Pokemon Legends: Z-A Players Are Still Missing a Popular Arceus Item

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Fans of Pokemon Legends: Z-A are disappointed that a feature popular in Pokemon Legends: Arceus has been removed. Given how successful Pokemon Legends: Arceus was, comparisons between the two games were inevitable. While Pokemon Legends: Z-A released three months ago and has received criticism for changes to abilities, gameplay, and battles, many still consider it a solid addition to the Pokemon series that gets a lot right.

The way Pokemon Legends: Z-A locks certain powerful items behind the Nintendo Switch Online subscription has caused a lot of debate. Unlike Pokemon Legends: Arceus, which was a complete, self-contained single-player experience – you could catch all the Pokemon and finish the game without any extra purchases – Z-A requires a subscription for some content. This shift has led many to believe that Nintendo should rethink this approach before the next Pokemon game, Wind and Wave, is released.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Cuts The Best Item in Pokemon Legends: Arceus

A Reddit user named AdventurousForm6406 shared how helpful the Linking Cord is in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. This isn’t the first time someone has pointed this out, and their post quickly gained over 3,600 upvotes within a day – even though the game has been out for three months. It’s clear many players agree it’s a significant feature.

The decision to make certain evolutions exclusive to trading in Pokemon Legends: Z-A is unusual. Typically, these types of exclusives appear in new generations of games alongside Pokemon only found in specific versions. However, Z-A doesn’t introduce any entirely new Pokemon or forms – only Mega Evolutions. This means you’ll need to trade to obtain certain Pokemon within the main game.

  • Slowking (requires trading Slowpoke with King’s Rock)
  • Scizor (requires trading Scyther with Metal Coat)
  • Aromatisse (requires trading Spritzee with Sachet)
  • Slurpuff (requires trading Swirlix with Whipped Cream)

You won’t be able to catch Steelix in Pokemon Legends: Z-A until after you finish the main story and begin the ‘One Who Gives’ post-game quest. There’s only one Alpha Steelix available, and it’s a guaranteed encounter during that quest – you can’t find it anywhere else or catch another one without trading. Unlike most other Pokemon that are normally only available through trading, you can find them appearing in the wild in this game, with the exception of these five.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A DLC Doesn’t Atone For Its Trade-Exclusive Sins

The DLC for Pokemon Legends: Z-A addresses the issue of completing the Pokedex by allowing all Pokemon, including those added in the DLC, to be found within the game’s Hyperspace Wild Zones. However, there’s one exception: Milotic. Players still need to trade online to get Milotic, which means it’s impossible to complete the Pokedex without connecting to the internet. This highlights the need for the Linking Cord to return in future Pokemon Legends games, particularly for Pokemon that aren’t available to find in the wild.

Throughout the history of Pokémon games, some Pokémon have always required trading to evolve. Pokémon Legends: Arceus changed things by introducing a way to evolve these Pokémon without trading, and that option should have carried over to later games. While the developers of Pokémon Legends: Z-A intentionally brought back trade evolutions to encourage player interaction, many fans feel that a full-priced game like this should allow players to experience everything without needing a paid Nintendo Switch Online subscription or relying on optional DLC.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Requires Extra Costs to Beat The DLC

Plus, you’ll need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to get Mega Sceptile in Pokemon Legends: Z-A during Season 5. It’s a special reward for participating in ranked battles, and it’s not the only Pokemon that requires a subscription to obtain.

  • PLZA Season 1 featured exclusive Mega Greninja.
  • PLZA Season 2 featured exclusive Mega Delphox (and Greninja, if unobtained).
  • PLZA Season 3 featured exclusive Mega Chesnaught (and also Greninja and Delphox, if unobtained).
  • PLZA Season 4 featured exclusive Mega Baxcalibur (and also Greninja, Delphox, and Chesnaught if unobtained).
  • PLZA Season 5 features exclusive Mega Sceptile (and also Greninja, Delphox, Chesnaught, and Baxcalibur if unobtained).
  • Season 6 will offer Mega Swampert, which can’t be obtained elsewhere.
  • Season 7 will offer Mega Blaziken, which can’t be obtained elsewhere.

Even with Mega Evolutions available, at least seven Pokémon are currently inaccessible to players with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Considering the absence of the Linking Cord, this number rises to at least eight, including Milotic, and could potentially reach nine if the unreleased Mega Garchomp Z is also offered as a ranked battle reward.

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2026-01-16 05:04