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Last month during Pokémon Presents, it was announced that Mega Evolutions would be coming to Pokémon GO in 2020! For anyone who has played any of the Main-Series games from Gen.6 & 7, this news is exciting! For those who have only played Pokémon GO, it’s time to hop aboard the Mega Evolution hype train.
Below is a complete list of Mega Evolutions, and some closing thoughts, speculating how Mega Evolutions will be introduced to Pokémon GO.
| MEGA EVOLUTIONS | |
|---|---|
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| Venusaur | Mega Venusaur |
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| Charizard | Mega Charizard X |
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| Mega Charizard Y | |
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| Blastoise | Mega Blastoise |
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| Beedrill | Mega Beedrill |
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| Pidgeot | Mega Pidgeot |
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| Alakazam | Mega Alakazam |
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| Slowbro | Mega Slowbro |
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| Gengar | Mega Gengar |
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| Kangaskhan | Mega Kangaskhan |
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| Pinsir | Mega Pinsir |
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| Gyarados | Mega Gyarados |
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| Aerodactyl | Mega Aerodactyl |
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| Mewtwo | Mega Mewtwo X |
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| Mega Mewtwo Y | |
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| Ampharos | Mega Ampharos |
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| Steelix | Mega Steelix |
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| Scizor | Mega Scizor |
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| Heracross | Mega Heracross |
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| Houndoom | Mega Houndoom |
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| Tyranitar | Mega Tyranitar |
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| Sceptile | Mega Sceptile |
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| Blaziken | Mega Blaziken |
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| Swampert | Mega Swampert |
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| Gardevoir | Mega Gardevoir |
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| Sableye | Mega Sableye |
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| Mawile | Mega Mawile |
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| Aggron | Mega Aggron |
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| Medicham | Mega Medicham |
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| Manectric | Mega Manectric |
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| Sharpedo | Mega Sharpedo |
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| Camerupt | Mega Camerupt |
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| Altaria | Mega Altaria |
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| Banette | Mega Banette |
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| Absol | Mega Absol |
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| Glalie | Mega Glalie |
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| Salamence | Mega Salamence |
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| Metagross | Mega Metagross |
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| Latias | Mega Latias |
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| Latios | Mega Latios |
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| Kyogre | Primal Kyogre |
| *Primals are a bit different from Megas in how they evolve with an orb rather than a stone, but we wanted to be sure and include them here just in case | |
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| Groudon | Primal Groudon |
| *Primals are a bit different from Megas in how they evolve with an orb rather than a stone, but we wanted to be sure and include them here just in case | |
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| Rayquaza | Mega Rayquaza |
 |
 |
| Lopunny | Mega Lopunny |
 |
 |
| Garchomp | Mega Garchomp |
 |
 |
| Lucario | Mega Lucario |
 |
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| Abomasnow | Mega Abomasnow |
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| Gallade | Mega Gallade |
 |  |
| Audino | Mega Audino |
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| Diancie | Mega Diancie |
How will Mega Evolutions Function?
Mega Evolutions were first released in the main-series game, Pokémon X & Y (Generation 6). In order for a Mega Evolution to take place, an eligible Pokémon must be holding the appropriate Mega Stone (ex: Venusaur must be holding Venusaurite), and the trainer must have a Key Stone as well. In the main-series games, the player is eventually given a Key Stone, and can acquire Mega Stones through various means.
Mega Evolutions also have a few other stipulations, as a trainer can only Mega Evolve one Pokémon per battle, and that the Mega Evolution ends after the battle has ended. So how does all this translate to Pokémon GO? Below are a few speculative thoughts on how Mega Evolutions will be implemented into PoGO.
1. Buddy Friendship Importance
In an effort to add value to Best Buddy friendship perks, one requirement may be you must be Best Buddies with a Pokémon before it can undergo a Mega Evolution. Where did this idea come from? Friendship wasn’t mentioned above. From a strict game mechanics standpoint, friendship has never been a requirement in the main-series games, but game character dialogue suggests that Mega Evolutions may only take place if a Pokémon and its Trainer have a close bond. This sentiment is reinforced in other media mediums, such as various anime adaptations.
