A new Pokémon Legends: Z-A: Mega Dimensions DLC trailer dropped today. We now know that the expansion will be released on Dec. 10 and that Chimecho and Baxcalibur are debuting their Mega Evolution forms. That’s all cool and all, but the one detail that is breaking Pokémon logic is the new level cap.
The trailer shows Pokémon at levels higher than 100 in the wild. The short version of the trailer shows an Alpha Corviknight at level 120, an Annihilape at level 142, and an Aurorus at level 150. However, an extended trailer shows an Alolan Marowak at level 164.
While the trailers don’t show trainer Pokémon above level 100, the official website has a screenshot of the main character using a Feraligatr on level 139 against a pack of Houndours and Houndoom.
This is the first time in the mainline series that Pokémon will be able to go past level 100, which has been the cap since Pokémon Red and Blue. The gacha spinoff Pokémon Masters EX is the only game in the franchise where they can get to level 150, but that’s because the entire game follows a different leveling and power growth logic.
The level cap break will apparently only happen in special areas of the Mega Dimensions DLC called Hyperspace Wild Zones. How high the level cap increases is apparently tied to special Donuts that the new character Ansha makes with the help of Hoopa. These Donuts let you enter the Hyperspace, and the stronger the ingredients you use to make them, the higher your level boost will get.
Hyperspace Berries are found inside the Hyperspace. So, the DLC’s gameplay loop starts to take shape: Enter the Hyperspace, collect Berries to enter again with a higher level boost, and repeat until you get the maximum level boost in the game, which is still unknown.
While the expanded level cap in Legends: Z-A looks interesting, it seems completely tied to the PvE content in the DLC. There’s no indication that these extra levels will carry over to base game content or online ranked battles.
