Metagame Legends Z-A OU

[dhelmise]

Welcome to Legends ZA OU! In this Pet Mod, we will have a speculative metagame based on the Pokemon and items currently usable in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, in a what-if on them being allowed in the turn-based battle mode. This Pet Mod will have minor changes, namely the new Mega Evolutions having proper abilities. Because this Pet Mod is based off of a Pokemon game, we will be using the personal data from Legends: Z-A for learnsets, stats, etc. with the exception of Mega Starmie. Terastallization will also be unusable. The final change is that every Pokemon will have its National Dex movesets on top of the moves they learn in Legends: Z-A; this is mainly because otherwise there would be every single entry hazard but zero hazard removal or Heavy-Duty Boots, and that is just not fun!

Submission Rules

Currently no formal submission process due to the minimal speculation this Pet Mod requires. However, if you have a better idea for a speculative Mega ability, feel free to explain why in this thread with the following format:

[b]Mega Evolution: [/b]
[b]New Ability: [/b]
[b]Ability Description (if it doesn't currently exist): [/b]
[b]Reasoning: [/b]

Ruleset

Because this metagame is intended to sit at an OU-adjacent power level, there will unfortunately be some bans for balancing reasons.

Clauses: Team Preview, Sleep Moves Clause, HP Percentage Mod, Cancel Mod, Endless Battle Clause, Species Clause, Nickname Clause, OHKO Clause, Evasion Moves Clause

Pokemon bans:

• Gengar-Mega
• Xerneas
• Yveltal
• Zygarde-Complete
• Zygarde-Mega

Ability bans:

• Arena Trap
• Moody
• Power Construct
• Shadow Tag

Item bans:

• King's Rock
• Quick Claw

Move bans:

• Baton Pass

Important Links

The Pet Mods room
more soontm

 

[dhelmise]

Thanks to emillight, Meteordash, Kennedy, Eli, and Sectonia for letting me bounce ideas off of them while writing/coding this!

Current Ability Assignments

Clefable-Mega: Serene Grace
I opted for Serene Grace over Aerilate or Magic Guard because its Pokedex entry describes it being very timid, and I also feel like Aerilate is way too anticipated/overdone. Open to other ideas though.

Victreebel-Mega: Corrosion
It's constantly described as being able to corrode steel with its venom, so I felt like this was somewhat anticipated. I also changed Corrosion to hit Steel-types neutrally to make it more than just an ability decided via flavor.

Starmie-Mega: Pure Power, -40 Atk
I feel like this was pretty expected. It gets the typical 40% Attack stat boost every other Huge/Pure Power Pokemon got in PLZA.

Dragonite-Mega: Soul-Heart
HEAR ME OUT!!!!! Its Mega Pokedex entry is Mega Evolution has excessively powered up this Pokémon's feelings of kindness. It finishes off its opponents with mercy in its heart. , so I felt like Soul-Heart fits this perfectly.

Meganium-Mega: Triage
I feel like most people expected Flower Veil, and while I'm open to that, I couldn't really go off of its Pokedex entry because it only says something about having strong Solar Beams. This felt balanced by it not learning Draining Kiss (because priority Fairy STAB is insane with 145 Special Attack).

Feraligatr-Mega: Dragon's Maw
While I feel like most people anticipated Strong Jaw or Tough Claws as an ability, I'll be blunt: I hate Strong Jaw as an ability. It's so lame on everything that isn't Bruxish because all of the bite moves that are common have 65 Base Power and are still pretty meh when boosted. Dragon's Maw still plays off of the Mega Pokedex entry about Mega Feraligatr's jaw fin being 10x stronger than its normal jaw in concept and directly benefits Feraligatr's new STAB.

Skarmory-Mega: Tough Claws
This felt kinda hand-in-hand, or should I say hand-in-talon. Open to suggestions.

Gallade-Mega: Sharpness
What? This isn't a new mega?! Inner Focus sucks.

Froslass-Mega: Snow Warning
While I think most people were expecting some typical Ghost ability (Shadow Tag, Cursed Body, etc) or Refrigerate, I wanted to give a creative spin on Froslass-Mega's design and dex entry while still still giving it something it could directly benefit from. Snow will help boost its Defense and let it hit its Blizzards.

