The long-awaited Mega Evolutions for Generation 6 starters Delphox, Chesnaught, and Greninja were finally revealed during a recent Nintendo Direct, but fans were divided after learning they will be locked behind Pokemon Legends Z-A’s competitive mode.
Mega Evolutions were first introduced in Pokemon X and Y twelve years ago, quickly becoming one of the franchise’s most popular battle mechanics. However, despite the feature’s central role, the Kalos starters were notably excluded from the roster of Pokemon that received Mega forms.
While Megas have appeared sporadically in spin-off titles over the years, Pokemon Legends Z-A marks the first time new ones have been revealed in over a decade, and the Kalos trio are finally getting their time to shine.
Kalos starter Mega Evolutions, but there’s a catch
The initial hype after the reveal of Mega Greninja, Delphox, and Chesnaught took the internet by storm, but it only took a follow-up blogpost on the official Pokemon Legends Z-A website to take the wind out of their sails.
The post confirmed that Mega Stones would be required for the new evolutions, with the Kalos starters’ stones only available as rewards through online ranked battles. Players will need to compete in Legends Z-A’s seasonal ladder to unlock each stone.
Game Freak also announced the rewards will be staggered across seasons. Season 1, beginning October 16, will offer Greninjite for Mega Greninja. Delphoxite and Chesnaughtite will follow in later seasons, though exact dates and rank requirements have not yet been confirmed. While players don’t need to win matches to accumulate points, the rank for which players will need to reach to secure each stone remains unclear.
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Pokemon Legends Z-A players divided by ranked rewards
Pokemon fans were already wary after the announcement of a $30 DLC for Pokemon Legends Z-A, which confirmed two Mega Evolutions would be locked behind a paywall before launch. The competitive restrictions on the Kalos starter Mega Stones added further frustration.
Players took to Reddit and X to voice concerns, with many disappointed they wouldn’t be able to use Mega Evolutions for their Kalos starters during the main story. Others criticized the online requirement, calling it another barrier to content that should have been available in the base game.
However, not all reactions were negative. Some defended Game Freak, pointing out that limited-time rewards and online distribution events have been part of the series for years.
They also pointed out the low cost of a Nintendo Online subscription and how, at the very least, players would have to spend $12 to claim all three Mega Stones.
But with dozens of Mega Evolutions returning from previous games, several new forms being released, and likely even more Megas to come, there will be plenty of Mega Pokemon for Legends Z-A players to collect without having to access online competitive play.