There’s Only ONE Galarian Slowpoke Per Save File—Choose Wisely
Here’s something that’ll make you think twice before mashing that evolution button: You can only get one Galarian Slowpoke per game save in Pokemon Legends Z-A. No do-overs, no second chances. This makes it one of the rarest Pokemon in the entire game, alongside the other exclusive regional forms introduced in Z-A.
So before we dive into how to get this yellow psychic weirdo, let’s make sure you understand what you’re signing up for—and which evolution path makes the most sense for your team.
Step 1: Catch a Regular Slowpoke First
You can’t get a Galarian Slowpoke without having the regular pink version first. It’s basically a Pokemon trade situation, which makes sense given the lore.
Where to find regular Slowpoke:
- Head to Wild Zone 11
- Slowpoke spawns regularly in this area
- Catch one and add it to your party (you’ll need it for the trade)
This is the easy part. Regular Slowpoke is pretty common once you reach this Wild Zone, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding one. If you want to see all available Pokemon across different zones, check our complete Wild Zones guide.
Step 2: Complete Main Mission 14 & Unlock the Trade Quest
The Galarian Slowpoke questline doesn’t unlock until you’ve made some serious progress in the story.
Requirements:
- Complete Main Mission 14: Canari Quiz Contest
- Wait for Secondary Mission #39: Slowpoke for Slowpoke to unlock
- Travel to Wild Zone 10
- Find South Boulevard in the zone
- Look for an NPC named Quille
Making the Trade
Talk to Quille and he’ll offer to trade his Galarian Slowpoke for your regular Slowpoke. This is a straight one-for-one trade, and honestly? It’s a pretty good deal considering how rare the Galarian variant is.
Important reminder: Once you complete this trade, that’s it. You can’t get another Galarian Slowpoke on this save file. So if you’re considering getting both evolutions, you’ll need to trade with another player or start a new game file.
Accept the trade and you’ll finally have your golden Galarian Slowpoke. But don’t evolve it just yet—you need to progress further in the story to unlock the evolution items.
Step 3: Get the Galarica Items (The Tricky Part)
Here’s where things get interesting. Galarian Slowpoke doesn’t evolve through normal means—it needs special items from the Isle of Armor, which is literally in a different region. So how do you get these items in Lumiose City?
Finding the Isle of Armor Traveler
Evolution item locations:
- Travel to Vert Sector 9’s Battle Court (it’s right next to Wild Zone 1)
- Look for an NPC named Touri, a little girl trainer
- She’ll tell you about her journey to the Isle of Armor
- Accept Side Mission #75: Some Unusual Pokemon
Battle Touri’s Galarian Team
This is your chance to see both Galarian evolutions in action before committing to one. Touri uses:
- Galarian Slowbro (Poison/Psychic)
- Galarian Slowking (Poison/Psychic)
Pay attention to how they perform in battle! This preview can help you decide which evolution suits your playstyle better.
Battle tips:
- Both are Poison/Psychic types, so bring Ground or Ghost moves
- They have high HP pools, so don’t expect quick KOs
- Watch their movesets to see which appeals to you more
Claiming Your Rewards
Once you defeat Touri, she’ll reward you with both evolution items:
- Galarica Cuff (evolves into Galarian Slowbro)
- Galarica Wreath (evolves into Galarian Slowking)
Now comes the moment of truth: which evolution should you choose?
Galarian Slowbro vs. Galarian Slowking: Which Is Better?
Unlike regular Slowbro and Slowking (which are Water/Psychic), both Galarian variants are Poison/Psychic types. This gives them a completely different role in battle, with resistances to Fighting, Poison, Grass, Fairy, and Psychic attacks.
Galarian Slowbro: The Physical Tank
Stat distribution:
- High Physical Defense – Takes physical hits like a champ
- High HP – Massive health pool for sustained battles
- Decent Special Attack – Can still dish out damage
- Terrible Speed – Goes last in almost every situation (though Speed matters less in Z-A)
Best for: Players who want a physical wall that can absorb hits from Fighting, Normal, and Bug-type attackers while retaliating with Psychic or Poison moves.
