Z-A Royale: Ranks, Challenge Tickets, Bonus Cards, Medals and Z-A Royale ∞

Every night, Lumiose City turns into an arena. The Z-A Royale, run by Quasartico Inc., is the common thread of the adventure: from Rank Z up to Rank A, then the Z-A Royale ∞ after the story. Here is how it works and how to earn as many points, medals and as much money as possible.

How it works

1. At nightfall, a battle zone activates in one district (three at a time during the Royale ∞). Passersby disappear, replaced by registered Trainers, all the way up on the rooftops.
2. Each win earns you ticket points and medals, depending on your opponent’s rank. You need 50,000 points to earn a challenge ticket.
3. The challenge ticket lets you take part in a qualifying match against a designated opponent (shown in the Royale app). The winner moves up a rank.
4. At daybreak, the zone deactivates and a screen sums up your night: battles won, medals collected and money earned.

The rank ladder

Everyone starts at Rank Z. Mega Evolution is normally only allowed from Rank G onward, but Vinnie has the MZ Team skip every rank from U to G so that they can face the Rogue Mega Evolution Pokémon. Here are the eleven qualifying matches of the story:

1. ZStartEveryone starts at Rank Z
2. YZacharythe DriverMain mission 4540 ₽
3. XYvonnethe EmployeeMain mission 6960 ₽
4. WXavithe Young StudentMain mission 71 260 ₽
5. VWillemthe WaiterMain mission 81 140 ₽
6. U T S R Q P O N M L K J I H GVinnie lets you skip straight to Rank F
7. FVinnieof QuasarticoMain mission 10₽2,048 · TM051
8. ENaricaof the Digi-Z4PMain mission 14₽2,808 · TM066
9. DNivisof the Fists of JusticeMain mission 19₽3,384 · TM011
10. CCorvaultof the Bruiser ClanMain mission 24₽3,744 · TM100
11. BViolineof the FRIMMain mission 30₽4,248 · TM020
12. ACendroof Neo Team FlareMain mission 35₽4,536 · TM104
13. AUrbain / Taunieof Team MZMain mission 365 120 ₽

Bonus cards

From Rank Y onward, colored cards appear on the ground in the battle zones. Pick one up and it gives you an optional objective. If you complete it, you earn extra ticket points and medals. You can have three active cards; picking up a fourth forces you to discard one. Cards with bold text are harder but pay far better. They disappear at the end of the night.

Medals and money

Medals can be found on the ground (10 to 15 per night at Ranks Z to V, 15 to 20 at Ranks F to B, 20 to 30 at Rank ∞) and are handed out by some Trainers. At dawn, they are converted into Poké Dollars: each medal is worth ₽10, multiplied according to your number of wins and your Golden Naricaline.

Trainers who help you

The Z-A Royale ∞

After the story (mission 39), the tournament becomes the Z-A Royale ∞: all Trainers are at Rank ∞, three zones activate each night, and each challenge ticket lets you take part in an ∞ match against a Quasartico Inc. employee. The first twenty opponents are fixed; from the 21st match on, they are drawn at random and become stronger.

From the 21st match on, Germaine of the Fists of Justice, Henriette the Hiker and Tihana the Girl in a Kimono can also show up, along with Korrina once the expansion is finished. After the 20th match, Violine offers you a special edition of her Grand Games: four battles in a row… against her alone.