A.Z. returns in Pokémon Legends Z-A, with players exploring his backstory dating back to Pokémon X and Y. Once an ancient king of Kalos, he tragically lost his Floette in battle and resurrected it, leading to a dark path of destruction. A.Z.’s journey continues as he oversees Hotel Z in the new game, raising hopes for the elusive Floette Eternal Flower to finally be obtainable. Exciting updates about the game were shared during the Pokémon Presents 2025 event.
Regardless of your feelings about the reveal on February 27, the inclusion of A.Z. and his Floette in Pokémon Legends Z-A was likely something many fans anticipated, given the game’s title. Indeed, players will encounter him in this latest installment, making it the perfect time to delve into his backstory.
Who is A.Z. and What is His Origin in Pokémon?
To truly appreciate A.Z.’s character in 2025, we must journey back to 2013, the year when Pokémon X and Y first graced our screens. This was the moment when the franchise transitioned from 2D to 3D graphics, allowing us to meet A.Z. for the first time. He roams the Kalos region, appearing as a wanderer. Players can find him on Route 13, within the underground facilities of Illumis, at Cromlac’h, and after defeating the League, where he challenges you to a climactic battle that leads to a moment of healing for him and the return of his beloved companion.
When players encounter A.Z. in a cell, captured by Team Flare, he shares his poignant story. A.Z. was once an ancient king of Kalos, reigning over his lands three millennia ago. Accompanied by a Floette that he held dear, his life took a tragic turn when soldiers forcibly took his Pokémon to join a war-torn battlefield. Devastatingly, his Floette perished in combat, and years later, he received an urn bearing its remains. Consumed by grief and fury, A.Z. engineered a machine to resurrect his cherished partner, and against all odds, he succeeded, restoring his Pokémon to life.
In this miraculous event, A.Z. and Floette achieved immortality. Yet, this newfound existence was not enough for the king. He repurposed his machine into a catastrophic weapon that led to the deaths of countless humans and Pokémon alike, horrifying Floette, which then fled to the clouds. Transforming into a colossal figure due to the weapon’s radiation, A.Z. abandoned his throne to embark on a wandering life, eventually crossing paths with the player character. Interestingly, he seems to have traveled to Hoenn, hinted at by Marc’s mention of a millennial tree given to him by ‘a giant from Kalos.’
This may not be the conclusion of his saga, as he reappears in Pokémon Legends Z-A, where he oversees Hotel Z. It’s likely that further revelations about his journey will emerge after his disappearance in Pokémon X and Y, especially if this new title exists in the same universe as the sixth-generation games.
Will We Finally Obtain the Floette Eternal Flower?
As we wrap up this discussion, it’s essential to revisit the elusive Floette Eternal Flower, which has never been made available for capture in any Pokémon game, even though it appears after the final encounter with A.Z. While it may not be a shiny variant, much like Prismillon (Poké Ball) or Magearna (Colors of the Past), countless fans are eager to add this unique version of the Uniflora Pokémon to their collections. The upcoming release of Pokémon Legends Z-A later this year may finally present the chance to include it in our Pokédex. Speculations abound regarding potential distribution through mystery gifts or as a reward for completing the Pokédex in Pokémon HOME. However, nothing is set in stone, and it’s possible we may not secure this Pokémon by the end of this new adventure.
The Pokémon Presents 2025 event occurred today, where we received exciting updates about the much-anticipated Pokémon Legends Z-A, set in Illumis. From starters and gameplay to character reveals and mega evolutions, all the details are covered in this article.