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Pet Mod Legends Z-A OU

Should Heavy-Duty Boots be allowed


  • Total voters
    177
  • Poll closed .
Giving some opinions on the Megas and their ability choices.

:Clefable: I can see Magic Guard being the "lazy" cop out answer, but ngl I can't think of much reason why I'd run Mega Clefable right now if I gain a SR weakness. I think Serene Grace is actually fun, but I do not know if Clefable gets Air Slash in ZA, which would make Serene Grace extremely great. Right now though I guess it's a Moonblast spammer to farm SpA drops, which I don't think is worth the evolution. It does seem as if Movepool changes are off the table though (which sucks given how much of the envelope we are pushing with abilities).

:Victreebel: I am actually a fan of the classic theorized Chlorophyll, Victreebel imo doesn't get too much mileage out of Corrosion as it currently stands, I think it's hard to justify it as a Mega otherwise. I do REALLY appreciate the idea that new Corrosion let's you ignore Steel type immunity for attacking moves as well. I guess it's hard to justify a dedicated Sun sweeper for a poor weather.

:Starmie: Self Explanatory.

:Dragonite: I stand behind Soul-Heart even if it's a bit weird flavour wise. Fully abusing the special stat investment is the best call here, wasting 145 SpA would be a crime. In that vein I also fully reject the notion of Aerialate, because this would just be regular DDance Dragonite but more cracked. If Soul-Heart is rejected by the community I stand behind the often suggested No Guard as well, even if it now outclasses Pidgeot in the process.

:Meganium: Triage goes crazy but the fact that Meganium can't set up at all sucks ass. Priority Draining Kiss imo wouldn't too bad to get though since we can't set up, so if moves are being given out I'd support that. Solid stuff.

:feraligatr: Even if it's cope, this is the right call while still being somewhat realistic in being what is possible. Anyway, Feraligatr is nutso with SD Scale Shot, I don't think anything can switch into it.

:skarmory: Tough Claws is great, Good as Gold would have been a funny alternative but imo Tough Claws is good here, cements Skarm as a CRAZY wallbreaker.

:Froslass: Snow Warning gives it the utility it needs to justify using it as your dedicated Ice type and as your special attacking Mega. The bulk boost, Aurora Veil + Blizzard cranking up its damage all makes this Pokémon worth the slot as a phenomenal breaker.

:emboar: Supreme Overlord is gas....no SD and no STAB priority kinda really sucks but I truly believe this is the ability for this Pokémon. It really is just anti Gambit to me.

:excadrill: I agree that Sand Rush makes this Pokémon utterly broken, I also think Sand Force makes this just ok. I don't like Tough Claws at all even if it's flavorful. I like Mold Breaker as a true stallbreaker, but we want to move away from that, I think Stamina is somewhat flavorful of an option that really leverages Excadrill 's new defensive utility and makes it exceptionally good at spinning. Is this based solely on a reply to a blunder tweet? Yes. But I think it works well, and you need Stamina to work a drill like that anyway.

:Scolipede: Scolipede is hard to buff in retrospect. I see Tinted Lens as a major cop out, and doesn't even fit flavor wise anyway. I think just lie how we buffed Corrosion, we should buff Merciless so that it gives all physical moves a 20% Poison chance as well. Scolipede can't afford to drop a move for Toxic for rely on 20% chances on Gunk alone, while I also don't want to fully shot on PTouch or if even TChain. This just makes Scolipede a really hard Pokémon to switch into overall which it needs to justify being a wallbreaker with.

:Scrafty: I think Moxie is ultimately fine, but Intimidate or Shed Skin takes advantage of its bulky nature better. Moxie is really nice but works when you are fast enough to threaten a true snowball, which I am not sure if Scrafty can. Scrafty's slow ass needs that extra DD anyway.

:eelektross: Transistor would be insane, but if you guys want to do something that isn't Levitate I am on board with Electric Surge or even Electromorphisis on this guy as well. Just ensure it can't Rising Voltage if Terrain wins.

