With the latest trailer forPokemon Legends: Z-Arevealing its trio of starter Pokemon from across the franchise’s generations, the ultimate pick of Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile has raised questions as to why Game Freak chose these three. With its predecessor,Pokemon Legends: Arceus, setting the precedent for featuring an intergenerational mix of starter Pokemon, it seemed highly likely thatPokemon Legends: Z-Awould continue the trend with its own starter trio. As a result, rumors and leaks aboutLegends: Z-A’s starter Pokemon have surrounded the game ever since it was first announced in early 2024.
However, the surprise picks forLegends: Z-A’s starter Pokemon still seemed unusual, as the game breaks fromLegends: Arceus’conventions; two of its starter trio originate from the same generation. While the official confirmation of its starter Pokemon means players will have a better understanding ofLegends: Z-Aahead of its launch in late 2025, it raises new questions as to why these three were picked. Between the potential for new regional variants and the uncertainty aroundGen 2’s Cyndaquil absence inLegends: Z-A, it seems Game Freak could reveal more about its starter Pokemon throughout the year.
Breaking Down Game Freak’s Starter Pokemon Choices For Pokemon Legends: Z-A
Similar toLegends: Arceusand its intergenerational starter trio,Legends: Z-A’s newest trailer has confirmed that it will do the same with its starter Pokemon, with its trio consisting of Gen 2’s Chikorita and Totodile alongside Gen 5’s Tepig. The announcement might come as a surprise when, following the game’s reveal, rumors aboutLegends: Z-A’s starter Pokemon ranged from the return ofPokemon XandY’s starter trio to a mix of Pokemon from Gens 3, 5, and 8. But beyond disproving early speculation from thePokemoncommunity,Legends: Z-A’s apparent favoritism of certain generationsfor its starter Pokemon has been an even greater surprise.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Trailer and Pokemon Legends: Arceus Could Explain Its Starter Picks
One potential explanation as to why Game Freak has chosen these particularPokemon forLegends: Z-A’s starter triostems from both the game’s recent trailer and anotherLegends: Arceus' feature. After first introducing its intergenerational starter trio,Legends: Arceuspushed the envelope by debuting the series' first-ever regional variants of starter Pokemon final evolutions. As was the case withLegends: Arceus' Hisuian Samurott and Typhlosion adding a new dimension to their types as well as their designs, it seemed possible thatLegends: Z-Amight do the same with its starter Pokemon.
This would explain why Chikorita and Totodile were selected forLegends: Z-A, as their final evolutions, Meganium and Feraligatr respectively, are mono-type Pokemon that could benefit from a regional variant. EvenLegends: Z-A’s trailer seems to support this theory, as its gameplay revealed Chikorita using the Fairy-type move Disarming Voice and Tepig using the Rock-type move Rollout. Though this is only speculation for now, it could suggest that Game Freak is planning to introduce new regional variants, and why Cyndaquil is missing fromLegends: Z-Aafter already featuring inLegends: Arceus. Some particularly plausible variants include:
Game Freak’s Starter Choices Could Tie Into Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Mega Evolutions
Ultimately, while Chikorita and Totodile seem like natural choices for aPokemon Legendsgame, it will remain to be seen why Game Freak opted to bring both back together instead of choosing an alternative from the nine available generations. Should theories aboutLegends: Z-A’s unconfirmed regional variants prove true, then this choice could be due to the coordinated designs between Meganium, Feraligatr, and Emboar. However, withMega Evolutions also returning inLegends: Z-A, Game Freak may have chosen its starter trio based on those that have not yet received one, which could set expectations even higher forLegends: Z-Ain 2025.
