Pokémon: 15 Most Powerful Mega Evolutions… So Far

Ever since the days of Pokémon Red & Blue, fans have speculated about possible new evolutionary forms for established Pokémon. The Internet used to be adorned with fake images of the likes of MewThree, Fireizard and Treeasaur. While a few older Pokémon did receive new evolutions over the years (like Magmar and Tangela), these were very few and far between.

When Pokémon X & Y were released in 2013, they added a new feature into the game, known as Mega Evolution. This allowed certain Pokémon to temporarily evolve into a new form for the duration of the battle. They would often gain boosted stats, along with a new ability.  The downside is that you can only use one Mega Evolution per battle, and the Pokémon needs to hold a certain stone in order to do it (instead of holding a useful item, like Leftovers or a Rocky Helmet).

We are here today to rank the most powerful Mega Evolutions in the Pokémon series. From the two distinct versions of everyone’s favourite Fire/Flying-type to the overpowered dragon of Hoenn.

Here are the 15 Most Powerful Pokémon Mega Evolutions… So Far.

15 Mega Charizard X & Y

Charizard has remained one of the most popular Pokémon in the series for over twenty years now. As such, he was one of the few creatures in the series to receive two Mega Evolutions. These are known as the X and Y variants, and they both change Charizard in different ways.

The X version of Charizard’s Mega Evolution transforms it into a Fire/Dragon-type Pokémon. This is an important change, as it reduces the amount of damage that Charizard will take from Stealth Rock (which has been the bane of its existence since Diamond & Pearl). It also gains the Tough Claws ability, which grants a boost to physical attacks (like Flare Blitz).

If you use the Y version of Charizard’s Mega Evolution, then it gains the Drought ability. This is a weather effect, that summons bright sunlight. When Drought is in effect, the power of Fire-Type moves is boosted by 50%. By summoning Mega Charizard Y, you can remove a weather effect that is in play (like Hail), and make a move like Fire Blast almost unstoppable.

14 Mega Metagross

Metagross is a Steel/Psychic-type Pokémon that was introduced in Ruby & Sapphire. It is the signature Pokémon of Steven Stone, who is the Champion of the Hoenn region (except in Emerald when he is replaced by Wallace). When Ruby & Sapphire received updated ports on the 3DS, it was only natural that Metagross be one of the new Pokémon to receive a Mega Evolution.

Mega Metagross gains the Tough Claws ability, which gives it a boost to physical attacks. This makes Mega Metagross one of the best Fairy killers in the game. They can also use Meteor Mash and Hammer Arm to wail on the opponent’s Pokémon. You can also make use of Mega Metagross’ Psychic attacks to cover anything that your physical moves cannot harm. The sub-par speed Metagross has in its regular form receives an upgrade when it Mega Evolves, which removes one of its biggest weaknesses from the previous generations of Pokémon games.

13 Mega Tyranitar

Tyranitar is a Rock/Dark-type Pokémon that was introduced in Gold & Silver. It was one of the most powerful of the new Dark-type Pokémon, and it is surprising that it has never shown up on the team of Karen of the Elite Four. In fact, none of the Dark-type using members of the Elite Four use Tyranitar on their team, nor has there ever been a Dark-type Gym for it to inhabit.

On its own, Tyranitar is a powerful Pokémon, that sees a lot of play in competitive. When it received a Mega Evolution in X & Y, it did not gain any new abilities (it retains the Sand Stream ability from its regular form). All that Mega Tyranitar received was a big boost to its stats, which made an already fearsome Pokémon all the more terrifying.

Mega Tyranitar is not intended to be a subtle Pokémon. You are supposed to use it to rain damage onto your opponent’s Pokémon. The Mega Evolution just makes it a lot better at its job.

12 Mega Gardevoir

Gardevoir started out as a Psychic-type Pokémon that was introduced in Ruby & Sapphire. It was changed to a Psychic/Fairy-type Pokémon in X & Y, where it also became the signature Pokémon of Diantha, the Champion of Kalos. It also received a Mega Evolution in the sixth generation of Pokémon games, which drastically increased its effectiveness on the competitive scene.

