Hoenn Starters Are Finally Here: Your Complete Pokemon Legends Z-A Catch Guide

The wait is over—Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip have officially arrived in Pokemon Legends: Z-A through the Mega Dimension DLC that launched December 10, 2025. These beloved Generation 3 starters, along with their fully evolved forms Sceptile, Blaziken, and Swampert, can now roam Hyperspace Lumiose alongside their game-changing Mega Evolutions. But here’s the catch that has the community divided—while catching these Pokemon is straightforward, obtaining their Mega Stones requires grinding through Ranked Battles across three separate seasons stretching into February 2026.

How to Catch Hoenn Starters in Pokemon Legends Mega Dimension

Step-by-Step: Starting the DLC

1. Purchase & Download: Buy the Mega Dimension DLC from the Nintendo eShop. The expansion requires completing the base game’s main story before you can access any new content, so finish all main missions first.

2. Receive the Call: After downloading the DLC, launch Pokemon Legends: Z-A. You’ll immediately receive a phone call directing you to Hotel Z’s rooftop—this triggers the expansion’s storyline.

3. Head to Hotel Z: Navigate to Vert Sector 8 in the southeast corner of Lumiose City. Enter Hotel Z and use the elevator in the lobby. Select “Rooftop” to reach the top floor where a cutscene begins your DLC adventure.

4. Access Hyperspace Lumiose: The DLC introduces Hoopa, the mythical Pokemon that creates portals to an alternate dimension called Hyperspace Lumiose. Progress through the new storyline to unlock various Wild Zones where Hoenn starters appear.

5. Prepare Your Team: Before venturing into Hyperspace Lumiose, ensure your team is at least Level 75+. The new zones feature Pokemon exceeding Level 100, making this endgame content significantly more challenging than anything in the base game.

Mega Stone Acquisition: The Ranked Battle Grind

⚠️ Critical Timeline Note:You can catch Hoenn starters immediately in the DLC, but their Mega Stones won’t be available for weeks or months. Season 4 (starting December 17) awards Baxcalibur’s Mega Stone first, pushing Sceptilite to approximately January 7, 2026. Blaziken fans face the longest wait—potentially until mid-February 2026. This staggered release mirrors how Game Freak distributed Kalos starter Mega Stones, but the extended timeline has frustrated players hoping to use Mega Blaziken during DLC exploration.

Ranked Battle Requirements Explained

Unlike previous seasons where Greninjite required reaching top ranks, Game Freak has significantly lowered the difficulty threshold for Hoenn Mega Stones. You no longer need to climb to Master rank—lower tiers now qualify for rewards, making these stones accessible even to casual competitive players.

What You Need:

• Nintendo Switch Online subscription (mandatory for Ranked Battles)
• Completion of Pokemon Legends: Z-A main story
• A competitive team (Level 100 recommended)
• Participation during the specific season offering each stone

The Good News: You don’t need the Mega Dimension DLC to earn Mega Stones through Ranked Battles. Base game owners can still participate and receive these rewards, though they won’t be able to catch the Hoenn starters themselves without purchasing the expansion.

For Non-Competitive Players: If battling isn’t your style, focus on collecting items that spawn during matches. You earn substantial points even from losses, meaning 15-20 minutes of casual participation per season typically suffices to reach reward thresholds.

Why the Delayed Release Frustrates Players

The community backlash centers on one issue: players can catch Sceptile, Blaziken, and Swampert right now in Hyperspace Lumiose, but they’ll remain in their base forms for weeks because Mega Stones are time-gated behind future seasons. This creates an awkward situation where these iconic Pokemon sit in your party unable to access their signature Mega Evolutions during fresh DLC content.

Many players argue Game Freak should have either delayed the Hoenn starters’ availability until their Mega Stones were accessible, or distributed the stones through in-game events or Mystery Gifts rather than competitive rewards. The current system effectively punishes those who prefer single-player experiences or lack Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions.

Alternative Routes & Workarounds

Pokemon Home Transfer: Once Pokemon Home compatibility arrives for Legends: Z-A (currently unconfirmed), you may be able to transfer Hoenn starters with Mega Stones from other games like Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire. However, this remains speculative until official Home integration is announced.

Trading: Players who earn Mega Stones through Ranked Battles can theoretically trade them to friends, though the game’s trading mechanics for held items need clarification. Monitor the official Trading Board for offers once stones become available.

For comprehensive Pokemon Legends: Z-A strategies, explore our complete Mega Evolution guide and check out the full Mega Dimension DLC walkthrough.

Hoenn Legendaries & Extended Content

The Mega Dimension DLC isn’t just about starters—Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza also make their Legends: Z-A debut. Capturing these three legendary Pokemon unlocks the ability to craft 5-star Donuts, which grant access to Hyperspace Distortions containing rare Pokemon like Frigibax, Arctibax, and Baxcalibur (which also received a new Mega Evolution).

This interconnected progression system means completing the DLC’s storyline and capturing Hoenn legendaries becomes essential for accessing all content, not just for catching the starters themselves.

Optimal Strategy for Mega Stone Collection

Season 5 (Sceptilite – Early January): Start participating in Ranked Battles as soon as Season 5 begins. The three-week season duration provides ample time to reach reward thresholds even with minimal daily playtime.

Season 6 (Swampertite – Late January): Maintain momentum from Season 5. If you reached the required rank previously, replicating that performance should be straightforward.

Season 7 (Blazikenite – Mid-February): The final stone completes the set. By this point, the competitive meta will have evolved, potentially requiring team adjustments to remain competitive.

Pro Tip: Don’t skip seasons even if you prefer a different starter. Collecting all three Mega Stones maximizes your strategic flexibility and prevents FOMO if you later decide to build around a different Pokemon.