How to Mega Evolve and get Mega Energy in Pokémon Go

Pokémon Go now has Mega Evolution, allowing you to make strong Pokémon and make them even stronger. In this Pokémon Go guide, we’ll show you how to get Mega Energy and use it to power up your Pokémon with Mega Evolution, explaining candy, candy bonus, raids and more along the way.

There’s also Primal Reversion, which works very similarly to Mega Evolution (to a point where it might as well be the same thing). Primal Reversion is only for Kyogre and Groudon and is technically a different thing.

Update (Feb. 28, 2023): We’ve updated this guide with more Mega Evolutions added to the game in recent events.

Perks of Mega Evolution

Mega Evolution makes your Pokémon stronger, yes, but there’s also a few other perks you get when you have and use a Mega Evolved Pokémon.

One perk includes bonus candy for that type of Pokémon. You’ll also have a higher chance to get XL Candy for Pokémon of the same type, if you’re at least level 40. If you have a Mega Pidgeot (normal-type) active, you’ll get bonus Buneary Candy when you catch Buneary or Lopunny (also normal-type). (This amount isn’t multiplied by Pinap Berries.)

You’ll also get increased catch XP from Pokémon the same type as your Mega Evolved Pokémon.

When you raid with Mega Evolved Pokémon, they boost stats of your allies’ Pokémon, as well as give an additional type boost to Pokémon of the same type. For example, if you use a Mega Lopunny, normal- and fighting-type moves will get boosted.

Increasing Mega Levels

After the Mega Evolution revamp, your Mega Evolved Pokémon now have Mega Levels, which increase the more your Mega Evolve them. As the Pokémon increases its Mega Levels, the bonuses listed above will increase.

How to get Mega Energy in Pokémon Go

To Mega Evolve your Pokémon, you’ll have to collect Mega Energy for that specific Pokémon. Find Mega Pokémon in Mega Raids, take them on, and earn Mega Energy for that specific Pokémon. The faster you beat them, the more Mega Energy you’ll be rewarded.

It will take multiple raids of the same Pokémon before you’ll have enough energy to Mega Evolve, and most Mega Evolutions rotate in and out of raids. Not all Mega Evolutions will be available year-round, so make sure to stock up on any Mega Energy you want before the Pokémon leaves Mega Raids.

You can also get Mega Energy from some Field Research and Timed Research Tasks as rewards.

If you previously Mega Evolved the Pokémon, you can set it as your buddy and walk with them to amass Mega Energy as well.

How to Mega Evolve your Pokémon in Pokémon Go

You can only have one Mega Pokémon at a time. If you Mega Evolve a different one, your first Pokémon will revert back to normal and you’ll need to collect Mega Energy to evolve it again.

Using a Mega Pokémon in a raid gives other Pokémon an attack boost, with an additional attack boost given to Pokémon of the same type. These boosts do not stack.

Your Pokémon will only be Mega Evolved for a time period, which you can check on the information screen for that Pokémon. Once it returns to normal, you can Mega Evolve it again for no energy cost after a cooldown. You can use Mega Energy to decrease the cooldown time.

Available Mega Pokémon in Pokémon Go

Tons of other Pokémon will be able to Mega Evolve, though you’ll need to wait for Pokémon Go to add that specific monster’s mega evolution to the game. If you want to get ahead of the curve, make sure to start collecting high IV versions of these now before they release.