Z-A Players Are Missing Out on a Free Level 50 Pokemon

WARNING: The following Article contains Major Spoilers for the endings of Pokemon Legends: Z-A, Arceus, and Ruby and SapphirePokemon Legends: Z-A players can claim a free level 50 Lucario at Hotel Z after reaching the game’s credits, but some players may not even realize it.

Known as the Aura Pokemon, Lucario first appeared in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. Lucario evolves from Riolu during the daytime via leveling up, though this also requires a high friendship statistic. As a Steel and Fighting dual-type critter, Lucario is known for its versatile move pool and mixed attack statistics. Lucario can utilize attacks like Aura Sphere, Flash Cannon, and Earthquake effectively, giving it good options for dealing with different foes. Lucario can also Mega Evolve into two distinct forms, Mega Lucario and Mega Lucario Z, with both offering different stat spreads. For example, Mega Lucario Z is speedier and has higher special attack power than Mega Lucario, but the former Mega-evolved form burns through its Mega Power gauge faster.

PSA: You Might Want to Start Doing Pokemon Legends Z-A Ranked Battles Again

It might be time for Pokemon Legends: Z-A players to hop into the Ranked Battle game mode again.

A Free Lucario Waits In Plain Sight For Pokemon Legends: Z-A Players

While Lucario can be obtained by catching and evolving a Riolu, which can be done relatively early on in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, trainers may be missing out on getting a free Lucario. On the official Pokemon Legends: Z-A subreddit, a Redditor named Volt_l18 posted that they had missed out on getting Lucario at first until they went to inspect a Poke Ball that sat at a table inside Room 202 of Hotel Z. Inside the Poke Ball is a Lucario that once belonged to Korrina, the former Fighting-type Gym Leader from Pokemon X and Y, alongside a note from AZ, the hotel’s main proprietor, addressed to the player.

However, this free Lucario cannot be claimed right from the start. First, Pokemon Legends: Z-A players must beat the game and roll credits, which can take several hours to do. After completing Main Mission 37, titled Operation Protect Lumiose, AZ’s letter and the Poke Ball containing Lucario should appear. The free Lucario is Level 50, has a Hardy nature, and comes with the moves Aura Sphere, Bullet Punch, Rock Smash, and Protect. This special Lucario is also Shiny-locked, meaning it will only have its standard blue and black color pattern. Given that Riolu can be caught and evolved into Lucario, this particular gift from AZ is not necessary for Pokedex completion.

Free Post-Game Pokemon Are Not a New Concept

Although the post-game Lucario is a nice bonus for Pokemon Legends: Z-A players, it is just the latest in a line of free Pokemon that the series has given out as rewards for rolling the credits. The first instance of a post-game gift Pokemon can be traced as far back as Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire. After becoming the Champion of Hoenn’s Pokemon League, a Beldum belonging to Steven, the former Champion, could be found at his house in Mossdeep City alongside a note for the player. This Beldum is level 5, and was the only known way to get Beldum and its evolutions, Metang and Metagross, in Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire. This trend would continue in Pokemon Legends: Arceus after finishing the main story, where Professor Laventon would grant the player the other two Starter Pokemon that were not picked at the start of the game.

Despite Lucario and both its Mega-Evolved forms being far from the strongest creatures in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, its moves and variable statistics make it a reliable team member that can turn the tide of a battle with the right setup. Given the popularity of the Aura Pokemon, it remains to be seen how future Pokemon game generations will offer fans a way to obtain Lucario.