:Chandelure: Chandelure is cool, but imo it already has a hard time in a Nat Dex based meta (Pursuit), and Delphox and Charizard Y makes running it as you defacto Fire Mega option somewhat not ideal. All of Chandelure's dex entries in Gen 9 mention either drawing in soul for power or burning, so I think it's Mega ability should incorporate that, while promoting something cool like Wisp usage.
New Ability: Soul Siphen - Ghost type moves heal user for 50% of the damage dealt. If target is burnt all moves used heal for 50%.

:chesnaught: tuff. No words.

:delphox: Levitate is 100% the right call. The defensive utility this already powerful wallbreaker has gives it the ability to switch in and beat a large amount of mons (Ting-Lu get fucked).

:greninja: I'm not a fan of this at all, as I feel this is not only too strong with Nasty Plot. I think a solid consistent reasonable ability would be more preferable.

:Pyroar: I wanted to say make it Punk Rock but this thing is weak as shit man give it Drought fuck it. (I like Adaptability).

:dragalge: I too also prefer Regenerator over Adaptability, we don't have one, and it makes Drag really good as a pivot and defensive Mega. I can see it competing heavily with Pex and Glowing, but eating up a Mega slot puts it at a big disadvantage.

:floette-eternal: The lore sounds fun. An anti Mega Mega sounds cool as hell and really helps justify it as your offensive Fairy and as a Mega Evolution.

:Malamar: Contrary is good. I also think Simple is low-key a really good idea as well. Nasty Plot with Stored Power makes it an immediate threat, as does things like Calm Mind and Bulk Up sets. No Guard is dummy awful, it would literally only be a sleep spammer. Auto Trick Room is a bad idea from Pet Mod experience but I think it might be ok with the amount of cost it is to dedicate yourself to Mega Malamar, esp since the Mega slot of so highly coveted on Trick Room. I still am not up with it though.

:barbaracle: Bro TOUGH CLAWS IS RIGHT THERE NOOO. I get it, Tough Claws can be seen as potentially broken, and Skill Link isn't awful, though I'd rather Technician. It's still a decent guy.

:Hawlucha: This is very good, Flying Fighting is great. 118 Speed is great. Bulk is great. SD sets will be great. I love Hawlucha. I look forward to seeing it play out.

:Drampa: Drizzle is an excellent option on Drampa, immediately makes it a strong and potent threat on its own and still makes it a decent setter for teams, though I think it has a better shot in Doubles for team support.

:Falinks: Trailblaze on this is crack, better Parental Bond is very cool. I'll say however that I feel less inclined to run No Retreat on this guy, as CC it's best STAB option, nearly necessitates switching out after a single usage. So that is pretty disappointing all things considered.


I like the concept, and while I did vote for Boots initially, you can consider myimd changed on keeping it, makes the metagame very unique and interesting without necessarily making it unbearable to play. Hazard Control is slim but not non existent.

I don't like changing the old megas but ZA is all about Megas so I can probably close my eyes, but altering non Mega Pokémon should be out of the question. At that point you can do anything ever in this Pet Mod, so every restriction we have so far would feel extremely arbitrary.
 
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Thanks to emillight, Meteordash, Kennedy, Eli, and Sectonia for letting me bounce ideas off of them while writing/coding this!

Current Ability Assignments

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

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

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

:scolipede: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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-eternal: 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: 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: 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: 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-complete: 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: 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: 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.
exca would make more sense with sand rush but i can agree mold breaker is more balanced.
 
Thanks to emillight, Meteordash, Kennedy, Eli, and Sectonia for letting me bounce ideas off of them while writing/coding this!

Current Ability Assignments

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

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

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

:scolipede: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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-eternal: 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: 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: 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: 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-complete: 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: 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: 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.
Some of them seems fine but some seem pretty lame to me. So Hawlucha loses unburden and gets a worse speed boost? And Clefable.....It simply gets a useless ability? Would have been just better to keep its original abilities- Magic guard and Unaware, since they are far useful than serene grace.
 
No suggestions for abilities, just here to strongly suggest enabling mega ches and phox.

Both base forms are accessible ingame (thus movepool changes already implemented), full stats and renders revealed, and mega stones are only not out rn to promote ppl playing ZA ranked for an extended period of time, so I see no reason why they shouldn’t be allowed in an already unofficial, speculative metagame.
 
