If you have seen people talk about a Heracross called Bois carrying them through Lumiose City, they are talking about the early game trade Heracross in Pokemon Legends: Z-A. This is one of the strongest and most important early pickups in the entire game, and it is completely missable if you rush the story without doing side missions.
This guide walks you through exactly how to unlock the quest, where to find the NPC, how to get the Pikachu you need, and how to make the most of your new Bug/Fighting powerhouse.
Why The Trade Heracross Is So Good
Heracross has always been a fan favorite, but in Legends: Z-A it goes from “cool Bug-type” to early game MVP.
It stands out because:
- It is a Bug/Fighting type, which gives it amazing offensive coverage against Dark, Normal, Ice, Rock, Grass and more.
- As a traded Pokémon, it gets an EXP boost, so it levels faster than the rest of your team.
- This specific Heracross can Mega Evolve into Mega Heracross later in the game, turning it into a late game monster as well, not just an early helper.
- The community has basically rallied around this Heracross, often nicknaming it “Bois”, because it hits absurdly hard and can solo big chunks of the main story and even appear in speedrun strategies.
If you are building a strong story team or want a Pokémon that will stay relevant for most of your playthrough, trade Heracross is absolutely worth getting as soon as possible.
How To Unlock The Heracross Trade (Side Mission 2)
The Heracross trade is tied to Side Mission 2: “A Use for an Evolution Stone!”.
You cannot just walk up and do it right away. Here is what needs to happen first:
- Progress the main story until Main Mission 5: “The City in the Shadow of Prism Tower”.
- During this chapter, you will be sent to the Looker Bureau.
- Talk to Emma inside the Looker Bureau. This conversation unlocks a batch of side missions, including “A Use for an Evolution Stone!”.
Once you have spoken to Emma, Side Mission 2 becomes available, and you can go hunt down the NPC who wants the trade.
Where To Find Tracie In The Rouge District
The NPC you are looking for is Tracie, and she is the one who actually offers you Heracross.
You can find her here:
- District: Rouge District
- Area: Passage du Palais, just north of Rouge Plaza
- Landmark: She is standing in front of a boutique along the shopping street
In some descriptions this area is also referred to as the Rouge District shopping center or shopping corridor off Rouge Plaza, so if you see a cluster of shops and fashion oriented NPCs, you are in the right place.
Walk up to Tracie and talk to her. She will explain that she wants to test how Thunder Stone evolution works on Pikachu and offers to trade you her Heracross in exchange for a Pikachu.
From here, the mission is very simple:
- Catch a Pikachu.
- Bring it back to Tracie.
- Trade it for Heracross.
- Watch your Pikachu evolve into a Raichu in her care.
But of course, the key step is actually getting that Pikachu.
How To Get A Pikachu For The Trade
The easiest and most consistent place to get a suitable Pikachu is Wild Zone 3 near Rouge Plaza.
Details to keep in mind:
- Location: Wild Zone 3, northern part of Lumiose City, reachable from Rouge Plaza
- Time: Pikachu appears both day and night in this Wild Zone
- General spawn area: typically in the right side gardens or right side of the zone from the main gate, mixed in with Pokémon like Litleo, Skiddo and Flabébé
Tips For Catching Pikachu
You do not need anything special, but a few small tricks make this smoother:
- Pikachu are alert and skittish, so pure sneaking is not always reliable.
- The most consistent method is to engage in battle first, chip it down, then throw a Poké Ball or Great Ball.
- If Pikachu does not spawn right away, you can leave the Wild Zone and re-enter to reset encounters.
- You do not need a specific nature or level for the trade. Any Pikachu you catch here is fine.
Once you have your Pikachu, heal up if needed and head back to Tracie in Passage du Palais.
Step By Step: Completing “A Use for an Evolution Stone!”
