Nearly 12 years after their Nintendo 3DS debut, Mega Evolutions will finally return to the Pokemon universe in the upcoming Pokemon Legends: Z-A. After being absent from Pokemon Sword, Shield, Scarlet, Violet, and Legends: Arceus, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 players will at long last be able to utilize the full power of Mega Evolution beyond the Kanto Megas seen in Pokemon Let’s Go, Eevee! and Pikachu!. Over the course of Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s marketing, nearly every Mega Evolved Pokemon introduced in the Gen 6 games has been shown playable, with rumors of 27 new Mega Evolutions to appear in the game. However, there’s one set of Mega and Primal transformed creatures whose status in Legends: Z-A remains unknown: the legendary Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza.
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Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza’s Mega and Primal Forms Explained
When Mega Evolution was first introduced in 2013, only one legendary Pokemon was able to Mega Evolve: Mewtwo into Mega Mewtwo X and Y. Mega Evolution would receive a major expansion in 2014’s Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Remakes of the 2002 Game Boy Advance games Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, introduced 18 new Mega Evolutions on top of the 30 introduced in X and Y. For many players, one of the most intriguing Mega Evolutions introduced in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire’s post-game Delta Episode was Mega Rayquaza.
In the Delta Episode, players are tasked with capturing Rayquaza and riding it to destroy an incoming meteor threatening to destroy the world. As Rayquaza flies through the Earth’s stratosphere, the Sky High Pokemon can Mega Evolve without a Mega Stone by consuming small meteorites. Once Mega Evolved, Rayaquaza becomes one of the strongest Pokémon on the planet, being able to force Groudon and Kyogre into submission, easily slice through the Grand Meteor Delta, and defeat the alien DNA Pokemon Deoxys. According to Hoenn Draconid Lorekeepers, Rayquaza is said to be the first Pokemon to achieve Mega Evolution, presumably to undo the cataclysmic primal forms of Groudon and Kyogre.
The Destructive Nature of Primal Groudon and Kyogre
While Rayquaza received a new Mega Evolution in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, the Continent Pokemon Groudon and the Sea Basin Pokemon Kyogre received entirely new Primal Reversion forms. According to the Draconid Lorekeeper Zinnia, Groudon and Kyogre first reverted into their Primal forms thousands of years ago by absorbing large amounts of natural energy, enhancing their raw elemental powers. Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre fought each other for the other’s energy and nearly destroyed the world, only to be stopped by Mega Rayquaza. Team Magma and Team Aqua later use the Red Orb and Blue Orb and the natural energy found in the Cave of Origin to reawaken and revert the ancient Pokémon to their primal forms, only for the Pokemon to be defeated by Brendan and May.
The Potential of Mega Rayquaza, Primal Groudon, and Primal Kyogre in Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Mega Rayquaza, Primal Groudon, and Primal Kyogre all return in Pokemon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon, with players able to transfer them from Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, or they can be caught in Ultra Wormholes by riding on either the legendary Pokémon Solgaleo or Lunala. Since 2017, the Mega and Primal forms of Hoenn’s legendary trio have not returned in any subsequent mainline Pokémon game. With seemingly every other Mega Evolution returning in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, however, Game Freak should strive to include Mega Rayquaza, Primal Groudon, and Primal Kyogre in Z-A in some form or at the very least address their absence.
With the legendary Pokemon Zygarde expected to play a major role in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Game Freak could have Zygarde confront an enraged Mega Rayquaza, Primal Groudon, and Primal Kyogre, potentially unleashed by a new maniacal human antagonist in Lumiose City. The Order Pokemon is said to monitor and suppress those who endanger the ecosystem, playing a similar role to Hoenn’s legendary trio, so Zygarde could possibly defeat Rayquaza, Groudon, and Kyogre in its titanic 100% form.
Alternatively, Game Freak could hide Rayquaza, Groudon, and Kyogre encounters deep underground and atop Prism Tower until Z-A’s post-game. If Rayquaza, Groudon, and Kyogre don’t appear in Z-A, a book or character such as AZ should at least reference their ancient cataclysmic battles, with AZ being possibly old enough to have seen their primal conflict.