How To Get Rock Smash and Surf in Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Complete the Game

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In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, one of the first challenges you’ll face is finding your way past large boulders blocking important paths. Luckily, a solution becomes available shortly after.

You will meet Mable, a researcher who will give you various tasks to complete. In return, you’ll receive valuable items, starting with the Rock Smash move. Many of her future rewards are just as useful and sought after.

How Mable’s Research Works

Once Urbain introduces you to capturing Pokémon and you’re told to collect your first five, you’ll meet Mable. She needs help with her research, and completing her requests earns you points, which increase your Research Level. Each time you reach a new level, you get a special reward.

Requests are added gradually during the game, and you’ll get notifications when new ones appear. Make sure to check regularly for fresh tasks. This guide will be updated as new requests are discovered.

Important rewards include Rock Smash, Surf, the Master Ball, and the Shiny Charm, among others.

How to Use Rock Smash

Watch for visuals showing Pokémon using Rock Smash. To teach your Pokémon this move, open your Satchel and select Rock Smash. Then choose a compatible Pokémon—those with checkmarks below their images—to learn it.

Once your Pokémon has learned Rock Smash, take it out of its Poké Ball. Approach a boulder, focus as if you were attacking another Pokémon, and select Rock Smash. The obstacle will break away.

Note: Rock Smash isn’t a single-use move. Feel free to teach it to a Pokémon you intend to keep in your team without worry.

All Mable’s Research Rewards

As you improve your Research Level, you’ll earn various rewards:

Level 2 (100 points): TM No.004 Rock Smash
Level 3 (500 points): TM No.046 Mud Shot
Level 4: TM No.017 Protect
Level 5: TM No.021 Thunder Fang
Level 6: TM No.013 Fire Fang
Level 7: TM No.015 Ice Fang
Level 8: TM No.070 Whirlpool
Level 9: TM No.061 Shadow Claw
Level 10: 10 Exp. Candy S
Level 11: TM No.016 Light Screen
Level 12: TM No.042 Giga Drain
Level 13: TM No.013 Ice Punch
Level 14: TM No.003 Psyshock
Level 15: TM No.023 Thunder Punch
Level 16: TM No.032 Double Team
Level 17: TM No.029 Fire Punch
Level 18: TM No.078 Bulldoze
Level 19: TM No.082 U-Turn
Level 20: TM No.059 Zen Headbutt
Level 21: TM No.030 Swords Dance
Level 22: TM No.084 Flash Cannon
Level 23: TM No.012 Rock Slide
Level 24: TM No.067 Thunderbolt
Level 25: 10 Exp. Candy M
Level 26: TM No.006 Calm Mind
Level 27: TM No.077 Poison Jab
Level 28: TM No.068 Heat Wave
Level 29: TM No.073 Surf
Level 30: TM No.087 Iron Tail
Level 31: TM No.097 Heal Block
Level 32: TM No.053 Sludge Bomb
Level 33: TM No.106 Thunder
Level 34: TM No.069 Earthquake
Level 35: TM No.055 Giga Impact
Level 36: 10 Bottle Caps
Level 37: TM No.107 Close Combat
Level 38: TM No.083 Nasty Plot
Level 39: TM No.064 Solar Beam
Level 40: TM No.096 Hydro Pump
Level 41: TM No.038 Fire Blast
Level 42: TM No.105 Blizzard
Level 43: 10 Exp. Candy L
Level 44: TM No.102 Focus Blast
Level 45: TM No.050 Overheat
Level 46: TM No.093 Outrage
Level 47: 10 Exp. Candy XL
Level 48: 3 Gold Bottle Caps
Level 49: Master Ball
Level 50: Shiny Charm

All Mable’s Research Requests

Tasks are added over time, but note that Pokémon caught before unlocking the catching requests won’t count toward completion. For example, Pokémon obtained during the tutorial before meeting Mable won’t be registered.

Some example requests include:

Register five Pokémon in your Pokédex (any method) for 100 points.
Register ten Pokémon in your Pokédex (any method) for 300 points.
Catch three Pokémon of specific types, like Normal, Fire, Water, Electric, Grass, Flying, and Bug—must be caught, not traded—each granting 300 points.
Capture all seven Pokémon in Wild Zone 1 to earn 1,000 points.
Trigger Pokémon evolution three times, regardless of species or method, for 500 points.
Defeat five different trainers in battles for 200 points.

Keep checking for new requests, as completing them boosts your research level and earns you powerful items.