Welcome to the first article in our new series: Ranking the Mega Evolutions of Pokémon GO!
Mega Evolution is a fan favourite mechanic, allowing existing Pokémon that we know and love to gain a substantial power-up for a limited time. At the time of writing this, there are 93 Mega Evolutions that exist in the franchise, plus two Primal Reversions that function like Mega Evolutions in Pokémon GO, making a total of 95 Mega Evolved Pokémon. While not all of them are currently available in Pokémon GO, they will all eventually be made available over time.
Currently, all of the Mega Evolutions from Pokémon X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire have been released (minus Mega Mewtwo X and Y), as well as 3 Mega Evolutions from Legends: ZA. Because of this, we thought it would be a good time to take a look at how the Mega Evolutions will perform in Pokémon GO. Because of the sheer number of them, we will be breaking down the list based on typing.
Today we’ll be starting with the Grass type Mega Evolutions!
How the Rankings and Scores Work
I will be ranking all of the Mega Evolutions that have been officially released by the Pokémon Company, which means every Mega Evolution from X and Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Legends: ZA, and the Mega Dimensions DLC. Additionally, the 2 Primal Reversions will be counted as Mega Evolutions for the purposes of these articles. While they are not technically Mega Evolutions, they have near identical mechanics in Pokémon GO, so as such they will be included where applicable.
While there are some purely objective ways to rank the Mega Evolutions, this list will be somewhat subjective. I will be basing my rankings and scores based on objective figures. For context, I have every current Mega Evolution/Primal Reversion at level 3, the original maximum level, so I have used each of the Mega Evolutions in their strongest iterations personally. While the list will be subjective, it will be based on performance rather than solely my opinion. Additionally, all Mega Evolutions have value in Pokémon GO. Even if a Mega Evolution is only used for its passive bonuses, it is still something that the vast majority of other Pokémon cannot offer. No Mega Evolution is truly useless, but some may be outclassed by other Mega Evolutions of their type.
There are two ways I’ll be comparing the Megas. First, I will rank them compared to other Megas of that type in order, hence the articles being split up by type. This comparison will be based on how the Mega functions as a Pokémon of the type featured in the article. Let’s use Mega Venusaur as an example. Mega Venusaur will appear in both the Grass and Poison articles, but for the Grass article, only its performance as a Grass type will be compared for the rankings, and it will only be compared against other Grass Mega Evolutions. The same will be true for Mega Venusaur as a Poison type. The rankings will be base on their battle prowess in PVE (raids) as an attacker of the type in question, so in the Grass type article Mega Venusaur would not be ranked based on its performance as a Poison type and vice versa. Because of this, the same Pokémon’s rank may differ based on the competition they have for the given type.
While there will be a bit of subjectivity in what I consider to be more valuable in an attacker, the rankings will be mostly objective. However, it should be noted that the specific Pokémon you are using your Mega Evolution against, as well as its moveset, can change the rankings significantly. I did my best to rank the Mega Evolutions based on what types you would generally be using them against. For example, in the case of Grass types, I judged them based on how they perform against Water, Rock, and Ground types. Obviously they would perform poorly against other types, and there are no cases where neutral DPS can be compared across the field. Funky coverage moves or dual typings can always shake things up, but overall I did my best to rank them all on an even playing field.
The other comparison is where things will get a bit messy. I will provide a score for each Mega Evolution based on their overall usage in the game. I will use the scoring system used by the popular ranking system of a tier list, being F, D, C, B, A, and S. This is where the subjectivity will come into play the most. For the scoring, in addition to their PVE battle prowess, I will also take other factors into consideration. This will include qualifiers such as PVP viability (for Mega Master League) or how valuable their passive bonuses are. Their overall ranking will stay consistent no matter where on the list they end up falling. For example, a dual-typed Mega Evolution may perform poorly for one of its typings but be a top contender for the other. Both will be taken into consideration for the scoring, but its ranking in each article will be based purely off of its performance as a Pokémon of the type in question.
Finally, many of the Mega Evolutions have not been released in game. A very select few have not even been added in their base form. For species that have been released without their Mega Evolutions, we can speculate on their performance based on their existing movepools and their main series stats, but things are always subject to change before their Mega Evolutions are released. For the fully unreleased Pokémon, the speculation will be a bit spottier. I will indicate which Pokémon are unreleased at the time of writing the article in their rankings, but I will still be ranking them based on the currently available information. Also, every Pokémon is susceptible to changes, especially when it comes to movesets. If there is a potentially available buff for a Mega Evolution, especially the lower ranked ones, then I will be sure to mention it.
Again, no Mega Evolution is useless. I would rather have one on my side than not, whether it be in battle or exploring the map. Just because a Mega Evolution may be ranked last does not mean that it won’t be a valuable addition to your team!
