Pokémon Go’s Mega Rayquaza: Learn Dragon Ascent and Mega Evolution Requirements
Introduction
Pokémon Go released Mega Rayquaza during the summer of 2023 as part of the Go Fest event. Following the arrival of Primal Reversion for Kyogre and Groudon, Mega Rayquaza was initially exclusive to attendees at the London, Kyoto, and New York Go Fest weekends. However, it later became available to players worldwide on August 26. Mega Rayquaza’s Mega Evolution requires a specific move, but it is temporary and requires collecting Mega Energy from various sources.
Teaching Dragon Ascent to Rayquaza
To Mega Evolve Rayquaza in Pokémon Go, you not only need enough Mega Energy but also the Dragon Ascent move. The Meteorite item is required to teach Dragon Ascent. When using the Meteorite, it replaces a Charged move. If you only have one move available, it will replace that move. It is recommended to unlock a second Charged move to have more options during battles.
How to Get Meteorites for Mega Evolution
Meteorites were introduced during the first set of Go Fest 2023 events. There are two ways to acquire Meteorites:
- Free Go Fest 2023 Special Research: Logging in during the Go Fest Global event hours on Sunday, August 27, and completing the “short Special Research story” will grant you one free Meteorite.
- Paid Go Fest 2023 Special Research: Attendees of the in-person events in London, Kyoto, or New York, as well as those with the paid Global research ticket, can earn additional Meteorites through Special Research.
Additionally, Meteorites can be obtained as a rare drop from Mega Rayquaza raids, with a drop rate of approximately 1/30 according to the Silph Road subreddit.
After the initial availability, it is uncertain how Meteorites can be obtained, but based on Niantic’s previous patterns, they may return as part of future Special Research or when Mega Rayquaza reappears in raids. While Meteorites may be rare, they won’t be entirely missable, but playing on August 27 is recommended to ensure you don’t have to wait long for another chance.
Mega Rayquaza Bonuses
Similar to other Mega Evolutions, Mega Rayquaza receives a CP and power boost for the next eight hours. It also provides additional perks, including:
- Extra XP and Candy when catching Dragon-, Flying-, or Psychic-type Pokémon
- Increased chance of earning Candy XL
- Boosted attacks of fellow trainers during Raid or Gym battles, especially if they are Dragon-, Flying-, or Psychic-type Pokémon
These bonuses can be further enhanced through three stages of Mega Evolution: Base Level, High Level, and Max Level.
Additional Information
While Mega Rayquaza is technically just another Mega Evolution, there are a few observations and differences to note:
- Mega Rayquaza requires 400 Mega Energy to evolve and learns Dragon Ascent, its most powerful attack.
- As a Flying-type Pokémon, it is ideal to have a second Dragon-type move (such as Outrage or the legacy move Breaking Swipe) alongside Dragon Ascent.
- During Mega Raids, you will only catch the pre-evolved version of Mega Rayquaza, but there is a chance of encountering a shiny Pokémon.
- Non-ticket holders were unable to earn Mega Energy from Mega Rayquaza raids at location-specific Go Fest events in 2023, making the Go Fest Global weekend in late August the first opportunity for the majority of players.
By following these instructions, trainers can prepare their Rayquaza for Mega Evolution and make the most out of its powerful Mega form in Pokémon Go.