The addition of Fairy-type to Gardevoir was a major asset on its own. When it Mega Evolves, however, it gains a major boost to its Special Attack stat, which turns Mega Gardevoir into a heavy hitter. Mega Gardevoir also gains the Pixilate Ability, which turns Normal-type moves into Fairy-type moves (and gives them a damage boost). This means that Mega Gardevoir can turn moves like Hyper Beam and Hyper Voice into more powerful Fairy variations of the original attack. Mega Gardevoir also possesses a range of useful status effect attacks and wall breaking moves, to give it more utility in battle.

11 Mega Venusaur

Venusaur has been around since the days of Red & Blue. It has never received as much love as the other Kanto starter Pokémon, as it didn’t grace the cover of either game. Venusaur did appear on the box art of Pokémon Green, which never left Japan, due to it being an inferior version of the games we got overseas. Venusaur finally had his time to shine in 2004, with the release of Pokémon LeafGreen, though Charizard and Blastoise had long since eclipsed it in popularity.

On its own, Venusaur wasn’t much use on the competitive scene. Its low Speed stat prevented it from doing much in battle before the other trainer exploited one of its many weaknesses. While Venusaur has a large range of status effect moves and powerful attacks, it lacked the stats to make the best use of them.

Mega Venusaur changed everything. When Venusaur Mega Evolves, it gains the Thick Fat ability. This cuts down the damage it takes from Fire and Ice moves, which takes away the two biggest threats to its survivability. Mega Venusaur also gains a boost to all of its attack and defence stats. This gives Mega Venusaur the chance to make the use of regular Venusaur’s excellent array of moves.

10 Mega Garchomp

Garchomp is a Dragon/Ground-type Pokémon that was first introduced in Diamond & Pearl. It became the signature Pokémon of Cynthia, the Champion of Sinnoh. Garchomp quickly established itself as one of the best Pokémon in the game. The high stats possessed by Garchomp, coupled with its typing and move pool have made it a popular choice among competitive teams.

When Mega Garchomp was introduced in X & Y, it sent waves through the competitive scene. What once was already one of the most powerful Pokémon in the game had suddenly become way better. When Garchomp Mega Evolves, it gains a huge boost to its already impressive stats. It also gains the Sand Force ability, which makes it even stronger during a sandstorm. Mega Garchomp is one of the most ruthless killers in the Pokémon world, due to the fact that it can cut through almost all non-Fairies with ease. If you have the time to strengthen it further, with the use of moves like Sword Dance, then nothing will stand in its way.

9 Mega Salamence

Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire introduced Salamence to the series. It is a Dragon/Flying-type Pokémon, that more closely resembles the Western idea of what dragons are supposed to look like. Salamence would go on to become the signature Pokémon of Drake, the Dragon-type user of the Hoenn Elite Four. Drake’s Salamence is one of the most powerful foes you will face in the game.

Like all of the Dragon-type Pokémon, Salamence became a lot more vulnerable in X & Y, due to the introduction of Fairy-type Pokémon. Luckily for Salamence, it only had to wait until the next set of games in the series, before it became useful again.

Mega Salamence was introduced in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire. It gained an increase in its Speed and Defence stats, which made it a much bigger threat on the battlefield. Mega Salamence also gains the Aerilate ability, which turns all Normal-type moves into Flying-type, and gives them a boost. This actually makes Mega Salamence a powerful user of Flying moves, as it can turn Body Slam and Double-Edge into more effective attacks.

8 Mega Sableye

When Sableye was introduced in Ruby & Sapphire, it was the only Pokémon in the series to have no weaknesses. Sableye’s Dark/Ghost-type was the main reason to use it in battle, as it was immune to Normal, Fighting and Psychic-type attacks. The main reason you wouldn’t use Sableye, however, is due to its abysmal stats. Sableye would see some use as a Pokémon that can throw status effects and support moves out, while being protected by its unique typing.

