So, you’ve probably seen that little "+" icon flickering next to your Pikachu’s Thunderbolt and wondered if it’s just some visual glitch or a fancy way of saying "this hits harder." Honestly, if you’re coming from Scarlet and Violet or the old-school turn-based games, plus moves legends za are going to feel like a total curveball. It’s not just a damage buff. It’s the entire backbone of how you survive in Lumiose City without getting flattened by a Rogue Mega Evolution.
Basically, the game is real-time now. Forget waiting your turn; if you stand still, you’re toast. Plus Moves are the secret sauce that makes non-Mega Pokémon actually viable when you're staring down a boss that looks like it wants to eat your Nintendo Switch for breakfast.
What Are plus moves legends za Anyway?
In the simplest terms possible, a Plus Move is a "Mastered" version of an attack that consumes one bar of your Mega Gauge to execute. You might think, "Wait, why would I waste my Mega energy on a regular move when I could just Mega Evolve?"
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Good question.
First off, not every Pokémon can Mega Evolve. If you’re rocking a Luxray or a Dragonite, you’re stuck in your base form. Plus Moves give those "normal" guys a fighting chance. They deal roughly 25% more damage, sure, but the real kicker is how they interact with defenses. If an enemy uses Protect or Detect, a Plus Move will punch right through it, dealing chip damage instead of being totally blocked. It’s a lot like how Z-Moves worked back in the day, but way more integrated into the flow of combat.
How to actually get them
You don't just start with these. You’ve got to put in the work.
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- Leveling Up: This is the natural way. Usually, about 5 to 10 levels after a Pokémon learns a move, they’ll "Master" it. You’ll see a little notification on the screen—don’t ignore it.
- Seeds of Mastery: If you’re impatient (like me) or using TM moves, you need these items. You get them from beating Alpha Pokémon.
- The Justice Dojo: Look for a girl named Josée in the south side of the Dojo. She’s the one in the white gi with the red headband. Give her a Seed, and she’ll instantly upgrade a move to its Plus version.
Why the Mega Gauge Matters
You’ve got four bars in your Mega Gauge. Activating a Plus Move by tapping the + button on your controller eats one bar.
It’s a risk-reward thing. Do you spam four powered-up moves right now to finish the fight? Or do you save that energy to trigger a full Mega Evolution later? If you do Mega Evolve, here’s the cool part: all of your moves automatically become Plus Moves for the duration of the evolution. You don’t even have to press the button. They just hit harder, go faster, and look cooler by default.
The "Hidden" Speed Mechanic
Most people think Plus Moves just move the damage slider up. They don't realize it also fixes "charge" moves. In the new real-time system, moves like Solar Beam usually require a long "live charge" where you're just standing there like a target.
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If you use the Plus version? Boom. Instant fire.
Mega Venusaur and Mega Meanium are absolute monsters because of this. They don't have to wait. They just cycle through beams like they’re in a Michael Bay movie.
Strategy for the Mega Dimension DLC
When the Mega Dimension DLC dropped in December 2025, it added a ton of new moves to the pool. If you're playing the ranked seasons (we're currently in Season 5 as of early 2026), you’ll notice that Steel types are everywhere. Melmetal and Magearna are currently dominating the meta.
If you’re running Magearna, you basically have to use Plus Moves for its beam attacks. It cuts down the animation frames, making it way harder for your opponent to dodge. In a real-time environment, travel time is everything. A move that hits 25% harder is great, but a move that hits 25% faster is what actually wins games.
Don't sleep on Alpha Pokémon
If you catch an Alpha Pokémon out in the wild zones, they come with their moves already Mastered. It saves you a massive amount of grinding at the Dojo. Honestly, I’ve stopped teaching TMs to my regular team members unless I have a stack of Seeds of Mastery ready to go. A regular TM move feels like a wet noodle compared to a Plus Move in the late-game boss fights.
Pro Tips for Mastery
Stop thinking like a turn-based player. This is an action RPG.
- Check the Icons: Look for the circle with a dot. That means Super Effective. If you pair a Super Effective hit with a Plus Move, the damage multiplier is disgusting.
- Manage Your Bars: Don't just spam the + button. If you're at 10% HP, save that energy for a Mega Evolution to get the stat boost and potentially turn the tide.
- The Dojo Unlock: You can’t even use this mechanic until you get the Mega Ring from AZ during the main story. If you’re wondering why the + button isn't doing anything, you probably haven't fought the Rogue Mega Absol yet.
Get your team to the Justice Dojo. Check your inventory for Seeds of Mastery. If you have a favorite move like Thunderbolt or Surf that you use 90% of the time, make it a Plus Move immediately. It’s the difference between a struggle and a sweep.