Pokemon GO Mega Evolution “Mega Update” Announced

Niantic has announced that a “mega update” for Pokemon GO‘s Mega Evolution mechanics is coming soon.

The update is actually already available in Australia and New Zealand, and is expected to launch globally shorty after. The update will make Mega Evolution “easier and more rewarding” through the following changes:

Highlights

• Most Mega Raids will be easier. You can now take them on with fewer people!
• You’ll be able to Mega Evolve your Pokémon from raid and battle prep screens.
• Pokémon you have Mega Evolved before will now have an additional visual effect added to their information page to commemorate this momentous achievement.
• We’re implementing Mega Levels and changing how Mega Energy is used.

MEGA MASTERY: Introducing Mega Levels

Being a Pokémon Trainer is all about helping your Pokémon grow, and we’re introducing a new way for you to do just that—Mega Levels! Every time you Mega Evolve a Pokémon, you work toward increasing its Mega Level. You’ll get more bonuses every time a Pokémon’s Mega Level goes up, and these bonuses will stay active while your Pokémon is Mega Evolved.

Each Mega Level grants various bonuses. Bonuses vary by Pokémon, and all bonuses will improve as a Pokémon’s Mega Level increases.

Existing bonuses

• Increased Candy when you catch Pokémon that are the same type as your Mega-Evolved Pokémon.
• While attacking with a Mega-Evolved Pokémon in a Raid Battle or a Gym battle, the attacks of other Trainers’ Pokémon challenging that same raid or Gym will deal more damage. Their Pokémon’s attacks will deal even more damage if the attack is the same type as your Mega-Evolved Pokémon.

New bonuses

• Increased chance of earning Candy XL when you catch Pokémon that are the same type as your Mega-Evolved Pokémon.
• Increased XP for catching Pokémon that are the same type as your Mega-Evolved Pokémon.
• A Pokémon’s rest period decreases as its Mega Level increases.

MORE MEGA MOMENTS: A one-time cost to Mega Evolve

With this update, after you Mega Evolve a Pokémon for the first time, you’ll be able to Mega Evolve that same Pokémon again without using Mega Energy!

• After Mega Evolving, your Pokémon will be fatigued and need time before it can Mega Evolve again. Once this rest period is over, that Pokémon can Mega Evolve again without using Mega Energy.
• You can use Mega Energy to decrease a Pokémon’s rest period. The Mega Energy required to Mega Evolve a Pokémon will decrease as the Pokémon’s rest period becomes shorter.

You can check out a new trailer for the update, as well as a dev diary video explaining the changes below:

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.