How to change Pokémon nicknames in Legends Z-A

Pokémon Legends: ZA brings back many long-running Pokémon traditions, including the ability to give your Pokémon a unique nickname to set it apart from the rest of its kind.

If you’re like me, you’ve probably given one of your Pokémon a nickname you immediately regretted ever thinking of at least once. Luckily for us, Pokémon Legends: ZA has made it easier than ever to change your Pokémon’s nicknames.

How to change your Pokémon’s nickname in Legends ZA

The ability to change your Pokémon’s nickname becomes available to you after your first battle with your chief rival, Urbane or Taunie. Thankfully, beating these two isn’t very hard, since they follow post-Generation 6 rival rules and always pick the starter Pokémon that’s weak to yours. Just keep hitting their starter with your starter’s Grass, Fire, or Water move until they’re thoroughly KO’d.

Once you’ve beaten Urbane/Taunie, you can change your Pokémon’s nickname through the menu. To open it, press the X button. The menu shows you all the Pokémon you have on your team. To change a Pokémon’s nickname, highlight its icon, then click the “Check Summary” option. Once you’re on this page, hit the minus button to change their nickname.

As is tradition, your Pokémon’s nickname can be twelve letters long at most. While I haven’t dabbled around with the nickname generator too much, I’d watch what you plug in: previous Pokémon games censored inappropriate nicknames, and I doubt Pokémon Legends: ZA has broken away from that tradition.

While Eggs and breeding may not be available in Pokémon Legends: ZA, I’m ecstatic that Game Freak’s made it easier to change your Pokémon’s nickname. Looks like the days of tracking down the Name Rater and subjecting ourselves to his merciless judgment are well and truly past us.