What we know about Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s Mega Evolutions

With Pokémon X and Pokémon Y came Mega Evolutions — a battle mechanic that temporarily boosts a Pokémon’s power in different ways. It hasn’t been a feature in Pokémon games for a couple generations, but Mega Evolutions will indeed return in 2025 with Pokémon Legends: Z-A, The Pokémon Company confirmed during its Pokémon Presents broadcast on Thursday.

There’s still a lot unknown about Pokémon Legends: Z-A, but Mega Evolutions should work similar to how they have in previous games. Pokémon must hold a Mega Stone, and trainers need a Key Stone — with these, a Pokémon can Mega Evolve, increasing its stats and changing its type. Here’s how The Pokémon Company described it on its website:

Mega Evolution goes beyond the limits of regular Evolution. Only certain Pokémon can Mega Evolve.​ Doing so imparts power greater than regular Evolution by temporarily unleashing the energy hidden within the Pokémon. Pokémon change their appearance when they Mega Evolve, and certain Pokémon may even change types.​

When Trainers have a strong bond with their Pokémon, a Key Stone worn by the Trainer resonates with a Mega Stone held by their Pokémon, allowing Mega Evolution to take place. Eventually, you’ll wear a Mega Ring with a Key Stone embedded in it. Other Trainers may wear their Key Stones in different ways.​

There are 48 Pokémon Mega Evolutions across all the Pokémon games that include the feature, but The Pokémon Company has confirmed 10 for Pokémon Legends: Z-A: Mega Gyarados, Mega Kangashkan, Mega Ampharos, Mega Gardevoir, Mega Sableye, Mega Altaria, Mega Absol, Mega Lucario, and two forms of Mega Charizard.

Mega Evolutions are one of the most beloved gimmicks in the Pokémon franchise, because of how it impacted a Pokémon’s strength and type — an interesting tweak to change up the dynamics of battle. The thing is, Mega Evolution, canonically, is kind of cruel to some Pokémon — dex entries in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon (and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon) describe Pokémon suffering to transform. Let’s take Mega Glalie, for instance: “The power of Mega Evolution was so strong that it smashed Glalie’s jaw,” per it’s Ultra Moon entry. “Its inability to eat very well leaves Glalie irritated.” Yikes!

Pokémon Legends: Arceus introduced seven totally new Pokémon, several of which are new evolutions of existing Pokémon. Alongside the entirely new Pokémon, Pokémon Legends: Arceus also debuted new regional Hisuian versions of some Pokémon — 16 in total, including Hisuian versions of Growlithe, Arcanine, Goodra, Voltorb, and Sneasel. We can expect Pokémon Legends: Z-A to introduce new Pokémon, but aside from a special “eternal” Floette, The Pokémon Company is keeping new ‘mon under wraps. For now, we’ve just got the Mega Evolutions to dig into.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus was released in 2022, taking the Pokémon franchise back in time to the Sinnoh region. Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the second game in that series, telling a more modern story set in Kalos’ Lumiose City. It’s expected out in late 2025.