Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Main Mission 01: Get Your Travel Bag Back!

Getting your travel bag back won't take long, and it will introduce you to the game's battle system.

Chase Pancham

From where you first appear, head directly forward through the Vert District in pursuit of the fleeing Pokemon. It will lead you through a few intersections: left down an alley, right at the next branch, straight through a four-way intersection, and left down the next short alley.

The Pokemon Trainer chases Pancham through the streets, following it as it runs through a gate on the far side of a four-way intersection.
The Pokemon Trainer chases Pancham through the streets, following it as it runs through a gate on the far side of a four-way intersection.

As long as you keep after the Pokemon and take the same turns it does, you'll catch up to it in short order. As you come close to overtaking it, you see the thief try to hand off your bag to a couple of Pokemon trainers. At this point, your red-headed friend introduces herself as Taunie.

Meet Andi and Andre

A brief cutscene follows, where you learn that the Pokemon you were chasing is a Pancham. The two trainers are named Andi and Andre. After the introductions, you will find yourself compelled to do battle with Andi the Backpacker and Pancham.

As Tepig, Totodile, and Chekorita watch, Taunie invites you to choose one of them to serve as your starting Pokemon.
As Tepig, Totodile, and Chekorita watch, Taunie invites you to choose one of them to serve as your starting Pokemon.

At this point, Taunie lets you pick one of her Pokemon to take with you into battle. Your three choices are Tepig (fire), Totodile (water), and Chikorita (grass). Choose the one you like best, because they'll stick with you beyond just this introductory battle. I went with Tepig, because I'm a sucker for fire Pokemon.

Boss Battle: Pancham

After you make your choice, the game drops you into the battle. Then it explains the basics. You get to move around the battle area, and so does your Pokemon. Press and hold the ZL button to target the enemy you wish to hit and press the indicated face buttons to use your available moves. For instance, in my case the choices were Tackle and Tail Whip. Whenever you unleash a move, a brief cooldown period follows before you can use it again.

In the game's first battle, chosen starter Pokemon Tepig faces off against Pancham and unleashes the Tackle move.
In the game's first battle, chosen starter Pokemon Tepig faces off against Pancham and unleashes the Tackle move.

When you deal enough damage, you'll reduce your opponent's HP to nothing and win the battle. As this is a tutorial of sorts, you can just spam the same move a few times while walking around the battle area. Pancham won't put up a fight, really.

After the battle…

When the battle concludes, you will probably earn enough XP to level up your Pokemon. You also get your travel bag back, which completes the mission.

In closeup, the player Pokemon Trainer looks down at the Poke Ball he received as a reward for defeating Pancham.
In closeup, the player Pokemon Trainer looks down at the Poke Ball he received as a reward for defeating Pancham.

As an additional reward, you get to keep your partner and you receive a Poke Ball. The nearby battle zone activates, which ties into your next mission.

Jason Venter headshot
Jason Venter (Associate Editor)

Jason Venter has been writing about games online since 1998, when he founded HonestGamers. He also wrote for Hardcore Gamer Magazine for its entire print run. Since then, he has freelanced at IGN, GameSpot, GamesRadar, Polygon, Game Rant, and elsewhere. In his spare time, he writes, publishes, and markets fantasy novels. Yes, he likes writing.
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