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at our list!
The Grass Type Mega Evolutions
Here are a list of all Pokémon with a Grass type Mega Evolution in the series:
** this Pokémon’s Mega Evolution hasn’t been released in Pokémon GO yet
*** neither this Pokémon nor its Mega Evolution has been released in Pokémon GO yet
For those of you that may have missed it in the intro, we are counting Primal Reversions as Mega Evolutions. Primal Groudon is a bit of a strange case in this series due to mechanically functioning as a Grass type Mega Evolution in Pokémon GO. Although it isn’t actually a Grass type, it gives the same passive benefits that a Grass type Mega Evolution would, so it will still be included on this list due to its special mechanics.
For each Mega Evolution I will list out their stats and their best Grass type movesets in their respective sections. Let’s see how the Grass type Mega Evolutions stack up in Pokémon GO!
#8: Mega Abomasnow – B Tier
Mega Abomasnow
GrassIce
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| Max CP at Level 40 3405 | Max CP at Level 50 3850 | |||||||||
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| ATK 240 | DEF 191 | HP 207 | |||||||
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| Fast Moves | Charge Moves |
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First is one of the more unique Pokémon out of the series. Mega Abomasnow was the only Ice type Pokémon when X and Y released, and it remains the only dual Grass and Ice type evolutionary line as of Generation 9. It is the signature partner of Kalos’s Ice type Gym Leader Wulfric!
As a Grass type attacker, Mega Abomasnow’s best moveset is Razor Leaf Grass and Energy Ball Grass.
Mega Abomasnow’s ranking and score may seem a bit confusing. In order to understand why, let’s get started with the explanation.
Mega Abomasnow’s Ranking Explained
As a reminder, we’re ranking Mega Abomasnow as a Grass type attacker, and in this category Mega Abomasnow falls short even without considering other Mega Evolutions. Razor Leaf Grass and Energy Ball Grass are an underwhelming combination. There are some other moves that Abomasnow gets access to that could boost its performance, but the moves aren’t the only thing holding it back.
What’s more, the Ice type isn’t doing much to help Abomasnow out. The Ice type only resists itself while adding a plethora of weaknesses, something that a Grass type doesn’t appreciate. While it does help defensively against any stray Ice moves that a Water type may throw at you, it makes Mega Abomisnow weak to Rock moves it will often be fighting in return.
Combining all of this with mid-tiered stats all around, and Mega Abomasnow makes for a pretty lackluster Grass type attacker, even falling below many common non-Mega Evolved options.
Mega Abomasnow’s Score Explained
Ok, so it seems like I just described a pretty lousy Pokémon. So why is Mega Abomasnow’s score so high?
Honestly, the high score comes almost solely from its performance as an Ice type. While I’ll save the more detailed breakdown for the Ice type article, Mega Abomasnow performs well due to a strong Ice type moveset and a general lack of good Ice type Mega Evolutions, especially among the currently released Pokémon. While Mega Baxcalibur will provide some stiff competition and bumped the former president (had to make the joke somewhere) down a tier, Mega Abomasnow will remain the de facto Ice type against Ground and Dragon types. It can even perform decently in Master League PVP, where Energy Ball Grass does see some usage. Even though I certainly wouldn’t call it bulky, it does a much better job of balancing offense and defense than many other Ice types. Prior to Legends: ZA, Mega Abomasnow may have been able to sneak into A tier based on its performance as an Ice type alone, with its only competition being Mega Glalie. However, it now has more competition to contend with.
Additionally, Mega Abomasnow still holding its title as the only dual Grass / Ice Pokémon also helped bump its score up a bit. This adds value to its combination of passive Mega Evolution bonuses, no matter how it actually performs in battle.
As sad as it sounds, Mega Abomasnow’s performance as a Grass type was one of the few things dragging down its scoring, hence the low ranking but overall higher score.
#7: Primal Groudon – S Tier
Primal Groudon
GroundFire
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| Max CP at Level 40 5902 | Max CP at Level 50 6672 | |||||||||
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| ATK 353 | DEF 268 | HP 218 | |||||||
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| Fast Moves | Charge Moves |
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*indicates a legacy move, requiring an Elite TM or special event to learn
Up next is the Legendary Pokémon of the land, Primal Groudon!
Groudon has been an infamously powerful Pokémon ever since its introduction back in Pokémon Ruby. In Omega Ruby, the remake of the original Hoenn games, Groudon received a massive boost in power in the form of a Primal Reversion, becoming Primal Groudon!
This is only 1 of 4 instances in these articles where a Pokémon will make the list that doesn’t actually match the typing of the list.
As mentioned in the introduction, Primal Groudon essentially functions as a Grass type Mega Evolution in Pokémon GO despite not being a Grass type. As such, it managed to make the list. Since the Sunny weather boosts Grass types in the game at large, they thematically gave the boost to Groudon as well.
