Mega Evolution

Mega Evolution is an additional, temporary evolution form of specific Pokémon that reached their final evolution stage. They have greatly increased Combat Power, but their HP remains the same. Certain Pokémon may also change their types after being Mega Evolved.

Similarly to the main series games, Mega Evolution is temporary, however in Pokémon GO it is a temporal change of form that occurs in Trainer's Pokémon collection instead of a single battle.

Mega Evolved Pokémon can be assigned as a Buddy Pokémon and used to battle in raids and Gyms or Trainer Battles (including against other players, Team Leaders, Team GO Rocket members, and Challengers in events). However, they cannot be deployed to defend Gyms, traded, powered up nor used in GO Battle League matches (outside of specific events) while Mega Evolved.

Mega Evolving a Pokémon
In order to Mega Evolve a Pokémon, Trainer needs Mega Energy of specific Pokémon.

Pokémon will remain in their Mega form for 8 hours. Only one of Trainer's Pokémon can be Mega Evolved at any particular time. If another Pokémon is Mega Evolved, the previous Mega Evolved Pokémon will revert to standard form and enter rest period. Pokémon can also be Mega Evolved in a raid lobby or Trainer Battle preparation screens.

If Pokémon such as Charizard has different Mega Evolution forms, Trainer can choose into which one they want to Mega Evolve such Pokémon.

Each Mega-Evolved Pokémon for first time is registered to the Mega Pokédex.

Clone or Shadow Pokémon cannot be Mega Evolved. Purified or costumed (Blastoise, Charizard, Gengar) Pokémon can be Mega Evolved, but they do not have their white aura or costume while Mega Evolved.

Mega Energy
Mega Energy is a consumable resource that is similar to Pokémon Candy, as each Pokémon species has specific Mega Energy used to Mega Evolve. Unlike Candy, each individual type of Mega Energy has a limit of 2000 in Trainer collection.

Mega Energy for a particular species can be received by battling that specific Pokémon in Mega Raids, a special Tier of Raid Battles, or completing Research tasks. Completing a Mega Raid in a shorter time would award more Mega Energy, which is given upon completion of the raid and does not require a catch.

Buddy Pokémon can earn corresponding 5 Mega Energy per km via walking (along with the usual Candy) if it is part of previously a Mega-Evolved Pokémon's Evolutionary line. For example, if a Trainer had registered Mega Venusaur in their Pokédex, any Bulbasaur, Ivysaur and Venusaur can earn Mega Energy when assigned as Buddy Pokémon.

Mega Evolving a Pokémon for the first time costs a high amount of Mega Energy. Mega Evolving that single Pokémon subsequent times do not require Mega Energy again, if its rest period is over. Mega Energy can be used to skip the rest period. Mega Evolving other Pokémon of the same species still requires full cost. Pokémon like Charizard have two Mega forms, both of them require to be unlocked at full cost first.

Mega Level and bonuses
Mega Evolving a Pokémon progresses that specific Pokémon's Mega Level (shared between forms if it has two) and unlock increasing bonuses.

Mega Pokémon boost the attack power of all other Pokémon when battling in Raid Battles by 10%. Attacks that share their type with the Mega Pokémon's type(s) receive a 30% boost. However, these bonuses do not stack if there are multiple Mega-Evolved Pokémon battling simultaneously, only the higher will be applied.

While a Pokémon Mega Evolved, the Trainer gain bonus Candy for catching Pokémon that share a type with the Mega Evolved Pokémon, or for any raid boss caught. These do not stack with each other.

The bonus XP also only applies to Pokémon that share a type with the Mega Evolved Pokémon.

If a Pokémon that has previously been Mega Evolved is traded, their Mega Level is reset, and that Pokémon is considered to have never Mega Evolved at all.

List of Mega-Evolved Pokémon


Regular =

The following Mega Pokémon have not been released in Pokémon GO.

The following Pokémon are capable of Mega Evolve in the main game series, but their data about Mega Evolution has not been added in Pokémon GO.

Shiny=

PS Venusaur PS Charizard PS Charizard PS Blastoise PS Beedrill PS Pidgeot PS Alakazam PS Slowbro PS Gengar PS Kangaskhan PS Gyarados PS Aerodactyl PS Ampharos PS Steelix PS Scizor PS Houndoom PS Aggron PS Manectric PS Altaria PS Banette PS Absol PS Latias PS Latios PS Lopunny PS Abomasnow

The following Mega Pokémon have not been released in Pokémon GO. PS Pinsir (127) PS Mewtwo (150) PS Mewtwo (150) PS Sableye (302) PS Mawile (303) PS Sharpedo (319) PS Rayquaza (384) The following Pokémon are capable of Mega Evolve in the main game series, but their data about Mega Evolution has not been added in Pokémon GO. PS Heracross (214) PS Tyranitar (248) PS Sceptile (254) PS Blaziken (257) PS Swampert (260) PS Gardevoir (282) PS Medicham (308) PS Camerupt (323) PS Glalie (362) PS Salamence (373) PS Metagross (376) PS Garchomp (445) PS Lucario (448) PS Gallade (475) PS Audino (531) PS Diancie (719) Portrait=

