Z-A Changes Forever On March 11

Pokémon Legends: Z-A was released back in October 2025, but it’s still receiving seasonal updates and occasionally new content. After hosting the Mega Dimension DLC, we’re about to get a new season soon, and Game Freak is changing things up quite a bit.

According to the Pokémon blog, sweeping changes are coming, and they might be polarizing for some players still keeping up with the game.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A Is Making Some Big Changes

A Seasonal Shift Is Coming

According to Game Freak, a “special season of Pokémon Z-A” is coming via Season 8. Set to kick off on March 11 at 11AM PT and ending on April 1 at 6:59PM PT, this special season has a specific ruleset that restricts who you can use: “Pokémon that have Mega Evolutions first introduced in the Pokémon Legends: Z-A game or the Mega Dimension DLC—including Zygarde and Mythical Pokémon.”

The big takeaway here is that it restricts the type of Pokémon you can use, full stop. But there’s another big proviso: held items are limited as well. If you have a sanctioned Mega Evolution, they’re allowed to use their respective Mega Stone as their held item. Otherwise, all other held items are ineligible to use in Season 8. That’s right: “no other held items are allowed.”

The rewards for Season 8 have also been revealed, if you’re willing to partake:

Rank A

Rank B to Rank E

Rank F to Rank R

Rank S and Below

New Rules For Pokémon Legends: Z-A

It Should Have A Big Impact

A terrified Trainer runs away from a Crobat and two Golbats in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

You might be wondering, “OK, what Pokémon can I use then?” Here’s everyone that’s included: “Eligible Pokémon for this special season of Ranked Battles (Season 8) include Lumiose Pokédex No. 003, 006, 009, 035, 037, 039 (Eternal Flower Floette only), 044, 046, 054 (Alolan Raichu excluded), 057, 070, 076, 121, 130, 134, 136, 144, 147, 160, 162, 171, 181, 185, 191, 211, 212, 215, 216, 219, 224, and 230, as well as Hyperspace Pokédex No. 015, 021, 031, 034, 051, 063, 072, 083, 088, 113, 125, 131, and 132.”

If you’re catching up on Pokémon Legends: Z-A online play, consider this a catch-up period: “Mega Stones returning as promotion rewards for Rank Y through Rank S include Greninjaite, Delphoxite, Chesnaughtite, Baxcalibrite, Sceptilite, Swampertite, and Blazikenite stones, respectively.” Those are old rewards, so you can claim them now without missing out on the FOMO once Season 8 begins.

It’s a good idea to mix things up in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, as the meta can get stale in any given Pokémon game. While veteran ranked players don’t have a ton to look forward to, newcomers can jump in and not feel like they’re lost.