Let me tell you something – when I first completed Pokémon Legends Z-A, I thought I was done. Boy, was I wrong! The real adventure begins after the credits roll, and today I’m going to share everything I’ve learned about catching all three Legendary Pokémon in this amazing game.
I’ve spent countless hours battling, catching, and strategizing my way through the post-game content, and I’m here to give you the ultimate guide that’ll make you a Legendary Pokémon master in no time. Trust me, if I can do it, you definitely can!
What You Need to Know Before Starting?
Before we dive into the specifics, let me break down what you’re getting into. Pokémon Legends Z-A features three incredible Legendary Pokémon that you can only catch after completing the main story:
- Xerneas – The Life Pokémon (Fairy-type)
- Yveltal – The Destruction Pokémon (Dark/Flying-type)
- Zygarde – The Order Pokémon (Dragon/Ground-type)
Here’s a quick overview table to get you started:
| Legendary Pokémon | Type | Level | Location | Quest Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xerneas | Fairy | 75 | Wild Zone 11 | The One That Gives |
| Yveltal | Dark/Flying | 75 | Rouge Sector 2 | The One That Takes |
| Zygarde | Dragon/Ground | 84 | Wild Zone 20 | To Keep the World in Balance |
Table: Quick reference for all Legendary Pokémon in Legends Z-A
Getting Started: Post-Game Requirements
Look, I’m not gonna lie to you – catching these Legendaries isn’t a walk in the park. You need to complete a few things first before you can even start hunting them:
- Complete the Main Story – This one’s obvious, but you gotta finish the campaign first
- Play One Infinite Z-A Royale Match – Head to the Battle Zone and complete at least one Reward Match
- Return to Hotel Z – After your match, you’ll get a message to return to the hotel
When I got back to Hotel Z, I was approached by L (Lysandre), who told me about two Legendary Pokémon making their way to Lumiose City. He mentioned something about “the one who gives” and “the one who takes” – cryptic, right? But don’t worry, I’ll break it all down for you.
How to Catch Xerneas: The One That Gives Quest?
Alright, let’s start with Xerneas, the beautiful Life Pokémon. When I first saw this majestic creature, I was absolutely blown away by its design and power.
Step 1: Talk to Mable
Head over to the Pokémon Research Center and chat with Mable. She’ll tell you about some strange Alpha Pokémon appearances in Wild Zones 3, 5, and 9. These aren’t your average Alphas – they’re level 70, which is a significant jump from what you faced in the main story.
Step 2: Defeat the Three Alpha Pokémon
You’ll need to take down these three powerful Alpha Pokémon:
- Alpha Steelix (Level 70) – Wild Zone 3
- Alpha Gallade (Level 70) – Wild Zone 5
- Alpha Pangoro (Level 70) – Wild Zone 9
Pro tip: If your team isn’t around level 70-75 yet, you might want to do some grinding first. I learned this the hard way when my first attempt ended in disaster! These Alphas mean business, and they come with unique moves you won’t see on regular Pokémon.
Step 3: Find Xerneas in Wild Zone 11
After defeating all three Alphas, return to Mable. She’ll inform you that Xerneas has been spotted in Wild Zone 11. Head to the glowing marker on the other side of the river, and you’ll encounter a level 75 Xerneas.
Xerneas Battle Strategy
Xerneas is a Fairy-type, so you’ll want to bring Poison and Steel types for the best advantage. Here’s what I learned from my battle:
Xerneas Stats & Moves:
- HP: 126
- Attack: 131
- Special Attack: 131
- Defense: 95
- Special Defense: 98
- Speed: 99
- Moves: Megahorn, Moonblast, Horn Leech, Geomancy
The battle can be tricky because Xerneas will buff itself with Geomancy right at the start. It also has Horn Leech for life steal and Megahorn for massive damage. I found that using a Steel-type with high defense worked wonders here.
Important: You MUST catch Xerneas when you defeat it. If you fail to catch it, you’ll have to restart the entire encounter from the beginning. I recommend stocking up on Ultra Balls before attempting this fight.
How to Catch Yveltal The One That Takes Quest?
Now let’s move on to Yveltal, the intimidating Destruction Pokémon. When I first saw this thing perched on the rooftop, I’ll admit I was a little intimidated – and rightfully so!
