What Pokemon can use Aura other than Lucario?

[Serverus Snope]

It's something I've been trying to iron out for quite some time... mainly since I've wanted to make aura-wielding OCs who aren't pigeonholed into using Riolu/Lucario as their ace.

Some thoughts I already have:

• The Cutiefly line could arguably count since the Pokedex says they can detect the aura of living things. And Medicham has apparently sensed auras in the anime according to Bulbapedia. But this doesn't quite translate into their movepool(?) because they can't, for example, use Aura Sphere. Do they count?
• But on the other hand, does the ability to use Aura Sphere necessarily mean that Pokemon can use aura in general? By that logic, Togekiss, Clawitzer, and some Squirtles are Aura sensitive.
  • Other Pokemon who qualify under this definition: Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, Blaziken, Lopunny, Mienshao, Hisuian Decidueye, Kommo-o, an assortment of legendaries.
• The Ralts line are basically top-tier empaths in the Pokemon setting. But is this psychic powers or aura? And Gardevoir wasn't capable of learning Aura Sphere until Legends.
  • The Hatenna line are also powerful empaths... though they don't have any explicitly aura-based moves. Same conundrum.
• Can Pokemon capable of learning Dark Pulse wield aura? It's apparently an aura-based move.
  • I've also heard theories that Bite becomes Dark-type because it's basically an otherwise ordinary bite infused with malicious aura or something like that.
  • And would Galarian Moltres be the strongest aura manipulator if it can potentially destroy auras?

 

[Juliko]

I know Togekiss can learn Aura Sphere, but that's about it as far as I know.

 

[Giant Octopodes]

It's something I've been trying to iron out for quite some time... mainly since I've wanted to make aura-wielding OCs who aren't pigeonholed into using Riolu/Lucario as their ace.

Some thoughts I already have:

• 1. The Cutiefly line could arguably count since the Pokedex says they can detect the aura of living things. And Medicham has apparently sensed auras in the anime according to Bulbapedia. But this doesn't quite translate into their movepool(?) because they can't, for example, use Aura Sphere. Do they count?
• 2. But on the other hand, does the ability to use Aura Sphere necessarily mean that Pokemon can use aura in general? By that logic, Togekiss, Clawitzer, and some Squirtles are Aura sensitive.
  • Other Pokemon who qualify under this definition: Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, Blaziken, Lopunny, Mienshao, Hisuian Decidueye, Kommo-o, an assortment of legendaries.
• 3. The Ralts line are basically top-tier empaths in the Pokemon setting. But is this psychic powers or aura? And Gardevoir wasn't capable of learning Aura Sphere until Legends.
  • The Hatenna line are also powerful empaths... though they don't have any explicitly aura-based moves. Same conundrum.
• 4. Can Pokemon capable of learning Dark Pulse wield aura? It's apparently an aura-based move.
  • I've also heard theories that Bite becomes Dark-type because it's basically an otherwise ordinary bite infused with malicious aura or something like that.
  • And would Galarian Moltres be the strongest aura manipulator if it can potentially destroy auras?

1. Detection and manipulation are different things. From a 'lore' perspective, to me, it reads like they can do the former but not the latter. So on a team of aura Wielders I would say they're not necessarily qualified.
2. Yes. If they can use Aura Sphere, by necessity it means they can manipulate Auras. You could argue this is not necessarily true as there's no reason Luxray or Tyranitar should be able to wreathe their fangs in both Ice AND Fire for example, so sometimes moves obviously get made available to fit their desires from a power level or coverage standpoint. But it's my opinion we're forced to accept those abilities as reality, and all those you listed and more can manipulate auras and make a sphere of aura-based energy, so clearly they can manipulate auras.
3. I think it's fair to say that Stored Power is evidence of Aura Manipulation, and thus the Ralts line, among others, are Aura manipulators. However Hatenna and so forth reinforce the idea that Psychic powers in general and Empaths (detection) are not the same as Aura Manipulation. So I'd say Ralts is in, Hatenna is out, just mho.
4. Yep Dark Pulse says "the user releases a horrible aura imbued with dark thoughts". So clear evidence of Aura Manipulation. Crunch is just "The user crunches up the target with sharp fangs", and has no evidence of being aura based in its description. My question would be, if it's an otherwise ordinary bite infused with malicious aura, why isn't there a normal type Bite instead? What does a Bite look like which is NOT infused with malicious aura, and why isn't the malicious aura part in the description?

