You Should Be Upset That Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s DLC is Giving Chimecho a Mega Evolution

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Just three weeks after its release, Pokemon Legends: Z-A is receiving new content with a Diancie side quest and the Mega Dimension DLC, launching on December 10th. Players are curious about how to catch Diancie in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, as it’s a rare Pokemon and blends in with the Heal Ball color scheme, making it harder to capture. While you can’t use Diancie in ranked battles yet, that will change on December 10th. The DLC will bring back several familiar Pokemon, and some, like Gen 3’s Chimecho, will gain new Mega Evolutions.

The second trailer for the Mega Dimension DLC of Pokemon Legends: Z-A was released yesterday, giving fans a more detailed preview of what to expect.

  • New zones that are glimpses of Hyperspace Lumiose.
    • These will be accessible with donuts baked by Hoopa and Ansha, requiring players to farm Berries.
    • Each zone will have a timer, an increase to the maximum level of the player’s Pokemon and wild Pokemon, and different challenges associated with each type of donut.
  • A donut cooking minigame involving Berries.
  • New trainer battles and Alpha encounters.
  • 27 confirmed returning Pokemon, so far, including:
    • Galarian Meowth
    • Perrserker
    • Mankey
    • Primape
    • Annihilape
    • Cubone
    • Marowak
    • Alolan Marowak
    • Galarian Mr. Mime
    • Mr. Rime
    • Chingling
    • Chimecho
    • Munna
    • Musharna
    • Golett
    • Golurk
    • Wimpod
    • Golisopod
    • Rookidee
    • Corvisquire
    • Corviknight
    • Nacli
    • Naclstack
    • Garganacl
    • Frigibax
    • Arctibax
    • Baxcalibur
  • New Mega Evolutions, including:
    • Mega Raichu X
    • Mega Raichu Y
    • Mega Chimecho
    • Mega Baxcalibur

Mega Chimecho in Pokemon Legends: Z-A has a unique look, blending the familiar design of Chimecho with elements of its pre-evolution, Chingling. The gold, bell-like frame is actually shaped like Chingling, and it holds several chimes. While this Mega Evolution is creatively designed and the addition of the Steel type is a good fit for Chimecho, it ultimately feels disappointing because its drawbacks outweigh any benefits.

Say Goodbye to Chimecho Regional Forms and Cross-Gen Evolutions After Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Mega Evolution is widely considered a highlight of the Pokémon series. It allows fully evolved Pokémon to temporarily transform into even stronger forms, boosted by an extra 100 stat points. However, this also effectively limits those Pokémon from receiving further evolutions or regional variants in future games. While not a strict rule, the recent Pokémon Legends: Z-A DLC and base game both feature Mega Evolutions for Pokémon that haven’t received any other new forms, and no Pokémon that could Mega Evolve in the original Gen 6 games have since gained a regional form or evolved again.

Chimecho isn’t a very strong Pokémon. While its total stats (455) aren’t awful, and it has a decent 50 Attack, its overall stat distribution isn’t high enough to make it truly effective. This is largely because of the following reasons:

  • Chimecho’s low stats, which Mega Chimecho can only improve so far with a BST of 555.
  • The move selection for Chimecho is rather poor, and the addition of Steel as a secondary type for Mega Chimecho (Psychic/Steel) can only do so much.
  • Considering that Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s best teams typically use Metagross, sometimes even Mega Metagross, it’s hard to justify picking Mega Chimecho when it has a BST of 555 vs. Metagross’ 600 and Mega Metagross’ 700.
  • Chimecho getting a Mega Evolution means it most likely won’t get a regional form, and it’s basically guaranteed to not get a cross-gen evolution either.

Why Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Mega Chimecho is a Curse, Not a Blessing

When it comes to battling, Pokémon that evolve across multiple generations are generally more useful because those changes are permanent. Mega Evolution, currently featured in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, is a temporary transformation. Although Pokémon Champions also includes Mega Evolutions, it’s uncertain how well-received the game will be and whether it will significantly impact competitive battling.

Chimecho didn’t really need a Mega Evolution. It would have been better to give it a new evolution in a future game, perhaps as early as the next one coming out next year. While a Mega Chimecho is neat, it doesn’t significantly improve the Pokémon, and might even highlight how weak it is overall, especially when Mega Evolutions aren’t a feature anymore in Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Ultimately, a Mega Evolution feels more like a drawback than a benefit for this otherwise unremarkable Pokémon.

Honestly, getting a Mega Evolution for Chimecho feels like a bit of a consolation prize. It’s cool it finally got something, but I really would’ve preferred if Game Freak just took the time to give it a full-on, proper evolution. Waiting a little longer for that would have been way more satisfying.

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2025-11-08 00:37