ZA DLC has officially dethroned the strongest Pokemon trainer in the series after 19 years

Pokemon Legends: ZAThe Mega Dimension DLC came out less than a week ago and is already shaking up the game in a meaningful way with 19 new Mega Evolutions and a lot of returns like TM. You can get all new moves from NPCs Pokemon Legends: ZA which trades TM for Mega Shards and can be incredibly good for the base game Pokedex as well as Hyperspace Lumiose. For example, a medium Pokémon like Leafeon gets a big buff with Solar Blade, while a powerhouse like Skarmory gets Magnet Bomb. In addition to the new moves and Megas, the DLC also adds a new trainer battle that is officially the hardest in the series, even more so than the iconic trainer from almost 20 years ago.

As for the anime, Ash is probably the strongest Pokemon trainer to become the Pokemon champion in the grand tournament, including the likes of Leon, Diantha, Cynthia and other powerful trainers. However earlier Pokemon Legends: ZAThe video game series has always had one fan-voted strongest trainer, and that is the original version of Cynthia as the Pokémon League champion in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. There have been several challengers or past title holders over the years and they are:

• Whitney (Pokemon Gold, Silver and Crystal): Whitney's Miltank is one of the hardest pokemon in the series for inexperienced players, and it's probably done some serious damage to you once too. This is hardly the most challenging fight in the series, but it is quite difficult for its intended level.
• Red (Pokemon Gold, Silver and Crystal): The legendary Pokemon trainer, Red, fought atop Mt Silver and used a team of high-level creatures, including the three Kanto starters, Pikachu, Snorlax, and Espeon. Despite being a high level team, Red isn't too hard to beat as the game favors certain strategies and favors others.
• Volo (Pokemon Legends: Arceus): Although PLAVolo is technically harder to beat than Cynthia, his strong team of six high level Pokemon makes him a lone trainer. Yes, she packs a punch and makes things extremely difficult with the seventh Pokémon on her team, Giratina, who also has a second form after being defeated, but Cynthia was the last battle after the Elite Four.

Now, Pokemon Legends: ZA's DLC adds arguably the toughest fight ever in the form of Taunia/Urbain, who have six level 100 Pokemon, with four capable of Mega Evolving and the others with powerful setups and items. This battle also requires you to completely beat the game to unlock it, further cementing the fact that it's meant to be the ultimate challenge.

It's time to welcome the toughest trainer in the Pokemon games

How Pokemon Legends: ZA's DLC Taunie and Urbain Battle Beat Cynthia

While Pokemon Legends: ZAThe story is not exactly the hardest in the whole series, you need to overcome several tough battles to beat the game completely. The battle against Taunie or Urbain towards the end of the story can be difficult; the boss battle against Ange takes time and effort; and a battle against Taunie or Urbain after 15 rounds of Infinite ZA Royale is only easy with fully leveled teams.

Still, the Mega Dimension DLC brings Taunie/Urbain another difficult battle, and if you look at their team, it's the hardest in the series. This includes:

• Mega Meowthic (Lv. 100) – Item: Meowsticite

  • Moves: Light Screen, Reflect, Psychic, Wish

• Goodra (Lv. 100) – Item: Assault Vest

  • Moves: Surf, Acid Spray, Draco Meteor, Blizzard

• Avalugg (Lv. 100) – Item: Leftovers

  • Moves: Crash Icicle, Icicle Spear, Stone Edge, Protect

• Mega Manectric (Lv. 100) – Item: Manectite

  • Moves: Growl, Thunder, Overheat, Protect

• Mega Meganium (Lv. 100) – Item: Meganiumite

  • Moves: Frenzy Plant, Earth Power, Dazzling Gleam, Giga Drain

• Mega Feraligatr (Lv. 100) – Item: Feraligit

  • Moves: Outrage, Dispose, Sword Dance, Earthquake

• Mega Emboar (Lv. 100) – Item: Emborit

  • Moves: Flare Blitz, Stone Edge, Close Combat, Bulk Up

While the list includes all three Mega Evolutions for Pokemon Legends: ZAStarters, Taunie/Urbain only use two of them based on the starter you chose. The one that is super effective against your starter will be the last Pokemon they use in battle.

Explanation of Cynthia's team in Pokemon Gen 4

In comparison, Cynthia's team v Pokemon Diamond and Pearl it's much weaker, but unexpectedly optimized and powerful for its level. Includes:

• Spiritomb – Lv. 61
• Roserad – Lv. 60
• Gastrodon – Lv. 60
• Lucario – Lv. 63
• Milotic – Lv. 63
• Garchomp – Lv. 66

Pokemon Legends: ZA's second hardest DLC battle isn't as bad as it looks

A full team of six level 100 Pokemon is already a huge feat, but it becomes the toughest battle in the series as Taunie/Urbain Mega Evolve four of them in a single battle. The only other trainer in the series to do this is Korrina, who becomes a potential challenger in the Infinite ZA Royale after catching Rayquaza in Pokemon Legends: ZA.

Korrina uses six Pokémon, but they do not have a maximum level and range from level 95 to 100. They are:

• Mega Gallade (Lv. 95) – Item: Galladit

  • Moves: Holy Sword, Melee, Stack, Psycho Cut

• Mega crabminable (Lv. 95) – Item: Krabominite

  • Moves: Ice Hammer, Iron Defense, Dynamic Punch, Mach Punch

• Mega Medicham (Lv. 97) – Item: Medichamite

  • Moves: Zen Headbutt, Dynamic Punch, Ice Punch, Recover

• Mega Hawlucha (Lv. 99) – Item: Hawluchanit

  • Moves: Flying Press, Swords Dance, Feather Dance, Brave Bird

• Mega Chesnaught (Lv. 99) – Item: Chesnaughtit

  • Moves: Spiky Shield, Close Combat, Wood Hammer, Stone Edge

• Mega Lucario Z (Lv. 100) – Item: Lucarionite Z

  • Moves: Focus Blast, Hyper Beam, Detect, Flash Cannon

Technically, this fight could be even harder than the Taunie/Urbain fight, but with two main caveats:

• Korrina's Pokemon are not level 100 except for Lucario Z and since then Pokemon Legends: ZAHyperspace Lumiose zones require level 100 Pokemon to effectively deal with DLC content, players will inevitably have a full team of level 100 creatures.

• Korrina specializes in Fighting-type Pokemon, meaning a combination of Psychic, Flying, and Fairy pets will easily secure a win.

As such, Korrina's new battle is still tough, but probably not as tough as Cynthia's when these factors are considered. However, the new Taunie/Urbain battle may take you a few tries to get right.

Systems

Released

October 16, 2025

ESRB

Everyone 10+ / Fantasy violence, in-game purchases

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