Emboar-Mega: Supreme Overlord
Another somewhat expected one, Mega Emboar's entry is Brandishing a blazing flame shaped like a serpentine spear, it rushes in to rescue its imperiled allies., which fits pretty aptly. Open to suggestions though.

Excadrill-Mega: Mold Breaker
I couldn't really think of an ability for this but I also didn't want to give it something that would make it awfully broken (i.e. Sand Rush), so I just settled on Mold Breaker. Open to suggestions.

Audino-Mega: Regenerator
What? This isn't a new mega either?! Healer is worse than Inner Focus.

Scolipede-Mega: Merciless
I was really lost on what to give this, so I just decided on Merciless because its pokedex entry says that its venom makes it stronger. Open to suggestions.

Scrafty-Mega: Moxie
I had the opposite issue on Scrafty. It has like 4 or 5 abilities it could justifiably have. Shed Skin, Intimidate, and Moxie all fit lore and dex wise, but I opted away from Intimidate because double Intimidate seems like hell and a free Dragon Dance simultaneously. I also thought of Rough Skin because its mega dex entry says its shed skin becomes rough, but I wasn't sure. Open to input here too!

Eelektross-Mega: Levitate
As much as I wanted to give this Transistor or Electric Surge, one of my friends pointed out to me that all of the other Levitate Megas kept Levitate post-Mega Evolution, so I kept it here for now. I still think another ability is better so feel free to provide input.

Chandelure-Mega: Flash Fire
Every single ability I thought of for this would make it insanely broken (Shadow Tag, Wonder Guard to name a few), so I just opted to keep Flash Fire. Open to suggestions.

Chesnaught-Mega: Protective Thorns
New ability alert! It feels like the whole point of Mega Chesnaught's design is to discourge coming close to it, so Protective Thorns was designed to keep some aspects from pre-Mega (Bulletproof) and combine it with other flavor elements (Iron Barbs). So this ability is Bulletproof + Iron Barbs.

Delphox-Mega: Levitate
I almost opted for Magic Guard here, but I feel like Levitate is just more fitting design-wise. Open to suggestions.

Greninja-Mega: Battle Bond
This isn't the typical Battle Bond that exists in S/V. It's more akin to the Gen 7 version of Battle Bond. I did this because it's clear this is Game Freak's replacement for Ash-Greninja; when Mega Evolving in game, Mega Greninja's Water Shuriken becomes a 1-hit move and insanely strong. Thus, the new Battle Bond does the following: After KOing a Pokemon: +1 Atk/SpA/Spe. Water Shuriken while Mega: 75 power, hits 1x.

Pyroar-Mega: Drought
As much as I wanted to think of something more creative to give this, it just sucks so I frankly wanted to give it a bit of a boost in its ability. Open to ideas. I considered doing Unaware to riff off of the "the lion does not concern himself" memes but decided to restrain myself.

Dragalge-Mega: Regenerator
My friends and I were really debating whether it should keep Adaptability or get Regenerator, as its Mega Dex entry is It spits a liquid that causes the regenerative power of cells to run wild. The liquid is deadly poison to everything other than itself.. Open to feedback on this, but I think one of the two abilities fits best.

Floette-Mega: Ange
Another new ability! Eternal Floette was STORY SPOILERS: made from absorbing the life force from all of Pokemon around it, and Mega Floette's dex entry says that it absorbs the energy from Mega Evolution and that its flower now attacks Pokemon on its own. Therefore, I made this the ability: Gain 1/12 of max HP at the end of every turn. If the opposing Pokemon is a Mega Evolution, that Pokemon loses 1/10 max HP every turn and this Pokemon absorbs the HP lost.

Malamar-Mega: Contrary
This was the only non-custom ability this Pokemon could justifiably have with how generally bad its stats are. Open to suggestions.

Barbaracle-Mega: Skill Link
With Shell Smash in its arsenal, I was trying to figure out an ability that wont immediately send this over the edge but is still fun to work with, so I settled on Skill Link, since it will allow Barbaracle to have a more reliable Rock-type STAB. Open to ideas though.

Hawlucha-Mega: Luchador's Pride
New ability! Hawlucha's viability in its base form is very Unburden-centric, so I wanted to take something Speed related into its Mega while incorporating its dex entry (Mega Evolution has pumped up all its muscles. Hawlucha flexes to show off its strength.) without giving a flat [x]-move power boost. Thus, Luchador's Pride: This Pokemon's Speed is raised by 1 stage if it attacks and knocks out another Pokemon.

