The new wave of information about Pokémon Legends ZA arrives with a trailer focused on its multiplayer and impressions of the demo shown during the World Championship. The main focus is on a fast-paced, ranked combat format. that tests the management of space, time and resources.
The game also confirms key gameplay advancements, such as real-time action, new ways to apply moves, and the return of a classic risk element: poison damage outside of combat. All of this fits into a proposal that recovers Megaevolution and integrates it into modern systems.
ZA Fight Club: Rules, Scoring, and Modes
The ZA Fighting Club offers matches of up to four participants. in which you have to weaken as many rival creatures as possible in a maximum time of three minutes. Each kill adds points, and the winner is the one with the best score at the end of the time.
Each player starts at a different point on the stage., choose which Pokémon to bring out at the start and can vary their selection after falling and respawning with their team recovered. Rotating the squad during the match provides an additional tactical layer..
Megapower orbs appear in the field that allow you to activate Mega Evolution, as well as temporary items that boost statistics. Reading the environment and collection priority are vital to maintain the initiative.
The mode offers online and local connection play, including a Qualifier that scales from Rank Z to Rank A based on performance. Private matches can also be created using login codes for closed groups.
- 3 minute games: Add points for each weakened rival Pokémon.
- Respawn with healed gear and the ability to change Pokémon upon return.
- Mega Evolution via Orbs and objects with temporary effects.
- Online Qualifier with rank progression from Z to A and private rooms by code.
A real-time combat that changes the pace
The action leaves the classic turn to embrace a real-time system, where trainers and Pokémon move freely while executing moves. Positioning and control of space are decisive.
The movements have different scopes and effects: Some hit circular areas, others hit in a line or at a distance, which requires careful calibration of direction, coverage and timing of use.
Mega Evolution can be reactivated multiple times in a single game. as long as enough Mega Power Orbs are collected; in the demo, it was activated by pressing the right stick, reinforcing its nature as a resource to be managed.
Impressions point to an increase in demand compared to traditional games, with a faster pace and greater emphasis on dodging, anticipating patterns, and reading impact areas.
- Controls (demo): ZL to lock on; A/B/X/Y to move while locked on; D-pad up/down to take out/withdraw; Y to roll; B to dash; X for menu; right stick (click) for Mega Evolution.
What the demo showed at the Pokémon World Cup
The Pokémon World Championships 2025 demo It allowed us to explore sections of Luminalia City and fight battles that give a glimpse into how the Legends formula is evolving.
The city is organized into color-coded districts and sectors, which are unlocked as you progress through the story or after completing key battles. It's a dense map that aims to guide progress without losing freedom.
Items have cooldown to avoid repetitive use, and attribute increases/decreases are temporary and have a visible timer, which encourages you to decide wisely when to press and when to retreat.
No skills (a la Legends: Arceus), but there are natures, and they can be modified by using certain herbs. The game also displays how many Pokémon there are in each area and how many you've caught; clearing an area earns you a crown, and the crowns you've earned are counted.
In some PvE matches, more aggressive Mega Pokémon appear.; hitting them generates mega-power orbs, reinforcing the risk-reward cycle during exploration and the toughest duels.
Performance, versions and release date
Those who tried the demo speak of a very high fluidity and are aiming for a 60 FPS target, along with a notable visual improvement over recent releases, with cleaner settings, better lighting, and a more uniform presentation.
Pokémon Legends ZA is scheduled for release on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. with an enhanced version for the new console. The date marked on the calendar is October 16, and online multiplayer will require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
Luminalia City looks more vibrant and detailed., with an urban design that blends technology and green spaces. The verticality and sectional access invite you to retrace steps and take shortcuts as the team grows.
The poison returns outside of combat
The demo left another relevant sign: poison damage returns outside of combat. after years of absence. If a Pokémon is poisoned, it will continue to take damage ticks when moving around the world.
Poison does not knock out the Pokémon., stops when it reaches 1 HP, but forces you to heal with antidotes or visit a Pokémon Center. It's a setting that adds tension to exploration and rewards planning..
This mechanic had disappeared since the era of Black and White, so his return generates divided opinions: increases the sense of danger for some and an extra inconvenience for others, especially in areas with poisonous rivals.
Featuring competitive time-trial multiplayer, continuous combat, and layers of resource management, Pokémon Legends ZA profile a proposal that combines nostalgia with modern ideas (real-time, sectors, cooldown items). The date is set, and judging by the demo and trailer, Kalos is ready to debut a unique battle and exploration mode.
