Pokémon Legends Z-A Glitch Lets You Farm XP by Triggering NPC Self-Destructs
There’s an odd XP trick in Pokémon Legends: Z-A that uses NPC trainers in Lumiose City and the move Self-Destruct. It’s simple, repeatable, and a little cruel — but it works, and players have already shared how it functions.
What happens
Some NPC trainers in Lumiose City have Pokémon that know the move Self-Destruct. When those Pokémon use the move during an encounter, they immediately faint. However, if you kite the trainer and run away fast enough, the monster will still use Self-Destruct but the trainer does not register as defeated.
How to repeat it
According to a post by @Anthony_0313, the sequence is straightforward. Start the trainer battle, avoid taking the fight head-on, and trigger the opponent’s Self-Destruct. Then run away quickly. The game grants the XP from the fainted opponent, but the trainer’s status resets, letting you re-engage the same fight and collect XP again.
#ポケモン #ポケモンレジェンズZA #PokemonLegendsZA
🚨修正される前にやっとけ
ZAレベル上げの抜け穴ｗ
💣だいばくはつマラソン
①「だいばくはつ」するトレーナー＆ポケモンを探す
②だいばくはつさせて、その瞬間に逃げる
③経験値だけ貰えるが、トレーナーを倒した訳ではない… pic.twitter.com/Rd9pl1VIUY— アンソニー【Anthony】 (@Anthony_0313) October 20, 2025
Why it works
There are two concrete mechanics at play. First, the move Self-Destruct has an extremely high power (200), so the foe will faint immediately when it activates. Second, the encounter system appears to give XP for the fainted Pokémon even if the trainer’s battle state isn’t fully resolved. For background on the move itself, see this Bulbapedia entry, which explains how Self-Destruct causes a Pokémon to faint by expending all its energy.
Uses and caveats
This method is useful if you want to rack up experience or count battles for long goals. For example, the Shiny Charm requirement — finishing 1,000 battles — makes high-count, low-effort encounters attractive to some players.
That said, it’s not the most efficient XP farm compared with other methods, and it relies on specific NPCs having Self-Destruct. Also, @Anthony_0313 urged players to try it before any changes, though it’s unclear whether the developer can or will change the behavior given that running away is a player-controlled action.
Quick summary
In short: NPCs in Lumiose City can use Self-Destruct, the move grants XP when the opponent faints, and kiting plus running away can leave the trainer battle repeatable. It’s neat, a bit grim, and definitely repeatable while the current mechanics remain in place.