Zygarde-Mega: Power Break
I was initially going to do something based around Mega Zygarde's in-game boss battle where it ignores every move immunity, but I have since discovered that is story-specific and also frankly still obnoxiously broken, so I just kept Aura Break. Especially now that it will be in the same caliber as Xerneas/Yveltal, its ability won't be entirely useless.

Drampa-Mega: Drizzle
Mega Drampa's dex entry describes it summoning storm clouds, so this felt kinda like a shoo-in. Open to ideas though.

Falinks-Mega: Brass Bond
Another new ability! Dex entry: Mega Falinks has taken on the ultimate battle formation, which can be achieved only if the troopers and brass have the strongest of bonds., I wanted to do something similar to Parental Bond, but I feel like Parental Bond doesn't fit this design flavor-wise, so I made a different version: This Pokemon's damaging moves hit 3x. The second and third hits do 1/10 of the original damage.. This might seem a bit obnoxious on paper, but Falinks doesnt get any moves like Super Fang or Seismic Toss, so it has a lot less room to abuse this.

 

[Mozonite]

Please let Mega Malamar set Trick Room on entry. Can even just be once per game.


Just as a treat.


Please.

 

[aeth]

Please let Mega Malamar set Trick Room on entry. Can even just be once per game.

If this happens then I'm expecting 10 mons that set tailwind up on my office desk by noon.

 

[ThestralZVGC]

Is it at all in the cards to make a doubles version of this for VGC players to mess around with? Other than that this is very cool, thanks for making!

 

[Yech]

I would personally like to question serene grace on Clefable simply due to the uncompetitive nature of the ability. Clefable itself doesn't learn any flinch moves (at least the ZA OU teambuilder doesn't say so) so the most uncompetitive aspect of the ability isn't present sure but I'd rather pokemon not get an ability that just encourages hax fishing. Some ideas I have include:
Natural Cure: For a timid pokemon, an ability that activates on switching out makes a lot of sense and it means using Magic Guard pre mega and absorbing status can't bite you in the butt after you mega
Infiltrator: A bit of a stretch but it can float by manipulating gravity around it, perchance it floats up your screens and your substitutes to attack past them
Aroma Veil: Another fairy ability that could be potentially nice for setup variants

Please just no serene grace i hate that ability SO much

 

[Punchshroom]

Clefable-Mega: Serene Grace
I opted for Serene Grace over Aerilate or Magic Guard because its Pokedex entry describes it being very timid, and I also feel like Aerilate is way too anticipated/overdone. Open to other ideas though.

Mega Clefable honestly feels like the most appropriate candidate for Aerilate (even including prior Megas). After all, Clefable used to be Normal-type before Fairy existed, and this allows Clefable to breathe new life into all of the Normal attacks it used to have STAB on and convert them into new STAB once more.

Gallade-Mega: Sharpness
What? This isn't a new mega?! Steadfast sucks.

FYI Mega Gallade has Inner Focus, which at least has been buffed recently, but honestly I'm almost down for Mega Gallade to have a custom Ability to combine both of these abilities.

Malamar-Mega: Contrary
This was the only non-custom ability this Pokemon could justifiably have with how generally bad its stats are. Open to suggestions.

Since we're on board with making custom abilities for other Megas already, Mega Malamar seems like a shoe-in for its own, especially one that still references its whole inversion theme. I've seen suggestions running around like "Super Contrary" (-1 becomes +2. but also vice versa) and the completely original do-not-steal "auto-Trick Room", but honestly I think "auto-Topsy Turvy on entry" would make for a uniquely powerful identity in itself.

 

[SDK03]

Just to ask, have any changes been made to the Pokemon movepools? i.e. Starmie getting Bulk Up and all? I’d also like to point out that most of Gen 9’s Pokemon are marked “non-existant” in this metagame.

 

[DDart]

I'm sure you're already aware, but I thought I'd say here just in case: the mega mons that aren't in Gen 9 currently don't have any moves. Namely Drampa, Starmie, Scolipede, Barbaracle and Zygarde-10%, as well as any old megas that were taken out in Gen 9.

 

[dhelmise]

Hi, there were some typos in my code. Learnsets will be fixed momentarily.

 

[DDart]

Just to ask, have any changes been made to the Pokemon movepools? i.e. Starmie getting Bulk Up and all?

