Is Pokemon Legends ZA a Sequel to Legends Arceus? Answered

Simply head to Reddit or Twitter, and you will see the Pokemon community engaged in a heated debate around whether Pokemon Legends ZA is a sequel to Pokemon Legends Arceus. Since both games are developed by Game Freak, certain similarities and differences might lead to confusion, suggesting that Legends Arceus might be a prequel to the Pokemon Legends ZA.

Well, let’s look at all the facts and compare both games to see if Pokemon Legends Z-A is actually a sequel to Legends Arceus or any other Pokemon game.

Is Pokemon Legends ZA a Sequel to Legends Arceus?

Pokemon Legends ZA is not a sequel to Pokemon Legends Arceus. I know, the names of both games may make it seem like they are interrelated, but actually, they are not.

Pokemon Legends ZA is set in Lumiose City, years after the Team Flare and Zygarde incident. On the other hand, Pokemon Legends Arceus is a prequel taking place 100 years before any mainline Pokemon game, following the early formation of the Sinnoh region. 

Pokemon Legends ZA and Legends Arceus Similarities

Pokemon Legends ZA and Legends Arceus both have a semi-open world mechanism. You can freely explore in both games, catch different Pokemon, while also challenging other trainers to battle. All of these are limited to certain areas, making it a semi-open world, unlike Scarlet and Violet, where you have the complete freedom to explore any area.

Another notable similarity is the bizarre Starter Pokemon roster. Pokemon Legends Arceus offered players a choice between Cyndaquil, Oshawott, and Rowlet, one each from Johto, Unova, and Alola, respectively. Pokemon Legends ZA starters follow in the same footsteps, bringing back the unique choice with Totodile, Chikorita, and Tepig, two from Johto and one from Unova.

Moreover, Legends ZA starters got another evolution beyond their usual final evolutions (Feraligatr, Meganium, and Emboar). Similar to how Arceus introduced the Hisuian evolution of Cyndaquil, Oshawott, and Rowlet, the starters got their first Mega Evolution in Legends ZA. Not only that, but some of the Pokemon that never had a Mega Evolution got one in this game.

Some of the Alpha Pokemon from Legends Arceus can be seen in Legends ZA. They are quite difficult to catch, but the unique moveset and boosted stats make catching them worth the pain.

Pokemon Legends ZA and Legends Arceus Differences

We have noticed many differences between Pokemon Legends ZA and Legends Arceus. All of these differences are listed below:

• Game Setting: Legends ZA is set in an urban expanse, the Lumiose City of Kalos, whereas Legends Arceus is set in the wilderness of Sinnoh, 100 years before any mainline series. 
• Battle: It focuses more on climbing ranks from Z-A and battling trainers throughout the city, while also catching Pokemon in the catching zone. Legends Arceus is more focused on catching Pokemon and completing the Pokedex.
• Multiplayer: Legends ZA mainly focuses on PvP and PvE battles in the ranked and unranked modes, which means you will battle players while also teaming up with them. Legends Arceus, on the other hand, had a limited multiplayer game mode. It restricted trading by allowing it only with friends.
• Art style: Legends Arceus also had a more sophisticated and neutral art style, adding to the environment. Legends ZA, on the other hand, brings a crisp and realistic art style that adds to its urban theme. 

• Battle Mechanics: Pokemon Legends ZA ditches the traditional turn-based battles and focuses more on the real-time battles, with attacks mapped to cooldown. Legends Arceus also had a real-time battle mode; however, it was more of a turn-based battle style, like the usual Pokemon games.
• Mega Evolution: Mega Evolutions were missing in Legends Arceus, but are back in Legends ZA after a decade. The lack of Mega Evolutions in Arceus made complete sense as the setting was 100 years before any mainline story, and Megas were only discovered around the X and Y timeline.
• Unique Phenomenon: Pokemon Legends Arceus had Frenzied Noble Pokemon, which were due to a unique phenomenon in the Hisui region. This causes all Noble Pokemon to act violently, making them large in size and shine brighter. Pokemon Legends ZA has a similar phenomenon, but it’s related to Mega Evolution. Wild Pokemon in Lumiose City can Mega Evolve using the Mega Crystals in the city, turning them into Rogue Mega Pokemon. These Pokemon are equally violent like the Noble Pokemon, and the only way to control them is by deafeating them.

Is Legends ZA a Sequel to Any Previous Pokemon Games?

As confirmed by The Pokemon Company, Pokemon Legends ZA is a sequel to Pokemon X and Y, released back in 2013 for the Nintendo 3DS. 

Pokemon Legends ZA is set in Lumiose City, five years after the events of the potential destruction of Kalos. While Kalos was saved by the main characters of X and Y, Lumiose City was destroyed as a result of the ‘Ultimate Weapon,’ a weapon of mass destruction created by AZ, which was used by Team Flare, and fueled by the power of Yveltal and Xerneas.

Legends ZA follows the urban redevelopment of Lumiose City, after the events in X and Y, and the destruction of Lumiose City. If this wasn’t enough, there is other evidence from the trailer.

If you notice closely, many returning characters from X and Y can be seen in the trailer. Remember Emma and Mimi (Espurr)? Emma has been teased as a grown-up adult, alongside Mimi.

AZ and Floette Eternal were also seen together in the series. We know that AZ and Floette Eternal reunited in X and Y, and their being together confirms the statement of ‘Legends ZA being a sequel of X and Y.’ We also noticed that the main protagonists look like Professor Sycamore, leading many in the community to speculate that they might be his children. 

Wrapping up, I hope this clears your doubt about Pokemon Legends ZA being a sequel of Legends Arceus. If you have any other speculation or suggestions that you think we missed, let us know in the comments below.