How to Mega Evolve in Pokémon GO and Check Type Changes
Learn how to Mega Evolve in Pokémon GO, check Mega Energy requirements, choose Charizard’s form, and compare the resulting types.
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Mega Evolution allows players to choose between different types of the same species, with different abilities and strengths. Here’s how to take advantage of that option.
When you Mega Evolve a Pokémon in Pokémon GO, you have choices about when and what form it should be: You can wait for a free repeat or spend some energy sooner, depending on the Pokémon’s current requirements. You also have to decide which specific Mega form (if there are more than one) to evolve, because each Mega Evolution has its own attack and type combinations. In some cases, such as Rayquaza, there is even an additional attack prerequisite.
In most cases, Mega Evolving doesn’t require any particular special item — only the required amount of Mega Energy. But in other cases, such as Rayquaza, you may need another special item to unlock the new attack, too. And repeated evolution requires investing more time into the process to increase your Pokémon’s Mega Level.
Finally, you have to compare the chosen form against other forms using our dual-type calculator, because while you’ll get access to all of the existing Fast and Charged Attacks of a given Pokémon, the combination of their types will influence how they work against others.
Recognizing Mega Evolvable Pokémon
The easiest way to tell whether a Pokémon is eligible to Mega Evolve is through its summary page. Eligible Pokémon show a “Mega Evolve” button and “Mega Energy” on their summary page. You can also use the “Can Mega Evolve” search filter to find them.
You can tap the “Mega Evolve” button near the top of the Pokémon’s summary page if it is available, but just because you’re allowed to use this button does not mean that the form is allowed in a given battle format. For example, both regular Raichu and its Mega forms, Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y, can be used in raids. Mega-Evolved Pokémon generally can’t be used in the GO Battle League, although special events may allow exceptions.
However, the battle-format eligibility remains separate from the actual activation. So regardless of whether your chosen Mega form is eligible for a certain battle format, you’ll still see the number of Mega Energy points needed to activate the evolution.
Collecting Mega Energy
To activate Mega Evolution, you simply need to have enough Mega Energy stored up for the desired Pokémon. There are multiple ways to collect this energy:
Complete a successful Mega Raid battle, in which you defeat the boss Pokémon
Complete certain Field Research and Timed Research tasks
Earn Mega Energy via a raid reward, even if you do not succeed in catching the raid boss
There’s also a first-use requirement: The first time you Mega Evolve an individual Pokémon, you need to have sufficient Mega Energy. This is a per-individual requirement, so the previous Mega Evolution of another individual doesn’t remove this requirement. (Unlocking Super Max Level also requires Mega Energy.)
However, this isn’t always a fixed requirement, either. The Mega Energy required varies by species, so we recommend checking the details of the individual Pokémon.
Wait? Spend?
Wait or spend Mega Energy
Once you’ve activated Mega Evolution, it lasts eight hours before your Pokémon goes back to its normal form. You can only have one Mega-Evolved Pokémon active at a time. To Mega Evolve the same Pokémon again, you can wait through its rest period for a free repeat, or spend some of your stored Mega Energy to repeat sooner. The energy cost decreases as the remaining rest period gets shorter.
If you have selected to Mega Evolve, then return to your Pokémon’s details screen. If the rest-period timer is still running, you can spend a reduced amount of Mega Energy to repeat sooner. Otherwise, select Mega Evolve to repeat. The rest period is seven days at Base Level and gets shorter at higher Mega Levels, although you can repeat sooner by spending energy.
Choosing a form
Some Pokémon offer multiple Mega forms. These are generally differentiated by a letter (like Y or X) or by some other attribute. When choosing which form to use, remember that these forms may provide different type advantages, but your Pokémon’s existing Fast and Charged Attacks stay the same.
For example, Charizard can Mega Evolve into two forms: Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y. Mega Charizard X uses the Fire/Dragon typing, while Mega Charizard Y uses Fire/Flying. However, Mega Evolving Charizard X reduces the cost of future Mega Evolutions of this form; Mega Evolving Charizard Y reduces the cost of future Mega Evolutions of that form. Which means that you pay full price for the initial Mega Evolution, and subsequent ones are reduced, but only based on the form you choose.
Other Pokémon offer Mega Evolutions that change their type completely. For example, Altaria becomes Dragon/Fairy with its Mega Evolution. You can use the TypeChart calculator tool to help determine how your team’s effectiveness against other Pokémon changes with each choice.
Special evolution
Not every Mega Evolved Pokémon comes with a pre-charged Mega Energy investment. Rayquaza, however, needs a special item: the Meteorite.
The Meteorite teaches Charged Attack Dragon Ascent, and you need to know Dragon Ascent to Mega Evolve Rayquaza. You can’t teach it with Charge TMs or Elite Charge TMs. Meteorite can be obtained through Special Research, and it can be viewed through the “Item” menu on the Pokémon details screen.
Repeated evolution
Repeated Mega Evolution increases the Mega Level of the evolved Pokémon. This means that it will gain more bonuses while Mega Evolved, such as increased XP for catching Pokémon of the same type.
To check what your Pokémon needs to unlock Super Max Level, tap the next Mega Level icon on its details page. A new investment of Mega Energy is required, and repeated Mega Evolution alone isn’t enough to unlock Super Max Level. Some Pokémon can’t currently unlock Super Max Level, but you may be able to unlock additional Charged Attacks in future. Certain Pokémon capable of reaching Super Max can already unlock an additional Charged Attack for Raid Battles and Trainer Battles.
Compare the types
Use our dual-type calculator to compare the various possible types your Pokémon can become and how they interact with others. Remember that Mega Evolution preserves all of the Fast and Charged Attacks that your Pokémon learned, so type-effectiveness comparisons alone won’t necessarily establish how good the Pokémon will be overall.
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