This could also be a way that a Pokémon acquires their appropriate Mega Stone(s). Pokémon holding items isn’t currently a mechanic in PoGO, but finding souvenirs is for Ultra and Best Buddies. Niantic might introduce Mega Stones into the souvenir pool, and once acquired, a Pokémon can now Mega Evolve, either as an Ultra or Best Buddy. Not going to lie, this only seems like a good idea if there is some sort of RNG protection where the Mega Stone is guaranteed to be found rather quickly.
2. Mega Stones
I don’t know how I feel about bringing up this idea, but I would be lying if I said this is not a possibility. Randomly acquiring Mega Stones from PokéStops, Battle Rewards, etc. is a strong possibility.
Let’s face it, Niantic loves putting evolutionary items as random drops: PokéStops, Leader battles, Grunt battles, Trainer battles, Field Research, and Special Research have all been ways to acquire evolutionary items, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the same was done for Mega Stones.
This would surely make trainers with less time to play pretty salty. The only way I see this as a viable option, is if Mega Stones are universal like Sinnoh and Unova Stones, foregoing the requirement of having the specific Mega Stone like Venusaurite to evolve Venusaur. Random sidetrack, but Johto evolutionary items need to all be converted into a singular Johto Stone.
3. Key Stones from Special Research
In the Pokémon GO 4th Anniversary promo photo Niantic released, the male trainer is seen wearing a Key Stone bracelet (pictured below), so it is very likely this will be a new in-game item all PoGO trainers will need to acquire. Could be short, could be long, but having a Special Research quest-line seems like the most obvious way Trainers will receive their Key Stone bracelet, which will possibly be the final reward for completing the quest (maybe our first Mega Stone as well!?).
4. Mega Evolutions Featured as Raid bosses
If Niantic went this route, this would possibly suggest Mega Evolutions would be permanent in PoGO, as opposed to temporarily as they do in the main-series games. Conversely, Raid bosses could also work similar to how they do in Pokémon Sword and Shield, where Trainers battle a special Gigantamax Pokémon, but once caught goes back to its regular form. In the case of PoGO, Trainers would battle a Mega Evolved Pokémon, and once we caught it, the Pokémon would revert to its regular form, but could be Mega Evolved in future battles, having a Mega Evolution designation in the Pokémon summary screen.
The flaw of this method, is the continual introduction of “fear of missing out.” Trainers grow weary of Raid exclusive moves, as well as Raid exclusive shinies. Niantic has already introduced a solution to the exclusive move problem with Elite TMs, albeit it isn’t a great solution, but it is a solution. Trainers won’t be happy if the Perfect IV Mewtwo they did 100 Raids for couldn’t Mega Evolve. Niantic would still need to release an item that would allow previous caught Pokémon to gain the Mega Evolution designation for there not to be major pushback.
5. Duration of Mega Evolutions
For the last speculative thought, let’s discuss the duration of how long Mega Evolutions will last. As stated above, in the main-series games, Mega Evolutions only last for the duration of any one particular battle, and only one Pokémon can be Mega Evolved per battle. With that thought in mind, it seems logical that Mega Evolutions in PoGO would work similarly.
However, in the main-series games, you’re only ever supposed to catch one of each legendary. Whereas in PoGO, Niantic has allowed trainers to raid hundreds upon thousands of legendaries, and allows us to create battle teams full of the same legendary. So with that thought in mind, one could argue that Mega Evolutions could be permanent inside of PoGO or, at the very least multiple Mega Evolutions per battle would be allowed.
Closing Thoughts
Mega Evolutions is something to certainly be excited, for both PvE and PvP Trainers, as they are sure to change the meta in both scenes. How their CP will be balanced is a subject for an entirely different article because some Megas will be absolutely be broken, I’m looking at you Mega Mewtwo-Y. It is important to remember that this article is purely speculative and possibly misses on every single idea. It is also possible that some of these ideas come to fruition, albeit a mixture. However it happens, Mega Evolutions are coming this year and Trainers you best be ready!
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