ZA's Best Black and White Easter Eggs

with Pokemon Legends: Arceus Filled with references to other games in the franchise, fans have come to expect Pokemon Legends: ZA will be the same. And secondly Pokemon Legends There are actually quite a few clever easter eggs for players to find in the game. Not all of these Easter eggs are limited to Kalos or Generation 6 references. hidden inside Pokemon Legends: ZAwho ZA Royal Matches references a clever easter egg Pokemon black and white.

This ZA Royale Battle reference a Black and white Gym War

pokemon-legends-za-promotion-battle-rintaro-rank-w

In ZA Royale, players compete in a series of ranked promotion matches, naturally starting with Rank Z and ending with Rank A. In the Rank W game, players are challenged by a gentleman called Rintaro the Waiter. Rintaro brings the following Pokemon into battle:

  • simisage, Level 24 grass-type
  • Simisar, Level 24 Fire-type
  • Simipur, Level 24 Water-type

These are evolved forms of the “Elemental Monkey” trio, which was first introduced in pokemon black and white, The fifth generation of games. in black and white, The first gym the player challenged was the Stratton City Gym, run by triplet waiters named Chili, Ceylan, and Kress (pod, dent, and corn in Japanese).

pansage pansear panpour legends za pokemon (1)

Each fought a non-evolved form of the three original monkeys: Panse for Chile, Pansage for Ceylon, and Panpur for Cress. The player would battle whichever was weaker against their chosen starter Pokemon. in Black 2 and White 2, As the Monkey Brothers evolved, and as they appeared in the World Tournament, they wanted to become more individual and not always appear as a set. One of the three, Cilan, temporarily served as Ash Ketchum's traveling companion. Pokemon black and white animated series.

Rintaro's War contains multiple references

cilan and pansage panic
cilan

As a waiter with three original monkeys on his team, Rintaro is a very clear reference to the Stratton City Gym Trio. His character and battle include three minor references:

  • Three of his Pokemon are level 24 black and white, The three monkeys were level 14.

  • Rintaro's costume consists of a white vest, apron, and red bow tie. The triplets wore aprons, black vests, and bow ties that matched their Pokemon's type, with Chili being red.

  • The “rin” in “rintaro” may mean “forest”. The Japanese names of Cilan and Cress also come from places in the natural world – “rice field” and “lake” respectively.

Rintaro is unique in that he is a ZA Royale Challenger that specifically calls upon a character (or, in this case, a set of characters) from other games. He is not the only reference though. The Z-rank enemy Zach is a Driver, possibly referring to the Pokemon Trainer class of the same name. pokemon x and y, While the F-rank Challenger has been compared to the Canary's looks and personality Scarlet and purple Gym leader Iono.

pokemon-stratton-city-triplet

It is not clear why the developers Pokemon Legends: ZA Chose to shout out the Striaton Triplets in particular. They may have been chosen because of Cilan's prominence as Ash Ketchum's former friend, or because the character of the waiter fits well in the urban setting of Lumiose City.

Regardless, Rintaro is both a fun Easter egg and a tough fight for potentially unprepared trainers – his team has no common weaknesses and covers all three basic elements, so players will need to be ready with counters for each of their three monkeys. He is far from the only reference to the great Pokemon Lumiose franchises scattered around the city. There is much more for players to discover as they experience it Pokemon Legends: ZA the story


pokemon-za-cover-art-1

systems

Super grayscale 8 bit logo


issued

October 16, 2025

ESRB

Everyone 10+ / Fantasy violence, in-game purchases


Leave a Comment