Pokémon Legends: Z-A features over 25 new mega evolutions, but some are much better than others.
There’s a lot I like about Pokémon Legends: Z-A, but my favorite part is that it brings mega evolutions back to the series. Introduced in Pokémon X and Y, the battle gimmick has always been one of the series’ brightest innovations. It doesn’t just change the dynamics of battle, but gives Game Freak and The Pokémon Company a chance to refresh old favorite monsters in unique ways. I’ve long been frustrated at its absence from the series since, but the feature is now back with a bang.
What makes that even more exciting is the fact that Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces 26 entirely new mega evolutions, giving new forms to old favorites like Dragonite and total weirdos like Dragalge. But not all makeovers are for the best, and Z-A contains an equal helping of glow-ups and cosmic horrors never before seen by God or man. After spending dozens of hours studying the new monsters in Lumiose City, here’s how they stack up against one another.
26. Mega Starmie
They gave Starmie legs. Why did they give Starmie legs? David Cronenberg-ass body horror monstrosity. Summa Cum Laude graduate of the Ministry of Silly Walks. A SpongeBob SquarePants gag run amok. I detest this abomination to Monkind with my whole heart. I will dedicate my life to hunting it down, like Van Helsing.
25. Mega Scrafty
I’m just going to call a spade a spade: bro got toilet papered. The Pokédex entry explains that the white cloth around its body is actually skin that’s been shedded, but you’re not fooling me. This sucker got hazed by the local high school football team. With a hood of TP covering up his rebellious mohawk, Mega Scrafty is a poster child for bullying.
24. Mega Pyroar
One of my least favorite mega evolution design philosophies is “the same Pokémon, but a little more.” Sometimes it works (as you’ll see later on this list), but other times it just feels like the designers couldn’t quite think of a good idea and called it a day. Mega Pyroar is a peak example of the latter. The only difference between the base and mega form of the fire lion is that its mane gets bigger. Big whoop buddy, I can do that too by not getting a haircut for a few months. Learn how to jump through a hoop or something.
23. Mega Skarmory
Skarmory is one of those forgotten Pokémon that has an iconic design that I’ll stand by. The idea of a steel bird is neat, and Skarmory delivers on that promise with its sharp wings and fierce demeanor. Mega Skarmory is just the same thing but painted gold. There’s no apparent justification for the color change, as its Pokédex entry makes no mention of its alloy change at all. It’s as tacky as an Oval Office vanity makeover.
22. Mega Feraligatr
The idea here is that Feraligatr, known for its powerful jaws, gets a giant hood over its head that forms a bigger set of teeth when closed. It’s a great idea on paper, and looks great at the right angle, but most of the time it looks like Feralgatr has a really big hat that awkwardly looms over its head. Not exactly fashionable for a Lumiose City resident.
21. Mega Greninja
This is not a mega evolution. Dude is just upside down. You are not fooling me.
20. Mega Chesnaught
It’s not that there’s anything wrong with Mega Chesnaught’s perfectly fine design; it’s just that it’s a lateral move for him. The grass starter already has a fairly cool design, with his spikes and armored shell. The mega version changes some shapes and makes those spikes a bit pointier, but it’s more like when a Marvel superhero gets a slight costume tweak between movies to justify a new run of toys.
19. Mega Eternal Floette
Okay look, Mega Eternal Floette is perfectly fine. The sight of a tiny little fairy with an enormous flower that attacks enemies on its own is very funny. But I simply can’t get over the fact that it looks like said flower is attached to it via umbilical cord. Maybe this is my own personal hang-up here and I need to get over it, but I can’t unsee it. I’m sorry.
18. Mega Malamar
I’m a Malamar hater through and through. The psychic/dark creature has always made me a little uncomfortable for reasons I can’t quite put my finger on. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s a sea monster with a beak, for some reason. I know squids have beaks in real life, but that just ain’t right and you can’t convince me otherwise. Mega Malamar’s body is definitely a step up with its ribbon-like limbs and its bright rainbow colors. But also, it does look like Megamind, from the 2010 Dreamworks film Megamind.
