Don’t waste time training these terrible Pokémon in Legends Z-A. Learn which species have poor stats, bad movesets, and zero competitive viability in the new real-time combat system.
Why Some Pokémon Just Don’t Work in Legends Z-A’s New Combat System
Here’s an uncomfortable truth about Pokémon Legends Z-A: not all Pokémon are created equal. And with the controversial shift from turn-based to real-time combat, some species that were already struggling have become completely unviable.
I know, I know—the wholesome answer is “use your favorites!” and “every Pokémon can be good with enough love!” But let’s be real: if you’re trying to climb the A-Z Royale rankings, tackle Rogue Mega battles, or compete online, some Pokémon will actively hold you back. They have poor stats, terrible movepools, or mechanics that simply don’t translate well to the new active-time battle system.
This guide isn’t about being mean to certain Pokémon (though some of them objectively look like garbage—literally, in one case). It’s about helping you make informed decisions so you don’t waste hours grinding a Pokémon that will never perform well, only to get demolished in competitive and realize you should’ve caught something else.
Consider this your intervention. Let’s talk about the Pokémon you should avoid, why they’re bad, and what you should catch instead.
Vivillon (Scatterbug, Spewpa) – Pretty But Useless
Evolution Line: Scatterbug → Spewpa → Vivillon
Type: Bug/Flying
Why It’s Terrible
Vivillon is the poster child for “looks pretty, performs terribly.” Sure, it’s visually appealing fluttering around the flower-covered terraces of Lumiose City, and collectors obsess over its various wing patterns. But in battle? Absolutely worthless.
The problems:
- Abysmal stats – Among the weakest Bug-types in the entire game
- Poor movepool – Limited offensive options that don’t hit hard anyway
- Extremely fragile – Dies to literally everything
- Zero competitive value – Not even niche utility builds work
The Cruel Irony
There’s an entire Secondary Mission called “Spewpa in the Museum” dedicated to this Pokémon family. The game practically forces you to interact with it, which makes its uselessness even more frustrating.
Meanwhile, Bug-types like Beedrill and Scizor dominate thanks to their Mega Evolutions. Beedrill especially thrives in the new battle system with its ability to chain powerful attacks during cooldown windows. Having Vivillon on your team when Beedrill exists is just… why?
Verdict: Pokédex Entry Only
Catch one for completion if you must, but immediately box it. If you need a Bug-type, literally anything else is better. Check our best early Pokémon guide for actually viable Bug-type options.
Pidgey (Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Mega Pidgeot) – Not Worth It Even With Mega Evolution
Evolution Line: Pidgey → Pidgeotto → Pidgeot → Mega Pidgeot
Type: Normal/Flying
Why It Disappoints
This one hurts because Pidgey is iconic—it’s the Route 1 bird of Generation 1. But nostalgia doesn’t win battles, and Pidgeot has been outclassed by virtually every other Flying-type in the game.
The fundamental problem:
Pidgeot learns excellent Special Attack moves like Air Slash and Hurricane, but its best moves are Physical (Brave Bird, Aerial Ace via TM). The issue? Pidgeot’s Physical Attack stat is mediocre. It’s stuck in an identity crisis, unable to excel at either offensive role.
But What About Mega Pidgeot?
Here’s where it gets even more disappointing. Mega Pidgeot boasts 579 Base Stat Total, which sounds impressive until you realize:
- Outclassed by superior Flying Megas – Mega Skarmory, Mega Dragonite, and Mega Aerodactyl all perform better
- Temporary power – When it reverts to base Pidgeot, you’re stuck with a mediocre Pokémon again
- Cooldown problems – Its best moves have significant cooldowns, and the new battle system punishes this hard
- Even U-Turn doesn’t save it – Teaching it pivot moves doesn’t fix its fundamental stat issues
The Real-Time Combat Penalty
The shift to active combat greatly benefits physical attackers who can spam fast moves. Pidgeot should theoretically excel here as a speedy Pokémon, but its movepool doesn’t support its stats, and its stats don’t support its movepool. It’s a mess.
