With the release of Pokémon Legends ZA, many players are eager to power up their teams as quickly as possible. Leveling up remains one of the most effective ways to dominate battles, especially since enemy levels in this game don’t scale dynamically with your own. This means that with some smart grinding, you can easily overpower your opponents through sheer numbers. Below, we’ll break down the most efficient XP farming methods in Pokémon Legends ZA, along with practical tips to make the process smoother and more rewarding.
1. Prioritize the Red Canari Plush for Permanent XP Boost
One of the first key upgrades you should pursue is the Red Canari Plush, which you receive automatically during Story Mission 5. This item boosts all experience gained from any source, and upgrading it makes a massive difference in your long-term progression.
To enhance this plush, head to the southeast side of Lumiose City and find the construction worker standing outside a building. You can trade Colorful Screws for upgrades: five screws for the first enhancement and eight more for the second. With a total of 13 screws, you’ll fully max out the plush, ensuring a permanent XP boost throughout your journey.
If you’re unsure where to find screws, focus on exploration and early side activities—there are many quick farming spots early in the game. Investing in this upgrade early will save you countless hours later.
2. Farming XP Through ZA Royale Night Battles
The ZA Royale nightly battle zones are easily one of the most consistent ways to farm experience. These events occur every in-game night and feature waves of trainer battles with minimal downtime. You don’t need a special rank or ticket to participate—just wait until evening or rest on a bench to skip time and trigger the event.
Battle zones feature trainers of varying levels, usually spread within a 5–10 level range. Higher-level trainers are often found in elevated areas like rooftops, so focus your efforts there for the best returns. Using stealth attacks to one-shot opponents before combat begins can drastically speed up your farming process—especially early in the game when most trainers only use two or three Pokémon.
The best part? Trainers respawn throughout the event, allowing for continuous battles without needing to leave the area. This makes ZA Royale an excellent, almost endless source of XP.
3. Wild Zone XP Trick: Double Rewards for Defeating and Capturing
Wild Zones are another solid choice for grinding, and Pokémon Legends ZA introduces a unique mechanic that makes them even more lucrative. When you reduce a wild Pokémon’s HP to zero, it doesn’t immediately disappear—it lingers briefly with stars above its head. During this short window, you can throw a Poké Ball to capture it.
Doing so grants two XP rewards: one for the defeat and one for the capture. The capture XP is worth about 65% of the defeat reward, meaning you can boost your total gains by nearly two-thirds using this method.
Both Wild Zones and Battle Zones are situationally useful. When your Royale Rank outpaces the trainers, wild Pokémon may provide better XP, and vice versa. Try alternating between the two depending on your current progress for optimal efficiency.
4. Minor XP Sources Worth Using
While not as impactful as the main methods, several smaller sources of XP can make a difference, especially early in your adventure:

• Breaking objects: Destroying rocks, brambles, or sludge piles with appropriate moves grants 15–50 XP each. Small, but free experience while exploring.
• Experience Candies: You can buy small XP candies using Mega Charge, which is obtained from destroying Mega Crystals. This unlocks after Story Mission 10 at the Quazar To Go building in northwest Lumiose City.
• Side Missions: Many side quests feature trainer battles that offer meaningful XP alongside valuable rewards. These are worth completing as you progress.
• NPC and Research Rewards: Reaching Research Level 10 grants 10 XP candies, and a helpful NPC behind the southeast restaurant hands out free candies just for talking to them.

5. Bonus Tip: Strengthen Your Team with Smart Acquisitions
For players looking to expand their rosters efficiently, consider adding rare or competitive Pokémon early. Some players choose to buy Shiny Pokemon ZA or buy pokemon for legends za to save time and customize their ideal team faster. Whether you’re building for collection or combat, having a strong lineup from the start can make your XP grinding much more rewarding.
Leveling up efficiently in Pokémon Legends ZA comes down to smart planning and consistency. Prioritize the Red Canari Plush upgrade, take full advantage of ZA Royale battles, and use the defeat-capture combo in Wild Zones for maximum efficiency. Supplement your grind with smaller XP sources, and you’ll find your team growing stronger faster than ever.
No matter your playstyle, the key is to blend enjoyment with optimization—making the most of every battle, capture, and upgrade along your adventure through Kalos.