Why is Riolu So Rare in Pokémon GO?
Riolu‘s rarity in Pokémon GO comes down to a few key factors. As a baby Pokémon, Riolu can only be obtained from Eggs – it does not spawn in the wild. This dependency on eggs for availability combined with extremely low hatch rates makes Riolu one of the most elusive Pokémon.
Egg Exclusivity Limits Spawn Rate
Unlike most other Pokémon, Riolu cannot be found spawned in the wild or in raids. Your only chance is hatching one from an egg. This immediatly limits the number of Riolus circulating in the game.
Diluted Across All Egg Types
Adding to the difficulty is that Riolu can hatch from all three egg types – 2km, 5km, and 10km eggs. Most rare Pokémon are concentrated in one egg category, such as 10km eggs for Dratini or 5km for Gible.
Having Riolu spread across all eggs dilutes the hatch rate further compared to being in just one egg type.
Extremely Low Hatch Rate
Estimates from various research sources like the Silph Road subreddit place Riolu‘s hatch rate from eggs between 0.5% to 1%.
To put this into perspective, here are the estimated hatch rates for other rare Pokémon:
- Gible: 1.5% from 10km eggs
- Deino: 1% from 10km eggs
- Rufflet: 2% from 10km eggs
- Sandile: 1.5% from 10km eggs
As you can see, Riolu‘s hatch rate is considerably lower than even other hard-to-get Pokémon, making it a particularly elusive hatch.
Requires Multiple to Evolve
Evolving Riolu into Lucario requires 125 Riolu candies. This means you need to hatch multiple Riolus to evolve just one, adding to the effort required.
If we assume an average of 8 candies per hatch with pinaps and transfers, you would need over 15 Riolu hatches for one Lucario evolution.
No Events or Community Day…Yet
Other rare Pokémon like Dratini and Beldum have had Community Days or special events greatly increasing their spawn rates. However, Riolu has yet to have an event focused around it.
Once Riolu gets its own Community Day, its rarity will likely decrease significantly. But until then, it remains one of the most elusive Pokémon in the game.
Shiny Rate Adds Another Layer of Rarity
As if a ~1% hatch rate wasn‘t rare enough, the shiny rate for Riolu adds another layer of scarcity. Shiny Riolu is estimated to be around 1 in 450 to 1 in 485 hatches.
To put this into perspective, during non-event times, the base shiny rate for wild spawns is estimated around 1 in 500. So Shiny Riolu‘s rarity is similar to encountering any random wild shiny.
As one of the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO, Riolu has gained significant value among collectors, PvP enthusiasts, and shiny hunters. Let‘s examine exactly how much Riolu is worth both in-game and real world.
Black Market Prices
On various Pokémon GO trading forums and eBay, Riolu commonly sells for:
- Normal Riolu: $10 – $15
- Good IV Riolu: $15 – $25
- Great IV Riolu: $25 – $50
- Shiny Riolu: $40 – $100+
Keep in mind trading or selling Pokémon for real money is against Pokémon GO‘s Terms of Service. However, it demonstrates the perceived value placed on Riolu based on supply and demand.
Lucky Trade Value
A guaranteed Lucky Trade essentially gives you a Riolu with good IVs, saving a lot of stardust. On trading marketplaces, Lucky Riolu trades commonly cost:
- Normal Riolu: $15 – $20
- Shiny Riolu: $25 – $35
In-Game Event Value
During limited in-person Pokémon GO events like GO Fest or Safari Zones, Riolu has an increased hatch rate from eggs.
At these events, a normal Riolu trade has a perceived value around $15-25 and Shiny around $30-50 since they are easier to obtain than normal.
Shiny Hunters
For shiny hunters seeking a Shiny Riolu, the value is essentially infinite. With a 1 in 450 to 1 in 485 Shiny rate, it could take thousands of eggs and hundreds of dollars in incubators to finally hatch one.
Many shiny collectors consider Riolu second only to Shiny Meltan in terms of effort required. Finally obtaining that elusive yellow Shiny Riolu is a crowning achievement for any dedicated hunter.
Due to egg exclusivity, extremely low hatch rates, and no events focused around it yet, Riolu remains one of the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO. This scarcity has led to high demand and significant real world value for Riolu, especially the even rarer Shiny variant.
While Riolu cannot be purchased outright, through trading and black market sales, its rarity and desirability is reflected in premium prices. For collectors, PvP players, and Shiny hunters, securing this elusive Pokémon is an achievement that requires great patience, perseverance, and perhaps a bit of luck!