Z-Crystal
AZ-Crystal (Japanese:ＺクリスタルZ-Crystal) is anitem required to upgrademoves toZ-Moves through the use of aZ-RingSM/Z-Power RingUSUM. The Z-Crystals appeared mainly inPokémon Sun and Moon andPokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
Overview
In theAlolaregion, Z-Crystals play an important role in theisland challenge, as they provide proof of completing trials and grand trials, much likeGymBadges in other regions, though not all Z-Crystals are obtained in this manner. LikeSparkling Stones, the objects that are crafted into Z-Rings and Z-Power Rings, Z-Crystals are pieces ofNecrozma that had chipped off and traveled to Alola throughUltra Wormholes. Z-Crystals are described as crystalized forms ofZ-Power.
During the game, the player can obtain Z-Crystals for theirBag, which will be stored in a dedicated Bag section. These Z-Crystals can be used to createheld items of the same name at will. A held Z-Crystal is automatically removed if the Pokémon istraded between players; however, some Pokémon received fromin-game trades may be holding a Z-Crystal the player already has. This is in contrary to lore, where the Trainer will only need to own one Z-Crystal on their Z-Ring/Z-Power Ring, channeling the Z-Power onto their Pokémon.
Holding a Z-Crystal makesRayquaza unable toMega Evolve. IfArceus holds a type-specific Z-Crystal, itstype changes to correspond to the Z-Crystal via itsMultitype ability; unlike withPlates, however, itssignature move,Judgment, remains unaffected.
Early concept and design development
A video focusing on the sound and music design ofPokémon Sun and Moon showcases an early build from 2015.[1] In this build, Z-Crystals seem to have had a different appearance, being 8-sided as opposed to being 5-sided. Instead of a 2D symbol representing a type, there was a 3D shape.
The animation for receiving a Z-Crystal shows another symbol rather than the usualZ-Power symbol used in the final version. Early concept art for the original Sun and Moon titles in thePokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon The Alola Region Artworks features a page onZ-Rings and how they interact with Z-Crystals. This page featured what would eventually become thePikashunium Z, the Z-Crystal forPikachu in a cap. This early Z-Crystal design had originally been designed to look like an entirePikachu, rather than just its tail.
List of Z-Crystals
For each type
For specific Pokémon
In animation
Pokémon the Series
Z-Crystals first appeared inAlola to New Adventure!, where aFirium Z appeared onKiawe'sZ-Ring. He obtained it by completingOlivia's grand trial. Later in the same episode,Ash received anElectrium Z with his Z-Ring, fromTapu Koko. However, inthe following episode, it shattered after Ash performedGigavolt Havoc withPikachu.
As revealed inTo Top a Totem!, theisland challenge is one way of obtaining Z-Crystals, though it is not necessarily the only way a Trainer can obtain them. Ash's goal inAlola was to complete the island challenge and collect the Z-Crystals in order to prove himself worthy of the power ofZ-Moves.
A full set of replicas of the type-specific Z-Crystals were also shown to Ash andhis classmates by Professor Kukui inA Team-on-Team Tussle!.
Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
- Ash obtained aNormalium Z from aTotemGumshoos after completing theVerdant Cavern trial inTo Top a Totem!. He first used it to useBreakneck Blitz inTrial and Tribulation!, together with Pikachu.
- Hala used hisFightinium Z with hisHariyama in his grand trial challenge with Ash inTrial and Tribulation!. Later in the episode, Ash obtained another Electrium Z from Tapu Koko after it swapped the Fightinium Z he was supposed to receive from Hala as a reward for completing his Melemele grand trial.
- Team Rocket obtained aDarkinium Z inA Team-on-Team Tussle!, which someTeam Skull Grunts also tried to obtain from a nest ofAlolanRattata andRaticate, with one of the Raticate being a Totem Pokémon.
