My friend Malamar gets a Mega Evolution for Pokémon Legends Z-A

Jack Stewart, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 10/09/2025

Malamar is the latest Pokémon to receive a Mega Evolution for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 title, Pokémon Legends Z-A.

This had been teased last week by the Pokémon Company, with promotional videos showcasing people talking about their love for “my friend Malamar.”

Dragonite, Victreebell, and Hawlucha previously had their Mega Evolution forms revealed in similar promotional videos.

And as well as Legends, Mega Evolutions are also coming to Pokémon TCG Pocket with the release date already leaked.

Now, the dark and psychic Pokémon Malamar has revealed its new form, with its body transformed into a single, luminescent tentacle.

No typing, stats, or ability have been confirmed for Mega Malamar yet, though competitive players will hope it keeps the Contrary ability.

However, the Pokémon Company did give some hints with this description:

“Malamar’s brain has become enlarged as a result of Mega Evolution. Greatly enhanced psychic power overflows from its body, emitting a bright glow.

“This vividly colored light further amplifies the Pokémon’s hypnotic abilities, allowing it to freely overwrite the personalities or even memories of others—a terrifying power that can make someone seem like an entirely different person.

“Its glowing, undulating tendrils are able to pick up on the feelings of those around it.

“It prefers battling with efficiency, using its powerful intellect to analyse the situation with levelheadedness as it fights.

“Mega Malamar views others—even Pokémon Trainers—as its pawns.

“If it disagrees with an order given to it by a Trainer, it will sometimes respond by hypnotising them, making this an incredibly difficult Pokémon to interact with.”

The return of Mega Evolution is the major focus for Pokémon fans right now.

Especially with the competitive battling game Pokémon Champions coming out soon.

And many speedrunners will be excited to try Legends Z-A as the Nintendo Switch 2 has helped Pokémon speedrunners shatter records.

The Pokémon community reacts to Mega Malamar

Mega Evolution designs in Pokémon are always going to be controversial, but the reception to Mega Malamar seems mostly positive.

Many seem to be delighted at how creepy Mega Malamar is, with the Pokémon Company leaning into more horror aspects.

Of course, the debate about whether each Mega Evolution for Legends Z-A is X or Y shaped, because of the Gen 6 games, is continuing.

And unsurprisingly, many were quick to compare Mega Malamar to their RGB gaming PCs and keyboards.

In general, a lot of fans had fun making “my friend Malamar” memes during the build-up to the reveal.

It seems Mega Malamar’s hypnosis has even reached some users over the internet and changed their memories.

While it appears all the memes may have been too much for some.

Jack Stewart, Senior Editor

In my seven years of esports writing, I've introuduced esports coverage to newspapers, interviewed some of the biggest names in the industry, and driven viewers mad with the puns in my YouTube scripts. I'm most proud of the latter.

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