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The Muscle Band is a held item that boosts the power of physical moves for the Pokemon holding it. Simply put: if a Pokemon in your team uses a move that is physical (not special), having the Muscle Band means that move will hit a little harder. Because of this, it's especially useful for Pokemon that rely on strong physical-attacks (rather than special attacks) and want to maximize damage.

How to get the Muscle Band

In Pokemon Legends: Z-A there are two main methods to obtain the Muscle Band. I'll break each down and give you practical notes on when they're available and what to watch out for.

Method A: Reward from a Side Mission

One of the easiest routes is via a side mission titled “We'll Just Muscle Our Way Through” (Side Mission 56). The reward for this mission includes the Muscle Band.

Steps:

1. Progress through the main story until you unlock Side Mission 56 (“We'll Just Muscle Our Way Through”) in the Jaune District (specifically Jaune Sector 6) near a broken Holovator, south of Wild Zone 8.
2. Accept the side mission from the NPC named Mediera beside the broken Holovator.
3. The mission objective: Use a physical Fighting-type move on the broken Holovator to “get it working.” If you don't yet have a Fighting-type Pokemon with a physical move, one workaround is catching a Bunnelby in Wild Zone 1 and teaching it Rock Smash (via TM) once you reach Research Level 2.
4. After completing the objective, you receive the Muscle Band as part of the reward (along with some in-game currency).

Why this is good: It's a guaranteed reward, you'll likely reach it during normal story progression, and you don't need to wait until “endgame” for it.
Tip: Because this is Side Mission 56, if you're attempting full completion or want the item early, be prepared that you'll need to have progressed enough to unlock that mission. Keep an eye on your map for blue “!” markers (which denote side missions) and track your mission list to see if #56 is available.

Method B: Purchase from Racine Construction (Post-Game)

If you miss doing the side mission early in your playthrough, the Muscle Band can still be acquired via purchase once you reach post-game (after finishing the main story). You can buy it from the shop run by Racine Construction for ₽ 4980.

What this means in practice: Once you've beaten the game and reached free-roam or unlocked the post-game side content, head to Racine Construction and spend the in-game money to buy the Muscle Band (and possibly other held items).
Tip: If you only learned about the item later, or skipped the side mission, this is your safety-net. Make sure you have enough currency saved up so you can buy it as soon as the shop becomes available. Also check that the shop is indeed open (some shops unlock only post-story).

If you're building a physically offensive team in the late game, pairing the Muscle Band with strong Attack-based Pokemon can make a noticeable difference. For collectors or competitive players aiming to perfect their lineup, it's also worth exploring marketplaces where you can Buy Shiny Pokemon Legends ZA to complement your Muscle Band users and strengthen your overall roster.

When and who should use the Muscle Band?

Since the Muscle Band boosts physical moves, here's how you should think about using it for best effect:

• Ideal users: Pokemon whose main attacking moves are physical (e.g., moves affected by the Attack stat rather than Special Attack). For example, a strong physical attacker like a Fighting-type or Rock type that uses moves like Close Combat or Stone Edge.
• Less ideal users: Pokemon that primarily use special attacks (e.g., Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, Psychic) won't benefit from the Muscle Band's bonus. For them, other held items that boost special moves or stats would be better.
• Battle context: In standard single battles (story mode or free roam) the Muscle Band is solid. If you plan to engage in more competitive or advanced content (e.g., the “Infinite Z-A Royale” or high-level challenge zones), you might compare the Muscle Band versus other held items to see which offers the best marginal boost given your team.
• Stacking and strategy: Because the boost is “slight,” you'll want to treat the Muscle Band as part of a broader equipment/build strategy. Pair it with a Pokemon having high Attack stat, the right EV/IV spread, and maybe a move set optimized for physical damage. The item alone won't turn a weak attacker into a powerhouse, but it contributes to making a good attacker stronger.

Summary

To wrap up: the Muscle Band is a valuable held item for boosting physical attacking Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: Z-A. You can get it two main ways:

• By completing Side Mission 56 (“We'll Just Muscle Our Way Through”) which rewards it as part of the mission reward.
• Or, if you miss that opportunity, by purchasing it from Racine Construction in the post-game for ₽ 4980.

From a player's perspective: If you've reached the mission unlock point (roughly mid- to late-game) then doing the side-mission path gets you the item ahead of many others, so you don't have to wait. If you're grinding or sailing through content and skipping side missions, then make sure you've saved cash post-game so you can pick it up via purchase. In terms of use: place the Muscle Band on a Pokemon that uses physical moves and has high Attack — it's a straightforward enhancement, not a complex build piece, but still very practical.