After 12 years since its initial debut in 2013’s Pokemon X and Y, the fan-favorite mechanic Mega Evolution will finally return in the upcoming Pokemon Legends: Z-A. The first mainline Pokemon game to launch on the Nintendo Switch 2, Pokemon Legends: Z-A will return players to the Kalos region and allow them to utilize most, if not every, previously established Mega Evolution form. On top of the pre-existing Mega Evolutions, Z-A will also introduce new Mega Evolutions such as Mega Dragonite and a suspected 26 other new Mega Evolutions. However, one suspected Mega Evolution may need a boost to stand out among the crowd: Mega Pyroar.
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Pokemon X and Y’s Pyroar Explained
Despite Pokemon X and Y taking place in the France-inspired Kalos region, many new Pokemon introduced in the games were based on animals and cultures from far-away continents and countries. For example, the Wrestling Pokemon Hawlucha is based on Mexican Luchador wrestlers, and the Daunting Pokemon Pangoro is based on China’s giant pandas. This is the same case for the Royal Pokemon Pyroar, which is based on lions. However, its origins could be traced back to the common usage of lions in medieval European architecture, symbolism, and heraldry, as well as extinct subspecies of lions found in ancient Europe. Much like modern-day African lions, male Pyroars have thick, flashy manes while female Pyroars have more reserved fur styles.
Pyroar and its pre-evolved form Litleo are notable for being the first Pokemon to feature the Normal-type as their secondary typing, with their primary typing being Fire-type. Pyroar is also considered to be the unofficial mascot of Kalos’ criminal Team Flare with their leader, Lysandre, even styling his red hair to resemble the mane of a male Pyroar. Despite this connection between Lysandre, Team Flare, and Pyroar, the Royal Pokemon is not Lysandre’s ace Pokemon, with that title instead going to Lysandre’s Mega Gyarados. Pyroars are additionally notable for their fire abilities, as their fiery breath can burn at over 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mega Pyroar’s Potential in Pokemon Legends: Z-A
For instance, most of Pyroar's level-up moves are Normal-type, which are never super effective against other Pokemon types. It also only learns five Fire-type moves by level-up. Of those five moves, only four are particularly strong when used by Pyroar due to the Pokemon having a 109 Special Attack stat compared to its relatively low 68 Attack stat. Besides Pyroar’s Special Attack stat, its only other decent stat is its 106 Speed stat. Due to Pyroar being a dual Fire/Normal-type, it’s weak to Fighting, Ground, Rock, and Water-type Pokemon and moves. This package makes Pyroar hard to justify as a slot in any team.
Due to these stats and typings, Pyroar is not a popular Fire-type Pokemon to use in battles, especially compared to far stronger and varied Fire-types such as Arcanine and Charizard. However, its rumored Mega Evolution could give it a stat boost and a new secondary typing that could help it stand out among other Fire-types. Since the base version of Pyroar is not great, its Mega needs all the help it can get to be even remotely decent - especially compared to other Fire-types that are getting a new Mega, like Chandelure. Its Normal type does grant it immunity to Ghost attacks, but it's a small token considering that most other Stage-1 critters outshine it.
It's worth noting that the leaks regarding Mega Pyroar don't mention a type change.
Mega Pyroar’s Potential New Story Role
Pyroars play little to no significant role in Pokemon X and Y’s story, but they could play a more unique role in Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s narrative. Depending on which ending Z-A is based on, Lysandre could be explained to survive his climactic battle in Geosenge Town’s underground Team Flare Secret HQ and make a surprise appearance in Z-A. If this turns out to be the case, Lysandre could appear midway through Z-A’s story and challenge the player to a Pokemon battle where he’ll use a Mega Pyroar instead of his old Mega Gyarados. If not, it would at least be interesting gameplay-wise if Lysandre could switch between using Mega Pyroar and Mega Gyarados in different battles or alternate playthroughs, but even this wouldn't be enough to make Pyroar suddenly a great pick in the game.
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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