"Because this Pet Mod is based off of a Pokemon game, we will be using the personal data from Legends: Z-A for learnsets, stats, etc. with the exception of Mega Starmie. Terastallization will also be unusable.The final change is that every Pokemon will have its National Dex movesets on top of the moves they learn in Legends: Z-A"

Top of the post.

 

[Yech]

From what I've seen, ZA movesets haven't been implimented into teambuilder so my previous post's point of it doesn't have flinch moves isn't confirmed yet but if it has air slash or any flinch move, even with 70 speed it won't be a fun pokemon to go up against especially thanks to paralysis from thunder/thunder wave.

 

[Bobsican]

Mega Evolution: Mega Malamar
New Ability: No Guard
Ability Description (if it doesn't currently exist):
Reasoning: Mega Malamar is all about Hypnosis, so I'd think that it'd be reasonable for it to lean into that role viably.

Mega Evolution: Mega Dragonite
New Ability: Aerilate
Ability Description (if it doesn't currently exist):
Reasoning: While Soul-Heart sounds nice on paper, flavor-wise it makes no real sense as Mega Dragonite doesn't have an artificial soul within it (like the original user, Magearna), and thus doesn't fit the intent of the ability. If the intent is to lean on its generosity at ending battles as fast as possible Aerilate may be a legitimate choice, especially as Dragonite is already known for its speed, and the dex also emphatizes on its increased flight capability upon Mega Evolving.

Mega Evolution: Mega Chandelure
New Ability: Nightmare Heart
Ability Description (if it doesn't currently exist): If the user faints, this ability replaces the one's of the opponent for the rest of the battle even if they switch out.
Reasoning: Taking a page from Megas for All, this ability enables Mega Chandelure to be incredibly disruptive, forcing chains of ability suppression every time a Pokemon with it faints.

 

[Adeleine]

I don't understand the logic by which you're assigning abilities. Some are very grounded in data and flavor, while others are "I personally thought this was cool." There doesn't seem to be one goal in which I'd ground idea suggestions. The PS News post that brought me here said the ladder was speculative, and the framing of "Legends Z-A OU" implies it is speculative, but here you say there's minimal speculation required.

Could you clarify on what the goal of this format is?

This feels buzzkill, but I think a ladder pitched as OU-like, "what might be", "giving the userbase a chance to use the Pokemon they couldn't otherwise" ladder should prioritize speculative design-based guesses over a Solomod-esque "I thought this was cool" philosophy.

 

[April]

Hear me out....

Mega Evolution: Skarmory
New Ability: Gale Wings
Reasoning: The dex has always made a big deal about Skarmory being able to fly at ~300 km/hr, with this speed "allowing it to fly freely in the sky". With Z-A, they made a defined point to make Mega Skarmory fly at the speed of sound (twice as fast as Talonflame!), whipping up shock waves with its immense speed to discombobulate the opponent. Design-wise, the Flying-type currently sits the fence between air elemental and "bird type", meaning Gale Wings could reasonably apply to both "thing with fast flight" and "thing with fast control over air", and Mega Skarmory's dex entry implies both.

 

[SDK03]

"Because this Pet Mod is based off of a Pokemon game, we will be using the personal data from Legends: Z-A for learnsets, stats, etc. with the exception of Mega Starmie. Terastallization will also be unusable.The final change is that every Pokemon will have its National Dex movesets on top of the moves they learn in Legends: Z-A"

Top of the post.

Just noticed that lol

 

[dunderguy]

- I would definitely keep Magic Guard, or maybe a different ability such as Air Lock or Delta Stream

- Really big pieces of metal, Id give it Steelworker or Steely Spirit

- “This Pokémon draws in hatred and converts it into power” either Adaptability or Ghost type Electromorphosis could be good

- The mega suggests how it protects its allies, id give it Fur Coat

- Like another comment said, auto Trick Room

- Hear me out on Swift Swim. Its dex mentioned it being more younger (possibly more agile), while dealing with storms.


Thank you so much for this! I really appreciate the effort to giving mons new abilities

 

[GRASSY_STORM!!~~]

I feel like Scolipede could be steelworker/steely spirit or heavy metal/full metal body from its design perspective

 

[dhelmise]

I don't understand the logic by which you're assigning abilities. Some are very grounded in data and flavor, while others are "I personally thought this was cool." There doesn't seem to be one goal in which I'd ground idea suggestions. The PS News post that brought me here said the ladder was speculative, and the framing of "Legends Z-A OU" implies it is speculative, but here you say there's minimal speculation required.

