Austin King is the Gaming Editor at ScreenRant and has worked on the site since 2020 with a focus on RPGs and tabletop games. He previously managed content for Geek to Geek Media and was a writer for sites like Nintendo, Geek Fitness, and more.
In addition to his work at ScreenRant, he also hosts the Dragon Quest FM podcast and is the author of several books, including co-writing Nimbus (#1 bestseller in 2013). His latest work is the non-fiction The Dragon Quest Book, available now.
Over the course of his career, he has written on pop culture, video games, and gender studies. You can find it on Blue sky, Xand to Dragonquestaustin.com
Pokémon Legends: ZA has even more new free downloads starting today, April 1st. Whether you’re still playing the base game or checking out its Mega Dimension DLC, now is the perfect time to start Legends: ZA and see what new offers you have available. This time around, the free downloads are tied to the start of Season 9 Ranked Battles.
As announced on the official website Pokemon website, season 9 in Pokémon Legends: ZARanked Battles begin on April 1, 2026. Naturally, this comes with a host of new rewards, which participants can download for free once the season ends. This is also a good time to remind everyone to check for mystery gifts they might be missing using this feature.
Season 9 starts todayon April 1 and will continue until April 22. Typically, seasons end (and news begins) around 10 p.m. ET, so expect a similar time here. During Season 9, you will have approximately three weeks to progress through Ranked Battles to obtain new rewards. As usual, you will start at Rank Z and move up from there.
The following new rewards will be distributed to the corresponding ranks once Season 9 ends. Pokémon Legends: ZA:
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Rank A |
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Rank BE |
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FI Rank |
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Rank JM |
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Rank NR |
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SZ Ranks |
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While none of these rewards compare to getting a new Pokémon or a Mega Stone, it’s still nice to get some goodies. Legends: ZA anyway. Of course, if this is your first time participating in Ranked Battles, you’ll get Mega Stones for a variety of Pokémon, including Mega Greninja, Mega Delphox and Mega Chesnaught.
Pokémon’s 30th anniversary is still going strong
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the franchise, and Pokémon has kept things rolling in 2026 so far. In addition to the expected commemorative products, we saw a reveal for Gen 10. Winds and wavesgot Fire Red and Leaf Green on Switch, and seen Pokémon XD: Dark Galley being added to Nintendo Switch Online.
Things Stayed Lively Legends: ZA also, and Pokémon HOME support begins April 7. If you’re looking for ways to mix things up, taking part in Ranked Battles can be a lot of fun, and with the new rewards in Season 9, it’s good motivation to check it out. Pokémon Legends: ZAeven if you have moved away for a while.
- Released
- October 16, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak, Creatures Inc.
- Editor(s)
- Nintendo, the Pokémon Company
- Engine
- Owner