Riolu 010
Quick take
- Black Star Promo distributed in the Mega Lucario Elite Trainer Box, not pulled from packs
- Basic Fighting-type Riolu, 80 HP, single attack Accelerating Stab for 30 damage
- Illustrated by GOSSAN, holo promo finish rather than a textured SIR
- Thematic checklist card for the Lucario line and the Mega Evolution promo run
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Mega Evolution Promo
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 10/79 · $62.58 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyThe Mega Lucario ETB Riolu promo
Riolu 010 is a Black Star Promo from the Mega Evolution era, the 2025 wave that brought back the Mega mechanic. It was distributed inside the Mega Lucario Elite Trainer Box, which makes it an insert promo, not a pack pull. That distribution matters. Insert promos are tied to how many of that specific ETB get opened, not to booster odds, so supply tracks product sales over time.
“Black Star Promo distributed in the Mega Lucario Elite Trainer Box, not pulled from packs”
The card is modest on paper. It's a Basic Fighting-type Riolu with 80 HP and a single attack, Accelerating Stab, that hits for 30 and locks itself out the following turn. Nobody is sleeving this for competitive play. The pull for collectors is the character and the context. Riolu is the pre-evolution of Lucario, and this promo shipped alongside a set themed around Mega Lucario. If you're building the Mega Evolution promo run or chasing the Lucario line specifically, this is a checklist card.
Art is by GOSSAN, who has illustrated a number of recent-era cards. Set your finish expectations accordingly, because this is a holo promo rather than a textured Special Illustration Rare.
By the numbersMarket analysis
This sits at the low end of the Mega Evolution promo run. It's an ETB insert promo, so it's widely available raw and trades like a common collector single, not a chase.
Pricing has stayed soft since release, which is normal for an ETB insert that prints in line with how many boxes get opened. Expect it to stay accessible unless the Lucario line drives renewed demand.
Treat this as a collector and checklist card, not an investment. Insert promos rarely appreciate unless the depicted Pokemon spikes. The realistic upside rides on long-term Lucario-line demand, not the card itself.
Clean graded copies, especially PSA 10s pulled straight from the ETB, carry a premium over raw. The base value is low enough that grading only makes sense if you can submit cheaply or the slab itself is the goal.
There's no booster pull rate for this card. It's a promo inserted into the Mega Lucario Elite Trainer Box, so you get one per ETB that includes it instead of chasing it through packs. Supply scales with how many of those boxes get opened, which keeps copies easy to find raw. A Pokemon Center version of the ETB gives collectors a second variant to track.
Compared to in-pack rarities like Special Illustration Rares, which can run into the hundreds of packs for one specific card in Scarlet & Violet sets, an ETB promo like this is far easier to obtain. The scarcity question here is about which ETB variant you pulled it from, not pack odds.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
GOSSAN is one of the illustrators working across recent Pokemon TCG sets, including the Mega Evolution era. The credit on this Riolu is confirmed by card databases and listing data. Beyond the credit itself, biographical detail on the artist is limited.
The card features Riolu in a GOSSAN illustration with a holographic promo treatment. Listings and database entries confirm the artist and the holo finish, so the appeal is the art and the character rather than an extended-border premium rarity.
Holographic Black Star Promo with the black star promo marking. Card number 010 in the Mega Evolution Promos set, regulation mark I.
It's a clean, approachable Riolu illustration tied directly to a Mega Lucario set. For Lucario-line collectors the appeal is the character and the era, not a premium finish.
BackgroundAbout Riolu 010
Riolu debuted in the Generation IV games as the pre-evolution of Lucario. Lucario became a breakout fan favorite after its movie and Super Smash Bros. appearances, and that popularity has kept the whole line in steady demand for collectors. Riolu evolves into Lucario through friendship, which is part of why the line resonates with players.
- ›Pre-evolution of Lucario, one of the most popular non-legendary Pokemon
- ›Recurring presence across games, anime, and merchandise
- ›Fits the Mega Lucario theme of the surrounding 2025 set
- ›Approachable, affordable target for newer collectors
- ›Introduced in Generation IV as the pre-evolution of Lucario
- ›Featured in the Mega Evolution era product lineup built around Mega Lucario
Minimal. With 80 HP and a 30-damage Accelerating Stab that locks itself out the following turn, this Riolu is a collector card, not a tournament staple.
Own it wellCollector guide
ETB promos can arrive with edge or corner wear from the box insert. Inspect the holo surface and corners closely on raw copies, and check centering before paying any graded-quality premium.
Only grade if you have a genuinely clean copy and cheap submission access, or if the slab itself is your goal. Base raw value is low, so grading fees can eat most of the upside on anything below a gem-grade copy. Read the grading guide →
A penny sleeve plus a toploader or one-touch is plenty for raw copies. If you keep it in a binder, use a side-loading page to avoid stress on the corners. See the storage guide →
Buy raw and cheap if you just need it for a Lucario-line or Mega Evolution promo checklist. For a display piece, a graded 9 or 10 is inexpensive enough that the slab can be worth it. Watch listings carefully, since the Pokemon Center variant sometimes gets mixed in with standard copies. See the singles buying guide →
For a modern promo this cheap, fakes are less of a concern than with vintage chases, but still verify the black star promo marking, the GOSSAN illustrator credit, sharp print on the holo, and a clean back. If buying graded, confirm the cert number with the grader.
Protect your card
Low Chase Score — basic protection is plenty. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Collectors treat Riolu 010 as a nice-to-have insert rather than a headline card. The interest comes mostly from Lucario-line fans and people completing the Mega Evolution promo set.
Buzz around the release centered on the Mega Lucario products and the chase cards in the main set, with the Riolu promo riding along as a bonus rather than a talking point of its own.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
Keep collectingRelated cards
Plan your Mega Evolution Mega Evolution Promo master set
Track every card, see what you're missing, and lay out your binder page by page.
