Pokémon GO’s Mega Squads event just wrapped up, and honestly, it was one of the more packed events the game has thrown at us in a while. Running from September 8 to September 14, 2026, this one came hot on the heels of the Mega Finale weekend and kept the Mega Evolution momentum going in a big way. New Pokémon debuted, a brand-new Shiny dropped, and most importantly, a whole new progression level landed for two fan-favourite Mega forms.
Key Takeaways
- Mega Squads ran from September 8 to September 14, 2026, as a direct follow-up to Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale
- A brand-new Super Max Mega Level was introduced for Mega Beedrill and Mega Houndoom
- Reaching Super Max unlocks an additional Charged Attack while Mega Evolved
- Maschiff and Mabosstiff made their Pokémon GO debut during this event
- Shiny Flamigo was available for the first time through wild encounters, Eggs, Field Research, and GO Pass
- Mega Beedrill Raids ran September 8–15; Mega Houndoom Raids ran September 11–15
- The free GO Pass offered encounters, Candy, and Mega Energy; the paid Deluxe version cost US$4.99
- Two Spotlight Hours featured Weedle (September 10) and Houndour (September 13)
What Was Pokémon GO Mega Squads?
If you played through the Mega Finale the weekend before, Mega Squads was basically the game saying “we’re not done yet.” It followed directly after both Mega Ascension (August 31 – September 4) and the Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale (September 5–6), which featured Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y in Super Mega Raids. September 2026 turned into an absolute Mega Evolution marathon, and Mega Squads was the final chapter of that run.
The event was split into two phases with different featured Pokémon in each, giving players a reason to stay active across the full week rather than just logging in on day one and calling it done.
Super Max Mega Level — The Biggest Addition
This is the headline feature and the one that’ll matter long after the event ended. Pokémon GO introduced a new Super Max Mega Level, sitting above the existing Max level. Before you could push toward Super Max, you first had to hit that third Mega Level — Max — so it wasn’t something you could rush into without prior investment.
And it’s not just a cosmetic thing or a stat bump. Pokémon that hit Super Max can learn an additional Charged Attack while Mega Evolved, which is a genuinely meaningful upgrade for how you use these Pokémon in battles. The attack power also scales with Mega Level, so the grind actually pays off.
Mega Beedrill — Fell Stinger+
Mega Beedrill at Super Max level gains access to Fell Stinger+. Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Trainer Battles: 40 power
- Raid Battles: 140 power
Mega Houndoom — Dark Pulse+
Mega Houndoom at Super Max earns Dark Pulse+, which is a solid Dark-type option:
- Trainer Battles: 60 power
- Raid Battles: 150 power
Both moves increase in power as Mega Level goes up. This system adds a real long-term grind loop that gives dedicated players something meaningful to chase even outside of event weeks.
Maschiff and Mabosstiff Make Their Pokémon GO Debut
Mega Squads also served as the arrival point for two Pokémon new to the game entirely. Maschiff and its evolution Mabosstiff showed up in Pokémon GO for the first time during this event.
Maschiff was available through Eggs, Field Research, and the GO Pass during the event. Evolving it into Mabosstiff costs 50 Maschiff Candy. Maschiff got heavier spawns during the second half of the event (September 11–14) alongside other Dark-type Pokémon like Houndour and Carvanha, which made that second week feel distinctly more sinister in the best way.
Shiny Flamigo — First Ever Encounter
Collectors, this one was for you. Shiny Flamigo debuted during Mega Squads, making this the first time anyone could ever encounter the pink bird’s Shiny form in Pokémon GO. It was available across multiple methods too, which was appreciated:
- Wild encounters
- 5 km Eggs
- Field Research
- GO Pass encounters
Flamigo appeared in both halves of the event, so there was a decent window to chase the Shiny across the full week.
Event Wild Encounters — Two Phases
The event was divided into two distinct phases, each with its own pool of featured Pokémon:
Phase 1: September 8–11
- Pidgey (boosted Shiny rate)
- Emolga
- Fletchling
- Noibat
- Rookidee
- Weedle
- Flamigo
Phase 2: September 11–14
- Houndour
- Carvanha (boosted Shiny rate)
- Purrloin
- Nickit
- Flamigo
The shift in Phase 2 toward Dark-type Pokémon tied in cleanly with the Mega Houndoom Raids launching at the same time, giving the second week its own clear identity.