Key moves to consider:
- Shell Side Arm (signature move, switches between Physical and Special)
- Sludge Bomb
- Psychic
- Protect (great for cooldown management)
Galarian Slowking: The Special Tank
Stat distribution:
- High Special Defense – Walls special attackers effectively
- High HP – Same bulky health pool as Slowbro
- Better Special Attack – Slightly stronger offensively
- More TM compatibility – Learns a wider variety of moves
Best for: Players who want versatility and options. Slowking’s expanded movepool gives you more strategic flexibility in team building.
Key moves to consider:
- Eerie Spell (signature move, reduces opponent’s last move PP)
- Sludge Bomb
- Psychic
- Thunder Wave or Toxic for status condition control
The Honest Truth About Both Evolutions
Here’s something the game won’t tell you: neither Galarian form can Mega Evolve. This is a huge deal in Pokemon Legends Z-A, where Mega Evolution is a central mechanic.
Regular Slowbro gets a Mega Evolution, but the Galarian variants don’t. This locks their Base Stat Total at normal evolution levels, which significantly reduces their competitive value compared to Pokemon that can Mega Evolve.
What this means for you:
- They won’t be top-tier competitive picks
- They’re perfectly fine for story mode and casual battles
- Other Pokemon with Mega Evolutions will generally outperform them in endgame content
- Choose based on which design or typing you prefer, not competitive viability
Which Evolution Should You Pick?
Since neither evolution is meta-defining, this decision comes down to personal preference and team composition.
Choose Galarian Slowbro if:
- You need a physical tank for your team
- You’re facing lots of physical attackers
- You like its design better (the Shellder-as-armor aesthetic is pretty cool)
- You prefer straightforward, defensive Pokemon
Choose Galarian Slowking if:
- You need a special tank for your team
- You value movepool variety and flexibility
- You like the crown/royal theme
- You want more strategic options with TMs
My Take
If you’re playing through the story and just want a cool regional variant? Pick whichever one looks cooler to you. Seriously. Since neither can Mega Evolve and both perform similarly in casual play, there’s no “wrong” choice here.
If you’re a completionist who wants both in your Pokedex? You’ll need to trade with another player or use a second save file. Consider coordinating with a friend where one of you evolves Slowbro and the other evolves Slowking, then trade to complete your Dex.
Alternative Options: Better Psychic & Poison Types
If you’re purely focused on competitive viability, consider these alternatives that can actually Mega Evolve:
For Psychic-types:
- Alakazam (Mega Evolution available)
- Ralts line (Gardevoir and Gallade both Mega Evolve)
For Poison-types:
- Check our strongest Pokemon rankings for top-tier options
That said, don’t let this discourage you from using Galarian Slowpoke’s evolutions if you like them! Pokemon Legends Z-A is balanced well enough that you can clear the story with virtually any team composition. Use what you enjoy.
Quick Reference Guide
Step-by-step summary:
- Catch regular Slowpoke in Wild Zone 11
- Complete Main Mission 14: Canari Quiz Contest
- Go to Wild Zone 10, South Boulevard
- Trade with Quille (Secondary Mission #39)
- Progress story, then head to Vert Sector 9 Battle Court
- Battle Touri (Side Mission #75)
- Receive both Galarica Cuff and Galarica Wreath
- Choose your evolution carefully—you only get one!
Evolution items:
- Galarica Cuff → Galarian Slowbro (Physical Tank)
- Galarica Wreath → Galarian Slowking (Special Tank)
Final Thoughts
Galarian Slowpoke and its evolutions represent one of the coolest regional variants in Pokemon Legends Z-A, even if they’re not competitive powerhouses. The Poison/Psychic typing is unique and fun to build around, and the one-per-save-file limitation makes them feel genuinely special.
Just remember: this is a permanent decision. Take your time, consider your team’s needs, and maybe even watch some battle footage online before committing. Or, you know, just pick the one with the cooler hat.
For more Pokemon Legends Z-A guides, check out our coverage of special evolutions, starter Mega Evolutions, and other challenging evolution methods.
For official information about Pokemon Legends Z-A, visit the Pokemon Legends website or grab the game from the Nintendo Store.
Which evolution did you choose for your Galarian Slowpoke? Let us know in the comments!
