One Leaked Pokemon Legends: Z-A Mega Evolution Won’t Move the Needle without Serious Help

by

12 years after first appearing in Pokemon X and Y (from 2013), the popular mechanic known as Mega Evolution will make its comeback in the upcoming game, Pokemon Legends: Z-A. This is the first mainline Pokemon game to launch on the Nintendo Switch 2, and Pokemon Legends: Z-A will take players back to the Kalos region while allowing them to use most, if not all, previously established Mega Evolution forms. Additionally, Z-A will introduce new Mega Evolutions such as Mega Dragonite, with rumors of up to 26 other new Mega Evolutions being added. However, one rumored Mega Evolution may need a bit more hype to stand out: Mega Pyroar.

Pokemon X and Y’s Pyroar Explained

In the Kalos region, which bears a resemblance to France, Pokemon X and Y feature many new creatures that draw inspiration from animals and cultures across distant continents and nations. For instance, Hawlucha, the Wrestling Pokemon, is modeled after Mexican Luchador wrestlers, while Pangoro, the Daunting Pokemon, is inspired by China’s giant pandas. Similarly, Pyroar, the Royal Pokemon, has roots in lions, but its design also incorporates elements from medieval European architecture, symbolism, and heraldry, as well as extinct lion subspecies that once roamed Europe. Much like modern African lions, male Pyroars exhibit flamboyant manes, while females have more conservative fur styles.

In a unique twist, Pyroar and its earlier form Litleo stand out as the initial Pokémon to boast Normal-type as their secondary category, with Fire-type being their primary one. Notably, Pyroar has an intriguing connection to Kalos’ criminal organization Team Flare, led by Lysandre, who styles his hair in a manner reminiscent of a male Pyroar’s mane. However, it should be noted that Lysandre’s main Pokémon is not Pyroar, but rather Mega Gyarados. Furthermore, the flaming breath of Pyroars can reach temperatures exceeding 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit due to their fire-based abilities.

Mega Pyroar’s Potential in Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Here’s a simpler and more conversational way of expressing the given text:

Pyroar mainly gets Normal-type moves when leveling up, which aren’t very effective against other types of Pokémon. Plus, it learns only five Fire-type moves through leveling, but four of these are its strongest moves because Pyroar has a higher Special Attack stat (109) compared to its Attack stat (68). The only other decent stat Pyroar has is its Speed (106). As a dual Fire/Normal type, it’s vulnerable to Fighting, Ground, Rock, and Water-type Pokémon and moves, making it challenging to justify having it in your team.

As a dedicated Pokémon trainer, I’ve got to admit, Pyroar isn’t my go-to Fire-type in battles. It’s often overshadowed by heavy hitters like Arcanine and Charizard who bring more power and versatility to the table. However, there’s a buzz about its rumored Mega Evolution that could give it a much-needed stat boost and a fresh secondary typing, potentially making it a standout among its Fire-type peers.

The standard Pyroar isn’t exactly top-notch, so its Mega form needs all the assistance it can get to be even somewhat competitive – especially compared to other Fire-types that are also getting a Mega Evolution, like Chandelure. While Pyroar’s Normal type gives it immunity to Ghost attacks, it’s a small perk when you consider most Stage-1 creatures outshine it in almost every aspect.

It’s worth noting that the leaks regarding Mega Pyroar don’t mention a type change.

Mega Pyroar’s Potential New Story Role

In Pokemon X and Y, Pyroars don’t have a substantial impact on the storyline, but they might take on a more distinctive role in Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s plot. Depending on the ending of Z-A, Lysandre could survive his final showdown in Geosenge Town and unexpectedly reappear in Z-A. If that happens, Lysandre could engage the player in a Pokemon battle midway through the game, using a Mega Pyroar instead of his previous Mega Gyarados. However, if this isn’t the case, it would still be intriguing from a gameplay perspective for Lysandre to switch between Mega Pyroar and Mega Gyarados in different battles or across various playthroughs. Nevertheless, even such changes wouldn’t necessarily make Pyroars a top choice in the game.

Read More

2025-08-07 18:06