How to Catch Abra in Pokémon Legends Z-A (Plus Kadabra Evolution Guide)

Wild Zone 1 – The Easiest Early Location

This is probably your best bet for snagging an Abra without progressing too far into the story:

1. Enter Wild Zone 1 and head toward the small pond area
2. Look for the lone Pichu across the water—you’ll see a ladder nearby blocked by boulders
3. Use a Pokémon with Rock-type moves to smash those boulders (similar to removing thorny vines)
4. Climb the ladder and head right
5. Keep climbing upward until you reach a rooftop on the north side
6. Abra will be chilling on this rooftop

If you’re still building your early team, check out our best early Pokémon guide to make sure you’ve got the right types for clearing obstacles.

Wild Zone 5 – Alternative Location

If you’ve progressed further or just want options:

1. Enter Wild Zone 5 from the central plaza
2. Head to the top-left corner where you’ll find a ladder blocked by purple sludge
3. Clear the goo with any Water-type attack
4. Descend into the canal area
5. Find another ladder on the left side and climb up
6. Take the next ladder after a small staircase
7. Abra awaits on this rooftop

Pro tip: Having a diverse team makes navigating these obstacle-filled areas much easier. Our Wild Zone guides can help you prepare for what’s ahead.

How to Actually Catch Abra (Without It Teleporting Away)

Here’s where things get tricky. Abra isn’t just rare—it’s paranoid. In classic Pokémon games, this little psychic menace would Teleport away on its first turn, making it nearly impossible to catch without sleep or paralysis moves. Legends Z-A keeps that challenge alive but adds some new mechanics you can exploit.

The Stealth Approach – Your Best Strategy

As soon as you spot an Abra on a rooftop:

• Immediately crouch by pressing the left analog stick (L↓)
• Get behind cover—buildings, walls, anything that breaks line of sight
• Abra gets spooked by trainers but doesn’t mind other Pokémon nearby
• Slowly approach while crouched (moving too fast will still alert it)

Here’s the clever part: Abra seems less threatened by your Pokémon than by you. Use this to your advantage by staying hidden while positioning your team.

Two Ways to Secure the Catch

Method 1: The Combat Route

If you’re confident in battle:

1. Target Abra with a CC (crowd control) move that prevents actions:
   • Paralyze
   • Sleep
   • Frozen status
2. Or use a super-effective attack to knock it out instantly
3. Here’s the key difference from older games: Defeated Pokémon don’t disappear immediately
4. They stay dazed for a brief window—throw your Poké Ball during this time!

Critical warning: If Abra gets a turn before you incapacitate it, it will teleport away. Always strike first.

Method 2: The Great Ball Shortcut (Recommended)

This is honestly the smarter approach if you have the resources:

• Stay crouched and hidden
• Get close enough to target Abra without entering its sight line
• Throw a Great Ball (or better) directly at it
• The higher catch rate should snag it before battle even starts

Regular Poké Balls can work, but they’re much less reliable. If you’ve been collecting items around Lumiose City (like those Colorful Screws), you should have the funds to stock up on better balls.

Why Catching Abra Early Is Worth the Hassle

You might be wondering: “Why go through all this trouble for one Pokémon?” Fair question. Here’s why Abra is actually one of the best early catches you can make:

Alakazam is incredibly powerful:

• One of the highest Special Attack stats in the game
• Fast speed means it usually strikes first
• Access to devastating Psychic-type moves
• Still holds up as one of the most iconic Pokémon from Gen 1

You can evolve it relatively quickly:

• Abra evolves to Kadabra at just Level 16
• Kadabra can immediately evolve into Alakazam through trading
• No need to grind to level 40+ like some three-stage evolutions

Plus, having a strong Psychic-type early helps against the Fighting and Poison Pokémon you’ll encounter throughout Lumiose City. Check our Mega Evolution tier list to see where Alakazam ranks among endgame powerhouses.

How to Evolve Kadabra into Alakazam

Okay, you’ve caught Abra and leveled it to 16—congratulations, you now have Kadabra! But there’s one more step to reach its final form, and it requires a trading partner.

The Evolution Process: Trading Required

Unlike most Pokémon that evolve through leveling or stones, Kadabra only evolves into Alakazam when traded to another player. This has been Alakazam’s evolution method since Red and Blue, and Legends Z-A keeps the tradition.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

Setting Up the Trade

1. Open the main menu by pressing X
2. Select Link Play from the options
3. Choose Link Trade

Choosing Your Connection Type

You’ll see two options:

Local Trade:

• For friends on the same Wi-Fi network
• Faster connection, no internet required
• Great for trading with family members or roommates

Far Away Trade:

• For anyone on a different network
• Requires internet connection
• Perfect for coordinating with online friends

Completing the Trade

1. Enter any 8-digit code (example: 12345678)
2. Share this code with your trading partner
3. Have them enter the same code using the same connection option
4. Once connected, select Kadabra from your Pokémon list
5. Kadabra automatically evolves into Alakazam when received by the other player

Important note: If you traded your Kadabra away and want it back as Alakazam, you’ll need to initiate a second trade. Make sure you trust your trading partner!

No Trading Partner? Here’s What to Do

Not everyone has a friend readily available for trading, which can be frustrating. Here are some options:

• Online communities: Join Pokémon Legends Z-A Discord servers or Reddit communities where players coordinate “trade-backs” (trading evolution Pokémon and immediately returning them)
• Local play sessions: Some game stores host Pokémon trading events
• Family members: If you know anyone else with the game, even casual players can help with a quick trade

The good news is that once you have Alakazam, it’s worth the hassle. This Psychic powerhouse will carry you through much of the game.

Additional Tips for Abra Hunting

Bring multiple Poké Balls: Abra might flee even with proper stealth. Having backups prevents frustration.

Save before attempting: If you’re struggling to catch Abra, save your game before approaching. You can reload if it escapes.

Increase happiness for better performance: Once you’ve caught Abra, check our happiness guide to maximize its potential in battle.

Consider catching multiples: If you want to complete your Pokédex or trade with friends, having spare Abras never hurts.

Alpha Abra exists: Keep an eye out for larger, more powerful Alpha Pokémon versions. Our Alpha Pokémon guide explains how to handle these tougher encounters.

Other Teleporting or Tricky Pokémon

If you enjoyed the challenge of catching Abra, you might want to test your skills with other elusive Pokémon:

• Cleffa evolution line – Another classic that requires special conditions
• Flabébé locations – Surprisingly hard to spot
• Pikachu – Everyone wants this iconic Electric-type
• Eevee and all Eeveelutions – Multiple evolution paths to explore

Final Thoughts

Catching Abra in Pokémon Legends Z-A is definitely a challenge, but it’s also a rite of passage for veteran trainers. That moment when you finally snag one before it teleports away? Chef’s kiss. And once you evolve it into Alakazam, you’ll have one of the most reliable Special Attackers in the entire game.

The stealth mechanics make it feel more like hunting than traditional Pokémon catching, which honestly makes the payoff even better. Just remember: crouch, stay hidden, and either strike with CC effects or use a Great Ball for the easiest catch.

Need help with other aspects of Lumiose City? Check out our guide on how to leave Lumiose City or explore our fast travel guide to navigate more efficiently.

For more Pokémon Legends Z-A information, visit the official Pokémon Legends website or purchase the game from the Nintendo Store.