Better Alternatives
Want a Flying-type? Catch Fletchling in Wild Zone 1 and evolve it into Talonflame. Want a Normal/Flying type specifically? Staraptor exists and is infinitely better.
Spritzee (Aromatisse) – Support Build That Doesn’t Support Anything
Evolution Line: Spritzee → Aromatisse (requires Sachet + Trade)
Type: Fairy
Why It’s Nearly Useless
As a pure Fairy-type, Spritzee sounds appealing on paper. Fairy is an excellent defensive type with useful resistances. But one look at Spritzee’s base stats reveals the truth: this Pokémon is hot garbage.
The problems stack up:
- Terrible stats – Even worse than it looks
- No good offensive moves – Can’t deal meaningful damage
- Extremely fragile – Dies instantly to any physical attack
- Evolution requires trading – Extra hassle for a Pokémon that’s still bad after evolving
The Evolution Problem
Getting Aromatisse requires:
- Obtaining a Sachet (fairly easy via Secondary Mission)
- Finding someone to trade with
- Trading Spritzee while holding the Sachet
- Getting it back
All that effort for a Pokémon that remains subpar even after evolution. The stat increase from evolution is minimal and doesn’t solve any of Spritzee’s fundamental problems.
What About Support Builds?
In previous games, Aromatisse had niche utility as a Trick Room setter thanks to its low Speed. But here’s the kicker: Trick Room doesn’t work the same way in real-time combat. The entire support strategy Aromatisse was designed for has been invalidated.
Even worse: Duo Battles don’t exist in Legends Z-A. All of Aromatisse’s support utility was built around helping a partner Pokémon. Without that partner, it’s just a squishy Fairy-type that can’t fight effectively.
Rogue Mega Battles? Forget It
Try using Aromatisse against any Rogue Mega and watch it get one-shot immediately. It can’t tank anything, can’t deal damage, and provides no meaningful support. It’s a liability.
Better Fairy-Types
Need a Fairy-type? Cleffa evolves into Clefable, which is tankier and more versatile. Or catch Flabébé if you want something cuter that still performs better.
Litleo (Pyroar, Mega Pyroar) – Disappointing Design, Disappointing Stats
Evolution Line: Litleo → Pyroar → Mega Pyroar
Type: Normal/Fire
The Hype vs. Reality
Fans were excited when Mega Pyroar was announced. A Fire-type Mega Evolution for an underappreciated Pokémon? Sign me up! Then the stats dropped, and… oof.
The stat distribution disaster:
Mega Pyroar receives a measly +20 to all stats except HP. That’s it. No specialized stat boost, no defined role—just a bland, even increase that leaves it mediocre at everything.
The Hybrid Attacker Problem
Mega Pyroar tries to be a hybrid attacker (both Physical and Special), which sounds flexible until you realize it’s actually just bad at both.
The moveset dilemma:
- Work Up increases both Attack and Special Attack (mandatory for this build)
- Physical moves: Crunch, Fire Fang
- Special moves: Overheat, Flamethrower
- The problem: Using Overheat lowers your Special Attack, sabotaging your best stat
You’re constantly fighting against your own moveset. Use physical moves, and you’re not utilizing its superior Special Attack. Use special moves, and you’re shooting yourself in the foot with stat drops.
Outclassed by Everything
Why would you ever use Mega Pyroar when these Fire-types exist:
- Mega Charizard X/Y – Significantly stronger with better stats
- Mega Houndoom – Higher Special Attack, better movepool
- Mega Camerupt – Bulkier with more consistent damage output
Even regular Litleo is “somewhat decent” as an early Fire-type option, but the moment you reach endgame or competitive, it becomes deadweight.
The Design Issue
Look, I’m not here to trash-talk Pokémon designs, but Mega Pyroar’s visual design is as uninspired as its stats. It’s literally just… bigger Pyroar with slightly fluffier mane. The lackluster design matches the lackluster performance.