Some of them seems fine but some seem pretty lame to me. So Hawlucha loses unburden and gets a worse speed boost? And Clefable.....It simply gets a useless ability? Would have been just better to keep its original abilities- Magic guard and Unaware, since they are far useful than serene grace.
yes lets give a pokemon that has to hold an item to exist an ability thats impossible to activate
 
:skarmory: - I stand by good as gold both as a logical ability to have, as well as how well it could serve skarmory as a taunt immune support + sweeper

You want to stop skarm from setting rocks? Nah, and it taunts you back too. Womp womp
Worried about SD? Be worried. Cant use wisp neither. Cry about it
Defog threatening your aurora veil/hazards? Skill issue.
Parting shot? Eats that up like its nothing. Hazards? Immune to two of them and neutral to rocks.
Good as gold would be so baller ong
 
Thanks to emillight, Meteordash, Kennedy, Eli, and Sectonia for letting me bounce ideas off of them while writing/coding this!

Current Ability Assignments

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

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

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

:scolipede: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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-eternal: 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: 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: 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: 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-complete: 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: 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: 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.
:clefable: Clefable-Mega: had been thinking Serene Grace, but Regenerator would make it a much better wishpasser while compensating for the new rocks weakness. absolutely gonna be a mega you need trigger discipline for e.g. Slowbro. stay base until their hazard setter's dead then outlast whoever they got left lategame

:dragonite:
Dragonite-Mega: so-called free thinkers when No Guard dnite gets brought up
don't think Soul Heart's happening as fitting as it is, they're just weird w/ legendary signatures. never got another Bad Dreams guy, no Full Metal Body, the auras, that sorta thing
plus dnite got a shit ton of 70% accurates going into ZA right? focus blast and the like

:gallade-mega:
Gallade-Mega: yo. coming off the laximus vid and yo. mistakes were made
Inner Focus has enough util now that it doesn't feel like a waste of a slot

:excadrill:
Excadrill-Mega: Tough Claws rep #4 is REALLY funny but with this design it's the only non-custom that works. drill run's contact, iron head's contact, hell spin can pick up more kills

:scolipede:
Scolipede-Mega: +1 for Merciless. if you're using megapede at all you're setting up in base as your opp tries to reposition. with this much phys bulk u can absolutely throw in a tspike somewhere, if not from scoli then a teammate. disappointed they didn't go with bug/steel for the rock + psychic resist

:scrafty:
Scrafty-Mega: Shed Skin almost guaranteed but i rlly like the sound of Rough Skin. having your mega's performance hinge on Rest wakeup rolls doesn't sit right

:eelektross: Eelektross-Mega: mannnn go in on Electric Surge, in practice we've only ever had one eterrain setter
i get the worry wrt Levitate but the lati twins are our only precedent. even without it eel does pretty well into grounds with giga/liquidation

:chandelure:
Chandelure-Mega: cannot believe the spread on this 1. Weak Armor i think is the only offensive ability you can give chandy that won't make him a war criminal LOL. if you give him the boost you rlly only have yourself to blame
and a chandelier with two tiers would be twice as fragile no?

:dragalge:
Dragalge-Mega: cancer. that is cancer they're describing
not against regen but maybe another custom's in order. summin like
Blight - Damages any active Pokémon without the ability for 1/16 their max HP at the end of the turn. blocked by Magic Guard/goggles
that or one that inverts healing effects. Liquid Ooze deluxe. come in on a softboiled and Blissey falls over

:malamar:
Malamar-Mega: not even Gravity on switch-in would save this spread. sobs

:hawlucha:
Hawlucha-Mega: Stamina. in that exhibition match he gets pummeled and doesn't budge. STAB press also sounds kinda shnice

pretty nicely done on the rest. drampa rain gonna be huge
 
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:falinks: 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.
1761067083125.png

It's like Mega Kang, Sneasler, and Jirachi teamed up to make the ultimate villain team.
Iron Head, Body Slam, and Poison Jab all have 65.7% chance of activating their secondary effects and Trailblaze gives Falinks +3 Speed in 1 turn. You also get Lunge and Rock Tomb so you can also lower your opponent's stats to -3 if you want too. And Rock Smash here is a weaker version of PuP, but can lower Def between 0 (12.5%) and 3 times (also 12.5%).

