How To Get All the Starters in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Picking a starter Pokémon is an essential part of any Pokémon experience. It’s a decision that carries a lot of weight, especially knowing the rarity of said Pokémon. Through the series’ history, they have never been easy to come by.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is very different in that there are more starters than ever available in a standard playthrough. Players can acquire 5 distinct starter Pokémon before even reaching Rank V. In total, there are 9 starter Pokémon available in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, each of which can be obtained in two different ways.

Here is how you can get all the starters in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

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How To Get All the Legends: Z-A Starters

Following series tradition, Pokémon Legends: Z-A lets players choose their very first partner Pokémon. The Legends: Z-A starters are Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile. Some careful consideration is definitely due, because the two starter Pokémon that aren’t chosen don’t become available again until the postgame. But as always, it comes down to personal preference.

Here is how to specifically acquire each of the Legends: Z-A starters:

• Chikorita | Choose as starter at the beginning of the game; or catch in Wild Zone 20 (postgame-only)
• Tepig | Choose as starter at the beginning of the game; or catch in Wild Zone 20 (postgame-only)
• Totodile | Choose as starter at the beginning of the game; or catch in Wild Zone 20 (postgame-only)

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How To Get All the Kalos Starters

Fans of the Kalos starters are in luck, because it’s actually possible to acquire all three of them naturally through the course of the main story — no need to pick between them. Each of the three is attainable via different side missions, which all open up as soon as side missions are unlocked as a feature. This happens relatively early in the game, with Emma’s introduction of side missions actually being a part of a mandatory main mission.

Here is how to specifically acquire each of the Kalos starters:

• Chespin | Complete Side Mission 007 (must beat Chespin in 3 consecutive battles), mission available around Rouge Sector 2; or catch in Wild Zone 17
• Fennekin | Complete Side Mission 008 (must retrieve a Revitalizing Twig after talking to a couple of NPCs), mission available around Magenta Sector 2; or catch in Wild Zone 18
• Froakie | Complete Side Mission 009 (must beat 3 specific parkour courses under their designated time limit), mission available around Jaune Sector 8; or catch in Wild Zone 16

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How To Get All the Kanto Starters

Much like in Pokémon X and Y, the Kanto starters are available as a gift from the professor — in this case, the stand-in professor Mable. Players will get to pick just one out of the three, similar to the initial set of starters. Again, the Pokémon that are not chosen will no longer be available until the postgame.

The Kanto starters are a key component of Side Mission 022. Mable personally requests the player’s help, which ultimately just ends in the player picking one of the starters. To unlock this side mission, players simply need to progress the main story enough. After beating Lida in Main Mission 8, it seems that healing at any Pokémon Center triggers the call from Mable.

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Here is how to specifically acquire each of the Kanto starters:

• Bulbasaur | Choose as starter in Mission 022; or catch in Wild Zone 20 (postgame-only)
• Charmander | Choose as starter in Mission 022; or catch in Wild Zone 20 (postgame-only)
• Squirtle | Choose as starter in Mission 022; or catch in Wild Zone 20 (postgame-only)