Introduction

Pokémon Legends: ZA brings the thrill of Pokémon hunting to a new level with its blend of traditional gameplay and a more personalized encounter system. But for dedicated players like me, sometimes the grind feels endless. I recently embarked on a quest for an elusive Alpha Chespin—a journey that turned into a test of patience and persistence. Here’s a breakdown of my experience, tips, and what you should know if you want to tackle this challenge yourself.

The Quest for Alpha Chespin

Unlike shiny hunting, where the goal is to find a rare Pokémon with unique coloring, my focus was on a different kind of rarity: an Alpha Chespin. This little grass-type starter from Gen 6 is a fan favorite, but getting the alpha version is no easy feat.

In Pokémon Legends: ZA, certain areas have a small chance for Pokémon to spawn as alphas, and Chespin is one of them. To be specific, in Area 17, there are spots where Chespin can spawn 10% of the time. From there, there’s a 5% chance that any Pokémon in the area will be an alpha. That means you’re looking at roughly a 1 in 200 chance of encountering an Alpha Chespin—pretty decent odds, right?

Well, not quite. After 701 encounters, I still hadn’t found my target. This was beyond frustrating, but it also showed me just how rare these alpha Pokémon are. At this point, I wasn’t even looking for a shiny—just a regular Alpha Chespin. If you’re in the same boat, I feel your pain. It’s all about patience.

Why Chespin?

You might wonder why I was so determined to get an alpha Chespin in the first place. There are a few reasons:

Chespin is one of the best Gen 6 starters: While the other two—Fennekin and Froakie—often get more love, Chespin has its own unique charm. It’s a grass-type with a great design, and its final evolution, Chestnut, is quite powerful.

Alphas have maxed-out HP stats: In Pokémon Legends: ZA, alpha Pokémon have higher stats compared to their regular counterparts. This makes them particularly useful in battle, and I was hoping to use an alpha Chestnut for my sub-team.

It just feels good to have one: Alphas are a badge of honor for players. They have the wow factor—especially when you manage to catch one after a long hunt. In my case, I envisioned having a massive Chestnut on my team and, quite honestly, the idea of catching one was too tempting to resist.

Shiny or Not?

One of the things that set this hunt apart from typical shiny hunting is the fact that I wasn’t chasing a shiny. For many players, shiny Pokémon are the holy grail, but I’ve always found the regular variants just as satisfying. However, Shiny Chespin would be a bonus, right?

As I spent hours in Area 17, I kept reminding myself that I wasn't even looking for the shiny version of Chespin. Just the Alpha. But what if a shiny one popped up first? Honestly, I'd be ecstatic—but I was still keeping my focus on the goal at hand.

The RNG Struggle

If you’ve ever been on the hunt for a rare Pokémon, you know the frustration of dealing with RNG (random number generation). Sometimes the odds feel stacked against you, and no matter how much you reload the area, that one Pokémon just refuses to appear.

In my case, after more than 700 encounters, I was way past the odds of getting an alpha. It felt like the game was testing my limits. Even if I wasn’t hunting for shinies, the fact that I wasn’t seeing an alpha at all started to feel like a cruel joke.

Why Keep Going?

So why keep hunting? After all, with such low odds, why not just move on to something else? For me, it was the challenge and the excitement of possibly finding that one in 200 Alpha Chespin. I know a lot of players might not bother with such a task, but sometimes the journey is worth it, even if the destination takes longer than expected.

It also helped to know that Pokémon Legends: ZA does offer a chance to buy shiny Pokémon through platforms like U4GM, which can save time for those who are willing to spend a bit of money for convenience. If you’re short on time and want to skip the grind, buying a shiny Pokémon could be an option to consider. However, for those like me who prefer the thrill of the hunt, the satisfaction of earning it yourself is unbeatable.

Pro Tips for Hunting Alphas

Know the Area: Different areas have different spawn rates for Pokémon and their alpha variants. Make sure you’re hunting in the right locations for your target Pokémon.

Patience is Key: This is especially true if you’re hunting alphas or shiny Pokémon. It’s all about putting in the time and effort, and occasionally reloading areas to maximize your chances.

Utilize the Odds: While the chances of getting an alpha Chespin may seem low, they are still better than many other encounters in Pokémon Legends: ZA. Don’t get discouraged too easily.

Don’t Be Afraid to Buy: If you’re more interested in collecting and don’t want to deal with the grind, consider buying shiny Pokémon online. Websites like U4GM offer a way to get the shiny Pokémon you desire without all the waiting.

The journey for an Alpha Chespin in Pokémon Legends: ZA may seem like a never-ending grind, but it’s a challenge that many players, including myself, are willing to take on. Whether you're chasing alphas or shinies, patience, persistence, and strategy are key to success. And hey, if you get tired of the grind, you can always buy a shiny Pokémon to add to your collection, but there’s something special about finding one on your own.

Good luck out there, and may your next encounter be the one that gets you the Alpha Chespin of your dreams!