Portrait shiny= PS Venusaur (n) PS Charizard (n) PS Charizard (n) PS Blastoise (n) PS Beedrill (n) PS Pidgeot (n) PS Alakazam (n) PS Slowbro (n) PS Gengar (n) PS Kangaskhan (n) PS Gyarados (n) PS Aerodactyl (n) PS Ampharos (n) PS Steelix (n) PS Scizor (n) PS Houndoom (n) PS Sceptile (n) PS Blaziken (n) PS Swampert (n) PS Sableye (n) PS Aggron (n) PS Manectric (n) PS Banette (n) PS Altaria (n) PS Absol (n) PS Latias (n) PS Latios (n) PS Lopunny (n) PS Abomasnow (n)

Regular and Mega-Evolved Pokémon comparison
The required amount of Mega Energy varies according to the Rest period in hours

Reception and adjustments
Despite being highly-anticipated by the community, Mega Evolution caused a public backlash regarding its implementation. A Reddit post criticizing Mega Evolution received over 8000 upvotes and 100 rewards within the launch day. Many have pointed out the duration of Mega Evolution is not worth the Raid Passes spent on collecting Mega Energy. The difficulty of Mega Evolving one's desired species is also in concern due to specific Mega Energy and the rarity of Mega Raid Battles.

Since there is specific Mega Raid Bosses pool, there would be no way to Mega Evolve any Pokémon that has its Mega Evolved form released but is no longer available in Mega Raids. Initially, once all Beedrill Mega Energy from A Mega Discovery was used, there was no possibility to continue on Mega Evolving Beedrill for a longer time period.

Outside of Mega Evolution, replacing team contribution with speed bonus does harm to Premier Balls in Tier 5 Raid Bosses. It is impossible to defeat certain Legendary Pokémon in a short time, even for large group, while having more Trainers mean lowering the damage bonus.

Regarding to this, Niantic has made a statement "We are actively listening to your feedback and look forward to sharing more about how this feature will grow in the future." in the Pokémon GO official Twitter page.

On September, 2020, several updates were made after listening to feedback. The Mega Evolution cost of subsequent Mega Evolution was reduced from 25% of the original cost to only 20%. Amount of Mega Energy given from Mega Raids was increased. Niantic also announced that they are working on implementing features which would allow Trainers to obtain Mega Energy in more ways.

On October, 2020, the duration of Mega-Evolved form has doubled from four hours to eight hours. The cap of each individual type of Mega Energy has increased from 999 to 2000.

Since November, 2020, more updates were added, including:
 * Earning corresponding Mega Energy from Buddy Pokémon if it is part of previously Mega-Evolved Pokémon's Evolutionary line. Detail is described above.
 * Earning additional Candies when Trainers catch a Pokémon that shares a type with the active Mega-Evolved Pokémon. Additional Candies are given from catching Raid Bosses regardless of their types.

On April, 2022, along with A Mega Moment, a multitude of changes for Mega Evolution were implemented.
 * Mega Raids are easier.
 * Pokémon can be Mega Evolved from raid and battle-prep screens.
 * Pokémon that has been Mega Evolved before now have an additional visual effect added to their information page.
 * Mega Levels, rest period and bonuses of XP and Candy XL are introduced.

Trivia

 * In original game series, Mega Evolution was an additional evolution that allowed Pokémon to transform into stronger form of their final evolution stage during battle.
 * Mega Evolution was first mentioned in the Pokémon Presents on June, 2020. It would be released in Fall 2020.
 * It was officially released on August, 2020.
 * Similarly, to Team GO Rocket features, Mega Evolution was introduced with a Special Research – A Mega Discovery.
 * 5 days after release, with the beginning of September 2020, three-week long Mega September event series started and it revolved around Mega Evolution.
 * In the original game series, all Mega-Evolved Pokémon share the same stamina stat as normal form. This is also true in Pokémon GO, with Mega Steelix being the only exception.
 * In a Raid Lobby, Trainers with an active Mega-Evolved Pokémon have a respective icon next to their avatar and an aura surrounding them.
 * Mega Lucario and Mega Mewtwo Y along with balloon of Mega Charizard X were featured in the key artwork for 4th Anniversary.
 * Mega Evolution does not count as evolution for the purpose of Research tasks.
 * Previously, trading a Pokémon that has been Mega Evolved before would retain the Mega Energy discount when Mega Evolving it again. This is no longer the case since the update from A Mega Moment.
 * Mega Evolving a Pokémon revives and fully heals it.
 * Upon the release of the feature that allows Pokémon to be Mega Evolved in a raid lobby, this could not be done if another Pokémon is Mega Evolved. This was later fixed.
 * There is a single Pokémon capable of Mega Evolution in the main series but its base form has not been released in Pokémon Go yet - Diancie.