Is Mega Staraptor good for Pokémon GO Raids?

The Twilight Trails Season has had a thrilling start, with new Charged Attacks for Mega Evolutions that have pulled the rug out from under the Pokémon GO Raids meta. For instance, Mega Skarmory gaining Drill Peck+ has turned it into a top-tier Flying-type attacker. Now, we have the Super Mega Staraptor Raid Day bringing forth a new entrant to the lofty heights of the Flying meta.

Mega Staraptor is a Fighting/Flying type and gains the move Brave Bird+ (150 power). Let’s find out if it moves the needle or not in both its typings.

Mega Staraptor Overview

Max CP	4498
ATK	278
DEF	207
HP	198
Weak to
Resists
Fast moves	Wing Attack Sand Attack Gust* Quick Attack
Charge moves	Close Combat Heat Wave Brave Bird Fly Brave Bird+**

*Denotes a Legacy Move only obtainable via an Elite TM.

**Only usable when Mega Evolved at Super Max Level.

Right off the bat, we have to point out that Mega Staraptor doesn’t learn a Pokémon GO Fighting-type Fast Attack, even in the Main Series Games, so it unfortunately has no viability in the Fighting type Pokémon GO meta. Close Combat isn’t a great Charged Attack as well, so as a Fighting type, it just isn’t worth investing in. 

On the other hand, Mega Staraptor looks all set for glory in the Flying meta. With a superb 278 ATK and, more importantly, the weapon of mass destruction called Brave Bird+ in its arsenal, how good is it?

Mega Staraptor in the Flying Meta

With the help of our GO Hub DPS Comparer Tool:

Pokémon	Moves	DPS	TDO	Score
Mega Rayquaza	Air Slash  Dragon Ascent	26.90	787.3	24.8
Mega Staraptor	Wing Attack  Brave Bird+	21.48	547.7	19.6
Rayquaza	Air Slash  Dragon Ascent	20.19	447.5	18.2
Mega Skarmory	Air Slash  Drill Peck+	19.94	464.4	18
Shadow Moltres	Wing Attack  Fly	19.83	377.8	17.5
Shadow Toucannon	Peck  Beak Blast	19.30	279.2	16.5
Therian Shadow Tornadus	Gust  Bleakwind Storm	17.70	320.7	15.6

Well, well, well… forget Mega Skarmory. Mega Staraptor has not only flown beyond Mega Staraptor, but it has also left Rayquaza abandoned in its wake, taking over the second spot in the Flying category. A monstrous DPS that’s around 6.4% higher than good ol’ Ray, and well ahead of other Flying Pokémon, Shadow or Mega.

In the same vein, Mega Rayquaza remains untouched, dealing a whopping 25.23% more damage than Mega Staraptor. Of course, Mega Ray’s might is not surprising at all. And there is the question of what new attack could Mega Rayquaza possibly gain in the future with a +Charged Attack.

Mega Staraptor is, however, pretty neat against Bug Raid Bosses due to the extra resistance it enjoys from the additional Fighting type. But then again, Fire/Flying powerhouses like Mega Charizard Y and Shadow Moltres boast the same perks. In particular, Mega Charizard Y with its Fire moves deal more or less the same DPS as Brave Bird+ Mega Staraptor.

This begs the question, will Mega Staraptor remain unchallenged and second-in-command to Mega Rayquaza in the Flying meta?

Is Mega Staraptor future proof as a Flying type?

In the newest meta that’s filling up with Mega Evolutions wielding additional Charged Attacks, staying at or near the top may just be 15 minutes of fame. Mega Staraptor is strong, no doubt, but there are two other Flying Mega that could not only topple Mega Staraptor, but also be closer to Mega Rayquaza’s explosive DPS.

1. Mega Charizard Y already has a complete Flying moveset, but the combo of Air Slash and Air Cutter is relatively weak. In the event that it learns a +Charged Attack, the 319 ATK Mega Chaizard Y will turn into a premier Flying-type attacker. Note that Charizard learns Pokémon GO Flying Charged Attacks such as Fly and Hurricane in the MSG.
2. Mega Salamence (310 ATK) already learns Fly, but is missing a Flying Fast Attack to soar over other Flying types. The Dragon/Flying terror can inch closer to Mega Rayquaza by getting a Flying Fast Attack such as Air Slash or Dual Wingbeat added to its movepool, and bagging Fly+ to show the world why it’s also known as the blood-soaked crescent.

It seems plausible that all Mega Evolutions end up learning +Charged Attacks in Pokémon GO, and both Mega Charizard Y and Mega Salamence are fan-favorites. If and when this happens, you can rest assured that Mega Staraptor will be caught in the fence.

Parting words

Mega Staraptor is fantastic, no doubt, but trailing behind the table topper by more than 25% in DPS numbers is brutal. Moreover, the trend of Mega Evolutions gaining +Charged Attacks will spell “outclassed” for Mega Staraptor if Mega Charizard Y and Mega Salamence receive the same treatment as Flying types (at least one seems likely down the line). Grab your Mega Staraptor for the ‘dex but if you have the mighty Dragon in your midst, always go for Mega Rayquaza in Raids. Period.