Some Mega Evolutions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A Locked Behind Switch Online
Chesnaught, Delphox, and Greninja receive Mega forms tied to subscription play.
Summary
- Some Mega Evolutions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A will require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to unlock.
- Mega forms for Chesnaught, Delphox, and Greninja will be tied to Ranked Battle rewards across different seasons.
- Players can only hold one of each exclusive Mega Stone at a time, making farming and collection more limited.
Getting every Mega Evolution in Pokémon Legends: Z-A might take more than patience.
It’ll also take a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, plus a willingness to grind through Ranked Battles.
The result? A system that looks less like a fun collectible feature and more like a gated reward system designed for competitive players.
Related
Kalos Starters Get Megas
The September 12 Nintendo Direct (watch below) confirmed what earlier leaks hinted at: 26 new Mega Evolutions are coming, including fresh forms for the Kalos starter trio.
Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie will be able to Mega Evolve once they hit their final stages, turning into Mega Chesnaught, Mega Delphox, and Mega Greninja.
It’s a flashy update for creatures that haven’t gotten much spotlight in years.
The downside is that their shiny new stones, Chesnaughtite, Delphoxite, and Greninjite, won’t just appear in your bag like in older games. They’re tied to Nintendo Switch Online and will only drop as Ranked Battle rewards.
That means no subscription, no stones.
And even with the subscription, you’ll need to show up for competitive seasons, win battles, and hope you keep pace with the rollout.
How It Works
Game Freak laid it out in the latest trailer and follow-up info:
| Pokémon | Evolution Stone | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Chesnaught | Chesnaughtite | Ranked Battles Season 1, starting Oct 16 |
| Mega Delphox | Delphoxite | Ranked Battles Season 2 |
| Mega Greninja | Greninjite | Ranked Battles Season 3 |
The first season kicks off October 16, the same day Pokémon Legends: Z-A launches. One season, one stone.
Miss a window, and it’s unclear if there will be a second chance later.
There’s also a one-per-player restriction. You can’t hoard multiple Chesnaughtite stones, for example.
And since these stones aren’t stackable, farming them across seasons won’t help.
The Grind Ahead
If Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are any indication, Ranked Battle seasons usually run about a month. Keeping to that cycle, the full Kalos Mega trio won’t be obtainable until late 2025.
That’s a long wait just to give your frog, fox, and hedgehog some new spikes and fire tricks.
The bigger question is whether the rewards will repeat. Right now, the official word is silent. If they don’t recycle, players who miss out may be permanently locked out of these Mega forms.
For casual fans, that could mean buying the game and never touching a big part of its new gimmick.
For competitive players, though, it’s just another set of hurdles. Pay the subscription, show up each season, and check the box.
Everyone else? Good luck filling the Pokédex.
About Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the next mainline entry in the long-running Pokémon franchise, developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company.
Announced during a Nintendo Direct, the game expands on the experimental direction first seen in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, mixing open-world exploration with new mechanics tied to competitive play.
The game will reintroduce Mega Evolutions, a feature popularized in Pokémon X and Y. This includes brand-new Mega forms for the Kalos starter Pokémon, Chesnaught, Delphox, and Greninja, confirmed through promotional trailers.
Players will need to obtain special Mega Stones to unlock these evolutions, with distribution tied to Nintendo Switch Online and seasonal Ranked Battle rewards.
Set to release worldwide on October 16, 2025, Pokémon Legends: Z-A will launch exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.
It aims to appeal to both casual fans interested in exploration and competitive players seeking to engage with the online battle system.
The structure of its seasonal content suggests ongoing support and updates long after release.
The iconic sequel to Banjo-Kazooie is launching on October 25, now with widescreen support.
