Pokémon Legends: Z-A: Everything you need to know before release

We’ve not been back to Kalos in over a decade. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I took a break in the Black and White era for various life reasons, but Pokémon X and Y threw me right back in thanks to the first true 3D Pokémon experience.

Fast-forward to 2025 and Mega Evolutions returns in Pokémon Legends: Z-A for Nintendo Switch 1 and 2, and the hype for the games and trading card game couldn’t be any higher. If you want to see what the new era of Pokémon TCG looks like with Mega Evolution, my full review gives you just that and some deck building ideas.

Do you need to know global release times for Legends: Z-A? Maybe you’ve been living under a rock and are only just finding out about the latest Pokémon game and need more information? I’ve put all this information plus a full Pokédex list so you have all the information you need. Let’s get into it.

Legends: Z-A leaks and spoilers are in the wild

Pokémon Legends: Z-A officially leaked and was datamined on Oct. 12, just days before release. There’s all kind of information out there, but we won’t be sharing or leaking anything here. It looks like the leaks have come from a physical copy of the Switch 1 version that was sold early by a retailer.

It’s a good idea to take some precautions if you’re looking to have a surprise or 12 on release day. I’d recommend going onto your social media accounts such as X, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, and the like and muting “Pokémon Legends Z-A“, “Pokémon”, “Mega Evolution”, and “Mega” if you don’t wish to see anything early.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A global release dates and times

Nintendo has confirmed that Pokémon Legends: Z-A will follow the usual regional rollout at 12 a.m. local time in most regions. In North America, however, the game launches based on ET, meaning players on the West Coast can start early on Oct. 15. Here’s the full schedule for those who have pre-ordered the game digitally. For physical copies, most retailers deliver the day before or on release day:

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025

• 12 a.m. EDT — New York

• 12 a.m. BRT — São Paulo

• 12 a.m. BST — London

• 12 a.m. CEST — Paris, Rome, Berlin

• 12 a.m. EEST — Istanbul

• 12 a.m. UTC+5:30 — New Delhi

• 12 a.m. ICT — Hanoi

• 12 a.m. HKT — Hong Kong

• 12 a.m. CST — Beijing

• 12 a.m. JST — Tokyo

• 12 a.m. AEST — Sydney

No matter where you live, the wait will end at midnight on Oct. 16 or a few hours earlier if you’re in the U.S. The official line is a release date of Oct. 15, 2025 on Nintendo Switch 1 and 2.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A preload information and file size

Digital preloads have already gone live via Nintendo eShop, with trainers needing 4.1GB of free space on Nintendo Switch 1 and 7.7GB for Switch 2, although this may increase if there’s a day one patch for whatever reason. We’re also not sure about the file size for the Mega Dimension DLC, which will release at a later date this year.

New mechanics and Mega Evolutions

Legends: Arceus focused on trainers roaming a zoned open world, but Legends: Z-A focuses on an expanded Luminose City in the Kalos region. It looks like it’s set some time after Pokémon X and Y, and introduces real-time battles over the standard turn-based RPG mechanics Pokémon is known for.

What does that mean? Well, it means you’ll be commanding Pokémon on the fly, with status moves working to turn the tide of battle in real-time for an extra layer of strategy layered on top-of stat changes. Attacks now have cooldowns, adding more of an angle towards quick thinking and setting your Pokémon up for a win.

Mega Evolution has returned, but it’s different. Now Mega Evolution is tied to a timer bar, which can be extended by collecting Mega Energy during raids and battles. Trainers will be happy with catching mechanics returning from Legends: Arceus, throwing Pokéballs to catch Pokémon outside of battle etc. Here’s some more changes that make Legends: Z-A the biggest switch-up to the Pokémon formula since generation one:

• Z-A Royale: Trainers are free to explore Luminose City during the day to catch, evolve, complete research tasks on Pokémon and, of course, progress the main story. At night, the city turns into a battle ground called the Z-A Royale. It’s an all out battle to climb the ranks from Z to A, with gym-leader-like landmarks battles throughout.

• Rogue Pokémon Encounters: Rogue Events are a good way to catch strong and sometimes Mega Evolved Pokémon throughout the day in Luminose City. Much like Scarlet and Violet and Sword and Shield, a team of four is required to take down these extra-strong Pokémon, serving as “Boss battles” in-game.

• Districts and Factions: Luminose is now split into various districts that are designed to integrate wild Pokémon into city life, which trainers can upgrade and unlock over time by increasing faction reputations like tech corporations and street performers. These choice also affect how the main story progresses, shop access, and Mega Evolution Research.

• Mega Research: Mega Stones are now locked behind research missions, hitting new tiers and completing battle trials. This in turn will grant new permissions (Mega Stones) from Professor Mable. And yes, that’s ex-team Flare Mable from X and Y.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Mega Dimension DLC

Years after the events in Pokémon X and Y, Luminose City in undergoing renovation and innovations following the destruction of Team Flare. Whilst improvements are planned, the good will behind integrating Pokémon into living in-city alongside humans and cutting edge technology might not seem as harmonious as it seems.

We’ve got the immortal and great War-ender AZ running hotel Z alongside his legendary Florette, which should serve as a nice redemption arc and a base hub for Pokémon trainers. Meanwhile, Quasartico Inc. is pushing for agressive urban renewal, and the mysterious Rust Syndicate runs the city’s underground, which should see Quasartico’s leader Jett and Rust Syndicates Corbeau clashing with trainers stuck in the middle of it all.

