Z-Moves

Learn how to unleash the ultimate trump card in Pokémon Sun and Moon! Discover Z-Crystals, Z-Rings, and how to use Z-Moves effectively in battle.

Alright, let's talk about Z-Moves in Pokémon Sun and Moon! Think of these as your ultimate secret weapon in battle, a real game-changer when you need it most. You'll get your hands on the Z-Ring pretty early on in your adventure, and that's your key to unlocking these powerful attacks.

To use a Z-Move, your Pokémon needs to be holding a Z-Crystal. There's a Z-Crystal for every single Pokémon type – like Normalium Z for Normal-types or Fairium Z for Fairy-types. But here's where it gets really cool: some Pokémon have their very own special Z-Crystals! For example, Pikachu can use Pikanium Z. It's a neat way to make your favorite Pokémon even more unique.

How to Prepare for a Z-Move:

• First off, make sure the Z-Crystal your Pokémon is holding matches at least one of the moves it knows. So, if Pikachu knows Thunderbolt (an Electric-type move), you can give it an Electrium Z.
• Good news is, a single Z-Crystal can be held by different Pokémon, so you don't need a ton of them if type variety isn't your main focus.

Using a Z-Move in Battle:

Once you're in a battle and ready to unleash some power, look for the big “Z-Power” button on the bottom-left of your touch screen. Tap that while you're choosing your Pokémon's moves. This transforms any of your Pokémon's moves that match the Z-Crystal's type into a super-powered Z-Move!

Generally, the stronger the original move, the more devastating the Z-Move will be. So, a Z-Move based on Thunderbolt will hit way harder than one from a weaker move like Thundershock. The best part? Z-Moves can even break through moves like Protect or Detect that usually block attacks!

Even status moves can become Z-Moves, and they do something special. Instead of just damage, they might boost your Pokémon's stats or heal them up before doing their usual thing. Pretty handy, right?

Important Warning: You can only use ONE Z-Move per battle, for your whole team. Seriously, it's a trump card for a reason! Because of this, choosing the *right moment* is super important. For attacking Z-Moves, saving it for a really tough Pokémon, maybe the last one in an opponent's party, is usually a solid strategy.

And don't forget about type matchups! There's nothing worse than seeing a spectacular Z-Move fizzle out because the opponent resists it. For status Z-Moves, think about the bonus effect. If it heals HP, use it when you're low. If it boosts stats, consider using it early to gain an advantage.