Primal Groudon is one of the rare cases where a Pokémon’s typing changes when it Mega Evolves (or undergoes Primal Reversion in this case), turning from a pure Ground type to a dual Ground and Fire type Pokémon. As a Grass type attacker, Primal Groudon’s best moveset is Mud Shot Ground and Solar Beam Grass.
With that out of the way, let’s see how this fiery land monster matches up against… the other plants??
Primal Groudon’s Ranking Explained
Honestly, the fact that a non-Grass type is even in the conversation for Grass type starters should tell you how insanely strong Primal Groudon is. It also has access to Solar Beam Grass, which worked disgustingly well with Primal Groudon’s Desolate Land Ability in the main series, and translates almost as well in Pokémon GO.
Primal Groudon does have a distinct lack of a Grass type fast move. In most cases it wants to run the STAB Mud Shot Ground to charge up Solar Beam Grass quickly, but there are cases where Dragon Tail Dragon might be better, such as if Mud Shot Ground is resisted due to some funky dual-typing scenarios. Additionally, Solar Beam Grass does not get the STAB bonus. However, Primal Groudon’s stats are so good that this doesn’t matter. While it would never be able to compete with a Grass type of a similar caliber, such a Grass type doesn’t exist, and Primal Groudon’s Legendary stat levels boosted by Primal Reversion make up the difference lost by STAB in most cases.
While it will never truly be a Grass type, Primal Groudon can do a pretty good impression of one in many situations. Talk about power!
Primal Groudon’s Score Explained
This one should be pretty self explanatory. Primal Groudon is one of the strongest Pokémon ever created. Although it may not be an amazing Grass type attacker, the fact remains that it isn’t a Grass type. As a Ground type and as a Fire type it is incredible, so working as a Grass type attacker is just a nice added bonus. Whether it be Raids, PVP, or even just passive Mega Evolution bonuses, Primal Groudon sits at the top of the list alongside the rest of the Weather Trio. Being able to boost 3 types rather than 1 or 2 like the rest of the Mega Evolutions cements Primal Groudon in S tier.
#6: Mega Scovillain*** – D Tier
Mega Scovillain
GrassFire
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| Max CP at Level 40 3298 | Max CP at Level 50 3728 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATK 276 | DEF 170 | HP 163 | |||||||
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| Fast Moves | Charge Moves |
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Scovillain debuted in Generation 9 in the Paldea region. Fans had long speculated that the then-unused type combination of Grass and Fire was perfect for a chili pepper themed Pokémon, and GameFreak finally delivered in Scarlet and Violet. Scovillain is currently the only evolutionary line to feature this type combination. What came as a bigger surprise was the reveal of Mega Scovillain in Legends: ZA’s DLC, especially since it came so close after its original debut.
It should be noted that Scovillain is one of the few Mega Evolutions whose base form has also not been introduced in Pokémon GO. This means that we will be speculating on its performance based on the moves that have been datamined for it paired with its stats from the main series game, which can be calculated into its Pokémon GO stats in the same way all current Pokémon have been. While this speculation will be based on the information we have, everything is still subject to change up until the official release.
As mentioned, Mega Scovillain is a dual Grass and Fire type Pokémon. As a Grass type attacker, Mega Scovillain’s best moveset is Leafage Grass and Grass Knot Grass. Again, this is subject to change until it is officially released in game.
Mega Scovillain is certainly a very unique Pokémon. The real question: is it any good?
Mega Scovillain’s Ranking Explained
After Mega Evolving, Scovillain’s stats are… fine. Decent Attack stat and mid to low tier bulk. Certainly not the best Grass type, but not useless.
Unfortunately, Mega Scovillain’s unique typing is actually what hurts it the most and places it at the bottom of the list. Remember, this is ranking the Mega Evolutions specifically as Grass type attackers in PVE. As a Grass type, you will be using Mega Scovillain against Water, Rock, and Ground types. While a Grass type naturally resists Water and Ground moves and takes neutral damage from Rock moves, Fire types are weak to all three of these types. As a dual type, this makes Mega Scovillain take neutral damage from Water and Ground moves and Super-Effective damage from Rock moves. This alone drops Mega Scovillain toward the bottom of the list of Grass Mega Evolutions. Combined with its mid-tier bulk, Mega Scovillain will fall in battle much more quickly than every other Grass Mega Evolution in the most common scenarios where you would want to use it. Also, it cannot compete against even some common non-Mega Evolved options for Grass attackers.
Since Scovillain has yet to be released in Pokémon GO, its moveset is subject to change. However, even the best moveset in the game wouldn’t put Mega Scovillain even near the top of the list.
