Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Mega Dragonite Takes a Long-Standing Design Criticism in the Wrong Direction

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Following a full year without a new mainline Pokemon game, fans won’t have to wait too much longer as Pokemon Legends: Z-A is set to release in October. Within this game, players will traverse Lumiose City from Pokemon X and Y, which is undergoing an urban redevelopment project aimed at fostering harmony between humans and Pokemon. By day, you’ll explore the city, and by night, engage in trainer battles. Pokemon Legends: Z-A appears to be skillfully recapturing the nostalgia of Generation 6 while also incorporating elements that made Legends: Arceus popular among fans.

As a die-hard Pokémon fan, I can’t hide my excitement over the comeback of Mega Evolution in Pokémon Legends: Z-A! This feature was one of the series’ groundbreaking elements when it first appeared, and its absence in Gen 7 left many of us yearning for more. Now that it’s returning, there’s been a lot of chatter among fellow fans about how Mega Evolution will shake up competitive play and potentially introduce new Mega forms. The recent revelation of Mega Dragonite as the first new Mega in Z-A has sparked quite the debate among us Pokémon enthusiasts due to its innovative approach to resolving an evolutionary issue within its line.

How Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Mega Dragonite Misses Its Mark

Mega Dragonite Answers a Common Design Criticism With Dragonite

Over the course of its existence, many players have noted that Dragonite’s status as the final evolution in its line shifts the western-themed dragon concept in an unexpected direction. When evolving Dragonite without knowing what comes next, one might be taken aback by the transformation from the adorable and regal Dragonair to a larger, more cartoonish dragon. While Dragonite is undeniably appealing, the creatures preceding it capture fans’ hearts in a unique way that Dragonite does not on its own, relying more on its individual charm rather than the heart-winning appeal of the two earlier forms.

Prior to the Pokemon Presents event unveiling Mega Dragonite, the leaked details provided an accurate description of its unique appearance. The head of Dragonite was adorned with wings, while feathers replaced what were thought to be additional wings. A sphere was also depicted at the end of its tail. Fans who followed the leaks had a clearer idea of the design, as it bore some resemblance to Dragonair. Remarkably, even the Presents itself acknowledged the similarities to Dragonair, highlighting certain features that mirrored this pre-evolution species.

Some noticed that Dragonair’s distinctive blue hue could make a comeback, while others suggested making the wings on Dragonite’s back appear more regal might help create a smoother transition. Though Dragonite’s head wings and tail ball link it more closely to its earlier form, it seems as though these elements have been included more for their presence than effectively unifying the entire design.

How Mega Dragonite Ignores What Made Dragonair So Interesting

In the advertisement for Presents, they describe the “Dragonair-like characteristics” on Mega Dragonite as being positioned differently than on Dragonair. For instance, instead of having wings along its body like in the Dragonite evolutionary line, Mega Dragonite has wings on its head. This placement seems unconventional. Additionally, some find the pearly tail on Mega Dragonite less effective compared to Dragonair’s dual or even triple tails, which might have better conveyed a sense of progression in design.

The way these new features on Dragonite differ from those used in Dratini or Dragonair suggests that they were added without considering why fans might have wanted them back for Dragonite originally, giving the impression of thoughtlessness and potentially emphasizing the evolutionary line’s existing problems by presenting them in a fresh light. However, among Megas like Mega Mewtwo Y and Mega Scizor, Mega Dragonite stands out as one of the more appealing choices. Players are confident that Mega Dragonite will take its place among the stronger Mega Evolutions available, and they’ll have to wait a few more months to discover just how powerful it is for themselves.

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2025-07-22 21:39