Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Complete Larvitar Location and Evolution Guide to Tyranitar

Larvitar is one of those Pokémon that trainers immediately recognize as a future powerhouse. This little Rock/Ground-type might look unassuming, but it evolves into Tyranitar—one of the most dominant Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon in the series. With access to Mega Evolution in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Tyranitar becomes even more valuable.

The question is: where do you actually find Larvitar in Lumiose City? And more importantly, is there a way to catch it early without waiting for story progression? Let’s dive into all the spawn locations, plus a clever rooftop trick that lets you snag Larvitar (or even an Alpha Larvitar) way earlier than intended.

Where to Find Larvitar in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Larvitar has time-specific spawns in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which means you’ll need to hunt at the right time of day:

Daytime spawns:

• Certain rooftop locations in Lumiose City (accessible early with a trick)
• Vert Sector 2 rooftop area

Evening/Night spawns:

• Wild Zone 15

The most accessible—and exciting—spawn location is the Vert Sector 2 rooftop, which you can reach through a parkour exploit early in the game. This same spot also has a chance to spawn Alpha Larvitar, making it worth the effort to master the technique.

Early Access: Rooftop Parkour Trick to Catch Larvitar

If you’ve gotten comfortable with the Roll/Vault movement mechanics, you can access Larvitar’s rooftop spawn way before the game expects you to. This is similar to sequence-breaking techniques in other open-world games—totally legitimate, just requires some precise movement.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Fast travel to Vert Plaza (Wild Area 2)
2. Climb the stairs and follow the park path toward a ladder on the right side (check your map for exact positioning)
3. Dodge the Bellsprout enemies and climb up onto the green roof
4. Navigate to the boxes on the opposite side and climb on top of them
5. Stick to the border and carefully angle your right stick upward to reach the edge of the collision boundary
6. Press and release Y/B while pushing the stick forward simultaneously—this should make your trainer roll and drop onto the opposite roof
7. Follow the path to find Larvitar or Alpha Larvitar spawning nearby

Important note: This trick takes some practice. If you’re struggling with the timing or keep falling, don’t get discouraged. The collision detection can be finicky, but once you nail the rhythm, it becomes repeatable.

Alternative Access (Post-Mission 16)

If parkour exploits aren’t your thing, you can wait until you clear Main Mission 16, which unlocks Rotom Glide. This hovering ability makes accessing rooftop areas trivial, eliminating the need for any movement tricks.

However, if you want Larvitar for your early-game team, mastering the rooftop trick is absolutely worth it. Having a future Tyranitar available early gives you a massive advantage as you progress through the story.

For tips on building a strong early team, check out our guide on the best early Pokémon to catch.

Wild Zone 15 Spawn (Evening Method)

If you’d rather skip the rooftop gymnastics entirely, Larvitar also spawns in Wild Zone 15 during evening and nighttime hours.

To change the time of day, find a bench and select “Spend Time” to advance the clock. For more details on this mechanic, see our guide on how to change time between day and night.

Wild Zone 15 unlocks later in the game compared to Vert Plaza, so this method is more for players who’ve already made significant story progress. For a complete breakdown of all Wild Zones, check our complete Wild Zones guide.

Why You Should Hunt for Alpha Larvitar

The Vert Sector 2 rooftop has a chance to spawn Alpha Larvitar instead of the regular version. Alpha Pokémon are significantly larger, have better stats, and look absolutely intimidating when fully evolved.

An Alpha Tyranitar is one of the most visually impressive Pokémon you can have on your team, and the stat boost makes it even more powerful in battle. If you’re going through the effort of the rooftop trick anyway, it’s worth resetting a few times to try for the Alpha spawn.

For more information on Alpha mechanics and spawn rates, check our dedicated Alpha Pokémon guide.

How to Evolve Larvitar into Pupitar and Tyranitar

The evolution path for Larvitar is straightforward with no special conditions—just good old-fashioned level grinding:

Larvitar → Pupitar (Level 30)

Train Larvitar until it reaches level 30, then evolve it through your Party Menu. Pupitar is a pure Rock-type cocoon Pokémon that maintains decent defensive stats while you grind toward the final evolution.

Pupitar → Tyranitar (Level 55)

Keep training until Pupitar hits level 55, then evolve it into Tyranitar. This is when your investment really pays off—Tyranitar has a Base Stat Total of 600, placing it firmly in Pseudo-Legendary territory.

