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Pokemon Legends: Z-A
Battle System: Will Battles Be Turn Based?
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Pokemon Legends: Z-A changes the classic Pokemon turn based battle system by introducing move cooldowns, new areas of effect and field mobility. Check out how different Legends Z-A's battle system is, tips on how to navigate it and win, as well as how catching Pokemon also changed.
List of Contents
How Does Pokemon Legends Z-A’s Battle System Work?
| New Pokemon Legends Z-A Battle Systems |
|---|
|
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Real-Time Action Replaces Turn-Based Combat
Move summaries are shown instead of Action Order now
Pokemon Legends Z-A's battle system is no longer turn based like previous Pokemon titles as first confirmed during Pokemon Presents 2025. Instead, trainers can command their Pokemon to move around the battlefield and attack when commanded.
Trainers Need to Aim and Time their Moves
Lucario properly using Protect from a Moonblast attack.
Now that both the trainer and Pokemon can move around the battlefield, players need to aim their attacks with ZL and face the opponent. This adds another element of dodging attacks through positioning and timing attacks to land at the right moment.
Moves Now Have Cooldowns
Move cooldowns replaces the traditional PP system from earlier games of the series. Every move now has a varied cooldown period before it can be used again, requiring more strategy when selecting the four moves your Pokemon should learn.
Moves and Switch Outs Can be Used to Avoid Damage
Some moves have been reworked to for Pokemon to avoid taking damage, such as Double Team, which now gives Pokemon invincibility for a time and Protect which does not fail upon use.
Trainers can also switch out their Pokemon to avoid incoming attacks. This adds another element of timing for the trainer instead of the Pokemon.
Long Range vs. Short Range Moves
Now that combat is real-time, long range and short range moves behave differently. Trainers need to take care when aiming their short range moves as it can take a while to hit the target thus giving a larger dodge window. In the case of short range moves, it can leave Pokemon more easily targeted by opponents.
Plus Moves Enhance Damage
Plus Moves enhance the damage of a Pokemon's move further, with their power drawn from the Mega Ring. Mega Evolved Pokemon by default use Plus Moves while non-Mega Evolved Pokemon need to meet certain conditions to use them.
Speed Affects Cooldowns
With a big change in the battle format of Pokemon, the speed stat also lends itself to new effects. Pokemon move cooldowns are directly affected by the speed stat with faster Pokemon being able to dish out more consecutive attacks.
What Does the Speed Stat Do?
Some Status Effects Behave Differently
Some status effects have also changed due to the new battle system. For example, the Drowsy status, previously the sleep status, causes the Pokemon to release their attacks slower. The Paralyzed status effect also got reworked, with paralysis causing Pokemon move slower on the battlefield.
Wild Pokemon Attack and Join Fights in Real-Time
With the introduction of seamless real-time battles, aggressive wild Pokemon will attack when you get too close. Additionally, while engaged in combat, nearby wild Pokemon can also jump into the fight, turning a one-on-one into a chaotic 2v1 or even a 3v1 brawl against you.
Trainers cannot fast travel when spotted by an aggressive Pokemon and must flee the area on foot until they are out of sight.
Rogue Mega Pokemon Battles
Within the story, trainers will encounter Rogue Mega Pokemon. These are Mega Evolved Pokemon found in the wild and players will have to fight these giant bosses that release large waves of attacks.
Players will need to be patient, strategize for each boss and work together with their Team MZ members in order to defeat them. Fighting them with your own Mega Evolved Pokemon is encouraged.
Strong and Agile Styles are No Longer Available
With the absence of action orders in Pokemon Legends Z-A comes the removal of Legends Arceus' Strong and Agile Styles, as it is a mechanic that's directly related to turn-based combat.
How does Z-A's Catching System Work?
Can Catch Some Pokemon Without Engaging in Turn-Based Combat
Trainers can catch Pokemon without the need for combat. This similar mechanic was introduced in Legends: Arceus, giving players an opportunity to catch wild Pokemon by sneaking up on them and simply throwing a Poke Ball.
However, certain types of Pokemon may still be aggressive and need a battle for trainers to catch them.
Pokemon Are Found in Wild Zones
Another different feature in Pokemon Legends: Z-A is that wild Pokemon are now located in areas called Wild Zones. These are special areas within the city bordered by green holograms that act as habitats for different kinds of Pokemon.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A Related Guides
Beginner's Guide to Pokemon Z-A
Gameplay Features
How-To Guides
Farming Guides
| Farming Guides | |
|---|---|
| EXP Farming Guide: How to Level Up Fast | How to Farm Money Fast |
| How to Get Prize Medals | How to Get Ticket Points Fast |
| How to Get More Berries | - |
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Battle System: Will Battles Be Turn Based?
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If agile and strong style are in the game, I feel like agile stile would give you a shorter cooldown, and strong style would give you a longer cooldown