Pokemon fans finally know what Legends: Z-A gameplay changes and all the ways it’s different from Legends: Arceus.
Between Pokemon Day 2025 and the surprise Nintendo Direct event, there’s been a lot to talk about when it comes to the next big Pokemon game release. While it was announced during Pokemon Day 2024, neither Game Freak nor Nintendo had anything to say about Pokemon Legends: Z-A for a full year. But with two trailers in consecutive months, players know what’s on tap for possibly the last AAA Nintendo Switch release.
The Pokemon series has transformed in recent years and the next game is set to be the biggest demonstration of that. Here’s how Pokemon Legends: Z-A is different from Legends: Arceus, and what it changes over the previous game.
Everything new and different in Pokemon Legends: Z-A
Pokemon Legends: Z-A changes many of the core gameplay mechanics relative to Legends: Arceus. Outside the ability to catch Pokemon without initiating battle, there are few similarities between the two games.
New Lumiose City, new story
Pokemon Legends: Z-A is set to be a direct sequel to Pokemon X and Y, bringing players back to Lumiose City. The city is modeled after Paris, France but felt quite small in the classic 3DS games. That changes here, with the city looking to offer the same sprawling, open-world gameplay fans can expect from modern Pokemon games.
As a direct sequel to X and Y, Pokemon Legends: Z-A also has a new story that ties into the 3DS games. It’s unclear how intertwined the stories will be, but the former king of Kalos AZ is set to return alongside his signature Floette.
Brand new battle system
There’s a brand new battle system awaiting players in Pokemon Legends: Z-A.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus introduced a new battle system that transformed the game’s turn order system. Things are going a step further here, though. Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s battle system goes in a different direction by dropping turn-based battling.
Pokemon move around a battlefield, with each of their moves having a cooldown. Each move also has a different effect, with Stealth Rock setting up what is effectively a series of landmines across the battlefield. This makes for should be a brand-new Pokemon experience.
Mega evolution returns
Mega evolution is set to return to Pokemon in Legends: Z-A for the first time since Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. Many existing mega evolutions are confirmed to return, including Lucario, Gardevoir, Sableye, and Gallade.
Odds are that many new mega evolutions will be added to the game. Numerous Pokemon strangely lacked mega evolutions in Pokemon X and Y including the Kalos starters, Zygarde, Yveltal, and Xerneas. These Pokemon, alongside the game’s starters, would be the most logical candidates to receive new mega evolutions.
Trainer battles are a big part of the game
Trainer battles were a rarity in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, but Z-A changes that by making them a major component of progression.
Legends: Arceus had some memorable trainer battles, most notably the epic showdown with Volo and Giratina. The core gameplay revolved around the survival elements and construction of the first Pokedex, though.
The new Lumiose City will put trainer battles back in the spotlight, with some key differences from mainline titles. Instead of progressing through gym badges, players climb a ladder from a Z-rank trainer up to the A tier. This system is more akin to the Pokemon Journeys anime series than anything seen in the games thus far.
