Z-A Officially Bans 25 Pokemon

Pokemon Legends: Z-A is about to ban a total of 25 Pokemon from battles. Pokemon Legends: Z-A has been getting updates every three weeks since its release, and while the amount of new content has slowed down to a still, there are many reasons to go back to the game even eight months after launch. An important part of the updates that Pokemon Legends: Z-A gets is the changing of seasons, which introduces new rewards for players to get and new rulesets for Ranked Battles.

Of its many features, all Pokemon Legends: Z-A Mega Evolutions remain the main allure for the game, as the gimmick returned after a long hiatus starting with Gen 8 in 2019. The shift to a completely different battle system with no turns or abilities and, instead, real-time moves is a compelling choice, but it didn’t sit well with all fans. Still, Ranked Battles became mandatory in a way, as they were and still are the only source for some Mega Stones, such as the Gen 6 and Gen 3 starters, as well as Baxcalibur.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Officially Has Three New Threats

Pokemon Legends: Z-A players can say hello to the three new powerful Pokemon coming to the game with Season 2.

It’s The End of an Era for Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s Season 13 comes out on June 25, and the new Ranked Battle ruleset entirely bans all Legendary and Mythical Pokemon in one fell swoop. This is not the first time Pokemon Legends: Z-A bans Legendaries and Mythicals, as it happens cyclically every few seasons. However, after banning these Pokemon in the past alongside the release of more content, such as the Mega Stones for Sceptile, Swampert, and Blaziken, it was expected that Legendaries and Mythicals would stay longer in Ranked Battles.

Scratch & Peek

Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as
possible.

Scratch & Peek

Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as possible.

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Instead, after Pokemon Legends: Z-A made restricted Pokemon available in Season 12 with very few limitations, the game is going back to square one. This includes several Pokemon that got their Mega Evolution for the first time in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, such as Mega Heatran and Mega Zeraora, so fans who want to use them in Ranked will not be able to for at least one or two seasons. The following Pokemon will no longer be available to use in battle:

Lumiose Pokedex, Numbers 228-232
- Xerneas
- Yveltal
- Zygarde
- Diancie
- Mewtwo
Hyperspace Pokedex, Numbers 113-132
- Heatran
- Volcanion
- Cobalion
- Terrakion
- Virizion
- Keldeo
- Meloetta
- Genesect
- Hoopa
- Marshadow
- Meltan
- Melmetal
- Darkrai
- Latias
- Latios
- Kyogre
- Groudon
- Rayquaza
- Magearna
- Zeraora

This can sting even more when considering that the Pokemon available in Pokemon Champions in Regulation M-B also don’t include Legendaries and Mythicals. Normally, Mythical Pokemon are not allowed in VGC anyway, but Legendaries are, either as regular Pokemon with no limitations, or as a set of restricted Pokemon that can only be used in limited quantities in a team, such as one or two. This is no longer the case in Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s Season 13, and players will not be able to use any of those 25 Pokemon.

Considering how fun Season 8 was, when Pokemon Legends: Z-A only allowed Pokemon capable of Mega Evolution, it would be interesting to see future seasons do something similar instead of the back and forth on bans. However, if the current formula continues, then fans may expect some of these 25 banned Pokemon to return in Season 14, most or all of them in Season 15, then more restricted Pokemon in Season 16, and so on.