WithPokémon Legends: Z-A’s release getting closer, the number of Kalos Pokémon they’ve revealed should have you already planning on what to catch first. Kalos Pokémon offer a diverse range of creatures, with many returning from Gen 6 where they originated. Before you start your game, you’ll want to know which Pokémon from the Kalos region are worth catching the most.
According to rumor, there will be far fewer regional or new Pokémon inLegends Z-A, solely due to theresurrection of Mega Evolutionsin the game. With Pokémon gaining brand-new evolutions, there isn’t as much room for other new Pokémon from Kalos in contrast toLegends Arceus’s Hisuian variants. That being said, this meansyou can rely more on great Kalos Pokémon returningwithout any modifications.
10Fletchling
Tiny Bird With Fiery Potential
Likely one of the first Pokémon you’ll find in Lumiose City isFletchling, Kalos' signature bird-like creature that stands with the likes of Starly, Pidgey, and Tailow from past games. However,Fletchling has some of the highest potential of any starting bird, making it an incredibly good Pokémon you may use in any game from start to finish.
Fletching eventually evolves into Fletchinder and Talonflame, two powerful Flying/Fire-type Pokémonwhose attacks are devastating against their opponents. With remarkable speed and attacking power, a Talonflame can become a centerpiece of your team, which might make an investment in a Fletchling a good choice inLegends Z-A.
9Pancham
Ferocious Fighter Who Breaks The Mold
Panchamis a Fighting-type Pokémon often found in Kalos, and has already been confirmed to be areturning face inLegends Z-A.This Pokémon will evolve into Pangoro, adding the deadly Dark-type to its arsenalfor even stronger attacks.
As a Dark-type, Pangoro would ordinarily take super-effective damage from Fighting-type moves. However, due to its innate Fighting-type from Pancham, it covers one of a Dark-type’s main weaknesses.
The fierce panda-like Pokémon is excellent on any aggressive team, using abilities like Iron Fist or Mold Breaker to shatter a foe’s defenses. With the new battle systems ofLegends Z-A, perhaps a Pancham will help you get through early challenges, especially against the notorious groups of rival trainers you’ll face.
8Skrelp
Poisonous Adaption Endures Many Threats
An often overlooked Pokémon from Kalos isSkrelp, a Water/Poison-type creature who resembles a seahorse carrying withered algae. Water-types are always useful to catch, butSkrelp’s Poison-typing also gives it extra options most creatures won’t have. The ability to possibly poison foes can be great alongside the additional type giving you more match-up advantages.
The most impressive part of Skrelp, though, is how it evolves into Dragalge.Dragalge is the only non-Legendary or Ultra Beast to have the Poison/Dragon-type, making it a pseudo-Legendary Pokémon to have. The sudden strength of its Dragon-type may get rid of its Water affinity, but Dragalge’s remarkable adaptability still remains through excellent Special Defense that creates an X-Factor in many teams.
7Phantump
Haunted Woods Are Well-Rounded Recruits
One of my personal favorite Pokémon from any region isPhantump, the Grass/Ghost-type from Kalos that only emerges in the dead of night.This Ghost-type is rare for being part Grass, using a high Special Attack power to drain enemy Pokémon of their vitality in battle.
For those who don’t choose Chikorita as theirstarter inLegends Z-A, Phantump might be a perfect catch for their team. Evolving into the powerful Trevenant,Phantump’s usefulness can last for a long time, with the uniqueness of its type fulfilling multiple rolesin a balanced squad of Pokémon.
6Clauncher
Powerful Pulses From An Aquatic Crustacean
At first glance, the crawfish-likeClauncherjust seems like an ordinary Water-type you would run into as many times as a Zubat inLegends Z-Ain water-filled areas. However, this Pokémon is not to be underestimated, as it can easily turn into one of thestrongest Water-type Pokémonever with its exclusive ability - Mega Launcher.
Clauncher’s ridiculous strength comes from its Special Attack stat, which is enhanced further when using Water-type moves. Thanks to the Same Type Attack Bonus (S.T.A.B.), Clauncer’s Water-type Mega Launcher boosted moves tend to have an additional buff when used.
