Pokemon Legends Z-A: 7 Best Pokemon to Catch Early

Discover the 7 most powerful early-game Pokemon in Pokemon Legends Z-A that will dominate A-Z Royale Battles. Includes exact spawn locations, evolution strategies, and team-building tips!

Let’s be real—not all Pokemon are created equal, especially when you’re climbing through those brutal A-Z Royale Battles. While Pokemon Legends Z-A gives you access to dozens of species right from the start, only a handful will actually carry you from Rank Z to A without breaking a sweat.

I’ve spent way too many hours testing team compositions, and I’m here to save you from wasting time on Pokemon that fall off hard after the first few hours. These seven monsters are the real MVPs that punch way above their early-game weight class.

Table of Contents

Why Early Team Building Matters More in Z-A

Unlike traditional Pokemon games where you can cruise through with almost anything, Legends Z-A throws intense Royale Battles at you constantly. Having optimized partners from the beginning means:

Breezing through story content without grinding
Dominating Royale Battles for better rewards
Building friendship faster with Pokemon you’ll actually keep
Saving evolution stones and resources for Pokemon worth investing in

The difference between catching a Fletchling versus a Pidgey in Wild Zone 1? One becomes an absolute menace, the other becomes box filler. Let’s make sure you pick the right ones.

1. Dratini – The Ultimate Early Game Investment

Type: Dragon
Catch Location: Restaurant Le Nah rooftop (southeastern Lumiose, near Vert Sector 6)
Catch Level: ~15-20
Evolution Path: Dratini → Dragonair → Dragonite (Mega Evolution available!)

This is the crown jewel of early catches, and honestly, if you only take one piece of advice from this guide, make it this one: get Dratini immediately.

How to Catch Dratini

The spawn location is tricky but totally worth it:

Travel to Restaurant Le Nah in southeastern Lumiose
Stand at the restaurant’s front door and look left at the neighboring building
You’ll see a ladder—climb it to reach the first rooftop
Sprint with B, then roll with Y when you reach the edge to jump to the restaurant’s rooftop
Dratini spawns here (sometimes as an Alpha variant!)

Pro Catching Strategy: Save manually before climbing the ladder. Dratini is skittish and can be a pain to catch, so if it goes south, reload and try again. Use Quick Balls for the best chance, and approach in stealth mode.

Why Dratini Dominates

Dragonite has always been powerful, but Mega Dragonite in Z-A? Absolute game-changer. This thing becomes top-tier meta for good reason:

Exceptional stat distribution across the board
Dragon typing gives you coverage against so many threats
Mega Evolution unlocks endgame (yes, after all these years, Dragonite finally got one)
Even Alpha Dratini can spawn here, giving you boosted stats and special moves from the start

If you snag this Pokemon early, you’re basically set for the entire game. I’ve seen players beat the main story with Dragonite as their anchor Pokemon, rarely switching it out.

Alpha vs Regular Dratini

The Alpha version has maxed size stats, better base stats, and access to special moves regular Dratini can’t learn until later. It’s harder to catch (higher catch resistance), but if you see one, absolutely go for it. The investment pays off immediately.

2. Riolu – The Friendship Speedrun King

Type: Fighting
Catch Location: Cafe Soleil area rooftop (near South Boulevard)
Catch Level: ~20 (Alpha version available)
Evolution Path: Riolu → Lucario (Mega Evolution available!)

Riolu might seem like a mid-tier Fighting-type at first glance, but here’s the secret: it evolves into Lucario stupidly fast with the cafe trick, and Lucario is an absolute beast in Legends Z-A.

Exact Spawn Location

This one’s easier to find than Dratini but still requires some parkour:

Head to Cafe Soleil near South Boulevard
Circle around the building until you spot a ladder
Climb up to the small terrace
Save before climbing—Alpha Riolu spawns here

The Alpha version is particularly nasty in battle, so weaken it with your starter before throwing balls. It’s worth the effort.

The 5-Minute Lucario Strategy

Here’s where Riolu becomes ridiculously good: you can evolve it into Lucario in literally five minutes. No joke.

Steps:

Catch Riolu (even better if it’s the Alpha)
Immediately head to any cafe or restaurant
Share 1-2 drinks (tea or coffee) with Riolu
Check its friendship level—it should be ready to evolve

That’s it. You now have a Fighting/Steel powerhouse before most players have even explored half of Lumiose City. For more details on maximizing this method, check out our complete happiness guide.