Also for perspective
With just 15 IVs and nothing else, Falinks outspeeds max speed Regieleki after 1 Trailblaze. At 269 Spe, you outspeed Adamant Unburden Hawlucha. When you reach 295 Spe, you are the fastest thing in the game, not even Unburden Hawlucha outspeeds you.
 
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:eelektross:
Mega Evolution: Eelektross-Mega
New Ability: Tynamo Field (Levitate + Electric Surge)
Ability Description (if it doesn't currently exist): Mega Eelektross generates a magnetic field so strong it lifts itself off the ground and supercharges its attacks.
Reasoning: Something like Electric Surge, or even transistor, would fit eelektross perfectly as its mega ability, especially giving its new mega description in Legends: ZA. You're right though that Levitate is better not removed, as it's a crucial part of eelektross identity. So, why not give it both abitlies? I think it'd prove perfect both flavor- and gameplay wise, and I genuinely don't think it would make the eel broken. Oh btw make sure his levitate ability doesn't negate his own electric attacks being boosted
 
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Thoughts/suggestions I had that have not already been brought up (numegas only)

:victreebel: Corrosion on this works ok as an alternative to keeping Chlorophyll, not being a sun abuser means it can't really use fire weather ball and thus would get walled by steels..... but supersweet syrup goes kinda nuclear both lorewise and competitively for accurate sleep powder
:clefable: I think the argument of mega clef keeping MGuard is valid, but it would be interesting to see Aerilate on it: mega clef gets a major SpAtk buff and access to Hyper Voice for a good Aerilate target, it could work similarly to mega slowbro where you keep clef in its base form with MGuard until you need the advantages of the mega, in this case the higher offensive power to get an important KO or close out a game. Flying type keeping its immunity to Spikes/TSpikes helps make this trade-off a little less severe as well (though you're now weak to sr instead of immune, so that only half-counts).
:dragonite: Don't give this Aerilate that would just be a mega salamence that spams espeed instead of double-edge. Mega Dnite seems to lean into more of a special attacker, so I am okay with it getting Soul Heart (I literally do not care that it is a ""Magearna signature"")
:feraligatr: 160 base attack dragon's maw with stab, erm... If this had a good coverage move to hit fairies I would be rioting on the streets about this, but fortunately it does not so it probably fine as a nuke of a wallbreaker
:skarmory: I'm okay with either of the common ability suggestions, Tough Claws as an offensive mode similar to Aerilate mclef, or GaG to lean into its defensive role. Imagine if Gholdego was in Z-A man, this meta would have been cooked...
:emboar: multiple Supreme Overlord mons would be a bad idea, but Kingambit does not exist here so this ability choice goes tuff
:excadrill: Mold Breaker is probably the best option, maybe Sand Force alternatively, but with 165 Atk and 103 Speed, mega drill would be an absolute menace with an actually good ability like tough claws or sand rush.
:scolipede: I would not be surprised if Mega Scolipede ends up getting a defensive ability in official games, it really goes in that direction in terms of design and stat distribution. Whatever ability we do decide on, I don't think it should be a very strong one like Tinted Lens or Stamina since it can still farm speed boosts in its base form, I think Merciless works fine.
:scrafty: Mega Scrafty's stat spread is kinda awesome so I think it can afford to have a less impactful defensive ability like Shed Skin, I think Rough Skin can also work
:eelektross:
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.
Gen 6 Gengar, GG.
In all seriousness I would be fine with mega eel keeping Levitate, part of the base mon's identity is being a natural mono electric + levitate mon for no weaknesses. ESurge is an interesting option as well, but more so as an addition to base OU so Quark Drive/Eterrain comps can have a real setter for once. Hear me out though, Neuroforce would also go pretty hard, eelektross has wide coverage and while its mega has high mixed offenses at 145/135, unlike mega excadrill its base speed is just average at 80 so I think it can be able to have a power-boosting abil like this without being overbearing.
:greninja: Probably just give it Protean. Technician isn't a bad option in terms of flavor or smth but mega gren has minmaxed offenses, technician flip turns a/o water shurikens would be kinda insane.
:malamar: Give Mega Malamar a new ability called Malamarate that turns all its moves to the new Malamar type, which is supereffective against all types and does a malamillion damage to everything, forcing Smogon to create a new tier above AG called MU (Malamar Used) I think Bobsican 's idea of No Guard is good, Mega Malamar's stat buffs aren't notable enough to make Contrary Superpower that much better, and it's still in constant fear of U-turn so I think it Mega Malamar deserves to have accurate sleep + NPlot as a little treat. I know sleep setup is kind of hated in competitive but at least in this case you are committing a mega slot to do so. Auto topsy turvy would also be okay I think UNLESS it activates upon mega evolving
:zygarde-complete: Just give it aura break or something man its banned anyways
:drampa: Instinctively averse to this having Drizzle for some reason, but to be fair all other weathers besides rain have mega representation, and Drampa at least has the tools to take full advantage of rain (thunder/hurricane access, water coverage)
 
