Pokemon Legends Z-A: Complete combat guide

Pokemon Legends Z-A is a whole new way to experience the classic Game Freak franchise, thanks to some massive combat changes. Instead of being stuck in place and spamming moves at each other, now where your Pokemon stands actually matters. It’s a massive design change and resembles the anime more than ever.

While set in the familiar location of Lumiose City and after the events of Pokemon X & Y, the two games are nothing alike in terms of combat. If you’re looking to play Pokemon Legends Z-A and want insight into its combat system, we’re here to help.

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Pokemon Legends Z-A: A comprehensive combat guide

1) Controls

Pokemon Legends Z-A is a far more active game than previous Pokemon titles, thanks to the major combat changes. Before entering battle, you can press ZL to focus on wild Pokemon and see important details about it. Wild Pokemon can also be aggressive, so you must be careful when exploring.

The controls won't be too hard to follow after a few battles (Image via The Pokemon Company)

You will notice the Sprint and Roll buttons, both of which are incredibly important in combat. You have to dodge melee, ranged, and AOE attacks on your own in Pokemon Legends Z-A.

That’s what makes it such an interesting game; you must pay attention and move when necessary to avoid taking hits, while also dishing out your own. However, it’s also worth noting that Sprint/Roll aren’t available in Trainer Battles.

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2) Combat Basics

Similar to its predecessor, Arceus, Pokemon Legends Z-A is an action-based game, where your trainer and Pokemon move around openly on the map. In previous mainline titles, you could rely on having high evasion to avoid attacks, but that isn't the case here.

You need to be active as a Pokemon Trainer if you want to succeed (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Speaking of Stat Boosts, spamming a Stat Move ability (example, Swords Dance) will not keep stacking. Instead, it adds to the duration of the ability. This makes the game more tactical, instead of stacking attack buffs and smashing a Pokemon in one hit.

In battle, ZL Button also locks onto your target, and the face buttons (ABXY) are used to activate your Pokemon’s abilities. Wild Pokemon are more active, and you have to avoid their attacks. This isn’t the case in Trainer Battles.

However, you can get the edge in Wild Zones/Battle Zones by crouching and sneaking up on your opponent. This will earn you a free attack and start the Pokemon Battle on your own terms; it also prevents your opponent from trying to get a free hit on your critters.

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3) Move Cooldowns and Swapping Moves

The days of having a specific number of Pokemon moves are over, at least in Pokemon Legends Z-A. Each move (Shadow Ball, Tackle, Leer, et cetera) has a specific Cooldown, and you have to wait until that’s up to use it again. Hence, it’s advisable to have a nice assortment of moves on your critter, so they can stay active in battle.

If you have Gengar use Shadow Punch and it doesn’t get the job done, you must wait to use it again. Conversely, you can instead use moves like Lick or Shadow Ball to prolong the fight, provided you have access to them.

One great aspect about Pokemon Legends Z-A is that you can use TMs as much as you want, and your Pokemon can re-learn moves anytime, without an extra cost. This allows you to shake up your build and bring back moves you might need later.

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4) Pokemon Moves: Melee vs. Ranged

If you're going to use powerful melee moves, you'll have to get in close first (Image via The Pokemon Company)

While every critter you use in Pokemon Legends Z-A doesn’t need to have both Melee and Ranged combat abilities, having some with a blend won’t hurt. There are certainly positives and negatives to each, so consider your battle strategies.

• Melee Moves: Melee Moves tend to have shorter cooldowns. These attacks make your Pokemon move up close to their target and then use the move. This also makes them vulnerable to incoming attacks.
• Ranged Moves: Ranged Moves tend to have longer cooldowns, and the Pokemon will move to your location and fire off the blast. The major downside is a longer cooldown, because the Pokemon isn’t in as much danger as it would be in melee.

You can decide how to equip moves in this game, but having one of each type, if possible, does allow some flexibility and counterplay in battle.

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5) Status conditions: In and out of battle

You might want to pack Status Condition removers in Pokemon Legends Z-A, because status conditions/ailments remain after battle. While some of these aren’t terrible, Burn and Poison can rack up a lot of damage to your Pokemon in short order. Just buy some status condition removers from Nurse Joy and keep them on hand. Even if you didn’t do this in regular Pokemon games, it will play a role in Z-A.

In general, I think Status Condition moves are incredibly powerful in battle in Pokemon Legends Z-A. If possible, I prefer to start a fight with a Status Move like Thunder Wave, to debilitate my target and gain the best possible chance of winning. Once a Pokemon has been hit with a status, simply crush them with powerful moves before they can retaliate, for nice, easy victories.

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6) Mega Evolution and Plus Moves

Mega Evolution is already long-since confirmed, and while it’ll take some time, by playing through the main story, you will eventually unlock a Mega Ring. This will allow you to Mega Evolve your Pokemon whenever you want, with a few restrictions.

Nothing beats the power of Mega Evolution, except maybe a better Mega Evolved Pokemon (Image via The Pokemon Company)

You still need to have enough Mega Power to Mega Evolve, so keep that in mind. However, in Rogue Mega Evolution battles, use your moves to knock Mega Power out of the Rogue Pokemon in question. Then, you run around and collect the Mega Power.

After obtaining your Mega Ring, you can use some of your Mega Power by pressing + before an attack to launch a Plus Attack. These are powered-up moves that hit harder. All moves used by a Mega Evolved Pokemon count as Plus moves, as well.

Typically, you must master a move before using it as a Plus Move, but not for Mega Evolved Pokemon. They completely ignore this rule. If you want to master a move, simply use it enough times; though some are powered up by leveling up.

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7) Healing

While you can head to a Nurse Joy to heal almost whenever you want, that won't help you in battle. In combat, you can use the X button to open the menu and quickly use a healing item on your Pokemon currently in battle.

You will find them in the Satchel Menu. Use your Potions (and even Revives) to keep a Pokemon in a fight that it would otherwise be losing. This is especially true if you’re entering a Battle Zone at night, or perhaps tackling an Alpha Pokemon. You always want to have enough healing items on hand, just in case a fight stops going your way.

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Check out our other Pokemon Legends Z-A guides and features:

• Is Pokemon Legends Z-A Gen 10?
• Pokemon Legends Z-A new Mega Evolutions: Stats, type, and abilities
• Can you trade Pokemon holding Mega Stones in Pokemon Legends Z-A?