Pokémon Go to debut Mega Raichu X and Y on July 18

Niantic will introduce Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y in Super Mega Raids on July 18, running from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. local time worldwide. Both forms can appear in their Shiny variants, and the two will share the same three-hour event window.

Players can earn up to six free Raid Passes by spinning Gym Photo Discs during the event period. The maximum number of Remote Raid Passes a player may hold will temporarily increase to 20, beginning the evening before the event and lasting through 8:00 p.m. PDT on the day of the raid day.

Any Raichu caught in Super Mega Raids during the event will arrive with Mega Level 1 unlocked, reducing the amount of Mega Energy required to use Mega Raichu in battle.

Timed Research runs alongside the raid window. Trainers who complete the research and claim rewards before the three-hour window ends will receive a Premium Battle Pass and an encounter with Steelix. The research and its rewards must be finished and claimed within the event window to be awarded.

An optional event ticket priced at $4.99 or the local equivalent will add in-raid rewards. Ticket holders will receive up to 14 Raid Passes from Gym spins instead of six, an increased chance to receive Rare Candy XL from raid rewards, and an extra 5,000 XP and 5,000 Stardust for each Super Mega Raid completed during the event. The ticket applies only to rewards earned during the three-hour window.

Niantic has launched a web-based map to help players find upcoming and ongoing Super Mega Raids. The map allows filtering by event type and highlights nearby community meetups. Trainers are advised to check for current promotional codes and game updates before July 18 to maximize resources available on the day.

The event provides a concentrated opportunity to encounter both Mega Raichu forms and to collect raid rewards during a single three-hour window.