Mega Scovillain’s Score Explained
While Mega Scovillain isn’t great as a Grass attacker, its Grass typing does help it out in some matchups as a Fire type attacker (stay tuned for the Fire type Mega Evolution article for more!). Unfortunately, it also hurts it in other matchups where a Fire type would normally be strong, although it isn’t as bad as the Grass type cases. Additionally, the passive bonuses that Mega Scovillian seem as though they would be unique. However, Primal Groudon provides all of these bonuses and more, while also providing its extremely powerful offensive bonuses much more effectively as a Primal Reversion. Mega Scovillain is definitely usable as a Grass or a Fire type attacker, but it has a lot holding it back.
Basically, Mega Scovillian carves out a niche as a Fire type attacker with a secondary Grass typing, and its dual typing is still pretty unique. However, it isn’t particularly good at doing much. It will perform decently until you obtain stronger Fire and Grass Mega Evolutions. Again, its moveset is subject to change due to being unreleased, but it wouldn’t do much to boost Mega Scovillain’s viability.
#5: Mega Victreebel – B Tier
Mega Victreebel
GrassPoison
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| Max CP at Level 40 3505 | Max CP at Level 50 3963 | |||||||||
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| ATK 265 | DEF 181 | HP 190 | |||||||
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| Fast Moves | Charge Moves |
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*indicates a legacy move, requiring an Elite TM or special event to learn
Next up we have one of the first Mega Evolutions from Legends: ZA that was introduced into Pokémon GO: Mega Victreebel! Mega Victreebel was one of the first new Mega Evolutions to be revealed from in trailers for Legends: ZA, so it was fittingly also one of the first of the new Mega Evolutions to be released in Pokémon GO!
Mega Victreebel is a dual Grass and Poison type Pokémon. As a Grass type attacker, Mega Victreebel’s best moveset is Magical Leaf Grass and Leaf Blade Grass. Magical Leaf Grass is not always available for Victreebel, meaning it must be encountered or evolved during a special event or taught the move via Elite TM.
A much needed buff to one of the original 151, Mega Victreebel bounced its way into the series very recently. So how does it stack up in Pokémon GO?
Mega Victreebel’s Ranking Explained
Victreebel was granted a Community Day in recent years, granting it access to the Fast Move Magical Leaf Grass. Pairing this with Leaf Blade Grass makes for a solid Grass type attacker. Mega Victreebel has a very respectable amount of bulk to pair with a solid offensive stat. You won’t ever be mad to be using it when you need a Grass type. While it does take neutral damage from Ground moves you’ll be using it against thanks to its secondary Poison typing, I wouldn’t call it a major hindrance. So why is it this far down on the list?
Don’t get me wrong, Mega Victreebel is good. However, there is another notable Mega Evolution that existed long before Mega Victreebel that is boxing out the new kid on the block: Mega Venusaur. These two have a lot in common, sharing a home region, similar levels of stats, most importantly, their typing. If it were just these attributes in the conversation, I would say that it’s a tossup between them. However, Venusaur is a Starter Pokémon, meaning it gets access to Frenzy Plant Grass, which is the best Grass type move in the game. While this is a limited time move for Venusaur, it being from the Kanto region means there are always a plethora of opportunities to access the move. What’s more, Victreebel’s performance drops off without its own CD move of Magical Leaf Grass, as Razor Leaf Grass is a noticeable downgrade. With everything else about them being just about the same, this will allow Mega Venusaur to always stay one step ahead of Mega Victreebel.
Again, Mega Victreebel is still a strong choice for your team. If you don’t have a Venusaur with Frenzy Plant Grass, then I would definitely say Mega Victreebel is stronger. Unfortunately though, Mega Victreebel gets bumped down the list simply due to lacking Frenzy Plant Grass itself.
Mega Victreebel’s Score Explained
Much of what was said about Mega Victreebel’s ranking also applies to its score. Mega Victreebel seems to be doing its best Mega Venusaur impression, but ends up falling short. As a Poison type attacker, it does outclass Mega Venusaur, but as a Grass type it will never be able to match Mega Venusaur with Frenzy Plant Grass, or any Pokémon using Frenzy Plant Grass for that matter.
I also gave Pokémon bonus points based on the passive bonuses they provide, which is again where Mega Venusaur hurts Mega Victreebel’s score. At the time of writing this article, Mega Victreebel is one of the few Mega Evolutions that has the capability of reaching Mega Level 4, which does make it better than Venusaur for the time being in this area. However, we are ranking these Pokémon under the assumption of an even playing field, and the developers have announced that other Pokémon will be able to reach Mega Level 4 in the future. If anyone is going to get this special treatment, it will be Pokémon’s golden children from Kanto, meaning that Mega Victreebel will inevitably lose the one edge it has.
