If you were looking for the form of energy used to produce Z-Moves also referred to as "aura", see Z-Power.

Aura (Japanese: 波導 wave-guiding) is a form of spiritual energy described as the essence of every living thing. The concept was first introduced in Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.

Ash using Aura

Description

Ash feeling Lucario's Aura through his Key Stone

While aura is normally depicted as blue, in Pokémon Horizons: The Series, certain Pokémon are shown to have differently colored auras, those being Ult's Sableye, which is purple, Roy's Crocalor, which is red, and Roy's Shiny Lucario, which is yellow.

Aura users have the ability to use telepathy and read the minds and actions of another being. They can sense other people's aura and track that of a specific person as long as a piece of it can be detected. Aura can be used to view one's surroundings even with their vision obscured, such as with a blindfold, as well as seeing through objects and those who are invisible. Aura can be projected in the form of attacks, most notably Aura Sphere, and used to create barriers. It can also be transferred to others, though this can be fatal to the user. Aura users can see and speak to ghosts and allow them to interact with things in the physical world. Aura is also required to activate time flowers. A seasoned aura user can even protect themselves and those around them from mind control.

When in sync with their Trainer and by invoking the bonds with its friends, a Pokémon can use its aura to supercharge an Aura Sphere and cause it to grow gigantic, making it rival even Max Moves in power. When used in conjunction with a Key Stone, aura allows a Trainer and their Pokémon to locate the matching Mega Stone even from miles away, as well as create a telepathic vision in which they can feel each other and anyone inside the other's aura from far away.

In animation

Pokémon the Series

Lucario using aura in Lucario and the Mystery of Mew

In the Pokémon world's past, there were once humans who could sense aura and control its power. These humans, known as Aura Guardians, traveled around doing good deeds and passing on their skills to those who also possessed this innate ability. As featured in Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, one famous Aura Guardian was Sir Aaron of Rota, who took a Lucario as his apprentice and became a hero when he sacrificed himself to stop a war from destroying the area around the Tree of Beginning.

The Aura Guardians disappeared from history, for some undisclosed reason, a long time before the present era. The only humans in the present time known to have the ability to control Aura are Riley and Ash Ketchum, though Ash has chosen to continue his journey as a Pokémon Trainer rather than follow up on the revelation. However, he did follow in the footsteps of both known Aura Guardians by helping Lucario save the Tree of Beginning and resealing Spiritomb.

Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl

Riley using aura to contain an explosion

In The Keystone Pops!, Ash and his friends heard the story of how a Spiritomb was sealed away by an Aura Guardian who traveled with a Pikachu.

In Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! (Part 1), Ash and his friends meet an unnaturally strong Riolu capable of using the move Aura Sphere. Ash demonstrates the ability to sense Riolu's aura several times over the remainder of the episode and the next.

In Sliding Into Seventh!, the Pokédex entry of Medicham revealed that it has the capability to read aura.

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Ash's Lucario using its aura vision

In Caring for a Mystery!, it was revealed that Riolu are capable of sensing aura even before they hatch and are able to react to it. This ability is demonstrated by Ash's Riolu, who, after hatching, ran away from Ash and Goh's room in search of the aura that it had sensed prior to hatching. When Ash and Pikachu found Riolu battling an Onix, they prepared to help Riolu fight it off. In the process, Ash started emitting the same aura waves Riolu sensed earlier, driving it to help Pikachu and Ash fight the Onix.

Ash's Greninja using its aura

In Sword and Shield... The Legends Awaken!, Ash's newly evolved Lucario contacted its Trainer using its aura and requested to use Aura Sphere instead of Vacuum Wave while battling Rose.

In An Adventure of Mega Proportions!, Lucario had its aura power enhanced when Ash received a Key Stone, which Korrina attributed to their already strong bond. Using its new power, it was able to sense a Lucarionite on Mega Island. When Ash and Lucario were separated after arriving on the island, it used its aura to locate the Lucarionite and telepathically guided Ash to its exact location. Ash's aura powers were also enhanced through the Key Stone, which helped him sense his Lucario from great distances.

Ash using his Aura in Distant Blue Sky!

