The world of Pokémon Legends: Z-A is brimming with exciting creatures to discover and catch, but not all of them are created equal when it comes to the early stages of the game. If you're just starting out, you'll need a reliable team that can take on the challenges ahead. Here’s a look at the Top 10 Early-Game Pokémon to Catch in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, each offering unique advantages and strategies to help you succeed in the early portions of the game.
1. Piplup – Water-type Starter Pokémon
While not necessarily rare, Piplup is an excellent starter Pokémon with high potential. Its Water typing gives it an advantage over Fire-types, a common enemy early on. With the right training, Piplup can evolve into the powerful Empoleon, providing you with a strong, versatile member on your team.
2. Shinx – Electric-type Powerhouse
Early in the game, Shinx is one of the most reliable Pokémon you can catch. Its Electric typing makes it useful against Water- and Flying-types, giving it an edge in many battles. Shinx evolves into Luxio, and later Luxray, making it one of the top-tier Electric-types in the game.
3. Bidoof – Normal-type Utility Pokémon
While Bidoof may seem like a joke Pokémon at first, it can be a surprisingly valuable team member. Its Normal typing gives it a wide range of move options, making it versatile in battle. Plus, when it evolves into Bibarel, it gains access to both Water- and Normal-type moves, providing good coverage for early-game challenges.
4. Abra – Psychic-type with High Potential
Abra is a tricky Pokémon to catch due to its teleportation ability, but if you manage to snag one, it will be worth it. With its Psychic typing, it can take down many early-game foes with ease. It’s a bit difficult to train, but once it evolves into Kadabra and then Alakazam, it becomes a powerhouse.
5. Pidgey – Flying-type for Mobility
Pidgey is one of the most common Pokémon in any Pokémon game, but it’s still a solid choice early on. With its Flying typing, Pidgey is great for both exploration and battle, as it can easily help you navigate areas with Flying-type moves and offer some speed for quick escapes or hits.
6. Zubat – Poison/Flying-type for Exploration
While Zubat may seem like an unusual early-game choice, its Poison/Flying typing can prove invaluable. It’s a fast Pokémon that can quickly evolve into Golbat, which becomes even more useful in battles against certain types, including Grass and Fighting.
7. Geodude – Rock-type Tank
Geodude offers great defensive stats for the early game, making it a solid pick for those looking for a tanky Pokémon. Its Rock typing allows it to resist a lot of damage, and when evolved into Golem, it becomes a formidable force capable of dealing heavy damage as well.
8. Caterpie – Bug-type for Easy Evolution
Though Caterpie may seem weak at first, it has the potential to evolve quickly into Metapod and then Butterfree. Butterfree is a versatile Bug/Flying-type that has access to useful status moves like Sleep Powder and can hit hard with special attacks like Confusion. It’s a great early-game Pokémon for taking on a variety of opponents.
9. Turtwig – Grass-type Starter Pokémon
Another starter choice, Turtwig is a strong Grass-type that offers solid defense and great coverage against Water, Rock, and Ground-types. As it evolves into Grotle and eventually Torterra, Turtwig becomes a heavy hitter and a dependable part of your team, particularly when facing Water and Rock-type Pokémon.
10. Ralts – Psychic/Fairy-type with Versatile Evolution
Ralts is a Psychic/Fairy-type Pokémon that evolves into Kirlia and later into either Gardevoir or Gallade. It offers great special attack potential and a unique typing that makes it very effective against Dragon-, Fighting-, and Dark-types. Its ability to learn powerful moves like Psychic and Dazzling Gleam makes it a formidable opponent in battles.
Catching the Best Early Pokémon
Catching the Top 10 Early-Game Pokémon to Catch in Pokémon Legends: Z-A can set you up for a great start to your adventure. While each Pokémon has its own strengths and weaknesses, forming a diverse team with a good balance of types will be essential for your journey. These early-game catches not only offer reliable battling capabilities but also provide an opportunity to explore different strategic combinations as you continue your adventure in the world of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Happy hunting!
