Pokemon Legends: Z-A is Finally Redeeming One of the Worst…

With the sheer number of Pokemon there are in the titular franchise, there's bound to be a few that slip through the cracks and avoid recognition. For example, there are those who might question why some single-form creatures get no attention from Game Freak when it's time to expand a region's Pokedex. After many years waiting in the wings, Hawlucha is getting attention in Pokemon Legends: Z-A. It may not be the most forgotten creature of the series, but it's certainly been crying out for more depth for a while.

Introduced in Generation 6, the Wrestling Pokemon has had no evolutions or forms to its name for the last 12 years. Yet, it's been consistently seen in almost every mainline title since its introduction, even after the National Dex was cut from the games. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet might have damaged the luchador bird's reputation for some players, though, as it can be encountered in many locations where it'll chase and scream at the player. Pokemon Legends: Z-A does what other games could not and brings Hawlucha's history full circle.

How Hawlucha is Getting a Deserved Redemption Arc in Pokemon Legends: Z-A

After so long of being included in adventures across many different regions, the return to Kalos marks Hawlucha's Mega Evolution. This decision is especially prominent as Mega Diancie is the only other Mega from Pokemon's Generation 6 so far. It keeps its typing when it transforms, but it earns what one might call a secondary mask in a way that makes it truly look like a masked wrestler.

If recent leaks are to be believed, then Mega Hawlucha and Mega Diancie won't be the only Generation 6 Megas added in Pokemon Legends: Z-A.

Not much is known about Mega Hawlucha yet beyond Pokedex entries on the official Pokemon Legends: Z-A website. However, the flavor text mentions that the transformation raises its Attack and Defense. It's reasonable to believe that these Pokedex entries are accurate, but there's no idea just how high its stats will be adjusted.

There may be a chance that Hawlucha's stats are raised high enough to where it'll be competitively viable in Pokemon Champions when it releases sometime next year. How Mega Hawlucha will stack up depends on many factors both within Pokemon Champions and Legends: Z-A.

Why Mega Hawlucha is Already a Big Fan Favorite

mega hawlucha pokemon legends z-a screenshot

The recent announcement of Mega Hawlucha has made these fans come out and rejoice in droves, and the Mega highlights it even more strongly than its original design did. Others are just happy that Mega Hawlucha broke the ongoing streak of only Kanto Pokemon getting Mega forms. As a result, Mega Hawlucha already has a sort of heroic perception with fans, which is the polar opposite of how it may have been perceived before and could be just the redemption arc it needs.

This new transformation not only highlights how long it's been since Pokemon X and Y, but also how far Hawlucha's come since its first reveal. Some veteran Pokemon players may remember tilting their heads when seeing the Wrestling Pokemon in Kalos, of all places.

Rather, Hawlucha's presence in Kalos strongly represents that the sport of masked wrestling actually started in France, despite how luchadors are the more popular variation of the sport. In that sense, there might have been no other game to give Hawlucha another evolution than Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Hopefully Mega Hawlucha is a sign that other single-stage Pokemon will have their time to shine in the future.

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