Some efficient leveling spots include:

• Wild Zone 11 for Water-type training targets
• Higher-level Wild Zones as you progress
• Story battles and trainer encounters

Tyranitar → Mega Tyranitar (Mega Evolution)

The final form requires the Tyranitarite Mega Stone, which you obtain by completing Main Mission 38: A Rogue Mega Tyranitar. This is a late-game mission, so you’ll need to be patient.

Once you have Tyranitarite, Tyranitar can Mega Evolve during combat, transforming into Mega Tyranitar with a Base Stat Total of 700—the same as Mega Dragonite.

Mega Tyranitar’s Stats and Strategy

When Tyranitar Mega Evolves, it receives impressive stat boosts:

• +30 Attack
• +40 Defense
• +20 Special Defense
• +10 Speed

This distribution makes Mega Tyranitar incredibly tanky while maintaining devastating offensive power. The Defense boost is particularly notable, turning it into a physical wall that can also hit back hard.

Recommended EV Spread

For optimal performance, invest EVs using a 252/252/6 distribution:

• 252 EVs in Attack – Maximizes physical damage output
• 252 EVs in HP – Increases overall bulk and survivability
• 6 EVs in Speed – Small boost to outspeed specific threats

This spread emphasizes Mega Tyranitar’s role as a durable physical attacker that can take hits and respond with overwhelming force.

Ideal Moveset for Mega Tyranitar

Here’s the recommended moveset to maximize Mega Tyranitar’s potential:

Core moves:

• Crunch – STAB Dark-type attack, high power
• Heavy Slam – Takes advantage of Tyranitar’s weight for massive damage
• Earthquake or Rock Blast – Coverage and STAB respectively
• Giga Impact – Nuclear option for finishing weakened opponents

Alternative coverage:

• Outrage – Excellent counter for Mega Dragonite and other Dragon-types

This moveset provides strong type coverage while capitalizing on Mega Tyranitar’s exceptional Attack stat. The combination of Dark and Rock-type STAB moves, plus coverage options, makes it threatening to a wide variety of opponents.

How Tyranitar Ranks Among Top Pokémon

Tyranitar sits comfortably among the strongest Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, thanks to its Pseudo-Legendary stats and powerful Mega Evolution. With a 700 BST in Mega form, it matches other top-tier threats like Mega Salamence and Mega Garchomp.

What sets Tyranitar apart is its defensive profile. While most Pseudo-Legendaries lean toward offensive stats, Mega Tyranitar’s boosted Defense lets it function as both an attacker and a tank—a rare combination that makes it valuable for difficult battles.

For context on how Mega Tyranitar fits into the competitive landscape, check out our Mega Evolution tier list.

Tyranitar’s Weaknesses to Watch Out For

Despite its incredible power, Tyranitar has some notable vulnerabilities:

• 4x weakness to Fighting-type moves – This is the big one; a strong Fighting attack can OHKO Tyranitar
• Weaknesses to Water, Grass, Ground, Bug, Steel, and Fairy
• Relatively low Speed even after Mega Evolution

To mitigate these weaknesses:

• Avoid obvious Fighting-type matchups
• Use coverage moves like Outrage to handle threats
• Pair Tyranitar with teammates that cover its vulnerabilities
• Consider status conditions to control faster opponents

Is Larvitar Worth the Early Hunt?

Absolutely. While Tyranitar doesn’t reach its full potential until late game (when you get Tyranitarite), having it on your team early provides:

• A future powerhouse that scales with you throughout the story
• Strong Rock/Dark typing with excellent coverage
• Intimidating presence in battles
• A Pseudo-Legendary that can handle most content

The rooftop trick might seem like a hassle, but investing 10-15 minutes to catch an early Larvitar (or Alpha Larvitar) pays massive dividends as you progress through the game.

Final Thoughts on Catching Larvitar

Larvitar represents one of the best long-term investments you can make in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Whether you use the early rooftop trick or wait for Wild Zone 15 access, adding this Pokémon to your roster sets you up for success in late-game content.

The evolution grind to level 55 is significant, but Tyranitar’s 600 BST and eventual Mega Evolution make it worthwhile. Few Pokémon offer the combination of power, bulk, and versatility that Mega Tyranitar brings to the table.

If you’re building a competitive team, Tyranitar should absolutely be on your radar alongside other heavy hitters from our strongest Pokémon rankings.

For more information about Pokémon Legends: Z-A, visit the official Pokémon Legends website or grab your copy from the Nintendo Store.

Now get out there and catch that Larvitar, trainer!