Learn how to survive in the vast urban world of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, how to choose your first Pokémon, and the game’s core systems in this detailed step-by-step guide.
1- New Beginning: Return to Lumiose City
When players enter Pokémon Legends: Z-A, they first encounter Lumiose City, the heart of the Kalos region. This city has shed its bright, touristy facade from previous games and has now been completely rebuilt into a modern metropolis. The game abandons the traditional route system and instead offers a city-centric, free-to-explore structure.
Lumiose is no longer just a city—it’s a massive playground. Every street, every district holds its own little story. Amidst this chaos, the player must both find their place and establish a new balance with the Pokémon.
2- First Step: The Beginning of the Story
When the game opens, our hero awakens in the chaotic atmosphere of the “reborn Lumiose City.” You’re still bagless, Pokémon-less, and completely defenseless. These first minutes bring the sense of exploration from Pokémon Legends: Arceus to a modern city version: you must observe your surroundings, find safe routes, and carefully follow quests.
After a short introductory sequence, the first mission appears: “Get Your Travel Bag Back.” This mission is designed as a tutorial for the game, introducing you to stealth, environmental interaction, and basic exploration systems.
3- Mission 1: Get Your Travel Bag Back
Quest Summary
The player navigates the backstreets of the city to find their lost travel bag. This section introduces them to environmental hazards for the first time, evades security drones, and learns the mechanics of hiding.
Tips
- Proceed silently: Enemy sightlines are highlighted by colored lights. If spotted, make a short escape run to leave the area.
- Search for items: Trash cans, crates, and street crates located along the edges of the map often contain healing items.
- Map Functionality: Once you find your bag, the game map and menu access become available. You can now easily access quests and Pokémon status.
Rewards
Upon completion of the quest, you’ll receive your essential items back:
- Initial Poké Ball stock
- Simple healing items
- Quest tracking device (functions as the game’s minimap)
4- Choose Your Starter Pokémon
Shortly after finding your bag, your most important decision comes: your first partner Pokémon. Pokémon Legends: Z-A offers three classic options at this point:
- Chikorita (Grass) – Durable and support-oriented.
- Tepig (Fire) – Strong in melee, aggressive.
- Totodile (Water) – Balanced and the safest choice to start with.
The difference between these three isn’t just their combat style; it also determines the challenges you’ll face in the early story. For example, the Pokémon types in the early wild areas can provide an easy or difficult opening, depending on your choice.
5- Mission 2: Escape from the Battle Zone
Mission Summary
After retrieving your bag, you must escape the Battle Zone, the city’s first quarantined area. This area introduces both the game’s combat system and its environmental hazards.
Mechanical Introductions
Real-Time Combat:
Instead of traditional turn-based Pokémon battles, you now use a location-based action system. As Pokémon move freely within the area, timing your attack and evasion commands becomes crucial.
Environmental Interaction:
Objects like electric barriers, patrol drones, and explosive barrels can alter the course of the battle. These details make survival easier, especially in the early stages when you’re alone.
Capture System:
After weakening the Pokémon, you must manually throw the ball. The closer you are to the target, the higher your capture rate.
Recommendations
- The mini-boss in the mission is usually a wild Pokémon around level 8–9.
- Totodile has the advantage here, as it can quickly incapacitate the opponent with its physical attacks.
- If you choose Chikorita or Tepig, don’t forget to use the environment to create a spatial advantage.
At the end of the mission, you’ll reach the safe zone called Hotel Z. This is both a rest stop and your first social hub. You can now store your items, accept new quests, and progress to the next stage of the story.
6- The City’s Gates Are Opening
After leaving the Battle Zone, Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces you to the true face of Lumiose City. Free roaming begins, with markets, side-quest-granting characters, and training areas becoming available. From this point on, the game adapts entirely to the player’s pace:
You can either focus on the story or strengthen yourself with smaller quests around the city.
7- Brief Summary and Tips
| Topic | Recommendation |
| First Pokémon Selection: | Totodile is recommended for a balanced start. |
| Item Management: | Accumulate healing items early on. |
| Battle: | In the real-time system, distance control is everything. |
| Hotel Z: | Serves as the main base; it’s a registration and resting point. |
| Exploration: | Activating fast travel points saves time in the long run. |
8- Conclusion: The Importance of the First Hours
Pokémon Legends: Z-A offers players not only a new story but also a completely different gameplay approach. Successfully completing the first few missions lays a solid foundation for the challenges of later chapters.
The first hours spent in the labyrinthine streets of Lumiose City set the tone for the game: strategy, exploration, and careful progression. Remember, every street has a story—and survival in this city depends not only on powerful Pokémon but also on smart choices.
