Niantic is in the process of revising the Mega Evolution mechanics Pokémon Go, which makes it easier for players to develop (and re-develop) their Pokémon using Mega Energy. The developer also adds new incentives to engage with the must-catch-em-all-mobile game’s Mega Evolution features in the form of new bonuses.
One of the biggest changes coming to Mega Evolutions is the Mega Raids themselves. Niantic says these specific raids will be easier and can be conquered with fewer people. Mega Raids are currently four-star raids, just below the highest difficulty level of raids. Niantic has not yet said how many players are required or recommended for Mega Raids.
Mega Evolving is also becoming a one-time cost; Once players have acquired enough Mega Energy to develop their Pokémon, they will be able to Mega Evolve them again and again after a cooling off period. Players able to Use Mega Energy to reduce a Pokémon’s cooling down period, Niantic said, and Mega Energy required for Mega Evolve a Pokémon will decrease as the Pokémon’s cooling down period gets shorter.
Niantic also introduces Mega Levels to Mega Evolved Pokémon. “Every time you Mega develop a Pokémon, you work to increase its Mega Level,” Niantic said in a blog post. “You get more bonuses each time a Pokémon’s Mega Level increases, and these bonuses remain active while your Pokémon is Mega Evolved.”
These bonuses earned from Mega Evolved Pokémon include existing perks as extra candy when capturing Pokémon that are of the same type as players’ current Mega-Evolved Pokémon and damage boosts in Raids and Gym Battles; as well as new bonuses, such as an increased chance of earning Candy XL and increased XP when you capture Pokémon of the same type as your Mega-Evolved Pokémon.
And in a good quality of life update, players will be able to Mega Evolve Pokémon from raid and battle preparation screens. (Monday’s announcement also came with a video teaser, embedded above, indicating that Mega Kangaskhan is on its way to Pokémon Go.)
What does not seem to be changing is the temporary nature of Mega Evolutions. Pokémon that are Mega Evolved will eventually return to their normal state.
Changes to Pokémon Go‘s Mega Evolution launches today in Australia and New Zealand and will soon be launched globally, Niantic announced.
Mega Evolutions was added Pokémon Go in the summer of 2020. To begin with, only four Pokémon could be developed using the Mega energy earned from raids: Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise and Beedrill. Niantic has added more over time, but many players have not resonated with the system due to the limited life of Mega Evolutions and the energy costs required to engage in mechanics. It can be difficult to find players willing to participate in Mega Raids, which has pushed Niantic to make Mega Energy available in other ways, such as research assignments.