If leaks aboutPokemon Legends: Z-Aturn out to be true and its starter Pokemon each receive a new Mega Evolution, this could either hint at Game Freak’s post-launch plans for the game or break several of the series' ongoing traditions. While their return had already been revealed duringPokemon Legends: Z-A’s announcement, questions about which existing evolutions and new Mega Pokemon would be featured in the upcoming game were left unanswered. However, after an alleged list ofLegends: Z-A’s all-new Mega Evolutions was leaked, new questions may have been raised about Game Freak’s approach to starter Pokemon.
Similar toPokemon Legends: Arceus,Legends: Z-Afeatures another mixed selection of starter Pokemon from the series' various generations, this time consisting of Gen 2’s Chikorita and Totodile and Gen 5’s Tepig. But unlike its predecessor and other recent games,Legends: Z-Adoesn’t appear to have regional variants of its own and may have instead focused on Mega Evolutions as its substitute for this niche. Yet betweenLegends: Arceus' Hisuian starter Pokemon andLegends: Z-A’s leaked Mega Evolutions, the upcoming game could either make or break long-running conventions tied to the series' starter Pokemon.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Starter Pokemon and Mega Evolutions Threaten the Status Quo
From their debut inGen 6’sPokemonXandYto their returnin the Gen 3 remakes, Game Freak seemingly ensured the Pokemon that received new Mega Evolutions remained balanced with those that didn’t. For example, despite introducing Mega Evolutions for all three starter Pokemon from Gen 1, Mega Blaziken was initially an outlier untilPokemonOmega RubyandAlpha Sapphirereunited Gen 3’s starter trio with Mega Swampert and Mega Sceptile. This can even be seen with Pokemon counterparts that received Mega Evolutions in separate games, such as the Steel-type duo Scizor and Steelix or the gender split between Gardevoir and Gallade.
ThoughLegends: Z-A’s rumors and leaksare purely speculative for now, the list of Pokemon supposedly in the running for new Mega Evolutions appears to be doing the same as seen with Mega Froslass and Mega Clefable. These leaks even suggest that, unlike before,Legends: Z-Awill keep its starter trios together, with Mega Evolutions potentially being introduced for both its own intergenerational trio and Gen 6’s starter Pokemon. But while this is good news for Chesnaught, Delphox, and Greninja, the same can’t be said for Emboar, Feraligatr, and Meganium, as well as their former starter Pokemon counterparts from past generations.
After Legends: Arceus, Pokemon Legends: Z-A May Be Forced To Break From Tradition
Despite how it might seem based on the leaked list, the potential disruption caused by anyMega Evolutions missing fromLegends: Z-Amay not necessarily be due to a decision the game made. WhenLegends: Arceusrevealed regional variants for its Hisuian starter Pokemon, these forms didn’t extend to the other Pokemon from each generation’s respective trios, like Gen 5’s Serperior or Gen 7’s Incineroar. As a result, by limiting its Mega Evolutions to its starter trio,Legends: Z-Ais just reaffirming the standards set by its predecessor, regardless of the impact this could have on Gen 2’s and Gen 5’s starter Pokemon.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A May Be Priming Players For Future Mega Evolutions
WhileLegends: Arceusdidn’t receive any DLC expansions likePokemon SwordandShieldorPokemon ScarletandViolet, there is every chance thatLegends: Z-Acould be different, especially given its present-day setting in Lumiose City. For instance, just asOmega RubyandAlpha Sapphirereunited Gen 3’s starters andSwordandShield’s DLC balanced Gen 1’s trio of Gigantamax forms,Legends: Z-Acould add more Mega Evolutions after its launch. In fact,Legends: Z-A’s potential for Mega Evolution DLCcould go even further than its starter trio and help Pokemon still separate from their Mega counterparts, like Slowking, Butterfree, or Mew.
