Learn how to change time from day to night in Pokemon Legends Z-A. Unlock the bench system, find nighttime Pokemon, and access the Battle Zone with our complete guide.
If you’ve been exploring the Wild Zones in Pokemon Legends Z-A and wondering why certain Pokemon refuse to show up, here’s the thing: they’re probably nighttime-exclusive spawns. The game follows classic Pokemon tradition by making some species appear only during specific times of day.
The frustrating part? The game doesn’t exactly shout at you about how the time-changing system works. You might spend way too long wandering around wondering if you’re just unlucky, when really, you just need to know where to sit down and wait.
Let me break down exactly how to control time in Pokemon Legends Z-A, when you unlock this feature, and why it matters more than you might think.
The Short Answer: Use Benches (But Not Right Away)
The time-changing mechanic in Pokemon Legends Z-A centers around benches scattered throughout Lumiose City. Simple concept, right? Sit on a bench, pass some time, and boom—day becomes night or vice versa.
But here’s the catch: You can’t actually use this feature immediately. The game locks it behind story progression, which is why so many players get confused early on.
When Can You Actually Change Time?
You need to complete Main Mission 5: The City in the Shadow of Prism Tower before benches become functional for time-changing.
Why does this matter? During the early hours of gameplay, you’re stuck with whatever time of day the game gives you. This means certain Pokemon remain uncatchable until you hit this story milestone. If you’ve been trying to complete Wild Zone 2 and can’t find that elusive Staryu, this is exactly why.
Story Progression Requirements:
- Complete the first few main missions
- Finish Main Mission 5 specifically
- Wait until you’re free to roam before your next Rank battle
- Then benches become interactive for time manipulation
Honestly, this is a few hours into the game for most players. If you’re the type who likes to catch everything as you go (same here), you’ll need to revisit earlier Wild Zones once this unlocks.
Step-by-Step: How to Change From Day to Night
Once you’ve unlocked the feature, here’s exactly what to do:
1. Find a Bench in Lumiose City
Benches are everywhere once you start looking:
- Near Wild Zone gates (super convenient for hunting)
- In various districts throughout Lumiose City
- Public areas and gathering spots
Pro tip: The benches near Wild Zone entrances are your best friend. You can change time right before entering, saving you from backtracking across the city.
2. Interact With the Bench
Walk up and press the interact button. You’ll get two menu options:
- “Kill some time here” – This is what you want for changing day/night
- “Hang out with your Pokemon” – This is purely for bonding and photos
3. Choose Your Time Period
Select “Kill some time here” and the game will ask:
- “Hang out until nightfall?” (if it’s currently day)
- “Hang out until morning?” (if it’s currently night)
The transition is instant. No waiting, no animations—just a quick fade and you’re in the opposite time period.
What the “Hang Out With Your Pokemon” Option Does
This second bench option is actually pretty charming, even if it doesn’t change time. When you select “Hang out with your Pokemon,” all six party members appear on screen together.
Why this is useful:
- Perfect for Photo Mode: Getting all your Pokemon in one shot is surprisingly hard otherwise. If you’re building a collection of team photos or want that perfect snapshot for social media, this is your moment.
- Bonding Opportunity: While not explicitly stated, spending time with Pokemon through this option can contribute to happiness increases, which matters for certain evolutions.
- Quick Team Check: It’s a nice visual way to see your current roster all at once, especially if you’ve been swapping Pokemon around frequently.
Why Time of Day Actually Matters
Beyond just completing your Pokedex, the day/night cycle affects several important game systems:
1. Pokemon Availability
This is the big one. Different Pokemon spawn at different times:
- Nighttime-exclusive Pokemon like Staryu won’t appear during the day at all
- Some Alpha Pokemon have time-specific spawn patterns
- Evolution conditions for certain Pokemon (like Budew evolving into Roselia) require specific times of day
If you’re trying to catch the best early Pokemon, you’ll need to explore at both times to see everything available.
2. Battle Zone Access
Here’s something the game doesn’t explain well: turning it to nighttime activates the Battle Zone, where you face trainers for Rank-Up battles.
This is crucial for story progression and isn’t optional. You’ll need to manually trigger nighttime to access these battles, which gate your advancement through the ranking system.
3. Item Spawns and Gathering
Different crafting materials and items appear at different times. If you’re hunting for specific materials like Colorful Screws or Clear Purple Sludge, time of day can affect spawn rates and locations.
4. NPC Availability
Some side quests and NPC interactions are time-sensitive. Completing certain requests might require talking to characters at specific times, which means bench access becomes essential for quest completion.
Common Questions and Issues
No, benches only exist in Lumiose City proper. You need to exit the Wild Zone, change time at a city bench, then re-enter. It’s a bit annoying, but at least the benches near gates make it relatively quick.
Unlike some Pokemon games that sync with your system clock, Legends Z-A uses a manual system. The time won’t change on its own—you’re in complete control once unlocked.
Unlimited. There’s no cooldown or restriction. Change it as many times as you need for catching Pokemon or accessing different features.
Nope. Changing time is completely safe. Pokemon you’ve caught stay caught, items remain in your inventory, and story progress is unaffected.
Strategic Time-Changing Tips
For Pokedex Completion: Make it a habit to check each Wild Zone at both day and night. Create a mental checklist or even write down which zones you’ve fully explored at both times. Missing one nighttime-exclusive Pokemon is the difference between 99% and 100% completion.
For Efficient Hunting: Change time before entering Wild Zones, not after. This saves you from having to exit, change, and re-enter when you realize something’s missing.
For Story Progression: Pay attention to when the game tells you to access the Battle Zone. If you can’t find it, you probably need to trigger nighttime manually at a bench.
For Photo Opportunities: The “Hang out with your Pokemon” option is underrated. If you’re building a collection of team photos throughout your journey, make regular bench stops part of your routine.
The Bigger Picture: Lumiose City Exploration
Understanding the bench system is actually part of a larger question: can you leave Lumiose City in Pokemon Legends Z-A? The game’s structure is different from previous Legends titles, with Lumiose City serving as your central hub.
The bench mechanic ties into this design philosophy. Since you’re frequently returning to the city between Wild Zone excursions, having time control centralized in Lumiose makes sense (even if it’s occasionally inconvenient).
Special Considerations for Team Building
If you’re building a specific team comp, time of day matters more than you might think:
- Kanto starter teammates might have different availability depending on time
- Eevee evolutions like Umbreon and Espeon specifically require evolution at night or day
- Friendship evolutions can be time-sensitive, requiring specific conditions plus the right time period
Planning your team means understanding these time mechanics from the start.
Final Thoughts
The bench system in Pokemon Legends Z-A is one of those features that seems overly simple once you know about it, but causes genuine confusion when the game doesn’t explain it clearly.
The biggest takeaway? Don’t stress about missing Pokemon early in the game. Once you complete Main Mission 5, you can freely control time and go back to catch anything you missed. The game isn’t punishing you for progressing through Wild Zones before unlocking this feature—you’re meant to revisit areas.
Make benches part of your routine: Before any serious Pokemon hunting session, find a bench, check the time, and adjust if needed. It becomes second nature after a while, and your completed Pokedex will thank you for it.
Now get out there and catch those nighttime exclusives!
Also Check: Complete Wild Zone 2 Guide: Every Pokemon Location in Pokemon Legends Z-A
For more information about Pokemon Legends Z-A, visit the official Pokemon Legends website or grab the game from the Nintendo Store.
