The closing ceremony of the 2025 Pokémon World Championships wasn’t just hype for the finalists—it dropped a bombshell for the rest of us. Pokémon Legends: Z-A is bringing a brand-new four-player battle mode called the Z-A Battle Club, and it’s shaping up to be the wildest Pokémon brawl we’ve seen yet.
What is the Z-A Battle Club?
Imagine Pokémon battles but with real-time action instead of the usual turn-based setup. Up to four players jump into a three-minute free-for-all where the goal is simple: knock out as many Pokémon as possible. Every KO nets you a point, and whoever racks up the most by the buzzer is crowned the champ. Think of it as Pokémon meets a mini battle royale—but with Mega Evolutions.
Real-Time Battles, Not Just Turn-Based Waiting
Unlike past mainline games, Pokémon Legends: Z-A ditches the slower, turn-by-turn gameplay for quick, cooldown-based attacks. You can swap Pokémon mid-battle to counter opponents, making strategy as important as reflexes. No more waiting around while your friend takes five years to decide whether to spam Quick Attack—this is fast-paced and chaotic in the best way.
Mega Evolution is Back (Yes, Mega Dragonite Too)
Pokémon fans have been begging for Mega Evolutions to return, and Z-A is delivering. Not only are classics like Mega Ampharos back, but we’re also getting new forms like Mega Dragonite. Mega Evolutions play a huge role in the Z-A Battle Club since they can either single out one poor soul or wipe out multiple Pokémon at once. Big brain timing on when to Mega Evolve could be the difference between victory and getting clapped.
Online Battles and Switch 2 Showcase
The reveal trailer (shown on the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of the game—fancy, right?) gave us a taste of the Z-A Battle Club’s chaos. Four trainers going at it, swapping Pokémon mid-fight, and unleashing Mega forms left and right—it looked like pure mayhem in the best way. Just a heads-up though: you’ll need a Nintendo Switch Online membership to join the fun.
Why This Matters for Pokémon Fans
This new format isn’t just a side mode—it’s actually woven into the main story of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. The Z-A Battle Club will take the role that Pokémon Gyms usually play in other games, meaning trainers will have to master this real-time battle style if they want to progress.
Between returning features like Mega Evolution and fresh gameplay experiments, this game looks like it’s mixing nostalgia with innovation in a way that could keep both veterans and newcomers hooked.
