What Does Speed Do in Pokemon Legends Z-A

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Okay, so playing Pokemon Legends: Z-A is totally shaking up how battles work! It’s a big change from what we’re used to. To make the new, faster-paced, real-time battles fair, Game Freak had to really rethink some of the core mechanics – and one of the first things they tackled was the Speed stat. It’s not the same as it used to be, that’s for sure!

For a long time, Speed was considered the most important stat in competitive Pokémon battles. Being able to act before your opponent often meant winning. Many teams were even designed specifically to control Speed, like those using the Trick Room strategy. However, with the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the battle system has been overhauled, and the importance of Speed has changed dramatically.

How Does the Speed Stat Work in Pokemon Legends: Z-A?

In Pokemon Legends: Z-A, a Pokemon’s Speed stat affects how quickly it can use its moves again. The higher a Pokemon’s Speed, the shorter the wait time between using a move. This stat doesn’t change how fast a Pokemon moves, how quickly it attacks, or how long it takes to recover after an attack—it only impacts the cooldown period of its moves.

The timer shown when switching moves in battle doesn’t seem to adjust based on a Pokémon’s Speed, meaning it always shows the same cooldown time regardless of how fast the Pokémon is.

In-game description of Speed stat states:

A Pokémon’s Speed stat determines how quickly it can use its moves. Higher Speed means shorter wait times between attacks.

We tested two Espurr, one at level 7 with 15 Speed and another at level 27 with 47 Speed. When using the same attacks with both, the Espurr with lower Speed took a little longer to finish using its moves, meaning their cooldowns took slightly longer to reset.

Priority moves like Quick Attack, Bullet Punch, and Extreme Speed have near-instant cast animations.

Does Speed Make Pokemon Move Faster in Pokemon Legends: Z-A?

Speed doesn’t affect how quickly a Pokémon travels across the game world – meaning how fast it walks, runs, or flies. Each Pokémon’s movement animation is unique and based on its physical build.

Even if a Mega Alakazam has a higher Speed stat, it won’t travel from one point to another any faster than a Talonflame. This is because Alakazam appears to float when moving, while Talonflame flies. Flying is always a faster animation than floating in the game.

In Legends: Z-A, Flying-type Pokémon are noticeably faster than most others. This speed, combined with their ability to fly, makes it much easier to reach high-up Mega Shards, making them great companions for exploration.

In past Pokémon games, the move Agility directly boosted a Pokémon’s Speed stat. However, in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Agility works differently. It now increases how fast a Pokémon moves – making their walking, running, and flying animations quicker.

As a long-time Pokémon fan, I’ve always understood Paralysis as slowing a Pokémon down physically – it makes them move slower, but doesn’t actually lower their Speed stat. Drowsy, which is like a mild Sleep, is different. It doesn’t directly affect Speed, but it makes your Pokémon take longer to attack, which feels like they’re slower overall. So, Paralysis messes with movement, while Drowsy messes with how quickly you can use your moves!

Is Speed Worth It in Pokemon Legends: Z-A?

As a long-time Pokémon fan, I’ve noticed a huge shift in strategy with Pokémon Legends: Z-A! Speed isn’t nearly as crucial as it used to be. Forget trying to always go first – battles are so fast-paced and action-packed now that it doesn’t matter as much. I’ve been playing Ranked Battles, and honestly, a Pokémon’s bulk and HP are way more important than a tiny speed advantage. It feels like strong, defensive Pokémon – the real bruisers – are dominating the meta right now. It’s a refreshing change!

Nature-changing Mints can be used to increase Speed.

While not as crucial as some other stats, Speed is still valuable. Pokémon like those with naturally high Attack or Special Attack often benefit from increasing their Speed through EV training, especially later in the game. These Pokémon are typically ‘glass cannons’ – powerful attackers with low defenses – and boosting their defenses won’t make a huge difference. It’s better to focus on maximizing their offensive potential and outspeeding opponents.

Pokémon moves work at different distances. If a Pokémon uses a long-distance attack like Thunderbolt and then a close-range attack like Thunder Fang, it needs to move closer to the opponent, which takes time. To be most effective, it’s best to build a Pokémon’s moveset around attacks that all work at either long or short range.

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2025-10-21 18:42