The Pokémon GO Mega Squads event offered three useful goals: new Pokédex entries, Shiny collecting, and Mega Energy. This September 2026 event has ended, but its priorities are worth understanding. Maschiff was the new-species target; Flamigo and the featured boosted species were the Shiny targets.
The order below is a suggested plan based on the announced event conditions. It is not a combat ranking that applies to every Trainer.
Mega Squads Catch Priorities
| Goal | Pokémon to check first | Why it mattered |
|---|---|---|
| New Pokédex entries | Maschiff | A new catch leading to Mabosstiff |
| A newly released Shiny | Flamigo | Its Shiny debuted during this event |
| First-half Shiny hunting | Pidgey | Increased Shiny chance in the first half |
| Second-half Shiny hunting | Carvanha | Increased Shiny chance in the second half |
| Preparing Mega Evolutions | Weedle, Houndour, and other eligible species | Catches could award Mega Energy after unlocking the bonus |
The official English event name was Mega Squads. Pidgey's increased Shiny chance ended at 10:00 a.m. on September 11; Carvanha's increased chance began at that time. These were local times at your play location.
For a short session, choose one main goal. That keeps a Pokédex hunt from turning into unfocused wild catching, or a Shiny hunt from losing all its time to raids.
How Maschiff and Mabosstiff Were Available
Maschiff was available from Eggs, Field Research, and the GO Pass. Evolving Maschiff into Mabosstiff requires 50 Maschiff Candy. Maschiff appeared in the event's second-half 5 km Egg and Field Research pools.
To prioritize Maschiff, checking GO Pass encounters and Field Research alongside Eggs gave you multiple routes instead of relying entirely on hatches.
Start with the Pokédex entry and evolution Candy. A new release alone is not a reason to spend all your Stardust or Rare Candy; decide where you will actually use it before powering it up.
Flamigo and the Shiny Targets
Flamigo appeared in the wild, Eggs, Field Research, and the GO Pass. Its Shiny made its debut, but a Shiny debut and an increased Shiny chance are different bonuses. Plan separately for Pidgey and Carvanha, whose increased chances were explicitly announced.
Collectors could check Flamigo while walking and also check Pidgey or Carvanha in the corresponding half. Two focused targets are easier to plan around than waiting for one species alone.
Preparing Mega Beedrill and Mega Houndoom
Mega Beedrill and Mega Houndoom gained access to Super Max Mega Level. They first needed to reach the third Mega Level, Max. Beyond that, repeatedly Mega Evolving alone was not enough: further progress required Mega Energy.
Before raiding, check the Mega Level and Energy for the individual you intend to use. If you have an established one, decide whether to continue with it; if you are starting fresh, plan the first Mega Evolution before chasing the final level.
Make the goal a specific Pokémon and resource target rather than simply a number of raids. Your current stock determines whether catching or raiding is the better use of the session.
Free GO Pass Bonuses to Check First
The free GO Pass awarded rewards as you ranked up. Rank 1 unlocked a chance to earn Mega Energy from catching Weedle, Pidgey, Houndour, Carvanha, and their Evolutions; Rank 15 unlocked 2× Hatch Stardust. Half Egg Hatch Distance was a Deluxe-only benefit.
A useful session began by opening the pass and checking your rank and active bonuses. Then catch your targets, review completed tasks, and claim unlocked rewards.
Before paying for an upgrade, check whether your desired reward is on the free track. Collecting a new species and pursuing extra hatch rewards are different reasons to buy.
A Practical Mega Squads Session
- Check your GO Pass rank and active bonuses.
- Pick a main goal: Pokédex entries, Shinies, or Mega progression.
- Match your wild catches and Field Research to that goal.
- Choose the individual to develop, then budget Mega Energy and raids.
- Check research and pass rewards before finishing.
A clear goal made Mega Squads easier to navigate. Maschiff's encounter routes, the split Shiny targets, and Mega preparation could be combined to fit your available playtime. This is a record of the ended event, not a current claim window.
Regional and version notes
English localization reviewed October 23, 2026. Global local-time schedules follow your play location, including North America. Korea-only schedules remain KST and Japanese airport schedules remain JST. Ended event windows do not provide new claim opportunities. Team choices and tier comparisons are editorial, not guaranteed catches, wins, or a continuously updated ranking. Mega Squads and its September 16 claim window have ended. Shiny Flamigo debut did not by itself establish increased odds. Half Hatch Distance was Deluxe-only; catch Mega Energy was chance-based. Some illustrations are retained from the Korean edition and may include Korean labels. Use the English article text for instructions.
Localization sources checked October 23, 2026 (Korea time):