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For a reliable early team in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, keep your chosen starter and add catches that fill its coverage gaps: Fletchling and Bunnelby are reported in Wild Zone 1, Mareep is an early Electric option, and a caught Pikachu can be traded for Heracross through Side Mission 2. Treat that as a flexible core, not a universal best six; choose the last slots for the types and roles your party still lacks.
How to build an early team around your starter
Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile are the starter choices. Keep the one you prefer as your team’s anchor, then use early catches to broaden type coverage and avoid relying on a single attacker. The suggestions below are role-based: no cited guide establishes a mandatory or objectively optimal lineup.
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| 1 |
![Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Mega Dimension DLC - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51r8yUj+syL._SL160_.jpg)
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Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Mega Dimension DLC - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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![Pokémon Legends: Z-A Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41IOdpg0EfL._SL160_.jpg)
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Pokémon Legends: Z-A Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Pokémon Legends: Z-A - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition | $65.00 | Buy on Amazon |
If you chose Tepig
Add Water or Electric coverage so the party is not built around Fire attacks alone. Mareep is an early Electric option; Fletchling and the Heracross trade can add other offensive roles. If you have alternatives, avoid making every teammate a physical attacker.
If you chose Totodile
Consider a Grass answer such as Fletchling’s Flying pressure, then add Mareep if you want Electric coverage. Heracross, available through the reported Pikachu trade, diversifies the party with Bug/Fighting offense.
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- Venture into Hyperspace Lumiose in this additional story content that can be accessed after completing the main game
- Work with the mysterious baker, Ansha, to make donuts that awaken the Mythical Pokémon Hoopa’s power and grant you and your Pokémon a variety of useful effects
- Join Team MZ and the Mega Evolution Successor, Korrina, to investigate Hyperspace Lumiose, the otherworldly home to rare and hyper-strong Pokémon
- Discover new Mega Evolutions such as Mega Raichu X, Mega Raichu Y, Mega Chimecho and Mega Baxcalibur
- Claim Holo-X and Holo-Y in-game apparel items, which you can wear as soon as you are able to customize your character’s look and outfit in the main game
If you chose Chikorita
Add Fire or Flying pressure early. Fletchling is a reported Wild Zone 1 option; Mareep and Heracross can broaden the party’s coverage and attack choices.
Early Pokémon to look for
Specific locations and mission details below come from third-party guides, rather than the official game pages. Check the in-game map, mission log, and Pokédex habitat information for current access and progression requirements.
Rank #2
- Your journey will take you to all manner of sights in the streets arrayed around Prism Tower, including shops, restaurants, and places called wild zones—where Pokémon roam free.
- As you catch, train, and battle Pokémon, there will be plenty of people to meet too—like AZ, the enigmatic owner of Hotel Z.
| Pokémon | Reported route | What it adds | Timing and catch considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chikorita, Tepig, or Totodile | Choose one as your starter. | Your early anchor and one part of a Fire/Water/Grass spread. | Starter options are reported by secondary guides. |
| Bunnelby | Catching tutorial / Wild Zone 1, according to secondary guides. | An easily obtained early party member; a guide describes it as useful. | Check the habitat and access on your in-game map. |
| Fletchling | Catching tutorial / Wild Zone 1, according to secondary guides. | An early Flying role and additional offensive coverage. | Check the habitat and access on your in-game map. |
| Mareep | Reported in an early Wild Area; secondary guides also report a side mission that awards a Shiny Mareep. | Electric coverage that can remain useful as your party grows. | The Shiny Mareep is not required for the role or team strength. |
| Pikachu | Wild Zone 3, according to secondary guides. | An Electric option and the reported trade Pokémon for Side Mission 2. | Mission availability depends on quest state; check the mission log. |
| Heracross | Trade a caught Pikachu to Tracie in Side Mission 2, according to secondary guides. | Bug/Fighting coverage and physical offense, as described by GameSpot. | Confirm the trade prompt and mission state in game. |
| Gastly | Wild Zone 4, according to a secondary guide. | A Ghost-type option; one guide recommends it as a longer-term team member. | Check its habitat and access on your in-game map. |
| Eevee | Near Vernal Pokémon Center after clearing rocks with Rock Smash, according to one guide. | An evolution choice that can patch a team gap. | Access depends on progression and Rock Smash. |
| Riolu | Cafe Soleil area near South Boulevard, described by a guide as an Alpha. | Fighting/Steel coverage and a later path to Lucario. | Alpha capture is risky and optional. |
| Dratini | Rooftops near Bleu Sector 9, according to GameSpot. | A longer-term investment toward Dragonite. | The guide describes fleeing spawns and a possible higher-level Alpha; it is not a simple early catch. |
How to choose the last team slots
Once the starter and a few early catches are in place, choose additions by the job they do rather than by chasing a fixed list.
