Mega Evolutions are coming back in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. These powerful, temporary transformations are one of the most popular battle gimmicks in the RPG series, and not only is Legends: Z-A giving Pokémon the chance to Mega Evolve into their old forms again, it’s also giving some new Mega forms to Pokémon who didn’t get them the first time around.
These forms typically exaggerate traits possessed by the original Pokémon, but some are definitely more compelling than others. Whether we compare design, lore implications, or competitive ability, not all Mega Evolutions are created equal. Some are iconic, having become synonymous with their respective monsters’ designs. Others are not good and have been kind of forgotten, unless they’re brought up in the context of dunking on how lame they were. There are over 50 of them so far, and we’re here to rank all of them. We’ll update this ranking as more are revealed leading up to Legends: Z-A.
Latios and Latias
It pains me to put my girl Latias at the bottom of this list, and it pains me even more to have to lump her into one entry with her brother Latios because Game Freak made the two jet plane dragons identical in their Mega forms. The pair’s blue and red color schemes merge into a uniform purple, and the only real difference between the two is their eye color. A real missed opportunity to diverge them more rather than making them the same.
Mewtwo X
It’s a good thing Mewtwo got two Mega forms, and one is pretty good, because Mega Mewtwo X’s bulkier frame looks extremely off on the typically sleek psychic-type legendary.
Pinsir
Mega Pinsir looks like the kind of unidentifiable bug I would have seen flying around the woods while living in the Georgia boonies, and for that, I think it should be squished.
Sharpedo
Sharpedo’s the first on this list of Mega Evolutions that just looks like a pre-teen’s notebook redesign doodle. More stripes and more pointy things. That’s all.
Tyranitar
See, this is what I’m talking about. Half of the Mega Evolutions don’t even seem to have a real concept beyond cranking the visual elements up.
Garchomp
How is Mega Garchomp going to hold a plate of spaghetti with those scythe hands?
Venusaur
They gave Venusaur a hat.
Gardevoir
It says a lot about this design that I had to stare at it for several seconds to realize what was different from the original.
Gengar
Gengar’s third eye opened, and it saw the infinitely superior Gigantamax form it would get in Galar.
Lopunny
Game “Freak” is right.
Manectric
They made my guy carry the literal weight of electricity on his back.
Pidgeot
I really like the additional blue in the color scheme, but overall, Mega Pidgeot just kinda looks like another regular bird.
Charizard Y
Like Mewtwo, Charizard also has two Mega Evolutions, and one is far superior to the other. Mega Charizard Y looks almost like an early concept for a Mega that didn’t quite go all the way. At a glance, it looks pretty close to the original, and even its defining trait of a third horn on its head isn’t that noticeable if you’re not viewing it from the right angle.
Raichu Y
He’s cute, but I’m not a fan of Game Freak making a Raichu form look more like Pikachu.
Greninja
Putting Greninja upside down and hanging off a giant shuriken is a cool concept, but it doesn’t do much with the actual new design.
Medicham
Motherfucker said “domain expansion.”
Absol
“It’s not a phase, Mom! This is who I am!”
Abomasnow
The Pokémon world’s abominable snowman monster becomes more abominable.
Aggron
A tanky boi becomes an armored tank. I’d trust him to bulldoze over any foe.
Aerodactyl
I was ready to drop Aerodactyl lower until I saw that, apparently, its Mega form is meant to be what the pterodactyl looked like before it was fossilized, and that’s pretty cool.
Blaziken and Lucario
I’m lumping Blaziken and Lucario into the same entry because they’re basically the same design. They get these cool frilly things that look like martial arts bands. They lean into both Pokémon’s fighting typing to let them aura farm at the top of a tall mountain with the moon in the background, probably.
Scizor
Mega Scizor is a pretty natural exaggeration of the armor-plated bug’s original form, but it’s apparently now so full of energy that it’s actually melting as it holds this form. That’s metal.
Camerupt
Mega Camerupt is one of the Mega Evolutions that kinda seems like it should have just been a standard evolution because it builds so well off the original’s concept. The camel Pokémon’s mountain-like humps turn into an active volcano, and he becomes an angry, explosive dude. It’s giving Anger from Inside Out.
Mawile
Mawile’s Mega form is very similar in aesthetic to Blaziken’s and Lucario’s, but the weird little guy grows a second mouth on the back of its head, and if you don’t think that’s the tightest shit, I don’t know what to tell you.
Metagross
Metagross now has four arms, which means twice as many hugs.
Heracross
Oh, the smells you will smell with that nose, my guy.
Steelix
The crystalized segments of its extended body are dope, but it’s also cool as shit that it has its own gravitational pull, with an almost asteroid-belt-like structure floating around its neck.
Rayquaza
Mega Rayquaza nearly approaches the “overdesigned” threshold by nudging an already pretty elaborate Pokémon into something that kinda looks like someone was just slapping decorations on the dragon and seeing what would stick. But Mega Rayquaza’s lore as a sort of god believed to have been born out of humanity’s wish for salvation makes him one of the more grandiose and mysterious Mega Evolutions in the series, and I am too much of a Pokémon world-building sicko to not give it a bump for that.
