Pokemon Legends: Z-A Guide "Main Mission 20 - A Request from the Rust Syndicate"
- Eric Halliday
- Oct 15
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 26
This is part of our extensive guide to Pokemon Legends: Z-A
NOTE: I went with a male presenting character so my character's bestie will be Taunie. If you went with one of the more female presenting ones you'll be friends with Urbain instead.
After the long mission, you head back to the hotel where you and the Team MZ Scooby Gang is having dinner. Lida is talking about how she was surprised X and Y axes were clues to a mystery and Taunie mentions hearing something about X and Y. Oh come on.
Taunie gets a call but, for once, tells everyone not to worry about it in the sussiest way possible.
The next day you wake up and Naveem is in a good mode and gives you some Performance Sneakers. It's a pretty good start, and then Lida shows up. She's looking for Taunie and Naveem tells her she probably went into the city when the music stops and Lida drops character for a minute...
Lida mentions that Taunie keeps borrowing money to shoot promos and now they're in debt which, holy hell, this wasn't brought up earlier? And it's debt to a group called the "Rust Syndicate"? This late in the game? Really? Okay. Let's go.
Suddenly you get a call from a representative of the Rust Syndicate. He asks you to stop by their office in the Bleu District. Me and Lida decide to check it out.
We get there and the folk look like Yakuza off Temu.
You get challenged by a Rust Syndicate Grunt (oh my god, there's grunts in the game). He throws out a Garbodor who Self Destructs immediately and a Lairon. After the quick battle one of the more bizarre people in Pokemon history shows up.
His name is Mr. Philippe? He then decides he's going to fight you as punishment for embarrassing the guards.
Heal up and speak to him when ready.
Philippe starts with Steelix, Scizor, and then Skamory who he...Mega Evolves? They gave Skamory a Mega Evolution? Well, luckily for me my Mega Chandelure had Flame Thrower and one hit defeated each of them. Steel Types, sheesh.
As a sign of goodwill for winning, he heals your Pokemon. Then decides it's time to talk business. Head on into their headquarters where...oh...evening all.
I'm then introduced to the leader of the Rust Syndicate...
He explains how Taunie is 1,000,000 in debt. He also explains how he expects you all to pay him back. He suggests doing "jobs" for him around the city to remove some of the interest. You're then asked to leave.
Back at the hotel, you, Lida, and Naveem decide it's situation room time. This time, instead of dealing with Rogue Megas, it's time to deal with a syndicate. First order of business, figure out what happened to Taunie...who...just walked in like everything's cool.
Oh, AND Vinnie is called with Rogue Mega info now too. This is going to be a long entry to this guide, gang. Strap in.
Okay so for the three Rogue's (always three for some reason) we got a Mawile in Sector 6 of the Magenta District, a Barbaracle in Sector 5 of the Bleu District, and an Ampharos in Sector 6. Kinda hyped for this because I have both a Mawile AND that shiny Ampharos from early in my party that absolutely begged me for those. Alright, let's get to it.
After you deal with the Rogue's gallery (get it?) head on back to the Hotel to meet up with the mystery gang. When you get there, Corbeau called you and tells you they're watching you and it's time to get to work.
He lets you know that a "small bunch of troublemakers holed up in one of the old buildings in the Bleu District."
So from here we're going to leave the hotel and head to the Bleu District to go evict the troublemakers. It's towards the southwest.
Get there and a guy tells you he just aquired the building but troublemakers inside have been making it hard for him to use it and to only go inside if I'm ready for troublemakers. Sir, I'm a parent. cracks knuckles
Once inside you find out that the aforementioned troublemakers are a bunch of Gengar and Gastly. Go ahead and take them out (feel free to capture them while you're at it).
Also, feel free to take a look at that creepy painting of Professor Lavington from Pokemon Legends: Arceus that's just up there.
The owner thanks you and as he's talking about finally being able to move his office in Corbeau shows up. Talking to him you start to realize that while Corbeau's gang is kind of crappy with the whole "crippling debt" thing, they're also trying to help citizens in need. Though, usually, at a cost.
The guy who owns the building states that he kinda feels bad for kicking the Gengar out of the building and decides that he's going to take his chances taking care of the Gengar by living WITH them as opposed to kicking them all out.
Corbeau then tells you he needs you over at the electrical substation to deal with some "undesirable elements" and oh my god dude talk normal.
Once you arrive at the location at the west of the map, you're going to be brought into the sewer where you'll be asked to remove the "undesirable elements"...which are Mega Crystals growing all over the tunnel walls. Find all 27 in the small bit of sewers and you'll be good to go.
Afterwards, Corbeau meets you outside to ask you about your taking out of Rogue Megas and asks about L. He then explains that L's real name is Lysandre (surprising absolutely no one). He explains that Lysandre used to be incredibly wealthy and actually helped him when he was a kid homeless on the street.
He then mentions that he has a problem with "outsiders on his turf" that I need to take care of. So let's head to the location slightly North of the center of the map.
Oh this makes me happy.
There is a group of adults called the Society of Battle Connoisseurs who are harassing children by telling them what Pokemon they should use and what the PROPER moves the SHOULD have for them should be. It's basically a Pokemon game calling out the people who critize others for just having what they enjoy in the game.
One of them even says this wonderful line...
The Society then challenges you to a battle.
François of the SBC uses Gabite and Sliggoo. Luckily, I had Mega Mawile with Draining Kiss and the Fairy Type move took them both out REALLY quick.
Vivica of the SBC is next and she uses Aromatisse and Slurpuff. Uh-oh, looks like my Mega Mawile also has Iron Head which these two are super weak to. The Steel Type move laid them both out.
Corbeau comes out and just kinda dogs on the two after the battle is over. The two swear revenge before running off.
Suddenly, we hear yelling and take off to see what's up. You find Taunie and Jett the CEO of Quasartico being yelled at by a crowd of people upset at the increase in Wild Zones. Corbeau sends Taunie to get the CEO somewhere safe while you and he battle one of the people in charge of this new "Lumiose Safety Group".
The representative of the group sends out Pinsir, Onix, and Glalie who are all weak to Steel. Man I love having a Mega Mawile. The swear to get revenge and uncover Quasartico's evil deeds and then take off to lick wounds.
Afterwards, Corbeau and Jett talk about the increase in Wild Zones and Corbeau makes it clear that he hopes Jett is telling the truth about the increase in wild pokemon appearing outside of Wild Zones isn't Quasartico's doing. He then takes off.
Jett then talks to me and tells me she hopes I'm doing everything to help keep the city safe. Taunie then states she's going to take Jett back to make sure she's safe (Jett, you could easily pay off her debt).
With everything being seemingly chill, let's head back to the Hotel where Naveen and Lida great you, hoping the Rust work is done. Just then you get a call from Corbeau asking you to come to the Rust Syndicate headquarters...alone.
Okay, guess this mission ISN'T over yet so let's head back to Rust HQ.
Once you're in Corbeau's office he tells you that he's honestly impressed with you as a person and tells you he's forgiving all your debt. Oh! Nice!
With that it's Mission Complete!
