You Should Play Elden Ring to Prepare for Pokémon’s New Boss Battles

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For some time, Pokémon fans have anticipated significant changes to battles in the upcoming *Pokémon Legends: Z-A*. Recently, a demo at the Pokémon World Championships allowed some players to try out the new system firsthand. I was eager to learn how these battles would feel, and after Nintendo gave me a chance to play, I found the experience surprisingly similar to *Elden Ring*.

Let’s be clear: *Legends: Z-A* isn’t a true ‘Souls-like’ game, but the combat is much faster and more complex than previous *Pokémon* battles, demanding quick reactions. It builds on the real-time elements introduced in *Legends: Arceus*, but significantly increases the intensity. While dodging attacks from a new Rogue Mega Evolution Pokémon, I was reminded of the challenging combat in *Elden Ring*. If you’re hoping to prepare for *Legends: Z-A*, you might find games like *Elden Ring* or *Skyrim* more helpful than *Pokémon Scarlet and Violet* or even *Legends: Arceus* itself.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Embraces Real-Time Combat, Dodge Rolls Included

Just so everyone knows, every single battle in *Pokemon Legends: Z-A* is now in real-time! You’ll be actively dodging attacks – everything from area-of-effect moves from wild Pokemon to trainer attacks, and especially these new Rogue Megas. Honestly, battling these Rogue Megas feels like a proper boss battle, and it’s something I haven’t really felt in a Pokemon game before. It’s super exciting!

I enjoy action RPGs, but I often find myself frustrated in games like *Skyrim* because my character dies frequently – my reflexes just aren’t quick enough for games like *Elden Ring*. The new Pokémon battles were surprisingly challenging. They require you to manage a lot at once, all happening in real-time. You have to move your character to avoid attacks while also considering how that movement affects your Pokémon’s position. A quick dodge could accidentally send your Pokémon running into dangerous hazards. On top of that, you need to remember to actually command your Pokémon to attack, choosing moves from a menu, and now healing items have cooldowns, adding another layer of strategy.

Honestly, these battles feel like a totally fresh take on Pokémon. It’s way faster-paced than what I’m used to, and it might take some getting used to if you’ve grown up with the traditional turn-based battles. Some moves work differently now, and status effects hit *hard* if you don’t react quickly with items. The game does give you some helpful hints, like icons showing what moves are super effective, but there’s still a learning curve. After an hour of playing, I definitely didn’t feel like a pro, but I was really excited to keep practicing and get better. It’s a cool new challenge from a series that usually sticks to what works, and I think that’s a good thing.

Strategy On a Whole Other Level with Pokemon Legends: Z-A Boss Battles

The new real-time battle system is used throughout the game, but the Rogue Mega Evolution battles felt most like *Elden Ring*. These battles act as the game’s boss fights in *Legends: Z-A*, combining elements of action RPG boss encounters with traditional Pokémon Raids. You’ll face incredibly powerful Pokémon that have been affected by a strange phenomenon in Lumiose City. The goal is to defeat them and stop the chaos, but it’s a surprisingly tough challenge.

This battle felt a lot like playing games like *Path of Exile 2* – tons of environmental hazards to watch out for! When I got the Mega Victreebel’s health low, it started flooding the arena with poison. Suddenly, dodging wasn’t just about avoiding attacks, but also poisonous zones! And let me tell you, getting hit meant going down fast – for both me and my Pokémon. Those dodge rolls are super important for avoiding those powerful, Mega-charged attacks, but they’re risky too. I tried to roll away from one attack and accidentally rolled my Mega Absol *into* a poison zone. It took it down almost instantly!

Unlike many difficult games, *Pokemon Legends: Z-A* offers a bit of leniency that fans of games like *Elden Ring* might not appreciate. If you struggle against a Rogue Mega Pokemon, you don’t have to start the battle completely over. You can choose to restart with the boss’s health remaining as you left it – meaning you and your Pokemon are fully healed, but the damage you’ve already done to the boss stays. I expect this will be a welcome relief during tough fights! However, if you prefer the intense challenge of games like *Elden Ring*, you can always decline this help and restart the battle from scratch until you master the perfect strategy.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A features genuinely challenging boss battles with the new Rogue Megas. Regular trainer battles are also more involved than in previous games. You’ll have to quickly analyze and adjust your strategy for each Pokémon and trainer, as they each have unique approaches. If you’re looking for a real challenge in a Pokémon game, Legends: Z-A seems to be the answer.

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2025-09-27 18:55