One of the oddest things Game Freak did with Pokémon X and Y a decade ago was introducing the Mega Evolution mechanic and not giving a beefier form to the game’s three starters: Greninja, Chesnaught, and Delphox. Greninja went on to have a special “Ash-Greninja” form based on a transformation shown in the anime, but none of the Kalos starters got to take part in their region’s battle gimmick. That’s finally changing in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
Game Freak announced that Greninja, Chesnaught, and Delphox are all getting Mega Evolutions during today’s Nintendo Direct. Mega Chesnaught gains more armor on its shell and carries a spear, Mega Delphox rides a witch’s broom, and Mega Greninja hangs upside down on a water shuriken.
The Mega Stones you’ll need to evolve these three Pokémon will be given out as rewards for taking part in Ranked Battles, so it sounds like you’ll need an online membership to get them. These stones will be available in the first three seasons of Ranked play, and that means if you want all three, you’ll have to dedicate time to climbing the ranks. Hopefully this doesn’t make it too difficult for less-skilled players to get these Mega Stones. Stop being so sweaty, I’m just trying to make my Delphox the Supreme Witch.
The Kalos starters aren’t the only new Mega Evolutions that were announced during the Direct. Raichu is getting two different Mega forms as part of Legends: Z-A‘s paid DLC called Mega Dimension, but we don’t really know much else about the expansion at this time. Shoutout to Game Freak for correcting these tragic omissions that should have been around back in X and Y. I can finally stop yelling about the decades of Raichu disrespect.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is launching on Switch and Switch 2 on October 16.