Could you clarify on what the goal of this format is?

This feels buzzkill, but I think a ladder pitched as OU-like, "what might be", "giving the userbase a chance to use the Pokemon they couldn't otherwise" ladder should prioritize speculative design-based guesses over a Solomod-esque "I thought this was cool" philosophy.

yeah i designed this on my own in the span of like 30 minutes and clearly said im open to suggestions, i dont understand the abrasiveness? this format has existed for 10 minutes

 

[SDK03]

Mega Evolution: Mega Scolipede
New Ability: Tinted Lens
Reasoning: Come on, giving a slow Bug/Poison type Merciless is kicking it down. And you don’t kick down an offensive Pokemon with that bad of an offensive typing. Also, it’s slow, frail (that HP makes the Def/SpD buffs less impactful) and forced to rely on 85% Acc at most moves enough that even with Tinted Lens it isn’t gonna be anything ridiculous. Gives enough of a boost against some things it struggles with, but the metal birds and Moltres are still comfy against it for the most part. There’s also a little thematic sense to that in Scolipede’s mind being honed by Mega Evolution kinda gives it a tunnel-vision in a way, so boom Tinted Lens.

 

[Bobsican]

@ those saying Trick Room on switch-in, that has historically been broken in Pet Mods in an higher power level on shitmons like Beheeyem (cough Sylvemons), so please do not. However, if it's limited to a trigger limitation on it only being active if a Pokemon with the ability to set it is on the field (like Desolate Land), then that's a whole other story, but even then that proved to be strong on a mon with base 85 Speed (it was later nerfed by making it have base 110 Speed instead).

 

[DDart]

I understand Adeleine's point, but this meta was always going to be speculative. dhelmise has said that they're open to suggestions and I've taken that to mean a lot of these "i thought it was cool" abilities that Ade complains about will be replaced by ones with more flavor when they are suggested. Completely fair imo, and it lets the community have input on the abilities themselves which is really neat.

 

[Snorby]

Mega Evolution: Excadrill-Mega
New Ability: Tough Claws
Reasoning: I mean... look at those claws! Tough Claws always felt like an ability Excadrill would have had if it existed in Gen 5, particularly because it would make Drill Run stronger than EQ. Mega drill is pretty heavily focused on breaking power, and this augments it without being too absurd.

Mega Evolution: Scolipede-Mega
New Ability: Filter / Moxie
Reasoning: Two suggestions here, since Merciless just doesn't really do a lot for it. Filter seems like a good fit to help prop up its bulk a little more, because it's clearly designed as a more defensive mega but is super held back by 60 base HP and a weak defensive typing. Moxie fits the pokedex entry a little better, though, because that highlights that the venom affects Scolipede's mind and heightens its viciousness. That feels like it fits really well with Moxie, an ability given to ferocious Pokemon like Salamence and Krookodile that makes you grow stronger after each kill.

Mega Evolution: Scrafty-Mega
New Ability: Shed Skin
Reasoning: I think Shed Skin is probably the best choice for its ability since its skin is highlighted so much in the design, and Scrafty-Mega's stats are already mostly focused on buffing it's attack so providing some more defensive utility seems like it would help make it more viable without breaking it the way Intimidate would.

 

[ThestralZVGC]

Mega Evolution: Scolipede-Mega
New Ability: Filter / Moxie
Reasoning: Two suggestions here, since Merciless just doesn't really do a lot for it. Filter seems like a good fit to help prop up its bulk a little more, because it's clearly designed as a more defensive mega but is super held back by 60 base HP and a weak defensive typing. Moxie fits the pokedex entry a little better, though, because that highlights that the venom affects Scolipede's mind and heightens its viciousness. That feels like it fits really well with Moxie, an ability given to ferocious Pokemon like Salamence and Krookodile that makes you grow stronger after each kill.

I feel like moxie scolipede is a bit too good because you could stall your mega to get speed boost buffs and maybe swords dance and then just sweep unopposed with moxie

 

[Kizaco]

Mega falinks Iron head has a 65% chance to flinch and it gets trailblaze for +3 speed. It feels really good