The three starters for release window for Pokémon Legends: Z - A was unveiled, as well as footage highlighting the renewed version of Lumiose City in Kalos, where the game will be set.

The title in the classic franchise will take on a similar approach as that of Legends: Arceus, offering players a free experience within its world map and allowing them to engage with wild Pokémon without having to initiate a battle. As such, players can expect to freely throw Poké Balls at the creatures in the open world to attempt to capture them, though battling will also be available to improve your catch rates. Furthermore, it’s been announced that there will be significant changes to the battle system in Pokémon Legends: Z - A, including real-time combat and positioning.

Pokémon Legends Z - A’s Starters Have Been Revealed

The Lineup Consists Of Chikorita, Tepig, & Totodile

During the Pokémon Presents event, which was broadcast on the official Pokémon channel on YouTube, the company revealed more details about the game and showcased the three starters that will compose the initial partner lineup for players to choose from at the beginning of their adventure. The three starters in Legends: Z - A will be Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile. For any unaware players, Chikorita will be the Grass-type starter, while Tepig will be the Fire-type starter. Lastly, Totodile will be the Water-type starter in the title. Typically, these three starters’ final evolutions are Meganium, Emboar, and Feraligatr, respectively.

The footage revealed through the second official trailer and the extended look into the game did not showcase any of these three starter’s evolutions, however. The videos focused solely on presenting the three starter Pokémon for the return to the Kalos region. Other starters will likely also be available in the game, though not as part of the starter lineup here. During the videos, it’s possible to see Mega Charizard, which not only confirms the returning mechanic in the game but teases the possibility of acquiring Charmander and other starters that have Mega Evolutions in Pokémon Legends Z - A.

Chosen Starters In Pokémon Legends: Z - A Seem Odd, But They May Improve

Their Final Evolutions May Follow The Path Taken By Legends: Arceus

The selection of the starter lineup for the game feels a bit strange. The first reason is because of these creatures’ popularity. While there is a saying that states that “every Pokémon is someone’s favorite Pokémon,” Chikorita and Tepig don’t have the largest fan bases across starters of their respective types. Among Grass-types, Pokémon like Treecko, Turtwig, and Snivy are a lot more popular, even if they don’t match the ranks of Bulbasaur, for example. Amidst Fire-type starter Pokémon, creatures like Torchic, Chimchar, and Fennekin are more popular than Tepig. This applies to their final evolution forms, too.

Meganium and Emboar, respectively, are not as beloved by the community when compared to Sceptile, Torterra, Serperior, Blaziken, Infernape, and Delphox, for example. There is merit to Meganium’s and Emboar’s respective designs and gameplay kits, but, currently, they don’t feel like strong headliner starters to push a new game. The exception to the rule is Totodile. Not only is the starter popular, but its final form, Feraligatr, also has a large dedicated fanbase. As such, it feels like the official starter lineup for Pokémon Legends: Z - A leaves no option other than to pick Totodile as your first partner.

Another strange decision in the starter lineup is the inclusion of two starters from the same region. Both Chikorita and Totodile are starters from Johto.

While the starter lineup is somewhat odd given the wide breadth of possibilities that could’ve composed it in a more popular and varied way, avoiding the overlap of the two Generation 2 starters, there is still a chance for it to be drastically improved. This is because these starters’ final forms may get alternative forms. In the previous title of the Legends category, the starters Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and Oshawott all evolved into Hisuian forms of their regular evolutions. The starters’ Hisuian evolutions in Pokémon Legends: Arceus renewed what would’ve been a fairly simple starter lineup.

These new evolutions not only boasted new designs, most of which were better than the original forms, but also new type combinations and, subsequently, gameplay possibilities. While the regular Typhlosion is a Fire-type creature, Hisuian Typhlosion is a Fire- and Ghost-type, which allows it to learn different moves and take on different gameplay strategies – not counting the fact that its design is a lot more appealing than its regular form. Hisuian Typhlosion in Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the perfect example of how Legends: Z - A could improve its current lineup.

Kalos Forms For Starter Evolutions In Pokémon Legends: Z - A Could Renew Their Value

The Starter’s Final Evolutions Could Also Have Mega Evolutions

The possibility of seeing Kalos forms for the evolutions of Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile is exciting, and it could renew the value that these starters currently have. With a new design and typing, a Kalos form Meganium could be a better Grass-type option to employ in parties than its regular version. The same could be said about the other starters, too. The chances of having new typings applied to these classic Pokémon in Legends: Z - A could make them more effective in battle than before, especially Meganium and Feraligatr, both of which only have one type so far.

This is further improved when considering the high possibility of these starter evolutions also having Mega Evolutions in addition to their renewed Kalos form designs. Mega Evolutions are a central part of the Kalos story and will play an important part in the gameplay structure of the game. It would feel like a waste if the player’s first partner Pokémon were locked out of the mechanic, so it feels logical to presume that these starters’ evolutions will get brand-new Mega Evolutions in Pokémon Legends: Z - A – at least if they don’t have a Kalos form.

There is also a chance that Nintendo will opt to give them Mega Evolutions instead of new Kalos forms, for example.

For now, this is all speculation, but based on the previous behavior in the Legends series, it’s likely that these starters will be revisited and tweaked in some shape or form, either through new evolution variants, Mega Evolutions for their final forms, or both. Regardless of what is decided, the current feeling of a poor starter lineup may soon vanish with whatever is in store for Pokémon Legends: Z - A.

Source: YouTube/The Official Pokémon YouTube Channel