Pokemon fans are still eagerly awaiting news about Pokemon Legends: Z-A and its new and returning Mega Evolutions. New leaks have suggested that all previous Mega Evolutions will return with the exception of three standout Pokemon. While potentially upsetting, Pokemon Legends: Z-A leaving these three out might be for very particular reasons.
With Pokemon Legends: Z-A officially slated for an October release date, interest in the new title has been reignited. In the midst of the discussions about what to expect, a new leak has surfaced stating that not only will the game feature new Mega Evolutions, but that almost all the existing ones will return as well. While this rumor does seem to be supported by the new Mega Evolution art released featuring some of the most popular existing transformations, this is still just a rumor, so all potential news should be taken with a grain of salt. If true though, it seems that Pokemon Legends: Z-A will be excluding Mega Latios, Latias, and Rayquaza from the feature's return.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A Art Reveals Returning Fan Favorite Character from X and Y
With the recent reveal of Pokemon Legends: Z-A's official box art, some fans seem to have spotted another returning character from the Gen 6 games.
Hoenn’s Legendary Mega Evolutions May be Out of Place in Kalos
Mega Latios, Latias, and Rayquaza are some of the only Pokemon tied to major story events within the games they originated from. In Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, the events of the original Generation 3 games are expanded to focus on Mega Evolution, and as such, needed story beats that introduced and made use of the mechanic. Latios and Latias even bore a double purpose in the remake, allowing players to soar over the Hoenn region in a way they never could before, and never have since. In the game, Steven Stone, the Hoenn champion, appears to assist the player in catching either Latios or Latias. He will gift them with the Mega Bracelet and Mega Stone needed to Mega Evolve their newly captured legendary Pokemon, as well as provide them with a message about the powerful bond that trainers need to bring out their Pokemon's new power.
Both the soaring mechanic and the meaningful connection with Steven are important moments in those games, and for those Pokemon, but Legends: Z-A has other mechanics and creatures that it wants to focus on. While any missing Mega Evolutions could disappoint fans, Latios and Latias represent a mechanic that this game doesn't have, so cutting them means the developers don't need to worry about including that extra mechanic in a game that it wasn't built for.
Just like Latios and Latias, Mega Rayquaza also holds unbreakable ties to Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. The player first encounters Rayquaza at the culmination of the Delta Episode, the postgame finale of Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Throughout the Delta Episode, the player learns the story of Rayquaza and the Draconids, an ancient sect from Hoenn who worked with Dragon-type Pokemon and worshiped Rayquaza after witnessing it save the world from the destruction of Primal Groudon and Kyogre.
It becomes clear that only Zinnia, the Lorekeeper who was descended from the Draconids, had the power to summon Rayquaza when its help was needed again. With this type of revelation sending Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire off with such a strong ending, allowing Rayquaza and its Mega form to be summoned by someone else in Legends: Z-A could risk cheapening a story that players love. This loss might be difficult for certain players, especially since Rayquaza has one of the best designed Mega Evolutions, but hopefully new megas will become just as loved.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A Should Retain Its Own Identity
There are still several questions surrounding Pokemon Legends: Z-A, such as which new Mega Evolutions could appear, what the story will look like, and how the new battle system might affect gameplay. Each of these is an important element of the game’s identity and will play a major role in how it is received upon launch. While many fans are excited about the new features teased for Pokemon Legends: Z-A, it may be disheartening to hear that some old favorites might be left out. It’s important to remember, though, that Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire also had their own identities, some of which were tied directly to how players were able to catch and Mega Evolve Latios, Latias, and Rayquaza. Pokemon Legends: Z-A has its own story to tell, and needs to stand on its own feet in order to do so.
All of this information is still just speculation at the moment, but fans can likely expect some news about Megas in July’s Pokemon Presents. With the October release of Pokemon Legends: Z-A, it is believed that this presentation will focus heavily on the upcoming title, which will release on both the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.
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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
