Vinnie is probably the first big test you’ll encounter in your journey through **Pokémon Legends: Zarude-Arena (Z-A)**. While veterans may breeze through his team, new players will need to carefully strategize to overcome his lineup. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Vinnie’s Pokémon and the best counters to use.
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### Vinnie’s Team and Their Weaknesses
Trainer Vinnie’s team consists of the following Pokémon:
– **Houndoom (Level 30) – Grass-type**
Weak to: Water, Fighting, Ground, and Rock-type moves.
– **Sharpedo (Level 30) – Water-type**
Weak to: Bug, Fairy, Grass, Fighting, and Electric-type moves.
– **Buneary (Level 30) – Fire-type**
Weak to: Fighting-type moves.
– **Mega Drampa (Level 32) – Normal/Dragon-type**
Weak to: Fighting, Dragon, Ice, and Fairy-type moves.
Make sure you have Pokémon and moves that can exploit these type weaknesses to gain the upper hand in battle.
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### A Secret Weapon: The Free Heracross
One of the best secrets in this fight is the free Heracross you can obtain, known as **Bois**. This powerful Pokémon can carry you through much of the game, including this boss battle.
To get Bois, complete Side Mission 002: “A Use for an Evolution Stone.” You can find its location on our [interactive map](#). Once you have Bois, equip him with **Brick Break** and **Rock Smash**. At Level 30 or above, Bois can easily bulldoze through Vinnie’s team.
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### Recommended Team Composition
While Heracross is a fantastic asset, it’s good to have backup options. Consider evolving a **Pancham** into **Pangoro**. Pangoro is another excellent pick for this fight, with strong Fighting-type moves that counter most of Vinnie’s Pokémon.
Additionally, having an **Absol** in your party as a reliable health bar option can be useful, although it might not be necessary if your Fighting-types are strong enough.
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### Summary
To defeat Vinnie in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, focus on including Fighting-type Pokémon in your team and capitalize on your opponents’ type weaknesses. Equip Heracross (Bois) with Brick Break and Rock Smash for a powerful edge and consider evolving Pancham into Pangoro as a solid backup.
With the right preparation, this fight will be a breeze!
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Don’t forget to check out our **Pokémon Legends: Z-A Interactive Map** for all side mission locations and helpful resources to assist in your adventure.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146516/how-to-beat-vinnie-pokemon-legends-za-weaknesses-counters
