Hey there, fellow Pokemon trainer! If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably found yourself frustrated waiting for the right time of day to catch that specific Pokemon or participate in the Z-A Royale. I’ve been there too – staring at the screen, watching the minutes tick by, wondering if there’s a better way. Well, I’m here to tell you there absolutely is!
When I first started playing Pokemon Legends Z-A, I had no idea how much the time of day would affect my gameplay. I’d wander around Lumiose City, completely oblivious to the fact that I was missing out on tons of opportunities just because I didn’t understand the time mechanics. But after hours of experimentation and research, I’ve mastered the art of time manipulation in this game, and I’m excited to share everything I’ve learned with you.
Why Time Matters in Pokemon Legends Z-A?
Before we dive into the how-to, let me explain why understanding the time system is so crucial. When I first began my journey, I didn’t realize that:
- Certain Pokemon only appear during specific times of day
- The Z-A Royale battles only happen at night
- Some evolutions require particular time conditions
- Different areas might have different Pokemon availability based on time
I remember this one time I was desperately trying to find a Noibat for my team. I searched everywhere in Lumiose City during the day and couldn’t find a single one. Frustrated, I almost gave up until a friend told me they only appear at night in the city. Sure enough, as soon as I changed the time, there they were! This experience taught me just how important understanding the time mechanics really is.
Understanding the Day/Night Cycle
Let me break down exactly how the day and night cycle works in Pokemon Legends Z-A. I’ve spent quite a bit of time timing this out (yes, I actually sat with a stopwatch – don’t judge me!), and here’s what I discovered:
Daytime Hours
- In-game time: 04:00 to 20:00 (16 hours total)
- Real-world duration: Approximately 16 minutes when you’re just standing around
- Visual indicator: Blue circle around your minimap that gradually depletes
Nighttime Hours
- In-game time: 20:00 to 04:00 (8 hours total)
- Real-world duration: Approximately 8 minutes when idle
- Visual indicator: Red circle around your minimap
Here’s something interesting I noticed during my testing: the timing isn’t always exact! When I was actively playing – battling in the Z-A Royale, visiting Pokemon Centers, or engaging in cutscenes – the night cycle actually lasted closer to 18 minutes. This tells me that time seems to pause during certain interactions, which is actually pretty helpful when you’re in the middle of something important.
How to Change Time: The Bench Method?
Alright, here’s the meat and potatoes of what you came here for. Changing time in Pokemon Legends Z-A is actually pretty straightforward once you know how to do it. The key? Benches. Yes, those simple wooden benches scattered throughout Lumiose City are your ticket to time manipulation!
Step-by-Step Guide to Using Benches
- Find a Bench: You can find benches scattered all over Lumiose City, but the most reliable spots are right outside Pokemon Centers. I’ve made it a habit to note where every bench is located during my travels – it’s saved me so much time!
- Interact with the Bench: Walk up to any bench and press the A button. You’ll see a menu pop up with two options:
- “Kill some time here”
- “Hang out with your Pokemon”
- Choose to Kill Time: Select “Kill some time here” and the game will ask if you want to wait until morning or nightfall, depending on what time it currently is.
- Confirm Your Choice: Just confirm your selection, and voila! The time will skip ahead to the next cycle.
When Can You Start Using Benches?
Now, here’s something important I learned the hard way: you can’t just start using benches to change time right from the beginning of the game. I remember trying to use a bench during my first few hours of gameplay and being confused when nothing happened.
You need to progress through the story first. Now, I’ve seen some conflicting information about exactly when this unlocks, so let me share what I’ve found:
- Some sources say you need to complete Main Mission 5: “The City in the Shadow of Prism Tower”
- Others claim it’s Main Mission 8: “Reaching Rank V” that unlocks the feature
From my personal experience, I’d say aim for Main Mission 8 to be safe. By that point in the game, you’ll have received a tutorial about skipping time, and the bench option will definitely be available to you.
