Welcome to Lumiose City! Stepping into the world of Pokemon Legends: Z-A is exciting, but its huge, bustling city can feel a little overwhelming at first. With so much to see and do, where do you even begin? You want to get a strong start, find the coolest Pokemon, and not miss out on any secrets.
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. This guide provides the most important Pokemon Legends Z-A beginner tips to help you become a confident trainer right from the start. We’ll go over everything from combat tricks to exploration secrets so you can hit the ground running.
Pressed for time? Here are the most critical tips to get you started in Pokemon Legends Z-A immediately.
| Tip | Why It’s Important |
| Loot Everything | You’ll get a steady stream of free items and materials just by picking up shining spots and Poke Balls you see on the ground. |
| Get All Starters | You can get all three Kalos starters and one Kanto starter very early in the game by doing a few simple side quests. |
| Explore Vertically | Don’t just stick to the streets. The rooftops of Lumiose City hide rare items, TMs, and unique Pokemon encounters. |
| Use Moves on Obstacles | You don’t always need a special TM. Use any Fighting-type attack on cracked rocks and any Fire-type attack on thorny vines to clear your path. |
As you start exploring, you will see shining spots on the ground and Poke Balls sitting in corners. Make it a habit to walk over and pick up every single one. It only takes a second!
These items can be anything from potions and Poke Balls to valuable treasures you can sell. This is one of the easiest ways of making money fast in the early game. Selling a stack of unneeded items can fund your supply of Great Balls later on.
Combat in Legends Z-A is a bit different from older Pokemon games. You can’t just spam your strongest move over and over, as moves now have a cooldown period after you use them.
Because of this, you need new combat strategies. A great tip is to teach a Pokemon two different moves of the same type. For example, give your fire Pokemon both Ember and Flame Charge. This way, you can use one while the other is on cooldown, letting you keep hitting the enemy with super-effective attacks. If you’re new to the series, our guide to Pokemon types can help you learn the basics.
Choosing your first Pokemon is a big decision, but the good news is you don’t have to miss out. Very early on, you can get all three Kalos starters: Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie.
You just need to complete a few simple side missions given to you by residents of Lumiose City. On top of that, you can also get one of the original Kanto starters (Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle) by helping out at Mable’s Research Lab.
Lumiose City is a massive, vertical world. While the streets are full of shops and people, the real secrets are often hidden up high. This is one of our most important exploration tips: always look for ways to get onto the rooftops.
You’ll find hidden TMs (items that teach your Pokemon new moves), clusters of rare materials, and sometimes even special Pokemon that don’t appear anywhere else. Exploring is a core part of the game’s innovative design.
Early in the game, you’ll get the TM for Rock Smash. But you don’t need to keep that specific move on a Pokemon forever. Any attacking move of the correct type can clear an obstacle.
Keep a variety of Pokemon types on your team to make exploring much smoother.
Soon after you start, you’ll meet Acting Director Mable, who gives you a long list of research tasks. Completing Mable’s Research Requests is one of the best things you can do early on.
The tasks are usually simple, like catching a certain number of Bug-type Pokemon or battling a few trainers. The rewards include powerful TMs, helpful Exp. Candies to level up your team, and other useful items. Many of these tasks will be completed naturally as you play the game.
A huge feature in the Kalos region is Mega Evolution, a temporary power-up that makes certain Pokemon incredibly strong in battle. As you explore, you’ll find purplish crystals. Have your Pokemon break these to collect Mega Shards.
You can trade these shards for valuable items, including the Mega Stones needed to evolve your Pokemon. According to the official Pokemon website, this feature is a key part of the Kalos region’s story. Save your Mega Evolution for the toughest battles, like against a gym leader or a powerful wild Pokemon.
This tip goes hand-in-hand with exploring rooftops, but it applies everywhere. The key to finding rare Pokemon and items is to be curious.
See a narrow alleyway? Go down it. Notice a ladder on the side of a building? Climb it. The game rewards you for going off the beaten path. You never know when you might find a hidden garden with a rare Pokemon or a chest containing a valuable TM.
Lumiose City is big, and walking from one side to the other can take a while. Luckily, you can use the Lumi Cab service. You’ll find these blue cars on almost every major street.
For a small fee, they can instantly take you to any major landmark in the city, even if you haven’t been there before. This is a huge time-saver when you have a quest on the opposite side of town.
Did you throw a Poke Ball and miss your target? In past games, that item would be gone for good. But in Legends Z-A, you can get it back!
Just head to any Pokemon Center. Outside, you’ll see a friendly NPC who runs the Lost & Found. Talk to them, and they’ll return all the Poke Balls you missed since your last visit, completely free of charge.
It’s tempting to fill your team with only the strongest-looking Pokemon, but having a good variety of types is far more important. A well-balanced team is one of the best Pokemon Legends Z-A beginner tips for winning battles easily.
Try to have Pokemon that cover many different types, like Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, and Flying. This ensures you’ll always have a Pokemon that can hit your opponent for super-effective damage. For an expert-level breakdown of Pokemon stats, a resource like Serebii.net is invaluable for competitive players.
No, you don’t need to play Pokemon X & Y to understand and enjoy Pokemon Legends Z-A. While the game is set in the same Kalos region, it tells a completely new story. It’s designed to be a great starting point for new players, just like Pokemon Legends: Arceus was.
Honestly, there is no “best” starter. Chespin (Grass), Fennekin (Fire), and Froakie (Water) are all excellent choices. The best one for you depends on your playstyle. Plus, as mentioned in our tips, you can get all three of them fairly early in the game, so you don’t have to worry too much about your initial choice!
The combat is much more active and strategic. Instead of a simple turn-based system, moves have cooldowns, and your positioning in the battle arena matters. This requires different combat strategies, as you can’t just rely on one powerful move. You need to think about which moves to use and when, making battles feel more engaging.
The fastest way of making money fast at the start is to pick up every shiny item you see on the ground and sell the ones you don’t need, like Stardust or extra minerals. Also, completing Mable’s Research Requests often rewards you with valuable items that can be sold for a good price.
Yes, it is absolutely worth it. Completing Mable’s Research Requests gives you fantastic rewards like TMs, Exp. Candies, and items you can’t easily get otherwise. Many tasks are easy to finish while you are exploring, so you don’t have to go too far out of your way to earn these great bonuses.
You’re now armed with the best Pokemon Legends Z-A beginner tips to start your journey with confidence. Remember to explore everywhere, be smart about your combat choices, and talk to everyone you meet. The world of Kalos is yours to discover.
Now go out there, start your adventure, and have fun building your ultimate team in Lumiose City.
