Early battles in Lumiose City reward teams that cover common types, hit first, and don’t crumble to Rogue Mega Pokémon. You don’t need perfect IVs or endgame items to get there—just a smart core you can assemble in the opening zones and a plan for your first Mega later.

Core principles for early team building (Legends Z-A)

  • Cover the basics: aim for Fire/Water/Grass or Fighting/Psychic/Dark coverage so nothing walls your squad.
  • Pick one future Mega to build toward. Only one Pokémon can Mega Evolve per battle, so the rest of the team should support that choice.
  • Balance your leveling. Rotating party members is more reliable than over-leveling a starter, especially with tougher trainer fights and Z-A Royale clashes.

The best early pickups (what to catch or grab first)

Pokémon Where to find it early Why it belongs Notes
Your starter (Chikorita, Totodile, or Tepig) Starter selection Reliable growth curve from the first quest; forms the backbone of Fire/Water/Grass coverage. Pair with the opposite Kanto starter later for easy coverage.
Heracross Trade with Tracie for a Pikachu in Passage du Palais (Side Mission 2) Hits hard immediately; Bug/Fighting deletes early Grass-types and bulky targets. The traded Heracross (named Bois) arrives early with strong moves like Brick Break, Close Combat, and Megahorn.
Bunnelby Catching tutorial, Wild Zone 1 Early Normal attacker with great utility. Destroys obstacles, helps gather Mega Shards, and checks Electric-types once it grows.
Fletchling → Fletchinder → Talonflame Catching tutorial, Wild Zone 1 Fast Fire/Flying offense trivializes many early encounters. Access to Flare Blitz, Brave Bird, and Steel Wing for high-pressure physical play.
Mareep → Ampharos First Wild Area during the intro; Side Mission 17 grants a Shiny Mareep Dependable Electric coverage now, powerful Mega option later (Electric/Dragon). Ampharos has excellent special bulk and Cotton Guard for setup windows.
Eevee (various evolutions) Near Vernal Pokémon Center: break rocks with Rock Smash to reach a small park; a Level 14 Eevee roams here Flex slot for evolving into the type your team lacks (Vaporeon, Jolteon, Leafeon, etc.). Approach in stealth and throw a Quick Ball before it flees.
Tip: Alpha Pokémon spawn at higher levels and can carry early zones while the rest of your party catches up on XP.

High-impact additions after your first zones

  • Riolu → Lucario (Cafe Soleil area, near South Boulevard): climb the ladder to find an Alpha Riolu. Save before climbing. Boost friendship with café drinks to evolve quickly. Lucario offers immediate Fighting/Steel pressure and is a strong future Mega pick.
  • Dratini → Dragonite (Restaurant Le Nah, southeast Lumiose near Vert Sector 6): rooftop spawn with an Alpha possibility. It’s a tricky catch, but landing one early sets you up for a late-game sweeper.
  • Kanto starters (Side Mission 22): pick Charmander, Squirtle, or Bulbasaur to complement your main starter and lock in Fire/Water/Grass balance.
  • Fossils (Side Mission 27 + Stone Emporium): Aerodactyl is the cleanest early payoff—no further evolution needed and a potent future Mega.
  • Elemental monkeys (Pansage, Pansear, Panpour): found on rooftops or in trees around Lumiose; evolve with stones to patch coverage gaps early.
  • Early utility picks: Abra evolves fast into a strong Psychic attacker; Honedge’s Ghost/Steel typing is valuable throughout the story.

Starter-based early teams (plug-and-play builds)

These squads prioritize type coverage, tempo, and a clear path to a single Mega later. Swap one slot for an Alpha if you snag one early.

If you picked… Suggested early team (6) Why this works Mega plan (later)
Tepig (Fire) Tepig line, Mareep line, Heracross, Bunnelby, Eevee → Vaporeon, Fletchling → Talonflame Immediate Fighting (Heracross), Electric (Mareep), Water (Vaporeon) round out Fire. Bunnelby adds utility; Talonflame gives speed and priority pressure. Ampharos or Lucario depending on what you evolve and catch next.
Totodile (Water) Totodile line, Fletchling → Talonflame, Heracross, Mareep, Eevee → Leafeon or Jolteon, Bunnelby Fire/Flying covers Grass and Bug swarms; Heracross handles bulky foes; Electric or Grass Eeveelution patches coverage. Bunnelby remains your field tool. Ampharos pairs well; Aerodactyl if you rush fossils.
Chikorita (Grass) Chikorita line, Fletchling → Talonflame, Mareep, Heracross, Eevee → Vaporeon, Bunnelby Fire and Electric stabilize early matchups; Vaporeon shores up Fire/Rock weaknesses; Heracross gives you a breaker for early Royale fights. Ampharos for balance or Lucario if you secure Riolu early.
Note: If you complete the mission that grants a Kanto starter, choose the one that fills your biggest hole (for example, Squirtle if you opened Tepig, Bulbasaur if you opened Totodile).

Where each pick shines in the story

  • Z-A Royale bouts: Fast openers like Talonflame and hard-hitting Heracross win initiative and force favorable trades.
  • Rogue Mega encounters: Building toward one consistent Mega—Ampharos, Lucario, or Aerodactyl—keeps your game plan simple. Use your non-Mega slots for resistances and status support.
  • Exploration loops: Bunnelby’s field utility (obstacle clearing, Mega Shards) speeds up progression and resource gathering.

Leveling and evolution shortcuts that matter

  • Friendship evolutions: Café drinks push Riolu to Lucario quickly—do this as soon as you catch it.
  • Alpha advantage: A single early Alpha can handle Wild and Battle Zones while the rest of your team gains passive XP.
  • Stone evolutions: The elemental monkey trio evolves the moment you commit stones—use them to instantly fix a missing coverage type.

One-Mega mindset (and why it keeps you winning)

Pick a single cornerstone Mega and let the other five slots support it with resistances, pivoting, or speed control. Ampharos adds Electric/Dragon bulk and special pressure, Lucario offers mixed attacking and priority options, and Aerodactyl enables hyperfast openings. Decide early which lane you’ll take so your TMs, items, and training time aren’t spread thin.

The simplest path to a winning early team is still the most reliable: secure Heracross, grab Fletchling and Mareep in your first zone, keep Bunnelby for field work, and evolve an Eevee into whatever your coverage is missing. Layer in Riolu or a rooftop Dragon if you’re feeling ambitious, then commit to one Mega plan. You’ll feel the payoff as soon as Z-A Royale ranks start climbing.