Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Summer Preview
  • Prime Day deals
  • New Games 2026
  • Best gaming tech
  • GTA 6
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Pokemon fans use Mega Evolutions and French history to uncover Legends Z-A starters, and I'm sold

News
By Iain Harris published 28 February 2024

Some super effective guesswork

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

An Empoleon turns around, looking bemused
(Image credit: The Pokemon Company)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

The race to figure out what Pokemon Legends Z-A starters we're getting is on, and plenty of pros and long-time fans aren't short of thoughts. 

2016 Pokemon World Champion Wolfey uses Z-A's returning mega-evolutions to suss out which fire starter we'll potentially get, landing on Incineroar. The pro believes that The Pokemon Company "probably" wants the starters to mega-evolve. Considering Charizard and Blaziken already do so and that Typhlosion was a starter in the last Legends game, Wolfey reckons "there's a 1/5 chance we get Mega Incineroar." I ain't mad about that. 

One of the more popular theories doing the rounds involves a trailer for Generation 9 DLC. You've got several shots that include Pokemon Legends Arceus starters Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and Oshawott. What's caught the attention of some, though, is that each starter is accompanied by another generational starter who shares the same element. Rowlet is with Servine, Cyndaquil is joined by Torchic, and Oshawott can be seen with Piplup. One heck of a coincidence, but wait.

Latest Videos From
Watch full video here:

Hey uh...remember the trailer for the Gen IX DLC? Look at the Pokemon on the left in each image. Those are the starters from Legends.That might mean the ones on the right are the starters from Legends Z-A.(Yet another theory from /vp/) pic.twitter.com/Dfr4XfkAHGFebruary 28, 2024

As you'll probably know by now, Pokemon Legends Arceus brings back several old starters that appear to tie into a historic Japanese theme, which is appropriate given the game's older setting. Legends Z-A's ties to a French-themed region lend the above theory some weight. As one fan points out, Servine's final evolution Serperior has French nobility inspirations; Torchic eventually evolves into Blaziken, which is fun as France's national animal is the rooster; and Piplup eventually evolves into Empoleon - we'll let you figure that one out.

It remains to be seen who Pokemon Legends Z-A will cast as its starters and what theme they'll serve, though we know enough to assume it won't be the Generation 5 starters, despite the game's location. 

You may like
  • A trainer looking out at the ocean during the trailer for Pokemon Winds and Waves Pokemon Winds and Waves: Everything we know about the next Pokemon game so far
  • Pokemon Legends Z-A Mystery Gift codes for Mega Garchomp Z All Pokemon Legends Z-A Mystery Gift Codes and Rewards (June 2026)
  • The player character in Pokemon Legends: Z-A sits next to an Alpha Totodile in front of a cafe Pokemon Home compatibility finally lets you offload your shiny-stuffed Pokemon Legends: Z-A boxes

Starters are one of many things Pokemon fans have been left to speculate over, as we don't know heaps about the upcoming game. Pokemon Legends Z-A is due to release next year, is limited to Lumiose City, and that's just about it. We've gone through the trailer to make a start on what the Pokemon Legends Z-A Pokedex might look like, though expect plenty of information to come about all of that over the next year or so.

Another theory for the road? Pokemon Legends Z-A was hinted at in Arceus a full 2 years ago, and barely anyone noticed.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
Iain Harris
Iain Harris
Social Links Navigation
News Editor, Games

I joined GamesRadar+ in May 2022 following stints at PCGamesN and PocketGamer.Biz, with some freelance for Kotaku UK, RockPaperShotgun, and VG24/7 thrown in for good measure. When I'm not running the news team on the games side, you'll find me putting News Editor duties to one side to play the hottest JRPG of 20 years ago or pillaging the depths of Final Fantasy 14 for a swanky new cloak – the more colourful, the better.

Read more
A trainer looking out at the ocean during the trailer for Pokemon Winds and Waves
Pokemon Pokemon Winds and Waves: Everything we know about the next Pokemon game so far
 
 
Pokemon Legends Z-A Mystery Gift codes for Mega Garchomp Z
Pokemon All Pokemon Legends Z-A Mystery Gift Codes and Rewards (June 2026)
 
 
The player character in Pokemon Legends: Z-A sits next to an Alpha Totodile in front of a cafe
Pokemon Pokemon Home compatibility finally lets you offload your shiny-stuffed Pokemon Legends: Z-A boxes
 
 
Mega Charizard X in Pokemon Champions.
Pokemon Pokemon Champions producer "really enjoyed" the Pokemon Stadium games, used them as a "reference"
 
 
Key art for Pokemon Champions
Pokemon Pokemon Champions: Everything you need to know about the Nintendo game
 
 
In Pokemon Winds and Waves the trainer runs across a grassy field in front a windmill in the background as the sun hangs in the sky
Pokemon All Pokemon in Winds and Waves confimed so far
 
 
Latest in
Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame
Marvel Movies Robert Downey Jr. says they've "labored long and hard" to make sure Avengers: Doomsday will not be a letdown after Endgame
 
 
Xbox logos
Games Former PlayStation boss says Xbox shows a "basic misunderstanding" of the games industry
 
 
Matthew Rhys as Tom Loflis wearing a raincoat in Widow's Bay
Horror Shows Widow's Bay is an early contender for show of the year, and the devastating finale sets up more horrors for season 2
 
 
The Boys season 5 finale
Superhero Shows Homelander and Butcher stars respond to fan-made alternate The Boys ending, but we're sure they're being sarcastic
 
 
Chris Hemsworth as Thor in the Avengers: Doomsday trailer
Marvel Movies Joe Russo declares Avengers: Doomsday is "the most emotionally complex" Marvel movie yet
 
 
Final Fantasy Tactics art featuring a character riding a Chocobo
Final Fantasy 8 months after launch, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles gets New Game+ out of nowhere
 
 
Latest in News
Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame
Marvel Movies Robert Downey Jr. says they've "labored long and hard" to make sure Avengers: Doomsday will not be a letdown after Endgame
 
 
Xbox logos
Games Former PlayStation boss says Xbox shows a "basic misunderstanding" of the games industry
 
 
The Boys season 5 finale
Superhero Shows Homelander and Butcher stars respond to fan-made alternate The Boys ending, but we're sure they're being sarcastic
 
 
Chris Hemsworth as Thor in the Avengers: Doomsday trailer
Marvel Movies Joe Russo declares Avengers: Doomsday is "the most emotionally complex" Marvel movie yet
 
 
Final Fantasy Tactics art featuring a character riding a Chocobo
Final Fantasy 8 months after launch, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles gets New Game+ out of nowhere
 
 
Senua looks scared in the trailer for Senua.
Action Games Microsoft was reportedly planning Ninja Theory split when it announced Senua at Xbox Games Showcase
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Xbox logos
    1
    Former PlayStation boss says Xbox shows a "basic misunderstanding" of the games industry amid leadership changes, mixed messaging, and reports of studio closures
  2. 2
    Robert Downey Jr. says they've "labored long and hard" to make sure Avengers: Doomsday will not be a letdown after Endgame
  3. 3
    Homelander and Butcher stars respond to fan-made alternate The Boys ending, but we're almost certain they are being sarcastic
  4. 4
    Microsoft was reportedly already planning Ninja Theory split when it announced Senua at the Xbox Games Showcase, with the reveal intended to draw in investors
  5. 5
    Joe Russo raises hype levels by declaring Avengers: Doomsday is "the most emotionally complex" and "most mature" Marvel movie yet

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...