Why Lucario Shreds in Z-A

The Fighting/Steel typing is defensive gold, and Lucario’s moveset is perfectly suited for Z-A’s combat system:

Wide array of powerful physical attacks (fist moves are broken in this game)
Excellent for sneak attacks and ambushes during Royale Battles
Mega Lucario available endgame = sweeping through trainer battles effortlessly
High speed and attack stats make it a priority threat

I’ve had opponents forfeit Royale matches just seeing Mega Lucario on my team. It’s that intimidating.

3. Mareep – The Underestimated Electric Monster

Type: Electric
Catch Location: Wild Area 1 (during introductory quest)
Catch Level: ~8-12
Evolution Path: Mareep → Flaaffy (Lv. 15) → Ampharos (Lv. 30) → Mega Ampharos

Most players walk right past Mareep thinking “eh, just another Electric-type.” Those players are making a huge mistake.

Why Everyone Sleeps on Mareep

Gen 2 Pokemon sometimes get overlooked, but Ampharos is legitimately one of the strongest Electric Pokemon in Legends Z-A. Here’s what makes it special:

Mega Ampharos Stats:

Type: Electric/Dragon (that Dragon sub-typing is clutch)
Base Stat Total: 610
Distribution: 90 HP / 95 Atk / 105 Def / 165 SpA / 105 SpD / 45 Spe

That Special Attack stat is absolutely monstrous. But the real kicker? Ampharos learns Cotton Guard, which completely shuts down physical attackers spamming melee moves (extremely common in Royale Battles).

The Hidden Power Secret

This is where Ampharos gets really interesting for advanced players:

Regular Ampharos with Hidden Power = Water-type attack
Mega Ampharos with Hidden Power = Grass-type attack

That coverage flexibility means Ampharos can handle threats it has no business beating. Water coverage for Rock/Ground types, then flip to Grass coverage for bulky Water types when you Mega Evolve. It’s brilliant design.

Perfect Starter Complement

No matter which starter you picked, Mareep fills in gaps:

Chose Froakie? Mareep handles Flying types
Chose Fennekin? Mareep covers Water threats
Chose Chespin? Mareep deals with Flying/Water types

Catch this fluffy sheep early, and you won’t regret it when Mega Ampharos is deleting entire teams with Thunderbolt.

4. Eevee – The Swiss Army Knife Pokemon

Type: Normal (8 evolution options!)
Catch Location: Hidden park near Vernal Pokemon Center
Catch Level: ~14
Evolution Paths: Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Espeon, Umbreon, Leafeon, Glaceon, Sylveon

You already know Eevee is versatile, but let me tell you why catching one (or eight) early is crucial for team composition.

The Secret Eevee Location

Forget waiting for the rooftop spawn method—there’s an even earlier location:

Travel to Vernal Pokemon Center (close to Wild Area 1)
From the spawn zone (if fast traveling), head down the alley to the right
Follow the Pokemon Battle Cage’s fence line
Look for breakable stones on the right—use Rock Smash
This reveals a hidden small park with a canal through the middle
Eevee (Lv. 14) roams the green patch in front of you

Catching Tip: Enter stealth mode immediately. Eevee is flighty and will bolt if it spots you. Quick Ball throws work best before it vanishes.

Why Eevee Matters for Early Game

Having type flexibility is huge when you don’t know what you’ll face in the next Royale Battle. One Eevee can become:

Vaporeon – Bulky Water-type for tanking
Jolteon – Lightning-fast special attacker
Flareon – Physical Fire coverage (surprisingly good in Z-A)
Espeon – Psychic powerhouse for Fighting/Poison types
Umbreon – Defensive Dark-type wall
Leafeon – Physical Grass attacker
Glaceon – Ice coverage (crucial for Dragon-heavy teams)
Sylveon – Fairy-type to destroy Dragon/Fighting threats

For a complete breakdown of getting all eight Eeveelutions quickly, see our detailed Eevee evolution guide.

Smart Evolution Strategy

Don’t just evolve your first Eevee randomly. Think about what your team lacks:

Need a wall? → Umbreon or Vaporeon
Need speed? → Jolteon
Need Dragon counter? → Sylveon or Glaceon
Need physical attacker? → Flareon or Leafeon

Since you can farm multiple Eevees (more on this in the linked guide), you can eventually build an Eeveelution-only team if you want. I won’t judge—I’ve seen it work.

