Complete Guide to Unlocking Starter Mega Evolutions in Pokémon Legends Z-A

Mega Evolution is the beating heart of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and if you’re like most trainers, you probably want to see all three starter Pokémon—Feraligatr, Meganium, and Emboar—reach their Mega Evolution forms. The good news? You can absolutely get all three Mega Stones in a single playthrough. The catch? It requires completing the main story, spending a hefty chunk of Pokédollars, and knowing exactly where to look.

Let me walk you through everything you need to know about unlocking starter Mega Evolutions, from your initial choice at the beginning of the game to collecting every Mega Stone post-game.

Choosing Your Starting Pokémon

Right at the start of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, you’ll face the classic starter decision. This time around, you’re choosing between three Pokémon from different generations:

Your starter options:

• Totodile (Water-type) → evolves into Croconaw → Feraligatr
• Chikorita (Grass-type) → evolves into Bayleef → Meganium
• Tepig (Fire-type) → evolves into Pignite → Emboar

This is a pretty big decision since these three represent different generations and playstyles. Totodile and Chikorita are from Generation II (Johto), while Tepig comes from Generation V (Unova). Each brings something unique to the table, and if you’re building a competitive team, you might want to check out our strongest Pokémon rankings to see how they stack up.

Here’s the kicker: Once you make your choice, you’re locked in until post-game. You won’t be able to catch the other two starters until you’ve beaten the main story and unlocked specific content.

Getting Your First Starter Mega Stone (The Free One)

After you’ve chosen your starter and raised it to its final evolution, you’ll naturally want that Mega Stone. Fortunately, the game gives you one for free—but only for your chosen starter.

Main Mission 10: The Secrets of Mega Evolution

How it works:

• Progress through the main story until you reach Main Mission 10: The Secrets of Mega Evolution
• Complete this mission, which introduces you to the Mega Evolution mechanic
• After completing the mission, return to Hotel Z
• Accept all three of your companions’ missions
• AZ will gift you the Mega Stone that corresponds to your starter Pokémon

This is your first and only free Mega Stone for the starter line, so make sure you don’t miss it. The stone will match whichever starter you chose at the beginning—Feraligatr Mega Stone for Totodile, Meganium Mega Stone for Chikorita, or Emboar Mega Stone for Tepig.

If you’re curious about how Mega Evolution mechanics work in general, our Mega Evolution tier list breaks down which Mega forms are worth prioritizing throughout your playthrough.

How to Catch the Other Two Starters

So you’ve got your chosen starter and its Mega Stone, but what about the other two? That’s where post-game content comes into play.

Unlocking Wild Zone 20

After you roll credits and complete the main storyline, you’ll gain access to Main Mission 37, which is exclusively available in post-game. Completing this mission unlocks Wild Zone 20, and this is where the magic happens.

What makes Wild Zone 20 special:

• Home to all three Gen II/Gen V starters (Totodile, Chikorita, and Tepig)
• Also contains the Kanto starters: Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Charmander
• Basically a starter paradise for completionists

If you’re exploring other Wild Zones for rare Pokémon, you might also want to check out Wild Zone 11, Wild Zone 12, and Wild Zone 13 for additional catches.

Once you’ve caught the other two starters in Wild Zone 20, you’ll need to evolve them fully before they can use Mega Stones. Check our special evolutions guide if you need help with any tricky evolution requirements.

Buying the Remaining Mega Stones

Here’s where things get expensive. Once you’ve beaten the game and unlocked Wild Zone 20, the Stone Emporium (located in the southern half of Lumiose City) will automatically add the remaining starter Mega Stones to its inventory.

The Cost Breakdown

Prices for starter Mega Stones:

• One stone free from AZ (your original starter)
• Two stones at 100,000 Pokédollars each from Stone Emporium
• Total cost: 200,000 Pokédollars for the complete set

That’s a significant chunk of change. If you’re struggling to afford these stones, here are some money-making tips:

How to farm Pokédollars:

• Complete side missions and rank missions (like Question Bystanders at City Hall)
• Sell items you don’t need (like excess Tiny Mushrooms or Colorful Screws)
• Battle trainers repeatedly in various sectors
• Complete post-game missions that offer high rewards

Honestly, grinding for 200,000 Pokédollars takes time, but if you’re committed to having all three starter Mega Evolutions, it’s worth the investment. These Mega forms are powerful and add serious versatility to your team composition.

