
I’ve been absolutely blown away by Pokemon Legends ZA since its release, and let me tell you, the Mega Evolution system is the real star of the show here. After spending countless hours exploring Lumiose City and battling through the Z-A Royale, I’ve compiled everything you need to know about every single Mega Evolution in this game.
When I first heard that Pokemon Legends ZA would bring back Mega Evolutions, I honestly couldn’t contain my excitement. This mechanic was introduced way back in Generation 6 with Pokemon X and Y, and seeing it return with such a massive expansion has been nothing short of incredible. The game doesn’t just bring back the classics it introduces 26 brand new Mega Evolutions that fans have been asking for years.
Before I dive into the details, here’s a quick summary of what you’re getting:
| Category | Count | Notable Additions |
|---|---|---|
| New Mega Evolutions | 26 | Mega Greninja, Mega Dragonite, Mega Feraligatr |
| Returning Mega Evolutions | 34 | Mega Charizard X/Y, Mega Gengar, Mega Garchomp |
| DLC Mega Evolutions | 2+ | Mega Raichu X/Y (confirmed) |
| Total Mega Evolutions | 76+ | Most comprehensive roster yet |
Let me walk you through every new Mega Evolution that’s been added to Pokemon Legends ZA. Trust me, some of these transformations are absolutely stunning, and their power levels will surprise you.
I picked Tepig as my starter, and getting to see Mega Emboar in action was incredible. But all three starters get amazing Mega forms:
Mega Meganium (Grass/Fairy) When I first saw Mega Meganium, I was genuinely impressed by how they incorporated Fairy typing into its design. The four flowers on its body aren’t just for show this Pokemon can fire what’s called a “Mega Sol Cannon,” which is basically an incredibly powerful Solar Beam. Its Special Attack jumps to 143, making it a serious threat. The stats are: 80 HP / 92 Attack / 115 Defense / 143 Special Attack / 115 Special Defense / 80 Speed.
Mega Feraligatr (Water/Dragon) Now this is what I call a glow up! Mega Feraligatr gains Dragon typing and gets this awesome dinosaur themed helmet design. The bite force of its enhanced jaws is supposedly 10 times stronger than regular Feraligatr. With 160 Attack, this thing hits like an absolute truck. Stats: 85 HP / 160 Attack / 125 Defense / 89 Special Attack / 93 Special Defense / 78 Speed.
Mega Emboar (Fire/Fighting) My personal favorite! Mega Emboar maintains its Fire/Fighting typing but gets significantly bulkier. The physical attack is particularly strong, though it’s a bit on the slower side compared to some other Megas. Still, the design is top notch. Stats: Details vary, but expect high Attack and decent Defense.
Mega Greninja (Water/Dark) Remember Ash Greninja from the anime? Well, Mega Greninja takes that concept and cranks it up to eleven. Getting this one isn’t easy though you need to reach Rank K in Season 1 of Ranked Battles, which ends November 5th, 2025. The Greninjite Mega Stone is your reward, and trust me, it’s worth the grind. The ninja aesthetic is perfectly executed.
Mega Dragonite (Dragon/Flying) I never thought I’d see the day when Dragonite got a Mega Evolution, but here we are! According to the Pokedex entry, Mega Evolution has “excessively powered up this Pokemon’s feelings of kindness,” and it finishes opponents with mercy in its heart. Despite the kind nature, don’t underestimate it with 124 Attack and 145 Special Attack, it’s a legitimate threat. Stats: 91 HP / 124 Attack / 115 Defense / 145 Special Attack / 125 Special Defense / 100 Speed.
Mega Hawlucha (Fighting/Flying) Hawlucha was always a fun Pokemon to use, and its Mega Evolution just makes it even better. The wrestling bird gets enhanced stats across the board while maintaining its excellent type combination.
