With several details finally revealed about the upcoming game a year after it was first announced, the Pokemon Day 2025 trailer for Pokemon Legends: Z-A gave players a solid look at what to expect in this return to the Kalos region. Featuring new battle mechanics, a potential sidequest, and the starter Pokemon found in Lumiose City, this trailer gave players plenty to keep in mind before release.
As Legends: Z-A won’t release until the end of 2025, details about the latest entry in the Legends series will remain murky for the foreseeable future. That said, the Pokemon Day 2025 trailer still shows players five key things they need to know about this reenvisioned version of Lumiose City.
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Pokemon Day revealed a lot of exciting news for fans of the iconic monster-catching franchise.
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The Starters: Chikorita, Tepig, & Totodile
The Newest Kalos Additions
Akways one of the most exciting and crucial parts of any new Pokemon game, the reveal of the “new” starters for Z-A has delighted and surprised much of the community. Featuring two Pokemon coming from the same initial Generation, this reveal has also redefined what players thought was possible for the Legends games, as there is no limit to what potential starters could be pulled from.
With Chikorita, Totodile, and Tepig as their options, players are already deciding their starter of choice for whatever Lumiose City has in store. While it hasn’t been outright confirmed, theories about potential regional forms for these starters’ final evolutions have already begun. Considering this was an aspect of Legends Arceus, it will likely remain staple of the Legends format. Beyond that, the potential for a Mega Evolution for these starters is also possible — because it’s been confirmed that Mega Evolutions are returning. And on that note…
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Mega Evolutions Are Back
The Return Of A Fan-Favorite Battle Gimmick
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the initial reveal of Legends: Z-A, the return of Mega Evolution to the mainline Pokemon games has remained a major point of excitement for a vast majority of fans. With Mega Evolution as a prominent part of the game’s battling mechanics and potential Pokemon pool, plenty of changes are already guaranteed with this gimmick.
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Since both Mega Charizard forms have been revealed, there’s the potential for Charizard to receive a “Z” Mega form, since the two current ones are themed to X and Y. Additionally, Pokemon like Larvitar and Bagon being shown indirectly confirms that Mega Tyranitar and Mega Salamence are also returning.
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Zygarde Cells
Hints At The Plot
An assumedly titular part of Pokemon Legends: Z-A, Zygarde in two of its forms was shown off in the latest trailer. While the dog-like 10% form is more intriguing on a battling level, the presence of the Zygarde cell speaks volumes about a potential side quest in the game, or a major part of the plot.
Since the form in which Zygarde was initially introduced was later revealed to be its 50% form, the presence of Zygarde cells and the 10% Zygarde suggests that players may have to collect these cells again to fully power Zygarde for the plot, for a side quest, or even a post-game challenge. In previous games, players had to collect 95 cells to fully complete Zygarde. This mechanic may be equivalent to catching all Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
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Innovated Battle Mechanics
A Twist On The Classic
One of the main components shown off in the trailer involves the details of the core basis of the franchise: Pokemon battles. It appears that battling in Z-A is very different from the typical turn-based format of Pokemon battles, and appears to be an evolution of the unique battle style available in Legends: Arceus. Featuring more trainer involvement and the ability to have Pokemon dodge incoming attacks, players will need to stay focused to win battles across Lumiose City.
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Beyond Pokemon being able to dodge, there also seems to be a new cooldown mechanic for moves to fit with this real-time battle style. Additionally, the reintroduction of Mega Evolutions reintroduces the empowerment of moves while Mega Evolved (akin to Terastalization at a cursory glance). With both of these aspects in mind, battling in this new version of Kalos will certainly shake up the usual formula.
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New Mechanics For Catching Pokemon
Changes To A Fundamental Mechanic
The first entry in the Legends series featured unique catching mechanics, involving players having their avatars throw balls at Pokemon. This trend of changing up the capture system evidently continues in Z-A, further tying into the idea of connecting the wildlife of Lumiose City to the trainers that also live there. Out-of-battle Pokemon captures are possible again, along with a detail that’s only been seen in the Pokemon anime. Catching teammates’ Pokemon or shiny Pokemon in Kalos will definitely be something new.
As shown directly in the trailer, catching fainted Pokemon appears to be possible in Z-A, a tactic seen somewhat often in the anime but never used before in the mainline games. Since Pokemon with status effects are easier to catch, a Pokemon completely unable to fight might be the most extreme version of that.
