Pokemon Legends Z-A Exploit Boosts Shiny Hunting of Alpha Pokemon on Nintendo Switch

A recently uncovered exploit in Pokemon Legends Z-A is gaining significant momentum in the game's community, particularly among players dedicated to Shiny hunting.

Developed by Game Freak and available on Nintendo Switch, Pokemon Legends Z-A continues the franchise’s evolution, delivering unique open-world experiences and integrating mechanics that keep fans engaged.

Now, thanks to this exploit, the game’s dedicated hunters are finding new ways to catch coveted Shiny Alpha Pokemon with greater efficiency. The exploit manipulates the way Pokemon spawn in Pokemon Legends Z-A, allowing trainers to create multiple spawning points for Alpha Pokemon.

Alpha Pokemon—larger, more powerful variants that have become a hallmark of the Legends series—are especially sought after for their rarity and battle prowess.

By utilizing strategic in-game positioning, saving, and taking advantage of the day/night cycle, players can increase their chances of encountering multiple Alpha Pokemon, boosting the odds of finding a Shiny variant. In a clear and systematic approach, players begin by healing at the Centrico Pokemon Center located near Wild Zone 20, the primary area where this exploit is performed.

To reset the local spawns, trainers rest on a bench until Daybreak.

After clearing out all nearby wild Pokemon, the process involves fast traveling to Wild Zone 20, attracting the attention of two Alpha Pokemon, and leading them back toward the entrance. Once these Alphas are corralled near a stream and the game is saved and restarted, the Alpha Pokemon remain in place.

Players then repeat this strategy—moving the Alphas position, saving, restarting the game, and gradually escorting them toward the entrance, effectively increasing the number of Alpha spawns in a single area.

By pinning their location and managing save points at specified distances, trainers can ultimately have up to six Alpha Pokemon gathered by the gate at Wild Zone 20.

Should all steps be executed correctly, players can then initiate encounters with the group and, upon fainting and reviving at the Centrico Pokemon Center, find the entire group awaiting them for re-rolling until a Shiny appears. Prominent content creator Austin John Plays has demonstrated the full process in a recent video, providing both a visual guide and accompanying step-by-step written instructions for the community.

This method is being actively discussed across social media platforms as collectors and competitive players alike take note of the time-saving impact it brings to Shiny hunting. Pokemon Legends Z-A was released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch and has seen impressive sales milestones since its launch, continuing to affirm Game Freak’s ability to innovate within the beloved Pokemon franchise.

This latest exploit further showcases how the community continues to find new and unexpected ways to interact with the game’s mechanics, especially for niche pursuits such as Shiny hunting. As always, players are reminded that while exploiting in-game mechanics in single-player experiences is generally tolerated, any updates or patches from Game Freak may address such exploits in the future.

For now, the exploit offers a legitimate edge to dedicated Shiny hunters, cementing Pokemon Legends Z-A’s reputation as one of the most community-driven Pokemon titles on the Nintendo Switch to date.

Pokémon Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch Pokemon Pokemon Legends Z-A Z Alpha Game Freak Austin John Plays