In late 2025, players will finally return to the France-inspired region of Kalos in the upcoming spinoff Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Set after the events of 2013’s 3DS titles Pokémon X and Y, Pokémon Legends: Z-A will have players embody a new trainer sightseeing the newly redeveloped Lumiose City as they encounter characters new and old in the region. Instead of choosing from Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie, players will get to choose a starter from a mixed-matched set featuring Chikorita, Tepig, or Totodile similar to Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and Oshawott. X and Y’s famous Mega Evolution feature will also return to the spotlight, but with an unclear endgame of new Mega Evolutions appearing.
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Pokémon’s Mega Evolution Mechanic Explained
Following the release of Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 in 2012, Game Freak sought to develop a new mechanic to traditional Pokémon to intrigue players and make battles more bombastic. While the addition of items had given battles more depth since their introduction in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, common Pokémon battles had begun to become very repetitive and predictable by Black and White, even with the addition of double, triple, and rotation battles. To rectify this issue, as well as add some spice to some older, sometimes forgotten Pokémon, Game Freak introduced a brand-new battle mechanic to usher in their first true 3D mainline Pokémon games: Mega Evolution.
With the power of Key Stones, Mega Stones and the strong bond between trainer and Pokémon, a select number of Pokémon can temporarily Mega Evolve, granting the Pokémon a massive power boost and alternate appearance. The ability to Mega Evolve comes at a slight cost as Pokémon will be required to hold Mega Stones to be able to transform, sacrificing the potential to use a beneficial item such as Leftovers, for example. Pokémon holding Mega Stones don’t automatically Mega Evolve in battle, instead trainers can choose when to activate their transformation and potentially surprise unsuspecting opponents. On top of giving Pokémon a power boost, Mega Evolution can change a Pokémon’s stats and give them new typings in battle, such as Charizard becoming Fire/Dragon type as Mega Charizard X.
Mega Evolution’s Mainline Pokémon Game History
A select few Pokémon even have the option to Mega Evolve into two different forms depending on the stone held, such as Mewtwo Mega Evolving into either Mega Mewtwo X or Mega Mewtwo Y. 30 Mega Evolution forms were introduced in Pokémon X and Y for a select few Pokémon from Generations 1-4 such as Gengar, Heracross, Aggron, and Abomasnow. 18 more Mega Evolution forms were introduced in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire which added two Mega Evolutions from Gens 5 and 6 in the form of Mega Audino and Mega Diancie. Since then, no new Mega Evolutions have been introduced with the transformation generally being pushed aside for other similar mechanics such as Z-Moves, Dynamaxing, and Terastallization.
The last mainline Pokémon games which featured Mega Evolution as a mechanic were Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon on the Nintendo 3DS.
Mega Evolution’s Questionable Return in Pokémon Legends: Z-A
After nearly eight years, Mega Evolution will finally return in a traditional Pokémon game with Pokémon Legends: Z-A. In Legends: Z-A’s Pokémon Day trailer, 10 Mega Evolution forms are shown, including:
- Mega Absol
- Mega Altaria
- Mega Ampharos
- Mega Charizard X
- Mega Charizard Y
- Mega Gardevoir
- Mega Gyarados
- Mega Kangaskhan
- Mega Lucario
- Mega Sableye
It’s currently unknown if these are the only Pokémon who can Mega Evolve in Legends: Z-A or if the game will feature all 48 Mega Evolution forms from the Kalos games and Hoenn remakes. As soon as it was revealed that the game would take place in Kalos, many fans expected Legends: Z-A to introduce new Mega Evolutions, just as Pokémon Legends: Arceus introduced a few brand-new Pokémon and forms in Hisui. However, based on Legends: Z-A’s rather small setting of Lumiose City, the number of powerful Mega Evolved Pokémon in the city may be small as well. Only 242 Pokémon were encountered in Legends: Arceus, so Legends: Z-A may similarly feature a small Pokédex compared to X and Y’s 721 Pokémon total.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s Potential New Mega Evolutions
Despite Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s initial Mega Evolution reveal, Game Freak could still be hiding some new Mega Evolution forms for future trailers or the game’s official release. The Pokémon Day trailer was only Legends: Z-A’s second official trailer, so Nintendo could be waiting until it’s closer to the game’s release to show off some of its new, bombastic content, such as new Mega Evolutions. Some Pokémon who could receive new Mega Evolutions are Feraligatr, Meganium, and Emboar, since the starters in Legends: Arceus received new regional forms in that game. A few Pokémon from Gens 7-9 who appear in Legends: Z-A could also receive Mega Evolutions to make sure each generation gets a Mega Evolution, such as a Mega Vikavolt, a Mega Appletun, and a Mega Rabsca.
