Dratini doesn’t live in the Wild Zones in Pokémon Legends Z‑A. It spawns on rooftops around Lumiose City, most reliably during the day. While it can appear on several buildings, one rooftop is consistently worth the trip: the roof of Restaurant Le Nah in the city’s eastern side. Reaching it is a short platforming sequence, and once you’re up there you’ll see Dratini idling on a raised section of the roof.

Fastest route: Restaurant Le Nah rooftop

  • Travel to Restaurant Le Nah’s area in eastern Lumiose City.
  • Climb the building immediately south of the restaurant to get rooftop height.
  • From that rooftop, sprint toward the gap and perform a midair roll (press Y) to clear the divide to Le Nah’s roof.
  • Head north along the roofline; Dratini typically spawns on the far side.
Tip: If Dratini isn’t present, it’s often because of time or rotation. Swap to daytime and fast travel away and back to recheck the spawn.

Traversal and unlocks you may need

Early in the story you’ll unlock city traversal that makes rooftop routes straightforward. Some rooftops demand gliding or adjacent‑roof platforming; the Restaurant Le Nah route can be done with a sprint and midair roll. Either way, expect at least one gap that requires a committed jump.

Spawn rules, despawns, and how to force a recheck

  • Where: Rooftops around Lumiose City (not Wild Zones).
  • When: Daytime is the dependable window.
  • Behavior: If Dratini notices you, it immediately flees and despawns.
  • Respawn: Typically after a day; advancing time and revisiting the roof refreshes the check.

Practical loop: Set time to day, check the Le Nah rooftop, then fast travel out and back if it isn’t there. Repeat until it spawns.

Nearby distraction: the Alpha Flabébé

An Alpha Flabébé often patrols near Dratini’s spot. You don’t have to engage it, but if it interferes with your approach, quickly knock it out to clear line of sight. That reduces the chance of alerting Dratini while you line up your throw.

Stealth capture that actually sticks

  • Approach from behind using crouch and cover. Dratini flees instantly once it sees you.
  • Open with a thrown Quick Ball while still undetected, aimed at its back for a higher chance.
  • If it turns or you’re unsure, you can initiate a sneak battle and secure a one‑hit knockout to trigger the catch window that follows.
  • Ultra Balls also work well if you prefer to battle first and set up the capture from behind.

Save‑scum safety net: Make a manual save before you cross the final gap. If Dratini bolts or a throw misses, reload the save and try again without waiting a full day cycle.

At‑a‑glance reference

Item Details
Primary spawn Rooftops across Lumiose City; Restaurant Le Nah roof is the most reliable check
Time of day Day
Access Climb the building south of Le Nah, sprint and midair roll (Y) across the gap
Threats Alpha Flabébé near the spawn; ignore or remove quickly
Behavior Instantly flees on sight; respawns typically after one in‑game day
Best capture Stealth from behind with a Quick Ball; or battle, KO in a sneak attack, then use Ultra Ball in the catch window
Evolution path Dratini → Dragonair (Lv. 30) → Dragonite (Lv. 55)

Why get Dratini early

Securing Dratini early accelerates access to Dragonair at level 30 and Dragonite at level 55, giving you a durable dragon‑type line for mid‑ and late‑game fights. The Le Nah rooftop route lets you check quickly and repeatably without trekking through Wild Zones.

If you’re building a party for later evolutions, set a daytime loop to the Restaurant Le Nah rooftop, keep Quick Balls stocked, and treat each approach like a stealth puzzle. The catch will come down to timing and patience more than raw power.