Why do people want M-Malamar to get No Guard? There's a Sleep Move Clause here, not like you can use it.

This playset is genuinely awful to build for, it feels like pure anarchy. I'm mostly building and experimenting right now but, sheesh. Just not a lot of fun.
 
:scolipede: 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.
This might be completely overkill defensively, but here's an idea for a custom ability:
Rampart shell: -1 speed on switch in/mega. at end of turn, +1 Def & Sp.Def
the idea behind Mega Scolipede gameplay-wise is it slowing down and becoming defensive (and stronger), but scolipede itself thrives on stalling with speed boost to achieve high stats, so why can't the mega continue this trend in a new way

here's a less confusing and broken version though if cosmic power ever turn is broken
Defense Boost: +1 Defense at end of turn
 
:dragalge: 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.
For balancing purposes I think keeping Regenerator is a significant boon to bulkier archetypes in an otherwise offense fishing ladder. Healthy Bold Dragalge lives most unboosted attacks which dissuades a lot of threats (Salamence, Dragonite, Excadrill, Skarmory, Aegislash, Garchomp, Greninja, etc) from setting up or even attacking at all. Few mons can easily replicate this defensive anchor role so tier will be worse with any alternative ability.

- #1 on Ladder and 100% winrate with Dragalge on ladder

@Boots Ignoring the fact that boots straight up don't exist in ZA, there's enough removal to do without boots and hazards are a core component at limiting a lot of the offensive comps when there's already so many threats to try to account for right now. Please do not add Boots


Don't have an input on any other Mega ability.
 
I have some questions about assigning abilities and the meta in general.

  1. To what extent are we willing to create new/custom abilities? On one hand, we could choose to give a lot of deference to existing abilities and be fairly hesitant to create new abilities. For example, the original mega evolutions (XY/ORAS) only added a few new abilities: Parental Bond, Refrigerate, and Pixilate. On the other hand, we could choose to make more creative changes.
  2. To what extent are we trying to make all of the new megas viable in OU? The original megas had a wide range of viability in singles formats: some were comically broken and some sucked. We could go for a similar approach here and choose thematically fitting abilities rather than focusing on viability, but we could instead try to put them all on a level playing field.
  3. When deciding abilities, how should we weigh flavor/themes/dex entries against viability? Like if Mega Malamar's flavor strongly suggested it should get Illuminate as its ability so we give it Illuminate, then it's gonna suck. We could overlook flavor and focus on viability but I don't know where we're drawing the line.
  4. How similar should the ruleset be to standard NatDex OU? Will it adopt the same banlist (e.g. banning Dragapult but allowing Terapagos)? Will anything be unbanned?
 
Could've pushed for #1 but don't have too much time since I leave for Lille on Thursday and need to get practice in. Mega Meganium is incredibly fucked up and IMO the 4th best Mega legal currently behind MMence MDrag MFloette.

Team: :meganium::jolteon::vaporeon::excadrill::skarmory::tyranitar:
1761071527832.png

Team Explanation

:meganium:
The star of the show. Meganium is incredibly good in the meta, actually beating base Skarmory 1v1 thanks to Skarmory either running Body Press and as a result getting worn down from the combo of Giga Drain and Dazzling Gleam or Brave Bird and getting 2HKOed while not even KOing Meganium. It also answers non-SWave Greninja, Mega Starmie, most Dragonite, Zygarde, non-Life Orb Excadrill, and a whole lot more thanks to Triage and its absolutely stupid stats. You should at least EV to live +2 Adamant MLop Return and KO back with double Giga Drain, though.

