Ethan Crossfield 
If you play Ranked Battles in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, you’ll want to log in around July 15—Season 14 doesn’t just tweak the meta, it changes the rules. The update introduces “Sky Battles,” sharply limits eligible Pokémon, and alters what you can earn while still letting Mega Evolutions play a role.
What changes on July 15: Season 14 “Sky Battles”
Pokemon Legends: Z-A is scheduled to transition from Season 13 to Season 14 on July 15, 2026. Season 13 ends July 15 at 6:59 pm PDT / 9:59 pm ET, and Season 14 begins at 11:00 pm PDT / July 16 at 2:00 am ET.
The headline change is that Season 14 is built around a “Sky Battles” gimmick first associated with Pokémon X and Y. In practice, Sky Battles restrict Ranked Battles to Flying-type Pokémon or Pokémon with Levitate. This is a major departure from the usual pattern where new updates typically shift Ranked gameplay while keeping roster and rewards mostly similar.
The season also arrives after earlier shifts in Ranked rules—most notably Season 8’s Mega Evolution-only restrictions—yet Season 14 is positioned as an even bigger game-changer.
Who’s affected: the reduced eligible roster and Mega Evolution rules
Season 14’s eligible roster is far smaller than past seasons. The source list includes many Pokémon associated with Flying themes, but it also excludes several well-known sky staples.
A key restriction is that certain Pokémon are “restricted” in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and players can only use one between Yveltal and Rayquaza in Ranked Battles. The roster is also notably incomplete for Flying-types: Vivillon is excluded, while Latios and Latias are also banned.
Even though the full eligibility list includes pre-evolutions and multiple forms, the practical Ranked pool is shorter once Ranked viability is considered. From the source, the usable set includes Pokémon such as:
– Talonflame (cannot Mega Evolve)
– Pidgeot, Gyarados, Altaria, Dragonite, Charizard, Aerodactyl, Skarmory, Salamence, and others (some can Mega Evolve)
– Rayquaza (can Mega Evolve)
– Fan Rotom (Fan Rotom only) (cannot Mega Evolve)
– Yveltal (cannot Mega Evolve)
Mega Evolutions still matter in Ranked Battles, but they are not the only focus of Season 14’s ruleset. Notably, Rayquaza can Mega Evolve without a held item, though the source indicates players need to complete the game’s DLC to access Mega Rayquaza. To Mega Evolve Rayquaza, players need to teach it Dragon Ascent.
What comes next: Season 14 rewards and the new rank reset
Season 14 runs from Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm PDT / Thursday, July 16 at 2:00 am ET until Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at 6:59 pm PDT / 9:59 pm ET. Season 15 is set to follow on the same day Season 14 ends.
Rewards in Season 14 are described as different from the prior season, but they are tied to a single currency/item rather than special Poke Balls or rare items. The source lists “Pretty Feather” rewards by rank:
– Rank A: 300x Pretty Feather
– Rank B to E: 200x Pretty Feather
– Rank F to R: 100x Pretty Feather
– Rank S and below: 50x Pretty Feather
The source also notes that players receive additional Mega Stone rewards again in Season 14, with specific stones tied to rank tiers (Rank Y through Rank S). As usual, ranks reset to Rank Z, and Season 13 participants can redeem end-of-season rewards on the Ranked Battles screen.
What players should know
- Season 14 is built around “Sky Battles,” restricting Ranked Battles to Flying-type Pokémon or Pokémon with Levitate.
- You can only choose one restricted Pokémon between Yveltal and Rayquaza.
- Mega Evolutions still matter, but Season 14’s eligibility rules are the bigger shift.
- Mega Rayquaza requires DLC completion, and Mega Evolving it involves teaching Dragon Ascent.
- Rank rewards in Season 14 focus on Pretty Feathers, with rank-based amounts and additional Mega Stones at higher tiers.
Expert View
Season 14 looks less like a standard balance patch and more like a format reset. By narrowing eligible Pokémon around Flying/Levitate and enforcing the Yveltal-vs-Rayquaza restricted slot, it should force players to rebuild teams rather than just swap a few members. The tradeoff is that your preparation time matters: if you only optimized for broader Season 13 rosters, you’ll likely need a different lineup for Sky Battles.
