Reviving a Classic: Pokemon Legends: Z-A Introduces Outside-Battle Poison Damage

Pokemon Legends: Z-A will reintroduce poison damage as a hazard in the wild starting October 16. This mechanic requires trainers to monitor their Pokemon’s health beyond battles. Although trainers can still use items and visit Pokemon Centers to mitigate damage, the impact of poison in the field has been missing for some time.

In previous titles, conditions like poison inflicted damage over time. The recent revelation comes from content creator MunchingOrange, who showcased gameplay from the game’s demo at the 2025 Pokemon World Championships. The footage reveals that the Poison status will now affect Pokemon even outside of combat. For instance, two Pokemon shown in the demo, Mareep and Fletchling, were seen losing HP due to poison after their battles.

It’s important to note that damage from Poison does not occur when a Pokemon is sent to a Poke Ball. Past games allowed a poison-afflicted Pokemon to faint due to lingering effects, which players would be notified about on-screen. As anticipation builds for Pokemon Legends: Z-A, which will also feature a transformed Lumiose City, it remains to be seen how this and other game mechanics will evolve in the new entry.