Summary
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s latest trailer appears to have showcased a new battle mechanic, which will allow players to capture a Pokemon even if it’s fainted.
- In the trailer, we see the player reduce a Flaaffy’s HP to zero, yet they’re still able to throw a ball and capture the Pokemon, which appears to be stunned.
- If this is the case, it will make capturing rare Pokemon a lot easier, with shiny hunters in particualr down on their knees, weeping in joy.
Pokemon Day was a pretty jam-packed one this year, giving us a new game announcement in Pokemon Champions, a bunch of updates on the various live-service games out there, and a proper extended look at Pokemon Legends: Z-A, including the starter Pokemon and the confirmation of the return of Mega Evolutions.
In the trailer, we got to see a little more of the battle mechanics too, including how you’ll be able to capture Pokemon this time around. Just like in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, you’ll be able to simply throw a Poke Ball at a Pokemon in a wild area for a chance to capture it, or you can go into battle to weaken it first. However, it seems as though this method of capturing ‘mons in Legends: Z-A is getting a major shakeup.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A Trailer Hints At Being Able To Catch Fainted Pokemon
Finally, No More Accidental KOs
Partway through the trailer, we can see a player attempting to catch a Flaaffy, sending their Chikorita into battle against it to weaken it. Pretty normal so far, but the interesting part is when the Chikorita uses Razor Leaf to seemingly KO the Flaaffy, as indicated by the stars circling its head, yet the player is able to throw a Poke Ball at the ‘mon and capture it anyway.

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With Pokemon Legends: Z-A, Chikorita Gets Another Chance
Gen 2’s queen is coming back for her crown.
Traditionally, once a wild Pokemon has fainted in battle, it simply vanishes and is impossible to capture, much to the disappointment and pain of every single person out there who has accidentally killed a shiny. It looks like this is being changed though, as while we don’t get the best look due to how fast the capture on the Flaaffy is, it seems as though Pokemon will be briefly stunned once their HP is depleted.
If this is how capturing Pokemon will work in Legends: Z-A, then that’s an absolute game-changer of a feature that will make capturing more rare Pokemon so much easier. Gone will be the days of slowly whittling down a Pokemon’s health into the red, or killing one with an accidental crit, and that is absolutely massive. We’ll have to wait for more footage to see if this is the case, and you’d assume that we’ll get that at Nintendo’s big Direct this April.
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