Pokémon GO Fest 2022 Finale: Best Mega Pokémon To Bring (for PvP and Raids)

Pokémon GO Fest 2022: Finale event has just been announced! Taking place on Saturday, August 27, from 10am to 6pm local time, this event features 4 rotating habitats, each with an Ultra Beast in raids and wild spawns themed around the Ultra Beast.

Even if you don’t have a ticket, you can still enjoy the wild spawns and raid bosses.

Axew is probably what many players are excited about, but the event features no shortage of Pokémon relevant for battles, such as the following. Many of them also require Candy XL.

  • PvP: Meditite, Frillish, Tropius (ticket exclusive), Buzzwole, Machop, Drilbur, Skrelp
  • And Stunfisk for XLs – even though we’re only getting Unova spawns
  • Raid attackers: Xurkitree, Nihilego, Pheromosa, Cranidos, Machop, Drilbur, Electabuzz
  • And Pinsir, Scyther, Electrike and Bulbasaur for their megas

Using a Mega Evolution is a great way to maximize candy gains and especially Candy XL gains. At Mega Level 2 and 3, they provide a significant boost to XL chance when catching Pokémon that shares one of the active Mega’s types.

Even better, since each habitat spans 2 consecutive hours during this event (instead of the traditional 1 hour on two separate occasions), you can even switch to a new mega when a new habitat starts. So which Mega Pokémon should you use? Let’s find out.

TL;DR

Alternatives for running only 1 Mega Pokémon:

Related reading: Pokémon GO Fest 2022 Finale: Raid and Spawn SchedulePokémon GO Fest 2022 Finale: Complete Event Guide and Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree in PvP (and PvE?)

Pheromosa Hours (10:00 am to 12:00 pm local time)

Spawn

  • Wild: Pikachu, Scyther, Pinsir, Sudowoodo, Hitmontop, Meditite, Anorith, Kricketot, Woobat, Karrablast
  • Ticket holders, incense-exclusive: Galarian Mr. Mime, Pansage, Unown

Desirable spawns and raids, from high to low priority

  • PvP: Meditite (XL!!), Karrablast, Hitmontop (XL?), Sudowoodo (XL?)
  • Raids: Pheromosa, Pinsir (Mega), Scyther (Mega)
  • Rare spawn for dex: Galarian Mr. Mime

Mega thoughts

Mega Beedrill or Scizor (Bug)

  • Best option for non-PvPers and anyone who doesn’t need more Meditite XLs.
  • If you only PvP, there’s still bonus candies for Karrablast, but Lopunny may be better.
  • Boosts: Pheromosa, Scyther, Pinsir, Karrablast, Anorith, Kricketot

Mega Lopunny (Fighting)

Lopunny (Mega) NormalFighting
  • Probably the best if you only PvP.
  • Particularly for Meditite XLs, and Tyrogue XLs in case you want to build a Hitmonchan/top in Ultra League for spice.
  • Boosts: Pheromosa, Meditite, Hitmontop

Mega Slowbro or Latios and Latias (Psychic)

  • If you need Meditite XLs but don’t have a Mega Lopunny. Also gets Galarian Mime as a small bonus.
  • Boosts: Meditite, Galarian Mr. Mime, Woobat, Unown

(Note: Types in brackets are the ones these Megas mainly capitalize on, not their full typing.)

Buzzwole hours (12:00 to 2:00 pm local time)

Spawns

  • Wild: Pikachu, Machop, Geodude, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, Magmar, Numel, Cranidos, Drilbur, Axew
  • Ticket holders, incense-exclusive: Torkoal, Pansear, Unown

Desirable spawns and raids, from high to low priority

  • PvP: Buzzwole (XL!!), Machop, Drilbur (XL!! for ML), Axew (MLP/MLPC), Hitmonchan (XL?), Torkoal (in case of buffs, XL)
  • Raids: Cranidos, Machop, Drilbur, Axew
  • Rare spawn for dex: Axew

Mega thoughts

This one is the toughest to decide – so many possibilities.

