Field Moves are back in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and they’re more useful than ever for exploring the new open-world regions. Whether you’re climbing cliffs, cutting through obstacles, or uncovering hidden items, mastering how to use these moves can make your journey smoother and far more rewarding. Here’s a complete breakdown of how Field Moves work, how to unlock them, and how to get the most out of your Pokémon’s abilities in the field.
What Are Field Moves?
Field Moves are special actions your Pokémon can perform outside of battle. These aren’t the same as combat moves like Surf or Cut in older games — they’re context-based interactions that let you access new areas, gather materials, or solve environmental puzzles. Each Pokémon species has unique abilities that reflect their typing or natural talents. For instance, Water-types can cross rivers, Flying-types can reach elevated zones, and Rock-types can clear debris blocking your path.
How to Unlock Field Moves
In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Field Moves are usually unlocked as your friendship with a Pokémon increases or after completing certain research missions. Some Field Moves are tied to story progression, while others require you to explore and bond with your Pokémon team.
Friendship-Based Unlocks: Pokémon you’ve trained and battled with often reveal new Field Moves as your connection deepens. This adds incentive to raise affinity and spend time using them in battle.
Quest Unlocks: Some Field Moves are exclusive to specific side missions or regional quests. For example, completing an exploration task in the Lumiose Outskirts might grant a Pokémon a digging or climbing ability.
Evolution Unlocks: Certain evolutions grant new Field Moves automatically. Evolving a Pokémon into a new form can change what environmental interactions they’re capable of performing.
How to Use Field Moves
When you approach an obstacle or interactive element in the wild, the game will prompt you if a compatible Pokémon in your party can perform an action. Simply select that Pokémon, and the Field Move will activate. Unlike HMs from earlier generations, Field Moves in Pokémon Legends: Z-A do not require teaching or replacing existing moves — they’re part of each Pokémon’s exploration toolkit.
Some useful examples include:
Rock Smash: Clears boulders or mineral deposits blocking your path.
Swim or Glide: Lets you traverse water or glide between elevated zones.
Dig: Uncovers hidden items, fossils, or rare resources.
Cut: Slices through dense vegetation to open shortcuts.
Team Synergy and Exploration
Building a balanced team is crucial if you want to take full advantage of Field Moves. Having a mix of elemental types ensures you won’t be stuck in an area because your Pokémon can’t interact with the environment. For example, pairing a Flying-type for traversal, a Water-type for rivers, and a Ground-type for digging gives you flexibility during exploration.
Players who focus on collecting special Pokémon, such as those looking to
buy alpha shiny Pokémon or
buy alpha shiny Pokémon Legends ZA, often find Field Moves even more rewarding. Alpha Pokémon, in particular, tend to have stronger or visually distinct animations for certain actions, making exploration feel more immersive and dynamic.
Tips for Efficient Field Move Usage
Rotate Your Active Partner: Not every Field Move is available from your lead Pokémon, so rotate your active companion often.
Scout Areas Thoroughly: Many hidden paths or shortcuts are accessible only through specific Field Moves.
Combine Moves Strategically: For example, use Dig to uncover resources, then Rock Smash to break minerals for crafting.
Use Alpha Pokémon When Possible: Their increased strength can sometimes make Field Move animations faster or more effective.
Field Moves in Pokémon Legends: Z-A bring a new layer of depth to exploration, encouraging players to engage with their team beyond battles. Understanding how to unlock and use these abilities not only makes traversing the world easier but also adds an element of strategy to how you build and train your Pokémon lineup.
