Pokemon Legends: ZA has been in a sort of dormant state lately, as it has received frequent updates to match each new season that comes to the game every three weeks. But most of them hardly changed anything. Usually there were updates to rewards, like cycling through special Poke Balls as end-of-season rewards, or maybe some slight variations of the meta. Each season had its own rules until now, and not all Pokemon were eligible due to their DLC status, legendary status, mythic status, or restricted tags. The game even had players using only Pokemon with Mega Evolutions in them Pokemon Legends: ZA in Season 8, and it was the most distinctive overall despite mediocre rewards.
Now things are changing dramatically, and season 12 will be the start of a new era for Pokemon Legends: ZA. While the bounty mess will probably continue to happen non-stop, such as the game awarding missing Mega Stones when they reach certain ranks and the end-of-season rewards changing, there's a lot more coming on June 4th. In fact, Season 11 ends on June 4th and Season 12 begins immediately, bringing a massive change to the pokemon.
Today marks the official end of an era for Pokemon Legends: ZA
Pokemon Legends: ZA is getting a new update today, May 13, signaling the end of a long-standing structure for the competitive scene.
Season 12 makes Pokemon Legends: ZA a brand new game
- Season 11 ends on June 32026, at 6:59 PM PDT/9:59 PM ET
- Season 12 starts on June 32026, at 11pm PDT/June 4th2026, at 2 a.m. ET
Pokemon Legends: ZAs Mega Evolutions have long been the game's biggest appeal, especially in ranked battles, but Season 12 shakes things up massively. While previously players could only use certain Pokemon, this is no longer the case in Season 12.
Scratch & Peek
Identify the wrapper while scraping off as little foil as possible.
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Identify the wrapper while scraping off as little foil as possible.
EasyMediumHardPermadeath
Eligible Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: ZA Season 12
- Lumiose Pokedex: All Pokemon (numbers 001 to 232)
- Hyperspace Pokedex: All Pokemon (numbers 001 to 132)
- Limited Pokemon: Everything allowed without restrictions
Limited Pokemon include Pokemon Legends: ZA's Mewtwo, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde, Kyogre, Groudon and Rayquaza. Typically, a given ruleset only allows players to use one or two of these Pokémon, and some previous rulesets allowed none. But the official regulations for Pokemon Legends: ZA Season 12, available on Pokemon.com, throws all of that out the window and lets players use whatever Pokemon they want.
New questions added!
GameRant Quiz
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Light (15s)Medium (10s)Hard (5s)Permadeath (5s)
This is also a first for the series, as VGC has historically only allowed one or two restricted Pokémon, while Pokemon Legends: ZA now allows a full team of three limited Pokémon starting June 4th. This is a big deal, as ranked battles will probably be filled to the brim with Kyogre, Groudon, Xerneas, and Mewtwo, given that these are the strongest meta-Pokémon in Legends: ZA.
Pokemon Legends: ZAs Mega Rayquaza isn't necessarily level, but it has an ace up its sleeve in that it doesn't need an item to Mega Evolve. In fact, if you want to know how to Mega Evolve Rayquaza in Pokemon Legends: ZAit can be evolved simply by knowing the Dragon Ascent move. As such, you can use any item on Mega Rayquaza in ranked battles, and the Focus Sash is a great choice.
Kyogre and Groudon are so strong that they don't really need their primary forms to shine. It is also worth noting that Pokemon Legends: ZA's Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon do not have their abilities active in ranked battles. This means that Kyogre is not immune to fire attacks, and Groudon does not become immune to water moves.
June 4 is the start of a new era for Pokemon Legends: ZA
Because this is the first time ever that all Pokemon will enter Pokemon Legends: ZA's Pokedex and DLC Pokedex are usable without limitations, it starts a new era for the game. It's a logical next step that future seasons either have to stick to the same rule set or create crazy ones, like just Mega Evolutions.
- Season 1: All base game Pokemon allowed, minus Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde. Introduced Mega Greninja.
- Season 2: All base game Pokemon allowed, minus Zygarde and Mewtwo. Introduced Mega Delphox.
- Season 3: All base game Pokemon allowed. One limited Pokemon per team. Diancie was considered a restricted Pokémon. Introduced the Mega Chesnaught.
- Season 4: Most Legendary and Mythical Pokemon banned, including restricted Pokemon. Introduced Mega Baxcalibur. Made DLC Pokemon usable for the first time.
- Season 5: Limited Pokemon not allowed. Introduced Mega Sceptile. Made most Legendaries and Mythicals usable for the first time.
- Season 6: All Pokemon are eligible, but only one restricted Pokemon is allowed. Introduced Mega Swampert.
- Season 7: All Pokemon are eligible, but only two restricted Pokemon are allowed. Introduced the Mega Blaziken.
- Season 8: Only Pokémon capable of Mega Evolution are allowed.
- Season 9: Most Legendary and Mythical Pokemon Banned.
- Season 10: Limited Pokemon not allowed.
- Season 11: All Pokemon are eligible, but only one restricted Pokemon is allowed.
Normally, each rule set either rendered some Pokemon unusable, such as Pokemon Legends: ZAs Mega Zeraora and its base form, or had restrictions on the strongest mons in the game. These restrictions are all gone in Season 12, so starting June 4th, players will have a whole new playground in Ranked Battles. Not only that, but this sets an exciting precedent for the game, and future seasons may introduce even more unique rulesets.
All rewards for Pokemon Legends: ZA Season 12
Who is that character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
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Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)
First of all, it is worth mentioning that season 12 runs from Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 11pm PDT/June 4th at 02:00 a.m. ET through Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 6:59 PM PDT/9:59 PM ET. This means that season 13 will probably start on June 24 at 11pm PDT/June 25 at 2 a.m. ET. As usual, players can expect an update of Pokemon Legends: ZA Season 12 Rewards:
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Rank A
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Gold bottle cap x3
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Bottle cap x5
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Seed of Mastery x3
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Big Nugget x1
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Ranks B to E
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Gold bottle cap x2
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Bottle cap x3
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Seed of Mastery x2
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Nugget x2
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Rank F to I
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Gold bottle cap x1
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Bottle cap x2
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Seed of Mastery x1
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Nugget x2
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Grade J to M
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Bottle cap x1
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Seed of Mastery x1
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Nugget x2
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Rank N to R
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Seed of Mastery x1
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Nugget x1
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- Rank S or lower
In addition to that, players will be able to get all the ranked exclusive Mega Stoens in Pokemon Legends: ZA. Those and other rank-up rewards are as follows:
- Rank Y – Greninjite
- Rank X – Delphoxite
- Rank W – Chesnaughtite
- Rank V – Bax caliber
- Rank U – Sceptilite
- Rank T – Swampertite
- Rank S – Blazikenite
- Rank M – Safari Ball x1
- Rank I – Safari Ball x1
- Rank E – Safari Ball x2
- Rank D – Safari Ball x2
- Rank C – Safari Ball x3
- Rank B – Safari Ball x3
- Rank A – Safari Ball x5
These rewards will be given when they reach the respective rank rather than at the end of the season. As usual, players will also have their rank reset to Rank Z and must climb back to Rank A. If you played Season 11, remember to also get your previous End of Season rewards by going to the Ranked Battles screen.
