Super Mega Raids introduce a shield mechanic on powerful Mega bosses. Appropriate damage matters, but so does bringing an eligible Mega-Evolved Pokémon and performing the shield-breaking step.
The official English announcement recommends at least seven other Trainers, meaning eight including you, with Mega-Evolved Pokémon in their parties. Legendary bosses may need more. This is guidance, not a guaranteed minimum-clear formula; the source's shorthand of seven total is corrected here.
Entering a Super Mega Raid
Local and remote entry use different resource combinations.
| Participation | Entry resources |
|---|---|
| In person | A free Raid Pass, or the applicable Link Charge / Premium Battle Pass option |
| Remote Super Mega Raid | Both a Remote Raid Pass and the required Link Charges |
| Remote standard Mega Raid | A Remote Raid Pass |
The Help Center says a free Raid Pass is used first when available. Otherwise, local entry offers the applicable Link Charge or Premium Battle Pass choice.
Remote Super Mega entry requires both resources. Compare your actual supplies instead of treating its cost as identical to a standard remote Mega raid.
Do not equate 200 Link Charges directly with 200 PokéCoins or claim a fixed 375-coin cost from that conversion. Link Charges are a separate resource with earnable and purchasable routes; actual shop pricing and entry requirements need their own check.
Collecting Link Charges
Link Charges are used for applicable Mega and Super Mega raid entry. Receiving your first ones adds a Link Holder to Key Items.
Announced sources include:
- Eligible Weekly Challenges
- Check-ins at official Community Ambassador meetups
- A chance from opening friends' Gifts
- Applicable GO Pass or research rewards
- The in-game shop or Pokémon GO Web Store
The Help Center distinguishes guaranteed rewards from certain qualifying challenges or meetups and chance-based Gifts. It does not say every Gift contains Charges.
The ordinary Link Charge storage cap cited by the Help Center is 600. Specific events can raise it or have exceptions, so check the current Link Holder and reward rules before claiming more.
How the Shields Work
An enraged boss can deploy shields that reduce ordinary damage. Coordinated shield breaks let the group resume normal damage instead of spending the timer attacking through the reduction.
The official introduction says a Mega-Evolved Pokémon in your party is automatically sent out at the shield phase if it is not already active.
Its next attack is powered up to break a shield. Follow the actual battle prompt; the official wording is next attack, rather than assuming every ordinary Charged Attack at any time has the same effect.
The default introduction allows one shield break per Trainer, so repeating attacks is not an unlimited shield-removal strategy. Later special effects, including Mega Mewtwo X's announced Adventure Effect, can modify that default and need separate conditions.
Common Preparation Problems
The source highlighted these possible causes of difficulty:
- No eligible Mega-Evolved Pokémon in the party
- Missing the powered-up attack opportunity during the shield phase
- Losing the intended Mega before it can perform its role
- An insufficiently prepared group for the specific boss
- Attackers that do not exploit the boss's relevant weaknesses
- Expecting a Primal Pokémon to break a shield
If you need to relobby and revive an attacker, the raid timer keeps running. Prepare healing items and the party in advance rather than relying on repeated resets as a free solution.
One missed break does not prove an unrecoverable soft lock. If enough other Trainers complete the required breaks, the group can continue; the actual battle state determines the outcome.
Why Primal Kyogre and Groudon Are Different
Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon can provide valuable damage and team benefits, but the official Super Mega introduction excludes them from shield-breaking.
Primal Reversion does not count as the required Mega Evolution for that mechanic.
The stated exclusions are:
- Primal Kyogre
- Primal Groudon
- Ditto transformed into a Mega-Evolved Pokémon
Even a Primal with a favorable type matchup does not fill the Mega shield-breaking role. Include the actual eligible Mega Evolution you intend to use.
How Many Trainers Should You Recruit?
The source's shields-plus-two idea is not a verified universal minimum formula.
The official English recommendation is at least seven other suitably prepared Trainers, or eight total including yourself, with potentially more for Legendary bosses.
A practical group plan includes:
- A group meeting that recommendation, with eligible Megas prepared
- Additional support where the boss or team strength warrants it
- Everyone understanding the shield mechanic
- Appropriate boss-specific counters
- Enough healing supplies
Headcount alone does not replace suitable moves, survival, and successful shield breaks. A recommended number is not a promise of victory.
Choosing the Mega in Your Party
Do not choose solely by CP. Consider whether it can perform the shield step and contribute suitable damage against the actual moveset.
Useful criteria are:
- Attacks exploiting the boss's weaknesses
- Survivability against the boss's relevant moves
- A useful same-type Mega boost for teammates where applicable
- A practical Pokémon level
- Suitable Fast and Charged Attacks
Check that the Pokémon is actually Mega Evolved and in the party. Owning Energy without activating the form, or bringing only a Primal, does not perform that role.
Super Max Mega Level Bonuses
The original three Mega Levels are Base, High, and Max. Eligible Pokémon can progress beyond those to Super Max.
Mega Level 4 is informal shorthand; Super Max is the named level in the official English announcement.
The announced improved benefits include:
- Greatly enhanced CP while Mega Evolved
- Increased catching Candy for matching types
- Increased catching XP for matching types
- A higher Candy XL chance for matching-type catches
- A 24-hour rest period before a free repeat Mega Evolution
Not every Mega has access to Super Max. Check the species and form's current eligibility before saving or spending resources for it.
Reaching Super Max
First bring the eligible Pokémon to the third Mega Level, Max.
Repeated Mega Evolutions support the earlier levels. Super Max also requires the Pokémon's Mega Energy; repetition alone is not enough.
Do not assume a universal 5,000-Energy price. The source describes species and prior Mega Evolution count as factors in the requirement; check the actual individual’s screen instead of treating that explanation as a fixed price table.
Use the individual's actual Mega Level screen for its requirement.
For multiple Mega forms such as Mewtwo X and Y, check each form's progression and Energy requirements separately. Pick the first role you need instead of assuming one investment automatically completes both forms.
Regional and version notes
English localization reviewed October 23, 2026. Global schedules marked local time follow your play location, including North America. Ended event, ticket, and reward windows are historical. Counter choices, upgrade order, and efficiency suggestions are editorial guidance, not guaranteed wins, catches, or a current measured performance ranking. The English official recommendation is at least seven other Trainers, meaning eight including yourself; the source’s seven-total shorthand is corrected. Shield breaking is described as the powered next attack, not a universal Charged Attack-only rule. One break per Trainer is the default introduction; the later announced Mega Mewtwo X Adventure Effect is a specific exception. Storage caps can have event exceptions. 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):