How to Get Riolu in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum
Travel to Iron Island, complete Riley's Team Galactic battle, and receive the Riolu Egg with an open party slot.
Sail from Canalave City to Iron Island, meet Riley in the cave, and complete the paired route and Team Galactic double battle. Riley offers a Riolu Egg afterward. Keep an empty party slot or return to Riley later after making room.
Requirements
Access to Canalave City and its harbor
One empty party slot when accepting Riley's Egg
A team ready for Iron Island's paired battles
Time and party steps to hatch and raise friendship
Riley and the Riolu Egg
Sail to Iron Island
Speak with the sailor at Canalave City's southern dock. Iron Island is optional for the main route but is the only normal source of the Riolu Egg in original DPP.
Take the correct lower route
Enter the cave, descend through the branching rooms, and meet Riley. He joins as a partner, heals the party after battles, and turns wild and Trainer fights into double battles where possible.
Defeat the Galactic Grunts
Follow the lower mine path with Riley and defeat the paired Team Galactic Grunts at the end of his section.
Accept the Egg
Speak with Riley after the battle. An empty party slot is required because Generation IV does not send this gift Egg directly to PC storage. If the party is full, make room and return to him.
Hatching and evolving Riolu
- Riolu is not a normal wild encounter in original Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum.
- The Egg takes roughly 6,400 steps under normal conditions. A party Pokémon with Flame Body or Magma Armor reduces the required Egg cycles in Generation IV.
- Riolu evolves into Lucario when it levels up with high friendship during daytime.
- Keep Riolu in the party, walk, use vitamins, gain levels, and avoid fainting or bitter medicine to build friendship.
- Strength is obtained at Lost Tower in Diamond/Pearl and from Riley on Iron Island in Platinum; that HM difference does not replace the Egg reward steps.
Pokémon, Locations and Key Items
Riolu Egg
Soothe Bell
HM04 StrengthCommon Mistakes and Troubleshooting
Reaching Riley with all six party slots occupied and expecting the Egg to go to the PC.
Searching for wild Riolu in original Sinnoh encounter tables.
Trying to evolve Riolu at night even with high friendship.
Confusing Platinum's HM04 reward from Riley with the separate Egg reward.
Related Gen4 Guides
FAQ
Can you catch Riolu in the wild in Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum?
No. The normal original-Sinnoh method is the Egg given by Riley after his Iron Island sequence.
What happens if your party is full?
Riley cannot give the Egg. Leave Iron Island, deposit a Pokémon, and return to Riley with an open party slot.
How does Riolu evolve into Lucario?
Level Riolu up during daytime after it reaches high friendship.
Does Flame Body help hatch Riolu in Generation IV?
Yes. Keeping a Pokémon with Flame Body or Magma Armor in the party reduces the Egg cycles needed to hatch it.