As far as Galarian Moltres, it depends - it clearly has an incredibly potent aura, no doubt. But the entry says "This Pokémon's sinister, flame-like aura will consume the spirit of any creature it hits." If it's ANY creature it hits, does that actually imply control, much less manipulation? Is having an incredibly Potent aura enough, or must you be able to Manipulate it and Wield it? Depends on how you look at it, but certainly I'd say that it'd be tough for anyone to argue against it serving as the Ace on an Aura based team.

Just my musings, obviously at the end of the day it's your concept and you're perfectly justified including or excluding whatever Pokemon you want. I hope the perspective at least helped clarify your thoughts if nothing else though, cool concept!

 

[FelipePR]

• And would Galarian Moltres be the strongest aura manipulator if it can potentially destroy auras?

- I would say Mew or Mewtwo, the latter being able to utilize his own aura to mega-evolve without the need for a trainer (my explanation for the movie, at least).

 

[Ghost Diplocaulus]

Sylveon may not be able to learn Aura Sphere, but it is said to release a soothing aura from its feelers to stop quarrels and calm hostile opponents. Dunno if this counts, but hey.

 

[Eitarou]

Cutiefly is not an Aura user. Aura is called Hadou in Japanese, but they use the English word aura for Cutiefly's Dex entry. It's confusing, I know.

 

[Blast]

All Pokémon that can learn Aura Sphere I guess.

 

[ripplefieldz]

don't xerneas and yveltal have aura-based abilities? that probably counts for something.

 

[Gengarzilla]

In my head, I'd had it that those Pokémon with some of the other related aura/pulse moves (Dark Pulse, Dragon Pulse, Heal Pulse, Origin Pulse, Terrain Pulse, Water Pulse, all of these plus Aura Sphere are boosted by Mega Launcher, the ability that specifically boosts aura/pulse moves) have some amount of aura proficiency, but not as much as the Pokémon who actually learn Aura Sphere. I've headcanoned it that the users of pulse moves are using varying forms of elemental energies to "stabilise" their aura moves and that Aura Sphere itself is just purely shaped aura of the highest quality. Other moves? They're from other sources; I haven't seen a need to tie other spherical projectile moves like Shadow Ball or Focus Blast or Moonblast to the aura wheelbarrow just on shared shape alone when we have an ability that specifically lists aura moves for us.

Going off of this, anything that could learn and use Aura Sphere can cleanly be written out as the ace of OP's original character. Lucario may be the most famous example but it shouldn't have to be the only one. Heck, OP's character could have a Squirtle who's struggling to master its egg move Aura Sphere as part of an overarching plot. Or the character is a huge introvert who grows with their young Togepi into a masterful Aura Guardian and Togekiss pair. We definitely have options for these stories that do not "pidgeonhole" one into Riolu/Lucario.

 

[Serverus Snope]

In my head, I'd had it that those Pokémon with some of the other related aura/pulse moves (Dark Pulse, Dragon Pulse, Heal Pulse, Origin Pulse, Terrain Pulse, Water Pulse, all of these plus Aura Sphere are boosted by Mega Launcher, the ability that specifically boosts aura/pulse moves) have some amount of aura proficiency, but not as much as the Pokémon who actually learn Aura Sphere. I've headcanoned it that the users of pulse moves are using varying forms of elemental energies to "stabilise" their aura moves and that Aura Sphere itself is just purely shaped aura of the highest quality. Other moves? They're from other sources; I haven't seen a need to tie other spherical projectile moves like Shadow Ball or Focus Blast or Moonblast to the aura wheelbarrow just on shared shape alone when we have an ability that specifically lists aura moves for us.

Going off of this, anything that could learn and use Aura Sphere can cleanly be written out as the ace of OP's original character. Lucario may be the most famous example but it shouldn't have to be the only one. Heck, OP's character could have a Squirtle who's struggling to master its egg move Aura Sphere as part of an overarching plot. Or the character is a huge introvert who grows with their young Togepi into a masterful Aura Guardian and Togekiss pair. We definitely have options for these stories that do not "pidgeonhole" one into Riolu/Lucario.

Oh yeah... The story idea. I kinda shelved it.