The Rising Issue of Hacked Pokémon in Legends ZA: What It Means for Online Battles

The online scene in Pokémon Legends ZA has become surprisingly chaotic lately, and not in the fun, competitive way. Many players have started noticing strange occurrences — from impossible Poké Balls to illegal Pokémon forms — and it’s clear that hacking has crept into ranked play. For anyone who’s spent hours grinding for a perfect shiny or training the ultimate battle-ready team, this trend is frustrating and a little disheartening.
 
When Something Feels Off in Battle
 
A few players began reporting suspicious encounters during the new ranked season. One player shared a clip where their opponent sent out a shiny Lucario using a Beast Ball animation. That might not sound like a big deal—until you realize the Beast Ball doesn’t exist in Pokémon Legends ZA. It’s an unobtainable item, meaning there’s no legitimate way for that Lucario to have been caught in one.
 
There’s always the slim chance that the Pokémon was traded around and ended up in the wrong hands, but realistically, it points to a hacked setup. This kind of "ball legality" issue—where the combination of Pokémon and Poké Ball isn’t possible—has been an ongoing problem since Sword and Shield, when older specialty balls reappeared.
 
While these visual irregularities might not directly affect gameplay, they open the door to much worse exploits. The real concern begins when those same players start using modified Pokémon that have abilities or stats outside normal limits.
 
From Visual Bugs to Battle-Breaking Cheats
 
The community has already spotted examples of players taking things far beyond cosmetics. One recorded match showed an Alpha Xerneas, a combination that should be impossible: Xerneas is a static encounter that can’t be Alpha or shiny under normal conditions. This kind of tampering raises serious fairness questions.
 
But it doesn’t stop there. Another viral clip showed a hacker repeatedly using Earthquake with no cooldown—firing it off in rapid succession as if turn limits didn’t exist. It’s unclear whether this was achieved by hacking the cooldown timer or assigning the same move to all four slots, but either way, it broke the match. Players on Reddit quickly recognized the name, realizing they’d faced the same opponent and experienced the same impossible move spam.
 
Unfortunately, there’s currently no effective reporting or blocking system in Legends ZA. Once you face a hacker, you simply have to hope you don’t get matched with them again.
 
Why the System Needs Fixing
 
For many fans, the biggest disappointment isn’t just that hacking exists—it’s that the system doesn’t do much to stop it. A simple report or blacklist feature would go a long way. Players just want the option to avoid cheaters and maintain a fair environment. After all, Pokémon has always been about creativity, strategy, and community—not exploitation.
 
Nintendo’s next hardware generation, the rumored Switch 2, is reportedly far more secure and “unhackable,” at least for now. If that holds true, this wave of hacking may die out naturally as players migrate to newer systems. Still, the Pokémon Company could help by improving online moderation tools or automatically flagging illegal Pokémon.
 
A Note for Shiny Hunters
 
Interestingly, the rise of hacking has also created a ripple effect in legitimate trading. Some players who want to buy shiny Pokémon are worried they might unknowingly get illegal ones through online trades. It’s always smart to double-check the Pokémon’s origin before accepting or purchasing it. Sites like U4GM and community-run databases can help verify event distributions and legitimate sources, ensuring your shiny collection remains authentic and safe.
 
Keeping Trades Safe and Fun
 
For collectors and battlers alike, trading remains a core part of the Pokémon experience. But as hackers flood the ecosystem, even well-meaning players must stay cautious. If you’re browsing communities that list shiny Pokémon for sale, make sure you’re dealing with trustworthy sellers who can confirm catch legitimacy. Some fans even prefer catching or breeding their own shinies as part of the fun—it might take longer, but nothing beats the feeling of seeing those sparkles appear for real.
 
If you do choose to trade or buy online, always keep backups of your save data and avoid sending personal information. Community-based trading groups often share blacklists of known hackers or sellers of cloned Pokémon—using these lists can save you a lot of trouble.
 
The Community Response
 
Despite the current frustration, the player base has shown strong unity. Many have begun sharing evidence of hacked battles, reporting usernames, and even creating databases of confirmed cheaters. It’s a bit of a grassroots effort, but it demonstrates how much the community cares about maintaining integrity.
 
After all, Pokémon isn’t just a game about stats and rarity. It’s about the stories behind each catch, the effort you put into every battle, and the shared excitement of discovery. When hackers distort that experience, it hurts everyone—but seeing players stand up for fair play is a reminder of how strong the fandom still is.
 
The hacking problem in Pokémon Legends ZA is serious, but not hopeless. As players, we can take steps to protect our own experiences—staying alert during trades, reporting unfair matches, and supporting fair-play communities. Hopefully, the developers take note and strengthen the system soon. Until then, the best defense is awareness and cooperation among honest trainers.