Exploring Lumiose City in Pokémon Legends Z-A is a lot of fun, but you’ll quickly notice that some paths are blocked by huge boulders. These rocks can be annoying, especially when they stop you from getting to new areas or finishing objectives early in the game.
You’ll run into them pretty early on, too, like when you try heading back to Hotel Z and find your way blocked. These boulders can be frustrating at first, but once you know how to deal with them, getting past them is pretty straightforward.
Pokemon Legends Z-A: How To Break Rocks
You need to unlock TM004 – Rock Smash, and teach Bunnelby the move to crush those rocks and open up new paths to explore. You get Rock Smash by ranking up your Research Level. You rank up your Research Level by completing Mable’s Research Requests. When you reach level 2, you’ll automatically get TM004: Rock Smash as a reward.
If you don’t have Research Requests unlocked yet, finish the tutorial first and complete the story mission where you need to catch five different Pokémon species. After that, head over to the Pokémon Research Center (it’s marked with a yellow icon on your map).
Go inside, take the elevator or stairs up to the third floor, and talk to Mable. She’ll give you your first Research Reward, the Rock Smash TM. Once you’ve got it, you’re ready to start clearing those pesky boulders.
How To Use Rock Smash in Pokemon Legends Z-A
Once you’ve got the TM, open your menu and go to your Bag. Scroll to the TM section and pick Rock Smash. You can now teach it to a Pokémon that can learn the move. If you followed the tutorial, you should already have a Bunnelby, and luckily, it can use Rock Smash just fine.
After teaching it the move, summon your Pokémon near a boulder. Hold ZL to lock onto it, then press one of the Y, X, A, or B buttons to pick Rock Smash from the move list. Your Pokémon will smash the rock, clearing the path ahead.
Rock Smash isn’t only for breaking boulders; it can also be used on other tough surfaces, like Mega Crystals. Sometimes, breaking rocks even gives you bonus EXP or hidden items, so it’s worth checking every blocked spot you see.
Other Moves That Can Break Obstructions
While Rock Smash is the main move for breaking boulders, there are other types of obstructions in Pokémon Legends Z-A that need different attacks. Each obstacle has its own weakness:
- Stone Boulders: Can be destroyed using moves like Rock Smash, Roll Out, or Heat Crash.
- Thorny Brambles: These can be cleared with Fire-type moves, such as Flame Wheel or Heat Crash.
- Purple Grimes: Washed away by Water-type moves, especially Water Pulse.
- Ice Boulders: Can be destroyed using Fire-type or strong impact moves, including Heat Crash or Power-Up Punch.
Make sure to keep a Pokémon with Rock Smash or a similar move in your party so you don’t get stuck mid-adventure. Having the right moves available will make exploring Pokémon Legends Z-A much smoother and help you uncover every hidden corner using the Day-Night cycle in Lumiose City.
