The clue is in the name.
Just in case Pokémon Day’s new Pokémon Legends: Z-A wasn’t exciting enough, today’s Nintendo Direct has spoiled us with a new Pokémon Legends: Z-A trailer. From the footage, we learned about what happens when darkness descends upon Lumiose City and what happens is the Z-A Royale. With parts of the city cordoned off, players can enter and engage in Pokémon battles against fellow trainers, battling till daybreak, so you can raise your rank from Z to A and get your wish granted. For everything that was shared, we have the complete recap here:Official PR: When night falls in Lumiose, a battle zone—an area fenced off in red with cutting-edge holographic technology—appears somewhere within the city. Every night from dusk till dawn, Trainers compete in fierce Pokémon battles within these battle zones as part of the Z-A Royale. The Z-A Royale is a competition where Pokémon Trainers whose skills have been recognized are invited to battle to determine who is the strongest. Competing Trainers earn ranks starting from Rank Z all the way to Rank A. All participants start out at Rank Z and aim to rise through the ranks by winning Pokémon battles against other competitors. If a Trainer reaches Rank A, they won’t just earn the honor of being known as the strongest around—apparently, they may also have one wish granted. After you prove your Pokémon battle skills, you’ll be thrust into the fierce tournament alongside either Urbain or Taunie—a fellow competitor in the Z-A Royale. The appearance you choose at the beginning of the game will determine whether Urbain or Taunie will appear.From Z-A (A Battle Royale in Reverse)
Official PR: When night falls in Lumiose, a battle zone will appear in the city. Once you set foot inside, you’ll find battle-ready Trainers and their Pokémon on the lookout for opponents to challenge.Highway to the Battle Zone (Nocturnal Battles)
Official PR: As you draw close to a Trainer, a gauge may appear showing how aware they are of your presence. If this gauge fills up, the Trainer will spot you and challenge you to a Pokémon battle. When this happens, your Pokémon may be so caught off guard that they’ll be unable to move. On the other hand, if you hide behind objects to avoid being noticed and manage to land a surprise attack, you’ll gain the advantage. A successful surprise attack will always result in a critical hit that deals a large amount of damage, giving you the upper hand in battle. You may even be able to knock out your opponent’s first Pokémon with a surprise attack. During a battle with a Trainer, you can escape by putting some distance between yourself and them. Remember that this option is available to you, as some Trainers you encounter may be a higher rank than you!Eyes on the Prize (Surprise Attacks)
Official PR: To raise your rank in the Z-A Royale, you must take on promotion matches and win. In promotion matches, you’ll go head-to-head against a tough Trainer who’s also looking to move up through the ranks. Be sure that you have raised your Pokémon well before taking on promotion matches!Rising Through the Ranks (The A-Z of Promotions)
Official PR: You’ll need a Challenger’s Ticket to compete in a promotion match. To get a Challenger’s Ticket, you’ll need to gather Ticket Points, which you can earn by winning Pokémon battles in battle zones. You can earn more Ticket Points from your battles by picking up bonus cards in the battle zone and fulfilling the conditions listed on the cards. It’s fair to say that completing bonus cards as you win Pokémon battles is the fastest way to earn a promotion match!Challenging Collectible (A Ticket to Success)
Official PR: Managing your time well is key to progressing in the Z-A Royale each day. At night, when the battle zone is active, challenge tough Trainers in the Z-A Royale. During the day, catch Pokémon in the wild zones, train them, and prepare for the next night. It’s also a good idea to use the prize money you earn in the Z-A Royale to stock up on any necessary items for battle.Dare to Dream, Dare to Prepare (Daytime Preparation)
