Learn where to find Cleffa in Pokémon Legends: Z-A and how to evolve it into Clefairy, Clefable, and Mega Clefable. Your complete guide to building the ultimate Fairy-type Dragon counter.
Cleffa is one of those adorable baby Pokémon that looks like it couldn’t hurt a fly—but with the right training and evolution path, it transforms into a legitimate Dragon-slaying machine. In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Cleffa returns as a somewhat elusive catch, but the payoff for tracking it down is absolutely worth it, especially when you consider its final form: Mega Clefable.
If you’re planning to tackle the game’s tougher Dragon-type encounters (and trust me, there are plenty), having a fully evolved Clefable on your team is practically essential. Let’s break down exactly where to find this shy little star-shaped Pokémon and how to evolve it all the way to its Mega form.
Where to Find Cleffa: Rooftop Hunting in Rouge Sector 5
Unlike most Pokémon that hang out in obvious groups in Wild Zones, Cleffa is a bit of a loner. This tiny Fairy-type prefers solitude and can be pretty tricky to track down if you don’t know where to look.
The Exact Location
Where: Rooftops of Rouge Sector 5, specifically on the rooftop of the Looker Bureau
When: Clear Sky/Sunny days only
Level Range: 11-13
This means you can actually catch Cleffa pretty early in your adventure, which is fantastic news if you want to start building your Fairy-type powerhouse from the ground up. The low level range also means it won’t take forever to level up and evolve.
How to Access the Rooftop
Getting to the Looker Bureau rooftop is straightforward:
- Navigate to Rouge Sector 5 in Lumiose City
- Locate the Looker Bureau building
- Find the exterior ladder or access point to reach the roof
- Check during sunny weather for the best spawn rates
Pro tip: If you’re not seeing Cleffa immediately, try changing the time of day or waiting for different weather conditions. Cleffa specifically appears during clear/sunny weather, so if it’s raining or overcast, you might be waiting a while.
Why Cleffa Is Worth the Hunt
You might be wondering: “Why bother with a baby Pokémon when I could catch something stronger?” Here’s the thing—Cleffa’s evolution line culminates in Mega Clefable, a Fairy/Flying-type that’s immune to Ground-type moves and serves as an excellent counter to Dragon-types.
With heavy hitters like Mega Ampharos, Mega Drampa, and Mega Dragonite showing up in the later stages of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, having a strong Fairy-type isn’t just helpful—it’s strategic. Plus, raising a Pokémon from its baby form creates a certain satisfaction that catching a fully evolved specimen just doesn’t provide.
The Complete Cleffa Evolution Line
Before we dive into the evolution mechanics, let’s look at what you’re working toward:
Cleffa → Clefairy → Clefable → Mega Clefable
- Cleffa: Fairy-type baby Pokémon (your starting point)
- Clefairy: Fairy-type (mid-stage evolution)
- Clefable: Fairy-type (final standard evolution)
- Mega Clefable: Fairy/Flying-type (Mega Evolution – gains Flying subtype!)
That Flying-type addition in the Mega form is a game-changer. Ground-type immunity combined with already solid Fairy-type resistances makes Mega Clefable a defensive and offensive threat.
How to Evolve Cleffa into Clefairy: The Tea Method
Here’s where Pokémon Legends: Z-A does things a bit differently from previous games. Instead of leveling up with high friendship, Cleffa evolves through a specific bonding mechanic involving tea. Yes, you read that right—you need to have tea with your Pokémon.
Step-by-Step Evolution Process
Step 1: Place Cleffa in the active (first) slot of your party
Step 2: Head to any Cafe or Tea Shop in Lumiose City
Step 3: Order some tea (Roserade Tea is recommended, though other teas work too)
Step 4: Watch the tea-drinking animation for a few seconds, then press B to stop
Step 5: Open your menu and check your party. You should see a white arrow above Cleffa
Step 6: If the arrow appears, select Cleffa to trigger its evolution into Clefairy!
Important note: If the white arrow doesn’t appear after your first tea session, don’t panic. Just repeat Step 3—have another tea session with Cleffa. Sometimes it takes multiple interactions to build up enough “happiness” for the evolution trigger.
Why This Evolution Method Makes Sense
The tea-drinking mechanic is actually a clever way to represent building friendship with your Pokémon. It’s more interactive than just grinding battles and hoping your friendship level eventually hits the threshold. Plus, it ties nicely into the Kalos region’s French-inspired culture where café culture is a big deal.
If you want to speed up friendship-building in general, check out our detailed guide on how to increase happiness for more tips.
How to Evolve Clefairy into Clefable: Moon Stone Evolution
Once you’ve got your Clefairy, the next evolution is more straightforward—but it requires a specific item: the Moon Stone.
Getting a Moon Stone
Moon Stones can be purchased from the Stone Emporium in Lumiose City. If you’re short on funds, you might need to do some grinding or complete side missions to gather enough Poké Dollars. Materials like Tiny Mushrooms can be sold for quick cash if needed.
Evolution Steps
Step 1: Open your menu and access your Satchel
Step 2: Press R to scroll to the fourth tab (Items/Stones section)
Step 3: Scroll down until you find the Moon Stone
Step 4: Select the Moon Stone—a small green checkmark should appear under Clefairy, indicating compatibility
Step 5: Use the Moon Stone on Clefairy to trigger its evolution into Clefable
Boom! You now have a fully evolved Clefable with some impressive stats and capabilities.
Clefable Stats: Is It Actually Good?
Let’s talk numbers. Clefable has a Base Stat Total (BST) of 483, distributed as follows:
- HP: 95 (quite tanky!)
