icon, it has reached maximum affection.
To build friendship quickly, equip Riolu with a Soothe Bell, an item that boosts all friendship gains. Walking together, participating in battles, and giving Riolu stat-boosting vitamins like Calcium or Protein are reliable methods. Taking Riolu for a massage in Veilstone City once per day also offers a substantial boost.
Triggering the Evolution During Daytime
Once friendship requirements are fully met, Riolu must gain a level during daytime hours to trigger the evolution into Lucario. In Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, daytime runs between 10:00 AM and 7:59 PM based on your console system clock. Leveling up outside this timeframe will not trigger the transformation, even if affection is maxed out.
You can level up Riolu through standard battle victory, using a Rare Candy, or letting it gain experience through party sharing. If all conditions align correctly, the evolution screen will launch immediately following the level increase. With proper planning, trainers can easily secure Lucario to bolster their team for future gym battles and the Pokémon League.
