Grisham is one of the toughest trainers you’ll face in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Known as the coffee-brewing face of Team Flare’s operations in Lumiose City, Grisham’s battle marks your final step toward achieving Rank A in the Z-A Royale. His diverse lineup mixes power, bulk, and tricky typings, making it essential to plan the right counters before the match begins.
Where to Find Grisham in Pokémon Legends Z-A
Grisham hides behind his food truck at Nouveau Café, located just south of Prism Tower in central Lumiose City. To challenge him, you must first:
- Speak with Emma and Mable to gather clues about his location.
- Explore Lysandre Labs and read all four Team Flare Files.
- Collect 45,000 Ticket Points to earn a Challenge Ticket that unlocks his battle.
Once you have the ticket, interact with Grisham at his food truck to initiate the Rank B Promotion Match.
Grisham’s Team and Weaknesses
Grisham’s team features six high-level Pokémon ranging from Level 61 to 63, covering multiple hybrid types. Here’s a breakdown of his lineup and what each Pokémon is weak to:
| Pokémon | Type | Main Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Pangoro (Lv 61) | Fighting / Dark | 4× Fairy • 2× Fighting • 2× Flying |
| Malamar (Lv 61) | Dark / Psychic | 4× Bug • 2× Fairy |
| Pyroar (Lv 61) | Fire / Normal | 2× Water • 2× Rock • 2× Ground • 2× Fighting |
| Tyranitar (Lv 62) | Rock / Dark | 4× Fighting • 2× Water • 2× Grass • 2× Ground • 2× Bug • 2× Steel • 2× Fairy |
| Salamence (Lv 62) | Dragon / Flying | 4× Ice • 2× Rock • 2× Dragon • 2× Fairy |
| Mega Charizard X (Lv 63) | Fire / Dragon | 2× Rock • 2× Ground • 2× Dragon |
Grisham’s team offers no single exploit—every member covers another’s weaknesses—so you’ll need a flexible squad with strong coverage across Fairy, Fighting, Ground, and Ice moves.
Recommended Level Before the Fight
To keep the match balanced but fair, aim to have your Pokémon at Level 63 – 65. Going above 65 can make the battle too easy, but anything under 60 will leave you underpowered against his Mega Charizard X and Salamence.
Best Pokémon Counters for Grisham
1. Mega Gardevoir
- Key Moves: Moonblast • Draining Kiss • Reflect (TM 031) • Protect (TM 017)
- Why It Works: Mega Gardevoir’s Fairy-type STAB Moonblast wipes out Pangoro and Malamar in one or two hits.
Draining Kiss provides healing, while Reflect helps her survive physical threats like Tyranitar or Salamence’s Aerial Ace.
Tip: Keep Gardevoir away from Charizard X—Fire Blitz will melt her defenses.
2. Mega Camerupt
- Key Moves: Earth Power (TM 052) • Earthquake (TM 069) • Lava Plume • Protect (TM 017)
- Why It Works: Mega Camerupt’s dual Fire / Ground typing makes it the best answer to Pyroar, Tyranitar, and Mega Charizard X.
Its STAB Earth Power and Earthquake exploit all three of their weaknesses, while Camerupt’s bulk helps it survive retaliation.
Tip: Watch for Pyroar’s Earth Power—Camerupt can endure it once but shouldn’t stay in long.
3. Mamoswine or Weavile
- Key Moves: Ice Shard • Icicle Crash • Rock Slide • Earthquake
- Why It Works: Ice-type moves are vital for Salamence. Mamoswine’s bulk and Ground STAB also punish Tyranitar and Charizard X.
Weavile offers speed, though it’s glassy and must dodge Salamence’s Fire Fang.
4. Lucario or Iron Hands
- Key Moves: Close Combat • Drain Punch • Bullet Punch • Earthquake
- Why It Works: Fighting-types can handle both Pangoro and Tyranitar efficiently.
Lucario’s Steel typing grants resistance to Fairy moves, while Iron Hands can take repeated hits and heal through Drain Punch.
Battle Strategy and Tips
- Lead with a Fairy-type. Pangoro often opens the fight; leading with Mega Gardevoir or Sylveon sets the tone early.
- Keep an Ice counter ready. Salamence’s Draco Meteor is deadly—counter it with Ice Shard priority.
- Ground coverage is essential. Mega Charizard X’s Fire / Dragon typing falls fast to Ground moves from Camerupt or Garchomp.
- Manage switching wisely. Many of Grisham’s Pokémon carry coverage moves like Earthquake and Crunch; rotate based on typing advantage rather than brute force.
- Use status moves tactically. Reflect or Protect can buy turns to heal or bait out strong attacks.
Rewards for Defeating Grisham
Winning against Grisham earns you:
- Promotion to Rank A in the Z-A Royale.
- TM 104 (Flare Blitz) — a high-power Fire-type move that can inflict burn at the cost of recoil damage.
This milestone also unlocks tougher post-game challenges like the Infinite Z-A Royale, where Grisham reappears with boosted levels. Play Now!
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