Mega Lucario’s AdaptabilityAdaptabilityabilityDoubles the STAB bonus from 1.5× to 2× — matching-type moves hit harder than on any other Pokémon.Click to read more → is one of the most straightforward damage multipliers in the game. STABSTABmechanicSame-Type Attack Bonus: a move deals ×1.5 damage when its type matches one of the user's types.Click to read more → normally gives a 50% bonus — Adaptability turns that into 100%. A 120 base power Fighting move with Adaptability STAB hits for an effective 240 power. Very little in the format survives that.
Fighting/Steel is a strong offensive combination with excellent coverage. Fighting covers Normal, Rock, Steel, Ice, and Dark. Steel covers Rock, Ice, and Fairy. Both STAB types together leave almost no common type unthreatened.
Close Combat under Adaptability
Close Combat is a 120 base power Fighting move with no accuracy issues. Under Adaptability, it hits for 240 effective power — on par with some of the most powerful moves in the format. The Defense and Special Defense drop after each use is the trade-off, but a single Close Combat often KOs the target before it can exploit those drops.
Steel STAB coverage
Steel-type moves handle Fairy types (resists Fighting), Ice types, and Rock types. Flash Cannon or Iron Tail gives Mega Lucario a way to threaten the Fairy-types like Clefable and HattereneHatterenepokemonMagic Bounce setter and Trick Room anchor. Reflects status, sets terrain, and powers slow attackers under reversed Speed.Click to read more → that would otherwise wall its Fighting STAB. Steel also provides excellent defensive typing — resisting 10 types.
What stops it
- Ground-type moves — Ground hits Steel for 2×. Earthquake from GarchompGarchomppokemonThe premier spread attacker under Tailwind. Earthquake hits both opponents, Scale Shot chains Speed boosts, and Dragon Claw threatens opposing dragons.Click to read more → or Excadrill KOs it instantly.
- Fire-type moves — Fire hits Steel for 2×. Charizard Y’s Heat Wave threatens it hard.
- Psychic moves — Psychic hits Fighting for 2×. Many support Pokémon carry Psychic-type coverage.