Mable’s Research is a menu-tracked progression system in Pokémon Legends: Z-A: complete research requests to earn points, raise your Research Level, and unlock rewards. You must also claim each available reward from the main menu’s Mable’s Research screen; reaching a level alone does not redeem it.
How Mable’s Research works
Mable, acting director of the Pokémon Research Lab, is investigating Pokémon habits in Lumiose City and why their numbers are growing. The central task is registering Pokémon in the Pokédex by catching or evolving them. You can also register Mega-Evolved Pokémon after obtaining the relevant Mega Stones. Nintendo outlines these research activities and reward types on its Pokémon Legends: Z-A page.
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- Open the main menu and select Mable’s Research.
- Review the available requests and their requirements.
- Complete a request to receive its listed research points. Points build toward the next Research Level.
- When a reward becomes available, open the research screen and redeem it there. Nintendo’s official tips article, dated December 2, 2025, explicitly notes that rewards are not received until claimed from the main menu: Nintendo’s tips and tricks for Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
The X menu’s Link Play option appears after the Rewards feature in Mable’s Research unlocks. Nintendo Support estimates this can take about 1 to 1.5 hours of play; that is an approximate estimate, not a guaranteed unlock time for every player: Nintendo Support: How to Start a Link Play Session.
Requests and requirements
Requests cover Pokédex registration, catching, exploration, evolution, and other activities around Lumiose City. The table summarizes the listed request families and milestones. Check the in-game request list for the requirements currently shown in your version, since reference lists can lag updates. The thresholds and point values below are from Serebii.net’s research request reference.
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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
| Request family | What to do and listed requirements | Points or practical detail |
|---|---|---|
| Pokédex registration | Register Pokémon by catching or evolving them; 48 stages are listed. | Registration also advances ordinary Pokédex completion. |
| Mega Evolution Pokédex | Obtain Mega Stones and register Mega-Evolved Pokémon; 13 stages are listed. | Requires access to the relevant Mega Stones and Pokémon. |
| Wild Pokémon by type | Catch wild Pokémon of each of the 18 types. Each type has milestones of 3, 8, 15, 25, and 50. | Most listed type-catching stages award 300 points. Pokémon received from another player do not count. |
| Wild Zone surveys | Register every Pokémon available in each Wild Zone, for Zones 1–20. | Each zone survey is listed at 1,000 points. |
| Evolution | Evolve Pokémon at milestones of 3, 6, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 50. | Regular evolution stages are listed at 500 points each. |
| Item-based evolution | Evolve Pokémon using items at milestones of 1, 5, and 10. | Use the item required by the Pokémon’s evolution. |
| Link Trade evolution | Trade Pokémon that evolve through trading at milestones of 1, 3, and 5. You must receive the Pokémon that evolves. | Each stage is listed at 2,000 points; progress depends on a trade partner. |
| Fossils and Amber | Restore Pokémon from fossils or Amber. | Listed as a request family; a numeric milestone sequence is not stated in the reference. |
| Cafés and benches | Relax at any café and sit on any bench. | Listed as requests without a numeric milestone sequence in the reference. |
| Trainer battles | Win 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 500, and 1,000 battles. | Later battle milestones award more points than early ones; the 1,000-win endpoint requires sustained repeat play. |
| Mega Crystals | Smash 20, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 500, and 1,000 Mega Crystals. | Listed across 10 stages. |
| Anomalous Alpha Pokémon | Defeat or catch anomalous Alphas associated with Wild Zones 3, 5, and 9. | Follow the relevant request’s instructions for the specific Alpha. |
Research Level rewards
The level-by-level rewards below are listed in published reward references; the official overview confirms reward categories but does not provide a complete level table. Verify the current reward screen in your game if an update may have changed a listing. Levels 36 and 48 have conflicting quantity listings for their items, so the quantities are intentionally not specified here. References: Pokémon Database and Thonky.
| Research Level | Reward |
|---|---|
| 2 | TM004 Rock Smash |
| 3 | TM046 Mud Shot |
| 4 | TM017 Protect |
| 5 | TM021 Thunder Fang |
| 6 | TM014 Fire Fang |
| 7 | TM015 Ice Fang |
| 8 | TM070 Whirlpool |
| 9 | TM061 Shadow Claw |
| 10 | 10 Exp. Candy S |
| 11 | TM016 Light Screen |
| 12 | TM042 Giga Drain |
| 13 | TM024 Ice Punch |
| 14 | TM003 Psyshock |
| 15 | TM023 Thunder Punch |
| 16 | TM032 Double Team |
| 17 | TM029 Fire Punch |
| 18 | TM078 Bulldoze |
| 19 | TM082 U-turn |
| 20 | TM059 Zen Headbutt |
| 21 | TM030 Swords Dance |
| 22 | TM084 Flash Cannon |
| 23 | TM012 Rock Slide |
| 24 | TM067 Thunderbolt |
| 25 | 10 Exp. Candy M |
| 26 | TM006 Calm Mind |
| 27 | TM077 Poison Jab |
| 28 | TM068 Heat Wave |
| 29 | TM073 Surf |
| 30 | TM087 Iron Tail |
| 31 | TM097 Heal Block |
| 32 | TM053 Sludge Bomb |
| 33 | TM106 Thunder |
| 34 | TM069 Earthquake |
| 35 | TM055 Giga Impact |
| 36 | Bottle Caps; published references disagree on quantity. |
| 37 | TM107 Close Combat |
| 38 | TM083 Nasty Plot |
| 39 | TM064 Solar Beam |
| 40 | TM096 Hydro Pump |
| 41 | TM038 Fire Blast |
| 42 | TM105 Blizzard |
| 43 | 10 Exp. Candy L |
| 44 | TM102 Focus Blast |
| 45 | TM050 Overheat |
| 46 | TM093 Outrage |
| 47 | 10 Exp. Candy XL |
| 48 | Gold Bottle Cap; published references disagree on quantity. |
| 49 | Master Ball |
| 50 | Shiny Charm |
Practical ways to build points
- Let exploration do double duty. Catch new species and register the Pokémon found in each Wild Zone while progressing through the city. A completed zone survey is listed at 1,000 points, and catches can contribute to type-specific milestones.
- Use evolution as a registration route. Evolving Pokémon counts toward Pokédex registration, while also progressing the evolution requests. Item and trade evolutions have their own request families.
- Consider Link Trade for its higher listed stage value. Link Trade evolution milestones are listed at 2,000 points each, but require a trade partner and that you receive the Pokémon that evolves.
- Treat the last battle milestones as a long-term goal. Battle requests extend to 500 and 1,000 wins. They are not necessary to focus on immediately if you are still registering species or surveying zones.
“A Call from Mable” side mission trigger
The side mission listing says “A Call from Mable” becomes available after the Promotion Match for Main Mission 8. Its trigger asks you to register 30 Pokémon and visit a Pokémon Center; after Mable calls, visit the Pokémon Research Lab. This is a trigger for that side mission, not a universal prerequisite for completing Mable’s Research requests: Serebii.net’s side quest reference.
Quick Recap
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.
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.
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