In Catching the Aura of Fate!, Ash claimed that Lucario's aura felt similar to his bond with his Greninja. Greninja later demonstrated this aura ability and helped Lucario polish its own aura. After training with Greninja, Lucario and Ash were able to sync up more than before, allowing Lucario to create a giant Aura Sphere. In Aim For The Eight! and Whittle While You Work!, Lucario used this newfound synchronicity to draw power from the aura of its allies and make its Aura Sphere grow even bigger than before.

In Distant Blue Sky!, set in a separate continuity from the rest of Pokémon the Series, Ash was able to see and speak to Sunny, a boy who had passed away due to an illness, because of his aura. Ash later used his aura to allow Sunny to touch Pikachu, fulfilling his wish to touch a Pokémon and allowing him to pass on.

Aura Guardians

Pokémon Horizons: The Series

Roy and his Shiny Lucario connecting through aura in Pokémon Horizons: The Series

In Eyes to the Skies Once Again (Part Two), it was revealed that Roy and his Lucario can connect their aura.

In Mega Evolution - Bonds, during a battle against Lucario, Ult and Sableye's aura connected, allowing Sableye to Mega Evolve for the first time. Afterwards, Roy and Crocalor's aura connected, allowing them to gain the upper hand against the Shiny Lucario known as the Yellow Flash. As the battle intensified, Lucario's yellow aura suddenly started connecting to Roy's, causing it to Mega Evolve. It later joined Roy's team after its defeat.

In the core series games

Lucario using Aura Sphere
Riley's sprite in Pokémon Platinum

The move Aura Sphere explicitly uses "aura power" (Japanese: 波導の  wave-guiding power) and is in a group of aura and pulse moves that can be boosted by the Ability Mega Launcher.

The Pokédex entries for Lucario, Medicham, and Cutiefly state that they have the ability to sense auras. While Galarian Moltres and Mega Absol are both described as having a sinister aura around themselves, only the entries for Umbreon, who absorbs aura from the moon, along with Lucario and Sylveon confirm that the Pokémon make use of aura. Mega Lucario's aura expands and races through its body, with the black streaks on its body showing where its aura has intermingled with the energy of Mega Evolution.[1] Mega Lucario Z has more versatility with its aura, such as extending it into a thin shield, focusing it in certain parts of its body to boost its attacks,[2] or completely cloaking itself in aura to parry all sorts of attacks.

Riley's animations in the Sinnoh games suggest that he can use aura. In Platinum, his hand lights up with a blue glow in his opponent animation. In Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, his hair and hat will shake in his idle animation, similar to Lucario's aura-sensing appendages. The Riolu Egg he gives the player is the only available Riolu in the game, and Riley also trains a Lucario.

In Pokémon X and Y, Korrina claims that something in the player's aura (Japanese: 波動 wave) is the reason why one of her Lucario feels a bond with them, which leads her to give that Lucario to the player.

According to Lucario's Pokédex entry in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, aura was named by Professor Laventon.

In the side series games

In both Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, a "black aura" surrounds Shadow Pokémon and can only be seen by a character named Rui, or with a device called an Aura Reader. These Pokémon are described as "corrupted", and must be purified.

In the spin-off games

In Pokémon Masters EX, Riley's profile directly states that he can use aura.

The personality quiz at the beginning of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky mentions Aura. After answering the quiz, the player's Aura is read and described as being a particular color, which is determined by the Nintendo DS's UI color or MAC address.

Super Smash Bros. series

Lucario using Aura Storm in Super Smash Bros. Brawl

In the Super Smash Bros. series, almost all of Lucario's moves use aura and become more powerful the more damage it takes.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, when Lucario gets a Smash Ball, it can execute its Final Smash, Aura Storm. During the attack, Lucario focuses its aura into a powerful beam that the player controls. During the Subspace Emissary, Lucario used its aura to see Snake hiding in his box.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U, Mega Evolution, Lucario's new Final Smash maximizes its aura, which normally requires it to take at least 190% damage.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Lucario combines its previous Final Smashes into one by Mega Evolving into Mega Lucario before using Aura Storm.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Riley and his Lucario using aura

Aura in Pokémon Adventures is explained as a wave that can be picked up by people just like sound. Certain Pokémon and humans can pick up this sound, allowing them to see and sense the auras of others. However, because aura is similar to sound, it can be interrupted by anything that cuts the airspace.

