Pokemon Legends: Z-A Is Bringing Back a Forgotten Game Mechanic

Pokemon Legends: Z-A is bringing back poison damage outside of battles as a mechanic that trainers must be aware of once the game launches on October 16. Though poison damage in Pokemon Legends: Z-A can still be remedied via items and Pokemon Centers, its effects as a hazard outside of combat have not been felt for multiple game generations.

Throughout the Pokemon franchise, some Pokemon moves or abilities can inflict a Status Condition, a debuff that affects its target in different ways. While the Poison and Burn conditions deal damage over time, a Burn also has the added side effect of cutting the physical attack potency of the afflicted Pokemon. Status Conditions like Sleep, Paralysis, and Frozen do not deal extra damage but instead can render a Pokemon unable to make a move in a battle. Status Conditions in the Pokemon series can be removed either by using an item like an Antidote or a Full Heal, or by healing up at a Pokemon Center.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Is Bringing Back Poison Damage Outside of Battles

As details about Pokemon Legends: Z-A made the rounds on social media, an attendee of the 2025 Pokemon World Championships noticed a detail for trainers to bear in mind. Pokemon content creator MunchingOrange posted a short video on Twitter from the Pokemon Legends: Z-A demo kiosk. In the clip, MunchingOrange confirmed that the Poison status condition will now deal damage outside of battles. This particular side effect has not been a factor in the Pokemon series since Pokemon Black and White, although its effects in a Pokemon battle have remained consistent. MunchingOrange’s video showed two Pokemon, Mareep and Fletchling, still affected by Poison after a battle. Every three seconds, Mareep and Fletchling lost one HP, but the damage-over-time effect did not cause either of them to drop to zero.

MunchingOrange also stated that Poison damage outside of battle does not tick down when a Pokemon is in a Poke Ball, meaning only the active Pokemon on the field would take damage. In past games like Pokemon Red and Blue, a Pokemon afflicted with Poison could still faint from the lingering damage, and a screen effect would notify players whenever damage was taken.

However, it is currently unclear if a Pokemon with a Burn will suffer a similar damage-over-time effect outside of battles in Pokemon Legends: Z-A. With Pokemon Legends: Z-A taking players across a changed Lumiose City, it remains to be seen what other gameplay mechanics will be altered for the upcoming title.