Z-A Could Reinvent X and Y’s Signature Move with a Fresh Spin

Nearly a year has passed since the initial reveal of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and with Pokémon Day just around the corner, we can expect a flood of new information soon. Among the details fans are most eager to learn are which Pokémon will be the starters in this upcoming title. Over the months, rumors and leaks have come and gone, leaving fans with more questions than answers about the direction Legends: Z-A will take with this pivotal decision.

The selection of starter Pokémon significantly contributes to a game’s identity within the franchise, and the choices Legends: Z-A offers will certainly leave a lasting impact as it steps into the spotlight. Interestingly, Pokémon X and Y managed to innovate in this area by introducing a set of starters that appealed to both seasoned players and new fans alike when they launched in 2013. With Legends: Z-A taking players back to the region of Kalos, we might see the series revisit that clever strategy.

As the Pokémon Legends: Z-A release draws near, speculation on the starter Pokémon remains active among fans. Generally, predictions fall into two camps: one expecting entirely new starters from various generations, and the other betting on the return of the original Kalos starters. However, it’s possible Legends: Z-A might not force a singular choice. Back in Pokémon X and Y, after players reached Lumiose City, they received an additional starter, a feature that could be ideally replicated in Legends: Z-A.

In Pokémon X and Y, players initially chose between three brand-new starters: the Grass-type Chespin, the Fire-type Fennekin, and the Water-type Froakie. Once they reached Professor Sycamore’s lab in Lumiose City, they had a chance to select an additional starter from the iconic Gen 1 trio. This second choice was a genius way to appeal to nostalgic fans while updating the experience with a fresh starter.

It’s an exciting possibility that Legends: Z-A might echo this approach by offering a second starter later in the game. Although introducing completely new starters is unlikely, the game might follow in the footsteps of Pokémon X and Y and offer players a selection from different past generations to begin their journey. As players progress, Legends: Z-A might give them the option to choose again, this time from the original Gen 6 starters: Chespin, Fennekin, or Froakie.

Following this path would not only satisfy fans eager for variety but could cleverly incorporate Mega Evolution. In Pokémon X and Y, each second starter came with a Mega Stone, enabling them to Mega Evolve. With rumors hinting at the Kalos starters getting new Mega Evolutions in Legends: Z-A, providing fans with one, along with its Mega Stone, would be a nostalgic nod to the Kalos games of the past.