I Got Heracross in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, But Now I Kind of Regret It

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Pokemon Legends: Z-A includes Heracross, a Bug-type Pokemon that’s always been a favorite of mine. However, the first Heracross you encounter in the game has a special characteristic. While the game doesn’t introduce entirely new Pokemon, it does bring back many popular ones from previous games.

At the beginning of *Pokemon Legends: Z-A*, you’ll select your first Pokemon from Chikorita, Tepig, or Totodile. As you play, you’ll meet Pokemon such as Fletchling and Bunnelby. The game gradually introduces new Pokemon throughout the story, and you won’t have to wait long before encountering a Heracross.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s First Heracross Has a Nickname You Can’t Change

In *Pokemon Legends: Z-A*, most side quests are optional, but you’ll need to complete three early on to continue the main story. One of these, Side Mission 2: A Use for an Evolution Stone, asks you to catch a Pikachu and trade it for a Heracross. (Heracross is my absolute favorite Bug-type Pokemon!) However, the Heracross you receive in the trade comes with a fixed nickname that you can’t change, which is a bit frustrating.

Pokemon fans have different opinions on nicknames – some like to give every Pokemon a new name, while others prefer using the official names. I personally prefer official names, and it bothers me when I see Pokemon with silly nicknames, like my Heracross being called “Bois” in Pokemon Legends: Z-A. It’s frustrating because you can’t change the nicknames of Pokemon you receive through trades. This limitation doesn’t seem logical, and I’m always hoping Game Freak will address it, but they haven’t yet.

I could swap out my Heracross, but it’s not available to catch in *Pokemon Legends: Z-A* until quite late in the game – after completing a lot of the story and reaching a specific area. By then, the Heracross I already have will be so well-trained that catching a new one wouldn’t feel worth it, especially without being able to give it a custom nickname. I’m hoping the next *Pokemon* games, which are expected to come out on the Switch 2 next year, will let players change the nicknames of Pokemon they receive through trades.

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2025-10-18 17:34