There will be a new update to the transfer system in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which is already starting to sound like a nightmare for Trainers. The upcoming core entry in the series will take you back to a reimagined version of Lumiose City, in Generation 6’s Kalos region. There will be a lot of changes to the franchise’s regular formula, starting with the battle system in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, for example.
The game will also see the return of Mega Evolutions after seven years, since they were last available in 2018’s Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!. Aside from the returning Mega Evolution forms we’ve grown used to, there will be several new Mega Evolutions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Nintendo has already announced Mega Dragonite and Mega Victreebel, for example, and leaks show there are more to come.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Will Have Transfer Compatibility Issues
There Are Some Serious Transfer Limitations
In addition to these features, there will also be some changes to how the game tackles transfers between games. In a post on the official Pokémon Legends: Z-A website, Nintendo announced that Pokémon Legends: Z-A will become compatible with Pokémon HOME in 2026, at an unspecified date. This will enable you to transfer Pokémon from past games, via HOME, to Legends: Z-A.
This will increase the number of species available in the new game. However, the company has yet to highlight which creatures that aren’t available in Legends: Z-A will be made compatible with the game. On the other hand, you’ll also be able to send Pokémon you captured during your time in Lumiose City to Pokémon HOME.
In the post, Nintendo also specifies that Pokémon captured in Legends: Z-A will not be transferable to previous titles in the series, like Legends: Arceus or Scarlet and Violet. Furthermore, the company informs that if you transfer a Pokémon from a previous title to Legends: Z-A, you’ll be unable to transfer it back to any previous entry in the franchise.
This will therefore lock you out of the possibility of leveling up a creature in the new game and then sending it back to its original game, for instance. Another example that can happen is that, if you transfer your favorite Pokémon from a previous game into Legends: Z-A, it will be locked to that game for now.
Nintendo hasn’t specified if the creatures in Legends: Z-A will be compatible with the rumored Pokémon Gen 10 games. It does mention that the new game will be compatible with Pokémon Champions, though it’s unclear if these two games will have a seamless transfer system between them or if there will be limitations like those applied to the previous titles.
Why Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s Transfer System Is So Different
The Limitations Could Stem From The New Battle System
Nintendo didn’t explain why the transfer system with Legends: Z-A will be so limited. Even so, it’s possible to speculate. There are big changes, like the aforementioned battle system, and this may play a part in the reason you can’t transfer from Pokémon Legends: Z-A to older games.
PP will be disposed of and instead replaced by cooldowns. As such, you’ll be able to use the same move as many times as you want, but you will be restricted to how often you use it based on its individual cooldown time. This gives the game a meaningful real-time effect.
Furthermore, you’ll be able to move your Pokémon around the arena, thus positioning attacks and dodging incoming moves. This could result in the complete removal of the Accuracy and Evasiveness stats. If a Pokémon doesn’t have Accuracy and Evasiveness, and Nintendo has made no attempt to adapt this for other games, then it could explain the limitations imposed on Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s transfer system.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A
- Released
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October 16, 2025
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
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Game Freak, Creatures Inc.
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
- Engine
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Proprietary
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer
- Prequel(s)
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Pokémon X, Pokémon Y
- Franchise
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Pokemon
- Number of Players
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1-4 players (online)
