Fans rejoiced when Pokémon Legends: Z-A was announced during last year’s Pokémon Presents, and the excitement has only grown since.
Including "Legends" in the title and the return of Mega Evolutions sent the Pokémon community into a frenzy. But the hype didn’t stop there.
A groundbreaking reveal on February 27 took things even further during the 2025 Pokémon Presents, introducing a brand-new battle system featuring real-time battles, a first for mainline Pokémon games.
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+ 3Traditionally, from Pokémon Red and Blue to the latest titles, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the series has always followed a turn-based battle system—a strategic rock-paper-scissors formula enhanced by elemental types, weaknesses, and resistances.
However, that familiar system is about to change with the introduction of a real-time battle system in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Instead of being limited to selecting moves that deplete with each use, trainers and their Pokémon can now move freely around the battle area, dodging attacks and timing their moves using a cooldown-based system for balance.
This new approach allows players to strategically reposition their Pokémon, making attacks more effective or reducing incoming damage by dodging or defending—marking a major evolution in Pokémon battles.
While past Pokémon games have introduced innovations in exploration, such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus allowing players to catch Pokémon without entering battle or Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s fully open-world approach, no mainline game has ever transformed Pokémon combat into a true action RPG experience.
Previously, Evasiveness and Accuracy were determined by a Pokémon’s stats, influencing whether an attack would hit or miss. However, with this new system, success may depend entirely on the player's reflexes and decision-making, making battles more dynamic.
click to enlarge + 3Its predecessor, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, focused heavily on catching Pokémon and completing the Pokédex through missions and side quests. However, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is shaping up to be a game centered around battles, not only due to its new real-time battle system but also because we finally have an explanation—at least partially—for its seemingly random Z-A subtitle.
The Direct also revealed another new feature: Z-A Royale. In this competitive battle mode, skilled Trainers gather in designated battle zones at night to challenge each other and rank from Z to A—hence the title Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
Whether this is the only meaning behind the name remains to be seen, but it seems like the most fitting explanation for now. Many YouTube content creators and fans have compared the trailer’s tone and atmosphere to the 1999 film Fight Club due to the underground-style battle tournaments at night while most of the world is asleep, giving the game an edgier and more intense feel compared to past Pokémon titles.
click to enlarge + 3With Pokémon Legends: Z-A set for release in late 2025, the franchise is on the brink of a historic transformation. The introduction of real-time battles marks a bold departure from the traditional turn-based system, pushing Pokémon into a new era of action-packed strategy.
No longer just a game of stats and turn-based tactics, battles will now demand quick reflexes, precise positioning, and real-time decision-making. This shift modernizes the gameplay and redefines what it means to be a Pokémon Trainer.
As fans eagerly await its release, one thing is clear—Pokémon Legends: Z-A isn’t just another installment; it’s the beginning of a new age for Pokémon battles that could reshape the series for generations to come.