Anticipation forPokemon Legends: Z-Ais building alongside speculation about the reintroduction of the Mega Evolution mechanic in the upcoming game’s return to the Kalos region. Paired with the topic of which starters will appear in the game, the prospect of new Megas offers the chance for a long-awaited adjustment to take place when it comes to the legacy of Gen 6. When it comes to the Mega Evolutions that could appear inPokemon Legends: Z-A, it would be best to avoid repeating history by favoring one member of the region’s starter trio over the rest.
An assortment of starters from different regions set the stage with theirHisuian forms inPokemon Legends: Arceus, but it’s unclear whether that game’s successor will follow the same precedent due to its seemingly more modern Kalos. Regardless of which starters are chosen, the original trio of Kalos starters are still likely to appear due to this. If they receive Megas, however, the preferential treatment that Greninja has received over Delphox and Chesnaught needs to be made up for with adequate boosts in power.
Greninja Has Fallen into the Pokemon Trope of Overshadowing Its Fellow Starters
The Overpowered Reputation of Protean
When it debuted inX and Y, Greninja became a competitive powerhouse due to its hidden ability, Protean, which changes the user’s type to make every single move receive STAB (same type attack bonus). The versatility of being able to subvert the type-matchup chart while getting improved damage led to a ban in theSmogonPokemoncommunity’s Uber tierin Gen 6. This ability alone allows the mon to still remain decent while its counterparts have just fallen into obscurity through being outperformed in their niches.
Anime Popularity and Ash-Greninja
As one ofAsh’s most iconicPokemonanime partners, Greninja rose to a status that no other Pokemon has earned when it was given the Battle Bond ability and transformation in Gen 7. The Ash-Greninja form only continued to make the Pokemon disproportionately powerful in a given playthrough even without Protean, and Froakie was freely given to players along with the Gen 7 starters in an act of favoritism to the Kalos starter. This has since placed Greninja in a similar spot to Charizard and Blaziken as a starter who has appeared in more media in general, but the return to Kalos could redeem the Fennekin and Chespin lines with new forms too.
Mega Evolutions for the Kalos Starter Trio in Pokemon Legends: ZA Can Finally Equalize their Statuses
Making Up for Lost Time in the Greater Franchise
As their profiles have decreased over the years, the Kalos starter evolutions have largely been replaced in status by the subsequent starters of the three generations that have come since. If theyreceive Mega Evolutions inPokemon Legends: Z-A, however, they can finally get the treatment they deserve since only Greninja was given a special form. The main risk would be making Mega Greninja too prevalent once again by allowing it to have a better ability like Protean. However, if Mega Delphox and Mega Chesnaught also receive their own new abilities which also challenge the mechanics of the game, they could secure popular positions as top-tier starter Pokemon.
It’s not out of the question that aMega Greninja inPokemon Legends: Z-Acould remain powerful by simply keeping Protean with boosted stats, but abilities for its counterparts would need to support their own appropriate niches. It would take entirely new abilities to truly match how Protean was introduced, but thematically appropriate ideas similar to it could serve to vastly elevate the Kalos starter Megas. Some potential abilities that could accomplish this task include:
Pokemon Legends: Z-A
WHERE TO PLAY
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is an ambitious new entry to the Pokémon video game series, releasing simultaneously worldwide in 2025. A new adventure awaits within Lumiose City, where an urban redevelopment plan is underway to shape the city into a place that belongs to both people and Pokémon.
