The Z-A Royale is the beating heart of the game: every night, a district of Lumiose City turns into an open-air arena. This chapter teaches you how to earn points there, how to land your challenge tickets and how to get through the first three qualifying matches. Between nights, Urbain/Taunie shows you the city’s rooftops and introduces you to Emma, a detective who will open up the side missions for you.

Missions
4 to 7
Ranks
Z → Y → X → W
Opponents
Zachary, Yvonne, Inno, Xavi
Wild Zones unlocked
No. 2 to 6
Main mission04
The Z-A Royale

Mission 4: The Z-A Royale

Back at Hotel Z, Urbain/Taunie explains the rules. As soon as night falls, a battle zone activates somewhere in the city (a short cutscene warns you). Passersby make way for Trainers entered in the tournament. Each victory earns you ticket points and medals. Once you reach the threshold, you get a challenge ticket that gives you the right to play a qualifying match against a designated opponent: the winner moves up a rank.

A battle zone activating at nightfall
A battle zone and its pink terminals

For this first night, you only need to win three battles. Then meet Urbain/Taunie at the Pokémon Center, followed by your first opponent, Zachary the Driver, who is waiting for you in the taxi parking lot.

Zachary
Qualifying match · Rank Z → Y

Zachary

the Driver
Z→Y

💰 540 ₽

  1. SlowpokeNo. 8
    WaterPsychic
    • Water Gun
    • Growl
    • Tackle
    • Confusion
  2. PidgeyNo. 9
    NormalFlying
    • Tackle
    • Growl
    • Gust
  3. PikachuNo. 9
    Electric
    • Quick Attack
    • Growl
    • Thunder Wave
    • Thunder Shock
Our strategy

Slowpoke (Water and Psychic) is slow but takes hits well: Chikorita melts it, while Tepig should be wary of it. Pikachu is the most dangerous because of Thunder Wave, which paralyzes your starter. Keep moving, hold on to a few Potions and rely on your strongest moves as soon as they have recharged. Lv. 9 or 10 recommended.

Victory: you are now at Rank Y, with ₽540 in your pocket.

The promotion to the next rank, as theatrical as ever
Main mission05
The tower overlooking the rooftops

Mission 5: The Tower Overlooking the Rooftops

The next day, Urbain/Taunie wants to show you a shortcut. Leave the hotel and follow them to a passage blocked by a Mega crystal: aim at it and blow it up with any offensive move from your Pokémon.

Next, climb up after them onto the rooftops: the ladders, gutters and jumps between buildings form a second network of streets, full of items and crystals. Meet them at the Neo Café on Centrico Plaza, then go together to the Beladonis Agency, Emma‘s detective agency (Rouge Sector 5).

The rooftops of Lumiose City, a playground in their own right
The Neo Café on Centrico Plaza
The Beladonis Agency, in Rouge Sector

Emma entrusts you with three small investigations: these are your first side missions. Their icons appear on the map; complete any three, then come back to see her. As a reward, she tells you about Mega Evolution and the strange phenomenon affecting the city’s Pokémon.

Main mission06
Aiming for Rank X

Mission 6: Aiming for Rank X

Your next opponent is Yvonne the Employee. Spend a night in the battle zone until you get a new challenge ticket, then go and challenge her. From Rank Y onward, you also find bonus cards on the ground: each one sets you a small challenge (winning with a move of a certain type, KOing an opponent in one hit…) that earns extra points and medals. You can keep three active at a time.

Yvonne
Qualifying match · Rank Y → X

Yvonne

the Employee
Y→X

💰 960 ₽

  1. SpritzeeNo. 15
    Fairy
    • Fairy Wind
    • Fake Tears
    • Disarming Voice
  2. SwirlixNo. 15
    Fairy
    • Tackle
    • Charm
    • Fairy Wind
    • Fake Tears
  3. VivillonNo. 16
    BugFlying
    • Light Screen
    • Infestation
    • Gust
    • Draining Kiss
Our strategy

A Fairy team: Spritzee and Swirlix are weak to Poison and Steel, Vivillon (Bug and Flying) is weak to Fire, Rock, Electric, Ice and Flying. Tepig and its Fire moves are comfortable here; otherwise, catch a Venipede, a Spinarak or an Ekans in the Wild Zones. Beware of Fake Tears, which lowers your Sp. Def.

Main mission07
Aiming for Rank W

Mission 7: Aiming for Rank W

Before the next match, Inno, Team MZ’s strategist, wants to see what you are made of. He is waiting for you in the Hotel Z courtyard.

He then points out your opponent: Xavi the Young Student. New night, new challenge ticket.

Xavi
Qualifying match · Rank X → W

Xavi

the Young Student
X→W

💰 1,260 ₽

  1. VenipedeNo. 20
    BugPoison
    • Spikes
    • Rollout
    • Screech
    • Pin Missile
  2. RoseliaNo. 20
    GrassPoison
    • Spikes
    • Sleep Powder
    • Razor Leaf
    • Magical Leaf
  3. KadabraNo. 21
    Psychic
    • Psybeam
    • Reflect
    • Shadow Ball
    • Confusion
  4. FurfrouNo. 21
    Normal
    • Fire Fang
    • Thunder Fang
    • Take Down
    • Bite
Our strategy

The first opponent to master Plus moves (marked with a +): his Spikes, Shadow Ball or Fire Fang hit harder than usual. Kadabra (Psychic) is fragile against Dark and Bug, and Furfrou (Normal) is weak to Fighting. Aim for at least Lv. 20.

You are now at Rank W. The next chapter takes you up to Rank V… and your first encounter with Zygarde.

The battle interface: moves, cooldowns and your Pokémon's gauge