Lumiose City is the largest city in Kalos, with routes leading to many parts of the region, as well as being a center of fashion and commerce. However, the city is currently stricken by a blackout, leaving much of the city without power and inaccessible to you. There are still several facilities available to you, so it is worthwhile to explore the city.
Meeting Professor Sycamore[edit]
As you enter Lumiose City, Sina will show you the way to the Professor's workplace, the Pokémon Lab. Professor Sycamore is waiting on the third floor, but you can go to the second floor first. Talk to the female scientist standing beside the glowing blue cylinder to receive 5 Luxury Balls, which will make Pokémon that is caught with it befriend you quicker. Go up a level to reach Professor Sycamore's office. Talk to the assistant and if you have caught enough species of Pokémon, she will give you TM54 False Swipe. This move will never knock out an opposing Pokémon, only leaving them at 1 HP, making it a boon for catching wild Pokémon.
Now, talk to Professor Sycamore. He will state that he wanted to give you a Pokémon since you just moved to Kalos. As Shauna and Calum/Serena arrive, the professor will challenge you to a Pokémon battle!
- Professor Sycamore
- Bulbasaur (Lv. 10)
- Tackle
- Growl
- Leech Seed
- Vine Whip
- Charmander (Lv. 10)
- Scratch
- Growl
- Ember
- Smokescreen
- Squirtle (Lv. 10)
- Tackle
- Tail Whip
- Bubble
- Withdraw
1400
- Bulbasaur (Lv. 10)
Professor Sycamore will use the Kanto region's equivalents to the started Pokémon offered to you back in Aquacorde Town. This means that one of them will be weak to your starter, and one of them will be strong against yours as well. However, by now you should have a pretty good team of Pokémon to cover for each of their weaknesses. Like how he himself puts it, Professor Sycamore isn't so tough.
After the battle, he will decide to give you another Pokémon, one of the three that he just battled you with!
| #001 Bulbasaur |
|---|
| Bulbasaur has good defenses and an excellent typing, one of the better Poison-types you can catch in the game. Rather than attacks, most of Bulbasaur's naturally learned moves are status moves. It starts out with Leech Seed, gets both Sleep Powder and Poison Powder to status enemies, and later learns Growth and Synthesis to power itself up. Its level up movepool is solely Grass and Normal type attacks, so you should look into TMs to give it Poison-type coverage, which will be quite helpful against Fairy-types. You can mega evolve it once it becomes a Venusaur, which turns it into a beefy tank that can still dish out hits in return. Overall, Bulbasaur is a great complement to the faster and frailer Fennekin as well as Froakie. |
| #004 Charmander |
| If you're looking for sheer power, pick Charmander. This lizard learns a plethora of fire moves, starting with Ember before upgrading into Flame Burst, Flamethrower and finally Heat Wave. Its special attack stat is higher, but it can still learn a plethora of powerful physical moves like Earthquake and Dragon Claw via TMs. Depending on the version you're playing on, you also get 2 different Mega powerhouses after it becomes Charizard. In X, you can tear foes apart with both physical and special attacks using Mega Charizard X. In Y, Mega Charizard Y simply overwhelms your foes by firing off sun-boosted Fire moves for obscene damage. |
| #007 Squirtle |
| Like Bulbasaur, Squirtle is primary a bulky attacker, but it sacrifices power for better defenses. It learns a mixed variety of attacks by leveling up, such as Bite, Water Pulse, Aqua Tail and Skull Bash, eventually learning the powerful Hydro Pump. It can also learn some helpful support moves like Rapid Spin, Protect and Rain Dance. In terms of TMs, it can learn Ice-type moves like Ice Beam or Blizzard for great coverage, while the ability to learn both Surf and Waterfall make it excellent for navigating the overworld, in addition to being good attacks on their own. Unfortunately, the Mega Stone that comes with Squirtle is the least useful in your adventure out of all three starters. It lets Blastoise mega evolve, gaining better defenses and Special Attack, as well as the Mega Launcher ability, which powers up Aura and Pulse moves. Unfortunately, Blastoise only has Water Pulse to make use of this ability without breeding egg moves into new Squirtle. Nevertheless, Blastoise is still a strong choice, valued more for its utility than its standout combat prowess. |
Additionally, he will give you a Mega Stone, a Venusaurite if you picked Bulbasaur, a Charizardite X if you picked Charmander in the X version, a Charizardite Y if you picked Charmander in the Y version, and a Blastoisinite if you picked Squirtle. This Mega Stone is a key to a mysterious phenomenon in the Kalos region, which Profesoor Sycamore wants you to investigate! He advises you to go to Camphrier Town next, as it has a long history, to search for clues.
Once you return to the first floor, you will meet Lysandre. He is the head of Lysandre Labs, which developed the Holo Caster used for long-distance communication. After giving you some advice, he will walk away, and your friends will arrive. They will go on their separate ways, but Calum/Serena wants to meet you at Café Soleil.
Rendezvous at Café Soleil[edit]
As you enter Café Soleil, you will witness a conversation between Lysandre and Diantha. After the scene, Diantha will introduce herself as a famous movie star who also does Pokémon battles as well. Calum/Serena will states their wish to compete with you, becoming your rival from here on out.
Areas of interest[edit]
Only two sections of the city are available to you right now: South Boulevard and Estival Avenue. Note that to avoid repetition, the shops and facilities described here will be covered in greater detail on the full Lumiose City page.
South Boulevard[edit]
Other than the Pokémon Lab, the most interesting facility in the South Boulevard is the PR Video Studio, letting you film and edit PR videos that can either focus on yourself or one of your Pokémon. It also contains a Pokémon Center, with a Poké Mart that sells various TMs and a man that lets you trade Poké Miles for items. Additionally, you can participate in a Double Battle meal at Restaurant Le Nah, as well as change your hairstyle at Coiffure Clips. Other than Café Soleil, there is also Café Introversion and Shutterbug Café.
Vernal Avenue[edit]
Vernal Avenue is a bustling street with plenty of shops. The Friseur Furfrou will trim the fur of Furfrou, Pokémon that you can find on future routes, into different styles. It also contains the Herboriste, which sells a variety of herbal medicines, healing and revival items cheaper than their counterparts sold in Poké Marts, but lowers the friendship of the Pokémon that consumes it. The Stone Emporium is also located on the avenue, selling evolutionary stones required to evolve certain Pokémon. Finally, there is the Boutique Couture, a clothing shop exclusive to people that are stylish enough, and with higher prices than other boutiques.
Onward to Camphrier Town[edit]
As you near the gate to Route 5, Tierno will call you on the Holo Caster and converse with you briefly. While going through the gate, you will meet Mr. Bonding. This man in a pink suit is an expert on O-Powers, which can be accessed from the PSS. O-Powers let you grant effects to either you or your friends, and will level up after repeated use. Here, Mr. Bonding will give you Attack Power and Defense Power, which temporarily raises Attack and Defense respectively.