Z-Moves - Gameplay | Pokémon: Ultra Sun & Moon | Gamer Guides®

View Full-size12

(1 of 2) Z-Moves can be overkill or just the push you needed.

View Full-sizeView Full-size

Z-Moves can be overkill or just the push you needed. (left), (right)

Subscribe Now to Remove Ads

Z-Moves are a new element to Pokémon battling introduced in the previous games: Sun and Moon. Essentially, they can be considered a trainer’s ultimate trump card. Z-Moves can be utilized once you’ve obtained the Z-Ring during the main story and one of many Z-Crystals.

There is a Z-Crystal for each of the 18 Pokémon Types, from the Normal-type Normalium Z to the Fairy-type Fairium Z. Not only that, but there are exclusive Z-Crystals for certain Pokémon species, such as Pikanium Z for Pikachu.

Subscribe Now to Remove Ads

Before you can use a Z-Move, you must first make a Pokémon hold a Z-Crystal whose Type matches at least one of the Pokémon’s learned moves. For example, if you have an Electrium Z, you can give it to Pikachu if it has an Electric-type move, such as Thunderbolt.

Conveniently, a single Z-Crystal can be held by multiple Pokemon, which can be useful if Type variety isn’t a concern for you.

View Full-size12

(1 of 2) Before pressing Z-Power

View Full-sizeView Full-size

Before pressing Z-Power (left), After pressing Z-Power (right)

Subscribe Now to Remove Ads

Once in battle, you can use a Z-Move by selecting (or tapping) the big “Z-Power” button towards the left side of the bottom (touch) screen while selecting a Pokémon’s moves. This will change all of the Pokemon’s moves that match the Z-Crystal’s type into an extremely powerful Z-Move.

In general, the stronger the Pokémon’s original move, the stronger the resulting Z-Move. So a Z-Move triggered from Thunderbolt will be stronger than one triggered from the lesser Thundershock. Even better, Z-Moves can deal some damage to Pokémon guarding themselves with moves like Protect or Detect.

Subscribe Now to Remove Ads

Meanwhile, status moves that don’t inflict damage can still trigger Z-Moves, but they work slightly differently. Depending on the status move itself, the Z-Move version of the status move will grant a special effect, such as a stat boost or health recovery, before triggering the usual effect.

You can only use one Z-Move during an entire battle–and this applies for your entire party. Hey, we did say it was a trump card! (This rule can be overwritten during story battles, after you’ve bonded with Rotom.)

Subscribe Now to Remove Ads

Because you can only use a single Z-Move per battle, it’s obviously very important when you choose to use it. Perhaps the best time to unleash an offensive Z-Move is when facing a particular tough Pokémon who’s difficult to take down normally–during the story, this is usually the final Pokémon in a trainer’s party.

Of course, remember to keep in mind Type Match-ups when selecting your Z-Move as there’s nothing worse than seeing an absolute spectacle of a move failing to make a noticeable dent because the opposing Pokémon resists it (or worse, is immune to it).

Subscribe Now to Remove Ads

For status Z-Moves, the timing depends on the special effect granted. If it’s health recovery, you obviously want to use it when at low health. Or if it’s a stat boost, you’ll probably want to use it early on to shift the momentum in your favour.