The $400 Lucario: Why Pokémon Legends: Z-A Makes Friendship Cheaper Than a Potion (And Why I’m Not Mad About It)
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Jeff dives into the surprisingly cheap and caffeinated way to evolve Riolu in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, questioning if the 'Power of Friendship' has just become a budget-friendly café habit.
Right, so I’ve been poking around the neon-lit streets of Lumiose City, and bloody hell, it’s a bit different from the mud-caked boots of the Hisui region, isn’t it? If *Pokémon Legends: Arceus* was about surviving the wild and wondering if a Shinx was about to end your whole career, *Pokémon Legends: Z-A* feels like a digital wizard’s playground. We’re swapping the wide-open plains for urban planning and, apparently, a lot of coffee dates with our pocket monsters.
I’ve been tinkering with the latest intel on how to evolve everyone’s favorite aura-reading canine, Riolu, into the ever-edgy Lucario. Now, if you’ve been around the tall grass a few times, you know that Riolu has always been a bit of a picky eater when it comes to evolution. It’s never been about just grinding levels until your thumbs go numb; it’s about the “Power of Friendship.” (Insert eye-roll here, I know, but stick with me.)
Usually, friendship in Pokémon feels like a nebulous, invisible bar that requires you to walk ten thousand steps, give it massages, and pray to the RNG gods. But according to some brilliant investigative work over at Polygon by Johnny Yu, Game Freak might have finally realized that we’ve got cities to build and Megas to hunt. They’ve given us a shortcut that’s so simple it’s almost scandalous.
### The Café Meta: Cheap Drinks and Instant Bonds
Here’s the rub: in *Pokémon Legends: Z-A*, the path to a Lucario doesn’t involve battling a hundred Lechonks. It involves a trip to the Nouveau Café.
Now, I’m usually the first one to raise an eyebrow at “streamlined” mechanics—often just corporate-speak for “we made it shallower”—but this actually feels like a clever bit of world-building. To evolve Riolu, you need a high friendship level during the daytime. Simple enough, right? But instead of the old-school grind, you can just buy your way into Riolu’s heart.
Johnny Yu’s guide points out that a freshly caught Riolu only needs about four drinks at the Nouveau Café to be ready for its glow-up. We’re talking Fresh Water or Sparkling Water. At $100 a pop, that’s $400 for a Lucario. Fair dinkum, that’s cheaper than a decent pair of boots in Lumiose! You just sit down, have a drink, and suddenly your Riolu thinks you’re the greatest thing since sliced Rare Candy.
### But What Does This Mean for the 'Legends' Formula?
You know that feeling when you cast a spell and it works a bit *too* well? That’s my immediate reaction to this. Part of me—the grumpy wizard who remembers the 2D sprites—thinks, “Shouldn’t friendship be earned through blood, sweat, and fainted starters?” But then the other part of me, the one who actually values his time, realizes this is brilliant.
*Pokémon Legends: Z-A* is clearly leaning into the urban fantasy vibe. In a city, you don't go on a vision quest to bond with your dog; you go to a café. It fits the setting perfectly. It’s also a subtle nod to how we interact with digital assets in a modern gaming ecosystem. While we aren’t talking about “owning” these Pokémon on a ledger just yet, the shift toward these specific, repeatable interactions feels like a step toward a more “living” world. It’s less about the math of the grind and more about the experience of the city.
### The Nitty-Gritty for the Trainers
If you’re currently wandering around Lumiose wondering why your Riolu is still small and blue, here’s the checklist you need to follow, courtesy of the folks at Polygon:
1. **Wait for the Sun:** Riolu is a morning person. Or a morning dog. Either way, it only evolves during the day. 2. **Head to Nouveau Café:** Don’t bother with the fancy stuff; the $100 Fresh Water does the trick just as well as anything else. 3. **The Magic Number:** Four drinks seems to be the sweet spot for a fresh catch. 4. **Check the Icon:** Look for that little arrow next to Riolu’s picture in your menu. That’s your green light.
I reckon this is a sign of things to come. Game Freak seems to be experimenting with how we inhabit these spaces. It’s not just about the destination (the Lucario); it’s about the fact that you’re doing it within the context of the city’s culture.
### A Touch of Skepticism (Just a Smidge)
Now, let’s be real for a second. Is this a bit too easy? Perhaps. If every evolution becomes a matter of spending a few hundred Pokédollars at a vending machine or a café, we lose that sense of struggle that makes the final evolution feel earned. I’ve always said that if a game makes things too convenient, it risks becoming a chore list rather than an adventure.
However, in the context of *Legends: Z-A*, where the focus seems to be on the reconstruction of Lumiose City and the mysteries of Mega Evolution, I’m willing to give it a pass. I’d rather spend my time figuring out why the city is being rebuilt than running in circles to make a Riolu happy.
It’s a cautiously optimistic shift. It respects the player’s time while keeping the flavor of the world intact. And honestly, if I could fix my real-life friendships with a $100 bottle of sparkling water, I’d be the most popular wizard in the realm.
So, if you’re looking to add some Steel/Fighting muscle to your squad, grab your wallet and head to the café. Just make sure you do it before the sun goes down, or you'll be stuck with a very hydrated Riolu and no Lucario to show for it.
For the full breakdown and more tips on navigating the streets of Kalos, make sure to check out the original guide by Johnny Yu over at Polygon. They’ve got the interactive maps and the deep dives that’ll keep you from getting lost in the back alleys of Lumiose. Cheers, mate!
Tags: PokemonLegendsZA, NintendoSwitch, GamingGuides, LumioseCity, PokemonEvolution
Original article: Polygon