Mega Launcher adds additional strength to all pulse and aura moves in Clauncher’s arsenal, from the damage of Water Pulse to the healing of Heal Pulse. This gives Clauncher tons of potential in the right hands, which is doubled when it evolves into the intimidating Clawitzer.
5Inkay
Manipulating Battlefields With Innate Advantages
Inkayis another common Pokémon in the Kalos region, evolving into the potent Malamar upon enough training. ThisPokémon is a Psychic and Dark-type, immediately creating a union of types that are, ordinarily, against one another. While most Psychic-types would take super-effective damage from Dark-type moves, Inkay manages to resist this would-be weakness.
Inkay can be caught with a variety of abilitiestoo, such as Contrary to Suction Cups. Contrary swaps the impact of stat-raising moves, preventing your opponent from buffing their Pokémon during a battle. Meanwhile, Suction Cups prevent your opponent from forcibly switching Inkay out using moves, allowing you to keep up your strategies without interruption.
4Helioptile
Swift Shocker With Reliable Skills
Electric-types are a must-have at any point of a Pokémon game, and I doubtLegends Z-Awill be an exception. So,Helioptilewould be my suggestion for a reliable Electric-type, as this Electric/Normal Pokémon has a variety of abilities and above-average stats to work in almost any team.
Helioptile evolves into Heliolisk, one of the best Electric-types from the 6th Generation titles, using high Speed to outmaneuver opponents in a pinch. With a cool, desert-inspired appearance of a running basilisk lizard, Heliptile can resist hazardous conditions, giving you the protection you need to win against some ofLegends Z-A’s toughest challengers.
3Honedge
One Blade Delivers A Spectral Slice Through Foes
Whenever conversation leans to the Kalos region inPokémongames,Honedgeand its evolutionary line are always considered.Honedge evolves into Doublade, which evolves one more time into the infamous Aegislash, one of the most recognizable Pokémon in any game.
Aegislash is pretty much guaranteed to return inLegends Z-A, given how iconic its Stance Change forms have become.While Hoedge and Doublade have no abilities, Aegislash can switch stances between offense and defenseto adapt to nearly any battle situation.
Honedge and all its evolutions are Ghost/Steel-types, giving it an elusive and defensive type that makes it extremely hard for opponents to defeat in battle.
This single skill has made Aegislash among the strongest Pokémon ever, no matter what game it’s in. Next to Klefki,Honedge is one of the only Steel-types from Kalos as well, making it incredibly rare as well as useful to encourage you further to catch one quickly.
2Goomy
Lovable Blob To Hydrated Powerhouse
Goomyis a pure Dragon-type whose initial appearance in Kalos would be unassuming. Much like Clauncher though, Goomy is defined by its potential, evolving twice into Sliggoo and Goodra, two larger-than-life dragons whose stats are arguably the highest out of all Kalos Pokémon.
AlthoughLegends Z-Ahas already confirmed Dragoniteand its line to be in Lumiose City, Goomy is another confirmed Pokémon you can catch to spice up the Dragon recruited to your team. Goomy’s adorable squishy form only grows more endearing, which acts in synergy with the traits of a balanced pseudo-Legendary that can win almost every fight.
1Noibat
Swift Screeching Bat With Acute Senses
Perhaps the greatest choice of Pokémon to get inLegends Z-AisNoibat, not for any excess of strength, but for the quality it adds to your team. Noibat is a Flying/Dragon-type, immediately giving you a dual typing with many weaknesses and strengths. Almost like a cousin to Zubat,Noibat is more well-rounded, performing best on teams who need a balanced companion.
The main ability of Noibat and its evolution is Telepathy, which prevents it from taking damage from an ally’s moves in a double battle. SinceLegends Z-Awill have double battles in its story, this may be a useful trait to have on your team.
Noibat transforms into Noivern with enough training, whose strong array of stats are, like Goodra’s, all meant to fulfill multiple rolesfor different scenarios. Since you might not get a Rayquaza while playingLegends Z-A, having a more common Dragon/Flying-type through Noibat makes it a catch you’ll be able to make earlier.
Having a Noibat has the same novelty as Dragalge in many ways, allowing you to have a strong Dragon-type without waiting until the end of the game to catch a Legendary. While there are tons of varied Pokémon in the Kalos region returning toPokémon Legends: Z-A, there are a few who you should try to catch to keep them in your journey the longest.
