Pokémon Legends: Z-A players must do this one thing before playing Mega Dimensions

Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s Mega Dimensions DLC expands the post-game with a new storyline and many powerful Legendary encounters. However, unlike past titles where most of the content can be tackled with a decent number of Fast or Ultra Balls and a solid team at a Level 80 or higher, this DLC is throwing players for a loop.

Mega Dimensions has introduced Hyperspace Wild Zones. These alternate versions of Lumiose City are filled with challenges, including encounters with wild Pokémon over Level 100. This is a first for the series, and it requires some very specific strategies to avoid getting absolutely destroyed by a Starley.

The Escapist recaps

• Mega Dimensions’ Pokedex is large and powerful.
• Being underprepared can have devastating consequences.
• Leveling a good team of Pokémon is more important than hyper-training.
• You can lose everything on a run if you don’t have high levels.
• Donuts can’t save you.

Players must level up to be successful

The first and most important thing that you need to do before jumping into Mega Dimensions is make sure you have a solid team of 15 Pokémon at Level 100 that can Mega Evolve. There are no Pokémon Centers in Hyperspace, and a team can quickly be knocked out when first jumping into these zones.

Your party’s level can’t permanently increase above Level 100. Donuts can add a temporary boost to the current level of the Pokémon taken into the zone. If you have a Donut that adds +10 levels, as the early Donuts don’t offer big bonuses or perks, and you apply it to a Level 70 team, you will be woefully under-leveled when starting this DLC.

While you only need to finish Pokémon Legends: Z-A and see the credits to play the DLC, taking the time to level grind is going to be the key to doing well in Mega Dimensions. You will end the game somewhere around Level 70, so take the time to get the Legendaries, grind some levels, and prep your team before taking on the new content.

Avoiding level grinding will lead to berry loss

One of the most important mechanics of the Mega Dimensions DLC is Donuts. Introduced at the start of the expansion, players will obtain special Butter and combine it with berries to create Donuts at Ansha’s “shop”. These Donuts all offer specific bonuses, but the ingredients are the key. 

While regular berries can be used, Hyperspace Berries are the best for creating powerful donuts that offer bonuses and Level Boosts. They can impact what Pokémon spawn in the Hyperspace Wild Zones. It is easy to start the game in these zones under-leveled, but doing so not only limits the opportunity to find the Hyperspace Berries, but it can also waste them.

One of the worst things you can do in Mega Dimensions is start using Hyperspace Berries for bigger Level bonuses, and then use them on Pokémon below Level 100. This wastes the very limited supply of Hyperspace Berries and will only sabotage the player as they try to complete objectives and earn more berries from floating Poke Ball chests.

Pokémon won’t gain any Exp while battling in Hyperspace Wild Zones, so all leveling must be done in the real Lumiose City. If you manage to find Hyperspace Berries in early exploration missions, hold onto them and wait to use them until you have a team that will make the most of the boosts.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A won’t give you any shortcuts for leveling

Pokémon Legends: Z-A gameplay is all about the grind, and Mega Dimensions illustrates this with a cutting level of requirements. While Exp Candy has made a comeback, the grind to get them is long and difficult. There aren’t many shortcuts due to the small map and lack of activities, so players really only have a few ways to get their Pokémon level-ready for Mega Dimensions.

The first is to participate in the Z-A Royale in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Here, you will be able to battle over and over against higher-level opponents. While the Royale is tedious, it is a reliable way to grind a team’s skills and raise levels. Thanks to benches, players can keep skipping to the evening hours, offering an unlimited number of opponents to steamroll for experience points.

The other, more organic way to farm levels is by visiting Wild Zone 20. While it lacks in size and variety, this zone does offer the illusion of exploration while grinding. Alpha Pokémon are also likely to spawn here, which will drop Exp Candy when defeated. 

Unfortunately, outside of these two methods, players won’t have too many other ways to grind without some amount of frustration. Getting to Level 100 isn’t a quick or easy process in Legends: Z-A, but it is the most important milestone for playing Mega Dimensions without getting completely torn apart in the Hyperspace areas. Take the time to level up and ensure youare truly ready for the challenge before diving into the new content.

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