Kalos Starters Finally Get Mega Evolutions
During a recent Nintendo Direct presentation, The Pokémon Company unveiled a wave of exciting new content for its upcoming title, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which is set to launch on October 16, 2025, for both Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Switch 2. The headline announcement that has captivated fans is the long-awaited reveal of Mega Evolutions for the Kalos region’s starter Pokémon.
After years of speculation, Chesnaught, Delphox, and Greninja will finally receive powerful new forms. The designs lean heavily into their core concepts:
- Mega Chesnaught takes on a more regal and defensive stance, appearing bulkier with enhanced armor.
- Mega Delphox fully embraces its mystical roots, depicted as a powerful witch riding a broomstick crafted from its signature branch.
- Mega Greninja enhances its ninja-like abilities, shown wielding a massive shuriken made of water.
These reveals confirm a series of earlier leaks that also correctly predicted other new Mega Evolutions for the game, including those for Dragonite, Hawlucha, and Malamar.
A Controversial Requirement for Kalos Megas
While the news of these new forms was met with initial excitement, details that emerged shortly after have sparked considerable debate among the player base. According to official information, obtaining the Mega Stones for Chesnaught, Delphox, and Greninja will not be possible through the main single-player story. Instead, players must have an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription and participate in the game’s online Ranked Battles.
The required Mega Stones will be distributed as rewards through the Z-A Battle Club over several competitive seasons. The rollout is staggered, meaning players will have to compete over an extended period to collect all three:
- Greninjite (for Mega Greninja) will be available as a reward during Ranked Battles Season 1, starting at the game’s launch on October 16, 2025.
- Delphoxite (for Mega Delphox) will be a reward in Season 2.
- Chesnaughtite (for Mega Chesnaught) will follow in Season 3.
This decision effectively places these highly anticipated Mega Evolutions behind a paywall and a competitive online requirement, a move that has drawn criticism from players who prefer offline or casual gameplay.
‘Mega Dimension’ DLC Introduces Mega Raichu X & Y
Nintendo also announced a paid downloadable content expansion titled Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Mega Dimension. This DLC will introduce a new post-game story centered around the Mythical Pokémon Hoopa, which is causing mysterious spatial distortions to appear in Lumiose City, leading to a new area called Hyperspace Lumiose.
The biggest surprise from the DLC announcement was the reveal of two brand-new Mega Evolutions for a classic Pokémon: Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y. These forms, which were not part of the previous leaks, will be exclusive to the Mega Dimension DLC. Mega Raichu X is described as a physical attacker that uses electromagnetism to land powerful blows, while Mega Raichu Y is a swift special attacker coursing with amplified electric power. As reported by digitaltrendstoday.com, players will need to find a unique Mega Stone for each form within the DLC’s story.
The Mega Dimension DLC will be available for purchase at launch, granting immediate access to cosmetic apparel. The additional story content is planned for release by February 28, 2026.
New Pokémon HOME Restrictions
Another significant detail revealed is a major change to how the game will interact with Pokémon HOME. In a departure from the service’s typical functionality, any Pokémon transferred from a previous game into Pokémon Legends: Z-A will be unable to be transferred back. This makes all transfers into the new game a one-way trip, a restriction that significantly alters the utility of Pokémon HOME for longtime collectors.
