Pokémon Legends ZA: Early Guide to Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie

[Eva]

In Pokémon Legends ZA, players can once again meet the beloved Kalos starter trio—Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie—long before they normally become available. These three classic Pokémon from X and Y can be obtained early through a series of optional side quests scattered across Lumiose City. This guide breaks down how to unlock each one, along with tips on catching and hunting them later in the wild.

Unlock Requirements

You can start these quests once you’ve reached Rank X, which is roughly your third trainer level after completing just a couple of early missions. Upon reaching that point, several side quests become available across the map. Among them are three that each lead to one of the Kalos starters.

How to Get Chespin Early

The first quest begins near Restaurant Le Wow, close to Rouge Plaza 3. You’ll find a Chespin challenging a taxi for some reason—apparently, it just wants to battle everything that moves.

This is a static encounter, meaning it’s shiny-locked and cannot be caught during battle. After defeating Chespin three times, the nearby taxi driver will suggest that the spirited Pokémon would do better as your partner. Chespin agrees, and you’ll complete Side Mission 7: A Feisty Chespin.

How to Get Fennekin Early

Next, travel to Magenta Sector 2, near the Prism Tower. You’ll spot a sickly Fennekin lying in the grass. It won’t eat or respond to your items, and the Pokémon Center can’t help—so you’ll need to find someone who knows how to make it better.

Talk to an NPC enjoying lunch nearby, who will mention a special item called a Revitalizing Twig found in Wild Zone 5. Collect five of these twigs; the final one you pick up will be the correct one. Once you return and feed it to Fennekin, it instantly recovers and chooses to join your team.

How to Get Froakie Early

The Froakie quest is the most involved of the three. Head to Jean Sector 8, located on the North Boulevard, near the Jean Pokémon Center. You’ll find Froakie perched on scaffolding, alongside a surveyor NPC.

The challenge is to climb the scaffolding within a time limit—starting with 30 seconds, then 40, and finally 50 seconds on the third course. The controls can take some getting used to, but mastering them is worthwhile since scaffold climbing becomes a major gameplay element later in the story.

Once you complete all the climbing challenges, Froakie will be impressed by your agility and decide to join you as your partner Pokémon.

Catching the Starters in the Wild

While your first three starters are static and cannot be shiny or alpha, all three species later become huntable in the wild:

Froakie – Found in Wild Zone 16, usually perched atop a tower. It’s cautious and tends to flee if spotted. Wait for it to turn away before approaching, and consider saving beforehand. It’s not shiny-locked, so you can shiny hunt by fast traveling in and out of the zone.

Chespin – Appears in Wild Zone 17, hidden among dirt patches that may also contain Diggersby. If no Chespin spawns, reset the area by fast traveling. The Dusk Ball offers an excellent 100% catch rate if used correctly.

Fennekin – Found in Wild Zone 18, a dangerous area guarded by Altaria and Salamence. Clear nearby enemies first, then save your game before approaching Fennekin to prevent it from fleeing. Alpha and shiny variants can appear here too.

Each of these Pokémon can appear as Alpha forms, which are much larger and more aggressive. Alpha Fennekin and Froakie will attack instead of running away, giving players a chance for intense battles before capturing them.

Additional Tips

The early starters you receive from quests each come with three perfect IVs, though you won’t know which ones until you unlock the Judge function later in the game.

If you plan to buy pokemon za items to aid in catching or hunting these Pokémon, prioritize Dusk Balls, Quick Balls, and Repeat Balls for the best success rates.

Players looking to expand their collection early on might also buy pokemon for legends za to get a head start in battles or trades.

Getting the Kalos starters early in Pokémon Legends ZA is a rewarding experience that adds nostalgic depth to the adventure. Each quest showcases a bit of personality for Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie—turning them from familiar faces into living parts of the Lumiose City world. And with the ability to later hunt for alpha or shiny versions, dedicated trainers have plenty of reasons to revisit these areas.