- Attack: 70 (not its strong suit)
- Defense: 73 (decent physical bulk)
- Special Attack: 95 (solid special offense)
- Special Defense: 90 (excellent special bulk)
- Speed: 60 (slow, but not terrible)
What This Means for Battle Strategy
Clefable is clearly built as a bulky special attacker with good HP and Special Defense. It’s not going to outspeed many opponents, but it can definitely take hits—especially special attacks—and dish out respectable damage with Fairy-type moves.
Against Dragon-types, Clefable’s Fairy typing gives it:
- Super effective attacks against Dragons
- Immunity to Dragon-type moves
This makes Clefable an ideal counter-pick when facing Dragon-heavy teams, which become increasingly common in the late game.
Mega Evolution: Taking Clefable to the Next Level
The real prize is Mega Clefable, which requires Clefablite—the Mega Stone specific to this evolution line.
How to Get Clefablite
You’ll need to visit Quasartico’s Mega Shard exchange and trade 240 Mega Shards for Clefablite. Unfortunately, this exchange doesn’t become available until much later in the game, so you’ll need to be patient.
For help understanding which Mega Evolutions are worth prioritizing, check out our Mega Evolution tier list.
What Makes Mega Clefable Special
When Clefable Mega Evolves, it gains the Flying subtype, becoming Fairy/Flying. This dual typing provides:
✅ Ground-type immunity (huge defensive bonus)
✅ Enhanced offensive coverage with potential Flying-type moves
✅ Better matchups against Fighting and Bug-types
✅ Maintained Dragon immunity from Fairy typing
Mega Clefable essentially becomes a defensive wall that can still hit hard with special attacks while being nearly impossible for certain types to deal with effectively.
Building Your Clefable: Team Strategy Tips
If you’re planning to make Clefable a core member of your team, here are some strategic considerations:
Moveset Recommendations
Focus on special attacks since Clefable’s Special Attack stat (95) is its strongest offensive trait:
- Moonblast (strong Fairy STAB move)
- Dazzling Gleam (hits multiple targets)
- Psychic or Thunderbolt (coverage options)
- Cosmic Power or Calm Mind (stat boosters)
When to Use Clefable
Against Dragon-types: This is Clefable’s bread and butter. Bring it out against Mega Dragonite, Mega Drampa, or any Dragon you encounter.
Against Dark-types: Fairy resists Dark, making Clefable a solid pick.
As a special wall: With 95 HP and 90 Special Defense, Clefable can tank special attacks all day.
When NOT to Use Clefable
Against Poison-types: Fairy is weak to Poison, so switch out.
Against Steel-types: Steel resists Fairy, neutralizing Clefable’s main offensive advantage.
Against fast physical attackers: With only 60 Speed and 73 Defense, Clefable can struggle against speedy physical threats.
Other Pokémon to Pair With Clefable
Building a balanced team is crucial. Here are some companions that complement Clefable nicely:
- Pikachu for Electric coverage
- Kanto Starters for type variety
- Eevee evolutions for flexible team building
- Alpha Pokémon for raw power
Don’t forget to explore different Wild Zones to find diverse team members.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Not checking the weather: Cleffa only spawns during clear/sunny weather. Don’t waste time looking during rain or storms.
Using the Moon Stone too early: Make sure Clefairy has learned any moves you want before evolving it. Some moves are learned earlier in the Clefairy stage.
Saving Mega Shards for the wrong Pokémon: 240 Mega Shards is a significant investment. Make sure Clefable fits your team strategy before committing.
Neglecting other Fairy-types: While Clefable is excellent, don’t ignore other Fairy options if they better suit your playstyle.
Gathering Resources for Your Journey
As you work on evolving and training your Cleffa, you’ll need various materials:
- Colorful Screws for crafting
- Clear Purple Sludge for specific recipes
- Big Ol’ Bunnelby encounters for experience
- Understanding fast travel to efficiently move around Lumiose City
Final Thoughts: Is Cleffa Worth the Investment?
Absolutely—but with some caveats. If you’re planning to tackle late-game Dragon-types or want a bulky Fairy-type special attacker, Clefable (and especially Mega Clefable) is an excellent choice. The Fairy/Flying typing after Mega Evolution is genuinely fantastic for defensive play.
However, it requires patience. You need to:
- Find Cleffa during sunny weather on a specific rooftop
- Build friendship through the tea mechanic
- Acquire a Moon Stone
- Grind 240 Mega Shards for Clefablite
It’s not a quick process, but for players who enjoy building Pokémon from their base forms and watching them grow into powerhouses, Cleffa → Mega Clefable is one of the most rewarding evolution chains in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
Plus, let’s be honest—Cleffa is adorable, and watching that tiny star-shaped creature eventually become a flying Fairy-type tank is just plain satisfying.
For more information about Pokémon Legends: Z-A, visit the official Pokémon Legends website or check out the game on the Nintendo Store.
Happy hunting, and may your Cleffa grow into the Dragon-slaying champion it was meant to be! ⭐✨
Quick Evolution Summary:
- 🔍 Find Cleffa: Rouge Sector 5, Looker Bureau rooftop, sunny weather, levels 11-13
- ☕ Evolve to Clefairy: Have tea at a café until white arrow appears
- 🌙 Evolve to Clefable: Use Moon Stone (buy from Stone Emporium)
- 💎 Mega Evolve: Get Clefablite from Quasartico (240 Mega Shards, late game)
- 🐉 Best Use: Dragon-type counter, bulky special attacker
