Z-A, it’s clear that one cut feature held the game back from greatness

I find it hard to believe that Pokemon Legends: Z-A came out three months ago, or that the Mega Dimension DLC was released just last month. It feels surreal because, despite the many issues the game has, I have been enjoying it almost daily for all this time. Sure enough, I do know that Pokemon Legends: Z-A is not perfect, and as much as I like it, I had an even better time playing through Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet when they came out. I was hooked. I put down Gen 9 for the first time several months after the last DLC was released. PLA was simply refreshing in all possible ways, and though I believe Z-A to be a superior game, the former was more fun and endearing. So why do I think this?

In my opinion, after playing through Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s content, the main issue the game has is not tied to a smaller Pokedex, its gameplay loop, the changed battle style, or the roguelike elements and repetitive nature of the Mega Dimension DLC. Instead, I think the biggest culprit was the fact that Pokemon Legends: Z-A cut abilities entirely. It probably did this to create a unified theme with Legends: Arceus or ride on the wave of its success, but I believe it was a fatal mistake.

Pokemon Gen 10 is Basically Confirmed to ‘Steal’ These Legends: Z-A Features

Pokemon Legends: Z-A and its Mega Dimension DLC made many changes to the classic formula of the series, and Gen 10 is sure to use these features.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Said Goodbye to Abilities Way Too Soon

Why Pokemon Legends: Z-A Would Be a 9/10 With Abilities

The best Pokemon abilities can be transformative for the series in incredible ways, such as Pokemon Scarlet and Violet‘s Intimidate Incinerorar dominating the meta or Drizzle single-handedly making or breaking Rain teams. More importantly, even the worst abilities in the series are still fun or gimmicky in some way, and I think they’re too big for Pokemon Legends: Z-A and any future game to cut. As for Z-A itself, I think abilities would have made it miles better, and here’s why:

Rogue Mega Evolution boss battles could have been harder or more intense based on the random ability of the Mega Pokemon involved.
Similarly, it would have been more fun to explore Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s Hyperspace Areas and Wild Zones with the Pokemon in them having random abilities from their species’ selection. It would also have been more rewarding, as catching “repeat” mons with Hidden Abilities or a second ability wouldn’t have felt just one more step towards completing Mable’s tasks or Hyperspace Surveys.
Fighting trainers and wild Alpha Pokemon in Legends: Z-A would have been a better, more diverse experience with abilities in the game, making each encounter more memorable and unique. Instead, these things can get very samey very fast.
Training and catching Pokemon would have been more meaningful in terms of teambuilding, especially for battles like the level 100 team of Taunie/Urbain.
Shinies would hold more weight, becoming a key element of replayability to catch shiny Pokemon in Legends: Z-A that have the various abilities so to test them, or maybe do this in order to collect them all.
There could have been a way for players to change abilities and ways to grind them, like Pokemon Scarlet and Violet‘s Ability Patch and Ability Capsule. This would have made endgame content more engaging overall.
Abilities could have made Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s best teams in ranked battles more diverse, and allow for the use of even more Pokemon. One could argue the lack of abilities already does this, but if Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s Dondozo has Commander in a game with no abilities, the playing field is not exactly leveled.

These are just the reasons I believe warrant the use of abilities in all Pokemon games moving forward, even within the Legends series, but I think they are key reasons. In a way, the game admits that abilities are too much of an integral part of the series as a whole to completely discard them, with a clear example coming from Mimikyu’s Disguise ability, which is active even in Z-A.

This ability allows Mimikyu to only take damage equal to 1/8 of its HP from the first attack that hits it, even if it would normally KO Mimikyu.

As such, since Pokemon like Mimikyu are synonymous with their abilities both in terms of gameplay and identity, the game is making a case for abilities to stay. And to be honest, I think Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s new Mega Evolutions would have greatly benefited from having abilities instead of waiting for Pokemon Champions to do that. It removes agency from Z-A, and it makes it a less enjoyable game.