Pokemon Legends: Z-A will launch in a tad less than three months now, and while many details remain to be confirmed, there have been a plethora of rumors and leaks surrounding the game in the past few months, with a lot of them coming from the infamous "TeraLeak." As much as there have been various leaks regarding the Mega Evolutions in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, it was all but confirmed that the game would include new ones from the moment the Mega Evolution symbol was shown in the reveal trailer. After all, Mega Evolutions are one of the most beloved parts of the entire series. Based on the leaks, one Mega's new type could be a double-edged sword.
Both in Gen 6 games and the remakes of Gen 3 games that came after, Mega Evolutions were a big part of the experience, and some of them included a different type combination or an entirely new secondary type for the critters. For example, Mega Altaria is still the only Dragon/Fairy critter in the whole series, and it's tied to a gimmick. Some of the new Megas in Pokemon Legends: Z-A will have different type combinations than their base forms, and that includes the iconic Gen 1 critter, Clefable.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A's Mega Feraligatr May Not Move The Needle Like You Think
Pokemon Legends: Z-A will allegedly include a new Mega Evolution for Feraligatr, but it may not be as impactful as one would think.
Why Pokemon Legends: Z-A's Mega Clefable May Be a Double-Edged Sword
Pokemon Legends: Z-A's Mega Clefable will allegedly be Fairy/Flying rather than just a Fairy-type mon, and it will gain a little cap and big wings. Normally, Clefable is a relatively bulky Pokemon considering it's a Stage 1 and its base stat total is 483, compared to 500-600 of some of the best pocket monsters in the games. Its new Mega, if true, will make it potentially stronger offensively thanks to STAB moves for Flying, but it may require a balancing act when it comes to its defensive capabilities and how the Mega Evolution is used, strategically.
Fairy is one of the best types in Pokemon games, and there are significant differences to its defensive status when paired with Flying. Currently, there are only three Fairy/Flying Pokemon in the series, with them being:
- Togetic
- Togekiss
- Enamorus
|
Type Combination |
Weaknesses |
Resistances |
Offensive |
|
Fairy |
2x vs. Poison and Steel |
0.5x vs. Fighting, Bug, and Dark, and 0x vs. Dragon |
2x vs. Fighting, Dragon, and Dark, and 0.5x vs. Poison, Steel, and Fire |
|
Fairy/Flying |
2x vs. Poison, Steel, Rock, Electric, and Ice |
0.5x vs. Grass and Dark, 0.25x vs. Fighting and Bug, and 0x vs. Ground and Dragon |
2x vs. Fighting, Bug, Grass, Dragon, and Dark, and 0.5x vs. Steel |
The main differences between Fairy and Fairy/Flying types are that the latter gains STAB Flying moves, an immunity to Ground moves, and a resistance to Grass, but it also gains a weakness against Rock, Electric, and Ice. It's a fair tradeoff, but it can be a blessing just as much as it can be a curse. Rock and Electric are very common offensive types, so being weak to them is not great. However, resisting Grass and being immune to Ground is a big upgrade, and Flying moves would also allow Mega Clefable to hit Poison and Fire for 1x damage.
Why Mega Clefable May Be Hit or Miss in PLZA
As such, there is not one definitive way for Mega Clefable to be much better or worse than the original, and it can come down to how the Mega Evolution is used and what kind of trainers are found in Pokemon Legends: Z-A's battle royale mode. Another part of the puzzle that is currently missing is how its stats may change and what kind of moves it may gain access to, as STAB Flying can be powerful, but several Flying moves are mediocre. Fans will have to wait and see, but at the very least, Mega Clefable shouldn't be a bad addition to most teams.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 79 /100 Critics Rec: 66%
- Released
- October 16, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak, Creatures Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