Again, Mega Victreebel is a good choice. Unfortunately, there will always be a pretty massive asterisk next to it in the form of Mega Venusaur that will prevent Mega Victreebel from topping the list.
#4: Mega Venusaur – A Tier
Mega Venusaur
GrassPoison
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| Max CP at Level 40 3698 | Max CP at Level 50 4181 | |||||||||
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| ATK 241 | DEF 246 | HP 190 | |||||||
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| Fast Moves | Charge Moves |
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*indicates a legacy move, requiring an Elite TM or special event to learn
We’ve officially reached the point that many of you were likely expecting: the Grass Starter Pokémon. In addition to being fan-favorites, these Pokémon also have unique access to the powerful move Frenzy Plant Grass. Although it is possible to get Frenzy Plant Grass on a select few other Pokémon outside of the Starters, none of them are Grass type (or good for that matter). As such, these Pokémon sit near the top of the list of Grass type attackers generally, and the Mega Evolutions of these Pokémon sit at the top!
Next up on the list is the original Grass Starter and the first evolutionary line in the Pokédex: Mega Venusaur!
Back in X and Y, you were given the unprecedented option of choosing a second Starter Pokémon during the main story of the game! You were able to explore the Kalos Region with not only a Kalos Starter, but also a Kanto Starter! What’s more, the Kanto Starter you choose will also be holding its Mega Stone, providing an exciting new twist on a classic Pokémon!
Mega Venusaur is a dual Grass and Poison type Pokémon. As a Grass type attacker, Mega Venusaur’s best moveset is Vine Whip Grass and Frenzy Plant Grass. Frenzy Plant Grass is not always available for Venusaur, meaning it must be encountered or evolved during a special event or taught the move via Elite TM.
Although Bulbasaur was my Starter of choice way back in 2016, my personal bias will not affect Mega Venusaur’s placement on this list. There’s no doubt that the Grass and Poison type Starter is a classic, so let’s take a look at how #0003 can stack up in the meta!
Mega Venusaur’s Ranking Explained
Mega Venusaur managed to paint itself as a bit of a menace while we were looking at Mega Victreebel. While it does firmly outperform Mega Victreebel, why is it ranked below the rest of the Grass Starters?
Unfortunately for the OG, it comes down to its performance as a Grass type attacker again. Again, we’ve determined that the moveset is just about as good as it can get. However, the rest of the Starters also have this moveset (Sceptile has Bullet Seed Grass over Vine Whip Grass, but the other 3 have identical movesets). Mega Venusaur’s offensive and defensive stats are comparable to the others. It does trade some of its offense for its bulk, but that results in dishing out more Frenzy Plant Grass‘s, so the playing field is again level.
As another reminder, we are ranking these Pokémon purely as Grass type attackers. This means that they will likely be used against Water, Rock, and Ground type Pokémon. Pure Grass types resist Water and Ground moves and take neutral damage from Rock moves. Unfortunately for Mega Venusaur, its Poison typing hurts it a bit in this department. While I wouldn’t call it a major hindrance by any means, similarly to Mega Victreebel, the fact remains that as a Grass type, this does hurt its performance. The 3 remaining Pokémon on the list are able to maintain their matchups as Grass types despite their secondary typings.
This does not mean Mega Venusaur is bad by any means. Again, it has the best Grass moveset in the game. At this point, we’re honestly splitting hairs in the rankings, and one of the four had to take the 4th slot. While I’m sad that it had to be my guy Venusaur, the facts don’t lie.
Mega Venusaur’s Score Explained
As I just mentioned, Mega Venusaur is still an incredible Mega Evolution and an incredible Pokémon. With Frenzy Plant Grass, it will always hold a spot in the meta. While it may perform slightly worse purely in terms of a Grass type attacker, its Poison typing does carve out a niche for itself to hold a spot in the meta. While it isn’t great as a Poison attacker, there are certain specific Raid Bosses where its Poison typing uniquely helps out, such as Tapu Fini. Also, the uniqueness of its typing does provide some bonus points as well. Mega Venusaur is the best Grass / Poison type in the game (sorry Victreebel).
Additionally, Mega Venusaur is usable in Mega Master League. It is starting to get outclassed as more and more powerful Pokémon are released. It does not like going up against the likes of Zacian, Zamazenta, and the Kyurem fusions. However, Venusaur was one of the earliest viable Pokémon in PVP, and with it recently getting buffed with Sludge Poison, it can hold its own in the matchups where you would want a Grass type.
At this point, I would say Mega Venusaur has reached the peak of its performance. It is very very good, but I don’t think it will ever break any higher than A rank in the meta at large. However, especially for a Kanto Pokémon that has had to contend with power creep, I would say this is a great placement for Mega Venusaur!