Mega Excadrill (Ground/Steel) This is easily one of the best new Mega Evolutions in my opinion. Mega Excadrill is an absolute monster with 165 Attack, high Defense, and solid HP. When it brings its arms and head together to form a streamlined shape and spins at high speeds, it can destroy anything. I’ve used this in Battle Zones, and it’s devastatingly effective. Stats: 110 HP / 165 Attack / 100 Defense / 65 Special Attack / 65 Special Defense / 103 Speed.
Mega Scolipede (Bug/Poison) Scolipede transforms into a slow but incredibly tanky physical attacker. With 140 Attack and 149 Defense, it’s built to take hits and dish them back out. The deadly venom gives off a faint glow and affects Scolipede’s mind, making it even more vicious. Stats: 60 HP / 140 Attack / 149 Defense / 75 Special Attack / 99 Special Defense / 62 Speed.
Mega Scrafty (Dark/Fighting) The shed skin turns white and becomes tough and supple after Mega Evolution. With 135 Defense AND 135 Special Defense, Mega Scrafty is an incredible tank. Stats: 65 HP / 130 Attack / 135 Defense / 55 Special Attack / 135 Special Defense / 68 Speed.
Mega Eelektross (Electric) Here’s something interesting Mega Eelektross generates 10 times the electricity it did before Mega Evolving. It discharges this through its false Eelektrik, which are made of mucus. Since we don’t have abilities in Legends ZA, it still takes damage from Ground types, but it’s a fantastic mixed attacker regardless.
Mega Chesnaught (Grass/Fighting) The Kalos starter finally gets the Mega Evolution treatment it deserves. Chesnaught becomes even bulkier and more defensive, perfect for players who like a tanky playstyle.
Mega Delphox (Fire/Psychic) Delphox’s Mega form enhances its mystical appearance and boosts its Special Attack to impressive levels. The psychic flames it wields become even more powerful.
Mega Pyroar (Fire/Normal) This Pokemon spews flames hotter than 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit! It swings around its grand, blazing mane to protect allies. It’s a well rounded Pokemon with equally boosted stats, making it a reliable Fire type Special Attacker. Stats: 86 HP / 88 Attack / 92 Defense / 129 Special Attack / 86 Special Defense / 126 Speed.
Mega Malamar (Dark/Psychic) While Mega Malamar looks cool, I have to be honest it’s probably the lowest damage dealer among the new Legends ZA Megas. The high Special Defense isn’t as valuable in a game where you can dodge attacks. Stats: 86 HP / 102 Attack / 88 Defense / 98 Special Attack / 120 Special Defense / 88 Speed.
Mega Dragalge (Poison/Dragon) The combination of Poison and Dragon typing makes Mega Dragalge a unique threat. It’s particularly effective in battles where you need type coverage.
Mega Barbaracle (Rock/Fighting) Rock/Fighting typing gives Mega Barbaracle excellent coverage and new resistances. Its Attack gets a huge boost, and Defense jumps sharply, turning it into a dangerous physical tank. It uses its many arms to toy with opponents, keeping the head extremely busy. Stats: 72 HP / 140 Attack / 130 Defense / 64 Special Attack / 106 Special Defense / 88 Speed.
Mega Clefable (Fairy/Flying) It flies by using the power of moonlight to control gravity within a radius of over 32 feet around it! The addition of Flying type makes it even more versatile. Stats: 95 HP / 80 Attack / 93 Defense / 135 Special Attack / 110 Special Defense / 70 Speed.
Mega Victreebel (Grass/Poison) The volume of this Pokemon’s acid has increased due to Mega Evolution, filling its mouth. If it’s not careful, the acid will overflow. It maintains its Grass/Poison typing but gets significantly stronger.
Mega Starmie (Water/Psychic) Starmie’s already impressive Special Attack and Speed get pushed even higher in its Mega form, making it a dangerous sweeper.
Mega Froslass (Ice/Ghost) The Ice/Ghost combination remains one of the most interesting type pairings, and Mega Froslass makes excellent use of it with enhanced offensive capabilities.
