Z-A’s Leaked Mega Evolutions Could Make or Break Its Starter Traditions

If leaks about Pokemon Legends: Z-A turn out to be true and its starter Pokemon each receive a new Mega Evolution, this could either hint at Game Freak’s post-launch plans for the game or break several of the series’ ongoing traditions. While their return had already been revealed during Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s announcement, questions about which existing evolutions and new Mega Pokemon would be featured in the upcoming game were left unanswered. However, after an alleged list of Legends: Z-A‘s all-new Mega Evolutions was leaked, new questions may have been raised about Game Freak’s approach to starter Pokemon.

Similar to Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Legends: Z-A features another mixed selection of starter Pokemon from the series’ various generations, this time consisting of Gen 2’s Chikorita and Totodile and Gen 5’s Tepig. But unlike its predecessor and other recent games, Legends: Z-A doesn’t appear to have regional variants of its own and may have instead focused on Mega Evolutions as its substitute for this niche. Yet between Legends: Arceus‘ Hisuian starter Pokemon and Legends: Z-A‘s leaked Mega Evolutions, the upcoming game could either make or break long-running conventions tied to the series’ starter Pokemon.

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Pokemon Legends: Z-A Looks Set to Rewrite the Unwritten Rules of Mega Evolution

With the gameplay changes Pokemon Legends: Z-A is making to the series’ formula, the best Mega Evolutions may look completely different.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Starter Pokemon and Mega Evolutions Threaten the Status Quo

From their debut in Gen 6’s Pokemon X and Y to their return in the Gen 3 remakes, Game Freak seemingly ensured the Pokemon that received new Mega Evolutions remained balanced with those that didn’t. For example, despite introducing Mega Evolutions for all three starter Pokemon from Gen 1, Mega Blaziken was initially an outlier until Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire reunited Gen 3’s starter trio with Mega Swampert and Mega Sceptile. This can even be seen with Pokemon counterparts that received Mega Evolutions in separate games, such as the Steel-type duo Scizor and Steelix or the gender split between Gardevoir and Gallade.

Though Legends: Z-A‘s rumors and leaks are purely speculative for now, the list of Pokemon supposedly in the running for new Mega Evolutions appears to be doing the same as seen with Mega Froslass and Mega Clefable. These leaks even suggest that, unlike before, Legends: Z-A will keep its starter trios together, with Mega Evolutions potentially being introduced for both its own intergenerational trio and Gen 6’s starter Pokemon. But while this is good news for Chesnaught, Delphox, and Greninja, the same can’t be said for Emboar, Feraligatr, and Meganium, as well as their former starter Pokemon counterparts from past generations.

After Legends: Arceus, Pokemon Legends: Z-A May Be Forced To Break From Tradition

Despite how it might seem based on the leaked list, the potential disruption caused by any Mega Evolutions missing from Legends: Z-A may not necessarily be due to a decision the game made. When Legends: Arceus revealed regional variants for its Hisuian starter Pokemon, these forms didn’t extend to the other Pokemon from each generation’s respective trios, like Gen 5’s Serperior or Gen 7’s Incineroar. As a result, by limiting its Mega Evolutions to its starter trio, Legends: Z-A is just reaffirming the standards set by its predecessor, regardless of the impact this could have on Gen 2’s and Gen 5’s starter Pokemon.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A May Be Priming Players For Future Mega Evolutions

While Legends: Arceus didn’t receive any DLC expansions like Pokemon Sword and Shield or Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, there is every chance that Legends: Z-A could be different, especially given its present-day setting in Lumiose City. For instance, just as Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire reunited Gen 3’s starters and Sword and Shield‘s DLC balanced Gen 1’s trio of Gigantamax forms, Legends: Z-A could add more Mega Evolutions after its launch. In fact, Legends: Z-A‘s potential for Mega Evolution DLC could go even further than its starter trio and help Pokemon still separate from their Mega counterparts, like Slowking, Butterfree, or Mew.