Pokemon Legends: Z-A Is Bringing Back a Forgotten Game Mechanic

by

In the exciting world of “Pokemon Legends: Z-A”, set to launch on October 16, I’m stoked about the return of poison damage as an out-of-battle mechanic! As a trainer, it’s crucial to keep an eye on this because, while you can still cure it with items and Pokémon Centers, the impact of poison damage outside combat has been largely absent for several generations. This new twist promises to add a whole new layer of strategy to our beloved Pokémon adventures!

In the world of Pokemon, certain moves or abilities can impose Status Effects, which are temporary alterations that impact the target in distinct manners. For instance, conditions such as Poison and Burn cause damage gradually over time, with Burn additionally reducing the physical attack power of the affected Pokemon. Conditions like Sleep, Paralysis, and Freeze don’t inflict extra damage but can incapacitate a Pokemon by preventing them from taking actions during battles. These Status Effects in Pokemon games can be alleviated using items like Antidotes or Full Heals, or by healing at a Pokemon Center.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Is Bringing Back Poison Damage Outside of Battles

Word got around on social media about the upcoming game Pokemon Legends: Z-A. A fan at the 2025 Pokemon World Championships spotted something interesting. Pokemon content creator MunchingOrange posted a brief video on Twitter from the demo area of Pokemon Legends: Z-A. In the clip, MunchingOrange explained that the Poison status condition will now cause damage outside of battles, which is a change not seen in the Pokemon series since Pokemon Black and White. This particular effect has always been significant during battles. The video showed two Pokemon, Mareep and Fletchling, who were still affected by Poison even after their battle. Every three seconds, Mareep and Fletchling lost a point of health, but the continuous damage did not cause either of them to faint.

MunchingOrange clarified that damage caused by poison doesn’t decrease when a Pokemon is inside a Poke Ball. This means that only the active Pokemon on the battlefield will sustain damage from poison. In older games such as Pokémon Red and Blue, a poisoned Pokémon could still faint due to accumulated damage, and players were alerted with a screen message whenever damage was inflicted.

Yet, it’s uncertain if a Pokemon with a Burn status in “Pokemon Legends: Z-A” will continue to inflict damage-over-time outside of battles. As players explore a revamped Lumiose City in “Pokemon Legends: Z-A”, we await the discovery of additional gameplay mechanics that may differ from the original version for this forthcoming title.

Read More

2025-08-17 23:07