Exploring Lumiose City in Pokémon Legends: Z-A is an adventure packed with secrets, collectibles, and hidden paths — but it’s also full of physical barriers that can slow your progress. From boulders and sludge piles to brambles and frozen blocks, every type of obstacle requires a specific approach to clear.
If you’re wondering how to remove these obstacles efficiently and continue your journey smoothly, here’s a complete guide to every type you’ll encounter and the moves you’ll need to clear them.
City Obstacles in Pokémon Legends: Z-A
While exploring Lumiose City’s streets, rooftops, and Wild Zones, you’ll find environmental barriers blocking your path or hiding valuable items. These aren’t just decorative — each one reacts to specific Pokémon types or moves. Using the right elemental abilities will let you uncover new routes, hidden Pokémon, and rare resources like Mega Shards.
1. Rock Boulders
Rocky boulders are one of the first obstacles you’ll encounter during the early chapters. You’ll soon receive Rock Smash from Mabel, which is designed to shatter them instantly.
However, Rock Smash isn’t the only move that works. Any Fighting-type or Rock-type attack with sufficient power can also break these boulders. Try Power-Up Punch or Rollout if your Pokémon knows them.
Tip: Clearing rock obstacles often reveals hidden areas that contain TM pickups or new Wild Pokémon spawns.
2. Sludge Piles
These unpleasant purple piles block paths in the lower districts of Lumiose City. They can be easily dispersed using Water-type or Psychic-type moves.
Moves like Water Pulse, Surf, or Psybeam are particularly effective. Once cleared, these areas often reveal sewer entries or secret loot spots.
3. Cobwebs
When exploring the rooftops and higher walkways, you’ll sometimes find massive cobwebs stretched between buildings. They can look impassable, but they’re actually useful once burned.
Use Fire-type moves to burn through them — the webs will collapse and form a temporary bridge, creating new routes across rooftops.
4. Brambles
Brambles block alleyways and overgrown paths throughout the city. Like cobwebs, they burn away with Fire-type attacks.
Using moves like Flamethrower, Fire Spin, or Ember clears them instantly. Behind these are often shortcuts or rare encounter zones.
5. Ice Boulders
Later in the game, as the environment changes, you’ll come across icy barriers in colder parts of Lumiose City. Fire moves once again come to the rescue here — Fire Blast or Heat Wave will melt these frozen blocks.
Pro Tip: Some melted boulders create puddles or open passages that lead to new Wild Zones or underground areas.
6. Mega Crystals
Pink crystal formations known as Mega Crystals appear all around Lumiose. You can destroy these with any attack type to collect Mega Shards, a valuable resource for purchasing Mega Evolution Stones at the Quasartico, Inc. building.
These crystal nodes respawn after a few minutes, making them an excellent way to farm resources for your Mega Evolutions.
Elemental Interactions and Secrets
The city’s environmental design encourages experimentation with different Pokémon types. Here’s a quick recap of how each interacts with your surroundings:
| Obstacle Type | Effective Move/Type | Reward/Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Boulders | Rock Smash, Power-Up Punch | Opens paths, reveals loot |
| Sludge Piles | Water or Psychic moves | Unlocks sewers, hidden areas |
| Cobwebs | Fire-type moves | Creates walkable bridge |
| Brambles | Fire-type moves | Clears blocked alleys |
| Ice Boulders | Fire-type moves | Opens frozen routes |
| Mega Crystals | Any move | Yields Mega Shards |
How to Use the Roto-Glide for Vertical Exploration
As you progress deeper into the story, you’ll receive a special gadget called the Roto-Glide. By pressing and holding the A button while falling, your trainer can perform an upward boost, helping you reach ledges that were previously inaccessible.
Mastering Roto-Glide navigation, along with knowing how to clear obstacles, is essential for exploring every hidden corner of Lumiose City.
Bonus Tip: Combine Moves and Exploration
Some obstacles are positioned near each other, requiring a mix of moves — for instance, burning vines before smashing rocks behind them. Consider keeping a diverse party that includes Fire, Water, Psychic, and Fighting types. This way, you’ll always have the right Pokémon for the job.
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If you’re also collecting Colorful Screws and Canari Plushies, clearing obstacles can help uncover hidden items faster — making it easier to upgrade your passive bonuses across the city.
