Pokemon Legends: Z-Ahas the chance to right many of the wrongs ofPokemon X and Yas a new game set in the Kalos Region. WhilePokemon Legends: Z-A’s gameplay will still likely be closer to that of its predecessor,Pokemon Legends: Arceus, many fans are anticipating this game to act as thePokemon Zgame they never got during Gen 6. IfPokemon Legends: Z-Areally is intent on fleshing out Kalos in a way thatPokemon X and Ydidn’t, it needs to bring back one obscure type of battle that never really got the chance to shine.
With the Mega Evolution mechanic already set to return inPokemon Legends: Z-A, there is a good chance the game will follow up on some fan-favorite aspects ofPokemon X and Ythat were never seen through due to the lack of a third version. Aside from Mega Evolution,Pokemon Legends: Z-Acould see a deeper dive into the story of Kalos' ancient kingAZ and his Floette, who was originally intended to be distributed to players during Gen 6 but was ultimately cut. Additionally,Pokemon Legends: Z-Acould see the return of Sky Battles to give players a refreshed take on the game’s traditional combat formula.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A Should Bring Back Sky Battles
Sky Battles Were Underutilized in Pokemon X and Y
It’s common for players to be unfamiliar with Sky Battles as they were only ever available inPokemon X and Y, and even within those games, they were few and far between. The premise of these Sky Battles is that players can only use certain critters that are eitherFlying typeor have the ability Levitate as they take to the air to battle their opponent. There wasn’t much else to this gimmick other than placing certain restrictions on the mons and moves players and their opponents can use, and with how few Sky Battle trainers there actually are inPokemon X and Y, the mechanic flew under many players' radars.
Despite being a Flying type or having Levitate, some mons like Fletchling, Hawlucha, and Gengar are ineligible for Sky Battles since their models don’t show them flying or levitating.
While thePokemonseries has experimented with different battle formats in the past, some have definitely had more staying power than others. Double Battles were first introduced in Gen 3 and have become a staple format for the series, even becoming the standard forcompetitivePokemonVGC battles. On the other hand, formats like Triple and Rotation Battles introduced in Gen 5 never caught on, and much like Sky Battles, could do with a rework if they were to ever return to the franchise.
How the Pokemon Legends Formula Could Incorporate Sky Battles
Although Sky Battles felt like an afterthought inPokemon X and Y, they hold a lot of potential for interesting battles thatPokemon Legends: Z-Amight have the tools to tap into. It’s unclear at this point ifPokemon Legends: Z-Awill feature more standard trainer battlesthanPokemon Legends: Arceusdid, but the game deserves to take advantage of the Sky Battle mechanic regardless.
Pokemon Legends: Arceusallowed players to fly around theregion of Hisui by calling a Braviaryto transport them high into the sky, and while it was a great way to quickly get around the map while spotting mons from above, there is a lot more that could have been included in the feature. IfPokemon Legends: Z-Afeatures a similar flying mount for players to use, it only makes sense that they should be able to encounter trainers while flying with this mon. These trainers could challenge players to Sky Battles, potentially utilizing the mon they are flying with, and give this battle format a fun new twist to revive what was a largely forgotten part ofPokemon X and Y.
