Game Freak’s upcomingPokemon Legends: Z-Awill be the first mainlinePokemongame to debut on the new Nintendo Switch 2 console later this year. The final game ofPokemon’s Generation 9 mainline games,Pokemon Legends: Z-Awill have players return toPokemon XandY’s Kalos Region to explore a recently urban redeveloped Lumiose City. Here, players will additionally be able to utilize the popular mechanic of Mega Evolution once more after it was absent fromPokemon Sword,Shield,Scarlet,Violet, andLegends: Arceus. With 2026 beingPokemon’s 30th anniversary and expected to launch the Generation 10 games, Game Freak should consider carrying over Mega Evolution into the next mainlinePokemongames afterZ-A.
Mega Evolutions' Popularity in the Pokemon Franchise
Following the release ofPokemon Black,Black 2,White, andWhite 2for the Nintendo DS and DSI, Game Freak sought to introduce new mechanics into the Gen 6Pokemongames to spice upPokemon’s then 17-year-old battle routine. While double battles, rotation battles, and triple battles helped diversify battle scenarios a bit, they didn’t make much of a lasting impact on the series. Using the power of the Nintendo 3DS, Game Freak went on to surprise players inPokemon XandYwith the game not only being the first mainlinePokemongame to feature full 3D graphics but the first to introduce a completely new form of evolution: Mega Evolution.
By using the power of Key Stones, Mega Stones and the strong bond between trainer and Pokemon, certainfully evolved Pokemon can temporarily Mega Evolveinto new powerful forms through Mega Evolution. While Mega Evolution would change Pokemon’s appearance and base stats, it could additionally grant Pokemon completely new typings, such as Gyarados Mega Evolving into a Water/Dark type. These new forms helped bring older or less used Pokemon back to the forefront, such asMega Ampharos, Mega Kangaskhan, and Mega Manectric, making them more viable inPokemon XandY’s story and multiplayer. For example, Jeudy Azzarelli famously attempted to use a Mega Charizard Y and a Mega Lucario to help defeat Se Jun Park at the 2014 Pokémon World Championships, to no avail.
The Prevalence of Mega Evolution
As soon as Mega Evolution was first announced, Game Freak, Nintendo, and The Pokemon Company quickly began utilizing it prominently inPokemonstories across practically every medium. While Mega Evolution is at the center ofXandY’s story, it was previously prominent in 2013’sGenesect and the Legend AwakenedandPokemon Origins, starring Mega Mewtwo Y and Mega Charizard X. Mega Evolution went on to appear in several seasons of thePokemonanime as well asthePokemon Trading Card Gameand manga, but it notably popped up in numerous spin-off games, including:
The Potential of Mega Evolution in Pokemon Gen 10
BeyondPokemon XandY, Mega Evolution only appeared in a select few mainlinePokemongames, such asPokemon Omega Ruby,Alpha Sapphire,Sun,Moon,Ultra Sun,Ultra Moon, and the upcomingZ-A. At E3 2019,Pokemon SwordandShieldProducer Junichi Masudaannounced that Mega Evolutions would not return in the next mainline games due to development constraints and to balance the games for the then-new mechanic, Dynamaxing. This is despite Game Freak previously managing to balance Mega Evolution withSunandMoon’s then-new mechanic Z-Moves. While Mega Evolution has never appeared in Nintendo Switch mainlinePokemongames aside from the upcomingZ-A, Mega Evolution is still highly popular and used in new expanded media such asPokemon Horizons: The Series.
WithPokemon Legends: Z-Aexpected to feature the return of most previously established Mega Evolutions and rumored to debut 27 new Mega Evolutions, it would be a shame to have these forms restricted to justZ-A. Mega Evolution has proven to be one of the most popular additions toPokemon’s universe, often discussed about returning with each newPokemongame’s announcement and going on to spark more conversation than its mechanical successorsZ-Moves, Dynamaxing, and Terastallization. Having Mega Evolution featured in the Gen 10 games would not only continue to spike veteran andZ-Aplayers’ interest and give lesser-usedPokemona chance in the spotlight, but also help celebrate the franchise’s 30th anniversary.
The Narrative Potential of Gen 10 Mega Evolution
While Mega Evolution is expected to play a major role inPokemon Legends: Z-A’s story, it could continue to play a role in the story of 2026 Gen 10Pokemongames. Much of Mega Evolution’s origins are still shrouded in mystery, but that could be explored in Gen 10, especially if characters from Kalos or Hoenn pop up in the Gen 10 games. Gen 10 can also highlight the discovery of new Mega Evolutions only found in the new region, possibly having the plot focus on a professor researching which native Pokemon can Mega Evolve and determining why only these select few can. Mega Evolution can also make critical story battles more dynamic and cinematic, especially with the new power of theNintendo Switch 2.