How to Use Mega Evolution in Battle

Once you’ve equipped your fully-evolved starter with its Mega Stone, you’re ready to unleash Mega Evolution during battles. Here’s how the mechanic works:

Step-by-step:

1. Give the Mega Stone to your fully-evolved starter to hold
2. Enter a battle with that Pokémon in your party
3. As the battle progresses, watch the Mega Evolution gauge at the bottom-right of the screen
4. Once the gauge fills completely, press the right analog stick (R↓) to trigger Mega Evolution
5. Your starter transforms mid-battle with boosted stats and sometimes new abilities

Important notes:

• You can only Mega Evolve once per battle
• The gauge fills based on actions taken during battle
• Mega Evolution lasts for the remainder of that battle
• Choose your timing wisely for maximum impact

If you’re looking to optimize your battle strategy, consider reading our guide on Plus Moves and Protect move strategy to maximize your Mega Evolved starter’s effectiveness.

Are Starter Mega Evolutions Worth It?

Let’s be real: spending 200,000 Pokédollars is a major commitment. So are these Mega Evolutions actually worth using?

Pros of starter Mega Evolutions:

• Significant stat boosts across the board
• Access to powerful forms that can handle late-game and post-game content
• Nostalgic appeal for fans of Johto and Unova regions
• Versatility in team building with three different type options

Cons to consider:

• Expensive to obtain all three stones
• Requires post-game access for two of them
• Must fully evolve starters before using Mega Stones
• Other Mega Evolutions might outperform them in competitive settings

If you’re a completionist or just love these particular Pokémon, absolutely go for it. However, if you’re purely min-maxing for the strongest possible team, you might want to compare them against other Mega Evolution options first.

That said, having variety is never a bad thing. Different situations call for different strategies, and having all three starter Mega forms gives you flexibility when tackling tough battles or exploring challenging Wild Zones.

Additional Starter Options: The Kanto Trio

Don’t forget that Wild Zone 20 also houses Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Charmander—the iconic Kanto starters. These three also have Mega Evolution forms available (especially Charizard, which has two Mega forms in many Pokémon games).

If you’re collecting starters, make sure to grab these three as well while you’re in Wild Zone 20. They expand your options significantly and provide even more team-building possibilities.

Navigation Tips for Finding the Stone Emporium

The Stone Emporium is located in the southern half of Lumiose City. If you’re having trouble navigating the city’s various sectors and rooftops, our guides on web bridges and cocoons and fast travel can help you get around more efficiently.

Since Lumiose City can be maze-like, especially when you’re dealing with verticality and rooftop exploration, having a clear mental map of where shops and important locations are saves tons of time.

Additional Resources

For more help with Pokémon Legends: Z-A, check out:

• Official Pokémon Legends website: https://legends.pokemon.com/
• Nintendo Store page: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/pokemon-legends-z-a-nintendo-switch-2-edition-switch-2/

Looking for more evolution help? Check out guides on Eevee and all Eeveelutions, Inkay to Malamar evolution, and Ralts evolution paths.

Final Thoughts

Unlocking all three starter Mega Evolutions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A is absolutely doable, but it requires patience, dedication, and a healthy bank of Pokédollars. You’ll get one Mega Stone for free early on, but completing your collection means beating the game, accessing Wild Zone 20, and dropping 200,000 Pokédollars at the Stone Emporium.

Is it worth it? If you love these starters or want maximum team flexibility, absolutely. There’s something satisfying about having Mega Feraligatr, Mega Meganium, and Mega Emboar all available in your arsenal. Plus, once you’ve invested the time and money, you’ll have powerful options for tackling any challenge the game throws at you.

Happy training, and may your Mega Evolutions be glorious!