Z-A Mega Evolution Comes with the Biggest Question Mark Attached

The leaks coming out about Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s new Mega Evolutions point toward some significant additions to the game. While there hasn’t been any official confirmation that new Megas are joining Pokemon Legends: Z-A, one mon seems like a no-brainer for a Mega form regardless of whether these leaks are true. Zygarde is slated to finally get the attention it’s been missing in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, but its leaked Mega Evolution may have some hurdles to overcome.

Zygarde has long been sidelined in the games where it has received a major appearance. Despite originating in Gen 6’s Pokemon X and Y, Zygarde is shoehorned into the post-game, unlike its Legendary trio counterparts, Xerneas and Yveltal, who have major story roles, and its cell-collecting side quest in Gen 7’s Pokemon Sun and Moon feels like an afterthought. While Zygarde deserves the spotlight in Legends: Z-A, its Mega Evolution will need to address a set of practical questions.

Pokemon Legends Z-A Starter Trio Tradition

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

Based on a leaked list of Mega Evolutions set to debut in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, its approach to starter Pokemon could put several traditions at risk.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Leaked Mega Zygarde Needs to Answer Some Important Questions

Mega Zygarde Would Be the Only New Legendary Mega if Leaks Are True

Legendaries and Mythicals with Mega Evolutions are already a rare breed, with only a few ever receiving these forms in the series’ history.

Mega Mewtwo X/Y
Mega Diancie
Mega Latios (Rumored to be cut from Legends: Z-A)
Mega Latias (Rumored to be cut from Legends: Z-A)
Mega Rayquaza (Rumored to be cut from Legends: Z-A)
Primal Groudon (Technically a Primal Reversion, but functionally the same as a Mega)
Primal Kyogre (Technically a Primal Reversion, but functionally the same as a Mega)

With three of the five (or seven with Primal Reversions included) previous Mega Legendaries and Mythicals rumored to be missing in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and Zygarde being the only new Legendary leaked to be receiving a Mega, this mon is going to have a tall task ahead of it in carrying representation for this niche of critters in the upcoming game.

Luckily, this role among a limited roster of Mega Legendaries sets Zygarde up to be a key player in Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s story. However, how Zygarde fits into the story is still a mystery, as other Legendaries with Mega Evolutions have varied regarding their significance to the game’s plot. In Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, players obtain Mega Latios/Latias as a part of the game’s main story, but Mega Rayquaza is obtained as part of the post-game Delta Episode. At this point, Mega Zygard could go either way, but it would be disappointing if it were relegated to a post-game challenge once again.

Zygarde’s Different Forms Could Throw a Wrench in Its Mega Evolution Potential

The biggest question lingering over Mega Zygarde’s leaked existence comes from its potential clash with its existing forms. Zygarde currently has three known forms that change depending on how many Zygarde Cells players have collected:

Zygarde 10% Forme
Zygarde 50% Forme
Zygarde Complete Forme

Given that Zygarde Cells have already been teased in Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s trailers, it’s likely that the cell-collecting mechanic will return. However, this feature could have important implications for accessing Zygarde’s Mega Evolution that could take some of the wind out of its sails.

It’s unclear if Zygarde will be able to Mega Evolve while in all three of its forms. Typically, only fully-evolved Pokemon can Mega Evolve, which Zygarde technically is across all three forms. However, Zygarde’s base stat totals are different between its forms, increasing in number as it gains more cells. So it would be odd for a Zygarde 10% Forme to suddenly eclipse its Complete Forme in base stat total by Mega Evolving and gaining a new maximum stat total.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A could work around this issue in a couple of ways. Zygarde could end up with multiple Mega Evolutions—one for each form—but it wouldn’t make much sense for a creature that isn’t at its full power level to be able to undergo Mega Evolution, which is said to push the Mega-Evolved mon beyond its power limits. The other option is to only allow Zygarde Complete Form to Mega Evolve, but this runs into the issue of locking its Mega behind the tall task of finding every Zygarde Cell in the game. Neither scenario seems ideal, but Game Freak may need to make some tough decisions on how to handle Zygarde if it is indeed getting a Mega Evolution.