I'm Already Heartbroken About My Shiny Pokemon Legends: ZA Mega Evolution

Although one could argue that Pokemon Legends: ZA isn't exactly the easiest game in the franchise, I find it pretty straightforward in terms of combat, mechanics, exploration, and more. For this reason, I was more than appalled by the game's lengthy tutorial, as I felt it wasn't necessary, and it ended up limiting the ability to explore Lumiose City a lot. As soon as I finished the tutorial, I started looking for some of my favorite Pokemon, whether it was Staryu in Pokemon Legends: ZA's Wild Zone 2 at night or Litleo in Wild Zone 3. Not long after my first campaign matches, I started experimenting with the game's shiny hunting mechanics, and that's how I found my very first shiny – an Alpha Litleo, sleeping in Wild Zone 3.

I was extremely happy to have found it, and it felt like it was meant to be that Mega Pyroar might be my new favorite Mega Evolution. Pokemon Legends: ZA has been a great experience so far for me, and I even decided to leave my Emboar behind to create a non-starter team because I desperately wanted Mega Pyroar instead. But the monkey's paw curled.

shiny alpha litleo in pokemon legends za

I received it blank Pokemon Legends: ZA that I wanted mostly as my first, and as an alpha too, but I just found out that the game is already breaking my heart. As it became clear to me then, you don't get all the Mega Stones Pokemon Legends: ZA from the start, but rather via story progression, Stone Emporium and by trading Mega Shards. Unfortunately, Mega Pyroar's Pyroarite is only available during Mission 37, which is the last mission in the game before the post-game content.

How to get every new mega evolution and stone in Pokemon Legends: ZA

To be honest, I was shocked that a Pokémon Games that revolve around the most beloved gimmick in the franchise would timegate Mega Stones for the new Mega Evolutions behind missions that require many hours into the story, but I wasn't prepared for this. Many of the new Mega Evolutions are only available very late into the game, meaning that no matter what, you can't have an entire team of new Megas early on, even if there are 26 of them.

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Mega Greninja: Greninjite is available in ranked battles when reaching Rank K or higher.
Mega Delphox: Delphoxite is available as Greninjite, but in Season 2.
Mega Chesnaught: Chesnaughtite is available as Greninjite, but in season 3.
Meganium: Meganiumite is obtained during mission 10 if Chikorita is your starter.
Mega Emboar: Emboarite is obtained during mission 10 if Tepig is your starter.
Mega Feraligatr: Feraligite is obtained during mission 10 if Totodile is your starter.
Mega Drampa: Drampanite can be purchased for Mega Shards.
Mega Victreebel: Victreebelite obtained after mission 13.
Mega Eelektross: Eelektrossite can be purchased for Mega Shards after mission 14.
Mega Excadrill: Excadrite can be purchased for Mega Shards after mission 14.
Mega Hawlucha: Hawluchanite obtained after mission 17.
Mega Chandelure: Chandelurite can be purchased for Mega Shards after Mission 19.
Mega Falinks: Falinksite can be purchased for Mega Shards after Mission 19.
Mega Barbaracle: Barbaracite obtained after mission 22.
Mega Scolipede: Scolipite can be purchased for Mega Shards after Mission 24.
Mega Skarmory: Skarmorite can be purchased for Mega Shards after Mission 24.
Mega Froslass: Froslass site obtained after Mission 27.
Mega Clefable: Clefablite can be purchased for Mega Shards after Mission 30.
Mega Dragalge: Dragalgite can be purchased for Mega Shards after Mission 30.
Mega Scrafty: Scraftinite can be purchased for Mega Shards after Mission 30.
Mega Dragonite: Dragoninite is obtained after Mission 32.
Mega Starmie: Starminite obtained after Mission 34.
Mega Zygarde: Zygardite is obtained during Mission 37.
Mega Malamar: Malamarite can be bought for Mega Shards after Mission 37.
Mega Pyroar: Pyroarite can be purchased for Mega Shards after Mission 37.

Pokemon Legends: ZA is officially taking time off from its best content for no reason

Pokemon Legends ZA Mega Malamar trailer thumb

What this means is that, aside from Eternal Flower Floette and Mega Floette, Mega Pyroar and Mega Malamar are the absolute last new Mega Evolutions you unlock in the game, even after Mega Zygarde. It doesn't make sense to me that these new Megas for Pokemon that aren't as popular as others are just after the game, and I couldn't believe my eyes when I learned this.

Storywise, having Zygarde unlocked right at the end makes perfect sense, and I don't think anyone would have put it in their planned starting lineup. However, locking Pokemon Legends: ZAs Mega Malamar and Pyroar behind to end the game is just ridiculous, and it makes even less sense considering Malamar's Mega Evolution was possibly the most hyped of the bunch.

Pokemon Legends: ZA's Timegated Mega Evolutions is a headscratcher

Likewise, I get it if some Megas need to be timed for story purposes or just game balance. Mega Starmie is OP in Pokemon Legends: ZAso I'm not too mad that it's locked behind Mission 34, even though it's one of my favorites and even though I strongly believe that new Megas should have been available sooner. But random Pokemon like Pyroar being locked behind the whole game is a headscratcher, and it breaks my heart that my first and favorite shiny will only become more “valuable” at the end of the game. I would have loved to use Mega Pyroar on my team to take on Mega Beedril back in Mission 19, for example, but obviously that wasn't in the cards.