Season 2 of the online ranked ladder in Pokémon Legends: Z-A is in full swing, and with the new rewards and updated gameplay mechanics, now is the perfect time to climb the ladder and earn exclusive prizes. This season runs until November 26th, so you have a couple of weeks to take advantage of the new ranking rewards and boost your gameplay. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer, here are some key tips and strategies to help you rank up quickly and efficiently.
Understanding the Season 2 Rewards
In Season 2, the reward structure has significantly improved compared to Season 1, so it's worth putting in the time to climb the ranks. Here’s a breakdown of the rewards based on your rank placement:
Rank Y: Earn the Greninja Mega Stone, allowing you to evolve your Greninja into Mega Greninja.
Rank S: Unlock the Del Foxide for Mega Delphox.
Top 4 Placements in Matches:
1st Place: 30% chance for 2 bottle caps and a 7% chance for exclusive Apricorn Balls (Fast Ball, Heavy Ball, Love Ball, Moon Ball).
2nd Place: A 29% chance for 1 bottle cap and 3% chance for Apricorn Balls.
3rd Place: A 10% chance for a single bottle cap.
4th Place: Limited rewards like feathers and other lower-tier items.
These rewards make it worthwhile to focus on achieving high ranks throughout the season, especially if you're aiming to farm rare items like gold bottle caps, which can be crucial for your Pokémon’s growth and training.
Team Composition for Quick Ranking
To climb the ladder swiftly, having a solid team composition is key. Below is a strategy that can help you push through the ranks from Rank Z to Rank A in just a couple of hours. The following Pokémon form the backbone of the team:
Chandelure – The Perfect Lead
Type: Ghost/Fire
Moves: Heatwave, Shadow Ball, Solar Beam, Calm Mind
EV Spread: Max HP and Special Attack with a Modest Nature
Held Item: Life Orb
Strategy: Chandelure is your primary attacker. With powerful Ghost and Fire-type moves, it can hit hard, especially against Steel-types like Metagross. Use Calm Mind to boost its Special Attack and Special Defense, and Heatwave for a long-range attack to snipe opponents from a distance.
Garchomp – A Reliable Physical Attacker
Type: Dragon/Ground
Moves: Earthquake, Dragon Rush, Poison Jab, Swords Dance
EV Spread: Max HP and Attack with an Adamant Nature
Held Item: Yachi Berry
Strategy: Garchomp provides excellent coverage with its Dragon and Ground-type moves. Swords Dance boosts its offensive power, and Earthquake will hit hard, especially against Fire and Steel-types. Poison Jab offers a strong counter to Fairy-types. The Yachi Berry helps Garchomp survive Ice-type moves, which is crucial for its survivability.
Skarmory – A Sturdy Mega Evolution
Type: Steel/Flying
Moves: Brave Bird, Fly, Drill Run, Swords Dance
EV Spread: Max HP and Attack with an Adamant Nature
Held Item: Skarmite (Mega Stone)
Strategy: Skarmory serves as your bulky physical attacker. After setting up Swords Dance, its Brave Bird can deal significant damage. Fly provides a longer-range option, while Drill Run covers Steel-types that might resist your other moves. Skarmory also helps against threats like Metagross.
How to Obtain Key Items and Pokémon
Training up your team can be a bit time-consuming, especially when it comes to obtaining specific items and Pokémon. Here are some tips to streamline the process:
Chandelure: To get Litwick (the pre-evolution), head to the Lumia Sewers after completing Mission 19. Once you evolve Litwick into Lampent and later into Chandelure, you’ll need a Dusk Stone. If you're in the post-game, these can be found in the Stone Emporium or in Vert Sector 6. To obtain the Life Orb, complete side mission 85 (Follow Litwick) to unlock the item for Chandelure.
Garchomp: Garchomp is relatively easy to catch, especially in Wild Zone 8. You’ll want to look for an Alpha Garchomp for easier training. You can get its key moves by completing specific Pokédex research levels, including Poison Jab and Earthquake.
Skarmory: Skarmory can be found in Wild Zone 17, accessible after reaching Rank C. To get the Skarmite (Mega Stone), you’ll need to complete Main Mission 25, and then purchase the Mega Stone for 240 Mega Shards.
EV Training and Hyper Training
Efficient training is crucial for maxing out your Pokémon’s potential. Focus on EV training by using vitamins to boost specific stats like HP and Attack. You can buy these vitamins at any Pokémon Center after reaching Rank C. For example, Garchomp and Skarmory will need EVs in Attack and HP. Don’t forget that Hyper Training in the Justice Dojo can help max out your Pokémon’s IVs for optimal performance in battles.
Tips for Success
Focus on Alpha Pokémon: Catching Pokémon as Alpha versions gives them guaranteed perfect IVs and saves you time on breeding or using Bottle Caps. Alpha Pokémon are the ideal choice for competitive play.
Rank Up Efficiently: Use the team outlined above to maximize your chances of securing 1st and 2nd place in ranked matches. Placing high in the rankings allows you to farm key items like Bottle Caps and Apricorn Balls, which are essential for building your team.
Stay on Top of Seasonal Rewards: Keep track of the rewards available each season. You’ll want to farm Bottle Caps and Mega Stones before the season ends. Buy shiny Pokémon and other high-value items to keep your roster strong and competitive.
With these strategies, you’ll be able to rank up quickly and efficiently in Season 2 of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Focus on using a well-rounded team like the one described above, and make sure to farm for valuable items to enhance your Pokémon’s performance. Whether you want to buy shiny Pokémon or level up your rank for rare items, Season 2 offers plenty of rewards for dedicated players. Happy battling!
