Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s DLC is making a change to the level cap Game Freak has “never dared touch,” and a VGC World Champion thinks “there’s no telling how difficult the game can get” now

Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s imminent DLC expansion permits Pokemon to officially transcend the level 100 threshold for the inaugural time in series history, and one World Champion expresses concern.

In a YouTube clip, 2016 Pokemon VGC World Champion Wolfe “Wolfey” Glick highlights the alteration, branding it “entirely unprecedented,” and mentions that while prior Pokemon titles have ventured into Z-moves, additional types, new forms like regional versions, Mega Evolutions, and Gigantamax forms, “they have never dared alter something that has been in place since Generation 1, which is the level 100 cap.”

Glick observes that in the latest trailer for the Pokemon Legends: Z-A Mega Dimension expansion “they showcase not merely one, but an array of Pokemon that are significantly beyond level 100.” Glick mentions that the repercussions of this remain unclear, but could be “quite substantial,” elaborating “the whole game is calibrated around limiting you at level 100; if you can exceed that, there’s no predicting how challenging the game can become.”

Glick speculates about a possible new level cap, questioning “what if there’s no level cap?” Which, as one commenter aptly puts it, is “finally a rationale for Ash’s Pikachu.”

The VGC champion emphasizes that the most urgent inquiry is whether this represents a lasting modification to the games in the future. Personally, I believe this increased level cap is solely for the expansion’s new “Hyperspace” region and that it will revert for standard gameplay. I can’t fathom The Pokemon Company implementing such a significant alteration in a DLC, especially considering the franchise’s extensive competitive framework built around the level 100 Pokemon cap.

Glick states that he too surmises it’s just for the Hyperspace areas but adds, “I don’t know,” emphasizing that we have “no precedent to rely upon.”

Make sure to check out our Pokemon Legends: Z-A review if you have yet to acquire the new RPG, or our Pokemon Legends: Z-A tips to assist you as you embark on your journey in Lumiose City.

Scott has been contributing freelance work for over three years across various gaming publications, first showcasing his skills on GamesRadar+ in 2024. He has also penned articles for platforms like PC Gamer, Eurogamer, VG247, Play, TechRadar, and others. He often rambles on about Metal Gear Solid, God Hand, or any other PS2-era titles that seldom (if ever) receive sequels.