Sableye gained the ability to Mega Evolve in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire. The Mega Sableye form gives it a huge boost to its defensive stats but lowers its Speed to almost nothing. When Sableye Mega Evolves, the most important change is to its ability. Mega Sableye gains Magic Bounce, which allows it to reflect entry hazards straight back onto the opponent. The fact that Mega Sableye provides such a useful counter to Stealth Rock means that you should consider it for a spot on your team.

7 Mega Mawile

Mawile started out as a Steel-type Pokémon that was first introduced in Ruby & Sapphire. It gained the Fairy-type in X & Y, which vastly increased its usefulness in battle. Mawile is less known for its combat abilities than it is its bizarre origin. Like a lot of Pokémon, Mawile is based on a creature from mythology. In Mawile’s case, it is based on the legend of the futakuchi-onna, who are women that grow a second mouth on the back of their head.

When Mega Mawile was first introduced in X & Y, its new ability caused players to see the Pokémon in a new light. Mega Mawile gains the Huge Power ability, which literally doubles its Attack score. This makes Mega Mawile one of the heaviest hitters in the game and turned it into one of the greatest threats towards Fairy-type Pokémon. In Mega Mawile’s hands, moves like Flash Cannon and Iron Head will absolutely tear through the enemy’s team.

6 Mega Lucario

When Lucario was introduced in Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, it quickly became popular due to its appearance. Lucario is genuinely badass looking, which is helped by the fact that it is a Fighting/Steel-type Pokémon. When Super Smash Bros. Brawl was released for the Nintendo Wii, Lucario was the newest Pokémon to be added to the roster.

Lucario became a lot more useful as time went on, due to Game Freak giving a lot of support to Fighting-type Pokémon and their moves. When it received a Mega Evolution in X & Y, Lucario became a major player in the competitive scene. Along with a boost to its stats, Mega Lucario received the Adaptability ability.

When a Pokémon uses a move that is the same as one of its types, then it gains something called a STAB modifier (which stands for same-type attack bonus). The STAB modifier is usually a 50% boost to damage. Mega Lucario’s Adaptability doubles this bonus, making its Fighting and Steel-type moves far more powerful than they already were.

5 Mega Kangaskhan

Before the introduction of Mega Evolution to the series, no one paid much attention to Kangaskhan. It is a Normal-type Pokémon that was first introduced in Red & Blue and was only notable for the fact that it could only be caught in the Safari Zone. There were a few powerful Normal-type Pokémon in the first generation of games (like Snorlax and Chansey), but Kangaskhan was not one of them.

When Kangaskhan gained a Mega Evolution in X & Y, everything changed for the poor single mother of the Pokémon world. Mega Kangaskhan took the competitive scene by storm, due to its amazing new ability. When Kangaskhan Mega Evolves, its baby jumps out and takes to the field. Mega Kangashan gains the Parental Bond ability, which allows it to use the same attack twice in one turn, with the second attack losing half of its strength. The ability to attack twice a turn made Kangaskhan one of the biggest threats in the competitive Pokémon world. Not only do you have straight attacks now dealing more damage, but moves that have a chance of causing an effect will now have two shots at activating it.

4 Mega Gengar

Gengar has remained a popular Pokémon since its introduction in Red & Blue. This is even true of NPC trainers, as Gengar has seen a lot of use from both Gym Leaders and Elite Four members alike. Along with its popularity, Gengar has maintained its status as one of the best Pokémon to use in the competitive scene.

When Mega Gengar was introduced in X & Y, it gained a special ability that was so good, it caused an outcry among fans. When Gengar Mega Evolves, it receives a huge boost to its Special Attack stat, as well as gaining a new ability. Mega Gengar learns the Shadow Tag ability, which prevents everything except Ghost-type Pokémon from being switched out. This severely restricts what your opponent can do in battle, and most players called for Mega Gengar to be banned in official Pokémon tournaments. Nintendo and Game Freak ignored these pleas from the audience and allowed Gengar to continue to haunt the players with its amazing ability.