Step 1: Meet Grisham and Griselle
Head over to Café Nouveau and find Grisham and Griselle. These former Team Flare members will fill you in on Yveltal and direct you to Quasartico Inc.
Step 2: The Mega Evolution Challenge
At Quasartico Inc., you’ll meet Vinnie, who has a machine that lets you battle simulations of three powerful Mega Evolved Pokémon:
- Mega Victreebel (Level 70) – Weak against Fire
- Mega Hawlucha (Level 70) – Weak against Psychic and Fairy
- Mega Tyranitar (Level 70) – Weak against Water and Grass
Warning: Unlike the Rogue Mega Evolution battles in the main story, you’ll be fighting these solo – no allies to help you out! If your character takes too many hits and blacks out, you’ll restart the entire battle.
I found Mega Tyranitar to be the toughest of the three. Its spiky tremors can be brutal, so make sure to dismiss your Pokémon and keep moving sideways to avoid the stalagmites.
Step 3: Find Yveltal on the Rooftop
After defeating all three Mega Evolutions, you’ll be alerted that Yveltal has been spotted in Lumiose City. Head to the rooftop of Galerie de la Lune in the Rouge District (northern part of the city) to find this majestic Dark/Flying-type perched and ready for battle.
Yveltal Battle Strategy
Yveltal is a Dark/Flying-type, making it weak against Electric, Ice, and especially Fairy types. Here’s the breakdown:
Yveltal Stats & Moves:
- HP: 126
- Attack: 131
- Special Attack: 131
- Defense: 95
- Special Defense: 98
- Speed: 99
- Moves: Hurricane, Dark Pulse, Psychic, Oblivion Wing
I highly recommend bringing a strong Fairy-type like Clefable for this fight. Moves like Moonblast and Dazzling Gleam combined with healing from Moonlight made this battle much more manageable for me.
Just like with Xerneas, you MUST catch Yveltal when you defeat it, or you’ll have to restart the entire quest. Don’t make the same mistake I did on my first attempt!
How to Catch Zygarde The Ultimate Challenge?
Alright, here’s where things get really intense. Zygarde is by far the most challenging Legendary to catch in Pokémon Legends Z-A, but trust me, it’s worth every bit of effort.
Step 1: Defeat L (Lysandre)
After catching both Xerneas and Yveltal, return to Hotel Z. Lysandre (also known as L) will challenge you to what might be the toughest trainer battle in the entire game.
Lysandre’s Team:
- Pyroar (Level 78) – Normal/Fire
- Florges (Level 78) – Fairy
- Sableye (Level 78) – Dark/Ghost
- Garbodor (Level 78) – Poison
- Noivern (Level 78) – Flying/Dragon
- Mega Gyarados (Level 80) – Water/Dark
Pro tip: Make sure your team is around level 80 for this fight. Lysandre doesn’t mess around, and his Mega Gyarados hits like a truck. I had to retry this battle several times before I finally prevailed.
Step 2: Head to Wild Zone 20
After defeating Lysandre, head to Wild Zone 20 (right in the center of Lumiose City). You’ll find Zygarde waiting for you, and this is where the real challenge begins.
Zygarde Battle: The Three-Phase Gauntlet
Zygarde’s battle is unlike anything else in the game. It’s a three-phase Rogue Mega Evolution-style gauntlet where you’ll face all of Zygarde’s forms:
Phase 1: 10% Form (Dog Form)
- Level: 84
- Type: Dragon/Ground
- Weaknesses: Ice (4x), Dragon, Fairy
- Key Moves: Thousand Arrows
This form is quick and agile, mostly running around the arena while casting Thousand Arrows. It’s the easiest phase, but don’t get complacent!
Phase 2: 50% Form (Serpent Form)
- Power Level: 50%
- Key Moves: Rock Slide, Crunch, Dragon Pulse, Land’s Wrath
Things get serious here. Zygarde becomes more aggressive and gains access to powerful moves. When it charges up Land’s Wrath, be ready to run away from the center of the arena.
Phase 3: 100% Complete Form (Robot Form)
- Power Level: 100%
- Key Moves: Thousand Arrows, Thousand Waves, Core Enforcer, Land’s Wrath
This is the final and most challenging phase. Zygarde’s attacks can hit multiple times, and if you’re not careful, you’ll black out and have to restart the entire battle.
