Wild Zone 12 is where Pokémon Legends: Z-A really starts throwing Ice-types at you in bulk. This frozen landscape is home to 10 total Pokémon (8 regular species plus 2 Alphas), making it one of the more densely populated zones you’ll encounter. It’s also your first real opportunity to build a serious Ice-type team if that’s your thing.
But Wild Zone 12 isn’t just about catching Pokémon—there’s a crucial Ice Beam TM hidden here that you’ll need for Main Mission 19, plus some tricky spawns like the notoriously skittish Delibird. Let me walk you through exactly where to find everything, including the best routes to maximize your efficiency.
When Does Wild Zone 12 Unlock?
Wild Zone 12 becomes accessible after you reach Rank E by defeating Canari, the Electric-type streamer, during Main Mission 14. This is the same unlock requirement as Wild Zone 11, so you’ll gain access to both areas simultaneously.
Once you’ve cleared that mission, you can start exploring this icy wonderland and adding some powerful Ice-types to your roster.
All Pokémon in Wild Zone 12 (Complete List)
Wild Zone 12 contains eight regular Pokémon species and two guaranteed Alpha spawns:
Regular Pokémon:
- Snover
- Snorunt
- Vanillite
- Machop
- Machoke
- Gogoat
- Bergmite
- Delibird
Alpha Pokémon:
- Alpha Abomasnow (Level 44)
- Alpha Avalugg (Level 54)
The variety here is actually pretty solid—you’ve got Ice-types galore, some Fighting-types, and even a Grass-type thrown in. Let’s break down each spawn location.
Snover Location
Time: Day/Night (always available)
Snover spawns near the large playground area in the southeastern section of Wild Zone 12. Be careful approaching them—Snover are highly aggressive and will attack on sight.
Snover evolves into Abomasnow, which you’ll also encounter as an Alpha in this zone. If you’re building an Ice/Grass-type for your team, this is a solid option.
Snorunt Location (Froslass Evolution Tip!)
Time: Day/Night (always available)
Nearly a dozen Snorunt roam the center of Wild Zone 12, out on the open snow. They’re hard to miss given how many spawn here.
Important evolution info:
- All Snorunt evolve into Glalie at level 42
- Female Snorunt can evolve into Froslass using a Dawn Stone
- Froslass has a new Mega Evolution in this game
If you want to get Mega Froslass, you need to catch a female Snorunt specifically. Here’s how to tell the difference:
- Blue icon above the health bar = Male
- Red icon above the health bar = Female
Froslass is one of the more unique Ice-types available, so if you’re interested in trying out its Mega form, make sure you grab a female from this zone.
Vanillite Location
Time: Day/Night (always available)
There are two Vanillite spawns in Wild Zone 12:
- One floating near the Snorunt in the center of the zone
- Another near the Bergmite spawn locations (detailed below)
Vanillite is a pure Ice-type that evolves into Vanillish and eventually Vanilluxe. It’s not the strongest option available, but if you’re a completionist or just love Ice Cream Pokémon, here’s where to find them.
Machop and Machoke Location (Ice Beam TM!)
Time: Day/Night (always available)
Two Machop and one Machoke can be found in the Pokémon battle arena in the northern part of Wild Zone 12. To access them, you’ll need to destroy the boulders blocking the way to the arena.
CRITICAL ITEM: The Ice Beam TM can be picked up directly in the middle of this arena, guarded by the Machoke. This TM is crucial to complete Main Mission 19, so don’t skip it. For more details on this mission, check our guide on how to get Ice Beam.
The Fighting-types here provide some nice type diversity if you need a strong physical attacker for your team. Machoke can also be evolved into Machamp if you’re building a Fighting-type specialist roster.
Gogoat Location
Time: Day/Night (always available)
There are two Gogoat in Wild Zone 12:
- One standing near the grassy section in the northeastern corner
- Another roaming near the tall iceberg and trees near the center of the zone
Gogoat is a pure Grass-type, which feels a bit out of place in this frozen landscape, but it’s there if you need it. Not the strongest Pokémon available, but it can fill a Grass-type slot if your team needs one.
Delibird Location (Tricky Spawn!)
Time: Day/Night (always available)
Delibird is the most annoying Pokémon to catch in Wild Zone 12 due to its skittish behavior:
Spawn locations:
- Near the southern gate entrance
- Next to the caged-off battle arena with Machoke, near the boulders
The problem: Delibird are extremely skittish and will flee immediately if they spot you. The other Pokémon in the area are aggressive and will interrupt any stealth attempts.
Best catching strategy:
- Don’t try to sneak up on Delibird—use a Quick Ball instead
- Fast travel to Wild Zone 12, enter, and immediately look left
- If you spot a Delibird, throw your Quick Ball right away
- If no Delibird spawns, fast travel away and back again to reset spawns
- Repeat until you catch one
Each time you fast travel, all spawns in the zone reset, so you can farm for Delibird spawns using this method. It’s tedious, but it’s the most reliable way to catch this elusive Ice/Flying-type.
Bergmite Location (Bridge Puzzle!)
Time: Day/Night (always available)
Near the southern entrance of Wild Zone 12, you’ll find stairs that go down a level, close to the Delibird spawn location.
