Pokemon Legends: Z-A Competitive Scene Reveals Underperforming Pokemon and Meta Standouts

Since its much-anticipated release, Pokemon Legends: Z-A has quickly garnered attention from both fans and the competitive Pokemon community.

Developed by Game Freak and exclusively available on the Nintendo Switch, this latest entry reinvents the traditional turn-based formula by introducing a dynamic, real-time battle system.

The strategic shift has resulted in significant changes to the competitive meta, with certain Pokemon excelling while others have been left behind—even veterans of the series are finding surprises as they adapt to the new landscape. Initial analysis shows that Pokemon Legends: Z-A rewards high offensive and defensive stats over the Speed stat, in contrast to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

Metagross, Excadrill, and Gyarados have surged to the top of online ranked battles due to their robust stat distributions and powerful movepools.

However, not all Pokemon have found success in this new environment.

Here, we break down why select classic Pokemon—Delibird, Carbink, and Aegislash—are currently struggling in the competitive scene. Delibird: A Quarter Century of Challenges First introduced in Pokemon Gold and Silver in 1999, Delibird has struggled competitively for over 25 years—and its performance in Pokemon Legends: Z-A sadly continues that trend.

With base stats of 45 in HP, Defense, and Special Defense, Delibird possesses some of the weakest defenses among all fully-evolved Pokemon, making it highly susceptible to being knocked out by even resisted attacks.

Its attacking stats fare no better, with base 55 Attack and 65 Special Attack falling well below the competitive threshold typically considered viable.

The Ice/Flying typing further hampers Delibird, exposing it to quadruple weakness against Rock-type moves and key vulnerabilities against Steel, Fire, and Electric types. A rephrased insight from the competitive community highlights Delibird’s woes: “With such low stats and a risky type combination, Delibird is consistently overwhelmed in competitive play, unable to dish out or withstand meaningful damage.” Carbink: Outclassed and Overpowered Carbink, a Rock/Fairy-type introduced in later generations, finds itself in a difficult position in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, particularly with Diancie—a direct upgrade—not yet available.

Although Carbink boasts high base Defense and Special Defense stats (150 each), its exceedingly low base 50 Attack and Special Attack severely limit its offensive capabilities.

Compounding its issue, Carbink’s quadruple weakness to Steel-types makes it a frequent target for Metagross and Excadrill, who can dispatch Carbink with moves like Bullet Punch and Iron Head in a single turn.

Its additional weaknesses to Ground- and Water-type moves, combined with limited damage output, leave Carbink outclassed in most roles. As summarized by the competitive scene, “Carbink’s impressive defenses are overshadowed by critical weaknesses and lack of offensive presence, leaving it vulnerable to dominant meta threats.” Aegislash: Former Powerhouse, Now Vulnerable Arguably one of the biggest shifts comes for Aegislash, who was a staple in top-tier play since its debut in Pokemon X and Y.

Previously renowned for its Stance Change ability—which let it agilely alternate between offense and defense—Aegislash now suffers due to the real-time mechanics in Pokemon Legends: Z-A.

Transforming between sword and shield forms is no longer instantaneous, leaving Aegislash exposed to attacks during the transition.

In sword form, its base 50 defenses are so low that it is frequently knocked out before it can retaliate.

This vulnerability persists even when the player tries to switch back to shield form for protection. In the words of players analyzing the current meta: “Aegislash’s transformation lag leaves it wide open to punishing attacks, negating the tactical advantage it once enjoyed in turn-based battles.” Abilities and Meta Impact Further complicating matters for many classic Pokemon is the lack of abilities in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, a factor that traditionally has been pivotal for defining competitive roles.

The absence of abilities has diminished the viability of numerous Pokemon, including Mega Glalie, Mega Sableye, Tyranitar, Furfrou, Klefki, and Mega Absol, which previously relied on signature abilities to shine in tournaments or online ranked matches. As the Pokemon Legends: Z-A competitive scene evolves, trainers are encouraged to experiment and share their findings, driving both community discussion and competitive innovation.

Stay tuned for future updates as Game Freak continues to refine the competitive landscape for both veterans and newcomers alike on the Nintendo Switch.

Pokémon Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch Pokemon Gyarados Meta Metagross Aegislash Pokemon Legends: Z-A Z Legends: Z-A Game Freak Delibird Carbink Excadrill Pokemon Gold and Silver Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Pokemon X and Y Pokemon Sword and Shield