Pokémon Legends: Z-A · Guide
Weather in Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Compare the weather states, rain effects, time-advancing options, location-specific spawns and rain-based evolutions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
Weather conditions reference
The outdoor weather display distinguishes Clear / Standard, Overcast, Intense Sun, Rain, Fog and Rainbow. Clear / Standard and Intense Sun have different icons; check the map or pause screen.
| Weather | Visual cue | Player-facing effect |
|---|---|---|
| Clear / Standard | Solid-centre sun; clouds may remain | A separate state from Intense Sun. |
| Overcast | Cloud icon and cloudier sky | No additional encounter or evolution effect is listed here. |
| Intense Sun | Ring-centre sun | A separate state from Clear / Standard; some sunny encounter descriptions do not identify which icon. |
| Rain | Rain icon and falling rain | Affects some encounters and evolutions, and modifies move damage. |
| Fog | Hazy surroundings | Visibility changes. |
| Rainbow | Rainbow icon | A distinct weather presentation. |
How weather changes
Weather can change while you explore and around day/night transitions. Resting does not let you select a weather state.
Use the outdoor weather indicator for Lumiose City. Interior, scripted-battle and Hyperspace conditions can follow different rules.
| Action | What changes | Player tip |
|---|---|---|
| Explore outdoors | Weather can change while time passes. | Check the weather indicator rather than using the day/night clock as a weather timer. |
| Rest at an empty bench | Advance to morning or night; weather may also change. | Resting does not guarantee rain or a different state. |
| Rest in your Hotel Z bed | Advance time when free resting is available. | Check the weather afterward; it cannot be selected directly. |
| Fast travel | Move to another area. | A loading transition does not select a weather state. |
How to obtain rain
For a rain-based evolution, prepare Sliggoo at level 50 or above, then check the outdoor weather indicator. Explore or rest until rain is active, and select Evolve from the party menu when it appears.
Rain Dance and Sunny Day do not set outdoor weather in Z-A. Rain-based evolutions require environmental rain.
Weather effects on combat
In game version 1.0.3, rain applies a 1.2× modifier to Water-type move damage and a 0.8× modifier to Fire-type move damage. Rounded HP loss can vary with the rest of the damage calculation.
No numeric damage modifier is stated here for Intense Sun. Do not apply the rain modifiers to other weather states.
Fog reduces visibility. No accuracy penalty is listed for Z-A.
Weather-related move effects can differ from other Pokémon games. This guide covers Z-A behavior and does not apply turn-based charge, accuracy or healing rules.
This guide does not list weather-based Speed boosts, freezing immunity or status recovery. See Battle Mechanics for Z-A stat and status rules.
| Move type in rain | Damage modifier | Example move | Game version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water-type move in rain | 1.2× | Feraligatr using Aqua Jet | 1.0.3 |
| Fire-type move in rain | 0.8× | Talonflame using Flame Wheel | 1.0.3 |
Weather-dependent encounters
Weather conditions apply to an encounter source, not automatically to every way of finding that Pokémon. City spawns, sewer routes, Wild Zones and special encounters can behave differently. A required condition makes that source eligible; it does not guarantee the Pokémon will appear.
Use the table and Pokémon profiles to compare each location. “Not confirmed for this encounter” means the weather requirement for that route is unknown. Clear / Standard and Intense Sun remain separate; some location descriptions only say “sunny” and do not identify the icon.
| Pokémon / form | Location | Time | Weather | Spawn rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goomy | Lumiose City | Not confirmed for this encounter | Requires Rain | 21 |
| Goomy | Lumiose Sewers | Not confirmed for this encounter | Not confirmed for this encounter | 1 |
| Helioptile | Lumiose City | Day | Requires Sunny weather; Clear vs Intense Sun not established | 1 |
| Riolu | Lumiose City | Day | Requires Sunny weather; Clear vs Intense Sun not established | 2 |
| Riolu | Lumiose City | Day | Not confirmed for this encounter | 2 |
| Skarmory | Lumiose City | Not confirmed for this encounter | Not confirmed for this encounter | 2 |
| Skarmory | Lumiose City | Not confirmed for this encounter | Avoid Rain | 1 |
| Sliggoo | Lumiose City | Not confirmed for this encounter | Requires Rain | 21 |
Weather-based evolutions
When Sliggoo is level 50 or higher and rain is active, open the party menu and select Evolve. Check the preview to confirm the resulting form.
Rain does not change the form produced by an evolution. Standard Sliggoo evolves into Goodra, while Hisuian Sliggoo’s rain-based evolution preserves its form.
| Evolution | Level | Weather | Availability scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sliggoo → Goodra (standard) | Level 50 or above | Environmental rain | Standard form; base-game evolution. |
| Hisuian Sliggoo → Hisuian Goodra | Level 50 or above | Environmental rain | Hisuian source modeled in Mega Dimension; trade is a separate acquisition path. |
Mission and version-specific exceptions
During Side Mission 64, Let It Rain, Let It Pour, speak with Cielestine in Rouge Sector 7 and accept her offer to wait for rain before the battle.
Side Mission 64 rewards Mystic Water. If you want to evolve Sliggoo, check the weather again after the mission scene; that mission does not provide a permanent free-roam rain switch.
Version 2.0.1 fixed an issue that could keep the weather sunny instead of allowing it to change. The update gives no fixed weather timer or odds.
Mega Dimension and scripted encounters can use conditions that differ from ordinary outdoor Lumiose. Treat each encounter location separately.