Mega Dragonite, one of the Mega Evolutions from Pokemon Legends: Z-A, is set to make its franchise debut ahead of the game itself, having been teased to appear in the next episode of Pokemon Horizons. Be that as it may, Western fans are unlikely to get to see the upcoming episode before Pokemon Legends: Z-A hits the market.
Mega Dragonite was originally revealed alongside Pokemon Legends: Z-A early adopter bonuses in mid-July 2025. It is one of the 26 new Mega Evolutions set to debut in the upcoming RPG.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A's Mega Dragonite May Live or Die By One Detail
Mega Dragonite's Pokemon Legends: Z-A reveal has received mixed reception among fans, but one missing detail could be the real deciding factor.
Minor spoilers for Pokemon Horizons (Episode 107 synopsis) ahead.
Pokemon Horizons Teases Mega Dragonite Debut Episode
As is tradition, the new pocket monsters made for Pokemon Legends: Z-A are also planned to appear in the Pokemon anime. In the case of Mega Dragonite, it would appear that its debut is coming even before the game itself, as the very next episode of Pokemon Horizons: The Series now seems to be teasing it. According to a synopsis shared by Comicbook, Episode 107 will see Roy try to save Ult (Uruto) after he gets captured attempting to infiltrate the Explorers' hideout. In the chaos that ensues, Ult's Dragonite will appear.
While the synopsis doesn't outright state that Mega Dragonite will be featured in the episode, social media chatter suggests that many vocal Pokemon Horizons fans believe that to be the case. One fan theory currently making the rounds online is that Ult's Dragonite will evolve on its own terms. Other major events rumored for Episode 107 are the anime debuts of Rabsca and the Galarian Zen Mode form of Darmanitan.
Pokemon Horizons Mega Dragonite Episode Isn't Coming to the West Immediately
Episode 107 is set to air in Japan next Friday, August 22. It's part of what's known as the Mega Voltage arc in the Far Eastern country, which will presumably be advertised as Pokemon Horizons Season 3 in the West. The release date for the localized version remains unclear. Pokemon Horizons has consistently premiered in Japan ahead of its Western debut, with Netflix's catalog currently 28 episodes behind the Japanese broadcast.
Given this state of affairs, it's likely that Mega Dragonite's franchise debut in the West will still happen in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, which originally revealed it. The sequel to Pokemon Legends: Arceus is scheduled for release on October 16. It will be available on both the original Switch and its successor. In the meantime, there's a lot of new footage from the game coming out right now, courtesy of a Pokemon Legends: Z-A demo featured at the newly started Pokemon World Championships in Anaheim, California.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 79 /100 Critics Rec: 66%
- Released
- October 16, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak, Creatures Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
