How to Train Pokémon With Slow Leveling Rates in Pokémon Legends: Z-A - Girls from all over the world

Training Pokemon that level up slowly can feel like pushing a boulder uphill, especially in a game like Pokemon Legends: Z-A where wild encounters, exploration, and mission pacing are all tied closely to your progression. Some species just take longer to grow, and if you decide to build a team around them, you might find yourself lagging behind in levels compared to the game’s difficulty curve.

But don’t worry. With the right methods, you can train slow-leveling Pokemon efficiently without burning out or spending hours in the same spot. Below is a practical guide to help you make the most of your time in Z-A.

Before you start, it helps to understand why certain Pokemon are harder to level. Many pseudo-legendaries, bulky tanks, or rare encounters fall into slow or fluctuating experience groups. These include Pokemon like Larvitar, Bagon, or any special evolutions introduced in Z-A that require a lot of EXP to evolve.

If you’re planning a team for competitive play or just want your favorites to shine, it’s worth looking up their EXP curve early. It saves you from surprises later, especially if you’re trying to avoid grinding too much.

The quickest way to deal with slow leveling is to fight strong, repeatable enemies. In Z-A, certain regions generate high-level spawns that respawn quickly enough to let you train efficiently.

Alpha Pokemon are especially useful. Even if your slow-leveling Pokemon can’t fight them directly, you can lead with a stronger teammate, then switch in the Pokemon you want to level so it can still earn EXP. This old trick works surprisingly well in Legends-style games because battles end faster, and you can chain encounters smoothly.

Some players even rotate between several high-yield zones rather than sticking to one. Switching areas helps avoid burnout and lets you grab different materials along the way.

Some research tasks in Z-A reward bonus experience or make Pokemon spawn faster. You’re essentially hitting two goals at once: filling out your Pokédex and leveling your team. This is especially handy for slow-growth species, because even small boosts add up over time.

Completing tasks like catching multiple of the same species, defeating them under certain conditions, or observing special behaviors can feel more like a scavenger hunt than grinding, which makes the process a lot more enjoyable.

One overlooked strategy is simple party rotation. Instead of forcing one slow-leveling Pokemon into every encounter, switch them in and out depending on your goals. For example, keep your slow growers active when entering battle-heavy zones, then swap them out during exploration chapters where combat is rare.

This keeps your run smoother and prevents situations where your under-leveled Pokemon drag the whole team behind.

Many side quests in Pokemon Legends: Z-A reward EXP items, rare materials, or repeatable tasks that give your team quick experience.

EXP Candies or similar items shouldn’t be your main leveling strategy, but they’re perfect for bridging late-game gaps when your slow-leveling Pokemon fall behind. You won’t have to worry about over-grinding, and you’ll still keep your story progression natural.

Some players like to take a break from traditional leveling and focus a bit on collection. If you’re a collector building a full dex or hunting rare variants, this can indirectly support your training progress. For example, you might come across communities where people discuss ways to buy shiny pokemon as part of their collection hobby. While this isn’t necessary for leveling, collectors sometimes use these discussions to learn about spawn mechanics, values, and player markets, which can offer insights useful for training and exploration too.

This kind of community knowledge can occasionally point you toward good farming spots or efficient routes that naturally help slow-leveling Pokemon catch up.