With Pokemon Legends: Z-A coming out in less than two weeks, now is a great time to discuss the various critters for each type, and which ones are worth adding to a given team. The criteria may change for every player, going from appearance or personal fondness for a given Pokemon to how competitive that creature is in combat. Considering that Pokemon Legends: Z-A includes 232 Pokemon, based on leaks, and also a whopping 26 new Mega Evolutions, it may be hard to figure out a team of just six pocket monsters. However, looking at Electric Pokemon, the best one is already clear: Jolteon.
While some longtime players may shudder at the idea of Jolteon as the best Electric-type Pokemon in the game, it’s not a baseless suggestion. Pokemon Legends: Z-A does have many tried and true elements from the main series, but it also shakes up the usual formula in various ways, more notably with its battles. Pokemon battles are dramatically different in PLZA, as they are no longer turn-based, and instead use a real-time approach where players can dodge incoming attacks and moves have a cooldown. Because of this and other factors, Jolteon may very well be the best Electric-type in the game, especially considering its BST.
Which Electric-Type Should You Use in Pokemon Legends: Z-A?
In Pokemon games, BST stands for base stat total, which is the sum of the six stats that make up the base body of a given critter. Electric-type Pokemon are usually speedy and not very bulky, with some noteworthy exceptions. Jolteon is more of a classic Electric Pokemon, though, with low-ish defenses and HP, but a very high Speed stat as well as Special Attack, for a total of 525 BST. This is the highest BST out of all Electric-types in the game, with the chart being as follows:
- Jolteon, 525 BST
- Eelektross, 515 BST
- Ampharos, 510 BST
- Raichu, 485 BST
- Heliolisk, 481 BST
- Manectric, 475 BST
- Dedenne, 431 BST
- Emolga, 428 BST
It’s worth noting that trustworthy leaks that correctly predicted all the new Megas in the game so far included Mega Eelektross in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, so while the critter or its pre-evolution have not been shown so far, they are basically guaranteed to be in.
PLZA's Electric Pokemon With Mega Evolutions Explained
Of these Pokemon, several already have or are supposed to get Mega Evolutions. Mega Ampharos and Mega Manectric were added in the Gen 6 era, whereas Mega Raichu is in Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s DLC with two variants, and Mega Eelektross has been leaked for PLZA as well. Considering that Mega Evolutions raise a critter’s stats by 100, these will all have better stats than Jolteon when Mega Evolved, but there’s a caveat.
Why Jolteon is The Best Electric-Type in Pokemon Legends: Z-A
The reason Jolteon may beat its rivals for the title of best Electric-type in Pokemon Legends: Z-A is that it has the highest Speed paired with the most decent bulk of the bunch, which in turn means the shortest cooldown on moves and highest uptime on dodges. Speed is thus a very important stat in PLZA, and Jolteon’s innate high Speed can let it hit its hardest moves more frequently without fillers, and also to dodge enemy attacks very often, which means that it has a higher chance of surviving each encounter than slower critters.
|
Pokemon |
HP |
Attack |
Defense |
Sp. Attack |
Sp. Defense |
Speed |
|
Jolteon |
65 |
65 |
60 |
110 |
95 |
130 |
|
Raichu |
60 |
90 |
55 |
90 |
80 |
110 |
|
Eelektross |
85 |
115 |
80 |
105 |
80 |
50 |
|
Dedenne |
67 |
58 |
57 |
81 |
67 |
101 |
|
Heliolisk |
62 |
55 |
52 |
109 |
94 |
109 |
|
Emolga |
55 |
75 |
60 |
75 |
60 |
103 |
|
Ampharos |
90 |
75 |
85 |
115 |
90 |
55 |
|
Mega Ampharos |
90 |
95 |
105 |
165 |
110 |
45 |
|
Manectric |
70 |
75 |
60 |
105 |
60 |
105 |
|
Mega Manectric |
70 |
75 |
80 |
135 |
80 |
135 |
As such, the only Pokemon with more Speed than Jolteon is Mega Manectric, but its base form is quite a bit slower and less bulky, so while one can use Mega Evolutions multiple times in PLZA, it’s not possible to have Mega Manectric up all the time. Heliolisk and Raichu are not bad, in comparison, but Jolteon is still superior overall.
With the second-highest Special Attack and the highest Speed, Jolteon can be an incredible attacker, and it doesn’t even have to compete with other creatures with good Abilities, as Pokemon Legends: Z-A won’t have Abilities at all. Considering that no Eeveelution is allegedly getting Mega Evolutions, though, one might prefer other options to Jolteon based on that fact alone.