Z-A’s Mega Hawlucha is a Good Exception to One Rule

Pokemon Legends: Z-A is not removed from its launch date anymore, and so it is time for Recreation Freak to put out the additions it has in thoughts for Mega Evolution; it solely is sensible that the function’s long-awaited return would include a complete host of recent Pokemon who get to take part. After a few early confirmations similar to Mega Dragonite and Mega Victreebel, the most recent addition is Mega Hawlucha. Recreation Freak’s announcement means that Hawlucha will keep its Preventing/Flying kind line in its Mega kind, solely with a pointy new lucha masks and a bulkier physique, and that is the only option Recreation Freak may have made.

Official screenshot of Mega Victreebel - Pokemon Legends Z-A

Pokemon has a protracted historical past of messing with the kinds of particular person Pokemon, way back to Gen 2 introducing Darkish and Metal, which had been retroactively utilized to a few Gen 1 monsters. In its appearances earlier than Pokemon Legends: Z-A, Mega Evolution additionally generally liked so as to add or change sorts, such because the Psychic/Preventing Mega Mewtwo X or the Hearth/Dragon Mega Charizard X. These momentary mid-battle kind changes are arguably an enormous a part of justifying a Mega Evolution’s existence, because it turns into a extra distinct Pokemon design, and it may be a gameplay perk too, given the large matchup implications. Regardless of this, Pokemon Legends: Z-A has opted to not change Hawlucha’s kind line, which sarcastically makes it all of the extra distinctive.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Lets Mega Hawlucha Hold On To Its Id

Mega Hawlucha Pokemon Legends Z-A reveal

When designing Mega Hawlucha, it could’ve been completely logical and cheap for Recreation Freak to decide on another kind so as to add to Hawlucha to spice it up. For example, Preventing/Darkish could be an apparent combo for a wrestler Pokemon with a villainous theme, in the identical vein because the Fire/Dark wrestling heel-themed Incineroar. Hawlucha’s signature transfer Flying Press (which is a Preventing kind assault, regardless of the identify) may’ve additionally made sense within the palms of a Preventing/Dragon Mega Evo. These combos and some other may’ve utilized some nice versatility to Hawlucha in battle by giving gamers a chance to vary its kind resistances in a pinch, a la Terastal.

Hawlucha’s Sort Combo is One in every of Few

Hawlucha spreading its wings in the Pokemon anime

Nevertheless, top-of-the-line issues about Hawlucha is its authentic kind line. It was the primary Pokemon to share the Flying and Preventing sorts, and to this point, solely two different Pokemon have completed the identical: Galarian Zapdos, which is a little bit exhausting to come back by as a Legendary, and Flamigo, a Gen 9 newcomer that lacks Hawlucha’s strengths, similar to an eye catching design and a signature transfer. As such, Hawlucha is arguably the definitive consultant of its very uncommon kind mixture. If Mega Hawlucha had modified that, it could’ve sacrificed a core a part of the Wrestling Pokemon’s identification.

Hawlucha can be distinctive as the one Flying-type Pokemon within the Human-Like Egg Group.

Recreation Freak did have a method to get the very best of each worlds; it may’ve launched two totally different Mega Evolutions for Hawlucha, a precedent already set by the aforementioned Mega Mewtwo and Charizard. These may’ve depicted a wrestling face and a wrestling heel, the previous protecting Hawlucha’s authentic sorts and the latter choosing Darkish or one thing comparable. Nevertheless, it appears unlikely that that’ll occur at this level, since Mega Hawlucha’s identify lacks an X or Y to recommend an alternate, and anyhow, odds are that Recreation Freak would favor to save lots of Mega Evolution branches for high-priority creatures similar to starters, Legendaries, and Mythicals. With out a second Mega Evo choice, it is for the very best that Hawlucha caught to its Preventing/Flying weapons.

Ash's Hawlucha, standing proudly before battle.

It is value mentioning that Mega Hawlucha does proceed a sample of leaving gamers hanging within the seek for Mega Evolutions for kind modifications. Mega Dragonite and Mega Victreebel additionally use the identical sorts as their base types. Recreation Freak could have many new Megas with kind changes ready within the wings, particularly if Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s leaked Mega Evolutions have any fact to them. Within the meantime, although, Hawlucha does not go for a change of tempo, and that is in the end for the very best.