Pokémon GO Trainers have a handy way to finish several buddy evolutions during Mega Ascension and the September 5-6 Mega Finale. Wild catches cover most type-based tasks, while selected raids can handle Steel, Water, Dark, and general raid requirements.
The best approach is to match each buddy with the right event window. Keep in mind that raid bosses count by the form they have when caught, not only by the form battled.
Start with the wild catch requirements
Wild Pokémon are generally much faster for catch-based evolutions than raid encounters. During the all-week Mega Ascension portion, watch for these targets:
- Galarian Slowbro: Catch 30 Poison-type Pokémon. Bellsprout during the lead-up and the first Saturday habitat are the recommended windows.
- Galarian Slowking: Catch 30 Psychic-type Pokémon. Inkay during the lead-up and the second Saturday habitat can help fill the requirement.
- Pancham: Catch 32 Dark-type Pokémon. Inkay is useful during Mega Ascension, while the third Saturday habitat and second Sunday habitat are the best weekend options.
- Dipplin: Catch Dragon-type Pokémon. Dratini during Mega Ascension and the third Sunday habitat are the main opportunities.
The habitat recommendations focus on the hours with the highest expected density of each type. Those Pokémon may still appear during other habitat windows, so missing one of the suggested periods does not automatically end the run.
Save the raid targets for the right bosses
Any raid can help with Galarian Yamask and Hisuian Qwilfish. Those two are available as raid targets throughout the event, including the Mega Finale weekend.
For Bisharp, Steel-type raids are the useful route. Wednesday features Skarmory, while Sunday’s first habitat includes Steelix, Skarmory, and Aggron. Mawile appears during the final Sunday habitat and can also help.
Kubfu has several raid-friendly paths. Thursday’s Starmie raid supports the Water route, and Saturday’s second habitat includes Slowbro and Starmie. For the Dark route, Saturday’s third habitat brings Houndoom and Malamar, while Sunday’s final habitat features Sableye. Sharpedo during the second Sunday habitat and Gyarados during the third can provide coverage for either Kubfu path.
There is one typing detail worth remembering. A Mega Gyarados raid counts as Water/Dark when you defeat it, but the Pokémon caught afterward is Water/Flying. Mega raids can also be easier to catch than Legendary raid encounters, although wild spawns remain the faster choice for catch requirements.
Friend battles are better for defeat requirements
Defeat-based buddy evolutions are generally quicker when you battle a friend instead of waiting for the right raid. If you are already raiding, though, these encounters can help keep another buddy moving:
- Armarouge: Defeat 30 Psychic-type Pokémon. Lati@s raids are available during the week, with Mewtwo appearing on the weekend.
- Ceruledge: Defeat 30 Ghost-type Pokémon. Saturday’s third habitat has Gengar and Banette, while Sunday’s final habitat has Sableye.
- Primeape: Defeat 30 Psychic- or Ghost-type Pokémon. The raid and habitat targets above can cover either type.
The spare Psychic-raid hours on Saturday can also be useful for Charcadet if that is another buddy on your list.
Saturday’s Mega Finale route
The September 5 Mega Finale schedule repeats each habitat later in the day, giving Trainers two chances to catch the needed types.
- 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.: Catch Poison types for Galarian Slowbro.
- 11:00 a.m. to noon and 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.: Catch Psychic types for Galarian Slowking. Slowbro and Starmie raids can also help with Water Kubfu.
- Noon to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.: Catch Dark types for Pancham. Houndoom and Malamar raids support Dark Kubfu.
- 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.: No specific target is listed. Psychic raids during these windows can be used for Primeape or Charcadet.
Sunday’s Mega Finale route
Sunday, September 6, shifts the focus toward Steel, Dragon, and the remaining Kubfu options.
- 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.: Raid Steelix, Skarmory, or Aggron for the Bisharp route.
- 11:00 a.m. to noon and 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.: Catch Dark types for Pancham. Sharpedo raids can support either Kubfu path.
- Noon to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.: Catch Dratini for Dipplin. Gyarados raids can support either Kubfu path.
- 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.: Raid Sableye for Dark Kubfu.
With wild catches handled during the matching habitats and raid passes saved for Steel, Kubfu, Yamask, and Qwilfish targets, the event gives Trainers a neat chance to move several buddies toward evolution at once. Have another route for these evolutions? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
Pokémon Go
Developed by Niantic Labs, The Pokémon Company
Pokémon Go is an augmented reality mobile game that uses GPS to let players locate, capture, train, and battle Pokémon in real-world locations. Players explore their physical surroundings to find PokéStops for items, battle at Gyms for team control, participate in Raid Battles cooperatively, and compete in the Go Battle League's player-versus-player format. The game is free-to-play with in-app purchases and features Pokémon from across multiple generations of the franchise.
- Genre Role-playing (RPG), Simulator
- Platforms Android, iOS
- Perspective Third person, Bird view / Isometric, Side view
- Modes Single player, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
- Release July 6, 2016
- Publisher Niantic Labs
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Age Rating
