Pokémon Legends: Z-A kicks off 2026 with Ranked Battles Season 5, offering trainers another chance to earn exclusive Mega Stones that can't be obtained through normal gameplay. The star reward this season is Sceptilite, the Mega Stone that unlocks Mega Sceptile's powerful Grass/Dragon-type form.
Season 5 Overview
Ranked Battles Season 5 runs from Wednesday, January 8, 2026 at 10:00 PM PST to Wednesday, January 29, 2026 at 5:59 PM PST, giving trainers three full weeks to climb the competitive ladder.
This season continues the pattern established in previous seasons of offering exclusive Mega Stones as rank-based rewards. Players who reach specific rank tiers will permanently unlock these stones for use in all game modes.
Season 5 Key Features
- Duration: 3-week competitive season (Jan 8-29, 2026)
- Featured Reward: Featured reward: Sceptilite (Rank S)
- Additional Rewards: 4 additional Mega Stones at lower ranks
- Pokémon Pool: Expanded eligible Pokémon pool from both Lumiose and Hyperspace Pokédexes
- Exclusivity: All Mega Stones are exclusive to ranked seasons—no other way to obtain them
Sceptilite - The Premier Season 5 Reward
Sceptilite allows Sceptile to Mega Evolve into Mega Sceptile, transforming the Forest Pokémon into a fearsome Grass/Dragon-type with enhanced stats and the Lightning Rod ability.
Why Mega Sceptile Matters
- Type Change: Grass → Grass/Dragon (removes 4x weakness to Ice, gains Dragon STAB)
- Ability: Lightning Rod - Draws in Electric moves and boosts Sp. Atk
- Stats: Massive Speed boost (145 base) and enhanced Special Attack (145 base)
- Competitive Role: Excellent offensive pivot and special sweeper in competitive play
- Uniqueness: Only Grass/Dragon starter and one of the fastest Mega Evolutions
How to Earn Sceptilite
- Requirement: Reach Rank S by the end of Season 5 (January 29, 2026)
- Permanent: Once earned, the Mega Stone is yours forever across all modes
- Exclusive: This is currently the ONLY way to obtain Sceptilite in Legends: Z-A
- Future: Unknown if Sceptilite will return in future seasons
Competitive Viability
Mega Sceptile has been a strong pick in previous Pokémon games, particularly in formats where its Lightning Rod ability can protect teammates from Electric-type threats. In Legends: Z-A's battle system, its incredible speed allows it to outpace most threats.
The Dragon typing removes Sceptile's crippling 4x Ice weakness while maintaining its Grass STAB and adding powerful Dragon-type moves to its arsenal. Leaf Storm, Dragon Pulse, and Focus Blast give it excellent coverage.
Complete Season 5 Rewards List
Beyond Sceptilite, Season 5 offers four other Mega Stones that appeared in previous seasons, giving newer players another chance to fill their collection.
Mega Stone Rewards by Rank
Rank S
Reward: Sceptilite
Pokémon: Mega Sceptile
NEW - First time available
Rank V
Reward: Baxcalibrite
Returning from Season 4
Rank W
Reward: Chesnaughtite
Returning from Season 3
Rank X
Reward: Delphoxite
Returning from Season 2
Rank Y
Reward: Greninjite
Returning from Season 1
Other Season Rewards
- Bottle Caps - Various ranks (for Hyper Training)
- Seeds of Mastery - Mid-tier ranks
- Nuggets - Lower-tier ranks (sell for money)
- Exclusive ranked season clothing items
- Special rank achievement titles for your profile
Important for New Players:
If you missed Greninjite, Delphoxite, Chesnaughtite, or Baxcalibrite in previous seasons, this is your chance to catch up! You can earn multiple Mega Stones in a single season by reaching the highest rank you're capable of.
Competitive Strategy for Season 5
Whether you're aiming for Rank S or just want to earn a few rewards, here are some tips for success in Season 5's competitive environment.
Expected Meta Trends
- Mega Evolution teams will dominate—expect Mega Lucario, Mega Mewtwo X/Y, and Mega Gardevoir
- Fast sweepers like Greninja and potential Mega Sceptile users will be common
- Steel and Fairy types remain strong defensive cores
- Players who earned previous Hoenn starter Mega Stones may experiment with them
Building a Winning Team
- Choose your Mega Evolution wisely—you can only Mega Evolve once per battle
- Cover your weaknesses with complementary types
- Include both fast sweepers and priority move users
- Don't neglect support Pokémon with screens, status moves, or healing
- Test your team in casual matches before jumping into ranked
Tips for Climbing Ranks
- Win consistently rather than going for risky strategies
- Adjust your team as you encounter common threats
- Don't leave all your battles for the final days—spread them out
- If you lose 3+ battles in a row, take a break and analyze what went wrong
- Watch top players' battle videos to learn strategies
Get Ready to Battle for Sceptilite
Ranked Battles Season 5 represents an excellent opportunity for competitive players and collectors alike. Whether you're chasing Mega Sceptile or catching up on previous seasons' Mega Stones, there's something for everyone.
With three weeks to compete, you have plenty of time to build a strong team, practice your strategies, and climb to Rank S. The addition of Hyperspace Pokédex species expands team-building possibilities and keeps the meta fresh.
Mark your calendar for January 8, prepare your best Pokémon, and get ready to battle for exclusive Mega Evolution power. Good luck, trainers—may your teams be strong and your connections stable!