Better Fire-Types
Literally any other Fire Mega. Even non-Mega Fire-types like Chandelure outperform Pyroar. If you caught Fletchling early, its Fire/Flying typing gives you better coverage anyway.
Trubbish (Garbodor) – Belongs in the Trash
Evolution Line: Trubbish → Garbodor
Type: Poison
Why It’s Objectively Terrible
I’m just going to be blunt: Trubbish has zero redeeming qualities. None. It’s bad in every measurable way.
The complete disaster:
- One of the worst movepools among all Poison-types
- Mediocre stats that don’t improve meaningfully upon evolution
- No niche utility – Can’t even fulfill a specific role
- Looks like literal garbage – Because it is literal garbage
The Ability Problem
In previous Pokémon games, Garbodor had two abilities that gave it minimal viability:
- Aftermath – Dealt damage when knocked out
- Stench – Chance to cause Flinch
These weren’t great abilities, but they were something. Here’s the kicker: Pokémon Legends Z-A removed abilities entirely. Garbodor’s only redeeming features are gone, leaving nothing but a trash bag with terrible stats.
Why Would You Use This?
There are so many better Poison-types available early:
- Nidoran (both variants) – Better stats, better moves, dual typing
- Grimer/Muk – Actually tanky with decent Attack
- Skorupi/Drapion – Poison/Dark typing with solid offensive presence
Even if you specifically want a pure Poison-type for some reason, there are better options. Trubbish is only useful if you’re doing a “trash Pokémon only” challenge run.
PvP is a Joke
Trubbish in competitive battles is like bringing a plastic spoon to a sword fight. It gets one-shot by everything, deals minimal damage, and provides no utility. Your opponent will thank you for the free win.
The One Use Case
The only time you should interact with Trubbish is to catch one for your Pokédex, then immediately forget it exists. It’s found in dark alleys and corners of Lumiose City, which is fitting—that’s where it belongs.
Why These Pokémon Fail in Real-Time Combat
The shift from turn-based to active-time combat has fundamentally changed what makes a Pokémon viable. Understanding why these Pokémon fail helps you identify what to look for in good Pokémon:
Cooldown Management is King
In real-time combat, you can spam moves as soon as their cooldowns expire. This means:
- Fast, spammable moves are more valuable
- Lengthy cooldowns punish Pokémon with powerful but slow moves
- Consistent damage output beats burst damage in many scenarios
Pokémon like Pidgeot suffer because their best moves have long cooldowns, while their spammable moves are weak.
Positioning and Mobility Matter
You’re not locked into a turn-by-turn exchange anymore. You can:
- Dodge attacks manually
- Reposition for better angles
- Kite opponents around obstacles
Slow, fragile Pokémon like Spritzee and Trubbish can’t capitalize on this. They get caught, hit, and faint before contributing anything meaningful.
Hybrid Attackers Don’t Work
The real-time system rewards specialization. Pick Physical or Special—don’t try to do both. Pokémon like Pyroar that attempt hybrid builds end up mediocre at everything because:
- You can’t effectively use both stat types simultaneously
- Move cooldowns mean you’re often waiting anyway
- Specialized attackers output more damage in the same window
Support Without Duo Battles is Pointless
Pokémon designed for support roles (like Aromatisse) lose all value when:
- There are no duo battles to support a partner
- Defensive buffs matter less when you can dodge manually
- Offensive pressure is more valuable than utility
Abilities Are Gone
Many mediocre Pokémon relied on gimmicky abilities to function. Without abilities, they’re just bad stats with bad moves.
Check our status conditions guide to understand what actually matters in Legends Z-A’s combat.
