Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings players back to Lumiose City with a mix of nostalgia and discovery, and for many trainers, one of the most exciting parts of the late game is uncovering the hidden Legendary Side Quests. These quests not only lead you to some of the most iconic Legendary Pokémon in the series but also expand the game’s lore and post-story content. Here’s a complete guide on how to unlock them and what to expect once you do.

Understanding Legendary Side Quests

Legendary Side Quests in Pokémon Legends: Z-A are optional missions that usually become available after completing the main storyline or certain key regional objectives. Unlike standard quests, they often involve puzzles, exploration, and lore-based hints rather than simple fetch or battle tasks. Completing them rewards you not just with Legendary Pokémon, but also exclusive items and rare Mega Stones that can enhance your team.

If you’re aiming to prepare ahead, it’s a good idea to stock up on essential items and resources. Some players even choose to buy Pokémon ZA items through in-game shops or online trading platforms to make these encounters smoother—especially when facing high-level Legends.

Step 1: Complete the Main Storyline

Most Legendary Quests are locked until you’ve cleared the main campaign and defeated the final boss in Lumiose City. Once the credits roll, you’ll receive a message from Professor Sycamore encouraging you to “continue exploring the truth behind Mega Evolution.” This triggers a series of new reports on your map marked as “Distortions” or “Anomalies,” which serve as entry points to Legendary missions.

Step 2: Unlock the Distortion Zones

After finishing the story, visit the Lumiose Research Lab. A new NPC named Aria will appear, introducing the concept of Distortion Zones—temporal rifts that lead to Legendary habitats. These zones correspond to different Legendary types:

Mountain Rift: Unlocks Articuno or Regigigas quests

Temporal Rift: Leads to Dialga or Celebi

Sea Rift: Hints toward Kyogre or Manaphy

Each zone requires a specific energy module or “Stabilizer” to access, which you can craft or obtain through field research. Some trainers who want to speed up progression choose to buy Pokémon for Legends ZA online, ensuring they have trade-ready partners with the right abilities or held items for these battles.

Step 3: Solve Lore Puzzles and Environmental Clues

Each Legendary Quest involves environmental storytelling. You might need to read inscriptions, align ruins, or battle specific trainers tied to the Legendary’s history. For instance:

The Azure Cavern puzzle for Manaphy requires activating water pillars in a specific order.

The Frozen Summit path for Articuno is blocked until you clear the fog by finding and defeating a hidden Froslass.

Pay close attention to NPC dialogue—many clues are tucked into side conversations or Pokédex entries.

Step 4: Capture and Rewards

Once you locate the Legendary Pokémon, prepare for a challenging fight. These encounters are designed to test your strategy and understanding of Mega Evolution mechanics. Bringing Pokémon with status moves like Spore or Thunder Wave is recommended, as most Legends have low catch rates even with Ultra Balls or specialized gear. Successfully catching them unlocks new research entries and occasionally grants access to Mega Evolution-exclusive items.

Tips for Completionists

Check the Lumiose Archives daily for new rumors; some Legendary Quests are time-gated events.

Bring a balanced team with both offensive and defensive coverage; some Legendaries use unexpected move types.

Save before every major encounter.

If you’re trying to finish all the Legendary missions efficiently, it’s smart to keep your inventory well-stocked. Players often look for reliable sources to buy Pokémon ZA items—from healing supplies to evolution stones—to make their exploration and captures smoother.


Unlocking the Legendary Side Quests in Pokémon Legends: Z-A is one of the most rewarding post-game experiences. It pushes you to explore hidden areas, master Mega Evolution tactics, and uncover secrets that tie into the game’s deeper lore. Whether you prefer to earn every tool through gameplay or buy Pokémon for Legends ZA online to customize your roster faster, the journey is packed with challenge and excitement.

These quests aren’t just about catching rare Pokémon—they’re about rediscovering the mystery and wonder that made the series legendary in the first place.