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Gen IX

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

All of Lumiose City is your wild area — climb the Z-A Royale from Rank Z to Rank A in real-time battles.

The Path

The intended order — follow this and you'll stay at the right level all game.

  1. 1

    Arrival in Lumiose

    Story

    Meet your starter: Chikorita, Totodile, or Tepig · settle in at Hotel Z

  2. 2

    Wild Zones

    Story

    Catch Pokémon coexisting with humans across the city's districts · urban redevelopment by Quasartico, Inc.

  3. 3

    Z-A Royale: Rank Z → F

    Milestone

    Nighttime Battle Zones appear — challenge wandering trainers, dodge pre-emptive strikes

  4. 4

    Mega Evolution

    Story

    Collect Mega Energy to fill the gauge and Mega Evolve mid-battle · extend it by dealing damage

  5. 5

    Z-A Royale: Rank E → B

    Milestone

    Promotion battles against rival trainers · complete bonus card side quests for rank points

  6. 6

    Z-A Royale: Rank A

    Champion

    The final promotion — win and have your wish granted

The Story

Lumiose City — the Paris-inspired metropolis from X and Y — is undergoing a massive urban redevelopment project led by Quasartico, Inc., meant to shape the city into a place that belongs to both people and Pokémon. You arrive as a newcomer, take up residence at Hotel Z, and get pulled into the Z-A Royale: a nightly tournament where trainers battle in designated Battle Zones across the city, climbing from Rank Z all the way to Rank A.

Unlike every mainline game before it, Legends: Z-A abandons turn-based combat entirely. Battles play out in real time — you move your trainer around the arena, position your Pokémon, dodge incoming attacks, and issue move commands with timing that matters. You can even launch pre-emptive strikes on trainers in Battle Zones before they notice you — but they can do the same to you, stunning your Pokémon for a few precious seconds.

Mega Evolution returns as a core mechanic: fill your Mega Gauge with Mega Energy collected around the city, then unleash a Mega Evolution mid-battle. Keep dealing damage to stay Mega Evolved longer. Wild Zones scattered through Lumiose let Pokémon live alongside the city's human districts, and your goal — win the Royale, reach Rank A, and claim the one wish granted to the champion.

Good to Know

  • Positioning is everything: real-time battles reward dodging and flanking. Don't stand still trading hits like it's turn-based.
  • Pre-emptive strikes in Battle Zones give you a free opening — sneak up on wandering trainers at night.
  • Collect Mega Energy as you explore so your gauge is ready for tough promotion battles.
  • Bonus cards (side quests) grant rank points — they speed up your climb between promotion matches.
  • Wild Zones are your catching grounds; Battle Zones (night only) are your battling grounds. Plan around the day/night cycle.
  • Starter choice: Chikorita (Grass), Totodile (Water), or Tepig (Fire) — pick for the early matchups you'll face in the city districts.

After the Credits

  • Mega Dimension DLC (Dec 2025): spatial distortions appear across Lumiose — investigate with Ansha and the Mythical Pokémon Hoopa, explore Hyperspace Lumiose, and discover Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y.
  • The DLC lets Pokémon push beyond level 100 — a series first.
  • Physical bundle (Switch 2 Edition + Mega Dimension) released October 29, 2026, with a 100 Ultra Ball Mystery Gift bonus.

My caught checklist

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Want the full step-by-step walkthrough? This page is the roadmap — for turn-by-turn directions, Bulbapedia and Serebii both have detailed per-route guides.