5. Fletchling – The Underrated Speedster

Type: Normal/Flying → Fire/Flying
Catch Location: Wild Zone 1 (easy to find on streets)
Catch Level: ~8-10
Evolution Path: Fletchling → Fletchinder (Lv. 17) → Talonflame (Lv. 35)

Here’s another Pokemon everyone underestimates until they see Talonflame in action. This Gen 6 bird is not just fast—it’s dangerously fast.

Why Talonflame Punches Above Its Weight

Fire/Flying is a fantastic offensive typing, and Talonflame’s moveset is perfectly optimized for Legends Z-A’s combat mechanics:

Signature Moves:

Flare Blitz – Nuclear Fire-type contact move
Brave Bird – Devastating Flying STAB
Steel Wing – Coverage for Rock/Ice types

All of these are physical contact moves, which are genuinely broken in Z-A’s battle system. The contact move mechanics favor aggressive playstyles, and Talonflame thrives in that environment.

Early vs Late Game Value

Early Game (Ranks Z-C): Talonflame absolutely dominates. Its speed means it moves first in almost every battle, and those powerful contact moves delete slower Pokemon before they act.

Mid Game (Ranks C-A): Still excellent. The Fire/Flying combo gives you options against Grass, Bug, Fighting, and Steel types that become more common.

Late Game (Rank A+): Starts falling off against true powerhouses like Mega Dragonite, Tyranitar, or Goodra. It doesn’t have the base stats to trade blows with top-tier threats.

The Verdict: Talonflame won’t be your endgame ace, but it’ll carry you through 70% of the story with minimal effort. That’s still incredible value for something you catch in the first hour.

Skilled Play Potential

In the hands of a smart trainer, Talonflame remains viable even in late Royale Battles. Use its speed to set up for your heavy hitters, snipe weakened opponents, or force switches with its strong priority moves. It’s all about how you play it.

6. The Elemental Monkey Trio – Starter Insurance

Types: Fire (Pansear), Grass (Pansage), Water (Panpour)
Catch Locations: Rooftops, trees around Lumiose streets and parks
Catch Level: ~10-15
Evolution Paths: Pansear → Simisear, Pansage → Simisage, Panpour → Simipour (all use Evolution Stones)

These three are basically your starter insurance policy. Picked Froakie but struggling against Grass types? Grab Pansear. Went with Fennekin but hate Water battles? Catch Pansage.

Where to Find Them

Unlike the specific spawn points above, the monkey trio is scattered throughout Lumiose:

Rooftops – Check elevated areas around sectors
Trees – Look for perched Pokemon in parks and streets
Parks – Frequently spawn near green spaces

They’re common enough that you’ll stumble across all three while exploring normally. Just keep your eyes on vertical spaces.

Evolution Requirements

Each monkey evolves using the appropriate stone:

Pansear → Simisear (Fire Stone)
Pansage → Simisage (Leaf Stone)
Panpour → Simipour (Water Stone)

Get these from the Stone Emporium on Vernal Avenue for ₽3,000 each. Same place you’d buy evolution stones for Eevee’s evolutions.

Why Bother With Them?

Pros:

Perfect type coverage complement to any starter
Learn diverse movesets for their respective types
Solid stats for early-to-mid game
Easy to find and catch

Cons:

Fall off hard after mid-game when battles get serious
Outclassed by better options in their types (Ampharos > Simipour for Electric coverage)
Not worth endgame team slots

The Verdict: Catch one or two to fill gaps in your early roster, but plan to replace them by the time you’re pushing for Rank A. They’re stepping stones, not foundations.

Team Building Philosophy: Quality Over Quantity

Here’s the honest truth about Pokemon Legends Z-A: you don’t need a massive roster to succeed. You need 6-8 excellent Pokemon that cover each other’s weaknesses.

My Recommended Early Team Core

If you follow this guide and catch these specific Pokemon, here’s an optimized early team:

Your Starter (keep it—starters are strong in Z-A)
Dratini/Dragonite (physical Dragon powerhouse)
Riolu/Lucario (Fighting/Steel for versatility)
Mareep/Ampharos (Special Electric/Dragon coverage)
Eevee Evolution (fill your biggest type gap)
Fletchling/Talonflame (speed and Fire/Flying coverage)

This team gives you: ✓ Physical and Special attackers balanced ✓ Coverage against nearly every type ✓ Multiple Mega Evolution options endgame ✓ Speed, bulk, and power distributed across the roster ✓ All catchable within the first 5-10 hours

What About My Starter?