Mega Skarmory (Steel/Flying) It flies faster than the speed of sound! After whipping up shock waves to send enemies flying, it finishes them off with its talons. It’s a fun physical attacker with good offensive presence.
Mega Chandelure (Ghost/Fire) Chandelure’s one eye becomes connected to the afterlife after Mega Evolution, which could be referred to as the “abyss.” It’s an incredibly powerful Special Attacker.
Mega Eternal Floette (Fairy) The Eternal Flower has absorbed all the energy from Mega Evolution. The flower now attacks enemies on its own! This is a special case since regular Floette never received distribution. Stats: 74 HP / 85 Attack / 87 Defense / 155 Special Attack / 148 Special Defense / 102 Speed.
Mega Zygarde (Dragon/Ground) Complete Forme Zygarde getting a Mega Evolution is absolutely insane. This legendary Pokemon becomes even more powerful, though I won’t spoil the exact details of its role in the story.
Mega Drampa (Normal/Dragon) The elderly dragon Pokemon gets a Mega form that enhances its already respectable stats and makes it an even better support Pokemon.
Mega Falinks (Fighting) Falinks is the only Galar Pokemon to receive a new Mega Evolution in the base game. It gets a strong buff to its physical stats, making the formation even more formidable.
While the new Megas are exciting, I can’t forget about the 34 returning Mega Evolutions that made their debut in previous generations. Having all of these classics back is fantastic for team building.
Mega Charizard X (Fire/Dragon) and Mega Charizard Y (Fire/Flying) – Both forms return, giving you options based on your playstyle. I personally prefer X for the Dragon typing.
Mega Beedrill (Bug/Poison) – Still one of the fastest and most aggressive Megas available.
Mega Pidgeot (Normal/Flying) – A solid choice with enhanced Special Attack.
Mega Alakazam (Psychic) – Remains a Special Attack powerhouse.
Mega Slowbro (Water/Psychic) – The defensive wall we all know and love.
Mega Gengar (Ghost/Poison) – Terrifyingly fast and powerful.
Mega Pinsir (Bug/Flying) – Gains Flying type and becomes much more viable.
Mega Kangaskhan (Normal) – Still incredibly strong, though the ability system changes affect it.
Mega Gyarados (Water/Dark) – The Dark type addition makes it even more threatening.
Mega Ampharos (Electric/Dragon) – One of my favorites, gaining Dragon typing is so cool.
Mega Steelix (Steel/Ground) – Becomes even more of a defensive behemoth.
Mega Scizor (Bug/Steel) – Reliable, powerful, and widely used in competitive play.
Mega Heracross (Bug/Fighting) – Gets a massive Attack boost.
Mega Houndoom (Dark/Fire) – Excellent Special Attacker with great typing.
Mega Tyranitar (Rock/Dark) – The pseudo legendary becomes even scarier.
Mega Sableye (Dark/Ghost) – Gains significantly better defensive capabilities.
Mega Gardevoir (Psychic/Fairy) – Beautiful design and powerful Special Attack. Plus, early purchase bonus gives you a Ralts with Gardevoirite!
Mega Aggron (Steel) – Loses its Rock typing, becoming pure Steel with massive Defense.
Mega Mawile (Steel/Fairy) – Deceptively powerful with huge Attack.
Mega Medicham (Fighting/Psychic) – Fast and hits incredibly hard.
Mega Manectric (Electric) – Great Speed and Special Attack.
Mega Camerupt (Fire/Ground) – Slow but extremely powerful Special Attacker.
Mega Altaria (Dragon/Fairy) – The fluffy cloud dragon gets even fluffier and gains Fairy typing.
Mega Banette (Ghost) – Enhanced Attack makes it a legitimate threat.
Mega Absol (Dark) – One of the coolest designs, period. Great mixed attacker.
Mega Salamence (Dragon/Flying) – The pseudo legendary becomes even more devastating.
Mega Metagross (Steel/Psychic) – Another pseudo legendary that becomes incredibly powerful.
