How to get it
- Defeat the corresponding Mega Raid boss or claim research awarding that species’ energy.
- After the family’s Mega Evolution is registered, walking an eligible buddy from that family can earn more energy.
How to use it
- Open a compatible Pokémon and check its Mega Evolution cost.
- Energy for one species cannot pay for another species’ Mega Evolution.
Worth knowing
Mega Evolution is temporary, but the Pokémon’s progression through Mega Levels persists.
Rayquaza additionally needs Dragon Ascent, taught with a Meteorite. Link Charges pay for eligible raid entry, not for the Pokémon’s transformation.
The first evolution unlocks a longer-term system
Mega Evolution lasts eight hours, with individual Mega progress and a rest period. Only the first qualifying Mega Evolution of a Pokémon in a calendar day advances its Mega-level progress; repeatedly spending energy on the same day is not a shortcut through those daily steps.
After the first Mega Evolution in an evolutionary line, walking an eligible buddy from that line can provide more energy. This can make the initial unlock more valuable than repeatedly waiting for the same Mega Raid to return.
The energy balance and the individual Pokémon’s Mega progress are different things. Trading resets Mega progress, and current rules can require separate X and Y energy for Pokémon with those forms. Check the form and balance on the evolution screen before planning an unlock.
Sources & further reading
- Pokémon GO: A Quantitative Approach by nick blackVersion 1.0.6 (October 4, 2026), §2.5, pp. 11–12; §8.2, pp. 82–84; §2.5, p. 11; §8.2, pp. 82–83
- Pokémon GO Help Center — How do I collect Mega Energy?
Event rewards, shop offers, and limits can change. Check the current in-game description for event-specific rules. Worked examples are illustrative calculations.