Pro Tips for Time Management
After spending countless hours playing Pokemon Legends Z-A, I’ve picked up some tricks that have really improved my gameplay. Let me share these pro tips with you:
1. Plan Your Route Around Benches
I always plan my exploration routes with bench locations in mind. When I’m hunting for specific Pokemon that only appear at certain times, I make sure to know where the nearest bench is so I can quickly change time if needed.
2. Use the Minimap Indicator
That blue or red circle around your minimap? It’s not just there for decoration! I constantly glance at it to see how much time I have left in the current cycle. It’s helped me avoid missing so many time-sensitive events.
3. Combine Time Changes with Other Activities
When I change time using a bench, I try to combine it with other activities. For example:
- Healing my Pokemon at the nearby Pokemon Center
- Organizing my inventory
- Checking my Pokedex progress
This way, I’m making the most of every moment in the game.
4. Remember That Spawns Refresh
Here’s a game-changer I discovered: when you change the time, all the Pokemon spawns in your immediate area refresh! This is incredibly useful for shiny hunting or trying to find specific Pokemon with good stats. I’ve used this technique countless times when hunting for that perfect Pokemon.
Pokemon That Only Appear at Certain Times
One of the most important reasons to master time manipulation is for catching specific Pokemon. Through my adventures, I’ve discovered that certain Pokemon are incredibly picky about when they’ll show up. Let me share what I’ve found:
Day-Only Pokemon
These Pokemon prefer the daylight hours and will only appear during the day (04:00-20:00):
- Beedrill
- Weepinbell
- Meditite
- Medicham
- Altaria
- Hippopotas
- Whirlipede
- Scolipede
- Spewpa
- Helioptile
- Pumpkaboo (Medium and Small varieties)
- Drampa
I remember spending hours trying to find a Drampa, only to realize I was searching during the wrong time of day! As soon as I switched to daytime, there it was, plain as day.
Night-Only Pokemon
These nocturnal Pokemon only appear during nighttime (20:00-04:00):
- Clefairy
- Starmie
- Scyther
- Cleffa
- Shuppet
- Lampent
- Barbaracle
- Phantump
- Trevenant
- Pumpkaboo (Large and Jumbo varieties)
Scyther was one of my most challenging finds. I searched everywhere during the day with no luck. The moment I changed to night time, I found not one, but multiple Scyther in the same area!
Location-Specific Time Exceptions
Here’s something fascinating I discovered: some Pokemon have different time requirements depending on where you are! For example:
- Noibat and Noivern only appear at night in Lumiose City
- But if you go to the Lumiose Sewers, they appear regardless of the time!
This discovery completely changed how I approach Pokemon hunting. Now I always consider both the time AND location when looking for specific Pokemon.
Using Time Changes for Battle and Progression
Beyond just catching Pokemon, understanding how to manipulate time is crucial for battle progression in Pokemon Legends Z-A. Let me share how I use time changes to advance in the game:
Z-A Royale Battles
The Z-A Royale battles are a major part of the endgame content, and they only occur at night. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to quickly change from day to night just to participate in these battles. Here’s my strategy:
- Complete all daytime activities first (exploring, catching day-only Pokemon, etc.)
- Find a bench near a Pokemon Center
- Change to night time
- Participate in Z-A Royale battles
- Use the earnings to buy items and prepare for the next day
Farming Money
Speaking of Z-A Royale battles, they’re an excellent way to farm money! Since you can participate every night, I make it a point to:
- Change to night time using a bench
- Battle in the Z-A Royale
- Collect my winnings
- Change back to day time if needed
- Repeat the process
This method has helped me build up quite a fortune in the game, which I’ve used to purchase rare items and Pokemon.
Rank-Up Battles
Similar to the Z-A Royale, certain Rank-Up battles and challenges are only available at specific times. I always check the time and use benches strategically to ensure I never miss an opportunity to advance my rank.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When I first started playing, I made plenty of mistakes with the time system. Let me share some common pitfalls so you can avoid them:
1. Not Progressing Far Enough in the Story
I mentioned this earlier, but it’s worth repeating: don’t try to use benches to change time before you’ve progressed far enough in the story. You’ll just get frustrated when nothing happens!