Mega Lopunny (Normal/Fighting) – Gains Fighting type and becomes surprisingly viable in battle.
Mega Garchomp (Dragon/Ground) – The fan favorite pseudo legendary’s Mega form is powerful but slightly slower.
Mega Lucario (Fighting/Steel) – Enhanced stats across the board make it excellent.
Mega Abomasnow (Grass/Ice) – The Ice type specialist gets stronger but maintains its weaknesses.
Mega Gallade (Psychic/Fighting) – Gardevoir’s counterpart gets enhanced Attack.
Mega Audino (Normal/Fairy) – Gains Fairy typing and becomes a supportive powerhouse.
Let me break down how I obtained all my Mega Stones, because the system is a bit different from previous games.
Many Mega Stones are earned simply by playing through the main story. You’ll primarily get these by winning fights against Rogue Mega Evolutions these are basically boss battles where you face off against wild Mega evolved Pokemon.
During my playthrough, I fought a Rogue Mega Evolved Venusaur and received the Venusaurite after winning. However, I suspect this is influenced by your choice of second starter Pokemon. If you pick Bulbasaur as your second starter, you fight Rogue Mega Venusaur. Pick Squirtle, and you’ll likely face Rogue Mega Blastoise. Choose Charmander, and you could fight either Rogue Mega Charizard X or Y.
The corresponding Mega Stone for your first starter Pokemon’s final evolution is also automatically obtained through story progression:
Once you progress far enough in the story, various vendors around Lumiose City will sell Mega Stones. Make sure to check back with these vendors regularly as their inventory expands as you advance through the game.
This is where things get competitive. The Z-A Battle Club offers ranked battles, and reaching certain ranks rewards you with exclusive Mega Stones.
The big one right now is Greninjite you need to reach Rank K during Season 1 (which ends November 5th, 2025) to get it. This is currently the only way to obtain Mega Greninja, so if you want it, you’ll need to grind those ranked battles.
To access ranked battles, you need to:
If you purchase Pokemon Legends ZA before February 28, 2026, you can get a Ralts holding a Gardevoirite through the Mystery Gift function. Here’s how:
Level up your Ralts to evolve it into Kirlia, then Gardevoir. After you receive the Mega Ring through story progression, your Gardevoir can Mega Evolve!
The upcoming Mega Dimension DLC is going to add even more content to the game, and I’m incredibly excited about it. While there’s no release date yet, we know it’s coming sometime in 2026.
So far, we know about these new Mega Evolutions coming in the DLC:
Based on datamining and leaks, here are the rumored Mega Evolutions that might appear in the DLC:
The DLC is also supposed to bring roughly 135 returning Pokemon to Lumiose City, which would significantly expand the Pokedex. Keep in mind that Game Freak is treating Mega Evolutions as separate Pokedex entries, so the actual number of unique Pokemon species might be lower.
After extensive testing in both story battles and the Z-A Royale, here are my personal recommendations for the best Mega Evolutions to use:
Let me share some strategies I’ve developed while using Mega Evolutions throughout my playthrough.
Unlike in previous games, the timing of your Mega Evolution matters more in Legends ZA because of the real time combat system. I usually wait until:
Here’s a cool tip: in Battle Zones (which open up at night), you can actually sneak up on opponent trainers by clicking the left stick. If you attack their Pokemon while sneaking, it triggers a battle where there’s a short window where the other Pokemon can’t attack. This gives you a huge advantage, especially if you Mega Evolve right away.
Since Mega Evolution changes some Pokemon’s types, you need to think about team composition differently:
Don’t sleep on Mable’s Research Tasks! After meeting Mable, check the Research menu regularly. Complete tasks (usually involving catching specific Pokemon or types) to level up and receive powerful TMs. These TMs are crucial for teaching your Mega evolved Pokemon the moves they need to be effective.