3 Mega Blaziken

It’s clear that someone at Game Freak has a lot of love for Torchic and its evolutionary line. Blaziken gained a Mega Evolution a whole game before its Hoenn counterparts. Players who bought Pokémon X & Y within the first few months of release could actually download a free Torchic which carried its own Mega Stone. There really wasn’t any point in taking the Fire-type starter of Kalos (Fennekin), as you could just use the Torchic instead. Not only did the free Torchic have the potential to use a Mega Evolution once it had evolved, but it also gained experience points quicker, due to the fact that it was a traded Pokémon.

Blaziken has long been one of the best Pokémon in the competitive scene. This is due to its Fire/Fighting typing giving it an impressive range of offensive moves, its high stats, and an ability that raises its Speed at the end of each turn. Mega Blaziken simply makes something was already great even better. The increased stats that are brought on by Blaziken’s Mega Evolution make it even more effective at knocking out enemy Pokémon.

2 Mega Mewtwo X & Y

Along with Charizard, Mewtwo was another popular Pokémon from the first generation of games that received two Mega Evolutions. In Pokémon Red & Blue, Mewtwo was essentially a gift from the developers, which is given to those who have beaten all of the most difficult trainers in the game. Mewtwo can take on the Kanto Elite Four on its own, and eat Gary/Blue for dessert. It should only be used in competitive play if you want one of your friends to punch you in the face.

Mega Mewtwo X turns it into a Fighting/Psychic-type Pokémon and gives it a massive boost to its Attack stat. Mewtwo suddenly becomes a heavy hitter Pokémon, that can duke it out with the best of them. One of the advantages of this form is that it allows you to surprise your opponent, and use a Mewtwo with a move set that they are unable to counter.

The Mega Mewtwo Y form drastically increases its Special Attack stat. This means that Mega Mewtwo can draw on its vast array of offensive moves, and take out pretty much anything in the game. There isn’t much that will survive its Psystrike attack.

1 Mega Rayquaza

It this list had been made before the release of Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, then the two Mega Mewtwo forms would have taken the number one spot. As it stands, the next games in the franchise managed to up the stakes even more.

Rayquaza was introduced in Ruby & Sapphire as the one being that could calm the conflict between Kyogre and Groudon. When it returned in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, it had a much bigger role in the story. The player now had the chance to ride Rayquaza into space and face off against Deoxys.

In terms of sheer power and utility, there is nothing that even comes close to Rayquaza’s Mega Evolution form. Mega Rayquaza is unique in that it doesn’t need to hold an item in order to Mega Evolve. This allows it to use other items in battle. It gains a massive boost to its already amazing stats. Mega Rayquaza also receives the Delta Stream ability, which stops the enemy from using weather eff ts, and weakens Electric, Ice (one of its main weaknesses), and Rock-type moves. Only the most powerful of Legendary Pokémon can even come close to standing up to Mega Rayquaza.

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About The Author

Scott Baird
(2522 Articles Published)

Scott has been writing for Screen Rant since 2016 and regularly contributes to The Gamer. He has previously written articles and video scripts for websites like Cracked, Dorkly, Topless Robot, and TopTenz.
A graduate of Edge Hill University in the UK, Scott started out as a film student before moving into journalism. It turned out that wasting a childhood playing video games, reading comic books, and watching movies could be used for finding employment, regardless of what any career advisor might tell you. Scott specializes in gaming and has loved the medium since the early ‘90s when his first console was a ZX Spectrum that used to take 40 minutes to load a game from a tape cassette player to a black and white TV set. Scott now writes game reviews for Screen Rant and The Gamer, as well as news reports, opinion pieces, and game guides. He can be contacted on LinkedIn.

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