:jolteon:
Actually pretty good into the meta currently if running HP Fire. Toxic forces progress against all the Grounds bar Excadrill, which gets slammed by HP Fire. The damage it does is pretty lacklustre, but its always forcing progress and can punish Skarmory for switching in exceptionally well when supported by Spikes.

:vaporeon:
Actual A-tier Pokemon currently. It's great into basically everything Meganium isn't that isnt called Mega Froslass or some sort of incredibly strong force of nature. Wish is also really nice for keeping Excadrill and Tyranitar healthy while allowing the rest of the team to have extended longevity.

:excadrill:
#1 Pokemon in the tier. Pretty basic Leftovers set, no explanation needed.

:skarmory:
Again, very basic Spikes WW set.

:tyranitar:
This Tyranitar was a bit weird. I needed Flamethrower to 2HKO Skarmory to keep Spikes off the field more easily and prevent Defog attempts, but that meant I had to run a very awkward spread. 8 Special Attack EVs mean I always KO Skarmory, but to also outspeed it I have to invest a serious amount to do so. This Tyranitar hits 179 Speed as to almost always outspeed opposing Skarmory. Even if I don't, the amount of pressure Tyranitar invokes is unstateable.

Problem Pokémon
:froslass:
Mega Froslass is an actual demon. Vaporeon can switch into Blizzard easily and there are tools to hamper its progress, but long-term Froslass just wins if entry hazards aren't up. Do note that Tyranitar can answer reliably but gets worn down quickly, while Jolteon and Meganium can chip Froslass quite easily. Meganium can also 1v1 Froslass if not frozen, but Meganium can 1v1 nearly everything so I don't really count it!

:clefable:
While not exactly a bad matchup, Clefable can be annoying. Calm Mind Flamethrower sets can actually break through the team eventually since Excadrill can't OHKO and Meganium can't break through, but the team has enough pressure to stop it early enough. Non-CM sets can't break Vaporeon, while non-Flamethrower sets invite Excadrill in, usually for free.

:salamence-mega:
I didn't face any MegaMence, but I'd say this is the worst matchup the team can face. Tyranitar can OHKO it, Skarmory walls non-Flamethrower variants, Meganium can 1v1 it, Jolteon can Toxic it, and Excadrill can pressure it greatly, but none of the team wants to switch into it.

:lopunny-mega:
Slightly minorly massive fucking threat. SD and Mach Punch are insane buffs for MLop, and requires Meganium to be healthy to answer Lopunny. If hazards are up and Lopunny is +2, CLICK GIGA DRAIN. Hopefully you don't get crit. If you do, pray Jolteon lives. You also really need to manage your hazard game in this matchup if Meganium isn't a demon in the matchup.

I can't think of any other major problem Pokémon, but anyone using the team that runs into any at a high level are free to ping me or message me on Discord about it.

I also saved a couple replays of the team, but only did so if I felt as if the opponent played at a high enough level on ladder. I played a lot of other higher-level games, but didn't save them since they weren't on ladder.

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9legendszaou-2465924850-qhdcf9lw3xqpjadbg0wmbhtoc4pv0nmpw Dragonite and Starmie sets were weird but the general sand matchup is what I'm trying to point out here
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9legendszaou-2465937770-qp9nssvtb007mh3obvyb2ysft76rk6dpw Zygarde balance
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9legendszaou-2465984175-88jb98go3q3rwhgocnxqyytl27kc81cpw Dragalge stall, helped that I got two very lucky burns on Skarmory but long-term likely didn't matter.

Summary

Meganium is incredibly strong. Stop disrespecting it.
 
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Thoughts across the board, didn't include a few where my thoughts don't feel very relevant either because I haven't seen the story unfold or because my thoughts are just "Yeah"
:clefable: Clefable-Mega: Serene Grace
Likely: 8/10
Effective: 8/10
Not super fun but this is always going to be an effective pick defined by the non-Mega's great utility. This ability could be doubles based / pure flavor and the Mega would still see use.