In terms of the Mega Dimension DLC, this will be end-game content that looks to focus on dimensional travel and access to brand new Mega Evolutions such as Raichu X and Y. Hoopa’s portal rings have been show in-game to drag Pokémon from across time and space, which made for one of the best post-game storylines in Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby. So it’s very possible that we’ll be dealing with multiple dimensions, timelines, and brand new Mega Evolutions. Anything is possible.

New and returning starter Pokémon

Whilst the original Kalosian starter Pokémon will be available in game (Froakie, Fennikin, and Chespin), trainers will start with either Chikorita or Tottodile from generation one or Tepig for Generation five. Given that generation one and three starter Pokémon have Mega Evolution forms, it seems all but confirmed that they will be available in-game, although Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Charmander, Trekko, Mudkip, and Torchic have not been officially revealed at the time of writing. It was also possible to unlock starter Pokémon from all previous generation in X and Y, so hopefully this trend will continue.

Legends: Z-A Pokédex (confirmed Pokémon)

Below is the full alphabetical list of confirmed Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, along with notes on their known or returning Mega Evolutions. Just to confirm, we won’t be covering or speculating on leaks, so this is the official list so far:

• Abomasnow — Mega Abomasnow confirmed

• Absol — Mega Absol confirmed

• Aerodactyl — Mega Aerodactyl confirmed

• Aggron — Mega Aggron confirmed

• Aegislash

• Alakazam — Mega Alakazam confirmed

• Altaria — Mega Altaria confirmed

• Ampharos — Mega Ampharos confirmed

• Arbok

• Ariados

• Aron

• Audino — Mega Audino confirmed

• Avalugg (Hisuian form available via Pokémon Home)

• Banette — Mega Banette confirmed

• Bagon

• Barbaracle

• Bayleef

• Beedrill — Mega Beedrill confirmed

• Bellsprout

• Bergmite

• Binacle

• Beldum

• Buneary

• Budew

• Bunnelby

• Camerupt — Mega Camerupt confirmed

• Chandelure

• Charizard — Mega Charizard X & Y confirmed

• Charmander

• Charmeleon

• Chikorita

• Clauncher

• Clawitzer

• Klefki

• Croconaw

• Dedenne

• Diglett

• Diggersby

• Doublade

• Dragalge

• Dragonair

• Dragonite

• Dratini

• Eevee

• Electrike

• Emboar

• Emolga

• Espeon

• Espurr

• Feraligatr

• Fletchinder

• Fletchling

• Flabebe

• Flareon

• Floette (Eternal Flower Floette appears in main story)

• Florges

• Furfrou

• Gabite

• Garchomp — Mega Garchomp confirmed

• Gardevoir — Mega Gardevoir confirmed

• Garbodor

• Gengar — Mega Gengar confirmed

• Gible

• Glaceon

• Gogoat

• Goodra (Hisuian form available via Pokémon Home)

• Goomy

• Gourgeist

• Hawlucha

• Heliolisk

• Helioptile

• Herdier

• Hippopotas

• Hippowdon

• Honedge

• Hoopa — Possible Mega or alternate form teased in DLC trailer

• Houndoom — Mega Houndoom confirmed

• Houndour

• Inkay

• Jolteon

• Kangaskhan — Mega Kangaskhan confirmed

• Klefki

• Krokorok

• Krookodile

• Lairon

• Lampent

• Larvitar

• Leafeon

• Litwick

• Litleo

• Lopunny — Mega Lopunny confirmed

• Lucario — Mega Lucario confirmed

• Lumineon

• Machamp

• Machoke

• Machop

• Magikarp

• Malamar

• Manectric — Mega Manectric confirmed

• Mareep

• Mawile — Mega Mawile confirmed

• Medicham — Mega Medicham confirmed

• Meditite

• Meganium

• Metagross — Mega Metagross confirmed

• Metang

• Meowstic

• Noibat

• Noivern

• Numel

• Onix

• Pancham

• Pangoro

• Panpour

• Pansage

• Pansear

• Patrat

• Pichu

• Pikachu

• Pinsir — Mega Pinsir confirmed

• Pidgeot — Mega Pidgeot confirmed

• Pidgeotto

• Pidgey

• Pignite

• Pumpkaboo

• Pupitar

• Pyroar

• Raichu — Mega Raichu X & Y confirmed (Mega Dimension DLC)

• Ralts

• Riolu

• Roselia

• Roserade

• Rotom

• Sableye — Mega Sableye confirmed

• Salamence — Mega Salamence confirmed

• Sandile

• Scrafty

• Scraggy

• Scizor — Mega Scizor confirmed

• Scyther

• Shuppet — Mega Banette confirmed through Shuppet line

• Simipour

• Simisage

• Simisear

• Skiddo

• Skrelp

• Sliggoo (Hisuian form available via Pokémon Home)

• Slowbro — Mega Slowbro confirmed

• Slowking — Galarian form via Pokémon Home

• Slowpoke — Galarian form via Pokémon Home

• Slurpuff

• Snover

• Spewpa

• Spinarak

• Spritzee

• Starmie

• Staryu

• Steelix — Mega Steelix confirmed

• Stoutland

• Swablu

• Swirlix

• Talonflame

• Tepig

• Totodile

• Trubbish

• Tyranitar — Mega Tyranitar confirmed

• Umbreon

• Vaporeon

• Victreebel

• Vivillon

• Watchog

• Weedle

• Weepinbell

• Zygarde (10%, 50%, and Complete forms confirmed)

(Additional Mega Evolutions may be announced in future updates or DLC expansions.)