Gallade or Lucario for in-game Pokémon Platinum?

Question

I chose Piplup as my starter in Pokémon Platinum. Gallade or Lucario is better for in-game? Gallade can serve as Physical Attacker while Lucario can do both Physical and Special.

Comments

Rest of my team is Staraptor, Houndoom, Roserade and Bibarel as HM Slave.

Answer 1

Gallade is definitely better than Lucario. You can get a level 24 Kirlia with 3 badges and a level 1 Riolu with 5 badges, so Riolu takes more exp. share training than Gallade and can't help against Maylene and Wake.
source
source
Gallade @ fist plate/mind plate/expert belt
EVs: 100 Spe
- brick break -> close combat
- psycho cut -> zen headbutt
- swords dance
- leaf blade -> night slash -> X-scissor

Comments

Also, it is easier to evolve it by using a Dawn Stone which can be obtained on Route 212 that is after four gym badges. While Riolu is obtained as an egg after 5 gym badges on Iron Island, and you have to grind from Level 1 plus you need high friendship to evolve it. I also have Empoleon, which is steel-type so choosing Gallade gives Fighting-type coverage as well as Psychic-type.

---

Do you think zen headbutt is better than Psycho Cut on Gallade?

---

Yes I think zen headbutt is better. You can learn it from the Route 212 move tutor.

---

You can actually get the dawn stone with 3 badges since you can access Pastoria City having not defeating Maylene.

---

Yes! But I first defeated Maylene. If I had evolved it first, then the gym had be pretty easy.

Answer 2

Lucario for sure.
Lucario has better stat, speed, defence, could also be either a Psychical or Special. It’s also got wonderful movepool.
Here’s a good movepool for it:
Lucario @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Close Combat
- Flash Cannon
- Shadow Claw
- Extreme Speed
Hope I helps!

Comments

Life orb is post-game, and I don't think it's worth anyone's time to soft-reset for natures or EV-train in-game teams.

---

Going to downvote because EVs and Nature doesn't matter in-game and Male Kirlia is easier to evolve than evolving Riolu which requires high Friendship.
Friendship evolution is annoying.