Leveling up in Pokémon Legends: Z-A usually means hours of battling wild Pokémon or trainers for modest experience gains. But recently, players have uncovered an unconventional and rather ruthless strategy that turns Lumiose City into the ultimate grind zone. It’s efficient, repeatable, and just a little unsettling — an XP farm that revolves around one of the most explosive moves in the series: Self-Destruct.
In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, certain Lumiose City trainers use Pokémon that know Self-Destruct — a move that deals devastating damage with a base power of 200 but causes the user to faint immediately. Normally, this would be a one-and-done trade-off in a battle. But players discovered that if they run away right after the opposing Pokémon self-destructs, they can still receive the XP reward even though the game doesn’t count the encounter as completed.
That means the trainer remains available for another round. You can re-initiate the same battle, repeat the trick, and stack experience endlessly. It’s an infinite loop — the trainer’s Pokémon keep fainting, you keep gaining XP, and nobody officially “wins” or “loses.”
The method was popularized by X user @Anthony_0313, who demonstrated that timing is everything. If you run too late, the battle continues; too early, and the self-destruct might not trigger. The sweet spot allows you to escape mid-blast — earning XP while resetting the encounter.
How It Works — Step by Step
Players have broken down the technique into a simple but precise sequence:
- Find a Trainer – Look for Lumiose City trainers with Pokémon that know Self-Destruct.
- Trigger the Move – Start the encounter and bait the opposing Pokémon into using Self-Destruct.
- Escape Immediately – As the move activates, choose to run away.
- Collect XP – The explosion grants XP even though the match isn’t counted as a victory.
- Repeat the Battle – Since the trainer wasn’t technically defeated, you can rematch infinitely.
The trick even works with multiple trainers around the city, letting you create a rotation loop for faster progression. Players recommend using a fast lead Pokémon to ensure quick escapes every time.
Why It’s Both Cruel and Brilliant
From a mechanical standpoint, this farm exploits how the game tracks combat results. The XP system registers fainted Pokémon before checking if the battle officially ended — a small oversight with big consequences.
But from a moral standpoint, it’s admittedly grim. You’re essentially forcing the same trainer’s Pokémon to repeatedly self-destruct while you profit from the fallout. Lore-wise, Self-Destruct doesn’t kill Pokémon — it just drains their energy completely, causing them to faint — but the image of repeatedly triggering explosions for personal gain feels ethically gray, even by RPG standards.
Why Players Are Using It Anyway
Despite the moral awkwardness, the strategy’s efficiency is undeniable. For players aiming to:
- Max out their team levels quickly,
- Farm the Shiny Charm’s 1,000-battle requirement, or
- Catch up after skipping side content,
this method offers a massive shortcut. Grinding in traditional ways can take hours, but this loop condenses XP farming into short, repeatable bursts.
Anthony and other players suggest doing it “before it gets patched,” though it’s unclear if Game Freak can fix it easily — the move itself and the act of fleeing are both legitimate mechanics.
A Secondary Variation: The Audino Farm
Japanese players have also reported a similar approach using Audino, a Pokémon known for its high XP yield. The strategy, nicknamed the “Audino Marathon,” works almost the same way:
- Target Nurse “Iyas”’s Audino.
- Use a move that lets you escape after it faints.
- Gain the XP, then repeat.
This variation is slower but less chaotic, offering a softer grind for players uncomfortable with repeated explosions.
Should You Try It?
While not technically cheating, this exploit sits in a gray area — it’s taking advantage of a programming loophole rather than breaking the game outright. For solo players in an offline setting, there’s little harm. But if Pokémon Legends: Z-A ever integrates online rankings or shared stats, expect a fix to arrive soon.
Until then, this “Self-Destruct XP loop” remains one of the strangest — and most effective — methods to supercharge your team in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Play Now!
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