- Gladion used hisRockium Z with hisLycanroc to defeat Team Rocket inA Glaring Rivalry!. He obtained it by completing Olivia's grand trial prior to the episode.
- Oluolu, a famousPokémon Base player, used hisSnorlium Z inPulling Out the Pokémon Base Pepper!.
- Olivia was revealed to own a Rockium Z inThe Island Whisperer!.
- Lana was given aWaterium Z from a TotemWishiwashi after completing theBrooklet Hill trial inBig Sky, Small Fry!.
- Ash obtained aGrassium Z from a TotemLurantis after completing theLush Jungle trial inCurrying Favor and Flavor!.
- Ash obtained a Rockium Z from Olivia after completing theAkala Island grand trial inTrials and Determinations!.
- Ida used her Waterium Z inBalloons, Brionne, and Belligerence!.
- Ash obtained aSolganium Z fromNebby after it evolved intoSolgaleo inRevealing the Stuff of Legend!.
- Ash gained the ability to temporarily transform his Electrium Z into aPikashunium Z in10,000,000 Reasons to Fight!, thus allowing Ash to use the Z-Move10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt. Each time its respective Z-Move is used, the Pikashunium Z reverts to an Electrium Z. AfterFrom Z to Shining Z!, it permanently stayed as a Pikashunium Z.
- The Masked Royal used hisIncinium Z inPushing the Fiery Envelope!.
- Ilima received anEevium Z fromKagetora after defeating him in abattle inTurning Heads and Training Hard!.
- Jessie obtained aMimikium Z fromAcerola'sMimikyu, Mimikins, inWhy Not Give Me a Z-Ring Sometime?.
- Ash obtained aLycanium Z fromNanu after completing theUla'ula Island grand trial inGuiding an Awakening!.
- Lillie received anIcium Z from an AlolanSandslash after helping it to defeat aTyranitar inNot Caving Under Pressure!.
- Gladion used his Normalium Z with hisSilvally to giveZ-Power toNecrozma in an attempt to free Nebby from its absorption inThe Prism Between Light and Darkness!.
- Gladion obtained aLunalium Z fromLunala inSecuring the Future!.
- Pikala used herPikanium Z inA Plethora of Pikachu!.
- Hapu was revealed to own aGroundium Z inThat's Some Spicy Island Research!.
- Gladion used hisDragonium Z inShowdown on Poni Island!.
- Ida used herPrimarium Z inEvolving Research!. She later gave it to Lana.
- Kiawe received aFlyinium Z fromTapu Fini inRun, Heroes, Run! after clearing a trial it had set up for him.
- Ash obtained aSteelium Z from Hapu inA Grand Debut!, with his Pikachu picking it as hisPoni Island grand trial prize from a full set oftype-specific Z-Crystals.
- ABuginium Z,Fairium Z,Ghostium Z, andPoisonium Z appeared inBeauty is Only Crystal Deep! as Z-Crystals stolen by aPheromosa.
- Sophocles received a Buginium Z as a prize for winning theVikavolt race inA High-Speed Awakening!.
- Mallow received a Grassium Z from Tapu Koko inA Recipe for Success! after she cleared a trial set up byOranguru.
- Professor Kukui was revealed to have owned a Firium Z since he was a child inA Timeless Encounter!. In the same episode, Ash also received a Firium Z from a TotemTrevenant.
- Hau was revealed to have obtained aDecidium Z inImitation Is the Sincerest Form of Strategy!.
- Gladion used a Ghostium Z inEnter the Champion!.
- Professor Kukui was revealed to own an Electrium Z inZ-Move Showdown!.
- Professor Kukui received aTapunium Z from Tapu Koko inFrom Z to Shining Z!.
Pokémon Journeys: The Series
- TheAll-Out Brothers were revealed to own aKommonium Z inAll Out, All of the Time!.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon arc
InPokémon Move Specialist Professor Kukui,Olivia andNanu attempted to use their respective Z-Crystals,Rockium Z andDarkinium Z, to perform their Z-Moves against each other during a practicebattle between theirLycanroc andAlolanPersian. However,Hala interrupted the battle before either move could be properly executed. In the same chapter, Hala was also shown being in possession of aFightinium Z.