Kangaskhan
Mega Kangaskhan is funny because the Mega Evolution mostly applies to the little baby the mother carries in her pouch. It turns into a battle-ready child, and according to the Pokedex, the mother is concerned about its future because it only knows how to fight, and it worries about the day that it is old enough to leave her pouch for good. We love a parental existential crisis in our Mega Evolution.
Gyarados
Mega Gyarados is a bulkier and more destructive version of one of the most terrifying creatures in the Pokémon world. The addition of the dark typing makes it intimidating and comes through in its black-and-red design.
Houndoom
My guy is wearing what looks like a mammoth skull around his neck. I love him, your honor.
Glalie
Mega Glalie is one of those really horrifying Mega Evolutions that you almost can’t believe is in a Pokémon game. Its jaw has become unhinged and it can no longer close it, so it goes hungry because it can’t eat. Hardcore.
Blastoise
Blastoise definitely fares a bit better than Venusaur and Charizard Y in the Mega Evolution department. Brother’s carrying some heavy artillery on his back now, as well as arm cannons to replace the shoulder ones of its base form. Blastoise becomes a walking arsenal.
Diancie
Diancie goes from a pretty but kinda forgettable mythical Pokemon to a full-blown magical girl after it mega evolves. Slay.
Swampert
Swole boy.
Raichu X
Thank you, Game Freak, for putting respect on Raichu’s name. Raichu X is a bit overdesigned, but beggars can’t be choosers. That’s my boy and shaped like an X. I live.
Chesnaught
Chesnaught hate is so forced, and its Mega Evolution has a kickass mace, so watch your mouth.
Gallade
My guy gets knighted. Look at his sick cape. Mega Gallade is on his way to the Met Gala. I wish my fit went that hard.
Banette
Banette mega evolving and letting all its vindictive life force flow out of its doll-like body goes hard.
Hawlucha
Mega Hawlucha becomes a decorated luchador, and I must give it its flowers.
Dragonite
Mega Dragonite is a divisive form, but I think the way it sports those goofy head wings as a representation of its previous evolution’s traits is almost a funny meta joke toward those who complain that it doesn’t look enough like Dragonair. He’s goofy, but I trust him.
Sableye
Mega Sableye is every introvert’s fantasy of having something to hide behind at all times.
Malamar
I am immune to hypnosis, so Mega Malamar was not able to brainwash me into putting it at the top of this list, but this Megamind-ass skinny legend is still serving.
Altaria
Altaria is already one of the most beautiful Pokémon in the Pokedex, and giving it an even bigger bougie-ass cloud to carry on its back and a whole puffy white wig on its head has Mega Altaria ready for its Ruveal.
Mewtwo Y
Finally, Mega Mewtwo Y lets Mewtwo become the weird little alien freak he was always meant to be.
Audino
Audino is based on a nurse in its base form, so getting a “promotion” into a full-blown doctor with a lab coat as a Mega Evolution is a really cute concept, though I think I might have liked it more as a separate evolved form.
Beedrill
Beedrill goes from an unassuming stinger bee to what looks like a vicious hornet. That motherfucker is mean-mugging you at the outdoor lunch function and is about to start flying over your dish.
Victreebel
Another win for the goofy guys. Victreebel wraps vines around its throat to keep all its toxic fluid inside its engorged belly, and as a result, it looks like a smiley doofus. That shit rules, actually.
Salamence
Salamence dreamed of flying as a wee little Bagon, and once it Mega Evolves, it becomes a crescent-moon-shaped, jet-like dragon. It is Icarus flying too close to the sun, achieving the flight it always dreamed of, but has become misshapen in the process. Now it’s just a violent, flying killing machine. Impeccable concept.
Alakazam
“Experience tranquility”
Delphox
They gave her a witch’s broom to ride on. She’s the supreme witch now.
Sceptile
You know how some reptiles can regrow their tails if they’re severed in some way? What if that tail was also a missile?
Slowbro
We’ve got one more goofy guy near the top of this list. Mega Slowbro expands on the “Shellder latching onto its body” concept by increasing the shell-like creature’s hold on Slowbro. Now, instead of hanging out on its tail, it engulfs the whole body, with Slowbro more or less being along for the ride. It bounces on its tail, which pokes out of the bottom of the Shellder, but while all this makes it sound like Mega Evolution is a bad time for the Slowbro, it does benefit from impenetrable armor encasing its body, and it’s mostly comfortable with the arrangement.
Charizard X
The most iconic “dragon” in Pokémon finally gets to be a dragon type. The blue and black color scheme harkens to its base shiny form, but the blue flames pouring from its mouth at all times imply a growing fiery power that its original form can’t quite reach. Mega Charizard X is the dragon unshackled.
Ampharos
What if Mega Evolution not only stimulated hair growth, bringing back Ampharos’ pre-evolution white wool, but also awakened dormant dragon’s blood in the sheep-like line? That’s fucking sick. Ampharos is the best example of a Mega Evolution not just expanding upon a base concept, but considering what else is possible.