#3: Mega Meganium* – A Tier
Mega Meganium
GrassFairy
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| Max CP at Level 40 4089 | Max CP at Level 50 4623 | |||||||||
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| ATK 276 | DEF 232 | HP 190 | |||||||
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| Fast Moves | Charge Moves |
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*indicates a legacy move, requiring an Elite TM or special event to learn
Up next is one of the newer Mega Evolutions. Meganium spent actual decades as the underdog of its regional trio of Starters. While it does have its staunch supporters, the fact remained that it performed extremely poorly in the Johto region due to Kanto being home to the Water, Rock, and Ground type Gym Leaders. Legends: ZA breathed new life into Meganium by not only granting it a chance to be a starter in a different region, but also by granting it a Mega Evolution!
It is important to note that Mega Meganium has not been released yet in Pokémon GO. However, its base form is available in game This means that we will be speculating on its performance based on the moves it currently has access to paired with its stats from the main series game, which can be calculated into its Pokémon GO stats in the same way all current Pokémon have been. While it is mostly safe to speculate based on these facts, everything is still subject to change up until the official release.
Mega Meganium is one of the rare cases where a Pokémon’s typing changes when it Mega Evolves, turning from a pure Grass type to a dual Grass and Fairy type Pokémon. As a Grass type attacker, Mega Meganium’s best moveset is Vine Whip Grass and Frenzy Plant Grass. Frenzy Plant Grass is not always available for Meganium, meaning it must be encountered or evolved during a special event or taught the move via Elite TM.
So how does adding the best typing in the game affect Mega Meganium’s performance?
Mega Meganium’s Ranking Explained
This one was honestly a total shock to me. I didn’t realize how well Mega Meganium translated into Pokémon GO. Upon a closer look, GameFreak decided to bless Meganium by pouring almost all of its stats gained from Mega Evolving into its Special Attack, with very few points being wasted on its Attack stat and the rest going into its defenses. Turns out taking an extremely bulky Pokémon and giving it the usable offensive stat that it was always lacking boosts it pretty far!
Mega Meganium’s Fairy typing doesn’t change up its type matchups too much, especially as a Grass type. It adds a weakness to Steel, but hopefully you weren’t using a Grass type against a Steel type anyway. While it does double your weakness to Poison attacks, you again probably weren’t using a Grass type there. Against the Water, Rock, and Ground types you are likely going to be battling with a Grass type, Mega Meganium’s matchups are unchanged. While you have to beware of stray Steel or Poison coverage moves, the benefits of Mega Meganium far outweigh this small downside.
Just like all the other Starters we’ve talked about up until now, Meganium has access to Frenzy Plant Grass, the best Grass move in the game given only to Grass type Starters. While it has slightly lower bulk than Mega Venusaur and Mega Chesnaught, it makes up for it with more Attack, and with better bulk than Mega Sceptile, Mega Meganium can definitely hold its own!
While Mega Meganium hasn’t been officially released yet, there is little they could do to nerf it without nerfing the rest of the top contenders on this list. It won’t lose access to Frenzy Plant Grass, and making it weaker would make Venusaur, Sceptile, and Chesnaught weaker as well. Even though it is subject to change, it seems like Mega Meganium will remain a top contender!
Mega Meganium’s Score Explained
With the best Grass type moveset in the game, it’s no surprise that Mega Meganium performs well. What’s strange is that even now, Mega Meganium can’t really take advantage of its Fairy typing. It learns both Disarming Voice Fairy and Dazzling Gleam Fairy in the main series, which both would provide a nice secondary Charged Move to use. Hopefully these moves will be added alongside its Mega Evolution. In terms of movepool, Mega Meganium can only get stronger!
Meganium was already a good choice in the lower leagues of PVP when running Vine Whip Grass, Frenzy Plant Grass, and Earthquake Ground. Hopefully its new offensive prowess combined with its existing bulk can help it carve a niche in Mega Master League. Grass types aren’t too sought after, but this is again where having a Fairy type move would help out. As of now, none of the other Grass / Fairy types can hold their own in Master League, so hopefully Mega Meganium will be the first!
Finally, Mega Meganium’s typing is unique among the Mega Evolutions, adding value to its passive effects. Certain Raid Bosses, such as Terrakion, Verizion, and the future Ting-Lu and Wo-Chien, won’t be happy to go up against Mega Meganium’s type combination.
Mega Meganium looks to be a great addition to Pokémon GO. Hopefully we’ll see it added to the game soon!
#2: Mega Sceptile – A Tier
Mega Sceptile
GrassDragon
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| Max CP at Level 40 4056 | Max CP at Level 50 4585 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATK 320 | DEF 186 | HP 172 | |||||||
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| Fast Moves | Charge Moves |
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*indicates a legacy move, requiring an Elite TM or special event to learn
In our runner-up slot we have the Grass Starter from Hoenn: Mega Sceptile!
