Pokémon Has Discovered a New Way to Battle—but It Still Needs to Evolve

To longtime fans, Pokemon Legends: Z-A represents a bold evolution of the franchise. Rather than relying on the series’ traditional turn-based battles, the game introduces fast-paced, real-time combat that reimagines Pokémon as a light action game. While this shift feels ambitious and refreshing, it has also proven divisive among fans who value the strategic depth of the series’ long-standing battle system.

For years, Pokémon’s mainline entries have been criticized for struggling to meaningfully innovate. Experimental ideas were often relegated to spin-offs or mobile titles such as Pokémon Mystery Dungeon or Pokémon Go. Because of this, Legends: Z-A stands out as a rare attempt to introduce a major gameplay change within what many consider a core console release. However, with innovation comes risk.

Although Legends: Z-A introduces a new way to battle, it currently lacks the structure and rigor that typically support Pokémon’s competitive ecosystem. While the foundation is intriguing, it may not be enough to sustain a long-term competitive scene in its present form.

Game Freak and The Pokémon Company have added features that appear, at least on paper, to support competitive play. Unlike Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Legends: Z-A includes online battles with ranked progression. These matches drop four trainers into a shared arena, where they freely move and fight one another. Defeating opposing Pokémon earns points, which determine a player’s rank at the end of each match.

This format can lead to chaotic and entertaining encounters. The free-for-all structure rewards quick thinking—players can capitalize on weakened opponents or time switches carefully to avoid incoming attacks. While this unpredictability can be fun, it may not offer the consistency needed for a serious competitive environment.

Among those skeptical of this shift is JoeUX9, a Pokémon coach and two-time regional champion. He explained why turn-based combat has historically worked better for competitive Pokémon.

“Turn-based battling suits a one-vs-one, chess-like play style,” JoeUX9 said. “You can’t dodge attacks, and every decision is calculated. Legends: Z-A’s ranked battles reward reaction-based gameplay instead of long-term strategy, which changes the nature of competition.”

Competitive Pokémon player and YouTuber Skraw echoed similar concerns, though he believes the system has potential.

“It has a lot of elements of a good real-time game,” Skraw said. “Using switching and Mega Evolution for brief immunity frames feels rewarding. But the loss of control due to pathing issues and jank would make it frustrating in high-stakes competition. The bones are good, but it needs polish.”

Many strategic elements from turn-based Pokémon—such as status effects, buffs, and debuffs—exist in Legends: Z-A, but their implementation often feels awkward. In practice, aggressive play with fast, high-damage attacks tends to be more effective than long-term planning. Compounding this issue is the absence of Pokémon abilities, a core mechanic in mainline competitive play.

TheUziGunner, a Pokémon Draft League veteran, emphasized the importance of strategic depth.

“A strong battle system needs a mix of strategy and creativity,” he said. “Teambuilding, sequencing, and long-term planning are what make competitive Pokémon satisfying. If those elements can be preserved in real-time combat, I could absolutely see a serious competitive scene forming.”

While he appreciates mechanics like positioning and move cooldowns, TheUziGunner also noted balance concerns, citing examples such as Xerneas moving at extreme speeds after using Geomancy.

Most players won’t approach Legends: Z-A competitively. Still, feedback from competitive players offers insight into whether a game can sustain long-term engagement beyond a single playthrough. Competitive play has historically helped Pokémon games maintain active communities through events, evolving metas, and ongoing discussion.

Despite its current shortcomings, Legends: Z-A’s battle system shows promise. Whether it can grow into something larger depends on how The Pokémon Company and Game Freak refine these mechanics in future updates and entries.

If nothing else, Legends: Z-A may serve as a gateway. With Pokémon Champions—an upcoming title focused entirely on battling—set to launch in 2026 as the official platform for Pokémon’s world tournaments, Legends: Z-A could introduce new players to competitive Pokémon.

“Pokémon’s competitive scene needs attention and lower barriers to entry,” Skraw said. “We’re already seeing more spotlight on competitive play, better event coverage, and stronger storytelling around players. The trajectory is positive.”