Mega Lopunny (Fighting)

Lopunny (Mega) NormalFighting
  • Holistically the best, for the most valuable Buzzwole XL (Master League), Machop, and the Hitmons for UL spice.
  • Boosts: Buzzwole, Machop, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan

Mega Charizard X (Fire/Dragon)

Charizard (Mega X) FireDragon
  • For the Axew lovers. With the bonus of many fire types, especially Torkoal, which may rise to relevance with a better move and requires XLs in Ultra League.
  • Boosts: Axew, Torkoal, Pansear, Numel, Magmar

Mega Aerodactyl (Rock)

Aerodactyl (Mega) RockFlying
  • For those raiders who want as many XL Rampardos as possible.
  • Boosts: Cranidos, Geodude

Mega Steelix (Ground)

Steelix (Mega) SteelGround
  • The only option for boosting Drilbur, which is great in both raids and PvP, but Mega Steelix is not very useful here otherwise.
  • Boosts: Drilbur, Geodude, Numel

Mega Beedrill or Scizor (Bug)

  • Budget bug-type mega for Buzzwole, or if you don’t want to switch out from Pheromosa hours.
  • (Note: Drilbur is pure ground type, so Mega Scizor doesn’t boost it.)
  • Boosts: Buzzwole

Mega Altaria, Ampharos or Lati@s (Dragon)

  • Alternatives for Axew.
  • Boosts: Axew, Pikachu (Mega Ampharos only)

Xurkitree hours (2:00 pm to 4:00 pm local time)

Spawns

  • Wild: Pikachu, Electabuzz, Electrike, Shinx, Lileep, Burmy (Sandy), Combee, Foongus, Joltik, Shelmet, Stunfisk
  • Ticket holders, incense-exclusive: Klink, Panpour, Unown

Desirable spawns and raids, from high to low priority

  • PvP: Stunfisk (XL for its Galarian form!!), Joltik (XL!!), Lileep (XL?), Combee, Shinx
  • Raids: Xurkitree, Electabuzz, Electrike (Mega)
  • Rare spawn for dex: Klink

Mega thoughts

Mega Ampharos or Manectric (Electric)

  • No competition here… Unless you don’t have them at a high Mega Level yet.
  • Boosts: Xurkitree, Stunfisk, Joltik, Electabuzz, Electrike, Pikachu, Shinx

Mega Beedrill (Bug / Poison)

Beedrill (Mega) BugPoison
  • Alternative for Joltik XL, or if you don’t want to switch out.
  • Also gives a decent amount of XP, and Foongus XLs in case Amoonguss gets a better move.
  • Boosts: Joltik, Foongus, Burmy (Sandy), Combee, Shelmet

Mega Venusaur (Grass / Poison)

Venusaur (Mega) GrassPoison
  • For those who want Lileep XL for Ultra League spice, or want to run it into Nihilego hours.
  • Boosts: Lileep, Foongus

Mega Steelix (Steel / Ground)

Steelix (Mega) SteelGround
  • Alternative for Stunfisk XL.
  • Boosts: Stunfisk, Klink

Nihilego hours (4:00 pm to 6:00 pm local time)

Spawns

  • Wild: Bulbasaur, Pikachu, Clefairy, Tentacool, Chansey, Tangela, Omanyte, Chikorita, Turtwig, Burmy (Plant), Munna, Frillish (Female), Swirlix, Skrelp
  • Ticket holders, incense-exclusive: Tropius, Frillish (Male), Unown

Also note that all 4 Ultra Beasts (Pheromosa, Buzzwole, Xurkitree and Nihilego) are in raids during this time.

Desirable spawns and raids, from high to low priority

  • PvP: Buzzwole (XL!!), Tropius, Frillish (XL!!), Bulbasaur (maybe XL for ML Mega Cup?), Skrelp (XL!!), Chikorita (XL), Clefairy (XL), Tangela (ULPC), Tentacool (in case of buffs, XL)
  • Raids: Xurkitree, Bulbasaur (with Mega), Nihilego, Pheromosa, Tangela, Turtwig (mostly shadow)
  • Gyms: Chansey

Mega thoughts

Mega Venusaur (Grass/Poison)

Venusaur (Mega) GrassPoison
  • Covers the biggest number of relevant spawns for both PvP and raids, since both grass and poison are exceptionally good for this hour. Not all, though – spawns during this habitat are just too good.
  • Boosts: Nihilego, Tropius, Bulbasaur, Skrelp, Chikorita, Tangela, Tentacool, Turtwig

Mega Gengar (Ghost/Poison)

Gengar (Mega) GhostPoison
  • If you prioritize Frillish XL.
  • A water-type mega works too, but Gengar keeps the poison typing that also checks Nihilego and Bulbasaur.
  • Boosts: Nihilego, Frillish, Bulbasaur, Skrelp, Tentacool

Mega Beedrill (Bug/Poison)