Mega Sceptile was released in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire alongside Mega Swampert. Interestingly, Mega Blaziken was released through a special event in the prior titles of X and Y. Nevertheless, these three Mega Evolutions for some fan-favorite starters made for the perfect partners to explore the re-imagined Hoenn Region!
Mega Sceptile is one of the rare cases where a Pokémon’s typing changes when it Mega Evolves, turning from a pure Grass type to a dual Grass and Dragon type Pokémon. As a Grass type attacker, Mega Sceptile’s best moveset is Bullet Seed Grass and Frenzy Plant Grass. Frenzy Plant Grass is not always available for Sceptile, meaning it must be encountered or evolved during a special event or taught the move via Elite TM.
So what makes Mega Sceptile so good in Pokémon GO?
Mega Sceptile’s Ranking Explained
Mega Sceptile manages to shake up the Grass Starter formula a bit in a few different ways. First off, it uses Bullet Seed Grass as a Fast Move rather than Vine Whip Grass, which it does not learn. It should be noted that in a neutral matchup, Fury Cutter Bug is a better pairing with Frenzy Plant Grass to deal the most damage, but again, we’re looking at these Pokémon as Grass type attackers, so Bullet Seed Grass is the move in question.
Also, Mega Sceptile breaks from the rest of the Grass starters in the way its stats are distributed. While the other three are bulky attackers, Mega Sceptile trades some of its bulk for more offense, making it a bit more of a glass cannon. Mega Sceptile actually has the highest damage per second (DPS) of any Grass type in the game. While this makes Mega Sceptile a better attacker individually, it does technically make it worse for boosting your team with its passive Mega Evolution bonus. So why is Mega Sceptile ranked higher than Mega Venusaur and Mega Meganium?
This again comes from Mega Sceptile’s performance as a Grass type attacker. Dragon typing adds a nice number of resistances, changing a weakness to Fire into neutral damage and now double resisting both Grass and Electric moves. As a Grass type, Sceptile maintains its matchups against Ground and Rock types.
The thing that places Mega Sceptile at second on the list is its matchup against Water types. As a Grass and Dragon type, it double resists Water moves. This makes Mega Sceptile the best counter for Water types in the game, as there isn’t a way for Electric types to double resist water and no other comparable Grass type does (the Applin line is the only one to share this typing, but their stats are not on par with a Mega Evolution). Even though Mega Sceptile has lower bulk, double resisting these moves allows it to tank a lot of hits before going down. You do need to be aware of any stray Ice moves that Water types tend to carry, as the double weakness will take down Mega Sceptile quickly, but the benefits definitely outweigh this one downside. This small change to type matchups is what placed Mega Sceptile this high on the list!
Mega Sceptile’s Score Explained
We’ve already established how strong Mega Sceptile is as an attacker. To be honest, there’s not much more to say in this department. Especially against Water types, Mega Sceptile is the way to go. In fact, the biggest question you may be wondering is why Mega Sceptile isn’t in S tier?
In the opposite case from Mega Abomasnow, Mega Sceptile is an incredible Grass type attacker. However, it is a pretty lackluster Dragon type attacker, as it lacks a full Dragon type moveset. Its best Fast Move (in terms of DPS) in Bullet Seed Grass is resisted by Dragon types, which is the only case where you’d be using Mega Sceptile as a Dragon type attacker. Additionally, even if it has a solid Dragon moveset, it would not be able to compete with the likes of Mega Rayquaza and the unreleased Mega Zygarde.
Additionally, while it doesn’t do much to count against it, Mega Sceptile isn’t great in PVP, whereas most if not all of the S tier Mega Evolutions are.
Don’t get me wrong, Mega Sceptile is very strong. As a Grass type it is incredible. Its typing is unique, making its passive Mega Evolution bonuses valuable. It isn’t great as a Dragon type, but it’s so good as a Grass type that it kind of doesn’t matter. However, it’s missing that all-around, all-inclusive usefulness that would bump it up to the S tier, which shows you the calibre of Pokémon making up that tier.
Overall, Mega Sceptile gets a very solid A tier. It is a great Pokémon to have on your team. So who managed to beat Mega Sceptile in the rankings?
#1: Mega Chesnaught* – A Tier
Mega Chesnaught
GrassFighting
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| Max CP at Level 40 4093 | Max CP at Level 50 4628 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATK 242 | DEF 282 | HP 204 | |||||||
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| Fast Moves | Charge Moves |
|---|---|
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*indicates a legacy move, requiring an Elite TM or special event to learn
Taking the number one slot on our list is Mega Chesnaught!
