Large gray boulders show up almost immediately in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, blocking alleys, shortcuts, and story routes. You don’t need a mount or a special tool to clear them—you’ll use your own Pokémon’s moves in the field. The first method you’ll unlock is Rock Smash, and you can get it within the opening missions.

Get Rock Smash early (and why you need it)

During the opening questline, you’re asked to catch five different species in Wild Area 1. After turning that in, you’re introduced to Mable at the Research Lab. Your first reward from helping with her research is TM Rock Smash. You’ll need it to push the main story forward and to reach early side paths.

Note: The starter trio cannot learn Rock Smash. Plan to teach it to a different early-game Pokémon.

Who to teach Rock Smash to first

Bunnelby spawns right away in Wild Area 1 and is a reliable early Rock Smash user. Catch one as you clear the “five species” task so you’re ready to teach the move as soon as you obtain the TM.

Teach Rock Smash and break your first boulder

  1. Press X to open the main menu and select Satchel. Use L/R to switch to the TMs tab.
  1. Choose TM Rock Smash and select Use this item, then pick a compatible Pokémon to learn it.
  1. Stand in front of a boulder and send out your Pokémon with the directional buttons.
  1. Hold ZL to target the boulder and command your Pokémon to use Rock Smash. The rock breaks immediately, opening the path.
Tip: Rock Smash’s TM is reusable. Teaching it does not consume the TM, so you can freely move the move between team members as your party changes.

Other moves that can break boulders

You’re not locked to Rock Smash forever. Several high-impact attacks can also destroy stone boulders once you have access to them. Examples include:

  • Rollout
  • Heat Crash
  • Iron Tail

Physical Fighting- and Rock-type attacks are a safe bet early on, with Rock Smash being the most accessible option.

What clears other field obstacles

Beyond stone boulders, Lumiose City scatters a few other blockers that each respond to a different move type. Here’s a quick reference:

Obstacle How to clear it Examples
Stone boulders Use high‑impact attacks Rock Smash, Rollout, Heat Crash, Iron Tail
Thorny brambles Burn them with Fire‑type moves Flame Wheel, Heat Crash
Purple sludge Wash it away with Water‑type moves Any Water attack with reach
Spider‑web ropes Hit with a ranged attack to extend into a bridge Any long‑range move
Ice sheets Melt or form a path using Fire‑type moves Any Fire attack with reach

Make a utility slot in your party

Keeping one slot flexible for “field utility” saves time. Early on, a Bunnelby with Rock Smash handles most stone boulders you’ll see, and you can rotate in Fire- or Water‑type coverage as you encounter brambles, ice, or sludge. Since the Rock Smash TM isn’t single‑use, you can reassign it later to a sturdier team member without penalty.

Once you’ve taught Rock Smash and cleared your first boulder, keep an eye out for side alleys you passed earlier—many hide early items and shortcuts that are now within reach.