Lucario is one of Game Freak’s favorite Pokémon and has long been one of the faces for Mega Evolutions since the powered-up transformations debuted in Pokémon X and Y. Now, the steel/fighting-type monster is getting another Mega form as part of Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s Mega Dimension DLC called Mega Lucario Z.
According to the official Legends Z-A website, these Mega Evolution Z forms will play a little differently than their standard transformations, as they will have shorter cooldown times for their attacks, but use more of the Mega Gauge that lets them sustain their transformations. They hit faster, but can use fewer moves before reverting to their original forms, so Game Freak says they’re less suited for longer battles.
Mega Lucario Z doesn’t change the Pokémon’s steel/fighting typing, so it will be interesting to see how it differentiates itself from the original Mega Lucario in the competitive space. The fact that Z forms have their own special mechanic makes it sound like other Pokémon will be getting these alternate forms. This lines up with some of the datamined leaks from earlier this year that claim Absol and Garchomp are also getting these new transformations in Mega Dimension.
Lucario isn’t the only old favorite getting a new Mega Evolution in Legends: Z-A’s DLC, which is also adding two forms for Raichu, and new transformations for Chimecho, Baxcalibur, and Zeraora. Outside of new Megas, the expansion is also adding a roguelike mode that will break the series’ original level 100 cap, so it could be one of the biggest challenges these games have offered to date. It does seem to take place after the events of the main game, though, so if you haven’t beaten Legends: Z-A yet, you might want to lock in. The expansion will launch next week on December 10.
