Learn how to quickly remove thorny vines blocking your path in Pokémon Legends Z-A. Discover which Fire-type moves work best and where to catch the right Pokémon early in Lumiose City.
How to Destroy Vines and Thorns in Pokémon Legends Z-A
If you’ve been exploring Lumiose City in Pokémon Legends Z-A, you’ve probably run into those annoying thorny vines blocking pathways, hiding items, and generally getting in your way. And if you’re like many trainers, you might be wondering: “Do I need the Cut HM from older games?“
The good news? You don’t need Cut at all. The solution is actually way simpler—and it ties into the game’s new obstacle-clearing mechanics that reward type advantages.
The Simple Answer: Burn Them Down
Just like clearing purple sludge or smashing boulders throughout the city, thorny vines are removed by exploiting their weakness. In this case, you need to hit them with Fire-type attacks.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Any Fire-type move works (Ember, Flamethrower, Fire Fang, etc.)
- You must have a Fire-type Pokémon in your party
- Simply summon your Fire Pokémon near the vines and use the attack
- Multiple vines close together will burn away at once
It’s honestly satisfying watching those brambles go up in flames!
Best Early Fire Pokémon for Removing Vines
Unless you picked Tepig as your Kanto starter Pokémon (or got lucky with your starter choice), you’ll need to catch a Fire-type specifically for this task. Fortunately, Lumiose City offers some solid early-game options:
Fletchling – The Easiest Early Option
Fletchling is probably your best bet if you’re still in the early zones:
- Where to find: Common throughout the city, especially in Wild Zone 1
- When it learns Fire moves: Around level 10 (learns Ember)
- Why it’s great: Easy to catch, evolves into the powerful Talonflame later
Pro tip: Fletchling starts with Normal and Flying-type moves, so you’ll need to level it up a bit before it can actually help with vines. Just battle some wild Pokémon or check out our fast travel guide to quickly move between training spots.
Litleo – A Solid Alternative
If you’ve progressed a bit further in the story:
- Where to find: Wild Zone 3 (accessible during main story progression)
- Advantage: Already Fire-type from the start
- Bonus: Evolves into the majestic Pyroar
Need help navigating the Wild Zones? Check out our guides for Wild Zone 2, Wild Zone 4, and Wild Zone 6.
How the Vine-Clearing Mechanic Actually Works
Once you’ve got your Fire Pokémon ready, the process is straightforward:
- Approach the thorny vines blocking your path
- Summon your Fire-type Pokémon (if not already out)
- Select any Fire-type move and target the vines
- Watch them burn away instantly
- Wait a few seconds for the move cooldown before tackling the next patch
Important note: There’s a brief cooldown period between uses. You can’t just spam Fire attacks—your Pokémon needs a moment to recharge. This prevents you from blazing through (pun intended) every obstacle without any pacing.
What Rewards Do You Get for Clearing Vines?
Unlike some busy work in games, destroying thorns actually gives you tangible benefits:
Experience Points
- Your Fire Pokémon gains a small XP boost for each vine patch destroyed
- This XP goes directly to the Pokémon that used the move (not shared with your party)
- It’s a nice little bonus while exploring
Hidden Items Galore
This is where things get interesting. Many vine patches hide valuable items underneath:
- Red glow: Common items
- Purple glow: Uncommon items
- Yellow glow: Rare items (definitely worth burning those vines!)
Some items you might find include Tiny Mushrooms, Colorful Screws, evolution items, and crafting materials.
Exploration tip: Even if you don’t see a colored glow, it’s still worth clearing vines in new areas. The XP adds up, and you might discover shortcuts or pathways that make navigating Lumiose City much easier.
Why Did Pokémon Legends Z-A Change This Mechanic?
Long-time Pokémon fans might feel nostalgic for the old HM system where Cut was a required field move. But honestly? This new approach is way better for several reasons:
The old way (HMs):
- Required wasting a move slot on a mediocre attack
- Forced you to carry specific Pokémon just for field navigation
- Limited team-building creativity
The new way (type-based obstacles):
- Encourages having diverse team types
- Makes logical sense (fire burns plants!)
- Rewards exploration with XP
- Doesn’t permanently lock up move slots
It’s a small change that makes Legends Z-A feel more modern and less restrictive. Plus, it fits perfectly with the game’s emphasis on environmental interaction and urban redevelopment in Lumiose City.
Additional Tips for Vine Management
Build a balanced team early: Having Fire, Water, Fighting, and other key types ready helps with all obstacles. Our Mega Evolution tier list can help you plan ahead.
Don’t stress about missing vines: You can always change the time of day and revisit areas. Nothing is permanently missable.
Mark your map: If you find vines blocking something interesting but don’t have a Fire Pokémon yet, mentally note the location (or screenshot it) to return later.
Alpha Pokémon sometimes lurk near vines: Keep your guard up when clearing brambles in remote areas. Check our Alpha Pokémon guide for battle strategies.
Final Thoughts
Removing vines in Pokémon Legends Z-A is refreshingly simple once you know the trick—just bring Fire-type moves and let your Pokémon do what they do best. It’s way more intuitive than the old HM system, rewards exploration with items and XP, and feels thematically appropriate.
Whether you’re hunting for that elusive Master Ball, looking to catch rare Pokémon like Flabébé, or just want to fully explore every corner of Lumiose City, clearing those thorny obstacles is essential.
So grab a Fletchling or Litleo, level them up a bit, and start burning your way to adventure!
For more Pokémon Legends Z-A coverage, visit the official Pokémon Legends page or grab your copy from the Nintendo Store.
