Pokemon Legends: Z-A has been in a dormant state of sorts lately, as it has been getting frequent updates to match each new season coming to the game every three weeks. However, most of them barely changed anything. Typically, there were updates to rewards, such as cycling through special Poke Balls as end-of-season rewards, or maybe some slight variations to the meta. Each season had its own ruleset so far, and not all Pokemon were eligible due to their DLC status, Legendary status, Mythical status, or restricted tag. The game even had players use only Pokemon with Mega Evolutions in Pokemon Legends: Z-A in Season 8, and it was the most distinctive overall despite middling rewards.
Now, however, things are changing dramatically, and Season 12 will be the start of a new era for Pokemon Legends: Z-A. While the reward shenanigans will presumably keep happening perpetually, such as the game awarding missing Mega Stones when reaching certain ranks and the end-of-season rewards changing, there’s much more on June 4. In fact, Season 11 ends on June 4, and Season 12 starts immediately, bringing a massive change to the eligible Pokemon.
Today is Officially the End of an Era for Pokemon Legends: Z-A
Pokemon Legends: Z-A is getting a new update today, May 13, that signals the end of a long-standing structure for the competitive scene.
Season 12 Makes Pokemon Legends: Z-A a Whole New Game
- Season 11 ends on June 3, 2026, at 6:59 pm PDT/9:59 pm ET
- Season 12 starts on June 3, 2026, at 11:00 pm PDT/June 4, 2026, at 2:00 am ET
Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s Mega Evolutions have long been the biggest appeal of the game, especially in Ranked Battles, but Season 12 shakes things up massively. While previously players could only use certain Pokemon, this is no longer the case in Season 12.
Scratch & Peek
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as
possible.
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as possible.
EasyMediumHardPermadeath
Eligible Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: Z-A Season 12
- Lumiose Pokedex: All Pokemon (Numbers 001 to 232)
- Hyperspace Pokedex: All Pokemon (Numbers 001 to 132)
- Restricted Pokemon: All allowed with no restrictions
Restricted Pokemon include Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s Mewtwo, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde, Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza. Typically, a given ruleset only allows players to use one or two of these Pokemon, and some previous rulesets allowed none. However, the official ruleset for Pokemon Legends: Z-A Season 12, as found on Pokemon.com, throws all that out of the window and allows players to use any Pokemon they want.
New Questions Added!
GameRant Quiz
Easy (15s)Medium (10s)Hard (5s)Permadeath (5s)
This is also a first for the series, as VGC has only ever historically allowed one or two restricted Pokemon, whereas Pokemon Legends: Z-A now allows a full team of three restricted Pokemon starting June 4. This is a big deal, as Ranked Battles will presumably be filled to the brim with Kyogre, Groudon, Xerneas, and Mewtwo, considering these are the strongest meta Pokemon in Legends: Z-A.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s Mega Rayquaza is not necessarily on par, but it has an ace up its sleeve in the form of not needing a held item to Mega Evolve. In fact, if you want to know how to Mega Evolve Rayquaza in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, it can evolve simply by knowing the move Dragon Ascent. As such, you can use any item on Mega Rayquaza in Ranked Battles, and Focus Sash is a fantastic choice.
Kyogre and Groudon are so strong that they don’t really need their Primal forms to shine. It’s also worth noting that Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon don’t have their abilities active in Ranked Battles. This means that Kyogre is not immune to Fire attacks, and Groudon doesn’t become immune to Water moves.
June 4 is The Start of a New Era for Pokemon Legends: Z-A
Since this is the first time ever that all Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s Pokedex and DLC Pokedex are usable with no restrictions, it starts a new era for the game. It’s a logical next step that future seasons will either have to stick with the same ruleset or create wacky ones, like Mega Evolutions only.
- Season 1: All base game Pokemon allowed, minus Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde. Introduced Mega Greninja.
- Season 2: All base game Pokemon allowed, minus Zygarde and Mewtwo. Introduced Mega Delphox.
- Season 3: All base game Pokemon allowed. One restricted Pokemon per team. Diancie was considered a restricted Pokemon. Introduced Mega Chesnaught.
- Season 4: Most Legendary and Mythical Pokemon banned, including restricted Pokemon. Introduced Mega Baxcalibur. Made DLC Pokemon usable for the first time.
- Season 5: Restricted Pokemon not allowed. Introduced Mega Sceptile. Made most Legendaries and Mythicals usable for the first time.
- Season 6: All Pokemon eligible, but only one restricted Pokemon allowed. Introduced Mega Swampert.
- Season 7: All Pokemon eligible, but only two restricted Pokemon allowed. Introduced Mega Blaziken.
- Season 8: Only Pokemon capable of Mega Evolution allowed.
- Season 9: Most Legendary and Mythical Pokemon banned.
- Season 10: Restricted Pokemon not allowed.
- Season 11: All Pokemon eligible, but only one restricted Pokemon allowed.
Normally, each ruleset either made some Pokemon unusable, such as Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s Mega Zeraora and its base form, or had restrictions for the strongest mons in the game. These restrictions are all gone in Season 12, so starting June 4, players will have a brand-new playground in Ranked Battles. Not only that, but this creates an exciting precedent for the game, and future seasons could introduce even more unique rulesets.
All Rewards For Pokemon Legends: Z-A Season 12
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
First and foremost, it’s worth mentioning that Season 12 runs from Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 11:00 pm PDT/June 4 at 2 am ET to Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 6:59 pm PDT/9:59 pm ET. This means that Season 13 will presumably start on June 24 at 11 pm PDT/June 25 at 2 am ET. As usual, players can expect a refresh of Pokemon Legends: Z-A rewards in Season 12:
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Rank A
- Gold Bottle Cap x3
- Bottle Cap x5
- Seed of Mastery x3
- Big Nugget x1
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Rank B to E
- Gold Bottle Cap x2
- Bottle Cap x3
- Seed of Mastery x2
- Nugget x2
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Rank F to I
- Gold Bottle Cap x1
- Bottle Cap x2
- Seed of Mastery x1
- Nugget x2
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Rank J to M
- Bottle Cap x1
- Seed of Mastery x1
- Nugget x2
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Rank N to R
- Seed of Mastery x1
- Nugget x1
- Rank S or below
On top of that, players will be able to obtain all the Ranked-exclusive Mega Stoens in Pokemon Legends: Z-A. They and other rank-up rewards are as follows:
- Rank Y – Greninjite
- Rank X – Delphoxite
- Rank W – Chesnaughtite
- Rank V – Baxcalibrite
- Rank U – Sceptilite
- Rank T – Swampertite
- Rank S – Blazikenite
- Rank M – Safari Ball x1
- Rank I – Safari Ball x1
- Rank E – Safari Ball x2
- Rank D – Safari Ball x2
- Rank C – Safari Ball x3
- Rank B – Safari Ball x3
- Rank A – Safari Ball x5
These rewards will be given upon reaching the respective rank rather than at the end of the season. Also, as usual, players will have their rank reset to Rank Z and will have to climb back up to Rank A. If you played Season 11, remember to also get your previous end-of-season rewards by going to the Ranked Battles screen.