Zygarde Complete Form Stats:
- HP: 216
- Attack: 100
- Special Attack: 91
- Defense: 121
- Special Defense: 95
- Speed: 85
Zygarde Battle Strategy
Here’s what worked for me when I finally took down Zygarde:
Best Pokémon to Use:
- Charizard (Mega X) – Fire/Dragon typing works well
- Yveltal – Dark/Flying gives you an advantage
- Clefable – Fairy-type is super effective
- Meganium – If you chose Chikorita as your starter, this is its time to shine!
Key Battle Mechanics:
- Zygarde “locks” your active Pokémon – you can’t switch unless it faints
- Flying-types are immune to Ground moves like Thousand Arrows and Thousand Waves
- When Zygarde glows, dismiss your Pokémon to avoid ultimate attacks
- Core Enforcer – Run from the center when it flies to the arena edge
- Land’s Wrath – Dodge the multiple explosions in quick succession
Post-Catch: Zygarde Mega Evolution
After you finally catch Zygarde (congratulations, by the way!), you’ll get some awesome rewards:
- Zygardite Keystone – Allows Zygarde to Mega Evolve
- Zygarde Cube – Lets you switch between 10% and 50% forms during battle
Mega Evolution Mechanics:
- Zygarde can only Mega Evolve in its Complete Form (when HP drops below 50%)
- Mega Zygarde gets boosted stats
- Core Enforcer changes to Nihil Light in Mega form
Complete Level Recommendations
Based on my experience, here are the level recommendations I’d suggest for each major battle:
| Battle | Recommended Level | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Steelix/Gallade/Pangoro | 70+ | Medium |
| Mega Victreebel/Hawlucha/Tyranitar | 70+ | Hard |
| Xerneas | 72+ | Medium |
| Yveltal | 72+ | Medium |
| Lysandre Battle | 80+ | Very Hard |
| Zygarde (All Forms) | 80+ | Extreme |
Table: Level recommendations for all Legendary-related battles
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to catch all Legendary Pokémon in Legends Z-A?
From my experience, plan on spending about 6-8 hours total if you’re well-prepared. If you need to grind levels, it could take 10-12 hours or more.
Can I catch the Legendary Pokémon in any order?
Technically, you can choose to do either “The One That Gives” (Xerneas) or “The One That Takes” (Yveltal) first, but you MUST catch both before you can access Zygarde.
What happens if I fail to catch a Legendary Pokémon?
Unfortunately, you’ll have to restart the entire quest line for that Pokémon. That’s why I always recommend bringing plenty of Ultra Balls and saving before each encounter.
Are there any other Legendary Pokémon in Legends Z-A?
Currently, only these three are available at launch. However, I’ve heard rumors that two more Legendaries are already in the game files, and more are expected to arrive with the Mega Dimension DLC in early 2026.
What’s the best team composition for catching all Legendaries?
Based on my experience, I recommend having:
- A strong Fairy-type (Clefable, Gardevoir)
- A Steel-type (Metagross, Corviknight)
- An Ice-type (Mamoswine, Weavile)
- A Electric-type (Raichu, Magnezone)
- Your starter Pokémon (preferably fully evolved)
- A versatile Pokémon that can learn various move types
Final Thoughts
Look, catching all three Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon Legends Z-A is no joke – it’s going to test your skills, your patience, and your strategic thinking. But let me tell you, the feeling of finally having Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde on your team is absolutely incredible.
I remember the moment I finally caught Zygarde after what felt like a dozen attempts. The satisfaction was unreal, and having that complete Aura Trio on my team made all the hard work worth it.
Whether you’re a casual player looking to complete your Pokédex or a hardcore trainer wanting the ultimate team, this guide should give you everything you need to succeed. Just remember to level up appropriately, bring the right types, and don’t get discouraged if you fail a few times – I certainly did!
Quick Checklist Before You Start:
- Complete main story
- Stock up on Ultra Balls (at least 50)
- Level your team to 70+ minimum
- Have a good mix of Pokémon types
- Save before each major battle
- Bring healing items and status-curing berries
Good luck, trainer! And hey, once you’ve caught all three Legendaries, come back and let me know about your experience in the comments. I’d love to hear your stories and any additional tips you discovered along the way!
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