Beedrill (Mega) BugPoison
  • Poison-type alternative if you don’t have Mega Venusaur, or still don’t want to switch out, or want to get a few more Buzzwole or Pheromosa raids done.
  • Boosts: Pheromosa, Buzzwole, Nihilego, Bulbasaur, Skrelp, Tentacool, Burmy (Plant)

Mega Blastoise, Gyarados or Slowbro (Water)

  • Alternatives for Frillish. Generally worse than Gengar, but at least keeps Skrelp XL (Skrelp is poison/water, not poison/dragon).
  • Boosts: Frillish, Skrelp, Tentacool, Omanyte, Munna (Slowbro only), Unown (Slowbro only)

Mega Pidgeot (Normal/Flying)

  • For those who’re really into gym defense and want L50 Chansey/Blissey. Or want to use Chansey to stall out games during some GL cups.
  • Boosts: Tropius, Chansey

Mega Lopunny (Normal/Fighting)

  • Similar to Mega Pidgeot for boosting Chansey, plus last-minute Pheromosa and Buzzwole raids. Does miss out on Tropius though.
  • Boosts: Pheromosa, Buzzwole, Chansey

Mega Abomasnow (Grass)

  • Grass-type alternative. Still good for many spawns, but its ice typing does nothing here.
  • Boosts: Tropius, Bulbasaur, Chikorita, Tangela, Tentacool, Turtwig

Mega Altaria (Fairy)

  • For those who really want Clefairy XL. But Clefable is a lot less prevalent in Ultra League now, largely replaced by Sylveon and Togekiss.
  • Boosts: Clefairy, Swirlix (and Zacian raids after the event ends)

Mega Aerodactyl (Rock/Flying)

  • Alternative for Nihilego, and also gets Tropius candies as a small bonus.
  • Boosts: Nihilego, Tropius, Omanyte

Don’t want to Switch Megas?

If you don’t have a lot of mega energy or Level 3 Megas, or simply don’t bother using several different Megas throughout the event, this section is for you!

Using only one Mega is obviously less ideal than min-maxing during each habitat, but here’s how you can still get at least some desirable candies and XLs during the entire event:

Mega Beedrill (Bug/Poison)

Beedrill (Mega) BugPoison
  • Best single mega for the whole event. Matches 3 of the 4 Ultra Beast raid bosses, and boosts something during every hour.
  • Boosts:
    • Pheromosa, Buzzwole, Nihilego
    • Joltik, Bulbasaur, Skrelp, Scyther, Pinsir, Karrablast
    • Tentacool, Foongus, Burmy (Plant and Sandy), Anorith, Kricketot, Combee, Shelmet

Mega Lopunny (Normal/Fighting)

Lopunny (Mega) NormalFighting
  • Particularly good during the first half, even better than Beedrill. But the only thing it boosts during the second half is Chansey.
  • Boosts:
    • Pheromosa, Buzzwole
    • Meditite, Machop, Chansey
    • Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, Hitmontop

Mega Venusaur (Grass/Poison)

Venusaur (Mega) GrassPoison
  • Here’s a specialist for the second half instead. Particularly the Nihilego hours, but it does boost some earlier spawns like Pansage, Lileep and Foongus.
  • Boosts:
    • Nihilego
    • Tropius, Bulbasaur, Skrelp, Chikorita, Tangela, Lileep
    • Tentacool, Foongus, Turtwig

Mega Ampharos (Electric/Dragon)

Ampharos (Mega) ElectricDragon
  • If you only care about Axew, here you go. Any dragon mega is fine, but Ampharos stands out as it’s exceptionally good during the Xurkitree hour.
  • Boosts:
    • Xurkitree
    • Stunfisk, Joltik, Electabuzz, Electrike
    • Pikachu, Shinx
  • Honorable mentions for the other dragons: Mega Lati@s (mainly Axew and Meditite), Mega Charizard X (mainly Axew and fire types like Torkoal).

Mega Slowbro (Water/Psychic)

Slowbro (Mega) WaterPsychic
  • Aims at some big targets for PvP, particularly Meditite, Frillish and Skrelp. You do forgo a lot of bugs, but you can make up for at least some of them during the Bug Out event.
  • Boosts:
    • Meditite, Frillish, Skrelp, Galarian Mr. Mime
    • Tentacool, Panpour, Omanyte, Munna, Woobat, Unown

Using Two Megas

If you want to use two megas, one for the first half and one for the second half, here are my recommendations:

  • First half: Mega Lopunny or Beedrill
  • Second half: Mega Venusaur or Ampharos
    • If running Mega Ampharos, may also switch out during the middle of Buzzwole hours for Axew

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