Don’t sleep on your starter! All three Kalos starters are genuinely strong in Z-A:

Froakie/Greninja – Insane speed and special attack
Fennekin/Delphox – Psychic/Fire coverage is rare and valuable
Chespin/Chesnaught – Grass/Fighting gives unique defensive presence

Your starter likely has maxed friendship already from story progression, making it perfect for the team core. For tips on maximizing starter potential, check our happiness optimization guide.

Resource Management for Early Catches

Catching all these Pokemon early means you’ll burn through supplies fast. Here’s how to stay stocked:

Pokeball Economy

Stock up on 30-40 Pokeballs before farming these catches
Quick Balls are worth the premium for rare spawns (Dratini, Alpha Riolu)
Regular Pokeballs work fine for Mareep, Fletchling, and monkeys

Money Management

Evolution stones cost ₽3,000 each, so budget wisely:

Prioritize stones for your core team first (Ampharos, Eeveelution of choice)
Skip the monkey evolutions initially—they’re not endgame material anyway
Farm materials like Colorful Screws and Purple Sludge to sell for extra cash

Time Investment

Dratini: 15-30 minutes (including travel and catch attempts)
Riolu: 10-20 minutes (easier spawn, harder catch)
Mareep: 5-10 minutes (shows up during main quest)
Eevee: 10-15 minutes (once you know the location)
Fletchling: 5 minutes (extremely common)
Monkey Trio: 20-30 minutes (scattered spawns)

Total time investment: 65-130 minutes to secure all six core Pokemon. That’s roughly 1-2 hours to set yourself up for the entire game. Worth it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

After watching dozens of players struggle unnecessarily, here are the biggest early-game pitfalls:

❌ Catching Too Many Random Pokemon

Just because you can catch everything doesn’t mean you should. Focus on the proven winners first, then experiment later.

❌ Evolving Without Planning

That Eevee you just caught? Don’t immediately evolve it into Vaporeon if you already have three Water types. Think about team composition first.

❌ Ignoring Alpha Spawns

Alpha Pokemon have significantly better stats. If you see an Alpha version of Dratini or Riolu, reset and catch it instead of the regular version. The stat difference matters.

❌ Skipping Friendship Optimization

Lucario requires high friendship to evolve from Riolu. Don’t battle with it for hours—just take it to a cafe. See our happiness boosting methods for details.

❌ Not Saving Before Rare Catches

Dratini can flee. Alpha Riolu can destroy your team. Save manually before attempting these catches. Period.

When to Start Hunting These Pokemon

You might be wondering: “When should I actually catch these?”

Mareep & Fletchling: Immediately available in Wild Zone 1 during your first hours

Eevee: Available once you can access Vernal Pokemon Center area (very early)

Riolu & Dratini: Available after Emma’s three mandatory quests when you can explore Lumiose freely

Monkey Trio: Available while exploring Lumiose sectors

Basically, you can have your entire core team assembled before you’re even 10% through the main story. That’s the power of knowing where to look.

Advanced Strategy: Alpha Pokemon Hunting

Want to take your team to the next level? Hunt for Alpha versions of these Pokemon:

Alpha Benefits:

Maxed size stats (matters for certain moves)
Better base stats across the board
Access to special moves earlier than normal
Intimidation factor in Royale Battles

Alpha Spawn Locations:

Dratini – Restaurant Le Nah rooftop (confirmed)
Riolu – Cafe Soleil terrace (confirmed)
Others occasionally spawn Alpha in their normal locations

For a complete breakdown of Alpha mechanics and spawn patterns, read our Alpha Pokemon guide.

The Bottom Line: These Pokemon Are Worth Your Time

Look, Pokemon Legends Z-A throws a lot of choices at you. You could spend hours catching dozens of different species, leveling them all up, and discovering halfway through the game that your team just doesn’t cut it against serious opponents.

Or you could spend 1-2 hours following this guide, catch these six proven powerhouses, and cruise through the game with a team that remains viable from beginning to end.

The choice is yours, but I know which path I’d take. These Pokemon aren’t just “pretty good”—they’re legitimately top-tier catches that will save you countless hours of grinding and frustration.

Dratini alone is worth the effort. Add Lucario and Ampharos to the mix, and you’ve got a core that most players won’t build until late game. That’s a massive competitive advantage.

Now get out there and start catching! Those A-Z Royale Battles won’t dominate themselves, and with this roster, you’ll be climbing ranks faster than you ever thought possible.

Related Guides:

Official Resources:

The Best Pokemon to Catch Early in Pokemon Legends Z-A (Ranked by Impact)