Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s worst achievement, and how to get it
Today, we’re covering what we feel is the worst achievement in Pokemon Legends: Z-A with the Consummate Gamer, but we’ll give you some tips on how to get it.
For the most part, 100 percent completion in Pokemon Legends: Z-A is actually fairly straightforward: finish both Pokedexes, clear all story and side quests, collect all 100 Colorful Screws, clear all 261 Mable Research requests, clear all 27 Rogue Mega Rematches, collect all 160 TMs, receive all gift Pokemon, unlock all hairstyles and outfits, and clear Rogue Mega Rush. Okay, so maybe it’s straightforward, but it’s not easy. And there’s one important task that I didn’t mention: collect all 55-ish ranked battle titles. For the most part, these are straightforward too, but they take a lot of time.
One particular title, however, cements itself as one of the worst achievements in all of Pokemon: Consummate Gamer. For this title, you must win a Ranked Battle while ensuring that not a single one of your Pokemon faints even once. As you might expect, this is extremely difficult because there are three other players who also want to win. You have get the Flawless Survivor bonus fifty times to get the gold Consummate Gamer trophy, which means you’re in for the long haul if you want to get all the titles. That said, since the titles are locked behind online, they technically are not required for 100 percent completion since they’ll be unobtainable one day, so make of that what you will.
If you’re really sure you want to try for this bonus, you should do so during seasons that don’t allow Legendary or Mythical Pokemon. If Groudon, Kyogre, Rayquaza, and Mewtwo are allowed, you may as well say goodbye to getting any Flawless Survivor bonuses – their power levels are through the roof, and you’ll find it almost impossible to earn the Consummate Gamer achievement with three other Legendary Pokemon chasing you down. Even in seasons where Mythical Pokemon are allowed, Mega Magearna is a huge problem that can snipe and one-hit KO your Pokemon from the other side of the field thanks to its Fleur Cannon and Steel Beam moves. In seasons without Legendary and Mythical Pokemon, the Flawless Survivor bonus isn’t easy to get – but it’s at least possible. Unfortunately, even with all the tips we’re about to offer, you’ll often find a single opponent insistent on chasing you down and KOing you, which will lose you the match even if you play to the best of your ability.
Assuming you are in fact playing during a season with no Legendary or Mythical Pokemon, Clefable is the best option for Consummate Gamer by far. Without legendaries or mythicals, Garchomp rules the metagame, and Clefable is a solid counter to it especially if you opt to run Mega Clefable. You’ll want to run the moves Meteor Beam, Moonblast, Moonlight, and Reflect. Start each match with Meteor Beam to increase Clefable’s Sp. Attack (it’s fairly weak without the boost), and then you can set up Reflect and run around firing off Moonblasts. When your HP is lowered in any way, use Moonlight to restore it. Collect as many in-battle items as possible; the red ones make Clefable strong even without a boost, the blue ones reduce the damage it takes, and the green one is definitely the best because it completely restores health. For an item, the Clefabilite is solid; Mega Clefable’s damage output is high and it can often win you games by getting several consecutive KOs, but it’s situational. Mega Clefable gains the Flying-type, which means it also gains a crucial weakness to Thunderbolt and Ice Beam, which just about every special attacker carries. If you don’t get hit, Mega Clefable is great, but its new weaknesses make it a burden in certain matchups. I personally found more success with a Sitrus Berry or a Focus Sash. In seasons where Legendary Pokemon are allowed, Xerneas is a solid replacement with Geomancy, Moonblast, Reflect, and Light Screen. Both Xerneas and Clefable run 252 EVs in HP and Sp. Attack with a Modest nature.
Generally, your biggest threat will be Steel-types. You might think to run a Fire-type like Chandelure alongside Clefable to help, but almost every Pokemon capable of beating Steel-types is weak to Earthquake, which is an extremely common move that every physical attacker has. Alpha Chandelure specifically can dispose of Metagross and Aggron with Heat Wave, plus it has Calm Mind and Shadow Ball as well. That said, it is absolutely forced to run Focus Sash or it’s going to be one-hit KO’d by Dark Pulse, Earthquake, Waterfall, and the like. If you see a Metagross headed your way, switch Clefable out or run away. Clefable does learn Flamethrower, but it’s generally weak and will not come close to KOing Metagross even with a boost.
One Pokemon you should absolutely consider, however, is Ampharos. With Charge, Thunderbolt, Reflect, and Meteor Beam, Ampharos plays a very similar role to Clefable: boost up and then pick off opponents. Thunderbolt is one of the most accurate moves in the game, and Charge doubles its power while providing a temporary Sp. Defense boost. 252 EVs in HP and Sp. Attack, a Modest nature, and a Shuca Berry complete the set. For a third Pokemon, something like Mega Skarmory works well thanks to its solid defensive typing. Magnet Bomb, Fly, Drill Run, and Swords Dance are the preferred moves, with Fly in particular having the potential to KO multiple Pokemon at once if they’re bunched up together. But generally, Clefable should be fine. Once you have a decent point lead, it’s best to run away if possible and only get back into the fray if an opponents’ point count is starting to catch up to you. Some of the maps, particularly the Poke Ball-shaped one with the benches, provide almost no room to run away. Others, like the big park with the lake, provide tons of room and are much better for Consummate Gamer.
Have you had any luck getting Flawless Survivor bonuses yourself? If so, feel free to share any tips or Pokemon you’ve used below.
