Pokémon Legends: Z-A continues to garner significant attention within the Nintendo Switch community, with Season 7 of its ranked battles sparking lively debate among competitive players.
Developed by The Pokémon Company and available on the Nintendo eShop, Pokémon Legends: Z-A has seen its online ranked scene evolve with each season.
However, the game’s newest season, running until March 11, 2024, has drawn criticism from some corners of the competitive scene due to sweeping changes in allowable team compositions. Unlike previous seasons, Season 7 permits trainers to field up to two restricted Legendary Pokémon on their three-member teams, with no cap on Mythical Pokémon.
In sharp contrast to earlier metagames—where Pokémon such as Garchomp, Glaceon, and various Steel-types formed a balanced triangular dynamic—this latest season has become saturated with high-powered Legendary picks, diminishing both strategic diversity and accessibility for aspiring competitors. Legendary Domination: Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza A prominent feature of Season 7 is the overwhelming presence of Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza on the battlefield.
According to rankings and high-level match data, it is rare to play a ranked match that doesn’t feature at least one, if not all three, of these Legendary powerhouses.
Rayquaza stands out, being able to Mega Evolve and simultaneously hold a Focus Sash—a unique advantage unmatched by any other Pokémon—making it a linchpin for many trainers.
The popular moveset of Swords Dance, Dragon Rush, Dragon Ascent, and Earthquake, partnered with maxed-out HP and Attack, emphasizes its offensive versatility. Kyogre is also widely seen, often wielding items like Blue Orb to become Primal Kyogre or opting for alternatives such as Focus Sash or Life Orb.
Its move pool, which typically includes Calm Mind, Origin Pulse, Muddy Water, Thunderbolt, and Ice Beam, allows it to adapt effectively against many threats.
Groudon, while considered the lesser of the trio, remains a formidable challenger.
Most trainers opt for Primal Groudon, whose susceptibility to Water-type attacks is partially offset by unpredictably high survivability.
Standard moves include Swords Dance, Precipice Blades, Heat Crash, and Heavy Slam or Earthquake as secondary choices. Challenges for Counter-Play and Diversity The strength and synergy of Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza make it difficult for less powerful Pokémon to remain viable, leading many competitive players to describe the meta as overly centralized.
Traditional counters such as Glaceon struggle due to the Legendary trio’s coverage and durability.
This imbalance pushes out previously favored Pokémon and strategies, reducing the diversity that made earlier seasons compelling. Other Legendary Influences: Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde Beyond the main trio, Xerneas remains a notable force with its standard Geomancy, Moonblast, and Thunderbolt setup.
Teams frequently pair it with Groudon to deal with Steel-types, one of its main counters.
Yveltal, despite ample stats, is often sidelined due to widespread weaknesses and a limited move pool, while Zygarde—despite access to its 100% form and Mega Evolution—often fails to withstand the now-commonplace Fairy and Ice-type attacks before transforming. Mewtwo: A Last Stand for Psychic Power Rounding out the list of viable choices, Mewtwo still finds favor thanks to its exceptional Speed and Special Attack.
Equipped with Psystrike, Solar Beam, Thunderbolt, and Ice Beam, along with Calm Mind, Mewtwo offers flexible coverage for savvy trainers.
Mega Mewtwo, especially with the Mewtwonite X variant, can boost its physical presence but remains behind Rayquaza in utility due to the latter’s ability to simultaneously Mega Evolve and carry items. Looking Ahead in Pokémon Legends: Z-A Ranked Play With community discussion mounting around the dominance of Legendary Pokémon this season, numerous players are calling for restrictions in upcoming seasons to reinvigorate balance and strategic variety.
As the current season wraps up on March 11, competitive fans of Pokémon Legends: Z-A on Nintendo Switch will be watching closely for updates in future Pokémon Direct or eShop announcements.
For now, Season 7 stands as a potent example of how changes to allowed Pokémon can profoundly shape the competitive ecosystem, for better or worse.
Developed by The Pokémon Company and available on the Nintendo eShop, Pokémon Legends: Z-A has seen its online ranked scene evolve with each season.
However, the game’s newest season, running until March 11, 2024, has drawn criticism from some corners of the competitive scene due to sweeping changes in allowable team compositions. Unlike previous seasons, Season 7 permits trainers to field up to two restricted Legendary Pokémon on their three-member teams, with no cap on Mythical Pokémon.
In sharp contrast to earlier metagames—where Pokémon such as Garchomp, Glaceon, and various Steel-types formed a balanced triangular dynamic—this latest season has become saturated with high-powered Legendary picks, diminishing both strategic diversity and accessibility for aspiring competitors. Legendary Domination: Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza A prominent feature of Season 7 is the overwhelming presence of Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza on the battlefield.
According to rankings and high-level match data, it is rare to play a ranked match that doesn’t feature at least one, if not all three, of these Legendary powerhouses.
Rayquaza stands out, being able to Mega Evolve and simultaneously hold a Focus Sash—a unique advantage unmatched by any other Pokémon—making it a linchpin for many trainers.
The popular moveset of Swords Dance, Dragon Rush, Dragon Ascent, and Earthquake, partnered with maxed-out HP and Attack, emphasizes its offensive versatility. Kyogre is also widely seen, often wielding items like Blue Orb to become Primal Kyogre or opting for alternatives such as Focus Sash or Life Orb.
Its move pool, which typically includes Calm Mind, Origin Pulse, Muddy Water, Thunderbolt, and Ice Beam, allows it to adapt effectively against many threats.
Groudon, while considered the lesser of the trio, remains a formidable challenger.
Most trainers opt for Primal Groudon, whose susceptibility to Water-type attacks is partially offset by unpredictably high survivability.
Standard moves include Swords Dance, Precipice Blades, Heat Crash, and Heavy Slam or Earthquake as secondary choices. Challenges for Counter-Play and Diversity The strength and synergy of Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza make it difficult for less powerful Pokémon to remain viable, leading many competitive players to describe the meta as overly centralized.
Traditional counters such as Glaceon struggle due to the Legendary trio’s coverage and durability.
This imbalance pushes out previously favored Pokémon and strategies, reducing the diversity that made earlier seasons compelling. Other Legendary Influences: Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde Beyond the main trio, Xerneas remains a notable force with its standard Geomancy, Moonblast, and Thunderbolt setup.
Teams frequently pair it with Groudon to deal with Steel-types, one of its main counters.
Yveltal, despite ample stats, is often sidelined due to widespread weaknesses and a limited move pool, while Zygarde—despite access to its 100% form and Mega Evolution—often fails to withstand the now-commonplace Fairy and Ice-type attacks before transforming. Mewtwo: A Last Stand for Psychic Power Rounding out the list of viable choices, Mewtwo still finds favor thanks to its exceptional Speed and Special Attack.
Equipped with Psystrike, Solar Beam, Thunderbolt, and Ice Beam, along with Calm Mind, Mewtwo offers flexible coverage for savvy trainers.
Mega Mewtwo, especially with the Mewtwonite X variant, can boost its physical presence but remains behind Rayquaza in utility due to the latter’s ability to simultaneously Mega Evolve and carry items. Looking Ahead in Pokémon Legends: Z-A Ranked Play With community discussion mounting around the dominance of Legendary Pokémon this season, numerous players are calling for restrictions in upcoming seasons to reinvigorate balance and strategic variety.
As the current season wraps up on March 11, competitive fans of Pokémon Legends: Z-A on Nintendo Switch will be watching closely for updates in future Pokémon Direct or eShop announcements.
For now, Season 7 stands as a potent example of how changes to allowed Pokémon can profoundly shape the competitive ecosystem, for better or worse.
