Z-A Starter Stocks Experience Major Surge

The day you kick off your quest in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, there’s this big decision looming, right? You’re picking your starter Pokémon. You’re staring at Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile—and here’s the kicker, they might all get some wild new Mega Evolutions if leaks are to be believed. But, honestly, not all of them are on the same level, and some sneaky hints from Legends: Z-A might be whispering that one of these is the boss of the group.

So, without these Mega Evolutions being set in stone, how strong are they really? I mean, here’s what folks are chatting about: Mega Meganium might turn into a Grass/Fairy type while Mega Feraligatr could become a Water/Dragon type. As for Mega Emboar, it might stick to the Fire/Fighting gig. But here’s a twist, it could actually be the best pick to tackle the game’s fiercest fights, especially after getting introduced to the Rust Syndicate—yeah, they’re a new baddie squad in town.

Figuring out the ultimate starter for any Pokémon game is kind of like deciding your favorite pizza topping—everyone’s got opinions. But, a good yardstick is seeing how each one fares against big-time battles in the game. Like, remember in Gen 1? Bulbasaur was kind of the MVP since its Grass/Poison moves crushed quite a few Gym Leaders. It had this edge over Brock, Misty, Erika’s Tangela, and even Giovanni. Plus, it scoffed at Lt. Surge’s Electric attacks—kind of a boss move, right?

Now, for Pokémon Legends: Z-A, we’re in the dark about what types of rival trainers will pop up in the Z-A Royale. Picking the best starter is still a guessing game. But, if we trust some leaks (and who doesn’t love some insider scoop?), starting with Emboar might just give players a leg up in major skirmishes. Could it be the ultimate starter? Maybe, maybe not. But if you’re leaning towards Tepig, you can probably sleep easy about your choice.

Then there’s this Rust Syndicate, which sounds like a shady club you’d hear about on a true-crime podcast. Their head honcho is this guy, Corbeau. And, okay, details are sketchy, but apparently, you’ll face off with him in the Z-A Royal. Word on the street says his main squeeze isn’t Arbok, but Mega Scolipede. And guess what? It’s Bug/Poison, which is a nice match-up for Emboar’s Fire tricks.

Oh, and another mystery member of the Rust Syndicate? Could be Phillipe, if whispers are true. He’s supposedly into Steel-types and this leaked Mega Skarmory might be his pride and joy. Apparently, their HQ has some wicked Steel-type decor going on. If that’s the case, Emboar’s got just the right ammo—both Fire and Fighting moves—to take these metalheads down. Choosing Tepig could make these battles a breeze.

Plus, Vinnie—Jett’s secretary—is rumored to show up with Mega Lopunny on his team. Emboar’s sitting pretty for this showdown as well. But, who knows, right? Guess we’ll just have to dive in and see how it all unfolds.