Having played every Pokemon game since Red and Blue, I can confidently say that Legends ZA handles Mega Evolution better than any previous title. Here’s why:
The dodge mechanics and real time positioning make Mega Evolution feel more impactful. When you Mega Evolve in the middle of a battle, it’s not just a stat boost it changes how you physically approach the fight.
On Nintendo Switch 2, the Mega Evolution animations are absolutely stunning. The transformation sequences are detailed and unique for each Pokemon, and seeing them in the enhanced graphics of Lumiose City is incredible. (I’ll be honest though the base Switch version has significant pop in issues and framerate drops, so if you have access to a Switch 2, that’s definitely the way to go.)
Unlike X and Y where Mega Evolution felt somewhat tacked on, Legends ZA builds its entire narrative around this mechanic. The Rogue Mega Evolutions you fight as bosses, the Z-A Royale competition, and the overall story about urban renewal and Pokemon power all tie into Mega Evolution in meaningful ways.
The removal of abilities (which is controversial, I know) actually helps balance some of the previously overpowered Mega Evolutions. Mega Kangaskhan, for example, was broken in competitive play due to its Parental Bond ability. Without abilities, the Mega system feels more balanced overall.
Let me save you some frustration by pointing out mistakes I made during my playthrough:
Early on, I used some of my rarer Mega Stones on Pokemon I thought I’d use forever, only to catch better specimens later. Don’t make this mistake wait until you have Pokemon with good IVs (individual values) before committing your limited Mega Stones.
I cannot stress this enough when a Pokemon Mega Evolves and gains or changes types, its weaknesses and resistances change too! I embarrassingly sent out Mega Ampharos against a Fairy type, forgetting it had gained Dragon typing and took super effective damage.
Side quests in Lumiose City often reward you with rare items, including some Mega Stones. They’re worth doing for the rewards alone, plus they take you into Wild Areas where you can catch excellent Pokemon.
Even if you’re not typically into competitive play, you should at least try to reach Rank K in Season 1 for the Greninjite. Mega Greninja is too cool to miss out on, and the ranked system isn’t as intimidating as it might seem.
With Legends ZA bringing back Mega Evolution in such a big way, I’m hopeful this means we’ll see more of it in future Pokemon games. The TCG is already capitalizing on this with upcoming sets like Storm Emeralda featuring Mega Complete Zygarde ex, and Ninja Spinner headlining Mega Greninja ex.
The Mega Dimension DLC arriving in 2026 shows that Game Freak is committed to supporting this mechanic long term. If the leaked information is accurate, we could be looking at 16+ new Mega Evolutions in the DLC, which would bring the total to over 90 Mega forms!
Pokemon Legends ZA has rekindled my love for Mega Evolution in ways I didn’t expect. The combination of new Megas for Pokemon that desperately deserved them (looking at you, Dragonite and Greninja), the return of classics, and the engaging battle system centered around Lumiose City makes this one of the most enjoyable Pokemon experiences I’ve had in years.
The game scored 4.5/5 stars from TechRadar, with reviewers calling it “a mega evolution for the franchise.” I completely agree with that assessment. While there are some technical issues (especially on base Switch), and Lumiose City can feel a bit repetitive after extended play sessions, the core Mega Evolution gameplay is simply fantastic.
Whether you’re a competitive player grinding ranked battles for exclusive Mega Stones, a casual player enjoying the story and collecting your favorite Megas, or somewhere in between, Pokemon Legends ZA offers something special. The 26 new Mega Evolutions alone make this game worth experiencing, and knowing there’s more content coming in 2026 with the Mega Dimension DLC makes me excited for the future.
If you haven’t picked up Pokemon Legends ZA yet and you’re a fan of Mega Evolution, this is absolutely the game for you. Just remember save this page, because you’ll want to reference all these Mega Evolution details as you build your perfect team!
Have you tried Pokemon Legends ZA yet? Which Mega Evolution is your favorite? The variety of options means everyone can find something that fits their playstyle, and I’d love to hear which Megas you’ve been using in your playthrough!