It was always a bit of a shock that the Kalos Starters didn’t get Mega Evolutions in X and Y, their debut generation and the generation where Mega Evolutions were released. Thankfully, GameFreak rectified this mistake in Legends: ZA (we won’t talk about how they were released in that game), finally giving these Pokémon the Mega Evolutions that they deserved.
It is important to note that Mega Chesnaught has not been released yet in Pokémon GO. However, its base form is available in game This means that we will be speculating on its performance based on the moves it currently has access to paired with its stats from the main series game, which can be calculated into its Pokémon GO stats in the same way all current Pokémon have been. While it is mostly safe to speculate based on these facts, everything is still subject to change up until the official release.
Mega Chesnaught is a dual Grass and Fighting type Pokémon. As a Grass type attacker, Mega Chesnaught’s best moveset is Vine Whip Grass and Frenzy Plant Grass. Frenzy Plant Grass is not always available for Chesnaught, meaning it must be encountered or evolved during a special event or taught the move via Elite TM.
Let’s take a look at what makes Mega Chesnaught the best Grass type Mega Evolution in Pokémon GO!
Mega Chesnaught’s Ranking Explained
At this point in the list, it should be pretty straightforward why Mega Chesnaught is good. Access to Vine Whip Grass and Frenzy Plant Grass made it destined for success. While the moveset is subject to change prior to Mega Chesnaught’s release, it is safe to assume that it will always have access to the best Grass moves in the game.
Mega Chesnaught falls into the same category as Mega Venusaur and Mega Meganium as a bulky attacker. It will tank hits well, especially resisted hits, and will dish out great damage in return.
What makes Mega Chesnaught the best Grass type Mega Evolution comes down to its typing. Typically, Grass and Fighting isn’t seen as a great type combination, simply adding the weaknesses of a Fighting type in exchange for making Bug moves hit for neutral damage. It maintains all of the other weaknesses of a Grass type while notably also creating a double weakness to moves. However, in the context of where you would be using a Grass type as an attacker, Mega Chesnaught actually excels.
As with all of the other Megas on this list, we are looking at Mega Chesnaught being used as a Grass attacker against Water, Rock, and Ground types. Mega Chesnaught is the only Mega Evolution on this list that is able to resist all 3 types you would be using it against. Grass types naturally resist Water and Ground moves, but Mega Chesnaught’s Fighting typing allows it to resist Rock moves as well, something that none of the other Grass Mega Evolutions can claim. This makes it a great counter no matter where you are using it!
Combining its great type matchup with its moveset and stats, and you have the Grass type Mega Evolution that I believe to be the strongest in the game!
Mega Chesnaught’s Score Explained
With Mega Chesnaught performing so well in the rankings, it should come as no surprise that its score is high as well.
This is a very similar case to Mega Sceptile. As a Grass type, Mega Chesnaught is incredible, and in most cases it is the Grass type Mega Evolution I would want to be using. However, as a Fighting type it is a different story. There are a lot of amazing Fighting type Mega Evolutions, and even if the competition weren’t that steep, Mega Chesnaught has an underwhelming Fighting moveset. Additionally, its typing, while good for a Grass attacker, is not great at all, with a whopping 5 weaknesses plus a double weakness being very easy to exploit in the game at large. While a lot of its weaknesses, such as Poison, Psychic, Fairy, and , aren’t super common as coverage moves for its good matchups, the sheer abundance of weaknesses keeps it from scoring any higher.
With that being said, A tier is still a great spot to be in. It is an incredible Grass attacker, and it has a unique dual typing to provide valuable passive effects from its Mega Evolution. I’m excited for the chance for us to finally get our hands on Mega Chesnaught in the future and see it in action for ourselves!
And there we have it! Here is how all 8 Grass type Mega Evolutions stack up against each other. The rankings are as follows:
| Ranking | Mega Evolution |
#8 |
Mega Abomasnow
GrassIce
|
#7 |
Primal Groudon
GroundFire
|
#6 |
Mega Scovillain
GrassFire
|
#5 |
Mega Victreebel
GrassPoison
|
#4 |
Mega Venusaur
GrassPoison
|
#3 |
Mega Meganium
GrassFairy
|
#2 |
Mega Sceptile
GrassDragon
|
#1 |
Mega Chesnaught
GrassFighting
|
As you can see, the Grass type Starters dominate the list due to having access to Frenzy Plant Grass, which is more of a testament to the power of Frenzy Plant Grass than anything else. However, each of these Mega Evolutions holds a niche, and all of them are valuable additions to your team.
Thank you so much for checking out the first article in the series! We will be releasing one article for each of the types in the future, so you have 17 more articles to look forward to (and I have a lot of writing on my plate)! I’m excited to get started on this journey with all of you. I’ll see you for the next article: comparing the Fire type Mega Evolutions.