:victreebel: Victreebel-Mega: Corrosion
Likely: 7/10
Effective: 6/10
Probably the best prediction atm. I think we can be OK with there being some gameplay stinker Megas here. It's kind of a crime that mechanically this is not allowed to use Belch, and Gluttony would be in the competition if it could have any effect on Mega.

:dragonite: Dragonite-Mega: Soul-Heart
Likely: 2/10
Effective: 7/10
Definitely not what this is going to have, but I'm unsure of a replacement. Multiscale is my guess for maximum likelihood, (the redundancy ends up much more interesting in VGC than in singles) they could go full tilt into referencing Dratini and Dragonair with Marvel Scale.

:meganium: Meganium-Mega: Triage
Likely: 7/10
Effectiveness: 7/10
Flower Veil was also mentioned, and I think that is more likely and similarly effective, if sort of lame in its own way. Either of these work for speculation sake even though the results are very distinct in practice.

:feraligatr: Feraligatr-Mega: Dragon's Maw
Likely: 4/10
Effective: 8/10
I kind of like this idea and think it has the highest likelihood of happening of any Legendary Ability Transfer because it's just that on the nose but Strong Jaw still seems more likely. That does make this a mon with ~5 mediocre STABs instead of 2 good ones but such is life sometimes.

:skarmory: Skarmory-Mega: Tough Claws
Likelihood: 4/10
Effectiveness: 7/10
Considering I did just shoot down the likelihood of signature abilities it might be a surprise to hear but Good as Gold actually seems pretty likely to me with the emphasis Skarmory has on being Gold, what with the lower Defense and higher Special Defense playing into the Physical and Alchemical properties of the metal.

:froslass: Froslass-Mega: Snow Warning
Likelihood: 8/10
Effectiveness: 9/10
I can't deny this is likely and effective but it would be so boring.

:emboar: Emboar-Mega: Supreme Overlord
Likelihood: 9/10
Effectiveness: 9/10
This is the most likely option imo.

:excadrill: Excadrill-Mega: Mold Breaker
Likelihood: 6/10
Effectiveness: 8/10
I think a power boosting ability seems pretty likely? Tough Claws, Steelworker, or Sand Force all seem more likely and more interesting to me, and even if they seem more blunt this mon does not seem like one for subtlety. No Sand Rush is an agreed upon point.

:scolipede: Scolipede-Mega: Merciless
Likelihood: 9/10
Effectiveness: 5/10
Probably what's going to happen, even if it's not very strong. I don't like keeping Speed Boost on it as I think taking Speed Boost stat stages into a Mega is the formula for one of the coolest kinds of Mega Designs, emphasizing the gameplay functions of both forms.
:scrafty: Scrafty-Mega: Moxie
Likelihood: 6/10
Effectiveness: 8/10
All the vanilla abilities could be here but I could also see abilities like Dazzling or Wonder Skin be here as well.
:eelektross: Eelektross-Mega: Levitate
...one of my friends pointed out to me that all of the other Levitate Megas kept Levitate post-Mega Evolution...
Likelihood: 10/10
Effectiveness: 7/10
This is a norm and, in my opinion, it's a good one for gameplay function / consistency reasons even if it comes at the cost of flavor. If you want to give this a fun Levitate + X ability instead, that's fine, just be prepared to be disappointed. (Though the rule breaks for this have been pressed more and more of late so maybe it'll happen?)

:chandelure: Chandelure-Mega: Flash Fire.
Likelihood: 6/10
Effectiveness: 6/10
I'd hope for a Ghost-themed ability here, and I'd even say Shadow Tag is the most likely ability on paper, so this makes sense as a compromise.

:chesnaught: Chesnaught-Mega: Protective Thorns
So this ability is Bulletproof + Iron Barbs.
Just give it Iron Barbs or a new clone. I'm probably in the minority on this but I think Bulletproof is one the worse designed abilities in all of Pokemon. The combo is not necessary or likely imo.
:delphox: Delphox-Mega: Levitate
I almost opted for Magic Guard here, but I feel like Levitate is just more fitting design-wise. Open to suggestions.
Likelihood: 4/10
Effectiveness: 6/10
I think this is unlikely but I have no idea what it'll be instead. Magic Guard feels single fanfic-y and very unlikely as Delphox lacks any connection to Mirrors or the like.

