Pokémon GO’s Mega Squads event will bring a new dog duo, the first Shiny Flamigo encounters, and a fresh upgrade path for 2 Mega Pokémon. The event will run from Tuesday, September 8 at 10:00 a.m. through Monday, September 14, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. local time, kicking off the Twilight Trails Season.
There is quite a bit packed into this event. Trainers can work toward Maschiff and Mabosstiff, hunt Shiny Flamigo, collect extra Mega Energy, take on Mega Beedrill and Mega Houndoom, and climb a limited-time GO Pass before its rewards disappear.
Maschiff and Shiny Flamigo arrive on September 8
Maschiff and its evolution, Mabosstiff, will make their Pokémon GO debuts during Mega Squads. Maschiff can appear in Eggs, Field Research, and the event GO Pass. Once you collect 50 Maschiff Candy, it can evolve into Mabosstiff.
Shiny Flamigo will also debut during the event. Flamigo can appear in the wild, from Field Research, through GO Pass rewards, and in Eggs, giving Trainers several ways to search for its new Shiny form.
Super Max Mega Level adds new attacks
Mega Beedrill and Mega Houndoom will be the first Pokémon able to reach the new Super Max Mega Level. Reaching it unlocks an extra Charged Attack while the Pokémon is Mega Evolved.
There is one requirement before the final upgrade becomes available. A Pokémon must first reach its third Mega Level, known as Max, and Trainers then need to spend that Pokémon’s Mega Energy to push it to Super Max.
Mega Raids and catches of Weedle, Pidgey, Houndour, Carvanha, and their evolutions will help Trainers collect the Mega Energy needed for the process.
Mega Beedrill
Mega Beedrill will gain Fell Stinger+ while Mega Evolved. The attack has 40 power in Trainer Battles and raises Attack by 1 stage. In Raid Battles, it will have 140 power. Its power will rise as Mega Beedrill’s Mega Level increases.
Mega Houndoom
Mega Houndoom will gain Dark Pulse+ while Mega Evolved. It will have 60 power in Trainer Battles and 150 power in Raid Battles, with its power also increasing alongside Mega Houndoom’s Mega Level.
Wild encounters and Shiny boosts
Flamigo and Weedle will appear more often in the wild throughout Mega Squads. The remaining featured encounters will change during the event, so the date windows are worth keeping handy.
- September 8 at 10:00 a.m. through September 11 at 10:00 a.m. Pidgey and Rookidee will appear more frequently.
- September 11 at 10:00 a.m. through September 14 at 8:00 p.m. Houndour and Carvanha will appear more frequently.
Shiny Pidgey will have an increased encounter chance from September 8 at 10:00 a.m. through September 11 at 10:00 a.m. Shiny Carvanha will receive the same treatment from September 11 at 10:00 a.m. through September 14 at 8:00 p.m.
Spotlight Hours give the hunt 2 focused windows
Mega Squads will include 2 Spotlight Hours, each running from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time.
- September 10 will feature Pidgey, with Kakuna and Beedrill appearing as rarer encounters.
- September 13 will feature Houndour, with Houndoom appearing as a rarer encounter.
Field Research and 5 km Eggs
Event-themed Field Research will rotate its encounters halfway through Mega Squads. From September 8 at 10:00 a.m. through September 11 at 10:00 a.m., completed tasks can reward encounters with Flamigo, Pidgey, Weedle, and Fletchling.
From September 11 at 10:00 a.m. through September 14 at 8:00 p.m., Field Research can instead lead to Flamigo, Houndour, Carvanha, Nickit, and Maschiff encounters.
Egg pools will also change at the same time. During the first window, 5 km Eggs can hatch Flamigo, Emolga, Rookidee, and Fletchling. During the second window, the pool will contain Flamigo, Sandile, Pancham, and Maschiff.
Mega Raid schedule
Mega Beedrill will appear in Mega Raids from September 8 through September 15. Mega Houndoom will take over from September 11 through September 15, giving Trainers one extra day of raids after the main event ends.
These raids are the clearest way to gather Mega Energy for the new Super Max upgrades, although the event’s wild encounters and GO Pass can help too.
GO Pass Mega Squads rewards
Every Trainer will automatically receive the free GO Pass Mega Squads on September 8 at 10:00 a.m. local time. Completing Pass Tasks earns GO Points, which raise the pass rank and unlock rewards through September 14 at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Rewards include event-themed Pokémon encounters, Beedrill and Houndoom Mega Energy, an Incubator, Rare Candy, Ultra Balls, and more. Rewards unlocked through the pass must be claimed by September 16, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. local time.
The first milestone bonus begins at Rank 1 and gives Trainers a chance to receive Mega Energy when catching Weedle, Pidgey, Houndour, Carvanha, or their evolutions. Reaching Rank 15 adds 2× Hatch Stardust.
GO Pass Deluxe options
GO Pass Deluxe will cost US$4.99 and will offer upgraded rewards plus faster progression. The US$6.99 GO Pass Deluxe + 6 Ranks option will also provide enough GO Points to reach Rank 7 automatically.
Deluxe rewards include a Maschiff Jersey, extra event-themed Pokémon encounters, Beedrill and Houndoom Mega Energy, Super Incubators, Rare Candy XL, and more. Reaching Rank 15 on the Deluxe track will also grant 1/2 Egg Hatch Distance for Eggs placed in an Incubator during the event.
Web Store bonuses
Upgrading to GO Pass Deluxe Mega Squads through the Pokémon GO Web Store will include 10 Ultra Balls, 5 Max Revives, 1 Premium Battle Pass, and 5 Max Potions as a gift with purchase.
The GO Pass Deluxe Mega Squads + 6 Ranks purchase will include 10 Ultra Balls, 5 Max Revives, 2 Premium Battle Passes, and 5 Max Potions. A separate Deluxe + 6 Ranks Ultra Box will include 20 Ultra Balls, 10 Max Revives, 10 Max Potions, and 5 Premium Battle Passes.
With Maschiff, Shiny Flamigo, rotating encounter pools, and 2 new Mega attacks all arriving together, Mega Squads gives Trainers plenty to plan around. Tell us which debut or Super Max upgrade you are chasing 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
