Z-A’s New Threat is Confirmed to Become Even Scarier in the DLC

Pokemon Legends: Z-A is launching its Mega Dimension DLC very soon, on December 10, and there will be a new trailer in just over one week. Many fans have already beaten the base game in its entirety, including the various side missions, the quests to unlock both Xerneas and Yveltal in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and the Infinite Z-A Royale, but there is more side content to do. This mainly revolves around the ranked battles in the game, as they are not only a way to test one’s prowess against other trainers, but they also provide players with some exclusive or rare rewards. These are:

• Bottle Caps & Gold Bottle Caps – Obtained at the end of ranked matches and at the end of a season in Pokemon Legends: Z-A.
• Greninjite & Delphoxite – Obtained at Rank Y and Rank S, respectively, the first time they are reached in Season 2. Chesnaughtite will be available in Season 3, on November 26.
• Fast Ball, Lure Ball, Level Ball, Heavy Ball, Love Ball, Friend Ball, & Moon Ball – Obtained as random end-of-match rewards for ranked battles.
• Sport Ball, Dream Ball, & Safari Ball – Obtained at the end of Season 1, 2, and 3, respectively, based on rank placement.

Since these are all valuable and sought-after rewards, competing in Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s ranked battles is more a matter of when rather than if. This means that using powerful and efficient teams is crucial, and that’s why the current meta heavily favors critters like Xerneas, Garchomp, Metagross, Excadrill, Vaporeon, Charizard, and Skarmory. However, there is a new threat emerging in ranked battles, and that is none other than Pikachu.

It’s Time to Welcome Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Best Glass Cannon in Ranked

It would be preposterous to think that Pikachu would be competitively viable in Pokemon Legends: Z-A before it came out, but the game makes this possible. There are a few reasons for this:

• Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s held items include the Light Ball, which is exclusive to Pikachu, and it doubles its attack stats.
• Since Pokemon Legends: Z-A has real-time battles instead of turn-based combat, Pikachu can spam its attacks in a row to decimate slower opponents.
• Pikachu has access to Charge, which boosts its Sp. Defense as well as the damage dealt by its next Electric move, meaning it can deal an incredible amount of damage with attacks like Volt Tackle and Thunderbolt.
• Pikachu can learn Dig and Play Rough, which are great for moving toward the target, as well as Brick Break, which is the only move in the game that can break Reflect and Light Screen.
• Pikachu can use Light Screen, Reflect, Agility, and Nasty Plot as buffing moves, if needed. Nasty Plot stacks with Charge.

Why You Should Use Pikachu in Pokemon Legends: Z-A

The reason why Pikachu is so strong is that Light Ball, Charge, and Plus Moves in Pokemon Legends: Z-A all stack. This means that Pikachu with 252 IVs and 31 EVs in Attack, holding a Light Ball, with Charge active, can one-shot even Pokemon like Xerneas by using a Plus Volt Tackle, as it has base 120 power.

Since the only type immune to Electric moves is Ground, of which the main user is Garchomp in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, Pikachu can run Play Rough and still deal a lot of damage to the popular Dragon-type. Otherwise, it may be wise to switch when opponents are using a Ground-type Pokemon. Still, Pikachu can theoretically one-shot almost every non-Ground Pokemon in the game with the right setup, and there are many instances of players getting 5+ KOs per match thanks to Pikachu.

How Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Mega Dimension DLC Will Buff Pikachu

As such, if you haven’t used Pikachu in Pokemon Legends: Z-A yet, now may be the best time to do it. This is especially true because the Mega Dimension DLC is just around the corner, and that is very good news for Pikachu lovers.

In fact, Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s DLC adds two Mega Raichu variants, which will inevitably boost Pikachu’s evolution further and in different ways. This means that a good Pikachu build may not only serve you well in the upcoming Season 3, but it may provide even more value further down the road when Mega Raichu X and Y are released on December 10. Pikachu has a measly 320 BST compared to Raichu’s 485, but with Light Ball, it becomes a huge threat. Now, Raichu’s BST will be 585 with its Mega Evolutions, meaning they will most likely be better than Pikachu – potentially with new type combinations, too.

Systems

Released

October 16, 2025

ESRB

Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases

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