How to get a Metal Coat in Pokémon Legends: Z-A
If you’re chasing a full Pokédex, you’ll eventually need a Metal Coat. Scyther and Onix both evolve via trade while holding one, turning into Scizor and Steelix — and yes, both of those have Mega Evolutions, so they’re worth the effort.
There is a post-game workaround if you can’t trade: with the Mega Dimension DLC, you can catch Scizor and Steelix in Hyperspace Lumiose. Since that content only unlocks after you finish the base story, it’s really just a backup plan.
Metal Coats don’t show up early. Realistically, you’ll start seeing reliable ways to get them around Main Mission 35, with the most convenient method opening after the credits. Here are the options that actually matter.
Side missions that reward Metal Coats
Two side missions pay out with a Metal Coat:
Side Mission 101: “Steadfast as Steel.” This appeared during Main Mission 35. Complete it and you’ll get a Metal Coat for your trouble.
Side Mission 114: “A Feather from Skarmory.” This one didn’t show until after the main story. The quest-giver typically stands near the entrance to Wild Zone 17; if you don’t see them, it’s likely the quest is already complete or not yet available.
Where to buy a Metal Coat
After you’ve rolled credits, you can simply buy Metal Coats from a worker inside the Racine Construction building. It’s the same place you visit for Canari’s Rank E promotion match, just south of Restaurant Le Nah and a short walk from Gare de Lumiose. Racine Construction also becomes a fast-travel point at this stage.
The worker sells Metal Coats for $4,980 each with unlimited stock, so you can grab as many as you need once you’re in the post-game.
Infinite Royale reward
Metal Coats can also drop as a random reward for clearing the Infinite Royale. It’s not guaranteed, so treat this as a bonus if you’re already tackling Royale runs rather than a primary farming route.
Bottom line: if you’re not far enough into the story, you simply won’t be able to pick up a Metal Coat yet. Push the main missions, knock out the late-game quests, and the item becomes much easier to secure.
Update (Dec. 24): Added extra detail on where Metal Coat rewards and vendors appear, including the Wild Zone 17 quest-giver and Racine Construction purchase info.