Legends: Z-A Mega Evolution Theory Is Pokémon's Last Shot At Redemption (2024)

A new Mega Evolution theory for Pokémon Legends: Z-A may be hinting at a great opportunity for the franchise to redeem itself or fail spectacularly. The new title in the classic Nintendo franchise was announced on this year’s Pokémon Day, a celebration of the series’ anniversary. Pokémon Legends: Z-A was teased long before its release, back in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, but it was in an unnoticeable detail at the time. The new mainline title was announced via a teaser trailer, showing a neon-outline Pikachu running through the streets of Lumiose City, in the region of Kalos.

Although the teaser trailer did not show or reveal too much, it did confirm the upcoming release is set in the Generation 6 region, as well as a few Pokémon that will appear throughout the adventure, such as Sylveon and Aegislash. Near the end of the trailer, Nintendo confirms that Lumiose City is undergoing an urban redevelopment plan, and, right after the logo is presented, the symbol for Mega Evolutions appears, which may have prompted one of the most recent theories about Pokémon Legends: Z-A. If it is, indeed, true, then the franchise could forever change, in a positive way.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A Theory Suggests All Pokémon Will Have Mega Evolutions

A new fan-made theory about the game, however, is making its rounds through social media and slowly viralizing. The rumor, crafted by PokeliYT on X (formerly Twitter), works on the confirmation of the game being set in Kalos and the return of Mega Evolutions to suggest that, this time around, all Pokémon will have Mega Evolutions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. PokeliYT specifies that the fan-favorite gameplay feature could be applied to every Pokémon with final evolutions or that Mega Evolutions will be tweaked to receive new mechanics for, virtually, every creature present in the title.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A Theory Is Sustained By Past Releases

The main argument used by PokeliYT to sustain the theory is that, following the release of Kalos back in Gen 6, Nintendo has been making an effort to not exclude creatures, giving players the opportunity to use their favorite Pokémon and still have access to Generation-specific gameplay mechanics.

Around the time of the release of Gen 7’s Sun and Moon games, the game director Shigeru Ohmori mentioned in an interview with Nintendo of Europe that Z-Moves were, contrary to Mega Evolutions, a way of allowing players to use a wider variety of Pokémon with special skills.

This more encompassing mindset, which allows players to use their favorite Pokémon and still have full access to that Generation’s main gameplay mechanic, seems to have been maintained, as pointed out by PokeliYT. Pokémon Sword and Shield introduced the Dynamax phenomenon, which permits any of the over 600 creatures present in the game to become gigantic during battles. Surely, there are specific Pokémon with alternative designs triggered by this mechanic, known as Gigantamax Pokémon, but no one is left out.

Similarly, Gen 9’s Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Terastallize mechanic is also applied to all creatures in the game, regardless of what evolution stage they are at. There are very few Pokémon with special forms triggered by Terastallizing, such as Ogerpon and Terapagos, but like Gen 8’s Dynamax and Gen 7’s Z-Moves, every creature can use the central gameplay mechanic in that Generation.

PokeliYT’s argument is that this concept may be applied with Mega Evolutions in the new interpretation of the Gen 6 region, coming with the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A Theory Is Not Flawless

PokeliYT mentions that it would be reasonable for Mega Evolutions to get an additional layer of mechanics. This makes sense considering that, under the current format in which Mega Evolutions are presented, all creatures would be getting an extra model.

Considering how poorly the Gen 9 games performed on Switch, it is unlikely that Nintendo will risk expanding the game without ensuring it will even work first and foremost. Following the criticism of Scarlet and Violet, the main concern for Pokémon Legends: Z-A should be to guarantee it runs smoothly, both in terms of performance and graphics.

The theory by PokeliYT suggests that the Pokémon that could previously Mega Evolve into unique forms will continue to be able to do so, but the new mechanics would allow every other Pokémon to get a special form – even if it is simply a visual effect with a minor stat buff, as is the case with Dynamaxing in Gen 8’s Sword and Shield.

Such a decision would cut down the need for extra models for every single creature and, simultaneously, let every Pokémon in the game take advantage of the central gameplay mechanic focused on Mega Evolutions.

PokeliYT also ties in the speculation about how Mega Evolutions will be adapted in Pokémon Legends: Z-A to the game’s very name, focusing on the “A” that comes after the “Z.” The final letter in the alphabet can be easily related to Zygarde, the Legendary Dragon- and Ground-type Pokémon from Kalos.

In fact, the “Z” in the logo even has Zygarde’s iconic cell pattern. Zygarde stands as the third Legendary in the Aura Trio (which is also composed of Xerneas and Yveltal). The theory suggests that the “ A ” in the title may be a reference to a brand-new Legendary creature that enables Mega Evolution on all Pokémon present in the game.

The fan theory also speculates on the possibility of “A” being something of a weapon that allows widespread Mega Evolutions, rather than an actual Legendary creature. For now, the details are still quite blurry and a lot of the theories about the upcoming game are pure speculation.

So far, no fan has picked up on any other hint left by Nintendo in other games in the series, be they from the previous Generation composed of Sword and Shield, the Gen 4 remakes, and Legends: Arceus, or the first Gen 9 titles, Scarlet and Violet. Some of the current questions, such as how Mega Evolutions will work when they come back, should be answered as the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, set for an unspecified moment in 2025, approaches and more marketing around it is made.

Source: X/PokeliYT, Nintendo of Europe