Pokemon Legends Z-A has introduced a lot of changes to the battle system over previous franchise entries, with some of the biggest highlights being field mobility, move cooldowns, as well as areas of effect.
So if you are looking to make the most of the system in this RPG, then the guide below will help you out.
Everything you need to know about combat in Pokemon Legends Z-A
1) Combat is not turn-based and has AoE
The battle system in Z-A will no longer be turn-based, as was the case in previous games. You will now be able to command your Pokemon to move around the battlefield and allow them to attack while giving a command.
Moves will have different areas of effect, and both you and your Pokemon will now be able to move around the arena. So you will be able to physically dodge enemy attacks in order to avoid damage.
2) Moves come with Cooldowns and different effects
Pokemon Legends Z-A does not feature the more traditional PP system. Every move in the game now will have a different cooldown period, and they can only be used once the cooldown runs out.
So you will need to be a bit more strategic about your approach when going up against some of the hardest encounters.
Fortunately, there will be ways to reduce the cooldown of a Pokemon’s abilities as you keep evolving and investing in them.
3) Constantly repositioning is the name of the game
The best way to tackle a hard encounter will be to reposition yourself constantly. This not only lets you avoid damage but also get the jump on the enemy Pokemon when they have exhausted all of their cooldowns.
This is when you start to have a firm understanding of all the mobility skills that the game has to offer. Some moves will let you reposition and dodge attacks while others will make executing close-range abilities much easier.
4) Make the most of Plus Moves
During an encounter with a Mega Evolved Pokemon, you will often see the enemy dropping resources. You will be able to move around to pick up these resources and let your Pokemon pull off a Plus Move.
A Plus Move is the enhanced version of an ability that will have additional damage and effects.
5) Real-time combat can turn any 1v1 into a 1v2 or a 1v3
As Pokemon Z-A has gone for a moe seamless real-time combat system, it now allows wild Pokemon to join in on a fight if they so choose to. Aggressive wild Pokemon will automatically attack you if you get too close; moreover, they can also choose to jump into a fight that you are already in and turn it into a chaotic 1v2 or even a 1v3.
So if you are not feeling confident about your odds, you will want to avoid getting ambushed. However, if you do get ganked, you can always spam AoE skills or run away from the encounter.
6) You do not need to always engage Pokemon in combat to catch them
Now, with the lack of Turn-Based Combat, you will be able to catch Pokemon without having to go into an encounter. This mechanic is very similar to that of Legends Arceus, and you can now catch a wild Pokemon by sneaking up to them and throwing a Poke Ball.
However, do keep in mind that certain Pokemon can be a bit too aggressive, and you will need to battle them before you can catch them.
Apart from this, Pokemon are found in Wild Zones, which are special locations within the city, and you can pot them by looking for the green hologram borders. Wild Zones act as habitats for different Pokemon types.
