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With Pokemon Legends Z-A removing Abilities from the game, learn how Mega Evolutions that depended on them will be affected in their absence.
While Pokemon Legends Z-A has confirmed several new Mega Evolutions, its worth noting that we do not know their Abilities. In fact, Abilities as a whole have been removed from the game. This serves as a detriment to almost every Mega Evolution.
In Pokemon, Abilities are passive game mechanics that provide some sort of buff to the Pokemon that has them (with a few exceptions like Slaking, Regigigas, and Archeops). This mechanic was introduced in Generation III and has remained a staple of the franchise since. By removing Abilities, Legends Z-A has greatly hindered several Pokemon that needed them to be viable choices for players’ teams. In this article, we will go over the reasons why the loss of Abilities would affect Pokemon with Mega Evolutions.
Most Competitively Viable Mega Evolution Pokemon Got a Useful New Ability
A Pokemon getting a Mega Evolution receives 100 points to its overall Base Stat Total (BST). But for Pokemon like Mawile or Beedrill, which have low base stats, these 100 extra stat points barely improve their viability. This gives fans of these Pokemon a reason to use them for fun, but in a serious competitive setting, they would be passed over for other options. This matters because the only time you can activate a Mega Evolution is during a Pokemon battle, so you are incentivized to use stronger Mega Evolutions by choice.
Access to Abilities, especially new ones, changes that. Upon undergoing Mega Evolution, Mawile gains the Ability Huge Power, which doubles its Attack stat, making it a powerful physical attacker. Similarly, Mega Beedrill gains Adaptability, which causes its STAB moves to deal 2x damage. And of course, there’s the infamous Parental Bond Ability, unique to Mega Kangaskhan, which lets a move it uses hit twice.
Despite the move doing only half damage the second time it was introduced, it dominated the VGC scene throughout Generation VI. Even a nerf in the next Generation did not stop Mega Kangaskhan from being strong in VGC, all thanks to its Ability.
What About Mega Evolution Pokemon That Got New Typings?
Several Mega Evolutions also received altered typings. While these definitely helped make some of them good in battle, their Abilities helped make them great.
Take Mega Charizard X, who receives a secondary Dragon-typing upon Mega Evolution. As a physical attacker, Mega Charizard X gets a STAB bonus on moves like Dragon Claw and Outrage. However, thanks to its Ability Tough Claws, these physical moves that make contact deal 30% more damage, making Mega Charizard X a top-tier threat rather than just good.
On the flip side, consider Mega Sceptile. The Hoenn starter also gets a secondary Dragon typing but gains the Ability Lightning Rod. This gives it immunity to Electric-type attacks and a 1.5x Special Attack boost if it is hit by one. However, it already quadruples resisted Electric-type attacks, and most skilled players would be wary of using those moves against it. Additionally, the Dragon typing gives Sceptile two more weaknesses, making it a risky choice over other Megas.
Will Mega Evolutions in Legends Z-A Make Up for the Loss of Abilities?
The mechanics surrounding Mega Evolution appear to be changing in Legends Z-A. There seem to be Mega Shards to collect as well as a meter to fill before a Pokemon can Mega Evolve. However, none of this seems to make up for the lack of Abilities.
If that is the case, against Rogue Mega Evolutions, for Ranked Battles or in the Z-A Royale, players will end up picking their Megas based on raw stats and typing, leading to a handful of them seeing the most usage.
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