Mega Raids
Raids were a key part of building toward Super Max, since you needed Mega Energy to keep pushing those Mega Levels up.
- Mega Beedrill Raids: September 8–15
- Mega Houndoom Raids: September 11–15
The overlap between Mega Houndoom’s raid window and the Phase 2 Dark-type spawn pool meant the second half of the event had a really focused, cohesive feel if you were targeting that Pokémon specifically.
5 km Eggs
The Egg pool also rotated between the two phases, giving players another route to the event’s most wanted Pokémon.
Phase 1 Eggs
- Emolga
- Fletchling
- Rookidee
- Flamigo
Phase 2 Eggs
- Sandile
- Pancham
- Maschiff
- Flamigo
If you were specifically hunting Maschiff candy or wanted multiple shots at Shiny Flamigo, having both wild spawns and Eggs available at the same time was a nice quality-of-life touch.
Mega Energy From Catching Pokémon
One of the cleaner mechanics in Mega Squads was the ability to earn Mega Energy just from catching certain event Pokémon. The eligible Pokémon were:
- Weedle and its evolutions
- Pidgey
- Houndour and Houndoom
- Carvanha
This meant every wild catch could double as progress toward the Mega Level grind, which made normal play feel a lot more efficient during the event window.
GO Pass: Mega Squads
Mega Squads continued Pokémon GO’s GO Pass structure, offering both a free track and a paid upgrade.
The free GO Pass rewarded players for completing event tasks with encounters, Candy, Mega Energy, and other items as they ranked up. The GO Pass Deluxe came in two options:
- Deluxe: US$4.99
- Deluxe + 6 Ranks: US$6.99
Regional pricing varied. Deluxe players also got half Egg Hatch Distance when placing Eggs during the event, which stacks well if you were trying to clear your Egg inventory for the new 5 km pool. Milestone bonuses included a chance at Mega Energy from featured Pokémon and 2× Hatch Stardust at a later milestone.
Spotlight Hours
Two Spotlight Hours ran during Mega Squads, each themed around the event’s featured Pokémon:
Weedle Spotlight Hour — September 10, 6:00–7:00 p.m. Local Time
Weedle took centre stage, with Kakuna and Beedrill also showing up during the hour. A good window to stack Mega Energy via catches if you were pushing Mega Beedrill toward Super Max.
Houndour Spotlight Hour — September 13, 6:00–7:00 p.m. Local Time
Houndour and Houndoom both had increased appearances during this hour, tying directly into the Mega Houndoom Raid window that was running at the same time.
Quick Event Timeline at a Glance
- September 8: Mega Squads begins; Maschiff & Mabosstiff debut; Mega Beedrill Raids start
- September 10: Weedle Spotlight Hour
- September 11: Phase 2 begins; Mega Houndoom Raids start
- September 13: Houndour Spotlight Hour
- September 14: Mega Squads ends
- September 15: Mega Beedrill and Mega Houndoom Raids end
Where Mega Squads Fits in September 2026
This event didn’t land out of nowhere. September 2026 was genuinely one of the most Mega-focused stretches Pokémon GO has ever done. Mega Ascension ran first, then the Mega Finale brought Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y in Super Mega Raids, and Mega Squads closed out the month-long run with the Super Max progression system.
If you’re into gaming events with layered progression and new content, it’s the kind of month that reminds you why live-service games can be genuinely fun when the content calendar is firing on all cylinders — something other games in the space are also experimenting with, like Minecraft’s Ice Caves Game Drop adding Frozen Zombies and Ice Crystals, or the collectible energy behind releases like the LEGO Astro Bot Gift with Purchase PlayStation Set. Even the TCG space is feeling the momentum with leaks like the MTG Spider-Man Commander Deck surfacing ahead of December.
Final Thoughts
Mega Squads was a genuinely solid event. The Super Max Mega Level is the part that’ll have staying power — it’s not just an event bonus that disappears when the clock runs out, it’s a permanent addition to how Mega Beedrill and Mega Houndoom work going forward. Maschiff and Mabosstiff filling out the Pokédex is always welcome, and Shiny Flamigo was a nice collector grab for anyone who’s been waiting on that one.
The event is over now, but if you were playing during that window and pushed either of those Mega Pokémon to Super Max, you’ve got something genuinely useful in your roster for raids going forward. That’s the kind of event that earns its place on the calendar.
