Riolu spawns early in the story on the rooftops of the shopping district in Rouge Sector 4 (Passage Ombrage/Umbrage Mall), near Wild Zone 3. It’s a rooftop encounter, not a Wild Zone spawn, and only appears during the day when the weather is sunny. Spawns are rare; you may need to leave and return or rest on a nearby bench to refresh the area.
| Condition | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Rooftops of the Rouge Sector 4 shopping center (Passage Ombrage/Umbrage Mall), northwest Lumiose, near Wild Zone 3 |
| Time | Daytime only |
| Weather | Sunny only (won’t spawn if it isn’t sunny) |
| Rarity | Single rare spawn; may appear as an Alpha later in progression |
| Earliest access | As soon as side missions open up in the early game |
Route to Passage Ombrage rooftop (Rouge Sector 4)
There are a couple of reliable approaches to reach the rooftop spawn:
- City route: Fast travel to the central Pokémon Center (Centrico). Head north along the main road, curve past the Wild Zone 3 entrance, take the second left, then use the exterior ladder up the mall. There’s a ladder on either side; the west-side ladder is closest to the spawn.
- Wild Zone route: From Wild Zone 3, use the nearby lift to reach the roof access, then Roto‑Glide to the long rooftop of the shopping complex where a single Riolu can appear.
If Riolu isn’t present, rest at a bench and return when it’s sunny, then recheck the rooftop.
Catch tips for Riolu (Quick Balls, stealth, resets)
- Bring Quick Balls or Ultra Balls. Quick Balls are sold at the Poké Ball Boutique in Lumiose and help on unaware targets.
- Approach from cover and throw from behind for a higher catch chance. Sneaking into bushes and striking Riolu’s back improves odds.
- Riolu does not flee once battle starts, so you can take your time if you choose to weaken it.
- No spawn? Rest on a nearby bench to change time and weather cycles, then try again when it’s sunny and daytime.
Trade for Riolu (Side Mission 24: An Abra Playmate)
If rooftop spawns aren’t cooperating, you can secure a Riolu through a side mission trade later in the story. A Grade Schooler in Académie Etoile will offer their Riolu in exchange for an Abra once this mission becomes available.
| Trade detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Side mission | No. 24 — “An Abra Playmate” (unlocks after Main Mission 9) |
| NPC | Grade Schooler inside Académie Etoile (Rouge district) |
| Required Pokémon | Abra (found on rooftops in Wild Zone 5; it will flee if alerted) |
| Reward | Riolu (nicknamed “Riolouie”) |
Evolve Riolu to Lucario (friendship, daytime)
Riolu evolves into Lucario with high friendship during the day. In Legends‑style evolution, you’ll either see the evolve option appear on Riolu’s summary when the conditions are met in daytime, or a daytime level‑up may be needed to trigger eligibility.
- Cafés and restaurants: Spend time at cafés with Riolu in the first party slot; multiple visits can push friendship high very quickly.
- Items that boost rapport: Feeding training items like Protein, Carbos, or Iron increases friendship.
- Berry method (early game): EV‑reducing berries (e.g., Kelpsy, Qualot, Hondew) also raise friendship. These lower EVs but are effective for bonding.
- General care: Keep Riolu active in your party and avoid letting it faint.
Once friendship is high and it’s daytime, check your party menu for the evolution prompt or gain a level during the day to finalize the evolution.
Get Lucarionite and Mega Evolve Lucario
After you unlock Mega Evolution features, collect Mega Shards from Mega Crystals around Lumiose and visit the Quasartico Inc. exchange. Trade 240 Mega Shards for Lucarionite, then give the stone to Lucario to hold. With Lucarionite equipped, Lucario can Mega Evolve in battle.
If Riolu isn’t spawning (checks and resets)
- Verify the basics: It must be daytime and sunny. If either condition isn’t met, Riolu won’t appear on the rooftop.
- Refresh the area: Rest at a bench to cycle time and weather, or leave and re‑enter the district, then climb back up.
- Search the correct roof: The spawn is on the long shopping‑district rooftop of Passage Ombrage/Umbrage Mall in Rouge Sector 4. Use the west‑side exterior ladder for the quickest approach.
- Expect rarity: Only a single Riolu can appear, and it may be missing on a given check. Repeat the cycle until it spawns.
Once you’ve caught Riolu, you can evolve it the same day by focusing on friendship boosts, then secure Lucarionite later to add Mega Evolution to your kit.