To access Bergmite:
- Go down the stairs
- Use a Fire-type attack to melt the ice structure
- The melted ice transforms into a bridge you can cross
- Find two Bergmite—one near the bridge, another further along the path
This is a nice environmental puzzle that shows how elemental attacks interact with the world. Make sure you have a Fire-type move on at least one of your Pokémon to solve this.
Bergmite evolves into Avalugg, which you’ll also encounter as an Alpha in this zone.
Alpha Abomasnow Location
Time: Day/Night (always available)
Level: 44
Behavior: Aggressive
The Alpha Abomasnow roams the area near the battle arena where you found Machop and Machoke. This is the evolved form of the Snover you encountered earlier.
Strategy tip: Abomasnow is Ice/Grass-type, which means Fire-type attacks are 4x super effective against it. Bring a strong Fire-type move and you can take it down quickly despite its Alpha stats.
For more tips on handling Alpha encounters, check our dedicated Alpha Pokémon guide.
Alpha Avalugg Location (Bonus Ice Stone!)
Time: Day/Night (always available)
Level: 54
Behavior: Extremely tanky and highly aggressive
The Alpha Avalugg is swimming near the second Bergmite spawn, accessible after you’ve melted the ice bridge. This is one of the tankier Alphas you’ll encounter in the game.
Battle strategy:
- Use Fighting or Fire-type moves for super effective damage
- Expect a long battle—Avalugg has incredible Defense
- Bring plenty of healing items
Bonus item: An Ice Stone can be picked up at the end of the ice path that hugs the wall around the pool of water where Avalugg resides. Ice Stones are used for specific Pokémon evolutions, so grab it while you’re here.
If you need a powerful Ice-type for your endgame team, Alpha Avalugg is a solid choice—just be prepared for the battle to test your patience.
Recommended Route for 100% Completion
Here’s the most efficient path through Wild Zone 12:
Phase 1 – Southern Section:
- Enter through the southern gate
- Immediately look left for Delibird (use Quick Ball if present)
- Go down the stairs and melt the ice bridge with a Fire-type move
- Catch both Bergmite along the path
- Battle Alpha Avalugg and grab the Ice Stone
Phase 2 – Central Area:
- Head to the open snow in the center
- Catch Snorunt (remember: red icon = female for Froslass)
- Grab both Vanillite spawns in this area
- Find both Gogoat (one near center iceberg, one in northeastern grass)
Phase 3 – Northern Section:
- Destroy boulders to access the battle arena
- Catch Machop and Machoke
- GRAB ICE BEAM TM from the center of the arena
- Battle Alpha Abomasnow nearby
Phase 4 – Southeastern Playground:
- Head to the playground area
- Catch Snover (watch out for aggression)
- Check for the second Delibird spawn near the caged arena
This route minimizes backtracking and ensures you don’t miss any items or spawns.
Team Building Tips for Wild Zone 12
Given the Ice-type focus, here are some strategic considerations:
Bring these types:
- Fire-types – 4x effective against Ice/Grass combos, plus you need Fire to melt the ice bridge
- Fighting-types – Super effective against the Ice-types and useful for Alpha Avalugg
- Steel-types – Resist Ice-type attacks well
Avoid these types:
- Grass-types – Ice moves will shred them
- Flying-types – Also weak to Ice
- Dragon-types – Ice moves are 2x or 4x effective
If you’ve been following our guides, you might have caught a Larvitar by now. While Larvitar isn’t ideal for this zone (Rock/Ground doesn’t resist Ice particularly well), it can still hold its own if you’ve been leveling it.
For long-term team building around Ice-types, check out our strongest Pokémon rankings to see where these catches fit in the meta.
Key Items You Can’t Miss
Wild Zone 12 contains two crucial items:
- Ice Beam TM – Required for Main Mission 19, found in the battle arena
- Ice Stone – Evolution item, found near Alpha Avalugg’s pool
Don’t leave this zone without both of these items. The Ice Beam TM is particularly important since it gates story progression.
What to Do After Completing Wild Zone 12
Once you’ve achieved 100% completion in Wild Zone 12, consider exploring:
- Wild Zone 11 for Water-type Pokémon
- Other zones in our complete Wild Zones guide
- Work on special evolutions for your newly caught Pokémon
If you caught a female Snorunt, make sure to grab a Dawn Stone and evolve it into Froslass to try out its new Mega Evolution.
Final Thoughts on Wild Zone 12
Wild Zone 12 is one of the more rewarding zones to fully explore, offering excellent Ice-type diversity and two crucial items for story progression. The environmental puzzle with the ice bridge adds a nice touch of interactivity, and the Alpha encounters provide a decent challenge without being overwhelming.
The Delibird spawn can be frustrating, but the Quick Ball + fast travel method makes it manageable. Just be patient and you’ll eventually get one to spawn in a catchable location.
Overall, this zone is a must-complete for anyone serious about building a strong team or progressing through the main story efficiently.
For more information about Pokémon Legends: Z-A, visit the official Pokémon Legends website or grab your copy from the Nintendo Store.
Happy hunting in the frozen wastes, trainer!
