Early Game Dominance: Locating the Pokémon Legends Z-A 10 RARE Pokémon
Did you know that you can obtain very rare and powerful Pokémon early in Pokémon Legends: Z-A? In this guide, we will point out how you can obtain the Pokémon Legends Z-A 10 RARE Pokémon as soon as you get free roam in Lumiose City.
There are, in fact, no prerequisites beyond completing the primary Mission 5, which is "City in the Shadow of Prism Tower." Completing the three required side missions for Emma grants valuable map access, allows you to control the time of day using benches, and initiates Alpha Pokémon spawning. To help ensure your success in capturing these valuable targets, there are two key steps to prepare:
Preparation Checklist for High Catch Rates
Accumulate Premium Poké Balls:
Go to the Poké Ball Boutique, which is located near the middle of the map (the fastest way is by using the Restaurant Le Yeah fast-travel point).
Buy up Quick Balls for maximizing first-turn capture success.
Stock up on Repeat Balls for an increased catch rate in case you happen to encounter a species already recorded in the Pokédex.
For nighttime encounters, the Dusk Ball significantly enhances the catch rate.
Pokémon Legends Z-A Tip: If you need more funds, sell any items in your Treasured tab at the Pokémon Center, or complete a quick quest for the sake of acquiring money.
Accumulate Colorful Screws for Increased Catch Rate:
Collect Colorful Screws that are scattered throughout Lumiose City. These are easily spotted as bright, glowing purple Poké Balls on rooftops and scaffolding.
Trade a total of sixteen screws at the Construction Site (here on your map) for the Blue Canari Plush, which maximizes your overall capture rate.
Discovering the First Wave of RARE Pokémon Legends Z-A Spawns
Begin with two powerful ground-type Pokémon in the early areas.
Larvitar and Scraggy Spawn Locations
Larvitar (Future Tyranitar): Head to the Vert Plaza area. Face towards the Vert Sector 2 entrance. Take the ladder next to you. On the roof, do a precision jump and roll across the gap on the platform. An early-game level Larvitar is here. If the spawn is an Alpha Larvitar and proves too difficult, walk a short distance away to despawn it, and return to respawn a lower-level variant.
Scraggy: Begin at Restaurant Le Yeah. Head towards the Poké Ball Boutique, but turn right before reaching it. Crouch and proceed carefully. A group of Scraggy will be relaxing in this alleyway, often with its evolution, Scrafty, spawning among them. Scrafty is one of the most desirable catches due to its potential Mega Evolution in the future, hinted at by the game's coat designs.
Strategic Evolutions with Lumiose City Cafes
A few of the most practical early catches are those which take advantage of the city's unique mechanics, specifically the cafés, to evolve them immediately.
Cleffa / Clefairy / Clefable:
Obtain Clefairy on an elevated platform accessed by ladders near Café Cyclo. A Pokémon of the Water type is needed to shift blockages along the way.
After catching, travel immediately to Noveau Café.
Place Clefairy in the leading party slot and order a Burn-Up Roast Coffee. The resulting friendship boost allows direct evolution into Clefable.
Riolu / Lucario:
Riolu can be found on a platform accessed by ascending a ladder on a street near Restaurant Le Yeah. Sneak up and catch it.
To evolve it, set the time of day to Daytime (Riolu requires daytime friendship).
Visit any café (such as Noveau Café).
Place Riolu in your party lead slot and continually order a coffee.
The concentrated friendship boost, combined with the daylight requirement, will trigger its evolution into Lucario.
Advanced Spawns and Tactical Catches
Elite Pokémon Legends Z-A 10 RARE Pokémon targets require specific timing, weather, or tactical maneuvering.
| Pokémon | Requirement / Condition | Location & Capture Strategy |
| Goomy / Goodra | Rainy Weather | Head to the Vert Pokémon Center. Walk through the alley into Vert District. Goomy spawns here, typically at a high level (around 35). Due to the high level in relation to your current catch rank, save-scumming (save and reload before throwing the ball) is required for a successful catch. |
| Dratini / Hydreigon | Save-Scumming Necessary | On a rooftop near the Blue Sector 9 P-shaped marker. Deino runs away immediately upon seeing you, so an early catch is a requirement. Save your game right in front of it and reload until the capture succeeds. |
| Ralts / Kirlia / Gallade | Dawn Stone Required | Found close to the entrance of Magenta Sector 7 (west side of the map). Look for a Male Ralts to evolve into Gallade. The required Dawn Stone is found on a high rooftop near the Magenta Pokémon Center, next to two Mega Crystals. |
| Shuppet / Banette | Rare Spawn | Walk inside the Ralts spawn area (Magenta Sector 7) and climb the first ladder. Shuppet spawns on this elevated platform, sometimes as an Alpha. It then evolves into Banette, another Mega Evolution boss that was teased in the game's trailers. |
| Poliwag / Poliwhirl / Poliwrath / Politoed | Anytime | Poliwag is readily available in the early sections, offering convenient evolution options for your team. |
| Eevee | Daytime, Clear Weather | Same alleyway location as Goomy (near the Vert Pokémon Center), but daytime and clear weather specifically. |
Targeting these Pokémon Legends Z-A 10 RARE Pokémon strategically allows you to create a strong and well-rounded party, reducing early-game grind significantly and positioning yourself for success.
Have you decided which Mega Evolution candidate—Gallade or Scrafty—you'll pursue first?
