Pokémon Legends Z-A Datamine: New Mega Evolutions, Included Moves, and Items Revealed

Discover the latest on Pokémon Legends: Z-A—new Mega Evolutions, included and cut moves, and all items revealed by day-one datamines! Get an inside look at Kalos’s freshest meta shakeup and see which moves made the cut.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest evolution in Game Freak’s celebrated franchise, has ignited an explosion of excitement and heated discussion across the Pokémon community. With the game set to launch October 16th, fans just can’t contain themselves—especially now that early datamines have lifted the lid on included moves, items, and cut content, giving us our first real taste of the strategic meta lurking beneath Kalos’s neon skyline.​

Datamine Delivers Mega Surprises

Let’s start with the headliners: Mega Evolutions. Datamining by the likes of Kaphotics and CentroLeaks has revealed code for brand-new Mega forms, not just for nostalgic favorites but for three Legendary Pokémon: Mega Zeraora, Mega Heatran, and Mega Darkrai. Each comes with its own Mega Stone, hinting that special events or future DLC (think the much-rumored “Mega Dimensions”) will be necessary to unlock these enigmatic beasts. Fans who remember the drama surrounding Zeraora’s canceled mega form in 2024 are especially stoked for its redemption arc.​

But that’s just the beginning. All Mega Evolutions from Pokémon X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire are back—except for Mega Rayquaza (and its infamous Dragon Ascent move) along with Primal Groudon and Kyogre. This move marks a big, bold return of strategic variety, but with a fresh twist.​

Trimmed Moveset, Refined Battles

One of the more controversial changes comes in the move pool itself. Dataminers have identified 247 usable moves, a leaner and tighter selection compared to previous games. Fan favorites like Fire Punch, Swords Dance, and Liquidation are all present, making competitive building as fun as ever. But don’t expect to spam Pound, Mega Punch, or Pay Day—these (and several other legacy moves) have been cut, likely in service of a more streamlined battle engine and to keep power creep in check.​​

Signature moves are here for the mythical mascots: Thousand Arrows and Waves for Zygarde, Steam Eruption for Volcanion—yet curiously, Darkrai’s Dark Void and Heatran’s Magma Storm are missing, possibly held for a dramatic future update.

Items and Compatibility

It wouldn’t be Pokémon without a treasure trove of items. From new Mega Stones to a complete overhaul of held item mechanics, nearly every fan-favorite item makes a comeback, albeit with approachable tweaks for the Legend series’ exploratory style. Data shows internal slots for abilities—even if they’re not yet active—raising hopes that future updates will re-enable hidden ability combos, yet another nod to competitive players who crave depth.​

Real-Life Relevance and Human Touch

It’s hard not to feel the electricity in the air, kind of like the midnight rush for game releases back in the day (which, by the way, Pokémon Legends: Z-A gets on October 16 for Switch and Switch 2). The datamine leaks have stoked both nostalgia and anticipation, leaving room for plenty of speculation—and a dash of controversy too, as longtime fans debate the balance between new content and legacy features.​

Final Thoughts: Legends Born Anew

Pokémon Legends: Z-A isn’t just another reboot—it’s Game Freak’s bold experiment in keeping the franchise sharp and surprising, balancing nostalgia with innovation. Whether you’re a battle strategist building your dream mega team, a story explorer hoping for new dimensions, or just someone who loves seeing what’s next for Pikachu and pals, Z-A feels like a true celebration of everything we love about Pokémon—and just maybe, what’s yet to come. What’s been cut is just as telling as what’s been included, setting the stage for updates, DLC, and maybe a few jaw-dropping surprises down the road.