Lumiose City is a mess. Not a literal mess—Quasartico, Inc. is doing a decent job with the urban redevelopment—but the competitive meta? That’s in absolute shambles. When Nintendo first teased the return of Mega Evolution for Pokémon Legends: Z-A, we all expected the classics. We thought, "Cool, I can use Mega Lucario again."
Nobody expected the Mega Dimension DLC to drop and completely rewrite the rulebook with over 40 new forms.
Honestly, the sheer scale of the new mega evolutions in Z-A feels like Game Freak finally took the handcuffs off. We aren't just getting one or two fan service picks. We’re seeing legitimate, "transcendental" power boosts for Pokémon that have been stuck in the "untouchable" tier for a decade. If you've been playing since the original X and Y in 2013, the nostalgia hit is real, but the mechanics are brand new.
The Starters Finally Got Their Crown
It always felt kinda weird that the Kalos starters—Chesnaught, Delphox, and Greninja—didn't have Megas in their own debut region. Legends: Z-A fixed that. These aren't just stat bumps; they are complete identity shifts.
Take Mega Delphox. It literally stands on its broom and hovers now. It’s got a Special Attack stat of 159 and a Speed of 134. That’s terrifying. It’s a Fire/Psychic glass cannon that actually has the speed to back it up. Then you’ve got Mega Chesnaught, which looks like it’s wearing a literal crown of shields. It’s the ultimate physical wall, boasting a 630 Base Stat Total (BST).
And yeah, Mega Greninja exists. No, it’s not just Battle Bond. It’s a full-blown Mega Evolution with 142 Speed. If you’re trying to outrun this thing in a Ranked Battle, good luck. You basically can’t unless you’re running Choice Scarf or a very specific priority move.
The Weird "Z" Forms and What They Mean
This is where things get slightly confusing but also incredibly cool. We're seeing a new naming convention: "Z" forms.
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We’ve already seen Mega Lucario and Mega Garchomp before, right? Well, Legends: Z-A introduced Mega Lucario Z and Mega Garchomp Z. These are separate from the original Megas. Think of them like the Charizard X and Y split, but tied specifically to the "Z" energy of the Kalos redevelopment.
- Mega Absol Z: It’s a Dark/Ghost type now. That’s a massive defensive upgrade over the pure Dark typing, giving it those crucial immunities.
- Mega Garchomp Z: Fans have complained for years that regular Mega Garchomp was actually worse than its base form because it lost speed. The Z version reportedly fixes this, though it’s exclusive to the Mega Dimension DLC.
- Mega Raichu X and Y: Raichu finally gets the Charizard treatment. Why? Because Raichu deserves it.
Unexpected Faces in the Mega Crowd
The most interesting part of the new roster isn't the legendaries. It's the "forgotten" Pokémon that suddenly became gods.
Mega Meganium is the big one. For years, Meganium was the "bad" Johto starter. Not anymore. It gains the Fairy typing and a Special Attack of 143. Its signature move, often called the Mega Sol Cannon, is basically a Solar Beam fired from four different flowers. It’s a Grass/Fairy powerhouse that finally rivals Venusaur and Sceptile.
Then you have Mega Scovillain. It’s the first time we’ve seen a Gen 9 Pokémon get a Mega in this game. It uses its "necktie" heads to wallop foes, and the power spike is noticeable. It’s chaotic, spicy, and exactly what the game needed.
A Quick Look at the Heavy Hitters
If you're planning your team for the Z-A Battle Club, you need to keep an eye on these specific stat monsters:
Mega Dragonite is arguably the new king of the skies. It has a BST of 700. Let that sink in. It’s a Special Attack-focused beast in its Mega form, which is a weird pivot from the physical Dragonite we’ve known for 30 years, but with 145 Special Attack, nobody is complaining.
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Mega Feraligatr also got a massive "glow up." It’s now a Water/Dragon type with a dinosaur-themed helm. It hits a 160 Physical Attack stat. If you let this thing get a Dragon Dance off, the match is basically over.
How to Actually Get the Stones
You can't just find these Mega Stones lying in the grass. Nintendo changed the grind. Most of the new stones, specifically for the Kalos starters, are locked behind Ranked Battles in the Z-A Battle Club.
- Chesnaughtite, Delphoxite, and Greninjite: These are promotion rewards. You have to actually climb the ranks online to unlock them.
- Sceptilite and others: These appear in seasonal rotations. For example, Season 5 (running through late January 2026) is the only way to grab the Sceptilite for now.
- DLC Exclusive Stones: If you want Mega Golisopod, Mega Baxcalibur, or the "Z" forms of Lucario and Garchomp, you must have the Mega Dimension DLC. They won't spawn in the base game's Lumiose City.
The Reality of the "Mega Dimension"
The DLC adds a "Dimensional Rift" storyline where Pokémon from alternate timelines are pulled into Lumiose. This is the lore-friendly way Game Freak is explaining why we're seeing Mega Evolutions for Pokémon like Mega Zeraora and Mega Magearna.
It’s a bit of a departure from the historical feel of Legends: Arceus, but it fits the "urban redevelopment" vibe of Z-A. The city isn't just being rebuilt; it's being experimented on.
Is it a bit overwhelming? Sorta. With over 40 new Megas, memorizing type changes is a nightmare. Mega Clefable is now Fairy/Flying. Mega Froslass is a terrifying Ice/Ghost sweeper with 120 Speed. Even Mega Eelektross exists now, keeping its Levitate ability but bumping its Special Attack to 135.
The strategy has shifted from "which Pokémon is strongest" to "which Mega fits my specific counter-meta."
Moving Forward in Lumiose
If you're just starting your journey in Legends: Z-A, don't rush into the DLC immediately. Get a feel for the real-time battle tweaks and the nightly Z-A Royale first. The competitive landscape in 2026 is faster than it’s ever been, and the "pre-emptive strike" mechanic means you can be stunned before you even send out your Mega.
Your priority list should look like this:
- Finish the main Quasartico questline to unlock full city access.
- Join the Z-A Battle Club early to start earning those starter Mega Stones.
- If you're a competitive player, prioritize getting Mega Excadrill (165 Attack is no joke) or Mega Starmie for its 120 Speed and 130 Special Attack.
The era of Mega Evolution isn't just back—it's been completely overhauled. Whether you're hunting for a Shiny Mega Greninja or just trying to survive the Ranked ladder, the "Z" energy has changed the game for good. Keep your eyes on the seasonal rewards, because once these stones rotate out, there’s no telling when they’ll be back.