Pokémon Legends: Z-A Confirms the Obvious—Your Favorite Monsters Can Get Sick and Yes, They Poop

Pokémon have officially joined the messy realities of life: poop, tummy troubles, and worried trainers. In what has to be the most talked-about revelation from Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the game puts to rest decades of speculation: Pokémon really do relieve themselves. And sometimes, things don’t go as smoothly as trainers hoped.

This information isn’t buried in obscure lore or a throwaway line. It’s right there in the game’s dialogue, making it clear this isn’t just headcanon anymore. Players, especially those combing through the Japanese version, quickly caught on, sparking a wave of social media buzz.

Pokémon Have Real-World Problems

One NPC in Lumiose City has a Pikachu with issues no Thunder Stone can fix. “My Pikachu’s been having tummy troubles recently,” the child says, sitting on a bench with his beleaguered companion. “I’m worried…” That’s some straight-up relatability for anyone who’s ever dealt with a pet who’s feeling less than their best.

If you’re expecting sad Pikachu eyes or any sign of discomfort, you’ll have to imagine it yourself. The Pikachu in question looks perfectly normal, standing quietly and showing no sign of distress. Maybe it’s just doing what all of us do, putting on a brave face in public and waiting for privacy to, well, take care of business.

The dialogue, though, is causing a stir for good reason. After all, how many games acknowledge this sort of biological detail? It’s enough to make “Pikachu’s poop” trend among Japanese fans, thanks to coverage from places like Automaton.

Cleaning up After Pokémon, a Trainer’s Unseen Task

This isn’t an isolated incident. Another trainer is featured ‘cleaning up the, um, droppings of wild Pokémon. No one seems to know exactly why, or what prompts such dedication. Pokémon trainers are now custodians too, apparently. That’s a detail you won’t find in the anime; Ash never had to pick up after Pikachu, that we saw.

But for any germaphobes or those just dreading seeing piles of digital waste littering their favourite city, relax. The streets of Lumiose City (at least visually) remain spotless. The game doesn’t show any actual droppings. Nintendo isn’t ready to take “realism” that far.

This dose of day-to-day realism is proving both amusing and slightly bizarre to longtime fans. It’s not every day that an RPG takes time out to remind you, even Pokémon have bathroom emergencies.

For anyone curious about how long it takes to wander Lumiose cleaning up after Pokémon, Eurogamer timed it. Turns out, traipsing the city is quicker than you’d think, though thankfully, you aren’t actually tasked with poop patrol in-game.

So while the new game’s script remains unvoiced (don’t worry, we’re not going to complain about that here), it’s definitely proving bold. Pokémon have problems, bathroom-related and otherwise, just like… any household pet. Or you. Or me. Maybe don’t think about it too hard, or do, if you’re into realism. Pokémon games have skirted around biology for decades. Now, Pokémon Legends: Z-A cements that yes, your Poké-pals do their business, and sometimes, that business isn’t pretty.