InHomecoming and the Brilliant Professional Golfer,Kiawe found aFirium Z hidden in the fur ofSun'sLitten,Dollar. After learning the proper Z-Move pose from Kiawe, Sun was successfully able to performInferno Overdrive with Dollar during a battle withGladion.
InShock!! Father in the Pendant!,Kahili was revealed to have spent six months gathering a multitude of Z-Crystals. In the same chapter,Hau was revealed to have obtained aPrimarium Z.
InTranscend!! Ultra Necrozma!, anUltranecrozium Z found by theUltra Recon Squad was revealed to have been the cause behindNecrozma's transformation intoUltra Necrozma.
In the TCG
This listing is of cards featuring Z-Crystals in thePokémon Trading Card Game.
| Z-Crystals Cards listed with ablue background are only legal to use in the currentExpanded format. Cards listed with agreen background are legal to use in both the currentStandard andExpanded formats. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card | Type | English Expansion | Rarity | # | Japanese Expansion | Rarity | # |
| Flyinium Z: Air Slash | I | Unified Minds |  | 195/236 | Sky Legend |  | 045/054 |
| Normalium Z: Tackle | I | Unified Minds | | 203/236 | Sky Legend | | 044/054 |
| Dragonium Z: Dragon Claw | I | Cosmic Eclipse | | 190/236 | SM-P Promotional cards | 359/SM-P | |
Gallery
Artwork
Standard
 |  |  |  |
| Electrium Z | Fairium Z | Kommonium Z | Lunalium Z |
 |  |  |  |
| Lycanium Z | Mimikium Z | Pikashunium Z | Solganium Z |
Pokémon Global Link
Concept art
 |  |
| Concept art for a pedestal containing a Z-Crystal forPokémon Sun and Moon | Concept art of theZ-Ring forPokémon Sun and Moon, describing its connection with Z-Crystals |
Trivia
- The Japanese,Korean, andChinese logos forPokémon Sun and Moon all feature a Z-Crystal.
In other languages
| Language | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese | Cantonese | Ｚ純晶Z-Sèuhnjīng |
| Mandarin | Ｚ純晶 / Ｚ纯晶Z-Chúnjīng | |
| Czech | Z-krystal | |
| Danish | Z-krystal | |
| Dutch | Z-Kristal (Pokémon the Series) Z-Crystal* Z-kristal* | |
| Finnish | Z-kristalli | |
| French | Cristal Z | |
| German | Z-Kristall | |
| Hebrew | קריסטל זיKrystal Zi | |
| Hungarian | Z-Kristály | |
| Italian | Cristallo Z | |
| Korean | Z크리스탈Z-Crystal | |
| Norwegian | Z-krystall | |
| Polish | Kryształ-Z | |
| Portuguese | Cristal Z | |
| Russian | Кристалл ZKristall Z | |
| Spanish | Cristal Z | |
| Swedish | Z-kristall | |
| Turkish | Z-Kristali | |
References
- ↑"Roster -Behind the Scene- #2 GAME FREAK." Yamaha Music Japan MPP.YouTube.
Related articles
- Z-Ring
- Z-Power Ring
- Z-Power
- Z-Move
- Necrozma (game)
- Wishing Star
- Mega Stone
- Episodes in which a main character receives a Z-Crystal
| Held items |
|---|
| In-battle effect items Berries •Colored orbs •Drives •Power items Experience-affecting items •Gems •Incense •Mega Stones •Memories •Plates Stat-enhancing items •Type-enhancing items •Z-Crystals |
| Out-of-battle effect items Power items •Incense •Mail •Scarves |
 | This item article is part ofProject ItemDex, aBulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on allitems. |