What to Use Instead: Building a Strong Team
Instead of wasting time on these duds, focus on Pokémon that excel in real-time combat:
Physical Attackers with Fast Moves
- Beedrill (Mega) – Fast attacks, great damage, Bug/Poison coverage
- Scizor (Mega) – Technician-equivalent boosted moves, tanky
- Lucario (Mega) – Fighting/Steel with excellent physical moves
Specialized Special Attackers
- Alakazam (Mega) – Highest Special Attack, easy to get early
- Gengar (Mega) – Ghost/Poison with great coverage
- Ampharos (Mega) – Guaranteed shiny available, strong Electric/Dragon
Bulky Pokémon That Survive
- Snorlax – Massive HP, can use Protect effectively
- Aggron (Mega) – Steel/Rock with incredible Defense
- Blissey – Special Defense wall with healing moves
Versatile Coverage Pokémon
- Eevee evolutions – Multiple type options, all viable
- Charizard (Mega X/Y) – Two Mega options for different strategies
- Dragonite (Mega) – Dragon/Flying with pseudo-legendary stats
Our Mega Evolution tier list ranks all viable Megas if you want the absolute best team.
But What If I Like These Pokémon Anyway?
Look, I get it. Maybe Vivillon is your favorite because you have fond memories of collecting patterns in X/Y. Maybe Pidgeot was your first Flying-type and you have sentimental attachment. That’s totally valid.
Here’s my advice:
For casual playthroughs: Use whatever makes you happy. The main story is beatable with basically anything if you overlevel enough.
For competitive/ranked: You’re actively handicapping yourself. These Pokémon will lose to meta teams consistently.
For challenge runs: These Pokémon make the game harder, which might be the point if you want extra difficulty.
The compromise: Complete the story with your favorites, then build a competitive team for endgame content. You can have both nostalgia and effectiveness—just not simultaneously.
Other Pokémon Worth Reconsidering
While the five Pokémon above are the absolute worst, these deserve honorable mentions for underperforming:
- Farfetch’d – Outclassed by every other Fighting-type
- Delibird – Gimmick moveset that doesn’t work in real-time
- Luvdisc – Exists only to waste your time
- Spinda – Confusing yourself isn’t a strategy
Generally, avoid Pokémon that:
- Have Base Stat Totals under 450 (unless they’re unevolved)
- Learn fewer than 10 useful moves via level-up
- Require convoluted evolution methods for minimal payoff
- Were designed as joke Pokémon (Magikarp gets a pass—Gyarados is great)
Maximizing Your Team Efficiency
Since you’re avoiding bad Pokémon, let’s talk about building smart:
Early game priorities:
- Catch diverse types for obstacle removal (Fire for vines, Water for sludge, Rock for boulders)
- Get fast travel unlocked ASAP for easier training
- Focus on Pokémon with good final evolutions
Mid-game strategy:
- Start building toward your competitive team
- Farm crafting materials for items
- Complete Secondary Missions for rewards (like the guaranteed shiny Mareep)
Endgame optimization:
- Max out happiness for consistent obedience
- Hunt Alpha Pokémon for better stats
- Obtain all necessary Mega Stones
- Practice Protect timing for defensive play
Final Thoughts: Choose Your Pokémon Wisely
Pokémon Legends Z-A’s real-time combat system created clear winners and losers. Some Pokémon thrived with the changes, gaining new viability through spammable moves and mobility. Others, like the five highlighted here, fell even further behind.
The bottom line: Time is your most valuable resource. Don’t waste it training Pokémon that will never perform well when dozens of superior options exist. Save the bad Pokémon for your “completed Pokédex” screenshot and invest your effort into building a team that actually wins battles.
Is this harsh? Maybe. But after watching players struggle through A-Z Royale with Garbodor on their team, someone needs to say it: some Pokémon are just bad, and that’s okay. Not every Pokémon needs to be competitively viable. Some are for collecting, some are for nostalgia, and some… some are just trash.
Choose wisely, train smarter, and dominate Lumiose City with a team that actually deserves to be there.
For more Pokémon Legends Z-A strategies and tier lists, visit the official Pokémon Legends website or grab your copy from the Nintendo Store.
