It’s an exciting time to be a fan of Pokemon‘s 6th Generation, as Kalos’ capital is taking center stage in Pokemon Legends: Z-A later this year. During the Pokemon Presents on February 27, 2025, fans finally got a glimpse at the new Lumiose City, the title’s battle system, its starters, and more. There are multiple things that are returning from Pokemon Legends: Arceus in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, which should certainly excite those that were brought back to the series because Arceus breathed new life into the new 29-year-old formula.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus was an interesting release for the Pokemon franchise back in 2022, and one of the more intriguing things about it was how it had free post-launch DLC, whereas the mainline games have used a paid structure since Sword and Shield. For many, this approach felt strange, as the content was titled the Daybreak update, yet no other updates came after it to put weight behind the choice to specifically name it. The features it added, though, would prove important to many players. In fact, these additions were so important that many of them should be included in Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s base game, especially Massive Mass Outbreaks in particular.
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Massive Mass Outbreaks Could Bring a Lot to Pokemon Legends: Z-A From the Start
Pokemon Legends: Arceus Changed Pokemon With Mass Outbreaks
One of the ways that Pokemon Legends: Arceus changed the expectations of the series was the way it made catching repeated critters a worthwhile endeavor. With a Pokedex that became more detailed each time a pocket monster fit into a ball, for many, finding more than just one of the creatures was part of each excursion to the game’s five open areas. The inclusion of Mass Outbreaks, a limited-time appearance of one specific Pokemon in one specific spot, made filling out the Pokedex easier since there was great potential to get a shiny for the effort.
Mass Outbreaks would end up becoming a defining franchise staple, with the same mechanic in Arceus appearing in Scarlet and Violet, and Pokemon TCG Pocket offering type-themed “outbreaks” in Wonder Pick events. Massive Mass Outbreaks haven’t made a return to the series in any way despite this impact, but since the arguably upgraded version of the mechanic features Alpha Pokemon as part of its second waves, there’s a high chance that the Massive Mass Outbreaks are going to remain in Legends games only. That means that Pokemon Legends: Z-A has the opportunity to either do what Arceus did before, or introduce its own unique twist within its limitations.
How Massive Mass Outbreaks Can Forge a Place Within Pokemon Legends: Z-A
Compared to Legends: Arceus, Z-A seems to be focusing on one large location, allowing players to run along rooftops and catch wild Pokemon in Wild Zones. While it’s hard to say just how the size of the Wild Zone will affect the next Legends game just yet, it could be that a Mass Outbreak and, by extension, the Massive Mass Outbreaks, take over a particular Wild Zone at a time. This would work well if Legends: Z-A manages to bring back the Alpha Pokemon, giving players space to run away from the huge creatures if they need to.
Even if Legends: Z-A doesn’t bring back Alpha Pokemon, there are still plenty of other avenues that could make the mechanic fit right in. Second waves could also allow players to encounter evolved Pokemon in the wild in Arceus, which could take the place of Alpha Pokemon while also keeping the improved shiny rates that Mass Outbreaks quickly became a fan-favorite for. Massive Mass Outbreaks were a natural step forward that would fit right in with how Lumiose City plans to evolve to be a fully shared city between people and Pokemon, be it through migratory patterns or the construction work around the city. It certainly has potential if it’s included in the base game this time around, and hopefully Game Freak will capitalize on the opportunity when Pokemon Legends: Z-A releases later this year.