Known users of aura include Riley and his Pokémon, Lucario and Riolu. Riley and Lucario had their aura abilities blocked by two Roughnecks who were attacking Iron Island and commanded their Mothim to use Air Slash, cutting up the airspace around it. This prevented the two from tracking their aura, along with blinding their eyes with Vespiquen honey. Once Diamond defeated the Mothim, thus causing the aura to be visible again, Riley and Lucario unleashed their wrath upon them.

Korrina's Lucario is also able to use aura, preventing Celosia's Aegislash from mind controlling those around it.

Phantom Thief Pokémon 7

Lily using Aura

Aura is first revealed in Escape From Team Galactic as a form of energy that all humans and Pokémon emit. While Pokémon like Hiori's Lucario can naturally sense it, there are certain cases when a human can sense it as well. One known human who can sense Aura is Hiori's sister, Lily, who was kidnapped by Team Galactic at a young age in order to use her power for their own selfish goals.

A special cloak made by Team Galactic was shown to be able to hide the aura of the user, preventing them from being tracked.

Pokémon Try Adventure

This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Riolu using Aura

Manami's Riolu using aura in TA34.



In the TCG

This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring aura or its Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Aura's Pokémon
Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format.
Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card Type English
Expansion
Rarity # Japanese
Expansion
Rarity #
Aura's Lucario Metal       PCG-P Promotional cards   075/PCG-P
Aura's Lucario Metal       PCG-P Promotional cards   079/PCG-P
Aura's Lucario Metal       PCG-P Promotional cards   090/PCG-P
Aura's Lucario Metal       PCG-P Promotional cards   092/PCG-P
Aura's Lucario Metal       Movie Commemoration VS Pack: Aura's Lucario   012/020
      PCG-P Promotional cards   093/PCG-P
Aura's Lucario ex Metal       Side Deck   006/012
Other related cards
Card Type English
Expansion
Rarity # Japanese
Expansion
Rarity #
Aaron's Aura T [Su]       Movie Commemoration VS Pack: Aura's Lucario   019/020
 

Origin

In paranormal theory, an aura is a field of light said to surround living beings, the color of which is determined by the particular person's disposition. It is often used in artwork to cause objects or people of high importance to stand out. Aura could also be based on the Chinese concept of qi, which often refers to the life-force existing in all living things.

In other languages

Language Title
Catalan Aura
Mandarin Chinese 波導 Bōdǎo
波動 Bōdòng
Dutch Aura
Finnish Aura
French Aura
German Aura
Hindi ऑरा Aura
Italian Aura
Korean 파동 Padong
Polish Aura
Brazilian Portuguese Aura
Russian Аура Aura
Spanish Aura
Tamil ஆரா Aura
Vietnamese Linh khí

Related articles

Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
Characters Sir AaronBanksQueen IleneJennyMother and daughterQueen RinKidd SummersFreddy
LucarioMewRegiceRegirockRegisteel
Locations Cameran PalaceRotaTree of Beginning
Other AuraAura Guardian FestivalTime flower
Soundtrack and score Soundtrack
Song of Origin / Nice Buddy (single)
Pikachu the Movie Song Best 1998-2008
Adaptations MangaShort mangaNovel
TCG Mew (EX Holon Phantoms 111, Pop Series 4 4, Nintendo Promo 40) • Tree of Beginning's Mew
Wave-Guiding Hero Lucario • Aura's Lucario (75, 79, 90, 92)
RegiceRegirockRegisteel
Rota's Mime Jr. (86, 97) • Rota's BonslyRota's MunchlaxRota's Weavile
Movie Commemoration VS Pack: Aura's LucarioMaster KitGift Box Mew • Lucario
Merchandise All Movies Perfect GuidePokémon Movie CompanionAll That Pikachu! sampler
Pokémon Kids figuresBattle Frontier action figuresZukan SP04Bandai Friends plushes
Tie-in media Lucario (Super Smash Bros.)Pokémon 10th Anniversary Journey Across America
Event distributions Hadō MewOld Sea MapHadō legendary giantsMystery Mew
Related animation Pikachu the Movie MemorialProfessor Oak's Pokémon Lecture