The three starter Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

• Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile
• stand ready in the urban landscape of Lumiose City. This latest Pokémon adventure is set entirely in the bustling metropolis of Lumiose, Kalos, taking place 5 years after the events of Pokémon X and Y[1]. Unlike previous games that sprawl across multiple towns and routes, Legends: Z-A confines the journey to one city
• a vibrant open-world urban environment filled with Pokémon encounters and battles around every corner[2].

At the adventure’s outset, you’ll choose from three starter Pokémon

• Chikorita, Tepig, or Totodile. These Grass, Fire, and Water-type starters hail from different generations (Johto and Unova) rather than Kalos’s usual trio[5]. Each comes with its own strengths: Chikorita offers early support moves and evolves into Meganium (which in this game can Mega Evolve into a dual-type form), Tepig evolves into the powerful Emboar with high attack stats, and Totodile evolves into Feraligatr, gaining a Dragon typing upon Mega Evolution for a ferocious endgame presence[6]. Don’t stress too much about the “best” starter
• all three can shine with the right team around them. If you’re unhappy with your choice, Legends: Z-A even lets you catch the other starters later in the game (post-game Wild Zone events), and Kalos’s own starters (Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie) can be obtained through special missions or events. Pick the Pokémon you like most, and build a balanced squad to cover its weaknesses (our guide will help you with that). Tip: whichever starter you choose, be sure to take advantage of its new Mega Evolution in the late game for a significant power boost.

Legends: Z-A introduces several gameplay twists that both new and experienced players should note. Battles are now real-time rather than strictly turn-based

• your Pokémon move around the field and timing/positioning of attacks matters greatly[7][8]. For example, moves have cooldown timers instead of limited PP, and you can dodge or reposition to avoid attacks. This makes combat more engaging but also more challenging if you’re used to the traditional turn system. Mega Evolution returns in a big way: over 60 Pokémon species have Mega Evolutions in Z-A (including many brand-new Mega forms unique to this game)[9]. Mega Evolution works differently here
• it’s a temporary state triggered after filling a meter in battle, and it has a cooldown period[7][10]. You’ll unlock the ability to Mega Evolve during the story (around the first quarter of the game), and collecting Mega Stones becomes a major side goal. Other new features include a day/night cycle where certain content (like Trainer battles) only happen at specific times, an array of mission types (story missions, side quests, and a recurring tournament called the Z-A Royale), and quality-of-life improvements like fast travel via the Lumiose transit and an eventual ability to skip time once you progress far enough. The guide will cover all these mechanics in detail on their respective pages.

This guide is divided into modular sections to help you on every aspect of Pokémon Legends: Z-A:

• Main Story Walkthrough: A step-by-step guide through the story missions and key battles, from your check-in at Hotel Z to the final showdown.
• Pokédex & Locations: A complete list of all Pokémon available in Z-A (there are ~230 species in the Lumiose Pokédex) and where to find them in the city’s various Wild Zones[11], so you can catch ’em all.
• Best Teams & Team Building: Recommendations on building a balanced team of six, with a focus on type synergy and defensive coverage
• a specialty of PokemonTeam.net. We’ll show how to cover your weaknesses and even provide example team comps for the story and endgame.
• Mega Evolution Guide: Everything you need to know about Mega Evolutions in Z-A
• how to unlock them, where to get Mega Stones, and which Pokémon have new Mega forms.
• Tips, Tricks & FAQs: A collection of useful tips, advanced tactics for the real-time battles, and answers to common questions (like how trading works, if breeding is possible, etc.), as well as post-game content and secrets.