With the latest trailer for Pokemon Legends: Z-A revealing 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 that Pokemon Legends: Z-A would continue the trend with its own starter trio. As a result, rumors and leaks about Legends: Z-A‘s starter Pokemon have surrounded the game ever since it was first announced in early 2024.
However, the surprise picks for Legends: Z-A‘s starter Pokemon still seemed unusual, as the game breaks from Legends: 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 of Legends: Z-A ahead 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 around Gen 2’s Cyndaquil absence in Legends: Z-A, it seems Game Freak could reveal more about its starter Pokemon throughout the year.
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Breaking Down Game Freak’s Starter Pokemon Choices For Pokemon Legends: Z-A
Similar to Legends: Arceus and 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 about Legends: Z-A‘s starter Pokemon ranged from the return of Pokemon X and Y‘s starter trio to a mix of Pokemon from Gens 3, 5, and 8. But beyond disproving early speculation from the Pokemon community, Legends: Z-A‘s apparent favoritism of certain generations for 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 particular Pokemon for Legends: Z-A‘s starter trio stems from both the game’s recent trailer and another Legends: Arceus‘ feature. After first introducing its intergenerational starter trio, Legends: Arceus pushed the envelope by debuting the series’ first-ever regional variants of starter Pokemon final evolutions. As was the case with Legends: Arceus‘ Hisuian Samurott and Typhlosion adding a new dimension to their types as well as their designs, it seemed possible that Legends: Z-A might do the same with its starter Pokemon.
This would explain why Chikorita and Totodile were selected for Legends: Z-A, as their final evolutions, Meganium and Feraligatr respectively, are mono-type Pokemon that could benefit from a regional variant. Even Legends: 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 from Legends: Z-A after already featuring in Legends: Arceus. Some particularly plausible variants include:
- A Grass/Fairy type Meganium.
- A Water/Dark type Feraligatr.
- A Fire/Rock type Emboar.
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 a Pokemon Legends game, 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 about Legends: Z-A‘s unconfirmed regional variants prove true, then this choice could be due to the coordinated designs between Meganium, Feraligatr, and Emboar. However, with Mega Evolutions also returning in Legends: 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 for Legends: Z-A in 2025.