:greninja: Greninja-Mega: Battle Bond
After KOing a Pokemon: +1 Atk/SpA/Spe. Water Shuriken while Mega: 75 power, hits 1x.
Unlike Chesnaught I just don't expect Battle Bond to come back here. I'd maybe expect this to have Levitate actually, and if not it could keep Protean or get something like Skill Link for water shurikens?

:pyroar: Pyroar-Mega: Drought
This is not happening but given this thing is going to be dogwater once it drops we can let it take a seat in Yard's shadow for a while.

:dragalge: Dragalge-Mega: Regenerator
Likelihood: 6/10
Effectiveness: 10/10
Dex entry is the only thing keeping this above a 5/10 for likelihood, and I don't take too much about dex entries into play with this kind of situation. Regen feels very singles fanfic-y but beyond it just getting Adaptability again there's no other standout prediction.

:malamar: Malamar-Mega: Contrary
Likelihood: 8/10
Effectiveness: 9/10
This is a catch 22 of a mon with extremely poor stats needing multiple turns to set itself up, so it can either have modestly higher stats to make setting up faster or it can have a different ability for a stronger payout at the cost of a dramatically less consistent setup. It's probably going to be mediocre regardless and I can't think of a far more likely option.

:barbaracle: Barbaracle-Mega: Skill Link
Likelihood: 5/10
Effectiveness: 8/10
Tough Claws carrying over seems more likely to me. Otherwise I can't give a good guess.

:hawlucha: Hawlucha-Mega: Luchador's Pride
New ability! This Pokemon's Speed is raised by 1 stage if it attacks and knocks out another Pokemon.
Genuinely like Stamina as a gameplay function that at least gives Hawlucha a difference in kind for its Mega, even if I think it's very unlikely in practice. If you're strictly sticking to what's as likely as possible Moxie could be on the table, or Limber if you're really boring. Otherwise I have no idea.

:drampa: Drampa-Mega: Drizzle
Likeliness: 6/10
Effectiveness: 9/10
This is in the realm of very cool things that probably won't happen. Unless it just keeps Berserk I don't see a much better option.

:falinks: Falinks-Mega: Brass Bond
Another new ability! This Pokemon's damaging moves hit 3x. The second and third hits do 1/10 of the original damage.
This is still obnoxious with moves like Rock Slide, Iron Head, Zen Headbutt, Body Slam, etc. That being said, I have no idea what this would be instead, and strictly speaking this with the 2nd and 3rd hit unable to proc secondary effects is completely reasonable.
 
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Thanks to emillight, Meteordash, Kennedy, Eli, and Sectonia for letting me bounce ideas off of them while writing/coding this!

Current Ability Assignments

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

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

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

:scolipede: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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-eternal: 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: 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: 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: 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-complete: 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: 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: 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.
A bit of feedback for me

nitpick 1: Falinks

Falinks' ability is really cool, but it cripples it's best Fighting stab, Close Combat (and Superpower ig) by making it lower defenses THREE TIMES. This makes it have to run brick break (much weaker, even with the boost), or ROCK SMASH (which could be funny with gambling).
Speaking of which, the only moves Falinks can abuse are the aforementioned rock smash, iron head for flinchies, and... lunge.... you see where i'm coming from.

SOLUTION: remove the secondary effects from the 2nd and 3rd hits entirely. Falinks isnt losing much from this, and gains a 144 bp close combat.

nitpick 2: Chandelure

This is just cruel. Flash Fire? Really? I get shadow tag would be busted as all hell... but Flash Fire?
My idea: A custom ability! I call it "Soulfire Flames" Which makes burn halve BOTH attacking stats instead of just regular attack. This would go well with both Will-O-Wisp and Inferno, allowing chandelure to utilize its newly acquired 110 defenses!

nitpick 3: Barbaracle
Skill link sounds good on paper, but then you realize barbaracle gets a whopping 2 multi hit moves. and one's fury swipes. I suggest Solid Rock. This allows Barbaracle to get off shell smashes without being turned into a pile of pebbles by a stray dazzling gleam, since it can't hold White Herb.
 
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