- Coverage: Pick a type or attack role that answers a gap created by your starter and current party.
- Availability: Prefer a Pokémon you can reach and catch now over one behind a mission, ability, or progression gate.
- Immediate impact versus investment: An available Pokémon can help right away; an evolution project such as Dratini may take more time before it reaches its eventual role.
- Catch difficulty: A fleeing or Alpha Pokémon may take more effort and carry more risk than an ordinary early encounter.
- Personal preference: You can replace any suggested pick; keep the role it covered in mind when choosing a substitute.
Catch and train without relying on one carry
The Pokémon Company’s official gameplay guidance describes Wild Zones as explorable by day or night, recommends daytime preparation for the nighttime Z-A Royale, and notes that victories grant experience. Leveling can increase stats and unlock moves or evolution. Use the day to explore, catch, battle wild Pokémon, and stock useful items so several party members can contribute when Royale battles begin.
Rank #3
- [4K ULTRA HD PERFORMANCE] Protect the peace in Lumiose City in this enhanced edition for the Nintendo Switch 2 system, featuring native 4K resolution and a stable 60FPS frame rate. Experience the urban re-development plan with high-fidelity textures and advanced lighting effects centered around the iconic Prism Tower.
- [REAL-TIME BATTLE ENGINE] For the first time in the Pokémon RPG series, command your Pokémon in seamless real-time battles. Engage over 100+ unique species with zero loading transitions, utilizing an upgraded combat AI that leverages the increased processing power of the Switch 2 hardware.
- [MEGA EVOLUTION MECHANICS] Master the power of Mega Evolution to suppress rampaging Rogue Mega-Evolved Pokémon appearing across the Kalos region. This edition introduces 15+ newly discovered Mega-Evolved forms, each rendered with dynamic particle effects and exclusive Z-A signature moves for tactical depth.
- [MULTIPLAYER Z-A ROYALE] Compete in the Z-A Royale each night to test your skills against global Trainers. Supported by Nintendo Switch 2's improved low-latency wireless architecture, these competitive events allow you to climb leaderboards and unlock rare evolution stones in 20-player lobbies.
- [EXPANSIVE WILD ZONES] Explore vibrant Wild Zones where Pokémon roam free in their natural habitats, from bustling city shops to hidden restaurants. This Hong Kong physical edition is region-free and supports English, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese, featuring the enigmatic AZ and the peacekeeping Team MZ.
Approach fleeing Pokémon carefully
Official guidance says Pokémon may flee when they spot you; hiding or approaching from behind can help you get close. If you enter a battle, lowering a Pokémon’s HP also makes a catch attempt easier. These are practical advantages, not guarantees of success.
Treat Alpha Pokémon as an optional risk
The Pokémon Company’s official adventure guidance describes Alpha Pokémon as powerful, likely to pursue the player when noticed, and difficult to catch. A successful capture can make a strong ally, but no early Alpha is necessary for the team framework here. Try one only if you are prepared for the added difficulty; there is no established level threshold or guaranteed early-game grinding route in the cited guidance.
Keep the lineup flexible as you progress
Use the in-game map, mission log, and Pokédex habitat information to verify where a Pokémon is currently available and what access it requires. Guides can omit progression gates or become outdated. As the party grows, keep the Pokémon you enjoy and swap others when you find a better answer to a coverage gap or a role you want filled.
Quick Recap
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