2. Forgetting About Location-Specific Spawns
Don’t assume that a Pokemon’s time requirements are the same everywhere. Always check if there are location-specific exceptions, like with the Noibat example I shared earlier.
3. Ignoring the Minimap
That minimap indicator is there for a reason! I used to ignore it completely and would often get caught off-guard when the time changed. Now I keep a constant eye on it.
4. Not Planning Ahead
I used to change time randomly without thinking about what I wanted to accomplish. Now I always plan my time changes around specific goals – whether it’s catching a certain Pokemon, participating in battles, or completing story missions.
Advanced Time Manipulation Strategies
For those of you who want to take your time manipulation skills to the next level, here are some advanced strategies I’ve developed:
The Bench Reset Method for Shiny Hunting
If you’re into shiny hunting (like I am!), you can use the bench reset method to increase your chances:
- Find an area where your target Pokemon spawns
- Change time using a nearby bench
- Check if a shiny has spawned
- If not, repeat the process
This method takes advantage of the fact that spawns refresh when you change time, giving you more chances to find that elusive shiny Pokemon.
Optimal Training Schedules
I’ve found that certain training activities are better suited for specific times:
- Daytime: Perfect for exploring new areas, catching day-only Pokemon, and preparing for night battles
- Nighttime: Ideal for Z-A Royale battles, catching night-only Pokemon, and earning money
By organizing my training schedule around these optimal times, I’ve been able to progress much more efficiently through the game.
Evolution Timing
Some Pokemon evolutions require specific time conditions. I always keep a list of these requirements and plan my time changes accordingly. For example, if I have a Pokemon that evolves only at night, I make sure to change to night time before it reaches the required level.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for day to turn to night in Pokemon Legends Z-A?
From my experience, daytime lasts about 16 minutes and nighttime lasts about 8 minutes when you’re just standing around. However, this can vary depending on your activities – time seems to pause during battles, cutscenes, and certain interactions.
Can I change time whenever I want?
No, you need to progress through the story first. Most players unlock the ability to change time around Main Mission 8, though some report unlocking it as early as Main Mission 5.
Do all benches work for changing time?
Yes, any bench in Lumiose City can be used to change time once you’ve unlocked the feature. I find the ones outside Pokemon Centers to be the most convenient.
Will changing time affect my story progress?
No, changing time using benches doesn’t affect your story progress. It only changes the time of day for gameplay purposes like Pokemon spawns and battle availability.
Can I go backwards in time?
Unfortunately, no. You can only skip forward to the next time cycle (day to night or night to day). You can’t go back to a previous time.
Do I lose anything when I change time?
No, you don’t lose any items, Pokemon, or progress when changing time. The only thing that changes is the time of day and the Pokemon spawns in your area.
Is there a limit to how many times I can change time?
No, there’s no limit! I change time multiple times during a single play session, especially when I’m hunting for specific Pokemon or participating in multiple Z-A Royale battles.
What happens to my Pokemon when I change time?
Your Pokemon are completely unaffected by time changes. Their health, status, and everything else remains exactly the same.
Can I change time during battles or in buildings?
No, you can only use benches to change time when you’re exploring Lumiose City. You can’t change time during battles, inside buildings, or in menus.
Does changing time affect NPC schedules?
Yes, some NPCs have different schedules depending on the time of day. Changing time can affect which NPCs are available and what they’re doing.
Final Thoughts
Mastering the time system in Pokemon Legends Z-A has completely transformed my gaming experience. What started as frustration and confusion has become one of my favorite aspects of the game. I love how the time mechanics add depth and strategy to Pokemon hunting and battle progression.
Remember, the key is to plan ahead and use the bench system strategically. Whether you’re hunting for that rare Pokemon, trying to advance in the Z-A Royale, or just want to experience the beautiful Lumiose City in different lighting, understanding how to manipulate time will make your journey much more enjoyable.
I hope this guide has been helpful to you! If you have any questions or want to share your own time manipulation strategies, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy hunting, trainers!
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