More Mega-Evolved Pokémon are joining Pokémon GO during the Season of Forever Forward and for this event it’s Raichu! Though, instead of this being a standard Mega Raid Day, Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y will debut in Super Mega Raids. These Raids are more difficult than Mega Raids and will require your own team of Mega-Evolved Pokémon to face Mega Raichu (X or Y).
Note: Due to this event rolling out across the globe, it is recommended to utilize the official Pokémon GO map to find if a Gym in your area will host a Super Mega Raid. Only certain Gyms can host this type of Raid and early reports from Trainers are noting the lack of active Super Mega Raids in their areas.
Now, check out what’s happening during the Raichu Super Mega Raid Day event with our guide below:
Pokémon GO’s Season of Forever Forward – Raichu Super Mega Raid Day
Begins: Saturday, July 18th, 2026 at 2 p.m. your local time.
Ends: Saturday, July 18th, 2026 at 5 p.m. your local time.
Pokémon debuts – Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y
Raichu has two different Mega Evolution forms, so both Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y will debut in Pokémon GO for this Super Mega Raid event! If you’re lucky, you may encounter a Shiny Raichu, but only if you’re able to defeat Mega Raichu X or Mega Raichu Y in battle.
Event Bonuses
- Remote Raid Pass limit increased to 20 from Friday, July 17th, at 5 p.m. to Saturday, July 18th, 2026, at 8 p.m. PDT.
- Receive up to six free Raid Passes from spinning Gym Photo Discs.
- Raichu caught from Super Mega Raids will have Mega Level 1 unlocked.
- The Mega Level 1 will only be unlocked for which Mega Evolution was encountered in the Super Mega Raid (X or Y).
- Increased chance of encountering Shiny Raichu from Super Mega Raids.
If the Event Ticket is purchased, the following bonuses will also be active during the event:
- Receive up to 14 free Raid Passes from spinning Gym Photo Discs.
- Increased chance to get Rare Candy XL from Raid Battles.
- An additional 5,000 XP from Super Mega Raid Battles.
- An additional 5,000 Stardust from Super Mega Raid Battles.
And if Trainers reach specific ranks in the GO Pass and/or GO Pass Deluxe, then the following bonuses will also be active until Tuesday, August 4th, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time:
- Tier 1 (Rank 1):
- One additional Candy for trading Pokémon.
- Trainers level 31 and above will receive one guaranteed Candy XL when trading Pokémon.
- Tier 2 (Rank 25):
- Open up to 40 Gifts per day.
- Receive up to 125 Gifts per day from spinning PokéStop and Gym Photo Discs.
- Hold up to 10 additional Gifts in your Item Bag.
- Tier 3 (Rank 50):
- 2× Daily Adventure Incense duration.
- Tier 4 (Rank 75):
- Increased Stardust and XP from hatching Eggs.
If GO Pass Deluxe is purchased, then the following bonuses will active when Rank 25 is reached instead, until Tuesday, August 4th, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time:
- Tier 2 (Rank 25):
- Open up to 50 Gifts per day.
- Receive up to 150 Gifts per day from spinning PokéStop and Gym Photo Discs.
- Hold up to 20 additional Gifts in your Item Bag.
Event Boxes
If any special event boxes or bundles are released during the event, they’ll be listed here once the event is live. Daily bundles are also available and can be viewed online via the Pokémon GO Web Store.
- Raichu Super Mega Raid Day Ultra Ticket Box (US$4.99, purchase limit 1, Pokémon GO Web Store only): 1 Ticket, 1 Premium Battle Pass, and +60 Reward Points.
Raids
Standard and Shadow Raids will be active during the event. While this is a Raid Day event, for this Super Mega Raid Day event, Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y will only appear at Gyms that are eligible to host Super Mega Raids. So the appearance of Mega Raichu at Gyms hosting Raids during the event is not 100% guaranteed.
To find Gyms hosting Super Mega Raids, you can use the official Pokémon GO map.
Standard Raids
The following Pokémon will be appearing in Raids:
- One-Star Raids: Amethyst Crown Pikachu*, Formal Pikachu (with blue accents)*, Formal Pikachu (with red accents)*, Formal Pikachu (with yellow accents)*, Pikachu wearing a Safari Hat*, Pikachu wearing a varsity jacket*, World Championships 2022 Pikachu*, World Championships 2023 Pikachu*, and World Championships 2024 Pikachu*.
- Three-Star Raids: Alolan Raichu*, Hisuian Typhlosion*, and Duraludon*.
- Five-Star Raids: Kyogre*.
- Mega Raids: Mega Sceptile*.
- Super Mega Raids: Mega Raichu X* and Mega Raichu Y*.
Shadow Raids
The following Pokémon will be appearing in Shadow Raids:
- One-Star Shadow Raids: Shadow Phanpy*, Shadow Ralts*, Shadow Darumaka*, and Shadow Mankey*.
- Three-Star Shadow Raids: Shadow Scyther*, Shadow Hitmonchan*, and Shadow Graveler*.
- Five-Star Shadow Raids: Shadow Palkia*.
Additional Notes:
- Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”
- Standard Raids:
- Kyogre* will be available after the event (in Five-Star Raids), until Tuesday, July 21st, 2026 at 10 p.m. your local time.
- Mega Sceptile* will be available after the event (in Mega Raids), until Tuesday, July 21st, 2026 at 10 p.m. your local time.
- Super Mega Raids are considered Seven-Star Raids (concerning difficulty).
- Shadow Raids:
- One-, Three-, and Five-Star Shadow Raids will be available daily.
Timed Research – Raichu Super Mega Raid Day
A free Timed Research quest called Raichu Super Mega Raid Day will be active during the event. A complete list of tasks and the rewards will be shared here once the event is live.
- Task: Catch a Pokémon
- Reward: Steelix* encounter
- Task: Power up Pokémon 15 times
- Reward: 200 Steelix Mega Energy
- Task: Use 3 Super Effective Charged Attacks
- Reward: 5,000 Stardust
- Task: Win a Raid
- Reward: 3 Charged TMs
- Task: Defeat an Electric-type Raid Boss
- Reward: 10 Onix Candy XL
- Completion Rewards: 1 Premium Raid Pass
Note: Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”
Paid Ticket
During the Raichu Super Mega Raid Day event, Trainers can purchase a ticket to access additional bonuses. For US$4.99 OR US$5.00 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency), you’ll get the following bonus:
- Receive up to 14 free Raid Passes from spinning Gym Photo Discs.
- Increased chance to get Rare Candy XL from Raid Battles.
- An additional 5,000 XP from Super Mega Raid Battles.
- An additional 5,000 Stardust from Super Mega Raid Battles.
According to the fine print, “[t]ickets are nonrefundable (subject to applicable law and the exceptions set forth in the Terms of Service).” Tickets can also be gifted to Trainers you’re friends with provided that you have a Friendship level of Great Friends or higher with them. This can be done via the in-game shop and by selecting the “Gift” button instead of the “Buy” button. Tickets purchased for friends are nonrefundable as well.
If the paid ticket is purchased via the Pokémon GO Web Store, then Trainers will also get 1 Premium Battle Pass and +60 Reward Points as a bonus.
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Written by Jennifer Burch
Illustrator, designer, writer and big Nintendo geek, you can find Jennifer with an N3DS within reach 24/7. As the oldest of three, she has survived many Mario Party, Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart sessions intact in addition to getting her brothers hooked on some really weird games. (Cubivore anyone?)
