Pokémon Legends Z-A: Best Starter — Meganium, Feraligatr, Emboar
Pick the right starter in Pokémon Legends Z-A: Meganium, Feraligatr, or Emboar. This guide breaks down stats, movepools, team roles, and final recommendations.
TL;DR
- Feraligatr is the safest pick: balanced stats, great movepool (Ice Fang matters), and flexible team fit for a five-to-six Pokémon roster.
- Emboar is the glass cannon: Attack 123 and brutal early damage but low defenses (Defense 65 / Special Defense 65). Use with support.
- Meganium is the defensive anchor: high bulk, support toolkit, and odd Special Attack reading (Special Attack: 173), but middling damage.
- You can get other starters later (Kanto and Kalos gifts). Build around Ice, Rock, Ground, and Fighting coverage for late-game threats.
What You Need to Know First
Quick essentials
Your starter choice in Pokémon Legends Z-A matters early, but it's one piece of a five-to-six Pokémon team. Combat-heavy game: expect 80% of time in fights. Pick for role, not emotional attachment (I’ll fight you if you pick based on looks alone).
| Item | Effect | Where to Get |
|---|---|---|
| Chikorita → Meganium | Defensive support anchor; strong bulk, utility moves, limited offense (Special Attack: 173) | Starter choice: Chikorita |
| Totodile → Feraligatr | Versatile physical attacker with diverse coverage and Swords Dance potential (Attack 105, Defense 100) | Starter choice: Totodile |
| Tepig → Emboar | High raw damage output; Attack 123 but low defenses (Defense 65 / Special Defense 65) | Starter choice: Tepig |
| Kanto Starters (Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Charmander) | Obtainable early (gift) to patch team holes | Early-game gift |
| Kalos Starters (Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie) | Available before postgame for additional coverage | Mid/postgame events |
Minimum requirement: access to Chikorita, Totodile, or Tepig at the start. Recommended: be prepared to field five strong Pokémon by midgame—your starter won't carry you alone.
Why the emphasis on coverage? Legends Z-A leans on Special Attack dominance later on and throws a steady stream of Dragon/Fairy and Flying threats at you. Ice and Rock coverage are the simplest answers; plan team synergy accordingly.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Choose your starter based on team role, not personality.
- If you want reliable, balanced play and fewer surprises, pick Totodile → Feraligatr.
- If you like one-shotting things and are fine babysitting it, pick Tepig → Emboar.
- If you're into stall/support and enjoy longer fights, pick Chikorita → Meganium.
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Early moveset goals (get these as soon as practical).
| Item | Effect | Where to Get |
|---|---|---|
| Liquidation | Primary STAB Water attack for Feraligatr | Learn by leveling / TM availability |
| Ice Fang | Ice coverage for Dragons and Flying | Level-up / move tutor - crucial late-game |
| Crunch | Dark coverage for Psychic/Ghost | TM / tutor |
| Rock Slide | Rock coverage vs Flying/Fire | TM / tutor |
| Close Combat | Emboar's high-power Fighting move | Level-up / TM |
| Flare Blitz | Emboar's powerful Fire STAB (recoil) | Level-up |
| Leech Seed | Meganium sustain | Move tutor / level-up |
| Light Screen / Reflect / Safeguard | Team defensive utility for Meganium | TM / tutor |
| Earth Power / Earthquake / Bulldoze | Coverage vs Fire/Electric for Meganium | TM / tutor |
| Disarming Voice / Knock Off | Utility/coverage for Meganium | Move tutor / TM |
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Train with a plan.
- Feraligatr: Focus Attack and Defense early. Teach Ice Fang ASAP. Swords Dance is your multiplier if you want to sweep. Consider boosting Speed with items or support moves.
- Emboar: Maximize Attack. Use Power-Up Punch or Bulk Up (for mixed setups) plus Close Combat and Flare Blitz. Keep an eye on HP recovery—Flare Blitz recoil hurts.
- Meganium: Build for bulk and support. Invest in Defense and Special Defense, teach Leech Seed and Light Screen/Reflect. You're the team's babysitter, not the cleanup crew.
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Fill team gaps.
| Item | Effect | Where to Get |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Beam / Blizzard | Superior Dragon coverage (special) | TM / late-game tutor |
| Excadrill | Ground/Steel utility, pairs well with Charizard/Emboar | Post-early-game catches |
| Charizard (Mega potential) | Special Attack dominance, pairs with Feraligatr | Kanto gift / later capture |
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Mid- to late-game adjustments.
- Prioritize teaching at least one Ice move across the team (physical Ice moves are okay but Ice Beam/Blizzard are better for Dragons).
- Add a reliable Rock or Ground user to counter Flying and Fire types if your starter lacks it.
- If you chose Emboar, slot in a bulky pivot to switch into Electric and Water attacks for you.
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Final recommendation summary (quick):
- Best overall: Feraligatr — balanced stats, movepool diversity, Ice Fang access.
- For experienced players: Emboar — high-risk, high-reward Attack 123 damage; needs babysitting.
- For defensive players: Meganium — raw bulk and support tools; expect longer fights.
Notes: You will get extra starter options (Kanto/Kalos), so don't panic if you want to experiment later. Build around coverage types: Ice, Rock, Ground, and Fighting. If you like cheese, Swords Dance Feraligatr is as close as this game gets to a satisfying one-punch setup without being broken.
Pro Tips
- Teach Ice Fang to Feraligatr ASAP—it's the most consistent answer to Dragons and many Fairy-mega threats in late-game encounters.
- If you pick Emboar, slot a Defog/entry hazard remover and a pivot with Intimidate or status support. Emboar dies quickly if tempo's lost.
- Meganium shines with team shields: Light Screen + Reflect turns it into a durable playmaker. Use Leech Seed to outlast physical attackers.
- You can patch weak matchups by grabbing Kanto/Kalos starters later. Don't overcommit EVs early—save some room to retrain when you expand to five-six Pokémon.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing Emboar without a bulky teammate or hazard control—recoil and typing punish it hard.
- Relying on Meganium for damage. Its Special Attack oddity (Special Attack: 173) won't save you; treat it as support.
- Ignoring Ice coverage. Failing to carry Ice Beam/Ice Fang invites Dragon and Flying spam to ruin your day.
