Z-A Kicks Off Ranked Battle ‘Special Season’ With New Rewards

Pokemon Legends: Z-A has started its eighth season of ranked online battles, though The Pokemon Company stated it was a “special season” with unique rules and bountiful rewards for players to bear in mind. The latest ranked battle season in Pokemon Legends: Z-A also allows players to earn Mega Stones featured in the previous seasons.

Following its October 2025 launch, Pokemon Legends: Z-A has used Ranked Battle seasons as a way to encourage players to compete in online games for various rewards. Throughout each season, a unique Mega Stone was offered to players who climbed the ranks, with prizes like the Greninjite and the Baxcalibrite awarded at different intervals. Each season of Pokemon Legends: Z-A Ranked Battles also had specific rules that determined which Pokemon could join the fray. However, Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s seventh Ranked Battle season was criticized for allowing the mode to be dominated by Legendary monsters like Zygarde, Groudon, and Kyogre, which limited how viable other Pokemon could be for a time.

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Pokemon Legends: Z-A Season 8 Ranked Battle Details (March 12 to April 1)

Now, Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s Season 8 is underway with a new rule set for trainers to bear in mind. Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s current season only allows Pokemon that received a new Mega Evolution form in Pokemon Legends: Z-A or in the Mega Dimension DLC to participate in battle. All Pokemon are set to level 50, and trainers can only take a team of three unique Pokemon, with no duplicates. Although Groudon, Kyogre, and Mewtwo are barred from participating in Season 8, Zygarde is still an option for Pokemon Legends: Z-A trainers to consider. However, the only held items allowed during Season 8’s Ranked Battles are Mega Stones that first appeared in Pokemon Legends: Z-A or the Mega Dimension DLC, meaning other Mega Stones and held items cannot be used. The list of eligible Pokemon that can battle in Pokemon Legends: Z-A Season 8 is as follows:

Allowed Pokemon (Pokemon Legends Z-A Season 8, listed in National Pokedex Order)

Raichu (excludes Alolan Raichu)
Clefable
Victreebel
Starmie
Dragonite
Meganium
Feraligatr
Skarmory
Chimecho
Absol (Mega Absol Z)
Staraptor
Garchomp (Mega Garchomp Z)
Lucario (Mega Lucario Z)
Froslass
Heatran
Darkrai
Emboar
Excadrill
Scolipede
Scrafty
Eelektross
Chandelure
Golurk
Chesnaught
Delphox
Greninja
Pyroar
Floette (Eternal Flower only)
Meowstic
Malamar
Barbaracle
Dragalge
Hawlucha
Zygarde
Crabominable
Golisopod
Drampa
Magearna
Zeraora
Falinks
Scovillain
Glimmora
Tatsugiri
Baxcalibur

It is worth noting that, while Lucario, Garchomp, and Absol have two Mega-Evolved forms, only their “Z” variants that first appeared in the Mega Dimension expansion are allowed in Season 8. Pokemon Legends: Z-A trainers who participate throughout Season 8 can claim all the previous Mega Stone offers from Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s past seasons, starting with the Greninjite at Rank Y. The main Season 7 reward, the Blazikenite, will once again be available to Pokemon trainers who reach Rank S in Season 8.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Season 8 Ranked Battle Rewards

During the Season

Rank S: Blazikenite
Rank T: Swampertite
Rank U: Sceptilite
Rank V: Baxcalibrite
Rank W: Chesnaughtite
Rank X: Delphoxite
Rank Y: Greninjite

End of Season

Rank A: Mega Shard ×300
Rank B to Rank E: Mega Shard ×200
Rank F to Rank R: Mega Shard ×100
Rank S and Below: Mega Shard ×50

At the end of Season 8, trainers will be rewarded a complimentary amount of Mega Shards based on their ranking, with amounts starting at 50 Mega Shards for Ranks S and below. Trainers who climb up to Rank A will receive a whopping 300 Mega Shards. These shards can be used to purchase some of Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s many Mega Stones and Technical Machines (TMs), with a cap of 9,999.

Which Critters Should You Use in Pokemon Legends: Z-A Season 8?

Although Zygarde will still be a threat in Pokemon Legends: Z-A Season 8, its dual typing of Ground and Dragon still has a few weaknesses for other trainers to exploit. Additionally, Pokemon like Mega Garchomp Z can attack faster than their standard Mega-Evolved counterparts, though this comes at the cost of a shorter Mega Evolution timer. Pokemon trainers who can adapt to their surroundings and pick off weakened foes with rapid attacks could have a shot at victory in the latter part of a battle.

Some of the best Mega-Evolved Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: Z-A happen to be ones that debuted in either the base game or Mega Dimension DLC. With Mega Dragonite, any of the Mega-Evolved Starters, and Mega Raichu X and Y providing some additional coverage, trainers will have plenty of options in Pokemon Legends Z-A‘s latest season. Time will tell what The Pokemon Company has planned for future Ranked Battle seasons.