Here is the full mission flow in one place so you can blitz through it efficiently:
- Reach Main Mission 5
Play the story until you are on “The City in the Shadow of Prism Tower”. - Talk to Emma at the Looker Bureau
This unlocks Side Mission 2 and two other side missions in this chapter. - Go to the Rouge District
Fast travel or walk to Rouge Plaza, then head north into Passage du Palais. - Find and speak to Tracie
She is standing in front of a boutique. Talk to her and accept Side Mission 002: “A Use for an Evolution Stone!”. She asks you to bring her a Pikachu so she can use a Thunder Stone on it. - Catch a Pikachu in Wild Zone 3
- Go to Wild Zone 3 at Rouge Plaza
- Look to the right-hand side of the zone from the entrance to find Pikachu
- Battle and catch one
- Return to Tracie and trade
Talk to Tracie again with Pikachu in your party. Confirm you want to trade it. - Receive Heracross and watch Pikachu evolve
During the trade event, Tracie will use a Thunder Stone and your old Pikachu will evolve into a Raichu on her side. You receive her Heracross plus some extra rewards, and the mission is complete.
That is all you need to actually get Heracross. From here, the fun part is putting it to work in battle.
What You Get From The Trade
Completing Side Mission 2 gives you a nice bundle of rewards:
- Heracross
- ₽800
- 5 Poké Balls
- 3 Potions
The item rewards are decent for this point in the game, but Heracross is the real prize.
This traded Heracross:
- Comes with Bug/Fighting typing, giving it a ton of useful super effective matchups.
- Scales quickly thanks to the traded Pokémon EXP bonus.
- Can eventually Mega Evolve into Mega Heracross, giving you a massive physical attacker for late game bosses and challenging content like Z-A Royale battles.
Because of all that, a lot of players grab Heracross here and never box it again.
How To Use Heracross On Your Team
Once you have Heracross, you want to build around what it already does well and cover its weaknesses.
General Role In Your Team
Think of Heracross as:
- Your primary physical attacker
- An answer to Dark, Normal, Steel, Grass, Ice and Rock types
- A huge help against many street trainers and Battle Zone encounters that lean on Normal and Dark Pokémon
In practice, this means:
- Let Heracross handle enemies that your starter might struggle with.
- Use it to shred tanky Normal types and bulky Steel or Rock types that might otherwise drag fights out.
- Swap it in whenever you see a matchup where Bug or Fighting STAB will hit super effectively.
Moves And Coverage
The exact starting moveset can vary depending on your progress and what TMs you have unlocked, but in general you want:
- At least one strong Fighting move for big neutral damage and coverage.
- At least one solid Bug move for Psychic, Dark and Grass targets.
- One or two flexible slots for things like Rock coverage or utility, depending on what TMs you can access.
As you move deeper into the story and especially once Mega Evolution enters the picture, Heracross can comfortably sit in the center of your team as the one that finishes fights quickly, especially in timed or high pressure content.
Synergy With The Rest Of Your Team
Heracross pairs well with:
- A special attacker that can handle Flying and Fairy types, which are both dangerous for Heracross.
- A bulky Water or Fire type that can safely switch into some of the attacks that threaten Heracross.
- Support Pokémon that can set up screens or spread status if you like more strategic setups.
If you are playing aggressively and want to move through the story quickly, you can lean heavily on Heracross while keeping a small support core behind it for type coverage and utility.
Tips And FAQs About The Trade Heracross
Here are a few common questions and useful tips around this trade:
Can you miss this Heracross permanently?
No. The mission is unlocked during Main Mission 5, but it is not time limited. You can come back and do it later, although it is much more valuable if you grab Heracross early.
Can you change Heracross’s nickname?
Like most traded Pokémon, its name is locked, so if your Heracross comes with a preset name, you will not be able to rename it. Many players lean into this and keep the iconic nickname.
Is it worth trading a good Pikachu?
Yes. You can always catch another Pikachu in Wild Zone 3 and raise your own Raichu later. The guaranteed Heracross plus Mega potential is a much bigger long term upgrade for most teams.
Is this Heracross good for casual players, or just speedrunners?
Both. Speedrunners love it because it is strong, early and consistent, but for a normal story playthrough, it is just as valuable as a durable, hard hitting teammate that stays relevant for most of the game.
If you are playing Pokemon Legends: Z-A and you want one early trade that feels almost too good for how little effort it takes, Side Mission 2 and its Heracross should be one of the first things you do once Lumiose opens up and Main Mission 5 is underway.